I’ll go ahead and set the scene for you: it’s 2024, and fashion feels like it’s taken one too many Xanax.

Everyone you follow is wearing head-to-toe beige. The fashion girlies are bickering about the difference between being rich and being wealthy (there is a difference). Your Instagram feed looks like it’s been dipped in almond milk. Everything is linen. Everything is taupe. All of the furniture appears to be made of insulation.

And while, after years of fast-fashion in the early 2020s, we appreciated the calm, something inside of us was dying to scream.

Well, consider the silence officially broken. Maximalism is back, baby! And she didn’t just shuffle in. She kicked down the door in her chunky mismatched print heels, threw glitter on your monochrome wardrobe, and said, “Enough, already! Stop dressing like you’re an Olsen twin in one of their 90s detective movies (no shade). Let’s get loud!”

This is not a plea to bring back fast fashion. Not even a little bit! It’s instead a plea, on my knees, begging you to get creative. Who said a capsule wardrobe had to be boring?

In this, the day of our Lord, 2025, when brands exist that make it both eco-conscious and stylish to re-wear bright, colorful pieces, would you insist on dressing up as a Cub Scout? (No shade).

Why We’re Craving Maximalism (Again)

There’s something healing about letting yourself be too much. You’re allowed to turn the volume back up. You get to say when you’re tired of shrinking.

Maximalism is body-positive. It’s neurodivergent-friendly. It’s anti-capitalist and anti-perfectionist. It says, “I’m not dressing for anyone else. I’m dressing for joy.”

In a world obsessed with optimization and aesthetic perfection, maximalism is human.

It’s also the internet’s favorite tool for self-expression right now. Your Pinterest board doesn’t need a theme anymore. Your closet doesn’t need a color palette. Your books absolutely do not need to be organized by color, and your makeup bag doesn’t need to be curated. You can be chaotic. It’s allowed.

How to Dip a Toe in (Without Abandoning All of Your Beige)

You don’t have to go full peacock overnight. If you’re recovering from quiet luxury burnout, start here:

• Layer your neutrals with a pop color. Baby steps. Add a red boot to your camel coat.
• Play with texture. Think leather pants with a fuzzy sweater and a silk scarf.
• Introduce one bold print. Leopard, zebra, florals—whatever sparks joy.
• Go maximal in one area. Bold makeup with a simple outfit, or a statement bag with your go-to uniform.
  
  Maximalism isn’t about throwing everything on. It’s about intentionally choosing joy, drama, texture, and color.

Brands to Look to When Shopping

If you’re looking to add some color, shapes, texture, and all that jazz to your wardrobe, you can start by renting outfits or pieces that are outside your normal scope. I personally rent from Nuuly every month and receive six great pieces that I can mix with my more traditional wardrobe to spice up my looks. (You can even use my referral code for $30 off your first month! Here’s a link to check it out! )

I also have a running list of brands that I keep my email notifications “on” for. (That’s how you know it’s real.) These are all investment pieces that I buy only when I have the money, and they’re good enough quality that I feel like I’ll get my wear out of them (and then some).

These brands are (in no particular order):

• LoveShackFancy
• Farm Rio
• REVOLVE
• Sézane
• Agua Bendita
• Alice + Olivia
• For Love & Lemons
• GRLFRND

& many others. If you need help finding the perfect piece for a specific occasion, hit ya girl up.

Key Takeaways

Quiet luxury will always have a place in society.

Especially for those who are truly wealthy enough to buy $800 white fitted t-shirts.

But the trend went too far (IMO) in the direction of a capitalist uniform, where everyone and their mom wore the same damn “capsule” wardrobe, instead of allowing themselves to get dressed like the grownups they are, and show a little bit of creativity.

Editorial note: This is not directed at anyone who loves how they feel when they wear quiet luxury! It’s simply a reminder that you’re allowed to wear anything that makes you feel beautiful!