From Carrie’s chaos to Natasha’s minimalism: fashion wants to go back to the 90s

Here is why the comeback of minimalism is the real trend of 2026.

Let’s be honest: who among us, watching Sex and the City for the first time, didn’t fall madly in love with Carrie Bradshaw’s collection of Manolos and Baguettes? I did, head over heels, and for years I built my wardrobe brick by brick thinking only of collecting crazy pieces: sequin skirts, incredibly uncomfortable shoes worn maybe twice, and tiny bags that I’d love to flaunt around the city but which, realistically, barely hold my house keys and card holder, let alone a phone that is increasingly becoming more like an iPad than my inherited first Nokia 3310.

Now your mind is probably imagining a wardrobe full of interesting garments, a true fashion victim’s collection, but the truth is that, although decluttering videos motivated me to bring some order to the chaos of my style and my life, I often find myself with a mountain of clothes that don’t talk to each other—in short, they aren’t very versatile, and certainly, most definitely, unsuitable for the real trend of 2026: 90s minimalism.

From maximalism to the quiet luxury aesthetic

Now let’s get this straight: it’s not that we have to follow every trend, we’re not those kinds of girls, heavens no. However, this is one of those trends that catches my attention for very clear and rational reasons. 90s minimalism, in fact, solves an incredible number of problems (first-world problems, let’s be clear), such as:

having something to wear every morning when you’re running late, which is always;
being able to combine all your pieces without the risk of looking like you’ve just stepped out of the Rio Carnival;
and finally, looking constantly elegant, like clean girls with their lives in order.

In short, looking just like Natasha Naginsky, Big’s ex, whom Carrie found so obnoxious, but whom deep down she perhaps envied precisely because she emanated all of this.

And fashion this year is just like Carrie. After a long, infinite, perhaps exhausting period of maximalism, crazy prints, and impossible layering games, this year it’s knocking on our wardrobe doors asking for a bit of silence. It’s asking us on social media, where the advent of the Love Story series has led creators and influencers to recreate looks solely with a quiet luxury aesthetic; it’s asking us via the catwalks, where the return of black seems here to stay; and it’s even asking us through the megaphone of Pantone, which chose Cloud Dancer as the colour of the year, as if to say: "Dress like whipped cream, not Hannah Montana."

To be clear, it’s nothing new, nor is it "groundbreaking," to quote a great icon. Fashion, like history, is cyclical, and the return to neutral colours, minimal volumes and cuts, and no-logos is absolutely not a novelty. But it is a novelty for the younger generations who didn’t breathe in the best of the 90s. This is coming from someone born in '96, who only experienced questionable dungarees and an adolescence already in full Y2K style, which means that now, on the brink of 30, the desire for minimalism, order, and elegance is stronger than ever. So yes, we Zillennials and Gen Z are ready to go back to those years—at least in terms of style, because we’ll gladly keep our social media and streaming platforms.

Tailored pieces, passe-partout colours, and easywear fabrics

So, if we really wanted to be inspired by this trend, which, as we’ve understood, isn’t really just a trend, what should we wear?

The keyword here is "tailored," not because we actually need to have clothes made to measure, but because we must stay well away from oversized (except for blazers) and also from super skinny fits, preferring instead soft lines that drape well on our bodies. We choose colours using the same criteria: long live whites, greys, blacks, and beiges, but let’s not stop at neutrals and settle for a wardrobe without personality. Let’s try to insert some blues, perhaps pearlescent, or shades of pink and green, as long as they are "muted." In short, it’s not that if black doesn’t suit you, you can't feel like a Natasha—given that I’m not a colour analyst and I believe in free choice.

And finally, watch the materials! The truth is that minimalism works precisely because of its refinement, because it seems elite. To give you some examples: let’s choose a dress in silk or satin, trousers are better in a structured fabric, and a shirt in stiff cotton with a collar that holds its fold and the rigour of this trend.

The pieces you absolutely must have? A blazer, a slip dress, tailored trousers or straight-leg jeans, a white shirt, a pencil skirt above the knee. For shoes and accessories, keep it simple with evergreen cuts and colours. And remember: these are just tips. Carrie will always be the girl who had the most fun with her style and who will continue to teach us how to step out of our comfort zone without fear. But looking back at her and thinking about the realistic routine most of us live, I can’t help but wonder… didn’t Natasha, deep down, have it all figured out?