Let me clarify: this isn’t a narrative about a maximalist transitioning to minimalism. Rather, this is about a maximalist (ahem, that’s me) realizing that it’s the perfect moment to embrace a gray cardigan. This choice won’t diminish my maximalist spirit; in fact, I might find joy in it.
My journey into neutrals *cue the involuntary shudder* began with a simple pair of blue jeans. During my trip to Japan last winter, I had one main goal: to bring back something special from the denim legends at Kapital. I dreamt of taking home a pair of kaleidoscopic patchwork bell bottoms, beloved by streetwear aficionados, but my budget allowed for only the blue jeans. So, caught up in the allure of Japanese denim, I thought, well, maybe I’ll give this whole “blue jean” trend a shot. It seems to be popular.
When I donned the jeans back at the Vogue office, a co-worker remarked that she’d never seen me in jeans before. Typically, she was accustomed to my eclectic collection of colorful bottoms, ranging from green tie-dyed jeans crafted by a Bushwick artist to hot pink CDG balloon pants, lower east side orange cargos, and many more vibrant pairs in between. Suddenly, I found myself unable to resist wearing the blue denim.
Ah, dear reader, it turns out that the blue jeans were merely a prelude—a nudge, a gateway drug, if you will—to exploring neutrals. Behold the shock!
The saga continues. While shooting social content for an ironically titled “Vogue editors’ essentials: favorite white t-shirt” shoot, I realized, much to my surprise, that I didn’t own a white t-shirt. I asked our producer, Fujio, if I could borrow his sweater to keep warm, and next thing I knew, I was a full 10 degrees warmer and, dare I say it, actually enjoying my outfit even more? The sweater was gray, which turned out to be precisely what I needed. It allowed my colorful, patterned Pucci skirt to truly shine, and I found that I could appreciate its elegant silhouette not just for its flamboyance but as part of a cohesive look. The sweater genuinely “pulled the look together,” if you catch my drift.
I continue to adore and wear my colorful pieces, but I’ve come to realize that neutrals provide a solid base to enhance other elements of an outfit—be it a pair of shoes, a jacket, or even a particularly striking hair color of the moment. (Just ask me about my orange hair phase.) I advocate that minimalists can explore colors beyond the ordinary greys, blacks, browns, and beiges, which means it’s only fair for me to reflect on which neutrals will suit my style.
To borrow a phrase from Coco Chanel, “Before you leave the house, ask yourself: will one neutral make the rest of these brights pop?” So, my style commitment to you, Mrs. Chanel, isn’t to take something off, but rather to invest in a gray cardigan.
