Quiet Luxury — A Sustainable Guide on this Effortless Aesthetic
QUIET LUXURY, ALSO KNOWN AS ‘STEALTH WEALTH’, IS THE STYLE THAT ENCAPSULATES EFFORTLESS ELEGANCE. CASHMERE SWEATERS, NEUTRAL TONES, SILK BLOUSES, NATURAL FIBRES, BEAUTIFULLY TAILORED SUITS, IMPECCABLE QUALITY, CRISP LINENS, WOOL COATS — THESE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE KEY TO QUIET LUXURY. IT’S THE BUZZWORD YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD A LOT ABOUT RECENTLY, BUT IT’S SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST A TREND THAT WILL PHASE OUT NEXT SEASON.
words by HOLLY KELSEY
photographs by ANDREW DAY
creative direction by SARAH MARIE DAY
What is quiet luxury?
Across social media and in magazines you may have seen the term ‘Quiet Luxury’. Quiet luxury has actually always been around and had the same aesthetic long before its recent title. It opposes flashy loud logos, and focuses more on understated and high quality garments with neutral colours. Quiet luxury has a minimalist and luxurious feel to it; there’s no obvious branding that would scream look how much I spent. A lot of the time you wouldn’t know who designed the item unless you look at the tag. Quiet luxury operates on an ‘if you know, you know’ basis. Brands that have followed this route include Brunello Cucinello, The Row and Loro Piana.
Quiet luxury in movies and the media
In the last year there have been many references to quiet luxury in the media. There is an iconic scene in Succession where the character Tom criticises someone’s garish fashion choice of a clearly branded Burberry bag, labelling it as “a ludicrously capacious bag”. Gwyneth Paltrow’s courtroom attire completely embodied the understated style of quiet luxury with not a logo in sight, Paltrow was dressing intentionally with muted colours and key staples. Sofia Richie’s fashion, ever since her wedding, has shifted towards quiet luxury, with many people commenting that her style has an ‘old money’ aesthetic, from her monochrome outfits to linen looks. Carolyn Kennedy’s style was the epitome of quiet luxury during the 90’s with her timeless and minimalist fashion.
How it’s sustainable and why we love it!
The concept of quiet luxury is all about buying less and buying better quality: this is sustainable fashion at its best. It's more about curating garments that are timeless, classic and polished. It rejects the notion of constantly buying disposable trendy pieces that are badly made and low quality. When you switch to quiet luxury you are focusing on a capsule wardrobe that makes you feel more fulfilled and more at peace rather than having a constant craving for fast fashion trends. The ethos is all about items that are thoughtfully designed and crafted - so of course the pieces will fit impeccably and last for a very long time.
Some pieces that are the epitome of quiet luxury
You don’t need to break the bank to dress with a quiet luxury aesthetic. We found some quiet luxury pieces from our favourite sustainable brands for you:
01 / Willow Pant Cream by Savannah Morrow
Those stunning, flowy pants by Californian label Savannah Morrow are made from a mix of cotton and peace silk.
— Shop here
02 / The Coat by Alfie Paris
This new piece just dropped from Parisian it-girl brand Alfie. It is made from luxurious dead-stock cashmere and beautifully fitted at the waist. It’s an investment piece that you’ll like to inherit to your daughter one day.
— Shop here
03 / Marella Pant by Mara Hoffmann
Mara Hoffman did it again! The New York City based sustainable luxury brand is brilliant at combining high-end designs with sustainable innovation. These sleek, high-waisted suit pants are made from 100% hemp fabric.
— Shop here
04 / Nicole Camel by Mashu London
With its vintage style silhouette and neutral colour, the Nicole Camel bag is the perfect accompaniment to an elegant, minimalist outfit.
— Shop here
05 / The Split Infinite Shirt by Grammar NYC
A clean white shirt is the ultimate staple piece for quiet luxury, Grammar has given a lovely twist to the classic by adding large airy sleeves and a double collar detail.
— Shop here
06 / Knitted Boat Neck Dress by Mila Vert
This dress is the perfect combination of comfort and luxury with its fitted style and sumptuously soft material.
— Shop here
07 / The Tula Sweater by Alfie Paris
A turtleneck jumper is a key item in quiet luxury for winter, we absolutely love Alfie Paris’ feminine twist with its cinched waist and cuffed sleeves.
— Shop here
Invest in timeless vintage pieces
A fun and often more affordable way of achieving quiet luxury is buying second hand. Vintage items have clearly stood the test of time and you can often find timeless and elegant designs. A few items we love to buy second hand are bags, knitwear, tailored pants and jackets. Also consider, if something doesn’t fit perfectly, you can always bring it to a tailor for small alterations! Check out our Paris and New York vintage store guides for inspiration on where to shop secondhand treasures.
Quiet luxury truly stands the test of time throughout any season or year, with its understated manner, exceptional quality and easily styled appearance. This considered approach is definitely bringing us a more calm and peaceful atmosphere to all of our aesthetics. So, will it be your next sartorial move too?
FURTHER READING
