Simplicity: Mature or Defeatist?

About a week ago, Andrew wrote this:

"perhaps fashion doesn't 'evolve' because it doesn't need to, it just has to keep periodically changing until the next batch of fashion forward 20-somethings comes along to replace the more contented, aging 30-somethings that have more or less settled into a fashion identity after growing tired of waiting for fashion to evolve."

Well that, I thought, is depressing.

Why?

Because it means that my adventurous nature will slowly die, and I,

like the rest of the world,

will settle for a comforting sense of simplicity.

I KNOW.

Wasn't it only two days ago that I was gushing about my newfound fondness for less!?

Simplicity, I said oh so dramatically, is beautiful. It allows our true selves to shine through.

And it does.

Sometimes.

But what really struck me about Andrew's comment was the last line and statement that we all eventually grow "tired of waiting for fashion to evolve."

Is that it? Is that why we return to the minimalist, most basic (banal?) versions of our sartorial selves? Is that why black becomes the ultimate basic, blazers the #1 go-to, and functional footwear the most sought-after solution?

Do we just resign ourselves to the notion that our "style" should, as a rule, shed itself of extraneous adornments in favor of a "mature" sense of minimalism?

Do we give up the notion that a profound stylistic evolution is possible?

I don't know about you guys, but it seems to me that the "theme" for fashion as of late is reduction. Reduction of color, reduction of shape, reduction of variation.

Monochrome, single print ensembles, single sole pumps, sheer fabrics, shapeless silhouettes, etc, etc, etc.

Almost as if any sort of exploration requires too much effort to be cool.

But why?

Is this just the end of another generational cycle? Is the "fashion blogger" generation reaching the end of its experimental phase? Is "the next batch of fashion forward 20-somethings" about to replace us oh-so-maturely minimalist selves?

Have we "grow[n] tired of waiting for fashion to evolve"?

chambray shirt: Anthropologie, leather skirt: H&M, shoes: Tildon via Nordstrom

Is it natural and OK to feel fulfilled by simplicity?

Or is it our only choice?

Cheers.

9 comments:

Kirby BeeJuly 10, 2013 at 6:09 AM
But surely if fashion didn't evolve we'd still be wearing bloomers and hoop skirts and society would frown at my wearing of mens trousers, (there is a very good chance that society does that anyway).

Despite that I tend to agree with the idea of settling into a style, though I think it's more about a growing sense of self as opposed to any notion of growing tired of waiting for fash-un. Our teens and twenties are a time of experimentation, and by the time we hit the big three oh, we've got a pretty good grip on what we like and don't like. For some that just might be simplicity, and hey simple is cool.

But I hope, in the way that I do, that reaching our thirties doesn't mean the end of trying new shit and a wardrobe full of black blazers and functional flats, cause if that's the case my clock is ticking and I still haven't found the perfect structured, yet draped tweed jacket with suede elbow patches!

x
Gloria la borsa di mary poppinsJuly 10, 2013 at 8:21 AM
Beautiful pictures my dear! your blog is so lovely!:)
we can follow each other if you want (gfc, bloglovin,..) :)
http://www.borsadimarypoppins.com/
xoxo Gloria
Pardon My FashionJuly 10, 2013 at 8:30 AM
You're just riding your own personal style wave! It works cuz you do minimalism so well! The 90's are BACK- and not just grunge. Minimalism, too. Calvin Klein, Jil Sander, Helmut Lang and a slew of others put minimalism on the map during the 90's. The minimalism of the 90's was essentially a palette cleanse from the excesses and exuberant styles of the 80's. Are you cleaning your style soul?!?!

XOXO Britt
AnonymousJuly 11, 2013 at 1:10 AM
Hey Gab! I really enjoyed reading your comments on my blog :) Thanks a lot for all the kind words seriously! Enough about me though.... your blog rocks girl! And your style is flawless! Perfect pics.. I love it all!

I'm following you on BlogLovin and Facebook! Hope you follow back ;)

xxxxx

http://www.fashionnarcissism.com/
Swati AilawadiJuly 13, 2013 at 4:26 PM
A lot times, a lot of us experiment only to find that one style that fits us just right. For those people, yes they fall into a comfort style some years down the line. But, in my view, if the reason you experiment is to evolve... that is an innate nature. It would still be there when you turn 30.

As for the reduction trend, I have fallen for it as well. And yes I love minimalism today.. but with an edge. Who knows about tomorrow :)

Swati @ The Creative Bent
Katie @ Loverly SheJuly 14, 2013 at 3:50 PM
This post made me do a big hmmmmmm. I don't know - maybe over time we get more comfortable with what we like and don't like, and don't need to experiment as hard to feel settled in that. Maybe that's where "simplicity" comes in. Or maybe, "simplicity" is another way of saying we just give up because we feel like experimenting is for the young and reckless and we're not sure that we are worth the effort anymore? I am really not sure. Ask us all again in a decade ;)

Love this look, your blog, your thoughts, everything. I have Blog-loved you!

AnonymousJuly 14, 2013 at 5:36 PM
The clothes keep getting simpler and cheaper because manufacturers want to make the most amount of money for the least amount of work. That is my theory. Also most people don't appreciate the time and money it takes to make a more complex look, so they just go with whatever is cheapest.