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A Love Letter to Maximalism and Why I Will Never Have a Capsule Wardrobe
Because it’s not just about stuff. It’s about giving place and meaning to everything.
Posted 1/14/2026
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Let’s time travel, shall we? The year is 2019. Netflix’s Tidying Up with Marie Kondo has taken the country by storm. The Scandinavian minimalism movement has us flocking to IKEA. It’s one of those, “you had to be there moments,” and it felt like one of the last real examples of monoculture where everyone was picking up their old sweaters, staring them in the face, and asking, “Does this spark joy?”
And for those of us who had always adopted a “more is more” mentality, this movement didn’t quite click with us.
So what if a sweater that I haven’t worn in 10 years still sparks some kind of joy in me? What if I like to open my closet to see it exploding with color, texture, and a slightly bent hanger bar?
That always felt more true to who I am, so unlike my fellow millennials, I swam upstream.
Sometimes More is Just More
I was in college at the time when minimalism was at its peak, and this trend was reflected in every aspect of life around me. Apartments that I lived in were always filled with sad, boring, grey couches and harsh overhead lighting. The “capsule wardrobe” was on the rise.
So I made it my mission to bring a little maximalism to every room I stepped in and every outfit I wore.
Surrounding Myself with Things I Love Made Me Feel Happier
I’d like to think of myself as educated in the school of the Nancy Meyers aesthetic with a minor in Nora Ephron interiors. I’ve never wanted anything more than I wanted the bookshelves in Meg Ryan’s apartment in You’ve Got Mail. I’ll never forget drooling over Elizabeth James’ vanity in The Parent Trap when Hallie–disguised as Annie–is running her fingers along all her beautiful pieces.
So I made it my goal to be a collector. Bookshelves filled to the brim with books I really need to pick up again, magazines to return to for inspo, and photo memories I love to reminisce on (hello Monthbooks!). These all touched my maximalist heart and brought me a sense of coziness that minimalism could never quite get right.
It’s More Than Stuff, It’s Self-Expression
Simply put, I have a lot of stuff. I like my stuff. It brings me a sense of home and familiarity. However, at times this has also made me feel somewhat insecure for being cluttered or even a hoarder.
It’s not that I hate the minimalist style. In fact, I recall a friend of mine who was the queen of balancing beautiful, curated looks with those simple, clean, minimalist lines. I walked into her apartment and felt instant envy for how lovely her place looked and for how little she had to do to make it that way. She always looked chic in a white button down.
Meanwhile, my room was bursting with colors, books, furniture, and whatever else I could get my hands on. Instead of just wearing a simple sweater, I was seen mixing patterns and colors like it was my job.
My Style Began to Evolve, Just Like Me: Bold, Loud, And a Bit Much
But over time, I’ve also learned something about myself. Like my style preferences, I also am “a little much.” And I don’t mean to be self-deprecating. One of my favorite poems by author Lyndsay Rush put it this way:
“She’s a bit much”
You mean like a bonus french fry in the bottom of the bag?
Like a champagne shower? Like triple texting good news?
Like buying coffee for the person behind you in line? Or did you mean 'a bit much' like an unexpected upgrade to business class / or theme parties / or the band pretending to go off stage and then coming back for an unforgettable encore?,
Perhaps you were referring to that thing of being astonished by a sunset / or how puppies flop around when they learn to run / or the way some people take karaoke really seriously?
Maybe you just meant sprinkles / confetti / balloon drops / witty comebacks / generous tips / fireworks / waterslides / serotonin / cherries on top / and the fact that maybe we were put on this planet simply to enjoy ourselves? Then yes, I agree—she is a bit much. Aren't we so lucky she's here?
Maximalism Isn’t Just a Style, It’s Giving Meaning to Everything
And so, with that poem as the wind beneath my wings, I’ve grown to appreciate and defend maximalists. We can come across as cluttered, extra, and even loud and bold. But those qualities have grown to mean something important in my life. My greatest strength, in fact. That I have the ability to give place and meaning to everything.
So if you’re like me and you’ve compared your own home and style to that of the chic, cool, clean homes of your contemporaries, perhaps you too might just be someone who likes to keep, collect, and hold on to what matters most.
About the author:
Sarah Collins is the Mission Social Content Manager at Chatbooks and the Podcast Producer for the MomForce Podcast. She’s rarely without a Dr. Pepper Zero in her hand and headphones in her ears—usually tuned into a favorite pop culture podcast. An avid reader, music enthusiast, and TV connoisseur, Sarah has a soft spot for period pieces where everyone wears beautiful clothing and the stakes are quite low (think Downton Abbey, Anne of Green Gables, and yes, even Gilmore Girls). A Lindon, Utah native, Sarah’s perfect day is spent on a hike with her dog.
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