Keeping It Simple
Sometimes the best outfit is the simplest one
I’m always in awe of people who can turn a simple outfit of jeans and a t-shirt into an elevated look. I wear jeans and a t-shirt and it looks like…jeans and t-shirt. I’ve mostly relied on overt styling and accessories over the years to make my outfits look like a “look”, even though the bulk of my inspirational image saves fall into the jeans and a t-shirt and minimalist tailoring realm.
Simplified dressing has crept into my consciousness more intensely in the past year: the pared back looks at AW25 street style that rolled right into SS26 and AW261, a reignited cultural interest in 90s minimalism, versatile wardrobes driven by economic uncertainty, and the idea that we own too much stuff.
Then I read Sogole Kane’s post on 90s minimalist fashion and something she wrote stuck with me: “not everything needs a brooch, a perfect half-tuck, or a sweater tied around the shoulders ‘for interest.’” As Sogole noted, styling can feel complicated at times, a point driven home by her visuals contrasting 1990s and 2020s styling. The more I looked at the 90s outfits, the more they made a compelling case for a return to simplicity2.
While I enjoy accessorizing and styling the sh*t out of my outfits and finding inspiration in people who elevate this to an art form, I fear I’m accumulating a collection of things that only work if I spend a lot of time styling them. I went into my closet to assuage my fears by pulling together outfits without all the extras. I recently wrapped up my AW26 Fashion Week street style forecast and the big ideas were on my mind as I was getting dressed.
This was the perfect antidote for my current rut where everything in my closet was wrong/boring/made me question my fashion choices. If you’re feeling the same way, here are some of the streamlined outfits I’ve worn lately. May these spark ideas for the wrong/boring/questioning your fashion choices items in your wardrobe.
1. Monochromatic
This might look familiar from a couple of posts ago when I needed a confidence boosting outfit. I started out with rubber bands around my pant hems to keep them from dragging on the sidewalk and ended the day at full length, a classic case of modern styling vs. 90s minimalism. Seeing these side-by-side, minimalism was the clear winner.
2. Leather As The Look
I like to think I’m cancelling out the plethora of tech logo fleece at the coffee shop by wearing a skirt, and this pencil skirt has served me well over the last two years. I skipped my usual sheer socks and wore a plain white t-shirt underneath my preloved cropped leather jacket to avoid any fluff.
Full-on leather outfits have gained traction in the last two seasons at street style. There are so many fantastic looks out there if you’re not sure where to start. If you’re a paid subscriber, these two posts dig into how fashion innovators are wearing leather in a minimalist way.
3. The Animal Print Skirt
I got this skirt on The RealReal in 2022 after missing out on it firsthand and then at secondhand in the late 2010s (insert face melting emoji here). I’ve made the most of my time ever since by dressing this up and down, usually with accessories and layering involved. I dialed my styling way back with another white t-shirt and the same cropped jacket from the last outfit. This might have been my favorite look since the minimal styling balanced out the thigh-high slit that’s in play when I walk.
4. Low-Key Colorblocking
Colorblocking, cropped jackets, and broken-in denim are all having big moments this spring. I combined all three of these into one outfit for the visual appeal without extreme zhuzhing.
I bought my jeans new four years ago and they’re one of the best things in my closet. I get asked about them all the time - the exact style/wash can be found here and here. If I end up purchasing another new item this year, it’s probably going to be the long inseam in a dark wash since they’re like gold dust at resale.
5. Achromatic
I wanted to look polished and not wear a t-shirt, always a challenge. My woven vest was a great knit alternative, but too low cut for my liking so I used my 2023 era Calvin Klein logo bralette to fill in the open space. There’s a lot of interest in everything Calvin Klein right now and my bralette and matching underwear have held up well. I draw the line at secondhand underwear and will rebuy these when the time comes.
6. Black & White
This black jacket was my first 2026 purchase and a true The RealReal gem: 95% wool with a silk/cotton lining, excellent condition, originally $998 at retail. It’s from a collection a few years back and still feels current with a high collar, cropped length, and tailored silhouette. All details that are becoming increasingly important in the 2026 fashion landscape, in addition to black and white outfitting.
I’d only worn my jacket with brooches, but in my quest for simplicity I found inspiration in the chic women turning their blazers into cutaway silhos at PFW. I left the bottom few buttons undone, no brooches, and also felt quite chic. I came across my exact jacket at resale that’s NWT and open to offers. If you’re looking for a versatile investment jacket, this is it.
7. Minimal Accessories
I bring out my 15 year old skinny scarf every couple of years and it always looks modern. I love double breasted blazers and they were trending at street style this season, along with bold shoulders.
I made the mistake of wearing this outfit during San Francisco’s heat wave two weeks ago and immediately regretted it when I stepped outside. We’re back to regularly scheduled weather now and I’ll be repeating this soon.
Now that I’ve gotten into a more minimal groove, I’ve found I’m putting less time into getting dressed and more time into hair swooping. I’m slowly adding back in accessories like my brooches and they feel easier to style after a brief reset. All feel like wins to me.
That’s it for this week, thanks for reading!
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Even with the heralded return to maximalism/death of quiet luxury, minimalism isn’t going away anytime soon.
If you haven’t read this post yet, I recommend for Sogole’s excellent analysis of how color, silhouette, and styling are at the heart of Calvin Klein’s minimalist blueprint.
Look at your gorgeous face! 💕 I love your effortless swoop!
I totally get the need for a reset-we can’t always do the same things, and crave variety. Trying new things like paring back accessories is a fabulous way to get back to the bones of the outfit.
As always, you rock, Tina! Thank you! Oh, and no judgment on the coats/mirror—fug it, and move on!
Off to read Sogol’s post!🤘
You have such a beautiful, considered style, and it's so very you even when it's paired back.