Minimalism Top: Photo via Young & Able, The Row Pre-Fall 2015 Collection
10 | MODA Magazine | Spring 2019
In fashion, less is more‌ except for when more is more. Minimalism and maximalism exist in a constant battle in the world of design, cycling in and out of popularity. For the past few years, maximalism has proven the reigning aesthetic, but minimalism still persists in street style and indie brands. So, what pushes the zeitgeist towards one extreme or another? The 90s saw the rise of the minimalist greats: Calvin Klein, Max Mara, and Jill Sanders led the pack. The fashion world had just finished up with neon sweaters and shoulder-pads, and so for many fatigued fashionistas, minimalism was a breath of fresh air. Minimalist clothing allowed the body to shine through instead of obscuring it under layers of fabric and sequins. But by Y2K, it seems that breath of fresh air had grown stale. The early 2000s are remembered for metallics, PVC, and glittery lip gloss. Yet, as the years progressed, phones morphed into sleek obsidian tablets. Minimalism swung back into fashion again, to complement the changing look of our tech. By 2015, something has shifted yet again. Alessandro Michele had the reigns as Gucci’s creative director. Michele debuted his new vision in the Fall/Winter 2015 show, which showcased layer upon layer of prints, knits, and furs. Before Michele, the cult brand Meadham Kirchhoff gained a name for maxing out maximalism. From 2011 to 2015, Meadham Kirchhoff decked out their runways in rainbow balloons, tinsel, and disco lights, sending models out in technicolor explosions of sequins, fur, and glittering face-paint. Maximalist nonagenarian Iris Apfel became an accidental fashion icon, known for her enormous bangles and wacky layered prints. So, what drives this cycle of minimalism and maximalism? The aesthetics reflect different values, and their waxing and waning popularity largely depends upon which of those values are central to culture at the time. Minimalism focuses on reducing waste, rejecting commercialism, embracing simplicity, and above all else: exceptionally high quality. The 90s, sobered
