It’s spring in New York City and Carrie Bradshaw is about to meet her soon-to-be -boyfriend Aidan, in a furniture store. She’s wearing a multi-patchwork trench paired with a little polka dot blouse and taupe capris making this errand look vivid and chic. In Central Park, Jenna Rinks (13 Going On 30) wears a pastel yellow skirt with a floral corset top accented with baby pink and yellow roses. Her hair is pinned back with butterfly clips and she has a pink rose necklace to tie it together. While different, these outfits both thrive off of the mix of colours and prints—something so normal for the late 90’s and early 2000’s. But with 2025 vision, these outfits could seem almost silly to some and maybe too unique. 

Has the rise of minimalism eliminated colour, pattern and unique textures that once existed in everyday style?

Sex and the City (2000) - HBO

13 Going On 30 (2004) -Columbia Pictures

In our day to day lives, casual style and easy fashion is essential and become a norm. You run out the house in a grey tracksuit or head to a workout class in a black sport bra and biker shorts. Maybe you’re going to work and the most pain-free outfit consists of a black dress pants and a black turtleneck (it’s a classic combo). These outfit choices are easy and always look good - however they do also go hand and hand with recent aesthetic movements gaining popularity on social media.

The “Clean Girl Aesthetic” includes French manicures, slick back buns or sleek straight hair, simple, neutral clothing and minimalist accessorizing. It pushes the narrative that “less is more” and while it will ever go out-of-style it has changed the way clothing is designed, marketed and sold. 

Gone are the days of messy hair, colourful shoes, mismatched patterns and colours - and recent clothing drops are reflecting this.

Take PrettyLittleThing, for example. The ​​UK-based fast-fashion retailer, targeting teens and young adults has totally rebranded over the last few months. Originally known for making “going out clothes” consisting of mini skirts, dresses and sets in all colours, the brand has switched over to a more minimalist, modest look.

Their new drop includes neutral toned clothing, tapered silhouettes, high neck tops and an overall more structured style. It seems the brand has moved away from its original “Party Girl Aesthetic” to a more conservative style.

Old Pretty Little Thing collection

New Pretty Little Thing rebrand

Similarly, Aritzia’s latest spring drop is a mixture of light linen with loose tailoring and muted colours. 

Majority of the collection is a sea of olive, khaki, white and black while still also pushing a more laid back, sophisticated and conservative look.

These recent clothing drops have drained any colour and pattern for the upcoming spring and summer seasons - which is when we often try to be a bit bolder with our looks.

While minimalism and clean girl looks won’t ever go out of style, the idea of being “timeless” is so ingrained in modern clothing and style that it’s taking us away from thinking out of the box when it comes to fashion.

Dressing like Carrie Bradshaw, for example, is the definition of wearing what you want for any occasion. She manages to make funky prints, colours, and silhouettes classy for high end occasions and casual for an everyday errand or a night out with her girlfriends with full confidence. She truly embodies her clothes. 

The style of the past is a little reminder that fashion is artistic and can make our everyday lives more entertaining.

While the clean girl aesthetic will never look bad, there is always room for a pink mini-skirt in your closet.

Aritiza early spring/summer collection