Vintage-influenced fashion has been highly popular for the last few seasons, with colourful textured fabrics, flirty florals, ethnic prints and bold accessories being de riguer, but the latest trend is quite the opposite. Think basic, deliberately simple designs, clean lines and silhouettes… stark, contrasting, austere. Add to that muted tones and monochromes – nudes, black, grey and white with just a hint of colour, architectural shapes, leather and transparent fabrics. This season, less is more, but less does not have to be boring. Minimalism is all the rage, and has been featured in Spring/Summer and Fall collections on many celebrated runways this year: London, New York and Milan Fashion Weeks, to name a few. The look has since been widely embraced by fashion designers and celebrities the world over, with Narciso Rodriguez, Calvin Klein, Celine, BCBG, Prada, Jil Sander and a host of others taking the lead in facilitating the craze. The trend has caught on even in the Caribbean, and was featured in Haitian designer David André’s Sea, Sex, Sun collection, but of course, no one quite does it like the minimalism queen herself, Meiling Esau, who has been creating minimalist looks for years.

Now the world’s fashion meccas – Paris, Milan, New York, Japan and other fashion-forward geographical zones are in on the new style, and you can rock it too. This week AW shows you how it’s done, with a few helpful hints to boot!

(Photos: Style Bubble, The Sartorialist and Instyle.com)

narciso, 9454 & 9099

Wear unconventional cuts and shapes; boxy shapes are quite popular as illustrated by Narciso Rodriguez, Julan and Attitude by Ashley Martin.

2081

Balance monochromes with a hint of colour à la Keneea Linton.

Jilsander2011

If neutral tones are not for you, wear muted hues, or bright tones, but remember, less is more.

DG4W, 1872

Use your accessories to add interest to the look, as shown by Dolce and Gabbana and Keneea Linton.

Celine3, jmendel & BCBG

If you’re going to wear the look, your hair MUST be properly done at all times. As shown by Celine and BCBG, a sleek hairdo complements the trend very well, while J Mendel shows you can also go for contrast with a more free-flowing or edgy ‘do.

Jil-shena

You can wear basic make-up to match your ensemble, or go bold to make a statement… or even a combination of both as seen on Saint supermodel Shena Moulton for Jil Sander.

Celine1

It’s all about the attitude! If you’re going to wear basic clothes, you’ve got to be able to pull it off. Confidence is key… your whole aura brings the look together.

Minimalist-ck & DG!

Fabulously austere! By Calvin Klein and Dolce & Gabbana.

Kate

Forget banal! Work the look!

Diaz

The good thing about minimalism, as shown by Cameron Diaz, is that the simplicity of the clothing and accessories allows the wearer’s true beauty and personality to shine through.

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Pieces from David André’s Sea, Sex, Sun resort wear collection from CFW 2010.

0024 & Meiling

Minimalism à la the inimitable Meiling Esau.