Investing in Timeless Fashion: How Quiet Luxury Stands the Test of Time

The longstanding phrase “what goes around comes around” directly represents the world of fashion. Trends often rise in popularity, fade within the same decade, and then make a reinvented return years later. Take jeans, for example; the early 2000s were dominated by low-rise skinny and flared styles, which later gave way to high-waisted, baggier pairs during the late 2010s and early 2020s—the revival of a 1990s staple. 

Popular social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok have expanded fashion trends by allowing anyone with access to a smartphone to share their own personalized style with the world. While this has promoted fashion inclusivity and inspired many to embrace their personal style, it has also accelerated the cycle of trends. This pressures consumers to buy more and pushes brands to produce at unsustainable rates. Further, each click of a “place order” button gives consumers instant gratification. This instant gratification can become addictive and, when combined with a rapid trend cycle, leads to an incredible increase in waste. 

The Environmental Cost of Fast Fashion 

To keep pace with demand, many brands rely on cheap, synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon. These materials are non-biodegradable and release harmful chemicals during the manufacturing process. Changemakr Asia notes both are made from fossil fuels – specifically crude oil and natural gas. The creation of polyester and nylon requires serious energy consumption, leading to large amounts of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere. A recent Business Insider analysis recognized the fashion production industry as a leading source of global carbon emissions – emitting as much carbon as the entire European Union (EU)! 

As demand grows, the earth becomes more polluted by the hour. 

Human Rights and Overconsumption 

Materials are not the only element manufacturers skimp out on. Many companies employ unethical supply chains in developing countries where labor laws are lax. According to Sustain Your Style, garment workers typically labor 14 to 16 hours a day, seven days a week, often without earning a livable wage. The labor behind ultra-affordable clothing is frequently unethical. 

A 2013 tragedy shed light on the toxic conditions these workers experienced on a daily basis. The Clean Clothes Campaign reported the discovery of major structural cracks in the Rana Plaza building in Bangladesh on April 23, 2013. Taking caution, the shops and bank on the lower floors immediately closed and evacuated. The next day, managers required the garment workers in the building to show up to work. Later that day, the building came crashing down, killing 1,134 people and injuring thousands of others. 

Quality Over Quantity 

One way to counteract this cycle is to prioritize quality over quantity. While it can be tempting to buy new bathing suits at the start of every summer, a few high-quality staples never go out of style and will last much longer! Investing in less, well-made pieces helps reduce waste and supports more ethical manufacturing. Finding personalized basics that can be worn countless times and hold up is the key to building a lasting collection. To do so, you must tap into your individuality. 

Discovering Your Personal Style 

A fun first step toward curating a perfect timeless wardrobe is discovering one’s unique style. Get curious! Did that miniskirt make you feel confident? Did you feel like yourself in that vintage band tee? Exploring what resonates with you is the initial leap toward mindful fashion. 

The Curiously Conscious blog recommends taking inspiration from high-quality brands and designers via fashion magazines and social media as a way to kickstart this process. This way, ethical brands that utilize safe, biodegradable materials are the muse – not ones that are trying to simply replicate best sellers. 

Focus on the Basics 

Basic items are the backbone of any lasting wardrobe since they can easily be mixed and matched. When curating your timeless clothing collection, focus on acquiring high-quality items that last wear after wear. Once you have your wardrobe cornerstones, you can continue to build from there. 

A collection of basics looks different for every person. For example, a staple basic item for someone with an edgy style might be a versatile pair of leather pants, but not for someone who wears streetwear. They might opt for a go-to pair of baggy jeans. 

When shopping, look for natural fabrics like cotton, wool, cashmere, silk, or leather—these tend to go the distance and have a more minor environmental impact. 

Quiet Luxury: The Timeless Trend 

Elle Magazine reports model and social media influencer Sofia Richie Grainge made the term “quiet luxury” popular in 2023 when one of her TikTok videos went viral. In the video, she chose an outfit and accessories for a dinner outing in the South of France. She decided upon a navy blue maxi dress with a simple stripe pattern on the top half, pulled her hair back in a sleek claw-clip style, paired the outfit with classic gold jewelry, and finished it with minimalist, white pointed-toe heels. 

The elegant and classic styles Grainge combined are the epitome of the quiet luxury aesthetic. She avoided being flashy but subtly exuded wealth through details like classic gold jewelry and white, pointed-toe heels. 

Quiet luxury looks existed long before Grainge fueled the social media “buzzword.” 

Quiet Luxury: Hollywood Icons 

American singer, actress, and model Marilyn Monroe was a fashion icon during her prime in the 1950s, and she definitely made appearances in full luxury glam. However, British Vogue notes that Monroe’s personal style in her everyday life was minimalistic. Monroe favored pressed shirts and capris, black “beatnik” sweaters and dresses, neutral colors and fur coats. Each of these clothing items are simple, but they humbly represent wealth within the classiness of the style. 

British actress Audrey Hepburn also epitomized quiet luxury. She was known for her perfectly tailored black dress worn in the movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Hepburn also had a close friendship with designer Hubert de Givenchy, who had a “refined approach to luxury dressing,” wrote Vogue. One of Hepburn’s notable Givenchy looks was a wool skirt suit she wore in the 1954 movie Sabrina. This grey wool suit was not flashy, yet the natural material and fit lent itself to luxury fashion. 

Quiet Luxury: Essentials 

While personal style varies, a few pieces define the quiet luxury wardrobe: 

● White Cotton T-shirt: The ultimate versatile basic! Likely to last longer than one made of polyester, it can be dressed up or down in a number of different ways. 

● Well-Fitted Jeans: Whether straight-leg or relaxed fit, good jeans are a year-round necessity. 

● Black Blazer: It adds a touch of class to every. single. outfit. 

● Neutral Tote Bag: A simple, structured tote complements almost any outfit. 

● Durable Sneakers: A classic, neutral sneaker can dress down a look or add a clean twist to a polished outfit. 

While trends will always evolve, embracing personal style and investing in quality basics allows you to stay stylish without compromising ethics or the environment