The New “Quiet Luxury” Trend is a Subtle Way to Show Wealth

Season Four of HBO’s “Succession” Photo: Claudette Barius via: W Magazine

Fashion is an industry that is always making waves. However, there are facets of fashion that flourish in silence.

‘Quiet Luxury’ or ‘Stealth Wealth’ is the latest trend that is rapidly growing in popularity within the fashion industry, thanks to media like HBO’s hit TV show “Succession,” Gwyneth Paltrow’s ski trial wardrobe and the pandemic changing the economy. Think of ‘Quiet Luxury’ as ‘normalcy but fashion.’ It is less about extravagance and more about practicality. It is clothing that is timeless and simple, not clothing covered in logos, diamonds, etc.

Quiet luxury clothing is often made from expensive good quality materials that are long lasting. It is a way to make wealth understated, it is not about flexing. Brands such as The Row and Victoria Beckham have already been cashing on this trend and with it growing in popularity, even more brands will be creating more elevated basics.

HBO’s “Succession” Photo: HBO via: Time Magazine

Thomaï Serdari, director of Fashion and Luxury at NYU’s Masters Business Program said, “[It’s] clothing of the highest quality, but also clothing that has timelessness, is sophisticated and understated…because someone has taken the time to design the structure of the garment, as opposed to something that is disposable and is made to sell only as a two-dimensional product.”

 Gwyneth Paltrow’s Ski Trial Photo: Business of Fashion via: Business of Fashion

This trend is not surprising given the links between dressing and social class. Dressing is often used to show a person’s social class or how well off they are. The age of flexing in the 2010s was full of logomania and expensive price tags. Now the concept of dressing for wealth is different.

Since the 2020s started with the pandemic, the way people see social class and in turn, fashion is different. Flexing is not as popular as it used to be and the concept of ‘Eat the Rich’ is trendy now. People do not want to see outward wealth from the rich and famous. This is where the Quiet Luxury trend comes in; Rich people are beginning to be more subdued with their social class or standing when it comes to fashion and not resulting in flexing to show their wealth. 

Victoria Beckham Spring Summer Ready to Wear 2023 Photo: Isidore Montag via: Vogue

The concept of the Quiet Luxury trend says a lot about the changing perception of wealth and social class when it comes to fashion. Basic looking clothes at expensive price tags are new with wealthy people. People are looking for more timeless trends that have quality and great craftsmanship. With this trend being more and more popular, luxury brands are bound to push for more sophisticated basics for their customers to wear.