My sense of style has evolved dramatically over the years, and as I gradually approach my mid 30s, it is not uncommon to see me ditching cute lacy dresses in favour of a minimalist aesthetic that is not just age appropriate in comparison but also ranks higher in terms of versatility.

 

Why go minimalist?

The minimalist style is all about monochromatic shades of black, white, grey and neutrals, coupled with tailored cuts and modern silhouettes. More importantly, mixing and matching is a breeze and there are endless recipes for creating fresh new looks without having to constantly expand your wardrobe.

The minimalist style goes hand in hand with a minimalist wardrobe. So yes, there isn’t a need for a huge wardrobe to look presentable. Besides having more wardrobe space, I find that I am less restricted by fashion trends as this style is timeless. When you focus on quality instead of quantity, you will also get more mileage out of your wardrobe. Packing for trips, which used to be a time-consuming affair, now requires less time as my wardrobe is less cluttered and more organized.

How do I maintain a minimalist wardrobe?

In keeping with the minimalist style, whenever I come across something that I fancy these days, I’ll always ask myself these three questions:

“Will I still wear this 6 months or 1 year down the road?”

“Can I match this with at least 3-4 items in my wardrobe?”

“Can I rewear this a few times in a fortnight with different tops/bottoms/accessories without giving others the impression that I have no clothes to wear?”

These questions help me to stay focused when I shop and the likelihood of making an impulse buy is greatly diminished, much to the delight of my husband who is of the opinion that I already have more clothes than I would ever need in my lifetime.

Isn’t minimalism boring?

To be honest, this was exactly what I thought of minimalism when it first made headway in the world of fashion. How is it possible for anyone to look effortlessly chic by just putting together a few simple, basic wardrobe essentials? As cliche as this may sound, the beauty of minimalism lies in its simplicity. Simple does not equate to boring, and based on my personal experience, here are a few examples of how you can go about jazzing up the minimalist style.

1) Play with proportion

Think cropped tops paired with long skirts or culottes. You can choose to reveal just a sliver of skin to elongate your silhouette, or if you are feeling self-conscious after feasting during the festive season,  matching your cropped tops with high waist bottoms would do the trick just as well.

 It
is still possible to make a statement (without compromising on the
minimalist aesthetic) by adding a simple choker, a pair of reflective
sunglasses or edgy footwear to your outfit.

Not
a fan of accessorizing? Interesting silhouettes like an asymmetrical
hemline or off-shoulder/toga neckline will up your style quotient
instantly. I have worn this grey asymmetrical dress as a top paired with ripped jeans previously too. To amp up the glam factor, throw in a choker and put on some heels.

If
you follow me on instagram (@reginachow_sg), you might have found these
pictures familiar as these were the outfits that I packed for my recent
trip to Bangkok.For the record, I took about 20 minutes to pack everything that I needed for the 6-day trip! I guess it is not hard to see why I am such a fan of the minimalist style. What about you? Do you like this style too?