More is More

NOTES ON MAXIMALIST FASHION Written by Jane Houseal, Fashion Editorial Assistant Photographed by Bela Orzechowski, Staff Photographer

Modeled by Ella Cunz Makeup by Riley August, Makeup Director

Inever understood Coco Chanel’s advice, “Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off.”1 Personally, I think we’re better off adding an accessory or two before we embark on our day.

Ever since I was little, I’ve been the kind of person to decorate my walls with a myriad of posters, pour every available topping on my sundaes and wear eccentric outfits that border on being just plain weird. My parents have always described me as having a “more is more” attitude, and they are not wrong. I like to describe my “more is more” tendencies as maximalism.

Maximalism is an approach to fashion, decoration and life itself. The aesthetic is visually audacious; a beautiful display of eclecticism and excess. In fashion, maximalism refers to styling and designs that are bold and extravagant. It often includes an abundance of detail through pattern, embroidery or texture.2 Some may think maximalism is overwhelming or unnecessary, but for others, it is a way to dress and live authentically.

The pandemic caused a rise in minimalist decorating, as everyone paid close attention to organizing consultant Marie Kondo during quarantine. However, maximalist fashion is steadily on the rise as the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic begin to lessen. Maximalist fashion is a revival and celebration of joy.

Fashion tends to reflect culture, and according to fashion journalist Mina Dragani, the recent increase in maximalism may be a “contrary reaction to the mundanity of isolation.”3 Minimalism may have its place when organizing your home, but engaging in maximalist fashion brings forth an excitement that people are craving after months of wearing solely loungewear.

Various designers have caught on to this need for something more and

¹ “The Most Inspiring Coco Chanel Quotes to Live By,” Vogue Australia, Jan. 16, 2018. 2 Maria Marra-Alvarez, “Minimalism/Maximalism,” New York: The Museum at FIT, 2019. 3 Mina Dragani, “A Return to Maximalism: How Fashion Fights Back against Covid-19,” L'Officiel USA, March 4, 2021. are creating collections with tasteful touches of maximalism and escapism. During Paris fashion week, Louis Vuitton showed its Spring/Summer 2022 collection. The runway show was full of opulent designs that beautifully blended maximalism with the refined timelessness that the brand is renowned for. There were glamorous shimmering dresses with exaggerated hip structures, glimmering slips over jeans and oversized blazers atop intricately beaded skirts.4 The complete collection is anything but simple.

Etro’s Spring 2022 Ready-to-Wear collection also illustrates maximalism at its finest. This dreamy show was full of nostalgic pieces that felt both exciting and whimsical. The collection features many pairs of funky jeans with printed knit tops and accessories. There’s also a variety of printed dresses paired with over-the-top jackets. The combination of pattern and texture across multiple looks provides the perfect, eye-catching inspiration for bringing maximalist fashion into your own closet.

The maximalist resurgence does not stop at womenswear—Dior’s Spring 2022 Menswear collection featured vivid looks that fused a multitude of design elements. The collection is full of color and tasteful mixed prints.5 The scope of maximalist fashion in recent collections is representative of how many ways there are to engage in this aesthetic.

One particularly inspiring maximalist fashion icon is University of Wisconsin-Madison alum, Iris Apfel. Apfel is known for her unique fashion and interior design choices. Her philosophies about style are the opposite of Chanel’s. In fact, her Instagram biography is, “more is more, less is a bore.”6 Apfel’s unapologetic self-expression exemplifies the ability of maximalism to help people step into their own power through style.

With the world’s largest collection of couture jewelry and a talent for mix-

⁴ “Louis Vuitton Goes Full Maximalist for Spring/ Summer 2022,” V Magazine, Oct. 5th, 2021. 5 Anders Christian Madsen, “Dior Men Spring 2022 Menswear Collection,” Vogue, June 25, 2021. 6 “Iris Apfel Turns 100: 10 Unforgettable Quotes of Wisdom from the Style Icon,” Vogue Arabia, Aug. 29, 2021. ing bold prints, Apfel’s wonderfully bizarre taste exceeds expectations.7 Her uniqueness earned her a museum exhibition at the Met, titled, “Rara Avis: Selections from the Iris Apfel Collection.” “Rara Avis” translates to “Rare Bird of Fashion.” Accurately named, the collection explores “the power of dress and accessories to assert style above fashion, the individual above the collective.” 8

At 100 years old, Apfel and her style have revolutionized how many think about fashion. On her 100th birthday, Apfel wore a monochrome yellow ensemble with a voluminous tulle top, matching silky pants and accessories piled high. Years ago, when she was a student at the University of Wisconsin, she was one of the first women to wear jeans.9 Always doing something different and marching to the beat of her own drum, Apfel’s approach to style can influence us all.

While Apfel’s way of dressing may seem excessive, it is completely authentic to her. She is a true rule breaker and trendsetter. Apfel believes getting dressed is an extension of yourself; it should be something that makes you happy and it doesn’t need to make sense. As she explained, “It’s better to be happier than well-dressed.”10 At its core, style is not about how others perceive you, but how it enables you to step into your power.

There are no rules when you’re dressing daringly; the idea of “too much” is nonexistent. Lean in to what makes your style unique, and as long as you are enjoying the process of self-expression, you cannot fail. Let maximalism empower you and start embracing absurdity. ■

7 Amy Elliott, “Fashion Icon Iris Apfel Debuts Jewelry Collection with Bernardaud,”Galerie, Sept. 24, 2019. ⁸ Stephane Houy-Towner, “Rara Avias: Selections from the Iris Apfel Collection,” The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Sept. 13, 2005. 9 Katja Noschis Delaloye, “Fashion Icon Iris Apfel: 10 Interesting Facts,” Couture Consultancy, Nov. 13, 2019. 10 Ellie Wiseman, “Iris Apfel's 20 Best Quotes,” Grazia, June 10, 2020.