More is more in the age of isolation and digital connection.

Life during a <a href="https://www.lofficiel.com.cy/healthy-lifestyle/how-corona-changes-our-fitness-habits-in-2021" target="_blank">global pandemic</a> is delineated by a sometimes excruciating sense of <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion-week/onitsuka-tiger-fall-winter-2021-milan" target="_blank">minimalism</a>. Days that were once infused with connection and excursion have been reduced to Zoom dates and socially distant strolls. As we near the one-year mark of the coronavirus&rsquo;&nbsp;presence in the United States, it feels impossible to imagine life before the threat of a serious illness. We often find ourselves berated with the questions: What did it feel like? What did it sound like? And most importantly, what did it look like?&nbsp;

Enter pre-pandemic fashion.&nbsp;Less was certainly&nbsp;more. Simple <a href="https://lofficielbaltics.com/en/fashion/20-perfect-elegant-combinations-of-blue-jeans-and-black-tops" target="_blank">blue jeans</a> and <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion-week/marine-serre-climate-apocalypse-runway-2019" target="_blank">sartorial</a> elegance were celebrated as the pinnacles of the style continuum. Statement pieces only emerged from the depths of our wardrobes on special occasions and color was adorned in careful moderation. This adoption of a restrained way of dressing was born out of the recognition of stand-out brands such as <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion-week/the-row-mary-kate-ashley-olsen-fall-2020-runway-show" target="_blank">The Row </a>and <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/pierre-cardin-simon-porte-jacquemus-interview" target="_blank">Jacquemus</a>. Their polished runways showcased clean lines, classy neutrals, and only necessary pops of color. These young brands cultivated the belief that casual was chic, and embodied the art of graceful tailoring.&nbsp;However, when coronavirus forced us back into our homes with an impending sense of uncertainty, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/weddings-trends-2021-corona-bridal-minimalism" target="_blank">minimalism</a> took on a new form. <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/2021-fashion-trends-to-start-shopping" target="_blank">Loungewear</a> became the new blue jeans and accessorizing simply meant holding your phone and laptop at once.&nbsp;

Jacquemus Fall/Winter 2019

As expected, this collective fascination with coordinated sweatsuits was outlived by the desire for more. While&nbsp;the pandemic continued to jeopardize our conception of normalcy, it never once subdued fashion&rsquo;s ability to inspire and evolve. Designers all over the world, confined to the same isolation, persisted in their mission to create. It was within the melancholic darkness of the pandemic that the <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion-week/marc-jacobs-runway-show-spring-2020" target="_blank">maximalism</a> movement&nbsp;was reborn as a source of light. In a matter of months, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/stephen-burrows-designer-color-blocking-black-fashion-history" target="_blank">vivid color</a> and funky styles reentered international ateliers, insipid closets, and fatigued mindsets.

Maximalist methods of dressing&nbsp;are&nbsp;not new to the fashion realm. Major brands such as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/rei-kawakubo-commes-des-garcons-abstract-fashion-design-runway" target="_blank">Comme des Gar&ccedil;ons</a>, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/gucci-epilogue-collection" target="_blank">Gucci</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion-week/schiaparelli-spring-summer-2021-haute-couture" target="_blank">Schiaparelli</a> have continuously embraced the maximalist&nbsp;dogmas of&nbsp;extravagance and spectacle throughout history.&nbsp;However, the return to color, texture, and bold&nbsp;silhouettes has been equally orchestrated by all of us at home. Pandemic-imposed idle&nbsp;time has been filled with viral fashion challenges and explorations of personal style. For example, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/high-fashion-designers-tiktok-gen-z-charli-damelio" target="_blank">TikTok</a> became flooded with videos explaining how to create your own<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/shop-chunky-ring-trend-bella-hadid-dua-lipa-favorite-rings" target="_blank"> statement rings</a>, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/novelty-knitwear-spring-2021-harry-styles-cardigan" target="_blank">novelty sweaters</a>, and colorful patchwork tops. Those of us who have&nbsp;never picked up a knitting needle became finetuned designers and maximalist style gurus. Chunky sweaters met neon tights and funky hairstyles, while faux feathers and beaded jewelry cemented themselves within day-to-day dressing.

The 2021 runways eloquently captured this collective appreciation for the eccentric and out of the ordinary. Vibrant colors, kitschy prints, sequins galore&mdash;nothing is off limits. From metallic pink <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/valentino-haute-couture-spring-summer-2021-pierpaolo-piccioli-robert-del-naja" target="_blank">Valentino</a> boots to <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/virgil-abloh-damien-hirst-tetsuzo-okubo-beverly-hirst-recycler-canary-yellow" target="_blank">Virgil Abloh</a>&#39;s wearable <a href="https://www.lofficiel.co.uk/fashion-week/louis-vuitton-and-virgil-abloh-fall-winter-2021-22-collection" target="_blank">cityscapes</a>&nbsp;for <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/men/louis-vuitton-fall-winter-2021-mens-virgil-abloh" target="_blank">Louis Vuitton men&#39;s</a>, current designers are infusing hope into their pieces via maximalist touches and escapist attitudes.

Valentino Spring/Summer 2021 Haute Couture

Miu Miu Spring/Summer 2021

Versace Spring/Sumer 2021

Balenciaga Spring/Summer 2021

Isabel Marant Spring/Summer 2021

Comme Des Garcon Spring/Summer 2021

Saint Laurent Spring/Summer 2021

Gucci Spring/Summer 2021

Chanel Spring/Summer 2021

Louis Vuitton Fall/Winter 2021

Prada Fall/Winter 2021

Fashion has always been a reflection of culture. In the case of the <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/politics-culture/books-to-read-pandemic" target="_blank">pandemic</a>, the revival of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/beauty/phyllis-cohen-david-bowie-tina-turner-80s-makeup-artist-interview" target="_blank">maximalism</a>&nbsp;was created as the&nbsp;contrary reaction to the mundanity of isolation. The extremity of the maximalist style aims to bring light into the dark places while reminding its followers that even within a time defined by smallness, we have the unparalleled power to take up space.&nbsp;

A Return to Maximalism: How Fashion Fights Back Against COVID-19

Tags

Recommended posts for you

Fashion

10 Most Iconic Fashion Designers And Their Muses

Pop culture

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Make a Surprise Appearance in Jordan

Fashion

Coach Brings Literature to Life With the Spring 2026 “Explore Your Story” Campaign

Fashion

Kristin Juszczyk Talks Sporty-Chic Style and Off Season’s Brand-New NBA Collection

Fashion Week

Jil Sander Fall/Winter 2026 Is Minimalism with a Twist

Music

The Top 10 Most Expensive Music Catalogs in History

Music

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Announces 2026 Nominees

L'Officiel Art

A Guide to All the Must-See Galleries, Events, and Pop-Ups at Frieze LA 2026