What’s up with Quiet Luxury?

I was in the salon the other day, flipping through a magazine to kill several hours while my hair ‘processed’ and I came across a feature article by Rachel Tashjian describing a “trend-free universe” specifically associating it with the luxury brand Max Mara.  A subsequent article from The Business of Fashion  suggested “Quiet Luxury is Everywhere”.  

This little adjective has me thinking about something I have long been hypothesizing as it relates to luxury: less is more…

When we think of luxury, we often think of opulence, excess, extravagance, and all that noise + high-energy trending hype that comes along with it.  In other words: its damn loud.     

Quiet luxury, on the other hand, is all about understated elegance, subtle refinement, and effortless sophistication (check out these brands typically associated with quiet luxury). 

It’s slow because it doesn’t have to move for anybody.

It’s chill because it doesn’t need to make a lot of noise to get noticed.

It’s is a complete fucking flex because it’s all yours: you wear this, it does not wear you.

Here are my top four for how else quiet luxury can be incredibly empowering: 

1. Quality over Quantity: Quiet luxury is all about investing in high-quality pieces that will last a lifetime. This is incredibly freeing – instead of constantly chasing after the latest trend or fashion fad, we are encouraged to slow down and really think about what we want to wear and how we want to present ourselves to the world. By investing in timeless pieces that are outside of the mainstream, and connected to who we want to be, we can feel more confident and empowered in our own skin.

2. Self-expression: While quiet luxury may be understated, it’s also incredibly personal.  When we choose to invest in pieces that speak to us and reflect our own unique sense of style, we’re able to express ourselves in a way that feels authentic and true to who we are. By owning our own sense of style, we can be empowered outside the mainstream of fashion trends. This is about your style, your clothes, not you as a billboard for someone else.

3. Mindfulness: Quiet luxury is all about being present and mindful in the moment. Instead of constantly rushing from one thing to the next, quiet luxury encourages us to slow down and savour the cashmere.  In this way, it is a movement away from conspicuous consumption and towards more sustainable and mindful consumption. By investing in items that bring us joy and actually enhance our daily lives, we can cultivate a sense of mindfulness and appreciation for the present moment. 

4. Environmental Sustainability: We all have a budget which forces us to be selective with our resources.  When we shop at the high-end, we are encouraged to consider caring for our items longer and disposing of things in more sustainable and environmentally friendly ways (i.e consignment). By investing in high-quality items that are built to last, we are empowered with choices which can reduce our carbon footprint and minimize waste.

Quiet luxury is less about flash and more about substance, less about being seen and more about personal enjoyment with a focus on our own personal growth and well-being.

Investing only in the items that bring you joy and actually enhance your daily life – rather than chasing the latest moment – can bring the most relaxing and fulfilling sense of space in your mind, soul and closet.  

I don’t know about you – but that sounds like a breath of fucking fabulous fresh air to me!