The fashion trends of the last few years, specifically the post-pandemic era, can be described as anything but quiet. Our collective obsession with sweatpants and athleisure turned to a move towards maximalism as the world reopened and people embraced dressing up again. Fancy a trip to your newly-reopened favorite restaurant followed by a movie dressed to the nines in your favorite feathery party dress? Sure, why not. Those collective ‘why nots’ were heard worldwide as we all took a much-needed reprieve from zoom happy hours and endless take-out Friday dinners on our couch dressed in the analogous elastic-waist pants as the week before.
Maximalism Meets Y2K Nostalgia
In 2021, brands began showing new collections following the traditional fashion calendar once again, and it was impossible not to notice the shift in aesthetic. From Bottega Veneta’s bold colors and textures like feathers and sequins to Loewe’s Your Favorite Brands Chanel’s glitz and glamour, the move towards maximalism was ever-apparent. Couple that with fashion’s continued obsession with Y2K fashion, which on its own screams the bigger, the better, and, unsurprisingly, we’re now moving in the obsession direction. Finally, it seems that fashion is fatigued by maximalism.
What Exactly is Quiet Luxury?
Lately, the talk of “quiet luxury” has been everywhere, even making its way into pop culture, becoming a topic of discussion in TV shows like HBO’s Succession TPFs 13 Best Chanel Purchases of March 2024 Vogue, who geometric patterns and Anagram logo bags and, stating it’s going to be one of the biggest of 2023, earlier this month.
While there’s no official definition for the term, quiet luxury simply means a more low-key approach to luxury dressing, wearing high-quality basics in a way that looks luxe but can’t quite be pinned down. It’s a tailored coat by the Row paired with a cult-favorite pair of Anine Bing jeans, Jil Sander ballet flats, and a lush leather bag by Khaite. An outfit with a price tag well into the 5-figure mark, but one that only those in the know would recognize. It’s neutral hues with only tiny pops of muted colors. It’s shapes and silhouettes that are meant to last you a lifetime.
While a trend is still a trend, one that’s meant to transcend seasons is certainly one we can get behind, although I’m not sure what that means for all of the colors my closet currently consists of. Are you a fan of the quiet luxury aesthetic?
