To Drama or to Demure?

Now that we’ve touched on the difference between taste and style in our last post, here’s a reminder that just because a look is elaborate doesn’t automatically make it stylish, and just because it’s simple doesn’t automatically make it elegant.

Not every “extra” outfit is stylish. It can be creative, but still feel unpolished, sometimes like a kitchen sink of too many competing ideas. Too many elements, no matter how expensive, can start to read as tacky. Done stylish, extra is exciting, unexpected, and interesting. Done poorly, extra is gaudy and can make people squint for safety.

Similarly, not every clean, minimal look is stylish or automatically classy. When simplicity is executed in style, it can be timeless and elegant. When it’s not, it’s low-effort, basic, or just plain boring.

Maximalism or minimalism isn’t inherently better or worse, they’re just different dishes. Both can be delicious, and both can taste like regret. Both can be executed with impeccable style, and both can fall flat. The difference comes down to how it’s styled. Every piece, whether elaborate or simple, has potential; it’s the eye and skill of the wearer or stylist that makes it sing (or shriek).

At its core, style is a visual art. It’s not about extravagance or restraint, nor about labeling yourself a minimalist or maximalist. It’s about how everything comes together; the cohesion, balance, and overall “cool” factor. That’s what makes a look truly stylish.

Read this far? Don’t blame me if your style standards just went up! There’s more:

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