Minimalist

So, mum isn't the frill-adorned floral-print wearing type? Then the usual patchwork/hand-crafted/Etsy-found Mother's Day options may not work come Sunday 12. Not to worry! We've put our discerning eye to work and found ten elegant options for the minimalist mum. From designer bag hooks to classic clutches, modern knits to keep-forever timepieces, there's bound to be something to delight inside. . . 

Alexander Wang kicked things off when he released his super-chic, pared-back Prisma tote. Sporting nothing more than little metal corners holding four panels of quality leather together, the tote bag was a lesson in how to do understated accessories with style. Last week, Ginger & Smart put minimalism back on the map, with their MBFWA models toting simple, structured, almost masculine clutches and shoulder bags as they hit the runway. After a few seasons of printed, quirky, misshapen styles, these clean, monochromatic bags are like a breath of fresh air. See our top 10 picks here!

I never hesitate when it comes to describing my style, much like our fashion ed, Ali. I'm a minimalist to the core and I am stupidly afraid of wearing colour or patterns. I love wearing black, white and grey; and I usually buy big investment pieces each season — like real leather, a wear-everywhere designer heel and 100 percent cotton or wool tops — rather than buying into trends. I like to think I'm understated, but still sexy. It's all very French fashion editor-like (yes Emmanuelle Alt, I'm looking at you), which is kind of funny because I'm an Aussie health and beauty editor! But the single greatest thing is everything goes with everything— which makes getting ready at 6am almost too easy.

When it comes to accessorising, I like to personalise my jewellery look while keeping to my mostly masculine aesthetic. I can play a little more because my threads are so plain, so you'll often find me stacking PANDORA rings, rocking a man-style watch, wearing line earrings and the like. Fancy reading an excerpt out of a minimalist's wardrobe? Come, come.

Proenza Schouler showed its Fall 2013 collection in an unfinished, atmospherically rundown space in downtown Manhattan, but the space was a stark contrast to the polished and almost ladylike look of the clothing. Working in a palette of ivory, pale mint, and peach along with plenty of black, Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez created a parade of clothing that chic young women could wear from day to night — shift dresses in nubby bouclé with open backs, rounded shoulder coats with lapel-less V-necks, and layers of perforated fabrics that hinted at a deconstructed peplum shape. And yes, we would like to get on the waiting list now for one of the oversize clutches that went down the runway with the majority of the looks. Click through to see the full show.

It was a sunny day in Old Blighty back in 2006, when supe Kate Moss stepped out in high-waisted flares and a grey t-shirt. This simple, '70s inspired outfit sent the entire world into a spin and saw flared jeans land in stores the world over. Her hair was typically effortless, with what looked to be barely and product and little to no makeup. The no makeup, makeup look is more than a thing right now — and in true Mossy style, she's been rocking years before us. Sigh. In this week's Icons Kit, we channel Kate Moss, the'70s dream.

Karl Lagerfeld's show is one of the most highly anticipated at Paris fashion week, and this year he gave Chanel Makeup's creative director, Peter Philips, the words "shine, focus on eyes and silver" as inspiration for the beauty look. He created an exclusive platinum eyeshadow shade called Platine Précieux, that looked enchanting and beautifully light-reflecting. The lips also had a shine using a combination of Rouge Allure Gracile and Lèvres Scintillantes Plaisir. The cheeks had no blush and the skin was luminous thanks to Chanel's Vitalumiere foundation.

The nail look at Chanel Spring 2013 was quite a standout, with models donning French manicures. It's a classic look that took a back seat to nail art and bright hues long ago, so it will be very interesting to see if a trend forms off the back of the show. We already know nude nails and minimalistic makeup are the trends du jour — so French manicures certainly fit nicely into the mute colour story.

Nude nails were a massive trend at the Spring 2013 international fashion shows, and we're predicting your nails will be permanently painted nude in the coming months. The nothing but everything shade is the perfect edition to every girl's beauty cupboard, but finding the perfect nude can be tricky. Some polishes look nude in the bottle but actually come out quite sheer, but we recommend a solid nude — one that disguises the whole nail — to rock this trend. You don't really want to have to do more than two coats, but three is absolutely fine. Just remember to let each layer dry completely before painting the next. Check out our top five nude polishes on every budget — these won't disappoint.

Makeup artist Wendy Rowe used Burberry Prorsum beauty products to create a '40s vibe for the label's Spring 2013 showing at London fashion week. Telling WWD about the the rich, berry lip, "[It's] so sumptuous, it’s like taffeta. The reference we were given was Norman Parkinson, so it's our nod to the Forties. The lipstick is a new one called Siren, and the rest of the face is relatively simple — a bit of contouring to add warmth, but no powder because we wanted to achieve a dewy effect." The natural, minimalist beauty look for Spring 2013 has reigned supreme in both New York and London, so it's never been easier to get the look at home.

The simple hair was thanks to Neil Moodie, he used Bumble and Bumble products to create "a loose look. It's not set, it's young and fresh for Summer."

Click through to see Burberry's makeup look up close and personal.