Elyssa Dimant explains in the book Minimalism and Fashion, “In many ways, Minimalism transitioned from a 1960s high art movement to a persisting presence in contemporary artistic vernacular due to its appropriation within the field of fashion, and to the many fashion designers who have equated reduction and abstraction with beauty and progress.” (as cited in Fashion and Runway, 2010.)
New Minimalism focuses more on the idea of consumerism. People nowadays wanted items that were durable, easy, unrecognisable and versatile to be worn repeatedly at anywhere, the previous habits of disposable clothing that were more noticeable went on a down track. Minimalism became more functional to the mass market in the practical way.
The design of clothes became plainer, so to their messages. Examples for designers like Stella McCartney and Hannah MacGibbon at Chloé followed suit, with practical tailoring in neutral palettes; Alexander Wang and London's Heikki Salonen (who focused on grunge style streetwears previously) began showing minimal sportswear in greyscale; even celebrity designers like Victoria Beckham who was more of the conspicuous look, has turned to a minimalistic approach.
(Walker, 2011.)
As for the concept of body, the modern Minimalism allows more casualness to the human body in a reductive manner. This attitude now that embraced on the body forms itself was opposing the anti-figurative idea of the traditional Minimalism (60's). Most designers nowadays came up with easy and simple cutting to the garments, one of them would be Calvin Klein. He identified his version of Minimalism as ‘an indulgence in superbly executed cut, quiet plays of colour tones and clean, strong shape.’ (Ventus, 2013.)
Today's Minimalism.
Some argued that this interpretation of Minimalism which literally reducing clothes to its very basic (almost nothing) lost its true meaning of the movement. As Minimalism was simply an easy title to attach to almost everything simple now, things that are monochromatic and clean were being associated with the term, even T-shirts and jeans were being considered. (Ventus, 2013.)
As the fashion world evolves fast, eventually one fashion moved on to another. I would say the new Minimalism was simply fitting in to the society today, where we demand for fast, easy and convenient for everything.
References:
Fashion and Runway. (2010) MINIMALISM AND FASHION: Reduction in the Postmodern Era by Elyssa Dimant. [Online] Available at:<http://old.fashionandrunway.com/fashion/article.cfm?id_articolo=24001> [Accessed: 17 July 2014]
Ventus, G. (2013) Defining Minimalism In Fashion: Part 2. [Online] Available at:<http://the-rosenrot.com/2013/09/defining-minimalism-in-fashion-part-2.html> [Accessed: 17 July 2014]
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