Quiet brilliance

Minimalism within fashion is commonly mistaken as being basic, when in actual fact creating something that encompasses relaxed silhouettes and neutral tones yet still celebrates the female form, is anything but. There’s less to hide behind. Tailoring and cuts have to be exact, stitching precise and the wearer has to have complete confidence that they can carry off something so uncluttered. After so many seasons of outrageous adornments and shocking shades it was somewhat more surprising to see stripped back style on the catwalks of A/W13 last week. Of course there’s bound to be a minimal stream at every fashion week, but this year it seems we've reached the ocean. Designers came in full force at LFW showcasing clean cuts and colours that somehow outshone even the brightest of ensembles.

Antonio Berardi

Antino Berari's quietly perfect collection used blocks of black and grey to create simplistic yet feminine pieces. Tailoring was used to give strength to the collection and each outfit had a air of merciless power surrounding it. A simple heel and slicked back hair was all that was needed to complete the looks seamlessly.

J.JS Lee 

J.JS Lee created a more relaxed take on the style. Pastel colours and unconventional  geometric hemlines gave a playful touch to the otherwise whitewashed and simplistic garments. The looks as a whole seem almost thrown together and completely effortless.

Lucas Nascimento

The sleek fabrics in Lucas Nascimento's collection made the modernity of his clothes even more evident, with soft leathers and the occasional touch of silk. Cocooning shapes and high necks accentuated the minimalism of the looks, and accessories were nonexistent  The deep inky blues, pops of mustard, and lavish beige colours supplied a lady-like elegance to the whole collection.

JW Anderson 

The JW Anderson collection's brilliance was within the cut. Geometric unevenness, leg slits, and exaggerated sleeves kept the basic colours and lack of print from protruding into being boring. The thick fabrics gave a slightly androgynous feel which was further amplified through the bright white flats.

In my opinion, one of the biggest successes within fashion is being able to create a stylish outfit that looks effortless yet sophisticated. The breath of fresh air that whipped through the London catwalks last week did just that, and made it blatantly clear that minimalism can make the biggest statement.

Thanks for reading, 
Bethany Paige X