After seasons of excess embellishment à la Spring 2004, designers began to pare down looks and move towards a "new minimalism" as early as Fall 2005. The movement picked up speed for Spring 2006, and, if the Spring 2007 resort collections are any indication, is going strong for Spring 2007.
Unlike the sometimes stark, sexless minimalism of the nineties, the "new minimalism" is defined by simplicity and subtle prettiness. The shapes and details are different; there are bubble skirts, cropped jackets, touches of volume, drop waists, cropped pants, pintucks, pieces adorned with simple embroidery, and asian "robe"-inspired tunics. We are seeing lots of monochromatic looks but they are not boring and they are not "matchy-matchy." And though it isn't clear from the images in this particular post, the "new minimalism" isn't colorless--check out the Derek Lam Spring 2006 collection and you'll see what I mean.
As an economist-in-training, I am loving the new minimalism. Minimalism is by nature efficient; a girl can select a minimalist outfit in two minutes, whereas it might take half an hour to assemble and accessorize a maximalist look. Additionally, if much of the minimalism of the nineties was boring, indeed the "dressing equivalent of swallowing food to fill your stomach--bypassing the fuzzy taste buds" as this author suggests, the new minimalism offers both simplicity and interest. I can't wait to see more in the Spring 2007 collections!
Pictured above are pieces consistent with the "new minimalism" from the Spring 2007 resort collections. Designers: (clockwise from top left) Behnaz Sarafpour, Zac Posen, Stella McCartney, Dior, Valentino, Versace, YSL, Doo.Ri. Photos from Firstview and Style.com.