CLEAN SLATE

In a fashion expanse once cluttered with excess, a fresh crop of designers are making a strong case for fresh beginnings, marking the return to minimalism

For many, the New Year is an ode to a fresh start, armoured with resolutions that we might keep or break. And even though it is one of the most overrated days of the year, there’s something quite riveting about how you dress yourself on the first day. You may fool yourself into believing that like any other morning you're auto-piloting through your wardrobe, picking what’s on top of the pile. But, as soon as the party season starts winding down, prompting you to shelve all your sequins, you might just realise you're in need of an antidote to your style hangover.

In July 2018, Julie Pelipas, a Ukrainian stylist, sauntered down the streets of Paris wearing pristine white paper-bag trousers with an oatmeal-hued vest on her way to couture week. It wasn’t an outfit that exactly conformed with the extravagance of her co-attendees but, within a matter of a few hours, it broke the Internet. The refreshing simplicity of the ensemble seared through the volley of feathers and big shoulders. And it was only a matter of time until street style from the far corners of the globe was dominated by minimalism 2.0 – racerfront tank tops, immaculate suits, frothy knits and crisp shirting. Then later that year, Daniel Lee took up the reins at Bottega Veneta, an Italian fashion house synonymous with the intrecciato weave. Within a short span of seasons, the young designer conducted a so-called ‘clean-sweep’, presenting his collection as a palate cleanser, a look back at sophisticated elegance. Rib-knit dresses, neutral bodysuits and monochromatic leather trousers have now become emblematic with the brand that has also produced the popular pouch bag and square-toed shoe.