ALWAYS IN & NEVER OUT, EMBRACING THE QUIET LUXURY LIFESTYLE

Today I’m joining my friend Kim to discuss the current quiet luxury trend. But is it really a trend? I have a few thoughts.

Quiet luxury … trend or lifestyle?

Much has been said and written this year about the quiet luxury trend. Quiet luxury, stealth wealth and old-money aesthetic are terms currently dominating fashion headlines, trending on TikTok and embraced by the young and influential. Think Sophia Richie during her French Riviera wedding, Sienna Miller in Anatomy of a Scandal, Gwyneth Paltrow at her Park City, Utah trial, the fictional Roy family of the hit series Succession, and Jennifer Aniston in anything. Understated, logo-free and exorbitantly expensive.

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But is quiet luxury really a trend? Or is it a lifestyle … an approach to life that encompasses so much more than the contents of one’s closet?

I fall into the quiet-luxury-as-a-lifestyle camp and today I’m joining my good friend Kim to share our thoughts on this topic.

Quiet luxury may be a new term but it’s certainly an age old ideal. For my generation I don’t think anyone exemplified the term more than Carolyn Bessette Kennedy. Her style choices during her all-too-brief years in the spotlight were defined by unadorned, classic, and neutral pieces minimally accessorized. Her looks, in her public and private life, are timeless. And I’m not just referring to her wardrobe choices. Her hair style, her natural makeup, her short, manicured nails are classic and timeless and would be just as fresh and appropriate today as they were in the late 90’s.

As long as we’re talking about the late 90’s Gwyneth Paltrow character in A Perfect Murder is another example of classic, timeless style showcasing a wardrobe that’s impossible to date … and one I’d love to own today. The Habitually Chic blog wrote a wonderful article featuring outfits inspired by Gwyneth’s movie wardrobe. And here’s another on the Feather Factor.

But let’s get to the present day and how one interprets a quiet luxury lifestyle without a trust funded budget. Harper’s Bazaar published an excellent piece leaning into quiet luxury as a lifestyle. The Dear Alice podcast devoted an episode to discussion around the article, taking a deeper dive into what it means to live a life of quiet luxury.

If you watched Succession, much was made of the Roy family’s understated wardrobe, including Kendall Roy’s Loro Piana cashmere ball cap.

Random thoughts on what a quiet luxury lifestyle means to me 

~ Buying the best I can afford, saving and forgoing frivolous purchases in order to do so. And meticulously caring for everything I own.

 ~ Owning fewer things, of higher quality and more meaning. Like my jewelry collection which is minimal and worn on repeat.After inheriting my dad’s Rolex, I had the band resized to fit my wrist. I wear it daily paired with a Tiffany bracelet given to me by Jim 20 years ago.

~ Slowly building a forever wardrobe made up of a few investment pieces combined with good quality basics that work together for maximum outfit options.

~ Fit and comfort are everything. Having a good tailor and altering (nearly) everything for a custom fit.

~ When it comes to caring for clothing, Patric Richardson’s charming book Laundry Love provides guidance that will extend the life of your clothes and is an invaluable resource.

~ Maintaining a clean, organized, and clutter free home. A made bed, a clean kitchen saves time in the long run. Fresh flowers from the garden or grocery store, a bowl of seasonal produce on the counter, cloth napkins at the table and candles lit for a casual dinner all elevate the most mundane of days.

~ Taking care of myself with a healthy lifestyle, good habits, and regular routines. Everything in moderation from food, to exercise, and (trying to get) enough sleep.

~ Looking after my skin, hair, nails, teeth, and body with standing maintenance appointments. Harper’s Bazaar refers to this as being ‘high maintenance, so that you can be low maintenance.’

~ This also applies to our dogs and cat who keep up their beauty and health routines with regular visits from a mobile groomer and annual checkups and teeth cleanings scheduled a year out.

~ Early morning dog walks listening to interesting, encouraging and inspirational podcasts followed by cocoa in a pretty cup and saucer on the front porch while reading the newspaper (yes, an actual newspaper).

~ Leisurely weekend afternoons with a stack of magazines or a good book.

~ Being ruthless with my time, clear on my priorities and graciously declining invitations that would create strain or stress in my schedule.

~ Being open to new places and experiences near and far, being receptive to differing viewpoints, being kind and respectful of everyone, being inspired by but not comparing myself to others, being a lifelong learner and reading, reading, and reading.

~ Giving generously to causes close to my heart.

~ Journaling in a pretty Moleskine notebook with an elegant pen. Gwyneth Paltrow’s Smythson journal garnered much attention during her spring courtroom appearances.

~ And finally, there’s no luxury like a warm bath and a good book.

The Brands ~

Clothing brands that epitomize quiet luxury and are most frequently referenced in that context are an investment, i.e., expensive. But that’s the point, right. To build a wardrobe of high quality, forever pieces that work together. That said, most of us don’t have the budget to fill our closets with these brands and I view them as infrequent, selectively chosen, splurges. Planned for and saved for but also used as inspiration points to build similar looks with more affordable pieces.

• Bottega Venetta
• Bruno Cucinelli
• Jil Sander
• Khaite
• Loro Piana
• Max Mara
• Phoebe Philo for Celine
• Ralph Lauren
• The Row
• Toteme
• Tove

Can I tell you about a splurge investment in my closet? It’s a Ralph Lauren Purple Label cape style wool coat. Jim and I were in NYC for a fun weekend. I have no idea what came over us. I tried on the coat, and Jim said, ‘you should have it.’ Next thing I knew I was sitting in the Polo Bar with a glass of bubbles and a RL garment bag on the seat beside me. How big was this splurge? Big enough that Ralph Lauren sent the most elegant arrangement of flowers to our house the following week. Did I need the coat? No. Do I wear it frequently? No, I live in California where it’s rarely cold enough to need one. But I love and treasure it. Not because of the price tag. Because of the happy memory associated with that NYC weekend. Would I buy it again? Absolutely … it’s a forever piece that brings me much joy.

More Affordable Brand Options ~

Truth be told, we can find affordable, good quality clothing options almost anywhere. Emphasis on quality so our pieces go the distance and don’t end up in a landfill after a few wears. Buying cheap, throwaway items is the opposite of a quiet luxury mindset.

• Alex Mill
• Annie Bing
• Banana Republic
• Brochu Walker
• COS
• Cuyana
• J.Crew
• Jenni Kayne
• Leset
• Me+Em
• Nili Lotan
• Mango
• Veronica Beard
• Wyeth

Pieces from the above brands aren’t necessarily inexpensive, note I said ‘more’ affordable. Keeping in mind that quiet luxury is owning fewer pieces of higher quality that work together. That doesn’t mean I don’t love a good Target, H&M or Zara find … but it does mean I buy them sparingly with an eye toward quality and longevity. And I should also mention consignment shopping which is a great way to find investment pieces, and basics, for a lot less. I apply the same principles to my home furnishings and accessories.

After writing this post, I went into my closet to play around and pulled out a of couple blazers and a sweater dress, both of which I consider classics in the quiet luxury arena. This houndstooth blazer from Rails is new. Kim alerted me to it a month or so ago. Thanks, Kim … it’s going to be a fall and winter staple. Sadly it’s sold out but you can find similar options here, here, here and here.

This Veronica Beard dickie jacket is nearly 10 years old. You can’t tell in this poorly lit photo, but it’s navy blue with a red pinstripe. Veronica Beard makes the best blazers well worth the investment. My apologies for the mess going on behind me … certainly not representative of the quiet luxury lifestyle I strive to live.

I have the Veronica Beard Miller jacket too. It’s a classic. I have the navy with gold buttons, size 4. It’s also available in black. With either color you can choose gold or silver buttons. I have the denim dickie and the cashmere hoodie is on my wish list.

And finally, my Vince sweater dress … it’s a few years old. Alternatives here and here. A photo on Pinterest inspired me to top it with my many-years-old Barbour Gilet and wrap this striped sweater around my shoulders. It worked.

At the end of the day, quiet luxury isn’t about chasing trends or keeping up with Mrs. Jones. And it’s not about spending excessively or beyond your means. It’s about knowing who you are and how you want to live and turning that knowledge and self-awareness into a lifestyle that suits you. When you surround yourself with only the things you truly value and love, breathe a sigh of relief because those are the things that are always in and never out.

Affordable Quiet Luxury Essentials for Fall ~

 

Let’s go visit Kim and get her take on the topic.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA STYLE

Kim and I met up this morning to talk about quiet luxury … and other topics on Instagram Live.

Watch it here.

As always, I appreciate your visit.

And I’d love to hear your thoughts, so please drop a comment below.

I’ll be back on Saturday, along with Kim and Elizabeth, for our weekend inspirations.

Until then, cheers from Snowberry.