Styles · An idea under Avant-garde

Maximalist fashion

Bold outerwear, loud prints, sculptural cuts, and heavy silver jewelry from independent boutiques for men and women who dress with more.

Maximalist fashion is an expressive way of dressing built on exaggerated volume, dense layering, vivid colour, and ornate decoration. Sculptural cuts, heavy wool, and rich velvet combine with bright red or yellow against deep black fabrics to produce high visual impact. Balance holds the look together through deliberate silhouettes where wide leg trousers anchor heavy outerwear rather than competing with it.

Fashion swings back to it after spells of minimal dressing: the colour and big shoulders of the eighties, and from the middle twenty tens the crowded prints of Alessandro Michele's Gucci. Chrome Hearts began in Los Angeles crafting leather motorcycle gear for riders before expanding into heavy sterling silver rings and pendants. Balenciaga exaggerates proportions with oversized outerwear and chunky sneakers, while Rick Owens adds outsized sneakers and heavy cargo trousers.

Pillars of this style include wide leg pants, textured skirts, heavy sneakers, and ornate sterling silver bracelets. Wear oversized velvet coats over relaxed cotton trousers, then finish the silhouette with stacked rings and statement pendants. Utopia, Due West and WDLT117 in Toronto carry these chunky sneakers, heavy trousers and silver.

Rick Owens Tower Jumbolaced Sneakers Black/Milk at Utopia on within
Rick Owens
Tower Jumbolaced Sneakers Black/Milk
HK$10,118
Utopia
Rick Owens Mega Bumper Geobasket Black Milk at Utopia on within
Rick Owens
Mega Bumper Geobasket Black Milk
HK$5,621Pre-owned
Utopia
Emanuele Bicocchi Fleury Cross Rose Oversized Necklace in Silver at Due West on within
Emanuele Bicocchi
Fleury Cross Rose Oversized Necklace - Silver
HK$5,031
Due West
Chrome Hearts Triple Cross Pendant at Utopia on within
Chrome Hearts
Triple Cross Pendant
HK$39,348
Utopia
Rick Owens Mastodon Megacargo Pant Heavy Faille Black at Utopia on within
Rick Owens
Mastodon Megacargo Pant Heavy Faille Black
HK$5,621
Utopia
Litkovska Ruffled Midi Skirt Black at WDLT117 on within
Litkovska
Ruffled Midi Skirt Black
HK$6,701Last one
WDLT117
Chrome Hearts XL Diamond Fleur Cuban Link Bracelet (8 Inches) at Utopia on within
Chrome Hearts
XL Diamond Fleur Cuban Link Bracelet (8 Inches)
HK$56,211Lightly used
Utopia
Chrome Hearts Wide Band Dagger Heart Ring at Utopia on within
Chrome Hearts
Wide Band Dagger Heart Ring
HK$14,053Lightly used
Utopia
Balenciaga Triple S Grey Yellow Black at Utopia on within
Balenciaga
Triple S Grey Yellow Black
HK$2,248Pre-owned
Utopia
Balenciaga X-Pander Sneaker Red/Silver at Utopia on within
Balenciaga
X-Pander Sneaker Red/Silver
HK$3,373
Utopia
Magliano Christmas Sweater Rave Yellow, front view, at WDLT117 on within
Magliano
Christmas Sweater Rave Yellow
HK$5,320HK$6,586
WDLT117
Y-3 Red Satin Graphic Shirt - Multicolor, front view, at Due West on within
Y-3
Red Satin Graphic Shirt - Multicolor
HK$2,782
Due West
Chrome Hearts Silver Diamond Bubblegum Cross Ring at Utopia on within
Chrome Hearts
Silver Diamond Bubblegum Cross Ring
HK$12,366
Utopia
Stolen Girlfriends Club Claw Ring - Silver/Onyx at Due West on within
Stolen Girlfriends Club
Claw Ring - Silver/Onyx
HK$1,967
Due West
Balenciaga Triple S Clear Sole Deep Purple at Utopia on within
Balenciaga
Triple S Clear Sole Deep Purple
HK$4,497
Utopia
Balenciaga Triple S Clear Sole Teal Blue at Utopia on within
Balenciaga
Triple S Clear Sole Teal Blue
HK$1,686Pre-owned
Utopia
Kenzo Tiger Track Jacket - Multi in Tiger Print worn by a model, at Due West on within
Kenzo
Tiger Track Jacket - Multi
HK$2,164HK$4,947
Due West
Gucci x Balenciaga The Hacker Project Triple S Beige Green Yellow at Utopia on within
Gucci
x Balenciaga The Hacker Project Triple S Beige Green Yellow
HK$2,530Pre-owned
Utopia
Chrome Hearts Extra Fancy Ring, close up, at Utopia on within
Chrome Hearts
Extra Fancy Ring
HK$16,863
Utopia
Chrome Hearts Dagger Ring at Utopia on within
Chrome Hearts
Dagger Ring
HK$16,863
Utopia
Chrome Hearts Floral Ring at Utopia on within
Chrome Hearts
Floral Ring
HK$22,485
Utopia
Ksubi The Kondor Sunglasses - Black/Gold at Due West on within
Ksubi
The Kondor Sunglasses - Black/Gold
HK$2,754
Due West
Chrome Hearts Large Star of David Pendant at Utopia on within
Chrome Hearts
Large Star of David Pendant
HK$16,863
Utopia
Chrome Hearts Lil PJ 3CH Plus Diamond Ring at Utopia on within
Chrome Hearts
Lil PJ 3CH Plus Diamond Ring
HK$16,863Lightly used
Utopia

Common questions

How do you style maximalist fashion without clashing?
Anchor loud patterns or heavy textures with a dominant tone such as black or cream. Pair wide leg trousers with structured outerwear to establish a clear focal point.
Where does maximalist fashion come from?
It returns whenever minimal dressing has had its run: in the eighties, and again from the middle twenty tens with Alessandro Michele's Gucci. Wearers pile on colour, print, volume and jewellery.
Which designers make maximalist fashion pieces?
Balenciaga makes chunky sneakers such as the Triple S, and Rick Owens outsized sneakers and heavy cargo trousers. Chrome Hearts makes ornate sterling silver jewellery.