Now that you can find high-quality basic items at affordable prices, it’s easy to put together a simple, polished outfit. However, when you look at your reflection in the mirror, your outfit might feel a bit bland. That said, you don’t necessarily want to wear flashy designs either. I suspect there are quite a few men who face this dilemma.The key to solving this lies in the “Less is More” aesthetic popularized by architect Mies van der Rohe. This philosophy involves stripping away unnecessary elements to highlight essential functions, the beauty of materials, and their inherent value. However, this approach only works if what remains after the stripping is done is inherently appealing.In this article, we’ll introduce three knitwear pieces that showcase a brand’s aesthetic sensibility through the choices of what to strip away and what to keep.
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Knitwear Embodying the ‘Less is More’ Aesthetic 1GENTLEMAN PROJECTS ‘WADE’
In a typical henley neck, a narrow strip of fabric is added where the buttons fasten at the chest, and the surrounding area is secured with stitching.Gentleman Projects’ “WADE” utilizes shaped knitting—a technique that forms the neckline during the knitting process—to eliminate these separate panels and seams. By retaining the buttoned placket while removing the surrounding stitching, it creates an elegant neckline reminiscent of a no-collar shirt.Furthermore, when the buttons are undone, a glimpse of skin is revealed, exuding a subtle allure. The waffle knit—a combination of high-twist cotton and washi paper yarn—features a distinct texture that stands out clearly due to its minimal fuzz.
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Knitwear Embodying the ‘Less is More’ Aesthetic 2JIL SANDER ‘Light Wool Polo Sweater’
Typical knit polo shirts feature multiple buttons and buttonholes on the chest.Jil Sander’s “Light Wool Polo Sweater” features a zipper closure, eliminating the need for buttons and buttonholes. The zipper itself is discreet from the front, creating a clean, vertical line across the chest.It is precisely because of this minimalist design that this line and the outline of the oversized collar stand out so clearly.
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Knitwear Embodying the ‘Less is More’ Aesthetic 3HOMME PLISSÉ ISSEY MIYAKE “BASIC KNIT”
Typical knit cardigans feature a V-neckline and a buttoned placket, often incorporating panels made from a different knit fabric than the body. HOMME PLISSÉ ISSEY MIYAKE’s “BASIC KNIT,” however, omits these contrasting panels and uses matte black buttons in a shade matching the fabric.The result is a minimalist design highlighted by a knit fabric created by reworking the brand’s signature pleated jersey material into yarn. Another subtle detail is the way the pleats run vertically on the body and horizontally on the sleeves.
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