Sandhya Garg — Style Edit
What Is Your Fashion Style?
Maximalist vs Minimalist — and Why You Might Be Both
By Sandhya Garg · Project Runway Designer · XS–3XL Collections · Updated October 2026
More, but considered: embroidery, colour and gold — edited around one hero piece.
Quick Answer
Maximalist fashion embraces more — bold colour, print-on-print, texture, embellishment and statement accessories — as a form of self-expression. Minimalist fashion edits down to clean lines, neutral colours and a small wardrobe of versatile pieces. In 2026, fashion is swinging back toward maximalism, but most stylish people blend the two: a minimalist base with one maximalist hero piece.
Some people open their wardrobe and see a rainbow; others see twelve perfect shades of oatmeal. Neither is wrong. But knowing which camp you're in — or that you're quietly in both — makes getting dressed, shopping and building a wardrobe so much easier.
I'll be honest about my bias: as a Project Runway designer, my label is built on artisanal maximalism — hand-drawn prints, embroidery and colour, in sizes XS through 3XL. But I've dressed plenty of minimalists, and the best outfits often borrow from both. This guide defines each style, shows where fashion stands in 2026, gives you a quick style quiz, explains how to wear maximalism without looking overdone, and shares twelve pieces from our newest collection, Let Them Eat Cake.
Once you know your camp, two companion guides take it further: how to define your signature style and how to wear bold prints.
In This Guide
Maximalist vs Minimalist Fashion: The Definitions
Maximalist
More is more
Bold colour, pattern on pattern, texture, embellishment and statement accessories. Dressing as self-expression and joy — every outfit has something to look at.
Minimalist
Less is more
Clean lines, neutral palettes, quality fabrics and a small, versatile wardrobe. Dressing as calm and precision — nothing extra, everything considered.
Maximal-Minimalist
The blend
A pared-back base with one maximalist hero: a printed dress with simple accessories, or an embroidered jacket over black. The most common style of all.
Considered Maximalist
The 2026 version
Maximalism with structure: bold, but edited around a focal point. Rich, expressive and never chaotic.
Watch
The Two Styles at a Glance
🎨 Colour
Maximalist: jewel tones, clashing brights, colour blocking.
Minimalist: black, white, cream, camel, grey.
Maximalist: florals, scrollwork, geometrics — often mixed.
Minimalist: solids, maybe a fine stripe.
✂️ Silhouette
Maximalist: balloon sleeves, ruffles, volume, drama.
Minimalist: straight, tailored, bias-cut, clean.
💎 Accessories
Maximalist: stacked, layered, statement.
Minimalist: one fine chain, small studs.
👗 Wardrobe
Maximalist: a collection of special pieces.
Minimalist: a capsule of versatile basics.
Where Fashion Stands in 2026
📌 The Clean-Girl Era Ends
Reported via Pinterest Predicts
Pinterest Predicts — which reports that 88% of its forecasts over six years came true — called a strong swing toward maximalism for 2026, a look it dubbed 'Glamoratti', with personality and indulgence replacing quiet luxury (IOL).
⚖️ Both Can Coexist
Reported by FashionUnited
FashionUnited notes that, according to WGSN, minimalism and maximalism coexisted on the Paris autumn/winter 26/27 runways — and forecaster Christine Boland believes quiet luxury is here to stay.
🎬 Runways Get Cinematic
Reported by Flanelle Magazine
Flanelle describes Matthieu Blazy's fall/winter 2026 Chanel as a cinematic fantasy world — a deliberate counterpoint to quiet luxury — as designers across Paris, Milan, New York and London embraced bold prints and texture.
🧵 Opulence Over Restraint
Reported by Who What Wear
Who What Wear says the fall 2026 runways traded minimalism for embroidery, brocade, tapestry and velvet — pieces that feel like modern heirlooms.
The deeper reason, according to FashionUnited: consumers are tired of the aesthetic sameness that AI-driven feeds have amplified. Maximalism is a way to look like yourself again.
Minimalist vs maximalist, from the same designer: the black poplin maxi and the Samode Palace-printed Mahal.
Quiz: Are You a Maximalist or a Minimalist?
Answer each question with A or B, and keep count.
01
Your dream dress is…
A a hand-drawn print with a dramatic sleeve. B a perfectly cut black slip.
02
Your jewelry box holds…
A stacks of bangles, statement earrings and charms. B a few fine pieces you wear every day.
03
At a party you'd rather be…
A the person everyone asks 'where's that from?' B the one who looks effortlessly polished.
04
Your colour comfort zone is…
A fuchsia, cobalt, emerald — together. B navy, cream and camel.
05
Packing for a trip, you…
A bring one outfit per mood. B bring ten pieces that all match.
06
Your home looks…
A like a gallery of things you love. B clean, calm and uncluttered.
07
Print mixing is…
A fun. B stressful.
08
Your ideal compliment is…
A 'That's so you!' B 'You always look so put-together.'
Mostly A
You're a maximalist
Lean in: prints, colour, embroidery and drama are your language. Start with our rainbow and multicolour edit.
Mostly B
You're a minimalist
Keep your clean base and try one maximalist piece — an embroidered jacket over black is the easiest gateway.
A mix
You're a maximal-minimalist
Your sweet spot is a simple base with one statement. Think printed dress, quiet accessories — or the reverse.
How to Wear Maximalism Without Looking Overdone
🎯 Choose a Hero
One focal point per outfit — a print, a sleeve, embroidery. Everything else supports it.
🔁 Repeat a Colour
Pull one shade from your print and echo it in shoes, bag or earrings. Repetition makes more look intentional.
📏 Mix Prints by Scale
Pair a large print with a small one in a shared colour family. Our bold prints guide explains how.
🏛️ Add Structure
A belt, a defined waist or a tailored jacket keeps volume and pattern from overwhelming you.
New Collection · Limited Edition · XS to 3XL
Whatever Your Style, Start Here
Twelve pieces from our newest collection, grouped by quiz result: committed maximalists, maximal-minimalists, and minimalists ready for one statement.
For Committed Maximalists (Mostly A)
For Maximal-Minimalists (A Mix)
A Minimalist's First Statement (Mostly B)
Dresses in XS · S · M · L · XL · XXL · XXXL · Jackets in limited sizes · Size chart
Maximalism rewards close attention: a hand-drawn print and beaded tapestry up close.
For Minimalists
Maximalism at Every Size
Maximalism is one of the most joyful ways to dress a curvy body — a medium-to-large print scale, a defined waist and a statement sleeve or neckline look fantastic at every size. Our dresses are graded to 3XL so the print scale and neckline stay right in every size. Read our guide to chic plus-size style or shop plus-size dresses.
Bold print and tonal embroidery, styled in plus sizes.
Shop Collections for Your Style
Frequently Asked Questions
What is maximalist fashion?
Maximalist fashion is a style that embraces more: bold colour, print-on-print, texture, embellishment, volume and statement accessories. It treats getting dressed as self-expression, and every outfit has a focal point worth looking at.
What is minimalist fashion?
Minimalist fashion focuses on clean lines, neutral colours, quality fabrics and a small, versatile wardrobe. The goal is a calm, polished look built from pieces that all work together.
Is maximalism in style in 2026?
Yes. Pinterest Predicts forecast a strong swing toward maximalism for 2026, and the fall 2026 runways embraced embroidery, brocade and bold prints. Many forecasters note that minimalism hasn't disappeared, though — the two are coexisting.
Can you be both a maximalist and a minimalist?
Absolutely. Many people are maximal-minimalists: they keep a simple, neutral base and add one statement piece, such as a printed dress or an embroidered jacket.
How do you dress maximalist without looking messy?
Choose one focal point, repeat a colour across the outfit, mix prints at different scales in a shared colour family, and add structure with a belt or tailored piece.
Is quiet luxury over?
Not completely. Fashion's mood has shifted toward maximalism in 2026, but some forecasters believe quiet luxury is a lasting movement. Expect both to coexist, often in the same outfit.
Sources & Further Reading
- FashionUnited: Glamourati, Kidult, Scandi-cool — the many faces of maximalism
- IOL: Maximalism is taking over in 2026, according to Pinterest
- Flanelle Magazine: Is maximalism back? How fashion is rejecting minimalism in 2026
- Who What Wear: The opulent trend of fall 2026
Join the List · Project Runway Designer · Made in Small Batches
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Sign up for the Sandhya Garg list and get 15% off your first order — maximalist or minimalist — plus early access to new prints.
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