There’s something so sleepy about fashion these days; neutral teddy coats, gray two-piece suit sets, white crew necks, black Alo leggings, chestnut platform UGGs , I could go on. And it’s no ill will to the sleek Row trend. It’s timeless, the colors will never fade, but watching oatmeal collections walk down the runway half draped doesn’t feel timeless, just simply depressing. There are a few of us maximalists out in the world, not gone or forgotten, just a few bold enough to wear forest green plaid trousers with a citron houndstooth eyelash sweater topped off with a cherry red beret, and call it an average day. You could say maximalism is like the pastime of jazz, dormant, but still burning in devoted enthusiasts.

I watch the old runway shows on YouTube, Galliano in the 90’s-2000’s, Tom Ford in the 2000s, Lagerfeld...well forever, and Alessandro Michele in the 2010s.. Now I hold onto Daniel Roseberry, designer and director of Schiaparelli, for his mind that designs further than the simple gray suit. These designers of maximalism and luxury imagine clothes bigger than just threads and fabric. It's hard to have faith in the current fashion of luxury brands that design silhouettes of McCall patterns that one could make at home in the 90s for half the price. Luxury is robbing and fooling us for simple items marked up too high for our eyes. You buy luxury not just for the allure of exclusiveness, but for the innovation, to get your hands on something you’ve never seen before and can’t get anywhere else. An authentic design for what it’s worth, an authentic price. If we are all to buy the same gray suit at different house labels... for the namesake... then what is the point, you can’t tell the difference anyway?

I’m not in it for the labels, I'm not in it for the trend; as maximalists, we’re in it for the imagination, the collection of our fabric repertoire, our brave boldness to wear something not expected in a trend expecting world. The trends that set our style in our bedrooms as we dress every morning, the styles proposed to us on the websites of our liking, with trends shipped in and out faster than they should. These trends ebb and flow, for now it’s minimal but again it’ll be maximal; but is it right for trends to control our closets, coin purses, and social circles… It’s hard watching girls my age find their own distinct style these days. They’re being pulled in every-which direction with the latest fashion craze. That’s not to say I’m any better,  definitely not. In the age of TikTok and the fastest fashion industry to date, it’s hard not to be sucked into the vortex of trend-hopping. Discovering what is truly your style is no subtle feat. It’s no wonder that The Row and the “clean-girl” aesthetic has grown in popularity. There are blueprints at every turn that show you how to instantly look put together, and our eyes are trained to eat this look up, fully aware of how hungry we’ll be soon after.

So, that’s just it. It’s not so much the trend-hopping or shopping that infuriates me so much, but the act of doing so with such negligence. It’s perfectly fine to try-on a new look, like adding the iconic Acne Studios mohair scarf to your winter wardrobe, or a romantic puff-sleeve to live out your cottage-core summer dreams. But to do so with reverence for the aesthetic. Don’t just try something because everyone else is doing it, then throw it all out the window once the newest look is in. The point of the trend is to try. Then once you try, you take what you love and add it to your chic arsenal, and with each trial, you’re fine-tuning your gauge for identifying substance in the style. That's what creates identity.

That’s why the trends of drab don’t sit well with me. Yes, there are basic pieces that can last a lifetime, but there’s nothing distinct to hold onto; these are styles you could buy anywhere. As maximalists and style eccentrics, our eye is always on our  identity, what aligns with our style, and what we’ll wear for years to come. Investing in luxury should be a unique experience, a hunt for the unexpected, where the price matches the excitement you’d feel finding that perfect vintage piece in your grandmother’s preloved wardrobe. So, in the end, it’s not about the simple gray suits or the sleepy runway looks, but a hope that buyers like us think about the investment of their apparel. Maximal or minimal I hope fashion followers have a bit of a hoarder in them. Don’t let go of your clothes because someone said they’re worn out and last season; but also, don’t wear clothes that don’t speak to you. That’s luxury, that’s maximalism, that’s style.

Creative Directors & Stylists: Tabitha Comendador [@simplytabi] & Matney Oliveira [@matney.oliveira]

Photographer: Makiyah Garth [@Makiyah.jo]

model: Samira darabzand [@samiradarabzand]

for rococo magazine