In a world of excess that creates so much uncertainty, minimalism is becoming the new face of desirability as it relates to fashion and lifestyle.
Colour palettes that revolve around tan, grey-toned and beige-coloured hues, which would have used for basics like vests or tights, have become staples. An excessive lifestyle, as beautiful as it may look, is exhausting. I have come to realize this especially if one must fit it into a fully functioning, on-the-go lifestyle.
Our lifestyles have become ten times more stressful in general and one less thing to think about (colour-coordinating and matching clothes) offers relief. However, it does raise questions as to whether we are heading into the uniform era, and if minimalism will become the secret language of the elite.
Socially, I feel pressure to be as minimal as possible which has been primarily influenced by where I live. I separate and recycle all of my trash. I try to handle all of my chores in places I can cycle too. I carry a re-useable bag with me for shopping on most days. This lifestyle, while extremely respectful to the environment, is in its own way excessive because of the time it requires to meticulously live green.
But it does make me feel proud of myself and it gives me a strong self-actualization boost. While consuming less fashion means you are probably being kinder to the environment: less fabric dying, low carbon footprint because of fewer deliveries, and so on.
I followed a Question and Answer segment by the popular ‘green mommy’ blogger on Instagram recently. She raised the point that we shouldn’t allow our children to wear disposable diapers, because they do more damage to the environment. She suggested napkins. I wore napkins as a child and I’m sure that they are great. But napkins require intense work to be properly maintained. If you are a single mom with no help, or with a demanding 9 – 5, there are hardly enough hours in the day to maintain such. There is a very thin line between wanting to be green and doing it for selfish or narcissistic reasons.
We must first understand cause and reason why everyone wouldn’t be able to jump on board and try to be minimal. In most cases, it’s not because they don’t want to, it’s just because their livelihoods wouldn’t permit it and they shouldn’t be made to feel ashamed for this. I think the minimal trend as it relates to dressing is amazing for obvious reasons like the fact that we waste less, but does it really help if we make ourselves seem superior for supposedly doing better while not actively trying to work around ways so that everyone gets to see the bigger picture?
In some ways I think minimalism can foster excessive obnoxiousness and that excess comes from our egos.
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