Who really wants to be a minimalist anyway? Written by a true maximalist (featuring a recurrent debate on if you can be both.)

Whose Instagram or Pinterest feeds are full of endless scenes of monochrome and marble set in simplistic wooden furnishings or modeled out in stone. It’s ok, no shame, put your hands up. *waits for imaginary crowd to timidly one by one rise*

I know mine definitely was at one point. Here’s the thing for a long time I really tried to be a minimalist (I know seems unlikely now), through social media it drew me in, it looked so sleek and effortless. Every blogger who was a minimalist, in his or her own right, had a feed that looked structured, there is no better word quite frankly it looked cool. That’s just it, it exuded cool. 

I mean sure it was definitely alien to me, looking at apartments whose only furnishings and content seemed to be cacti, while mine features endless piles of vintage magazines, hats, and bags hanging on the only plant I can just about manage to keep alive. (I should check on that, so that statement is left to be confirmed.) My only question: Where is all their stuff, quite simply, how?

Perhaps the knowledge I chose vintage YSL and never-ending supplies of denim over friends by giving up my guestroom for a dressing room, I know how social and considerate of me, or the fact I’m someone who often packs two suitcases including a different coat for each day points to the ever so obvious sign that I’m quite the ‘maximalist’, at least in style evidently. 

What is a maximalist you may ask? Well in turn it’s quite literally the opposite of minimalist. A quick google search later; 

In terms of fashion; it’s more along the lines of more is more, it’s an appreciation of statement pieces and excess. 

One cannot deny the increase in extravagance in pieces brought out by designers in the last few years, Stella McCartney platform shoes coated in stars (from a solid 5’3 girls’ perspective I can’t fault trainers that add height) or tory Burch in 2017 created a Gemini link printed bag,.

Modern seasons of haute couture are seen bringing the noise, no more minimalist clothes that mumble and whisper. Gucci is a personal favorite for colour and exuding loudness. Alessandro Michele knows the way to any maximalist heart, through signature florals on all layers, encrusted embellished bees, even managing a sports logo lucky Yankees, let’s hope the Met’s don’t take Fendi next? Oh, and how could I forget chequered everything, Michele even frees your busy mind by bringing out your inner child with cartoon ornamentations.

I could obsess on and on about Gucci and Alessandro’s brilliantness for pages and pages. But there are so many more designer’s continuing the exuberant trend. Dolce and Gabana, though ill come to décor let me just brush over the amazing collaboration with smeg where you can have the statement dolce print all over those kitchen appliances you’ll never use expect to impress that date who’s over for dinner, to show that you can be ‘Susie homemaker’ with your dolce gabana baking mixer. 

High end isn’t the only place you can find maximalist; look to high street brands such as Zara, Topshop boutique sending a very Chanel or Miu Miu ss18 vibe, with pale pink, fur and embellished shoes featuring amongst the boxed shirts and gold hoops.  If anything, I think high street is where to look for the in-between, they don’t have the luxury of choosing their clientele, or influencing their clients to hand over their inner and outer style along with their entire income with a drop of a fur pom pom key ring with your face on it, or a plain white shirt with giant sleeves. They have to cater to both the minimal and the maximalist in all of us.  

But Maximalist style in fashion can be seen throughout the eras; Alexander McQueen ran a collection for Givenchy in 1997, which of course would be no surprise if you adore McQueen’s dark embodied collections to come, had the models garnished in skulls and embellishment galore. Gianni Versace cannot be unnamed in the epitome of maximalist fashion, his collections for Versace in the 80s’ and 90’s shaped opulence, sexuality and transformed fashions shows for decades to come. Look to the infamous Versace SS91 collection, known as the ‘pop’ collection, which saw leopard print and baroque merge into one with a toping of jewels for good measure. Donatella didn’t tone down the brand, she continued her brother’s extravagance maybe even sibling rivalry can be seen with current Versace seasons furthered with golden galore, print, jeans covered with distress and their label plastered over everything. Who doesn’t love a bit of healthy sibling competition. 

So now to venture into the opposing style. A look back at the simplistic cuts of Muccia Prada in 1998 or Margiela inventing oversized, deconstructed unpolished pieces, focused on one colour block. This introduction copied by current minimalist brands continuously; oversized and white, yeezy? Acne? Off white? 

Even high-end brands joined the simplicity and minimal bandwagon, Phoebe Philo at Céline introduced this reduction of over the top luxury to the new wave of relaxed luxury, a possibility not many thought possible. 

Now in current millennial minimalism, you look to the scandi-fashion havens; Totem, Acne, cos, or Sofia Wallenstam’s House of Dagmar. Or look at Joseph, as a brit I must mention them when talking of minimalist style patriotism and all, they are the go to for blazers, blazers and more blazers. This is a time when suits and blazers are far from office attire. From someone who can be spotted in an oversized blazer, men’s suit or silk shirt at least 5 out of the 7 days in the week, while working in coffee shops and the occasional modernized social workspace, never truly stepping foot in the traditional office, I can vouch that Minimalism has brought a new meaning to tailoring. Go oversized, structured and sharp in your everyday. 

I am partial to minimalist style, particularly 90’s minimalism, when the extravagance of the 80’s opulence was reduced to structure and simplistic palettes. I’m a sucker for a basic structured suit on a woman think the ysl ‘le smoking’ shoot by Helmut newton. Now this is epitome of minimalism, however the next day I’m more inclined towards a mustard silk shirt and a snake print skirt with knee high boots. Definitely not on the minimal spectrum. 

This is exactly my argument I am a maximalist no denial, but I’m also a minimalist. I want and truly believe I can be both. In style I think it’s essential to me, I am in the in between, waiting for Eleven, Mike, Dustin and Lucas to come join me on the future of minimal maximalist euphoria.  

In terms of maximalist décor, "Less is more," said Mies van der Rohe, however this entails to said monochrome, wood and only 2 items of furnishings per room outline of minimalism. Think instead baroque period, coatings of velvet, art on every wall, print, colour, texture and more print. Now I’m not envisioning myself sitting with a glass of champagne in Versailles or god forbid trump tower but those are key examples of maximalist decor. Who’s had tea at sketch and thought about the ways in which you could convince your significant other that a full pink room, and indoor trees are key for your next redo. I luckily don’t have said other to worry about, always looking on the positive side, though I still can’t say I have a full colour coordinated room or an indoor palm tree yet. Key word yet. 

I recently moved into my flat after having it renovated, and swiftly pretended I was the hottest interior designer one could ask for, so of course like all top designers do, trailed through instagram and online for inspiration. Perhaps this is what stemmed my desire to try minimalism again or perhaps this also quickly made me very aware how maximalist I was, and so the constant battle commenced again, swords at the ready. 

The common belief that organization is solely correlated with minimalism is incorrect, maximalist style doesn’t mean a haphazard, mess. My living room is the epitome of a mix of both, nude line drawings on the wall yet stacks of fashion magazines lining the corners, a cactus or two next to the green velvet adorned on my sofa. 

 Further this with intertwining the two on your body, I say I love a straight cut shirt paired with a flamboyant snake print pvc skirt, or an oversized suit with my cream and multi coloured printed louis Vuitton clutch (thank you grandma for the hand me down).  

I Like minimalist decor but maximalist style, I like minimalist style on Mondays but maximalist Tuesdays through till Sunday. Can’t I be both?

I mull over the concept that I’m a born or definitely brought up maximalist, think bright pink matching overalls as a child and endless jelly shoes. (could my mum have predicted the fashion trends to come?) but have become influenced and drawn in by minimalism. 

And here I am answering my own recurrent bellowing question, with a resounding yes. I hope there are some of you out there who share my opinion and perhaps are also floating in the middle of the two extremes, visiting the two extremities on a regular occurrence like a quick trip with Ryan air, without the delays, ques and extra baggage cost.