In the 2010s, minimalist fashion became the standard. Since then, we have been stuck on the rule that either the top or bottom (or both) parts of an outfit need to be plain and neutral colored for the outfit to look put together. I, like many others, am guilty of this. I blame an ongoing obsession with Brandy Melville and emerging minimalist brands such as Kim Kardashian’s SKIMS. In addition to this, we saw a resurgence of loyalty to this style during the clean girl aesthetic phenomenon on TikTok a few years ago.   

Don’t get me wrong, I still find myself stopping by the Brandy Melville table in PacSun every time I go to the mall, but I can’t help but notice that there is a shift happening. We are starting to see boldness again in trendy outfits. People are once again mixing patterns, colors and styles together. To give an example of this maximalist fashion, I can’t help but refer to the early 2000s queen herself, Carrie Bradshaw. If you have seen Sarah Jessica Parker’s “Sex and the City” or the recent reboot “And Just Like That…,”you know that Carrie is one of the greatest examples of what clashing patterns and randomness in her clothing look like.  

So, where did this shift come from? I don’t know the exact reason, but I can use another recent cultural shift to draw some conclusions.  

Also beginning in the 2010s came the rise of millennial gray interior design. Interior design enthusiasts started renovating their living space into sleek, modern, and neutral-colored designs. Recently, a social media mob has revolted against this change, stating that they would rather go back to the warm and vibrant styles of the 1970s, ‘80s, ‘90s and 2000s. They think that the minimalist design and over-use of neutrals create a cold and uninviting atmosphere.  I believe the same principles could be applied to fashion. People are getting tired of the lack of personality in the trending stylistic choices.  

Now how do we go about embracing randomness in fashion? How do we know if a bold outfit looks good? Is there some sort of color theory to be used? Are there rules behind which patterns and textures can be mixed? Unfortunately, I do not have the secret recipe. If I did, I would be at a fashion school right now. However, I can give one helpful tip: do not be scared to try things. Next time you look at your closet, pull out two pieces that you normally would not put together and try it on. Maybe it doesn’t work out, and that’s okay. But every once in a while, you might just surprise yourself.