recently, i went to the Met and saw a fascinating exhibit.
while strolling through the American Wing, i saw out of the corner of my eye a tidy, tiny closet. i had to do a double take because it was hiding in plain sight in the middle of a pass-through corridor. the exhibit – titled 'Sara Berman's Closet'– was striking in its austerity, especially given its proximity to a neighboring exhibit space showcasing the elaborate, turn-of-the-century dressing rooms of a socialite and her daughters.
one of the most striking aspects of Sara Berman's closet, of course, is the very modern minimalism of it all. the perfectly folded piles of clothing, the absence of clutter, the all-white palette of her wardrobe in her later years – it all references many cultural notes in our spark-joy-infused times. the aesthetic was equal parts The Row and Uniqlo.
it also got me thinking about one of the main questions that inspired this blog, nearly eight years ago – how does one develop a personal style? what do the clothes we wear say about who we are?
i really admire Ms. Berman's focus and clarity. however, i don't think i could adhere solely to a tiny, all-white wardrobe. i have too many meaningful objects and stories in the pieces in my closet to be able to pare it down to such an extreme. for those of us who aspire to have a wardrobe that's thoughtfully edited, i think it's important to acknowledge the tension between the desire for minimalism and the excess of life. we don't have to stick to an artificial, highly theoretical formula of 20, 30, or 50 wardrobe items. seasonal decluttering is great, but finding a place for a special, sentimental piece is just as important.
it occurred to me that sometimes i wake up and feel like a monochromatic minimalist, and other days i feel like channeling Iris Apfel. i think i'm okay with both.
what do you think? how has your style evolved?