It’s only our cultural reference points—like certain items Shiv Roy wears on Succession or the TikTok fashion taxonomy complex—that make quiet luxury brands seem like a recent phenomenon. Style experts say this perspective isn’t quite correct. “Whether referred to as ‘quiet luxury,’ ‘stealth wealth,’ or “old money aesthetic,” the concept and allure of timeless, minimalistic design has remained consistent throughout the decades,” says Elizabeth Layne, chief marketing officer of Rebag.
Quiet luxury has maintained the same aesthetic signatures for years before it had a picked-over moniker. From new brands and heritage luxury designers, the underlying ethos has always prioritized craftsmanship, quality, and elegance. “Styles tend to exude a sense of refinement and sophistication through subtle details and a minimalist aesthetic, rather than relying on overt branding,” Layne explains. In handbags, she continues, the genre is defined by “clean lines, muted colors like brown, beige, or black, and either minimal hardware, or none at all. Subtle details such as tonal stitching and discreet branding add to a ‘quiet luxury’ bag’s sophisticated appeal.”
For some designers, quiet luxury boils down to a philosophy or a state of mind. “I do not think of it as a trend—I see it as a way of life,” Danielle Corona, creative director of the accessories label Hunting Season, says.”Most of our community appreciates the value in timeless design [and] they are not usually influenced by trends.”
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