What is the Quiet Luxury aesthetic?

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the latest fashion aesthetic has arrived, but it’s here to stay long after you’ve stopped scrolling, and here’s why.

What is quiet luxury?

The “quiet luxury” aesthetic is the latest fashion trend to emerge from social media. It moves us away from the bold, bright and loud logos that have dominated catwalks and high streets alike for the past few years and instead ushers in a more relaxed, simplistic way to dress.

Quiet luxury favours the timeless and minimal over the latest trends. It centres around effortless, high quality pieces that will remain both in style and in your wardrobe for years to come. It’s about embracing what luxury means to you instead of just showcasing that you can afford the latest trend, no matter how gorgeous it might be. The textures, quality and silhouettes are more important, with so much of the style being in the details. And you’re forced to think about what luxury really means to you, because it’s far more than just the price point or name of the brand.

So what does quiet luxury look like?

Minimal logos are a cornerstone of quiet luxury. The style embraces more discreet, sometimes less know, designers who’s collections can stand the test of time. As with any aesthetic that strives to provide greater longevity, the colour palettes of quiet luxury brands and wearers tends to be more neutral. Think blacks, navy’s, camel, white, and the occasional hint of leopard print or a stripe to add variety. That said, if you love to embrace colour and bold patterns you can still embrace this approach. Think about how those bolder pieces can be the foundation of your outfit, how they can act as versatile staples within your wardrobe and stilll provide the longevity that you want.

Focusing on quiet luxury perfectly lends itself to a capsule wardrobe and the mindset that less items but better quality is the way forward. The sense of personality and individuality come through the details and styling rather than the obvious new season pieces. Thin about the ways in which you can layer different pieces, the details that can be bought in through jewellery or how accessories can change the feel of an outfit.

is quiet luxury sustainable?

Here’s the great thing, embracing quiet luxury is a brilliant opportunity for anyone looking to make their wardrobes more sustainable. Why? Well, given the higher price points of more luxurious items you naturally need to be more considered about your purchases. Buying less but buying better is a crucial part of making more sustainable fashion choices and adopting the mindset of quiet luxury requires you to do this.

It’s also likely to move you away from the fast fashion trends and towards the items that will resonate with you and your style for longer. Anything that incorporates a quiet luxury aesthetic is likely to be more versatile, neutral and more of a wardrobe staple, therefore you’re repurchasing these items less often and you’re investing in pieces that will be truly versatile in your wardrobe.

It’s also far easier to shop second hand. Instead of hunting down specific trends you’re looking for simple, timeless pieces which allows you far greater choice in the secondhand market. Not only will you likely discover new brands but there’s likely to be far more options in terms of fits, colours and sizes to pick from. We all know the most sustainable clothes are the ones that already exist so if you can expand your wardrobe with secondhand items it’s far better for the environment. Plus, you might just find a vintage gem or two along the way.

Not sure where to start? Here’s my beginners guide to sourcing the best secondhand pieces.