In true IYKYK fashion, quiet luxury is one of the year's hottest trends — though it might be supplanted this year by Barbiecore — but also one of the hardest to describe.
For those unfamiliar, the look is 100-percent free of logos and the exact opposite of dopamine dressing or peacocking, which were popular trends at the end of the pandemic. The loud colors, skin-baring outfits, and ostentatious logos everywhere in 2021 and 2022 are slowly becoming a look of the past.
According to Houston celebrity stylist Iris Shaftel, quiet luxury "embraces quality and fine craftsmanship. Rather than "proving" your status through logos, obvious designer patterns, or ostentatious displays of wealth, those who lead a ‘stealth-wealth’ lifestyle opt for subtly high-end pieces."
The HBO hit Succession is an excellent example of quiet luxury. The show's costume designer, Michelle Matland, always dressed the character Shiv Roy in impeccably tailored outfits that fit well and exuded quality and sophistication. While many may not have noticed, Kendall Roy consistently wore brands like Gucci and Tom Ford sans the screaming logos.
Shaftel, who has 22 years in the fashion business and 12 as a personal stylist, points out that for the ultra-rich, quiet luxury is also a way to separate themselves from the gaudiness of the nouveau riche.
"It's an ‘if you know, you know’ mentality amongst those belonging to this class. The untrained eye does not recognize a plain, navy cap as a $525 Loro Piana cashmere baseball cap — but those belonging to that tax bracket do," she tells CultureMap. "It's the same reason why the Jenners didn't dress up for Coachella, while influencers spent months planning their outfits and sourcing pieces. The Jenners don't need the publicity – they know they're on top and don't need to prove it."
Sofia Richie and Gwyneth Paltrow are the it girls of quiet luxury, opting for a subtle, high-class, and elegant look in their everyday aesthetic. Sofia Richie hit peak status with her wedding in April, and searches for her wedding details on TikTok have hit 500 million views. Everything from her nail color (a soft pink), to her party dress and honeymoon outfits have all made headlines.
Although quiet luxury may be categorized as a trend, it can, with carefully chosen pieces, be embraced to withstand fashion cycles. Savvy shoppers are ditching overconsumption and the "haul" mentality and investing in high-quality components that will withstand the test of time.
For those looking to embrace the quiet luxury trend, Shaftel suggests investing in pieces from the following brands to get the ultimate "stealth wealth" look.
Brunello Cucinelli
The Fluid Corduroy Tailored Blazer Jacket was worn by Gerri in Succession.Photo by Bruno Cucinelli
Ralph Lauren
Brands like Ralph Lauren are perfect for a quiet luxury aesthetic. Afterall, you can’t go wrong with their cashmere turtlenecks.Photo by Ralph Lauren
Bottega Veneta
The Sardine Intrecciato Crossbody Bag, is worn by the likes of Kendall Jenner and dubbed an “It Bag” by Vogue.Photo by Bottega Veneta
The Row
The Row's Jaka Oversized Wool-Blend Felt Coat was worn by Gwyneth Paltrow at her recent trial.Photo by The Row
Photo courtesy of Sofia Richie/Instagram
Sofia Richie has become the "it girl" of the quiet luxury aesthetic.
