Two words I have heard being used a lot this autumn by fashion buyers is “quiet luxury.” This aesthetic is certainly nothing new, as it is a phrase that perfectly describes the Phoebe Philo era at Celine and the ethos behind Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen’s 14-year-old brand The Row. However this move towards classic, elevated pieces, that are beautiful and special, but not too shouty or flashy, is particularly resonating in 2021.
Last autumn there was a shift towards more classic pieces and this customer’s mindset is invest now and wear forever. “Although dressing up means something different now, there are still excuses to wear something a bit more glamourous, there are plenty of evening options that are comfortable, elegant and ideally suited for a more relaxed occasion such as entertaining at home,”Cassie Smart, Head of Womenswear Buying, at Matchesfashion.com, explained last year. “The Row and Gabriela Hearst are great for quietly luxurious pieces.”
Tiffany Hsu, Fashion Buying Director at MyTheresa, adds: “Understated luxury is the keyword for many collections, and the vocabulary is high-quality knits, cashmere, and neutral tones. Among the ways to achieve the look, the knit dress is a new wardrobe essential.” In terms of the key items to achieve this look, Hsu noted last year: “A standout style for us was Joseph’s head-to-toe layered knit look, which included a long, matching shawl. We also loved the pared-back silhouettes from Deveaux and The Row’s cozy cashmere slippers.”
The appeal of these ‘quiet luxury pieces’ is that they are designed to be season-less and so are guaranteed to go the distance within your own wardrobe. The 12 items below are all classics that you will treasure forever.
Knitted dresses are trending for autumn winter 2020, and they look particularly beautiful in camel, biscuit and other neutral shades.
Sometimes there is nothing as elegant as an oversized white shirt.
A good pair of knee-high boots are worth investing in—the below pair from Paris Texas are high on all of our editors’ wishlists.
‘Quiet luxury’ is all about paying attention to the quality of fabrics, and so it’ll be no surprise to you that silk features on this list.
When it comes to outerwear, nothing is quite as chic as a camel coat—we have MaxMara to thank for this one.
If you are after simple, but beautiful, shoes that will go with everything you own, look no further than a pair of leather loafers.
For most of us a luxury watch is a once in a lifetime purchase, and we particularly love simple straps with a classic appeal, like the below from Cartier and Jaeger-LeCoultre.
We believe that every wardrobe should include a blazer, and our dream item is a Blazé Milano double-breasted jacket.
It bags come and go, but a black leather handbag will always be worth investing in.
This admittedly isn’t the most exciting item on our list, however a leather belt can be the perfect finishing touch to most outfits.
When it comes to fine or expensive jewellery, we often lean towards simple designs, such as gold rings either worn stacked or individually.
Next up, see our guide to the key trends for autumn winter 2021.
