Thread for those who like classic, minimalist clothing.

[IwankaTramp]

Don’t know if there are others who like this sort of thing on here but thought I would start a thread for those who favour quality, pared down looks.

What are your best finds of late? What accessories are you looking at to update your basics?

I am currently loving stuff from The Row but it is beyond my budget.
I tend to shop at The White Company and Pure Collection and pick up shoes etc at Jigsaw.

No, I've looked through loads of blogs, and they all seem to be the exact opposite! If anyone knows, maybe they could direct us!

Just realised something about this style of dressing.

It’s dressing in styles that can be feminine, masculine or neutral. But concentrating on aspects of the clothing that are more normally the concerns in menswear.

So neutral/subdued palette. Emphasis on cut, silhouette and fabric quality. Minimal and functional accessorisation e.g. a belt, or a watch, or a scarf. No or little emphasis on embellishment, decoration. Relatively small pool of garments and styles, execution being the indication of the quality, rather than novelty or innovation.

There’s a seriousness, a professionalism, a solidity to that adds gravitas. It’s clothing for people who want to be respected and taken seriously.

BertrandRussell you've hit the nail on the head. Absolutely. That's why I often look in menswear sections. You get pure cotton shirts, quality wool sweaters etc, no embellishments, appliqué, fancy buttons or - horror - those dreadful exposed zips. I'm small but have found size S is ok, plus I like looser clothing.

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im small and i have crazy curly hair so subconsciously to counter it i dress in a minimalist way i think. I love jigsaw. love things that are simple but not boring. love my colours, rust, olive.

I’m what I would call a classic dresser...but drop me out when it comes to Cos! I don’t see Cos as ‘classic’. Shapeless and doesn’t flatter the female form unless you’re very thin and you want to appear edgy and androgynous or overweight and you want to hide under a sack. Not being nasty, I just hate what Cost stands for. The style ethos is awful.

I like tailoring. I like good quality fabrics. I like properly cut clothing. I like neutral colours with prudent use of accent colours.

XingMing was it Ichi? webshop.ichi.biz/

I’ve started replacing my RTW clothes by making my own: Merchant and Mills have great fabrics.

clionba, some of my favourite fashion blogs are these:

For Classic Vintage clothes: www.harlowdarling.com/
For Classic shoes: www.xylondon.com/blog
For Minimalists that love vintage style: asmallwardrobe.com/

I think minimalism is a lifestyle choice not just a fashion.

Thanks for the thought Ginsliger, but I don't think it was. I shall go back to the shop one day soon, and have another look!

Thank you @Bourgainvillia - I'll have a look. The ones usually recommended on S&B ( bum look 40, poppy's style etc) don't do it for me.

Bourgainvillia
I wouldn't have chosen those shoes as being classic minimalist.
It's very subjective isn't it ?

3TresTrois - I used to have exactly the same opinion about Cos - I didn't get it and didn't like the 'look'. However, for some reason I tried something on once and now I'm hooked.

The styles are really well made and well cut - they wash well and still look good years later. I've never had a button fall off or hem come down in the few weeks after I've bought it (unlike some other expensive high-street - looking at you Reiss). The t-shirts, trousers and knitwear are exceptional. Some of the dresses have made me laugh out loud as they are literally tents - but others are gorgeous. I probably get the most compliments when wearing Cos.

I am tall - but have big boobs and a bit too much of a tummy, so not super skinny - probably a Topshop size 14 / M&S 10/12.

That said - the lank-haired, stooping models with their vacant 'Cos' face give me the rage.

Totally agree with Thrice and LesTrois about COS. Their quality is fab, and I love the natural fibres (loathe acrylic and viscose jersey esp, onjectvto high end, expensive stuff made of mmf) but the styling is mostly tricky and unflattering fir me. Have found a few nice pieces of knitwear.

Someone with a brightly couloured friend made me laugh.....I have a fushia loving friend who calll what I wear “sludge”

I’m going to try to link my “Looks I like” Pinterest board. I use it as inspiration, try to copy the looks.

think this is it classic more than minimal I think

I think COS really doesn’t suit some body types. I am tall but quite curvy and it doesn’t matter how much I try on, it doesn’t work.

I do love Arket though. Their clothes work much better for my shape.

Oh dear lord, Thrice! That model!! Just looking at her depresses the hell out of me!

Cos make me so cross sometimes. I I cannot stand their too-cool-for- school models or their useless website. But on the rare occasions I get to a real store I always find something. I like it that they don’t do bodycon - it makes a refreshing change.

Floisme
All my clothes were handmade until I was about 13 when I rebelled and saved up my pocket money to buy from a shop. I also dug my heels in and refused to learn to sew myself which I've regretted ever since.

Are you me?

I agree with PaulHollywood's and BertrandRussell's ruminations and definitions.

Love a classic look, but my budget is limited. Luckily I have a good thrift shop within easy driving distance and I have built a wardrobe I am happy with - lots of dark colours, classic shapes and styles (tweed jacket, black cashmere sweaters, jeans without rips or sanded patches, cardigans including a grey cardigan coat that I bought last week). In general fine fabrics and yarns.

DryWhite - great board!

I’m a 14/16 and l wear loads of Cos. I am tall though. I would class Cos and Arket as minimalist.

Not sure who I’d class as Classic. That Gary Weiber brand or whatever it is?

No-one's mentioned Joseph yet. (Hi BTW).

This is my aesthetic. My go-tos are Jospeh, Winser London, APC, MeandEm, Jigsaw and Marni or Sonia Rykiel for when I'm flush.

I do have a bit of classic YSL and Dior New Look too.

I do like Cos too. I have had some really nice bits from there, but as PP's say, you do need to visit the shops or at least know how their shapes work for you.

I'm tall and slim but have got a bit titty as I've hit my mid-40s which does require a bit of a re-think, shape-wise.

I have found my tribe on this thread too! I love Margaret Howell, Joseph, John Smedley and Agnès B and also have things from places like Uniqlo Cos and Arket. I used to get shoes only from Emma Hope, Russell & Bromley and Jimmy Choo, but I have discovered that Michael Kors produce very good quality shoes and bags for their price, so if you're lucky, you can find nice shoes, the logo on which is removable or very subtle.

I am hoping to get a new midi length black wool skirt this year. There seem to be a few in the shops, so if anyone has tips on particularly nice ones, do tell.