The post-pandemic era may have paved the way for maximalism, but there's no denying that minimalism is back.

The post-pandemic era saw a clear <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/maximalism-fashion-trend-covid-19-gucci-valentino">emphasis on maximalism</a> in the fashion world. It was inevitable, really, given that life was quite literally put on hold for months&mdash;or years, for nations that experienced the most severe economic downturns and health crises. 
After being forced to coop up in our bedrooms with virtually no human interaction other than those in our household, it&rsquo;s no surprise that fashion creatives felt an extreme need to overcompensate for all the time lost, outfits wasted, and collections delayed. Ultimately, for a few seasons, it was as if the fashion world manifested our liberation from lockdown and social distancing through lavishness.&nbsp;

Versace Spring/Summer 2022. Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto courtesy of Getty Images.

Salvatore Ferragamo Spring/Summer 2022. Photo by Matteo Rossetti courtesy of Getty Images.

Burberry Spring/Summer 2023. Photo by Tim Whitby courtesy of Getty Images.

At the post-pandemic runways of <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/donatella-versace-fall-winter-2023-los-angeles-show-celebrities" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Versace</a>, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/ferragamo-fall-winter-2023-campaign-new-renaissance-uffizi-gallery-tyler-mitchell" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ferragamo</a>, and <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion-week/burberry-spring-summer-2024-lfw-runway-images" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Burberry</a>, we saw loud colors, clashing prints, and a mix of various textures. These were the most elaborate pieces that were truly eye-catching and memorable. It was all about unapologetic excess and abundance.

Gucci Men's Fall/Winter 2024. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

Saint Laurent Fall/Winter 2023. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

Tom Ford Spring/Summer 2024.

But why is fashion now returning to wearability? There are a few possible reasons, one of which is the fact that maximalism, while exciting and fun, can get tiring: achieving the extravagance and going all-out each day does require a lot of thought and planning. Plus, maximalist pieces can typically only be worn thrice at most, as even those with enough means would eventually feel guilty dropping hundreds or thousands of dollars on these pieces only to keep them stashed in their closet forever. And while there certainly was a market for that following the pandemic, many of us went back to our usual pre-COVID habits as time passed by. After all, simplicity was totally in before the pandemic. So why not focus on pieces people can&nbsp;actually wear everyday?&nbsp;
You might wonder if creating "relatable" everyday pieces is the fashion world's way of tapping into new markets. That's possible; it is just smart business. Moreover, fashion consumers seem to be increasingly mindful of intense capitalism and its impact on the environment. It's no longer enough to come up with attractive designs. Even as established giants in the industry, powerhouses need to address how exactly they're moving towards a more <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/lola-tung-coach-coachtopia-campaign-sustainability-circular-fashion" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sustainable, ethical future</a>. That has to reflect in their collections&mdash;and maximalism doesn't exactly promote conscious consumption. 
Of course, maximalist collections won't entirely disappear. We do still see a mixture of more grandiose looks even in collections centered on everyday wear, and we'll likely see some collections that are all about extravagance in the seasons to come. Otherwise, creatives would soon have difficulty coming up with fresh new ideas, and in turn, consumers would be bored of seeing the same pieces over and over again. But ultimately it seems that many will prioritize wearability.&nbsp;

Loewe Men's Fall/Winter 2024. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

Khaite Fall/Winter 2024. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

Tommy Hilfiger Fall 2024 Ready-to-Wear. Photo by WWD courtesy of Getty Images.

So, in the last few seasons, we&rsquo;ve seen a growing number of luxury fashion brands&mdash;including <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/gucci-mens-fall-winter-2024-milan-fashion-week-sabato-de-sarno-debut-collection-photos" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gucci</a>, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion-week/saint-laurent-spring-summer-2024-paris-fashion-week-runway-images" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Saint Laurent</a>, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion-week/tom-ford-spring-summer-2024-milan-fashion-week-runway-images" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tom Ford</a>, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/men/loewe-mens-fall-winter-2024-runway-photos" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Loewe</a>, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion-week/khaite-fall-winter-2024-nyfw-show-runway-images" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Khaite</a>, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion-week/michael-kors-fall-winter-2024-nyfw-show-runway-images" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Michael Kors</a>, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/gabriela-hearst-fall-winter-2024-nyfw-show-runway-images" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gabriela Hearst</a>, and <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion-week/tommy-hilfiger-fall-winter-2024-nyfw-show-runway-images" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tommy Hilfiger</a>&mdash;embracing minimalism in their collections, which is probably why the quiet luxury trend was oh-so-popular for most of 2023. Whether it was the <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/balletcore-lofficiel-archives" target="_blank" rel="noopener">balletcore</a>, clean girl, or <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/vanilla-girl-aesthetic-tiktok-viral-style-trend-fashion" target="_blank" rel="noopener">vanilla girl</a> aesthetic, one thing was clear: many trends and microtrends adopted the less-is-more, effortless wearability philosophy. And that meant durable capsule pieces that we could dress up or down each season and wear forever (or for more than a few months, at least). Don't worry, that doesn't mean boring&mdash;it just means understated, but sophisticated.

Jason Wu Fall 2024 Ready-to-Wear. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

Ludovic de Saint Sernin Fall/Winter 2024. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

Tory Burch Spring/Summer 2024. Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho courtesy of Getty Images.

Staud Spring/Summer 2024. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

With this shift, the ensembles not only showed the no-makeup makeup look that dominated the beauty world pre-pandemic, but they also adopted sleek, polished hairstyles like the slicked-back bun and the soft blowout. Don't be fooled, even the effortless look can take hours of prep to achieve.&nbsp;

As fashion maisons embraced wearability, celebrities soon understood the assignment and stepped out in effortless fashion. In other words, neutral colors and basics were everywhere, even at high-profile galas, shows, and festivals that were previously marked as stages for opulence. Since style icons like <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/kendall-jenner-best-bikini-pictures" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kendall Jenner</a> and <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/hailey-bieber-signature-wardrobe-staples-street-style" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hailey Bieber</a> attended <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/celebrity-looks-coachella-2023-music-festival" target="_blank" rel="noopener">last year&rsquo;s Coachella</a>&mdash;where people usually come in <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/lisa-bonet-bohemian-style-zoe-kravitz" target="_blank" rel="noopener">full bohemian chic</a> outfits&mdash;in nothing but basic tops and jeans, it seems safe to say that many of this year&rsquo;s attendees will do the same.&nbsp;

Why Is Fashion Returning to Wearability?

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