When did everybody start fearing color so much? Between the quiet luxury trend and the clean-girl style, fashion has turned into an unending collection of beige, white, gray and black. Each time I visit Pinterest or TikTok I come across the same types of outfits: a sleek back bun, gold hoop earrings, a matching set, and perhaps a pair of Sambas if we're feeling bold. Now, I'll be the first to admit that I do enjoy a neutral look, but at what point did we all agree that appearing expensive meant dressing in a minimalist way?
Thanks to the popularity of quiet luxury, we've managed to convince ourselves that the less personality an outfit has, the more sophisticated it is. A beige sweater has suddenly become the embodiment of elegance, while fun colors or a bold print is seen as being too flashy. But who made that decision?
The more I consider it, the more I see that this obsession with minimalism is not only concerned with fashion but also with race, class, and who gets to decide what is considered in vogue.
For instance, take the clean-girl look: slicked-back buns, glossy lips and gold earrings. Does that ring a bell? It does, because Black and Latina women have been wearing these styles long before TikTok came along and gave them a new name. However, for years some of these same styles were called "ghetto" or unprofessional when worn by women of color. Nowadays, when they are linked with white influencers they are seen as fashionable and effortless. So what is it that has actually changed? The style or the person wearing it?
The next example is the clean-girl aesthetic. What actually gives someone the appearance of being "clean"? Is it their slicked-back hair? Their minimal use of makeup? Or their choice of neutral clothing? If that's the standard being applied, what message does it send to everyone who doesn't fit into it? Black women have had to struggle for years against the notion that our natural hair, braids, and locs are in any way unprofessional or inappropriate.
There's also quiet luxury, and that's probably the aspect of the whole beige craze that I object to most. It seems that in order to appear wealthy these days, people are expected to dress in ways that avoid drawing attention. Logos and bright colors are discouraged, while expensive basics and the occasional designer bag are celebrated. Now, I don't see anything wrong with that, but it is interesting that we have come to regard understated fashion as somehow superior to everything else.
A beige sweater that costs $500 is seen as timeless while a colorful outfit is regarded as tacky. Why is it that being subtle is automatically linked with having good taste?
Fashion has forever been a means for people to express themselves, particularly within Black communities. Whether it be the bold colors and patterns of the 1970s or the impact of hip-hop and streetwear, Black fashion has always been willing to be bold and original. It is precisely this quality that makes it so important; the clothes we wear tell us things about who we are and where we come from. Fashion is not simply about looking presentable; it is about identity, culture, and resistance.
I'm not arguing that everybody should get rid of their beige sweaters. If minimalism is your style, then go for it. But I do think that we should consider why certain styles are always presented as the ideal of beauty and sophistication, particularly since those standards often reveal racial and class biases.
In the end, my real issue isn't beige at all; it's the belief that fashion must be subtle in order to be considered sophisticated, or that something only becomes fashionable after it has been repackaged and given a new name.
