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Style

How to Build a Minimalist Wardrobe

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Columbia Barnard chapter.

The fashion industry is constantly changing, which can make it hard to stay content with your current wardrobe. In 2018, fashion that is bold, big and ugly was considered stylish, with the star of this trend being large, chunky (and in my opinion, hideous) sneakers and ridiculously oversized coats. You either had to go big (literally), or go home. Last summer, we still had not fully moved on from this look, and so oversized blazers (preferably with a pair of biker shorts) were in season. Yet, there is one trend that has been circulating the Internet for some time and is not planning to leave anytime soon — minimalism. The minimalist (life)style is all about keeping it simple and timeless — basic colors, streamlined shapes, and a minimal amount of clothing items.

If you’re someone like me who refuses to become an active contributor to our destructive and harmful industry of fast fashion, or even simply just looking to declutter your wardrobe and adopt a more minimalist approach to your fashion sense (maybe even build a capsule wardrobe!), take a look at 10 essential clothing items for inspiration:

A white t-shirt

Women Crew Neck T-Shirt (UNIQLO)

A button-down silk blouse

Silk Blouse (& Other Stories)

A striped t-shirt

https://instagram.com/p/8CbIDzp6Cg/?taken-by=hey_im_kate&&&&hide-caption=yes

Black and White Cotton T-shirt (Everlane)

A chunky knit sweater

Chunky Ribbed Sweater (& Other Stories)

A pair of skinny jeans

High Rise Skinny Jeans (Levi’s)

A pair of leggings

Black Leggings (Aerie) 

A pair of white denim jeans

White Jeans (Levi’s)

A black blazer

Basic Black Blazer (Zara)

A leather jacket (preferably faux if you can!)

Black Faux Leather Jacket (Zara)

A trench coat

Belted Trench Coat (Zara)

Although minimalism does put a large emphasis on simple patterns and neutral colors, this does not mean that you should only shop for black, white and grey items. Minimalism works best if you can find a balance between incorporating timeless, classic pieces with a seasonal item! After all, fashion is all about personalization and finding out what works for you — there is no right way to be a trendy minimalist!

Grace Nguyen

Columbia Barnard '23

Grace is a Vietnamese freshman at Barnard College. She loves online-shopping, reading YA Fiction/Contemporary and fangirling, binging on murder mysteries + cooking shows and walking around aimlessly with music on.