Despite being in the past, HBO’s Succession left behind several significant moments in television history. The show generated a lot of discussion about the minimalist movement known as “quiet luxury,” which is an upscale aesthetic that highlights the subtle sophistication of the high-end brands that the intergenerationally wealthy prefer. (Loro Piana, Brunello Cucinelli, and The Row.) On the other end of the spectrum, however, is Maximalist fashion, which holds that every action has an equal and opposite reaction, as noted by Isaac Newton: It is youthful, unique, boisterous, vivacious, and somewhat of a “eff you” to the pandemic, lockdowns, and the slick sophistication of the last several years.
To keep up with the latest fashion trends in the 1960s, you would have to visit London’s Carnaby Street, which was populated with stylish young people. These days, all it takes to find content with over 221 million views is to open TikTok and search for the hashtags #maximalistfashion and #dopaminedressing, which refers to vibrant and joyful clothing. This style is essentially about stepping up your use of colour, pattern, and accessories, and maximalistas like Ontario’s @saracampz (Sara Camposarcone) and Quebec’s @emiliafart (Emilia Fart is her persona name) are promoting it.
Camposarcone, who was born in Hamilton, has gained 1.5 million fans thanks to her colourful, energetic attire. “I adore maximalism’s rebellious aspect and the fact that there are no rules other than to wear anything you want,” she says. Camposarcone is as likely to be found wearing rubber-ducky earrings or a clown outfit as she is wearing a pretty vintage ball gown.
To the untrained eye, Camposarcone’s unconventional fashion choices appear more like thrilling costumes than carefully thought-out ensembles. With their vibrant hair, fantastical makeup, and layers of gaudy clothing and accessories, she and other maximalist fashion purveyors are doing much more than simply dressing in anything they can find at Value Village. Regarding the deliberate decisions she makes, Camposarcone states, “If I am wearing a yellow necklace, I often attempt to weave the colour somewhere else into the ensemble, too.” Pre-pandy, the fun-loving fashionista, was not brazen in public despite her lifelong love of daring outfits. “I created a TikTok account [on which] to post my outfits after changing jobs,” she explains.
The isolation and boredom of lockdown inspired a variety of unrestrained inventiveness in many other Gen-Z posters. Jaeyeon Park, a young writer at famed global trend forecaster WGSN, says, “There was this comeback of home-based activities which reignited people’s excitement for working with their hands.” This is how DIY items like pearl jewellery and crocheted items ended up in today’s maximalist fashions. In order to maintain her clothing as environmentally friendly as possible, Camposarcone upcycles items from her closet and manufactures a lot of her outrageous accessories.
You would believe that this trend’s eco-friendly aspects run counter to its excess-focused aesthetic, but WGSN prefers to term it “conscious hedonism.” Younger people are embracing it in enormous numbers because they want to purchase sensibly without sacrificing their creativity. “Just as adopting a minimalist aesthetic is not always environmentally responsible, playing with Maximalist fashion style does not necessarily have to equal excessive consumption,” notes Park. In order to update their clothes and combine genres and decades, Maximalist fashion aficionados frequently search for vintage boutiques and second-hand shops on TikTok.
“I buy zero quick fashion and very few new pieces,” Camposarcone explains. Picking up used pieces helps me avoid overindulging. I give to a women’s centre and trade clothes with my pals when I need to clear out my wardrobe.
The eco-friendly inclination is new, but maximalism is not. The curator of teaching and research at the Fashion School of Technology’s Museum at FIT in New York City, Melissa Marra-Alvarez, says, “You have to realize that anytime a [maximalist] moment arises, it is not a carbon replica of what came before.”
Minimalism/Maximalism, an exhibition featuring these opposing trend movements, was presented by a fashion expert in 2019. Each encourages the other’s development and helps to define it over time. Minimalism returns during periods of significant upheaval and uncertainty, and that is succeeded by a rise in maximalist fashion, which is linked to wealth. However, since fashion is not a precise science, the Maximalist fashion aesthetic may also be a means for people to stand out and assert their position in society. According to Park, “fashion was a method to express [those feelings], notably via unusual elements and designs, since the epidemic exacerbated feelings of disarray and worry for many.”
The maximalism of today harkens back to the reassuring nostalgia of the safer-feeling 1990s and 2000s and its followers, like Harajuku clothes in particular. “Harajuku,” which was first named after a posh neighbourhood in Tokyo that gained popularity in the 1970s, has evolved into a catch-all phrase for a range of aesthetics and subcultures resulting from militant freedom of expression that defies conventional Japanese conventions. Photographer Shoichi Aoki produced the renowned Fruits magazine, which immortalized Harajuku’s colourful, whimsical style, which features outrageous layering.
The iconic style of the monthly Maximalist fashion magazine, which was published from 1997 to 2017, is now resurfacing. It is characterized by items like neon jewellery, leggings, bright patterns, hair clips, and a penchant for oddball, kid-friendly pieces, all of which have been incorporated into 2023’s maximalist aesthetic.
The “strange girl” look is another Maximalist fashion trend that is less vibrant and happy but as quirky. This style, which rose to prominence in 2022, mixes textures and eras, particularly grunge from the 1990s, and plays the unique card rather strongly. (Some of its biggest followers include Ella Emhoff, the stepdaughter of American Vice President Kamala Harris, Doja Cat, Iris Law, and Bella Hadid.) The #Weird Girl Aesthetic is more sombre and specialized than the current maximalist movement, which thrives on excess. Heaven, a subset of the Marc Jacobs omniverse that has absorbed elements of Japanese society, has been a strong advocate for the style.
“The world has changed since the pandemic, and we are all searching for a little extra happiness, even if it is subconscious,” Camposarcone says. “I think we can lose ourselves when we dress with other people in mind.” Maximalism essentially stems from the desire to live freely, openly, joyfully, and without concern for “the rules.” It is about learning to dress for ourselves, according to our desires, and ignoring what other people may think.
The person who said “less is more” was undoubtedly unaware of the allure of maximalist style. More is more when it comes to designing a maximalist ensemble. The main goal of maximalist fashion is to create daring, unconventional outfits while disregarding conventional fashion standards. It is best to have more prints, volume, colours, and textures. While maximalist fashion, like all fashion, is an art form, some people consider it “messy” or “putting ensembles together with little thought.”
Why maximalist fashion is making a comeback may be on your mind. The answer is straightforward: the public’s love of the minimalist look in recent years has sparked a return to Maximalist fashion. At the beginning of the pandemic, minimalism pervaded all parts of our lives. We barely interacted with others, went on a few trips, and even had simple clothes made up of t-shirts and sweatpants.
As the world continues to develop, so do the fashion tastes of the general public. Nowadays, a lot of people are adopting the daring, imaginative world of maximalist fashion rather than the minimalist look we witnessed during quarantine. A joyful, fresh look goes hand in hand with getting back to daily life.
There is never too much colour—the more hues you use in your ensemble, the better. Make a list of your top three to five favourite colours, then use those shades to create a style. Try combining different fabrics and textures in a single ensemble if you are not a fan of bright colours. Fabrics to try include satin, lace, denim, and faux fur. 
Include patterns and prints:
Maximalist fashion ensembles are visually appealing, and
The eye is drawn to patterned designs. There are numerous pattern choices, ranging from polka dots to stripes.
Dots, paisley, and plaid:
Remember to accessorize: Without accessories, no Maximalist fashion ensemble is complete.
An excellent place to start is with jewellery; for a Maximalist fashion, stack necklaces, bracelets, and rings. Additionally, do not be scared to experiment with gloves, hats, scarves, belts and socks.
But the most crucial piece of advice is to have fun and try new things. Maximalist fashion is basically about dressing in quirky things that make you happy as much as possible.
