Category: Fashion

Grijs

Loraine is an Amsterdam-based designer. She is prominently known for her minimalist styling, photography, and also for making beautiful fabric creations – even her packaging is very simple and stripped down to the basics.

Her blog Grijs, with its very simple and clean design, is where she showcases her work, process and inspirations. Even her post titles are reduced to symbols and characters that reflect feelings and thoughts.

For me, navigating her website is always a fresh, calming experience and the virtual equivalent of an open, airy, light-filled room.

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Vera Wang Pre-Fall 2011

Pull out your Catholic school uniform correctness of blue boy blazers and over the knee-high, pleated charcoal wool skirts. Prep school status has been glamorized by Vera Wang. Funny that I remember, there was a question mark over my stiff school uniform growing up. As a keeper of tradition, the restricted dress code could not help me shine with cool confidence.

Vera Wang’s Pre-Fall 2011 collection projected a British shoolgirl theme with a sort of country, baroque dressiness. Ms. Wang’s prep school girl had an youthful edge and tough image: mini pleated skirts with over the knee leggings; abbreviated cardigans with a touch of leather and fur; an abundance of charcoal hues.

A pared-back, dark, boyish take on the über polished and put together A+ girl—arguably my uniform of choice.

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Jil Sander Spring 2011 RTW

If minimalism is about exercising restraint, then Raf Simons is one of the best in the business. Just like his recent mens wear line, his minimalist approach to color in the Jil Sander Spring 2011 RTW line is phenomenal.

There are so many things to love about this line, but of note I adore the way crisp tailoring is contrasted with the baggy, ‘oversized’ look that Raf is known for in his Raf by Raf Simons line of clothing for men. The way stripes have been employed also give Daniel Buren a run for his money.

In a recent interview in Man About Town, Raf Simons states:

I know that Jil worked around very little, but it was shocking to go through the archives and see how much her designs had aged. It was no longer modern. I felt the brand needed to be a little more conceptual — to break out. It needed to break its own rules in order to stand any chance in the long run — with or without me.

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Aether Apparel

If you haven’t yet managed to find yourself a suitable minimalist piece of outerwear for this winter, have a look at Aether apparel.

Aether specializes in producing technical performance outerwear in a clean cut minimalist design. It was founded less than a year ago by two former film producers from Los Angeles. They felt there was a gap in the market:

We could either go to the obvious performance-driven clothing lines, thus sacrificing design and style, or shop the more aesthetically pleasing lines and sacrifice performance.

And so they created Aether: clothing that does combine technical fabrics with sophisticated design.

Owning one of these myself I can really say: this one’s a winner!

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siwa・紙和

Naoto Fukasawa, naturally a well known name here at Minimalissimo, collaborates with ONAO, a Japanese paper company, creating a new line of products called siwa・紙和.

The bags are composed of wood pulp and polyolefin using washi-suki paper, a method developed by ONAO, which is extremely strong and resistant to water, despite its paper appearance.

This is why I’m in love for Japanese designs, it’s the way they can take the traditional, and use it in such a contemporary way and of course being functional at the same time. (Thx, Mikaela!)

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Balmain RTW Spring 2011

Sometimes you want a bit of a thrill—rich punk chic. Christophe Decamin, Creative Director of Balmain delivered couture punk for his spring 2011 ready to wear collection. Super fun that Haute Couture Balmain house encourages girls to wear our beloved stained jeans without a little—or a lot of—provocation.  And we couldn’t be happier looking effortlessly rebellious, with the casual by nature, blue stuff.

The focus at Balmain for spring/summer 2011 was rigor with sensuality. Daria Werbowy’s energy confirmed it, as she walked the runway to show off the white corset effect. The repertoire of stripped-down and punky skinny jeans, t-shirts and jackets was accented with safety pins and studs; all this paired with fabulous pointy-toe pumps.

Christophe Decami, an unassuming couturier, made it clear his way was not Paris-minimalism. No matter: considering fashion’s current utilitarian mood, I’m thrilled with a revival of simple street wear upped with tough chic. Toned down, holed jeans sensationally suit the simplistic state of my free spirited, design sensibility. No doubt.

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Arcteryx Veilance

Now that the cold is really starting to set in, it is the perfect time to start shopping for some new outerwear. One new line that has been designed to weatherproof you in minimalist style is Arc’teryx ‘s Veilance 2010 fall collection.

The men’s collection of outerwear is a high quality line. Using only the best available materials and production techniques with meticulous attention to detail. These pared down waterproof jackets use welded and blind stitched seams. The result: these jackets almost appear as one single piece of fabric, with a very minimalist and clean silhouette.

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Elin Klevmar’s Graduation Collection

It’s always refreshing to see amazing things coming out of graduation shows. Elin Klevmar from the Swedish School of Fashion & Textiles was shown at London Fashion Week this year for the first time, with her ultra comfortable looking collection.

About her collection, Elin comments:

I have always had an attraction towards the simple and the honest.
And that was also my aim with this collection, to speak my loudest in a silent way.
No need for shouting out loud.
No need for unnecessary explanations.
Aiming for that, every component and detail added plays an important role.
A constant delicate balancing act.
Where the space in between, the restful clean silent space is the most talkative.

Personally, I’m loving the feeling of honesty in this collection. Very MUJI-esque.

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Adidas SLVR S/S Lookbook

I’m starting to like Adidas more and more, especially after seeing the SLVR S/S lookbook for 2011.

Sportswear is finally back to looking amazing again with the beautiful mix with classic items. Shot by Karim Sadli and styled by Jay Massacre, the results are not surprisingly minimalist and stunning.

Can’t wait to work out next summer!

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The Fold

How’s this for a minimalist billfold?

The Fold, by New York shoemakers Leffot, is nothing more than a piece of leather folding around your bills.

The beautiful quality Horween shell cordovan comes in the colours rust, dark brown, and natural.

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