Simplicities (Bilingual Edition)

Catalogue of the exhibition Simplicities, presented at the Museum of Fashoin and Lace, Brussels (12 June 2026 – 10 January 2027).

The book invites readers to explore the simplicity of clothing. Spanning more than two centuries of history, it looks back at moments when clothing has tended towards minimalism, functionality and naturalness.

Often associated with luxury, opulence and novelty, fashion is revealed here as a mirror of cultural and social changes. This is a theme that has received little attention until now.

The trend began in the late 18th century. Enlightenment philosophy, alongside medical and hygienist discourse, called for a profound reform of the ways in which people presented themselves. This ‘return to nature’ manifested itself not only in a rejection of corrective artifices, but also in the adoption of new cuts, breathable fabrics and an aesthetic vocabulary inspired by antiquity. The sartorial ideal came to reflect a new way of life, centred on comfort, physical freedom and a closeness to nature.

The publication is structured around six chapters exploring the various aspects of this simplicity. Drawn from throughout history, the garments presented reveal the continuity, resurgences and paradoxes of this aesthetic.

Drawn from throughout history, the pieces on display are presented alongside designs by contemporary designers such as Dries van Noten, Ester Manas, Issey Miyake and Ann Demeulemeester, highlighting the continuity, resurgences and paradoxes of this aesthetic. Discover this unique facet of fashion history.