My Blog!: Minimalism: My Thoughts

Of the definable style choices that Amanda Brooks covers, I find minimalism both most intriguing and most unattainable. What I mean when I say "unattainable" is that I cannot imagine myself ever possessing enough self discipline to be a truly minimalistic dresser.

According to Amanda Brooks, minimalism is "about having less and enjoying the things you have more - it's about cutting through the excess to discover what is essential. Minimalist style requires discipline, consistency, and attention to quality. Most minimalists...are methodical about getting dresses and have a heightened sense of self-awareness. They are often devoted to certain brands for their guarantee of good cut, fabric quality, and reliability of design." (p. 113).

After years of being an eclectic, somewhat compulsive shopper, there's nothing I don't love about the idea of having less and enjoying the things you have more. Brooks goes so far as to say that the limited choices she had when attempting to dress like a minimalist made her feel relieved - I can definitely see how this might be the case. However, minimalism is clearly a style for those who don't get bored easily and who aren't swayed by trends. To put it simply: it ain't me, Babe.

However, most of the staples of the minimalist looks are things that you unarguably cannot live without.

SUCH AS!

A Little Black Dress

You can never go wrong with a little black dress. The general concept will never go out of style.

A White Button Down

(Image: eoline.com)

For a lot of women, the perfect white button down is something of a quest. I've never had a really nice, really perfect white button down because button down shirts are generally not made to fit my body type: if it fits in the bodice, it's too big in the waist but if it fits in the waist, it gapes in the bodice. However, I recently discovered a site that makes button downs specifically for women with this problem - it's nice because they'll still have a size to fit you regardless of how otherwise thin you are.

Long story short: there's no way any man or woman over the age of 13 can live without a white button down.

Perfect Black Pants

Same thing. I defy you to tell me how any grown up can live in this world without at least one pair of black pants. Typically, "black pants" call to mind black dress pants but don't count out the recent ubiquity of black leggings. And what about the Freddy Krueger quality of black leather pants? They will never completely die.