Coco Chanel once famously quoted, “Before leaving the house, a lady should stop, look in the mirror and remove one piece of jewelry.” For the 2010 fall season, designers took this mantra to heart, paring down not only accessories, but entire collections. The days of piled-on pieces and jewelry for the moment are at a standstill, and clean-cut simplicity has taken the runways by storm. Minimalism means chic and easy with none of the fuss of flashier and embellished pieces, a style favored by many celebrities and fashion figures in recent years.

The floor-skimming maxi length of skirts and dresses, as well as bulkier and roomier pieces like the wool sweater, evoke a 1990s aesthetic vaguely reminiscent of the grunge movement. While many shoppers will have a hard time letting their miniskirts go, there are still ways to incorporate this big trend into your wardrobe, even on a tight budget. It’s important for style fanatics to note that this look is simply less but by no means less appealing or less fashion forward.

The blazer (or boyfriend jacket) still remains the hot piece of the moment. However, the new look is more streamlined and more simple in construction in navy, black and rich brown hues. Old Navy and Gap have several incarnations in a moderate price range that are great for your wardrobe and your wallet. Dresses also made their mark with the minimalism trend: fluid jersey fabrics that drape well on the body, cinched waists and belt details to accentuate a woman’s figure. ASOS, the British online retailer, showcased an excellent selection of minimalist items that hit the mark dead on. This trend is designed to be relaxed and laid back, but by no means should you hide your body in a pile of oversized clothing. Finding balance is the key.

The neutral color palette is a far cry from the contemporary basic staples of black and white, although these colors are still highly represented on all the runways and in retail stores. If you are looking to truly immerse yourself in this trend, then neutrals of beige, khaki, cream and off white with touches of olive, brown and caramel are the way to go. The lack of apparel embellishment does call for key accessorizing, but look for daintier, smaller charms and other minimalist jewelry items in golden hues, or ethnic-styled beads or stones, versus flashy, high-glamour show stoppers.

The overall look has strong ties to nature and the environment, and the ease should be readily displayed in your minimalist looks. Go for natural fibers like wool, cotton and leather that can quickly and easily transcend into the winter season with only slight modifications. Still, be sure to have fun with your look! Go for some graphic prints and styles, but make your focal point the simple silhouette with an emphasis on fluid movement, and you’ll be out the door in a minimal amount of time.

Check back in the next issue for the newest trends.

By: Stephanie Tipple

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