How To Indulge In “Quiet Luxury” Without Looking Boring

As logo-heavy streetwear begins to fall out of vogue in exchange for calmer looks from brands like Aimé Leon Dore or Fear of God, the “quiet luxury” trend has gained steam. 

The best way to understand quiet luxury is to just imagine all the basic garments you could cop for under $100 at Uniqlo and then add a couple extra zeros to the price tag. In short, quiet luxury is essentially overpriced basics for the 1 percent. Think $6,000 sweatpants made out of wool or monotone cashmere hoodies priced at $2,000. When it comes to quiet luxury, you’re supposedly paying a hefty sum for the quality and feel of a garment handcrafted with top tier fabrics that are not widely available. But to keep it real, absolutely no one is going to think your style elevated to another dimension if you choose to wear a logoless $1,000 baseball cap versus a $50 one. But if you pride yourself on spending exorbitant amounts of money on something you personally know is ridiculously expensive, quiet luxury is perfect for you. 

While we do question the value of quiet luxury, there's nothing wrong with wanting well-made pieces that don't shout how expensive they are with a logo. And you can also want some of these things and not dress like a corny finance bro from Succession. Here are some of the quiet luxury items to buy.

Price: $1,195
Where to Buy It: Loropiana.com
Great Alternatives: Loro Piana Storm System Cashmere Baseball Hat ($495), Varsity Headwear Wool Baseball Cap ($95), and Proper Cloth’s Wool Baseball Cap ($75)

While most caps offered by non-luxury fashion brands look solid, there’s a pretty good reason why this Loro Piana cap costs over $1,000. For those who are unfamiliar with Loro Piana, it’s an LVMH-owned label that’s been around since 1924. The brand’s based in northern Italy and is known for producing elevated clothing with the highest-quality materials available. The company has long been known as a supplier of premium wool and cashmere that’s sourced exclusively for the label. This baseball cap is a perfect example because it’s constructed from Loro Piana’s special “The Gift of Kings Wool.” The special material makes for a hat that’s light, soft, warm, breathable, and waterproof. It’s all you can expect from wool that’s cultivated from special herds of sheep in New Zealand and Australia. But we’re going to keep it super real. There are plenty of other caps made with merino wool that you could also buy for a fraction of the price. Either way, the point is that a good quiet luxury hat’s selling point is an elevated feel rather than a big logo on the crown. 

Price: $540
Where to Buy It: Ssense.com and ​​Mrporter.com.
Great Alternatives: Common Projects Achilles Leather Low-Top ($465), Oliver Cabell GAT ($300), and German Army Trainers by Novesta ($149)

No, you don’t have to give up your sneakers when trying to nail that quiet luxury look. That’s where Maison Margiela’s iconic Replica Sneakers come in. They lack any major branding, boast a luxurious calfskin upper, and are manufactured in Italy. What’s also great about Margiela’s Replica sneakers is that the design is actually pulled from BW-Sports sneakers created by Adidas in the 1980s. Those sneakers, which are now dubbed by everyone as “German Army Trainers,” had no branding because they were originally designed for the army. But in 1999, Martin Margiela sent models out on the runway wearing pairs of German Army Trainers. A couple years later Maison Margiela began producing elevated versions of the sneaker as a part of its “Replica” line that remains popular today. But since Maison Margiela’s design isn’t technically original, the door’s wide open to buy alternatives that are a lot cheaper than Margiela’s. Oliver Campbell also makes GATs in Europe with luxurious materials. For those not into the look, Common Projects also makes sneakers that use high-quality materials but aren’t overly branded. The cheapest Margiela Replica lookalikes are definitely Novesta’s German Army Trainers. But, since original GATs were worn by the army, many used pairs can be found in army surplus stores or on eBay for very cheap prices today. 

Price: $1,100
Where to Buy It: Mrporter.com
Great Alternatives:  Loro Piana Silk Cotton Jersey T-shirt ($575), Arc’teryx Veilance Wool Frame T-shirt ($135), and Filson’s Merino Wool Short Sleeve T-shirt ($95)

Like sneakers, T-shirts are perfectly fine to wear as part of an outfit that exudes quiet luxury without sacrificing streetwear’s comfort. However, one should lean toward more conservative options rather than buying a T-shirt plastered with graphics when going for that quiet luxury look. Really, it’s about buying a T-shirt that not only feels comfortable because of its premium materials but also looks great. One clothing brand that does this well is Fear of God. Streetwear enthusiasts are already familiar with the brand’s more affordable Essentials diffusion line. Fear of God’s mainline offers apparel crafted with the highest-quality materials while also encapsulating Jerry Lorenzo’s vision for forward-thinking wardrobe basics. This Wool Crepe T-shirt from the brand is not only constructed with double-layered wool, but also boasts a unique oversized cut that drapes over the wearer, making it unmistakably Fear of God sans the giant logo. This is certainly a quiet flex but there’s also other great T-shirts with elevated feels for a much cheaper price. Loro Piana also makes luxury T-shirts out of silk and cotton. And brands like Arc’teryx and Filson also sell high-quality wool T-shirts for under $150.

Price: $6,500
Where to Buy It: Zegna.com
Great Alternatives: The Row Lusaka Wool Track Pants ($1,790), Ralph Lauren Cashmere Jogger Pants ($348). and Merino Wool Joggers by H&M ($75).

By now, anyone who’s in the market for quiet luxury probably realizes that high-end wool really breaks the bank. So why is luxury wool so expensive? These 12milmil12 Wool Joggers from Zegna are a good piece to dissect when comprehending why wool sweats would ever fetch a $6,500 price tag. The name of Zegna’s luxurious wool directly references the width of each wool fiber, which is 12 micron (one micron is equivalent to 0.001-millimeters). The price point of wool is wholly determined by how thick it is. The smaller the width, the softer it feels, and the pricier it gets. So those scratchy wool sweaters your grandparents gifted you for Christmas are definitely not the same type of wool being used by Zegna here. According to Zegna, only 3000 meters of 12milmil12 wool can be produced annually. Allegedly, less than 5 percent of sheep in the world can produce this uber expensive fabric. With all that being said, this regular-looking pair of joggers truly sits at the pinnacle of quiet luxury. However, you can also buy wool joggers from high end labels like The Row, cashmere joggers from Ralph Lauren, or even merino wool joggers from H&M for much less. 

Price: $2,095
Where to Buy It: Saksfifthavenue.com
Great Alternatives: Acne Studios Kristen Wool and Cashmere-Blend Hoodie ($700), Vince Cashmere Pullover Hoodie ($425), and Cashmere Hoodies by J. Crew ($178).

While a Supreme hoodie can feel elevated in comparison to any random hoodie sold at Gap, this hoodie by Brunello Cucinelli is on another level. Anyone looking to channel the quiet luxury looks worn by Sucession’s Kendall Roy should certainly look toward Brunello Cucinelli’s cashmere pieces. Since its founding in 1978, the Italian luxury brand has been known for being one of the top purveyors of luxury cashmere apparel. Although the label makes high-end blazers and formal wear, it also has plenty of casual styles that would fit into any streetwear enthusiast’s wardrobe. And like all the label’s garments, this 100% cashmere hoodie was crafted inside a 14th-century castle inside a small Italian village. So yes, this explains Brunello Cucinelli’s hefty price tags. Thankfully, there are plenty of other cashmere hoodie options available at much lower prices.  

Price: $845
Where to Buy It: Ssense.com
Great Alternatives: Bottega Veneta Zippered Pockets Nylon Shorts ($750), Fjallraven High Coast Hike Shorts ($115), and Nylon Shorts by Fear of God Essentials ($70).

Nylon isn’t necessarily a luxury material like cashmere or wool. But it certainly boasts a unique look. In recent years, luxury brands have managed to craft nylon garments with distinctive colors, feel, and sheens. Just look at Prada, which has built a reputation for making luxury nylon garments since releasing its first Vela backpacks in 1984. So while it’s true that a pair of Patagonia Baggies cost less than $100, it doesn’t exude the quiet luxury qualities that this pair of Gerhardt Shorts by The Row have. But let’s keep it real, you certainly do not need to shell out this much money for clothing that’s made from recycled plastics. Those looking for subtle technical nylon shorts with no logos can look towards brands like Fjallraven. While others looking for fashion-forward nylon shorts with little to no branding can check ones offered by Fear of God’s Essentials line. 

Price: $550
Where to Buy It: Mrporter.com
Great Alternatives: Hand-Cranked Argyle Cashmere Socks by Ralph Lauren ($295), Elder Statesman Yosemite Socks ($215), and J. Crew Ribbed Cashmere Socks ($50).

Another key element to executing the perfect quiet luxury outfit is to have your socks on point. While it may seem like no one will notice or care about such a small detail, a pair of socks that cost more than a new gaming console makes a huge difference. These Ribbed Cashmere Socks by Brunello Cucinelli are designed to bring optimal amounts of comfort to your feet. These are not Hanes. And if you are sitting in a tax bracket where $550 on a single pair of socks doesn’t make you scoff, you might as well pick up seven pairs of these to rotate throughout the week. But it’s more than likely that most of us will just go for a pair of $50 cashmere socks from J.Crew if we’re trying to find out what the high life is like. 

Price: $3,690
Where to Buy It: Saksfifthavenue.com
Great Alternatives: Rick Owens Black Cargo Backpack ($2,160), Arc’teryx Veilance Black Nomin Backpack ($710), and Rains Bucket Backpack ($90).

When it comes to bags, backpacks always feel more in line with classic streetwear style than a handbag or tote. There are also plenty of quiet luxury backpacks on the market that don’t shout out how much you really spent on it. Take this leather backpack by Tom Ford as an example. It still looks casual enough that it could go along with a laidback hoodie and joggers outfit. But it’s also brandless and just lets the calf leather do the talking. Whether you’re in the market for a leather Rick Owens bag or a high-end technical pack from Arc’teryx Veilance, there are plenty of quiet luxury backpacks that won’t burn your rent money as well. Rains offers a number of backpacks that look similar to high-end models for less than $100.