whispering wealth

Houston style expert whispers how to elegantly embrace the quiet luxury aesthetic

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.

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DAZZLING DETAILS

Houston artist's Indian heritage inspires luxe new jewelry collection

Photo by Hung Troung

Maison Merchant’s debut collections feature sculptural gold designs, diamond accents, and customizable details handcrafted by master artisans in India.

Houston’s luxury jewelry scene welcomes a sparkling new addition with the official launch of Maison Merchant, the fine jewelry brand founded by Houston-based artist and designer Sneha Merchant.

The jewelry line is a new creative endeavor for Merchant, whose background as an artist serves as the foundation for the collection’s sculptural, highly detailed aesthetic.

“Maison Merchant is a fine jewelry collection inspired by my artwork, intricate circular motifs, and timeless craftsmanship, blending high jewelry with meaningful design and storytelling,” Merchant tells CultureMap. “This launch represents a deeply personal evolution of my creative journey, expanding my world as an artist into the realm of fine jewelry through pieces that feel luxurious, wearable, and enduring.”

Born and raised in Mumbai, Merchant's appreciation for jewelry began early when she would visit the family jeweler with her mother. “Being surrounded by that world from such a young age gave me a deep appreciation for craftsmanship, detail, and the emotional significance jewelry can carry,” she says. “Over the years, I began designing pieces for myself, and wherever I wore them, people would constantly ask about them.”

This led Merchant to debut her jewelry line with three collections. Cœur du Monde is inspired by mandalas and balanced geometry, while Muse d’Art transforms Merchant’s original artwork into wearable fine jewelry. The third collection, Renaître d’Or, explores transformation through sculptural gold designs accented with diamonds.

Sneha Merchant brings her artistic vision into the world of fine jewelry with the launch of Maison Merchant, a collection inspired by intricate motifs, craftsmanship, and personal storytelling.Photo by Hung Troung

“Every piece is designed to transition effortlessly from day to evening while retaining the craftsmanship and presence of high-end jewelry,” says Merchant.

Clients can personalize many designs in existing collections with different colors and material selections. The pieces are then handcrafted by master artisans in India with more than six decades of experience.

“Bespoke jewelry has always held deep meaning for me because I grew up watching my mother create custom pieces to mark the most important moments in her life,” she says. “Those pieces eventually became far more than jewelry. They carried history, emotion, love, and memories that were passed down through generations.”

Every Maison Merchant piece begins as a hand sketch, which she says is often the most time-intensive part of the process. “As an artist, translating a two-dimensional artwork into a wearable, three-dimensional form requires immense detail, proportion, and refinement before the design ever moves into production.”

Merchant's long-term goals go far beyond the debut collection, which is available exclusively online. “I want people to feel an immediate sense of confidence, refinement, and presence when they wear Maison Merchant,” she says. “My vision for Maison Merchant is to create collectible pieces that people return to season after season and eventually pass down for generations.”

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