Minimalist Fashion Is Harder Than It Looks

Fashion, as we all know, almost always recycles itself. Flared jeans used to be the trend in the ’90s, though the hype eventually died down during the 2010s, when people became obsessed with skinny jeans.

Including me.

But when Taylor Swift wrote, “I come back stronger than a ’90s trend,” I suspect she might’ve had flared jeans in mind. Because what do you mean I’ve been seeing the trend resurface EVERYWHERE lately? And I myself am not immune to the charm! I bought a pair of very cute flared jeans last month, and after seeing how flattering they looked on a petite body…

I WANTED MORE!!!

My high school self would never have believed the change I’m going through right now. This is such a major life event. Back in my skinny-jeans era, I used to scream in protest every time my mom handed me something flared—or even remotely bootcut.

But see, I’m not exactly a fashionista myself. I don’t always follow trends, but I would be lying if I said I’m not obsessed with a good outfit. Even when there’s nobody to impress, I still try to dress well. It’s one of the little things that boosts my mood, I tell ya.

Lately, though, I’ve been gravitating toward simpler, chic outfits. My Pinterest board is filled with this particular clean aesthetic. And naturally, I decided to style myself the way I imagined it: chic, clean, and minimalist.

But for something that looks this simple, the outfit style is surprisingly hard to pull off.

I mean, I get it. It looks effortless: just a plain blouse, plain trousers, and a matching bag. But one thing I never realized about the clean minimalist aesthetic is that you need a distinct sense of personality to really make it work.

And I think I still lack the “soul” that makes the overall style feel less generic—no matter how much I try to elevate it with jewelry.

So now I’m wondering: if any of you have tips on how to make a clean minimalist style feel more alive, please let me know.

Or else I’ll just stay stuck in my not-so-clean style… which, honestly, I’m still enjoying anyway.

If you like this post, you might also enjoy The Prettiest Slip-Ons I Didn’t Know I Needed and Some of My Beach-y Outfits.