Quiet Luxury: Making Wealth Accessible
Head-to-toe Gucci logo tracksuits and LV everything is out. Beige Loro Piana cashmere sweaters and oversized Brunello Cucinelli coats are in. I, for one, am glad to say we are in the Anti-bling era of fashion and have welcomed in the reign of Quiet Luxury.
“Quiet Luxury”, the buzziest trend of 2023 is, for the wealthiest members of society, a need-based lifestyle. While celebrities make their money from their image, the ultra-rich protect their money through their anonymity. But now this lifestyle is becoming a trend, and a wildly popular one at that.
The question is why? Why now? For how long? What makes something Quiet Luxury? Do we have to spend thousands on a crew neck sweater for it to be Quiet Luxury? And ultimately - what is Quiet Luxury? In this post, I will be dissecting this trend, from where it comes from, to if it’s right for you and how to achieve it. Let's dive in!
What is Quiet Luxury?
Quiet Luxury has three core principles: high quality, understated, and timeless. Also known as Stealth Wealth, it is a logoless way of dressing that has been used by the ultra-rich with nothing to prove and everything to protect. The kids are calling it iykyk, slang for if you know you know, in reference to ultra expensive clothing that can only be recognized by those in the know. Now you too can sound as TikTok cool as I do…
Why is Quiet Luxury Popular Now?
How popular is Quiet Luxury? Italian brand Brunello Cuccinelli, one of the main players, recorded a 31% growth in revenue in 2021. Other brands like Loro Piana, Zegna, and Salvatore Ferragamo, have had some of their buzziest months yet. There is no denying Quiet Luxury is the number one trend of 2023. But why?
My husband and I binged Succession just like every other person with HBO Max, and I did notice Gwyneth Paltrow outfits from her ski trial that took over social media some weeks ago. But did a TV show and celebrity trial really popularize such a big trend? Not really, it just helped its pop culture relevance.
Two main things have contributed to the rise of Quiet Luxury: brand fatigue and economic volatility. We’ve grown tired of publicity stunts by flashy brands with little substance and no wearability, and the brands are starting to catch on. Second, fears of an economic recession have triggered the cyclical fear of flaunting. That’s right, this isn’t the first time Quiet Luxury has trended, but perhaps for the first time under this trademark name. Flaunting your wealth when some people can’t afford basic needs feels, let’s say it, tacky. Hence, the resurgence of Stealth Wealth.
Is The Price Of Quiet Luxury Worth The Quality?
Short answer: no. Long answer: The price of luxury is never par with the price of the quality. Regardless of the luxury brand you are purchasing, a part of what you pay for is the brand name. It’s the premium fee attached to all luxury items, but the catch with Quiet Luxury is that only a few people are in the know.
There are alternatives to the top tier of luxury fashion that offer a more reasonable ratio of cost and quality. For example, some personal favorites of mine are COS, Massimo Dutti and Vince. It’s not the same quality as a Loro Piana sweater but for hundreds to thousands of dollars less it is still good quality and will last you for some time.
The other side of quality is care. You can buy the highest quality cashmere sweater in the world, but if you don’t follow care instructions carefully it won’t last you long. I recommend you check clothes care instructions before purchasing and decide if that works for you. Perhaps it requires hand washing or dry cleaning, so ask yourself if those are the time and money commitments you want to make?
How To Achieve The Quiet Luxury Trend Affordably
This may sound like an oxymoron. How can luxury be affordable? Well I’m not talking about Zara's level of affordability. I’m still referring to luxury items but avoiding brands where a cardigan costs a mortgage payment - not in this economy! As I mentioned above, there are three keys to Quiet Luxury, so as you go shopping for this trend, I’ve created a checklist to make your shopping experience easier.
☑️ Quality
The pillar of Quiet Luxury is craftsmanship. That means products made of the best materials available and fabricated to perfection by skilled artisans. And there is no higher standard of craftsmanship than a label that reads ‘Made in Italy’ - Italy has a long history of making clothes, bags and shoes, which is why most luxury brands want to have the majority of their fabrication in Italy - even French brands…
However, Italy isn’t the only country with a history of garment production. Many countries in the developing world have been producing clothes to the highest degree of quality for centuries! Recently, Dior highlighted the craftsmanship found in India through a fashion week show in Mumbai, as the house has been producing a large portion of their clothes in the country for many years. If you haven’t seen it yet, check out Maria Grazia Chiuri’s beautiful collection. So while, yes, ‘Made in Italy’ is a high standard of craftsmanship, that doesn’t preclude other countries, especially developing countries, from reaching those same standards.
So if checking the place of fabrication isn’t enough, how can you check for quality? There are a few things I do whenever I’m in a store or unpacking my latest haul that you can do too.
Stretch: Pull the fabric a bit to see how much it gives. Quality fabric resists stretching and is consequently more durable. The tighter the weave the better the quality.
Sheerness: Hold up the fabric to a light or even just put your hand through it to see its level of sheerness. Even lightweight fabrics shouldn’t be sheer.
Stitching: Check for straight lines, any inconsistencies, untrimmed or loose threads to assess craftsmanship. You’ll notice that most fast fashion clothes are coming undone as you leave the store. To avoid buying clothes with cheap fabrication, check the stitching making sure it is even and tidy.
For more tips and tricks to check for quality while shopping, I recommend this guide by The New York Times.
As we discussed above, you can get good quality without spending thousands of dollars, but you also can’t expect to pay $50 for a lifelong cashmere sweater because it probably won’t last you two years.
☑️ Discreteness
If your goal is Quiet Luxury, then you’ll have to steer clear of the logomania. Bid adieu, for the time being, to any bag where the logo is over the entire canvas. We want to opt for discrete clothing that only those “in the know” can spot. Quiet Luxury is different from mainstream luxury because it steers clear of flashiness, so it is an essential element of the style.
Quiet Luxury is also discreet in how revealing it is, since the style doesn’t want to draw attention, it is pretty modest. While dresses are encouraged they are always tailored, never tight, and cover a lot of skin. Safe to say, the Kardashians are not Quiet Luxury, I'd say they’re megaphone luxury…
☑️ Minimal
Quiet Luxury has a very minimalistic style: neutral colors, clean lines, and simple silhouettes. There are not too many frills, sequins, or feathers. For that reason, it mostly compliments styles such as Classic, Urban Chic, Relaxed, and Avant-Garde. It is harder to emulate if your style is Glam Rock, Bohemian, Alluring or Playful, as these archetypes are more elaborate and detail-oriented.
The rule of thumb with Quiet Luxury is: less is more. Having that in mind, it’s important to assess if this trend is right for you. It’s okay if you prefer to play around more with your clothes, that’s the great thing about style, everyone has a different one. But for those of you who love this understated aesthetic, Quiet Luxury’s simplicity will come as a relief.
Quiet Luxury Capsule Wardrobe
If you’re looking to start building a Quiet Luxury wardrobe or want to try out the look first, this is a capsule of all Steal Wealth essentials. Take these examples as guiding points to find just the right fit for you. I highly recommend looking at outlet stores both online and brick-and-mortar for the best deals to get Quiet Luxury for less.
Off-white Sweater - Blazer - Beige Top - Sunglasses - Gold Hoops - Black Top
Black Coat - Bag - Beige Pump - Midi Skirt - Cashmere Cardigan - Black Flat - Pants - Belt
Quiet Luxury is a trend for some but a lifestyle for others, and you never know if it will be just the right fit for you. And if it is not for you, it is fine as well!
As always, if you need any advice or have any questions, feel free to reach out or join our Facebook group for up-to-date style advice!