The term “quiet luxury” first started floating around the celebrity-sphere earlier this year, when Sofia Richie popped up on TikTok last month to film a Get Ready With Me-style video leading up to her lavish wedding weekend. In the TikTok video, Richie walks her followers through the process of choosing her outfit and accessory options for a dinner excursion in the South of France. From there, Richie inadvertently coined the quiet luxury breakout trend in 2023 when she made her official debut on TikTok, and followers instantly became consumed with her minimalist-chic sense of style.

@sofiarichiegrainge

France GRWM ♡

♬ original sound – Sofia Richie Grainge

“Definitely the IT girl era,” commented one user under Richie’s first GRWM upload, in which the star paired a Proenza Schouler crocheted halter dress with an Emi Jay clip and House of Harlow jewellery. From the moment Richie stepped into the TikTok frame, users were infatuated with how effortlessly chic the star looked, and the rest was history. Richie thereby helped popularize this more discerning form of luxury which appeals to those who appreciate understated elegance without having to flaunt name-brand logos.

During Richie and Elliot Grainge’s star-studded nuptials, Richie was deemed the queen of “quiet luxury” as she sported tailored pieces from big-name designer brands and bespoke custom looks all weekend long. Richie continuously documented her bride-to-be style journey online- from rehearsal to reception- further proving to the world that luxury fashion doesn’t mean plastering yourself with designer logos. Quiet luxury is all about taking an understated approach to luxury, highlighting subtle sophistication and craftsmanship as opposed to overt displays of wealth and flamboyance.

What Is Quiet Luxury?

Sometimes referred to as “stealth wealth,” the trend is described as “logo-free fashion with outsized price tags.” Think of it as the opposite of loud logo-mania. Instead, quiet luxury champions a more toned-down, minimalist look highlighting understated pieces, high-quality fabrics, and tailored cuts. This style embodies refined sophistication sprinkled with delicate notes of opulence.

Now that the quiet luxury trend has taken center stage, bold logos, conspicuous branding, and trend-driven fads are taking a backseat to discreet affluence, classic silhouettes, and neutral tones that will never go out of style. Trust us, quiet luxury is here to stay.

Shows like HBO’s Succession have been praised for driving the quiet luxury movement. Richie also showed us how she nails the quiet luxury, minimalist-chic look by opting for classic cuts and muted colourways that play down brand-name details and allow the construction of a piece to truly shine.

Richie is rocking a full Chanel fit in the above photo but the focus isn’t on the designer brand- it’s on Richie. Quiet luxury style is all about wearing the clothes, and not having the clothes wear you. The star is all about repping her favorite high-end fashion brands, but she does so in a quintessential way that highlights the polished craftsmanship of the designs but downplays the actual designer. This is an aesthetic that centers on the notion of classic styles being associated with those of wealthy and aspiring status.

What makes a brand quiet luxury-approved?

The brand is typically on the higher end of the scale when it comes to price and it’s essentially logo-free. These brands ultimately remain focused on creating classic styles and silhouettes that stay true to the brand’s core identity and uniqueness.

Hermes and Chanel are two designer brands that do quiet luxury best. They have created their own legacies by offering elevated essentials built on notions of superior quality, craftsmanship, and, often, exclusivity.

Designer brands that have grasped the concept of quiet luxury offer closet staples that feature distinguishable elements, in which people still attribute the brand with affluence but can easily recognize the brand without a logo being present. In this case, Hermes’ Bridle Snaffle Bit and signature Padlock detailing sets it apart from Chanel’s notable tweed and quilted offerings. Sporting these brands conveys a specific message without the wearer having to fall back on ostentation.

 

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You can get the quiet luxury look for less by investing in more affordable luxury brands such as Cult Gaia, Rebecca Minkoff and Coach. These brands are being applauded for their efforts in being able to create pieces that both embody the budding trend and make it more accessible to people who want to incorporate quiet luxury into their everyday style. Cult Gaia’s nature-inspired pieces differ from Rebecca Minkoff’s signature dog-clip hardware and Coach’s high-quality, muted handbags. Each brand exudes quiet luxury in their own way, offering a selection of wardrobe additions that are timeless in style, which you can effortlessly pair with other pieces in your closet.