A minimalist’s underwear guide to finding your perfect essentials

Function and style neatly packaged into a collection of tiny pieces, underwear is a minimalist’s key to building the foundations of a well established wardrobe. As important as the ultimate leather jacket or cashmere pull-over, underwear sets the scene of the perfect minimal wardrobe and is as fundamental as its exposed counterparts. But it’s not all Victoria’s Secret – it should, like everything in the minimalism worldview, based on simplicity. It’s establishing an underwear wardrobe, selecting cuts and colours colours that suite your lifestyle and the most luxurious of materials that are comfortable and last. Of course, there’s something thrilling about wearing something fantastically sexy underneath the everyday, so a sprinkle of fantasy is highly recommended. Here’s our minimalist underwear guide.

1 The underwear essentials
We can live with not having the new season leather jacket but we can’t live without a capsule wardrobe of knickers and bras to make every outfit possible. A basic T-shirt bra with seamless knickers in skin matching beige are easy go-to’s for everyday – we love Bonds – and convertible, low-cut and u-plunge bras will give you that perfect foundation for an evening outfit, always invisibly.

2 Black, white, nude and some more nude
The art of layering an outfit starts with a good foundation, but when that foundation perfectly blends under light fabric and colours and conceals itself under anything over the top of it, we’re talking a whole new level of everyday lingerie. While an ever-growing collection of black, white and nude underwear is automatically multiple inter-changeable sets, monotone coloured lingerie adds an air of mysterious luxury, confidence and minimalist extravagance to any ensemble.

3 Materials
Lace, silk, fine cotton and even the odd panel of lycra or leather, there are never any limits for material and texture combinations in underwear. As luxurious as lace is, it’s a nightmare under tight or clingy pieces. Keep lace materials to wear with loose fitting pieces to avoid any texture showing through while seam-free lycra numbers are both comfortable and invisible under clingy materials and fitted pieces. Classic yet high-quality cotton is a dream in the warmer months, while silk and satin slip are perfect under layered ensembles.

4 Find your signature brand
Just as you have your favourite denim brand that you trust to look and feel amazing for your figure every time, everyone should have a signature underwear brand. It could be Fleur of England, for love of the ultra feminine lace brace, the tomboy nonchalance of Calvin Klein, La Perla for luxe from inside out, or the playful For Love and Lemons Skivvies. Find a brand that speaks to your personality and, most importantly, fits with your lifestyle and everyday needs.

5 Comfort and style
A bit of extra length in the high-waist trouser or skirt department implies a classic, tailored and chic aesthetic and the same is applicable to underwear. La Perla know how to make an extra four inches above the hip and turn the full brief from basic everyday go-to piece to a contemporary must have. Daggy underwear is not to be feared, and Bonds remains our favourite for comfortable, VPL free knickers.

6 Underwear as outerwear
A delicate black or white lace bralette, see the likes of For Love and Lemons, under a veil of opaque outerwear is risqué, relaxed and prevailing all at the same time. The juxtaposition between detailed lace worn under minimal sheer blouses, between textures and contrasting shades is a style objective for which underwear as outerwear is highly recommended.

7 None at all
The boundaries of any outfit are made to be broken. Think a boxy cashmere sweater, a sleek backless silk blouse or a plunging neckline. A nod to the influencers of the 70’s, relaxed minimalist styles which invite bras to take the day off are invitations not to be ignored.

Did we not tell you underwear was a versatile essential? If you’re feeling inspired to makeover your underwear capsule wardrobe, here are some of our top underwear picks:

Incredibly important minimal style tips to your inbox? Join my mailing list or follow me on Blog Lovin’!