Minimalist style: 6 outfits to do more with less – Gimmick #9

Compass, map, binoculars, flashlight.

Do you have this on you?

Good, because we're going on an expedition and it's now 🗺️🔍

I'm taking you with me to explore an area that we rarely dwell on: minimalist style.

What is it? The answer is not simple.

So, I venture to offer you a definition and I set off in search of the secrets of "less is more".

A good first challenge in front of the camera. Besides, I have a game for you: one sip of grapefruit juice when I say "volume", two when I say "refined" and three when I say "uniform".

To your citrus fruits! Ready? Go! 🎬

What is minimalist style?

It’s about doing with less. But not necessarily fewer clothes.

It can also be fewer colors, fewer shapes, fewer details, less relief.

According to this approach, these two looks can be described as minimalist:

Credit: The Union Project e-shop (chino Norse Projects).

Credit: COS Lookbook, FW 2020.

Now you're wondering: how is the second look minimalist?

You are quite right. It is more complex and it may seem counterintuitive to place it in this category.

In fact, this is where the minimalist style becomes interesting because it consists of drawing a certain complexity from the sobriety of an outfit. We stick to elementary shapes, uniform surfaces, clean lines, smooth textures and at the same time, we play with shapes and volumes to entertain the eye.

How to apply this to your everyday outfits? Here are 6 examples.

1. Tim Dessaint - (Almost) soft minimalist tailoring

First: How is this outfit minimalist?

There is the sobriety of the colors: gray, white and navy blue. Elementary shades of the male wardrobe.

There is the sobriety of the pieces: a coat with fairly strict tailoring codes, a dark turtleneck, trousers whose smooth material evokes that of suits.

There is also the search for uniformity: the dark top and bottom under the coat, the medium gray of the latter which comes close to it. All this forms a block.

So, how does this outfit delight us despite its apparent sobriety?

There is the faux-plain of the coat: a chevron pattern that subtly stands out. Moreover, this majestic coat dazzles us with its imposing tailored collar, its belt and its oversized volume that I find well worn.

Let's talk about volume: it's a lever that's used a lot in the minimalist looks that I've come across. Here, we have the coat but also the pants that bring a completely assumed excess. The belt comes to mark the waist and accentuate the draped effect.

At the bottom, the sneakers come and break everything and I love it.

Hats off to Mr. Dessaint. Give him dark soft tailoring and he dazzles with light streetwear.

Why didn't the style police arrest him? Here is his statement:

1. Although white is a contrasting color, it is difficult to get a simpler color.
2. The sneakers are stripped of any colorful details, which camouflages the eccentricity of the design.
3. The break in the pants partially hides it

I don't know about you, but I think it can circulate 👮‍♂️

2. Kenan Kadi - The monochrome technique

Another weapon appreciated by the Jedi of minimalist style: monochrome. Here, a range of neutral tones. To defend the place of this look here, I can also mention the simplicity of most of the pieces: white tee-shirt, cardigan without turn-up on the collar with tone-on-tone buttons and smooth beige chinos.

The whole gives an impression of continuity by creating uniform and refined areas. .

Kenan Kadi also focuses on volumes: oversized cardigan and wide-cut chinos.

He shows us two gimmicks to appropriate to add personality: a hat rolled up over the ears and a cardigan casually tucked into the side of the pants. Two nice ways to appropriate your clothes and not stay in an overly academic approach.

Ah, the sneaker trick again. This electric blue gives a boost to the monochrome. At the same time, the white areas of the pair make the connection with the t-shirt and the transition with the chinos.

Again, I love it.

3. Jordan Bunker – The True Minimalist

We're back to the first-degree approach to minimalist style. Remember the outfit with the chinos and the white t-shirt alone at the top? It's the same mechanics.

The difference is that Mr. Bunker here knew how to give more interest to his outfit:

• Again, wide leg pants (with drape). Because it's cool.
• A slightly wrinkled t-shirt, tucked into the pants but not too much. To accentuate the waist with a natural look
• Accessories that gently enrich. Watch, belt, glasses

4. Fredrik Risvik - The power of the pimp

Like the previous one, this one is particularly simple and easy to reproduce.

If I want you to get started, you can start here: a monochrome of navy blues , white sneakers and a mac.

Once again, the volume is almost the only flavor of the outfit. The mac is loose and long with a straight fall. So, Fredrik Risvik opts for carrot-cut pants with a rolled bottom. It's a good idea, because unlike straight and brittle pants, it brings structure to the whole. He thus prevents his silhouette from drowning in it.

Small mention to the slightly raised cap. Another gimmick to take up if you like the latter.

5. Paul Binam - Layering and minimalism, it's possible

I particularly like Paul Binam's outfits and this one should make you understand why.

It proves two things.

Already, layering and minimalism can go well together: at the top, the three layers form a single-color block. Visually, this refers to the simplicity and uniformity sought in the minimalist style. However, the eye does not lack details to be entertained. The layering is beautiful and the texture of the fleece contrasts with the rest.

Then, he shows us that a minimalist look can also play on the design of the pieces to get out of the monotony. I'm thinking of the famous vest, the shirt and the shoes.

Here, another hat rolled up over the ears.

6. Kentaro – Vintage minimalism

Don't throw tomatoes at me: I know these two pieces aren't necessarily vintage. However, I didn't use that sacred word for nothing.

I think this man's outfit , shows us that we don't have to resort to new-looking clothes or "trendy" designs like we often see in the world of " minimalist fashion".

We could very well reproduce this assembly with a pair of French chinos and a shirt found in a thrift store.

To make these two blocks of color entertaining, once again it's the volume that does almost all the work.

I can also point out the pleats on the pants, the design of the sneakers halfway between GAT and streetwear, as well as the way the belt is tied, another gimmick that I note in my exploration notebook.

Other accounts to follow to continue 🎁

If you liked these minimalist outfits, then I'm glad I showed them to you. .

If you want more, I have a gift for you.

Here is a short list against inspiration failures:

thepacman82

sams.goods

falzuh

theaestheticminimalist

scandinaviancloset

imdanielsimmons

So I leave you with that, your map and your compass for the future!