What Is Minimalist Style?
“Minimalism” traditionally refers to movements or styles in various forms of art and design. It came about in the 1960s and 70s as a reaction to fine art that had become – in the eyes of minimalists – stale and academic. Unaffected, un-representational, and defined by simple geometric shapes, it was pretty radical at the time.
In the words of architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, the motto of minimalist art could be “Less is more.”
When it comes to fashion, “minimalism” can mean different things to different people. For Instagram influencers and self-styled digital nomads, it can mean committing yourself to a bare-bones wardrobe of a half dozen or so carefully chosen pieces – the sartorial equivalent of chucking nearly all your stuff, moving into a tiny house, and sharing a toothbrush with your partner.
To those of us who aren’t steeped in fashion history, it can carry a whiff of pretension. “Minimalist style,” you might say, “makes me think of sipping an unctuous chianti at a Friday art opening.”
For our purposes, it means stripping out superfluous items and creating a simpler, more intentional look based around less.
In practice, minimalist style means:
- Monochromatic or limited color palette
- High quality materials
- Extremely good fit
- Sparse use of patterns
- Carefully selected accents
- Reserved, functional and aesthetic vibe
Now, take a look at that list… isn’t that kinda what we all strive for anyway, minus the no-patterns rule? “Reserved, functional, and aesthetic” could be the second Primer motto, right after “effective, practical, and affordable.”
