Minimalist style: a womenswear masterclass

Welcome to our womenswear masterclass in minimalist style. Top of our aesthetic agenda? The ultimate pieces for achieving 2021 wardrobe precision. Right now, we are not in need of a plethora of outfits but a capsule offering of hard-working, all-weather hits, in a host of timeless tones. We suggest classic items with a futuristic finesse, pieces rendered in glossy and tactile fabrications.

Take Hermès’ apron dress, which is embroidered in a graphic grid of horn and glossy lambskin – adornment with real architectural appeal. Tactility is the essential ambition of the French luxury maison’s womenswear creative director Nadège Vanhee-Cybulski, given how dispiritingly hands-off and touch sensitive we have become. Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons’ dual design debut also has minimalist merit, offering a celebration of Prada’s signature nylon, seen in shoes and separates. Kitten heels with a curving comma heel are inspired by 1990s shapes and feature sharp toes and undulating rubber shell soles, placing them somewhere between smart and sportswear.

We’ll also be strapping ourselves into Prada’s high-shine, off-the-shoulder blouse, which, in a utilitarian twist, features a roomy chest pocket and seatbelt-inspired fastening. Wrapping up our minimalist melange is Salvatore Ferragamo’s trench coat, created from an innovative lightweight fabric formed from mohair bonded with calfskin. Creative director Paul Andrew was inspired by Hitchcock’s heroines, and this silhouette will suit your own sleek silver-screen moment.

A graphic accessory to pop on its shoulder? Kassl Editions’ oil-coated canvas bag is cut into a perfect circle. Puffed up like a pillow, it’s both sculptural and simple. 

INFORMATION

A version of this article originally appeared in the March 2021 issue of Wallpaper* (W*263)