is Kylie Jenner's new quiet luxury aesthetic a mask for classism?

[@lila3618]

I did not major in fashion but went to many workshops and took some classes here and there. One of the lectures I took was called "Dressing for the Character" . The teacher was a personal stylist. She said no customers came just wanting to dress better but rather they always had a motive outside of fashion and the clothes were just a tool to achieve that motive. For example, a divorced man would come and hire her so that she can make him look "happy, put together and totally not falling apart after the divorce", a woman would come because she wants to get promoted in her job, another person would come and ask to be dressed appropriately for upper-class events and the stylist would create the necessary "look" to convey a message. She taught us the psychology behind colours, silhouettes, fabrics, patterns, pattern sizes and placements on the fabric and so on. We had assignments like "Create a wardrobe for x people who works at x job and is x years old and wants to be perceived as x,y,z" We would put together a whole wardrobe from underwear to socks to pyjamas to daily wear and she would explain to us which pieces were correct and why the other pieces would not work according to the character's description and goals. It was so much fun and changed my perspective a lot (:

[@anja3634]

That's so interesting! Thanks for sharing :)

[@lila3618]

@@anja3634 glad you find it attention worthy 😊

[@highvaluequeens]

Who is the stylist please?

[@Greeneyedgeny7]

Following! Would love to take that class

[@missyoreilly4815]

Would love to know more about this, sounds amazing and I’d jump at the chance to do this course. Does she have a web presence at all?

[@milaces1323]

I live in Argentina, my life has been a constant recession since 2001, i don't know prosperous times. I've been dressing in the 'quiet luxury' style for years because it's comfortable and easy to either steal clothes from my mum and grandma or to thrift. I find the discourse around this trend hilarious lol.

[@KristenLeo]

It’s EXHAUSTING 😩

[@scoodler]

I feel similarly. I've been living on a modest income for a long time now in the SF Bay Area. Most of my income goes to paying rent, food and other basics. I can't afford to be constantly changing my wardrobe every few months, so well-made basics are worth investing in and can be easily found in vintage stores. You can always mix it with something more colorful or "flashy" if you're in the mood and the occasion calls for it. An added bonus is, if you're short as I am, colors like black and dark grey can give you a more streamlined look.

[@dissolvedhalcyon]

Literal hermana,en la misma

[@shironerisilk]

Brazilian here. We kinda had a more prosperous time from 2000 until circa 2013, but I was too young to really live it. I have the same feeling of always living in a recession. But I think quiet luxury won't be as massive here because I think Brazil is always so chaotic that fashion is always a prime form of escapism here, so most people tend to be quite maximalist across the board (Shein is also contributing to this a lot). I'm seeing a lot of neutrals in stores, however. The ones I can see going for quiet luxury are the members of the snobbish middle to upper class as a way to reinforce some status and to emulate Europe and UK. I personally don't like the classic beige-white-and-black minimalism tough, my style is too romantic for that (but I do wear a lot of black since it's more versatile than most bright colors).

[@milaces1323]

@@dissolvedhalcyon un abrazo reina ❤️

[@Wildopal]

Kylie looks like she’s cosplaying in fashion nova clothes. It’s too late for her to try and rebrand like Sophia. I think a big part of why this quiet luxury thing has blown up is because Sofia Richie leveled up. She didn’t just change the way she dressed. She changed her Public image I think people really admire and fantasize about a life like that. Starting over

[@KristenLeo]

Oh! That’s an interesting take I haven’t heard before

[@btm4079]

That and also because Sofia wasn't as famous as Kylie, I think. She was known, but not known enough for her rebranding to be noticiable by people who didn't know who she was until recently. Many know her now as a quiet luxury icon and have no idea that she was part of the Kardashian clan a few years ago when she dated Scott, and had their loud aesthetic too. Her rebranding was possible because her previous level of fame allowed a flexibility that Kylie could never dream of.

[@nadiam926]

To add to this, I think that with all the surgeries KJ got at such a young age, I don't think she is able to reverse some of them the way her older sisters have been able to. So, she hasn't quite been able to adopt that "clean girl aesthetic" that is often associated with this quiet luxury (at least, not in the same way many of the girlies who-- while they might have gotten cosmetic procedures-- look a bit more natural to their features). Some of her cosmetic enhancements seem well-suited to that heavier makeup look that's been so popular these last years. All that to say, I think this could be part of the reason why ppl might not think this new aesthetic suits her, or that she looks out of place in it. But also, she is getting older, makes sense that her style might also evolve with age!

[@sundiva7642]

It's never too late to rebrand yourself

[@lilpetz500]

​@@sundiva7642 this, I love the idea of encouraging healthy change at any point in life. But, a rebranding often works a lot better when it comes with a reframing of viewpoint and ethics. Kylie's rebrand would be effective if she also rebranded the attitudes of class and wealth from her old ones she is known for by being an advocate for things. A bit of a tangent rant from here, but an example of this from a more personal POV than of seeing this in a celebrity: I know someone in my personal life who has rebranded themselves from an extreme consumerist who'd often slutshame and nitpick, to this freespirited, open minded, minimalist, "don't buy them or anyone material goods as gifts ever" type publically, while still holding old attitudes of hustle and overproductivity, and it made the whole thing feel ingenuine and performative. Not to mention the appropriation of cultural arts that the aesthetically non materialists sometimes perpetuate (this person literally had an Insta post captioned "Living my G*psy Life," they are white and a grown adult...) They were also a fan of the Kardashians and Kylie for a long time.

[@Francelmo23]

Another thing about this aesthetic, especially the all light colours, is that it says (to me) ‘This is an outfit that will not see dirt. I will not be doing manual labour. I do not do my own cleaning or tend the land in any way’. I find that leans into the classist vibe because it implies you have ‘staff’.

[@latristessdurera8763]

Yes. Also I noticed that these are three colours most often worn and associated with retirees with the use of “Taupe” and “khaki” colour pallets.

[@FutureBillionaire1111]

This comment is HILARIOUS 😂😂😂😂 I have a mostly ivory/ white wardrobe and to think this is the perception is funny to me. I love it😂😂

[@Plumpers]

I don't know about everyone else, but this "trend" is going to send me into a maximalist fashion spiral. I like standing out in a sea of beige!

[@ky_piece]

Same! I live for bright & bold colors, especially during summer

[@moderatelymodest]

Second this

[@iloveazaeliabanks]

same! chunky jewelry and platforms all day!

[@simrandas9027]

I love color bright colors . Funny how people call color "trash". I call them trash who judge other people's fashion sense as everyone is unique and has unique interests

[@shefk7325]

Someone who has always loved the quiet luxury style but now I am actually willing to try out more flamoyant fashion simply because I am actually getting bored of everybody wearing the same things. As someone who prefers to look different from others I always tend to go against these kind of trends.

[@devoidcolors]

One note on the color vs. neutrals topic is that this artist online recently shared a collection she did where she showed what poverty looks like (in America) -- and she described it as bright and neon colors such as what you'd find on $1 juice jugs, Walmart clothing, Goodwill backpacks, etc. etc. and I totally resonated with that. Poverty isn't actually shown as neutral colors or black/white/gray... it's actually more so seen in bold color. And for that reason, elegance is regarded as beige and off-white -- very interesting thought!!

[@bia8610]

Makes sense. I always thought It was weird that white was associated with simplicity or humbleness because It's such a difficult color to mantain!! One mistake and it's visibly stained forever.

[@chloedsmith]

I wonder if that has anything to do with the rise of plastic, and how natural materials have become extremely expensive relative to synthetic, easily dyed/necessarily covered up materials

[@xonaught]

thisd is interesting

[@pistachiorainy1967]

i agree with your comment and the ones that replied. there are a lot of different reasons we perceive neutrals to be classy. The big one for me is about constraint (also fits in with the protestant work ethic, etc.). Rich people dress in neutral colors because it mirrors the restraint and impulse control needed to achieve that level of success. Whereas poor people lack this restraint and just buy/do/consume whatever feels best in that moment, which can be bright colors and bold patterns. I'm not endorsing this nor do I believe the correlation is valid, but just sort of the way i perceive it!

[@darienneff4540]

It’s also supposedly very juvenile to dress that way. A mature adult is supposed to be simple, refined, and elegant. Not bold and bright.

[@avfeland]

To add to the conversation, I wonder if we're drawn to simpler designs because our daily lives are so overstimulating. Like during a simpler time our eyes could take in and appreciate the ornamentation but now we prefer having a place for the eyes to "rest".

[@savannahishara]

Ooo I really love this take!

[@Merrybandoruffians]

Great video as always, but I do want to point out one teeny tiny qualm… So as a black American who has lived in both Europe and the us, I understand why a European person may have missed the nuance of this take (because it doesn’t really apply in Europe), but in the US, there actually is a very direct and distinct tie between race and brightly colored or attention grabbing clothing styles. First, although there are plenty of places in southern and Eastern Europe where colorful clothing was part of the broader culture, northern european clothing has traditionally tended towards being fairly minimal. People, especially women, who were brought from west Africa to work as slaves often came from cultures where wearing brightly colored clothing or very ornamental hair styles and jewelry was the norm. Many indigenous American cultures also wore brightly colored clothing traditionally. So a very easy way for the British to subjugate and segregate people was to perpetuate the idea that brightly colored and ornamental clothing was “uncivilized” and that dressing in bright colors that attract attention was “savage” behavior. Second, that belief has become so deeply engrained in American culture, that to this day, brightly colored/highly decorative clothing is typically associated with the lower class and especially with African American people (ex. “ ghetto” style).This is why we saw the rise of street fashion and hip hop style. That aesthetic was created in the 70s ans 80s on the heels of the civil rights movement as a direct pushback against the marginalization of those styles in the mainstream. There’s like so so so much more to this that I can’t even begin to get into in a KZbin comment (like how black women often face discrimination because of these types of styles that originate in our community, but they are made “acceptable” when white American women adopt them into the mainstream…) But suffice it to say that whenever you witness an American talking about a class issue you might as well infer that it is a race issue as well. Because the permanent underclass in our particular brand of capitalist hellhole is specifically designed to be black and brown.

[@bugsybabs]

well done 👏🏾

[@gorgonbaby]

🙌🏿🙌🏿 couldn't have said it better, this is so on point

[@DeborahM116]

Well said

[@TranquilityTingles]

I was looking for this comment because she totally missed considering the tiktoker’s POV and how it is informed by their location, and race experience.

[@am2521-h2l]

Yup!!!! 👏🏽👏🏽 I’m brown and people definitely see me as “less professional” when I’m wearing bright colors

[@xChinky123x]

The thing people miss about "old money" is the examples they pick are Succession and Sofia Richie's/ Kylie's rebrand which are both new money examples trying to appear more old money. Actual old money doesnt give a f. Successions season 2 episode with the Roys meeting the pierces shows how out of their depth the main characters are in a room full of old, prestigiously educated, steeped in history family the Pierces. Its funny that people are using this only as an aesthetic, shallow, front of having ole money just as the nouveau riche are doing.

[@arielplustwo]

Not me actually eating loudly because my nose is blocked and I can’t eat and breathe…

[@KristenLeo]

Unacceptable you need to stop breathing

[@dace8828]

i am so glad i (re)discovered minimalism back in 2016 when it was hugely popular. i initially played the minimalist game (twice. yikes) and tried creating a "capsule wardrobe"' but did not stick to it. however now that you mentioned uniforms, i understand that my closet is, in fact, very uniformy :D i spent 12 years working front desk jobs in very strict uniforms that didn't allow any deviations unless you wanted to lose your bonus for breaking dress code, so when i had a career change and ventured into an office job in art education field i thought now i will start dressing to express myself. let's just say i went back to 4 shirts, 1 blouse, 2 pairs of pants and 1 skirt and 3 sweaters and 2 blazers as my "uniform" real quick because i just find it so much easier

[@puddin6260]

I thank my mom for my fashion sense now, she has always hated basics, when she wears a jean and a tshirt she tries to accessorize it the most she can so it isn’t boring, she loves pink dresses and more things. She also dislikes quite luxury because she just thinks that if she had the money those people had she wouldn’t be as boring as a cracker, and try to be more like a chocolate cookie with sprinkles, which I love. Fashion is fun, fashion is something that should be used to express yourself without the need of words, not something that you force yourself into just to show an image, worse to people that wouldn’t like you if you didn’t present that image.

[@originalmix2546]

yes, wow, exactly this ! 👏🏻💯❣️❣️❣️

[@ky_piece]

I love this mindset!

[@adellmorth6517]

to me "quiet luxury" aesthetic has been there for decades and it's a safe option for ppl who don't know how to coordinate colours and be bold. it's screaming calm and tranquille. i use it on days when I don't feel inspired. but i always add strong touches of colours bc i cannot live without colourful clothes. clothes are a strong message to others and to ourselves and i need to surround myself with colours to survive this strong harsh world.

[@lys.iberian]

I kind of disagree with the cultural aspect of clothing, if you could go back in time 600 years and take a picture of a working class crowd - they would be also wearing simple clothing, no flashy colours, simple fabrics. The cut would be culturally appropriate - but not as in the pictures you showed. Those are obviously special occasion clothes. No one would be wearing that to work in a field or take care of animals, children, work wood etc…

[@haniam.3739]

I agree, but also, in our times people that have opportunities and money to attend special events and be seen by people around the world are choosing bland and simple looking pieces, and they're the ones responsible for "trends" and how everyone wants to dress. So I think Kristen point still stands ❤

[@seabreeze4559]

not england

[@hopetikvah4906]

Flashy colours were very popular in all social classes 600 years ago

[@mmmmmmmm9358]

not true for my people. not true for people all around the world. maybe you're talking about white peasants

[@sarahtosh8369]

I know what you mean about the racial aspect and definitely agree many cultures have used color and flamboyant styles historically, but I do think there is something to it in the US and more recent history, especially when we think of how much the Kardashians and others like the have appropriated Black culture and aesthetics, and how the current shift can be seen as a move away from that.

[@stepahead5944]

Exactly. She missed that his commentary was very specific to the US context.

[@lonesomeoutlander]

THAT WAS THE BEST INTRO EVER ❤ im here for the asmr era

[@KristenLeo]

Stoppp 😂

[@noddycool2703]

I am gravitating towards minimalism because I am constantly overstimulated. I have been gravitating towards a more minimalist style in the past during and/or after emotional turmoil and personal hardships (loss of a loved one and other traumatic experiences). I wasn't aware of the changes in my style in these moment, but in hindsight I can connect certain life events with my style being more minimalist and less colorful. When it comes to discussions around trends and social phenomena, people tend to overlook personal experiences. It's interesting to analyze collective human behavior and new movements, I wonder if this 'new' aesthetic is an expression related to the pandemic, but overall, these types of conversations sometimes seem cold and quite reductive to me. I really enjoyed listening to this analysis, though.

[@ednaselimovic]

i'm an architecture student and recently we had a discussion about regional and global style architecture. in a nutshell we can easily detect regional architecture and identify a people or a country by their distinct style and the time period it was made in, ie. we can identify the time and place of the objects. in contrast to that the global style of architecture came about at the beginning of the 20th century with the rise of modernism and we can pretty much see this with every big city in the world with skyscrapers, tall buildings of steel and glass, and while we can put those buildings in a context of time we (usually) can't identify the place/country the buildings are in. so with modernism and global architecture we kind of loose individualism and authenticity and i feel like that also kind of happened with fashion. because in historical architecture even individual homes had a building style that depending on the materials that were available in the area as well as the most representative architecture of that period and i think that fashion was the same in that sense. even if the clothes for maybe the working class were more simple than the rich and powerful it still had a distinct style and form that resonated with the people and the area that they were from and differentiated them from people, while now that line between peoples is completely gone and we cannot identify one culture or country from another according to today's way of dressing and especially dressing in the 'quiet luxury' way. i do like the simplicity of that style but i can't help but wonder what the world would be like today if we all were to wear what we call now "traditional" clothing of our own cultures and how the world around us would look if it weren't for this massive globalization of practically the entire planet.

[@btm4079]

Personally, I believe there is also the issue of this rollercoster of love/hate. The ultra-loud aesthetic that used to be in trend a few years ago was so loved and so cosplayed that when an opposite trend (aestethic) came in, it got shamed and hated on when in juxtaposition. This quiet luxury era will probable get hate when another trend comes by.

[@enchant_res]

The first time I saw Kylie's clothes, I loved it and I wanted them because there's something very unique about the silhouette of her minimalistic dresses, I've not been following quiet luxury as I find most of it boring, I don't get why people aren't dressing themselves whatever feels good and natural to them, I'm a quite loud dresser myself and I come from India so I naturally tend to gravitate towards my ethnic clothing but I get bored very easily too so I'd have different pieces in my wardrobe with some elements in my aesthetic, you do not need to follow any trends, you just need to see what elements in all these elements sparks joy in you, have a few pieces that you can elevate from time to time, basics are the way to go for doing that.... Idk if it makes sense I wrote what I thought, saying that... I love your videos❤ u make such great analogies, might I say you're very pretty , I love your style and your humor of course.

[@KristenLeo]

🫶🫶🫶

[@seabreeze4559]

@@KristenLeo sofia converted to judaism

[@Elena-kadoglou]

I have the impression that old money is often associated with a certain body type, very slim and tall. Maybe that is a reason why it seems kinda strange on Kylie, as if she doesn’t fit in that category

[@devoidcolors]

So true! Meanwhile her sisters, Kim + Khloe have slimmed down recently, and are also trying to embody the current trends. It's very interesting, since Kylie has stated recently she wants to cut down on the cosmetic procedures so I doubt she'll follow suit

[@MaxHa98]

You really got me with the recommendation of the KZbinr on the topic of aesthetics and fashism. I was getting hyped of learning of another content creator doing similar stuff to your topics, when I realized: "Wait a minute, I think I know which video she's talking about". That was a mean one lmao

[@KristenLeo]

Oopsie 🤪

[@naomikatooo]

Loved the video! 💗 Quiet luxury seems like another manifestation of the trickle-down effect, where the ‘trendier’/upper class people go on to the next trend - quiet luxury - (partially) because other classes have adopted ‘their’ former style (louder luxury, logo mania etc) 🤔 Aesthetic wise I don’t hate look of quiet luxury but don’t find it super interesting either tbh 🤓🤪

[@hayaglamazonluxe]

15:50 I think it's important not to dismiss what the TikToker meant by using historical examples from a Eurocentric lense. Yes ancient Greek temples were painted but the rise of "quiet luxury" is absolutely in response to the diversity of luxury fashion today. It's another dog whistle to whiten fashion and make it less black, less brown and less diverse. While colour isnt exclusive to black and brown people, logo mania was popularised by black people and so were many other trends that are colour heavy.

[@Emy9798]

I find all this quiet luxury discourse very interesting, as someone who can't afford to buy a lot of clothes (i would buy one or two cheap pieces in a month or two) i always gravitate towards neutral colors bc that way I can mix and much my clothes, and when i buy colors it's usually something light that would go with the rest. I never followed an aesthetic, if i needed inspiration i just typed preppy or office clothes bc it seemed to have the most neutral colors, and i kept falling into this quiet luxury outfits, ig the name of the aesthetic keep changing but it's kinda the same style, but as someone mentioned, there is nothing quiet about those outfits, i can tell they are expensive just from the fabric, the cuts and also the bottoms or chains if they have them.

[@Lauren-ob4hg]

Personally I am obsessed with the fashion here in SE Asia. The women here really know how to dress for their body types. The fashion here is very cute with lots of colors, patterns and textures. They know how to pay attention to details. The aesthetics though are all over the spectrum but always has an heir of modesty which I appreciate! A stark contrast to the US.

[@nomifreimixes]

i live in bangkok and fully agree!!!

[@Lauren-ob4hg]

@@nomifreimixes I’m staying in Chiang Mai! I love the women’s fashion here 🥰

[@shironerisilk]

I think one reason people dislike Kylie's rebranding and not Sophia's is also linked to sexism and slut-shaming. Kylie is more covered up now, compared to her older styles, for sure, but Sophia is REALLY covered up, something this style (and the ideologies associated with it) is very adamant about. You can choose ONE part of your body to bare, and often you are fully covered up. So Kylie is still ''too slutty'' to be accepted into the style, unlike perfect modest chic wifey Sophia, in their view.

[@taliahjohnson4138]

I'll be honest, I don't follow Kylie or Sophia so I may not be as knowledgeable. But I believe the reason Kylie isn't being received as well as Sophia has more to do with her whole brand and everything she's associated with. Aside from being a “kartrashian-Jenner”, She's been the poster child for “trashy” “sluty” fashion Nova fits for a while now. Not to mention, her participation in “BBL culture” which isn't exactly looked highly upon, and being a single mother to a rapper's children. She could be covered head to toe and people still wouldn't buy it tbh.

[@madisonj5136]

Honestly that would make more sense

[@no.6377]

@@taliahjohnson4138 yeah I agree. Sophia was adjacent to that family, but was never too closely related. People don't have as many negative ideas about Sophia in the first place. People didn't even really talk about her except in relation to her gross boyfriend, so her movement to a modest style feels "authentic" to us. But Kylie is a rapper's baby mama, and a katrashian. People do not view this girl positively at all, so whether she's dating Timothy Chalamet or dressing modestly, she's gonna get slut shamed.

[@taliahjohnson4138]

@@no.6377 My point exactly. It's too late in the game for her to “rebrand.” people don't see her as a respectable woman from a respectable family and, therefore, don't take her seriously. She looks like she's either cosplaying “class” or just doing what the Kar-jenners do best-make desperate attempts to stay relevant. Sophia's ability to fly under the radar worked in her favor because her public reputation hasn't been tarnished beyond repair which makes it easier for her to ingratiate into these upper echelon circles.

[@seabreeze4559]

sofia converted to judaism

[@espeon871]

I think for the tiktok theyre talking about silent luxury is more about "recent" american history where its associated with poorer people and poc in intersection rather than just overall history cuz the story is slightly diff in other countries. I do think that classism is one of the aspects of this, like silently flexing, and what makes classism also do come w othering oneself from marginalised people to excuse marginalisation. Also i think the idea of whats luxury here is very eurocentric which also i think its a very interesting thing to explore within this. Like how classism intersects w other forms of oppression to craft this style of clothing that its like an upper class uniform, that one can put on to get into cuz they signal that they agree with the systems. Its one of my takes on this ig. In the context of upper class peoples uniform. Not the style and pieces itself.

[@laurakay588]

one aspect I haven’t seen explored much with the growing popularity of this “quiet luxury” aesthetic is the post-pandemic return to the office. As a former office worker who has been working from home since March 2020 we’ve been living in athleisure for years! I think, partially, these fast fashion brands are trying to make a buck off those of us returning to the office and freshening up our wardrobes. The other thing I want to add that I do see this aesthetic as office wear and so can say although my things have been sitting for years they are majority still in style. These type of peices are timeless and fashionable! Clearly I’m watching this video and into style 😅 So in a way this aesthetic could be more sustainable. I have so many shirt dresses with a twist, button up blouses, pleated trousers, blazers and cardigans, loafers and flats that I’ve had for years and remain stylish.

[@ilseleontine]

what you are saying about the language of fashion is very true. i don’t think i ever heard it with those words before before but it is something i constantly think of everyday when i get dressed! i think of how the people i’m gonna meet will perceive me and i think of how formal/nonformal i want to look. an interesting story about that is something my unifriend told me (we got to know each other this semester), i asked her what assumptions she had about me when i approached her on the first lecture and we then got to know each other. she said she was surprised that someone like me (second hand clothes style, no makeup, more androgynous than feminine, queer looking, retro glasses) would talk to her (more “mainstream” style, mostly fast fashion clothes, full makeup, more feminine than androgynous, no glasses) and that was so interesting to hear i said to her! she had assumptions about me thinking that why is this person talking to me? this person who looks way more smart with their vibe and probably think that i look very vain with how i represent. that is, i guess, two fashion languages speaking to each other and co-existing in a friendship. i told her i never judged her for her way of presenting herself, i think she was really nice and then we happened to become friends and are now tackling uni together 🥲

[@KristenLeo]

Ok firstly your style does sound fab! And yes piggybacking off your chat with your uni friend, the fashion languages are so interesting because one of the other things about dressing “different” than the mainstream also gives off “more unapproachable” vibes to the people that don’t put as much effort in their fit. For some it’s true but for others it’s of course not!

[@ilseleontine]

@@KristenLeo thanks! i would say it is :') yes very interesting! will definetly think more of this is life

[@ZeckeGegenRechts]

You know what’s interesting? When you see a bunch of folks rocking traditional colorful clothes, they do look alike too. I guess people generally don’t want to stick out too much. Plus, nowadays, everyone’s worried about cultural appropriation. It’s like, am I Chinese, Indian, Turkish, Spanish, Roma, African/Black enough to rock these outfits without stepping on any toes?

[@alexmcginness8859]

I wonder about this all the time. Is it wrong to like beautiful things from other cultures? As long as we aren’t actively hurting anyone with our choices, where does the line between cultural appreciation and appropriation lie?

[@ZeckeGegenRechts]

@@alexmcginness8859 Personally, I don’t really believe in cultural appropriation, as long as it’s done with respect. I think it’s part of being human to embrace and be influenced by the world around us. Nowadays, the fear of cultural appropriation seems a bit exaggerated and even comical at times. There are more important issues to focus on than how people choose to express themselves. I’ve also noticed that many pictures of traditional clothing depict garments worn on special occasions, rather than everyday wear. In reality, people often have to engage in manual labor and don’t usually wear clothes with bold colors and ruffles. So, wear whatever makes you happy and confident. The days of dictating what others should wear are behind us. If someone gets offended by clothing, that sounds like their personal issue.

[@maira3590]

@@ZeckeGegenRechts I also don't believe in cultural appropriation. I do believe you can mock a culture and its people, you can be disrespectful, or even participate in culture theft. But "cultural appropriation" in the modern sense I don't believe in. You should wear whatever you'd like, as long as it is accessible to you and you're not directly hurting anyone. (I think the whole concept came from descendants of immigrants that lived their whole lives mocked for their culture, and are now hurt to see other races being praised for participating in it. I definitely sympathise but it isn't your baggage to deal with and you shouldn't be held responsible.)

[@ZeckeGegenRechts]

@@maira3590 I completely agree with you. From my own experiences as a Turkish and Yugoslavian person living in Germany, I've noticed that Americans seem to have a unique relationship with cultural appropriation compared to other countries. Personally, I don't pay much attention to what people choose to wear, as long as I'm not forced to conform to a specific appearance myself. I understand this might be an unpopular opinion, but I genuinely believe that the idea of different races is inherently racist. While I acknowledge the concept of the human race, I don't believe in the notion of distinct races among humans.

[@maira3590]

@@ZeckeGegenRechts I agree that the concept of race is murky. (I believe we've all been 'mixed' at some point. There is no such thing as a "pure" anything, and every human-being is related, albeit extremely distantly.) I am quite against the use of colours to describe people but acknowledge this is the current climate for such debates so I don't bring it up. I'm someone who would be described as mixed race. I don't see myself as "White", "Yellow" or Pale Yellow either. (This is a whole other topic but I still find the term "half, happa, hafu" as much, much worse than "mixed". To me it implies that I'm not worthy of being viewed as a whole person respectfully but rather f*tishized as a circus wonder.) Either way cultural identity is a very complex topic without one right answer.

[@emmacones9577]

Hi I don’t think that man meant wearing color is associated with people of color. I think he meant that rich people of color are usually“Nouveau Riche” because they have been denied access to wealth for generations. Nouveau Riche style is often looked down upon as plebeian. Also many quiet luxury accounts will take photos of what people call “hood rich aesthetic”, which was created by black people, and associate that with being trashy, ugly and plebeian. So yes quiet luxury can be racist and it is classist

[@rchhcsupernova]

My timeless aesthetic is business goth.

[@a-hz4be]

as someone with a middle class background i’ve learned to dress more middle class, especially at work. i do it intentionally so that people treat me better & respect me more. on my free time, i dress more casually & creatively

[@melody6725]

great analysis as always! I always felt like the elite class just wants to always shame those making less by inaccessible classist standards and quiet luxury is the latest of that trend, just like all this surgery was before. i love traditional garb and this video inspires me to go all out now!

[@shaysplanet]

Wonderful video but I would like to bring some nuance back to your point about the racism aspect of quiet luxury. Though it is true that all cultures have partook in colorful garments and it’s not just a black thing, the tiktoker was speaking from the experience of a Black American and this quiet luxury aesthetic is something the rich do to differentiate themselves from the poorer classes, it’s also not a coincidence that it is the exact opposite of Hip hop’s flashy logo mania. And though you said you want to focus on the bigger issue of classism, you cannot focus on one without the other. They intertwine in so many complex ways I can’t even begin to explain. Especially within America. Other than that, I loved all your points!

[@efciaq]

Interesting! For me it's a bit laughable because there is nothing quiet about these "quiet luxury" outfits. You immediately recognize that it's this style when you see it. And posing in some glamorous mansion rather screams luxury :D 2:40 . What I would call quiet luxury, are the clothes that look almost exactly like pieces from H&M or C&A, but designed by top designers and produced in my country. When an average eye won't even see a difference, but you know the piece was tailor-made and will last probably 20 years. Whereas this I would call "what people think the rich dress like, not knowing any rich people themselves". Which brings us back to the classism topic.

[@lisabelw7782]

Exactly, business casual doesn’t equal actual quiet luxury, for instance, the apartment complex we live in is being sold to a rich family from Munich and they were visiting the other day. After they left, my boyfriend - who was born in a wealthy family of architects himself - went ‚oh they were old money casual‘. They looked completely normal to me (jeans, t-shirt & sneakers) but apparently he recognized some expensive clothes.

[@weird-guy]

Entertainment celebs are mostly nouveau riche so they also trying to fit in,although depends on the type of business, they are in it to sell the `dream´ to impressionable people. kylie just saw the trend changing and is following it.

[@duchessedeberne3909]

Schweizer?

[@efciaq]

@@duchessedeberne3909 Leider nein! Indeed I see it in Swiss clothes. I'm from Poland and this is still rare.

[@seriouslywhatever1031]

I love the minimalist aesthetic because I means I don't have to put much time and energy into putting together an outfit. Anything cream, biege, black, white, navy is probably going to match anything else in those colours that I own. The less effort I have to put into my appearance, the better. Society puts so much pressure on women to look a certain way and I reject that pressure by not caring if what I wear comes across as boring.

[@omgkthxbi]

Can we acknowledge that kylie is now in her late 20s so obviously it makes sense that she would try to dress "more adult"

[@andreakotvanova]

I was having the same thought

[@samantrapatricia-smulenbur1599]

I kind of agree with you but the timing and context of who she and her sisters are makes it seem different

[@madisonj5136]

True

[@alylopez3721]

Girl.. she’s freaking 25 she’s my age, she can dress however she wants - whatever right, but don’t act like it’s not all part of pr marketing sh@t.

[@omgkthxbi]

@@alylopez3721 25 was when I started feeling self conscious about professional I looked

[@konpulsiv]

It amazes me that I almost never agree with your take aways and conclusions in one way or another, but still enjoy your videos very much. They're just super entertaining and interesting to watch, regardless of if we agree or not!

[@KristenLeo]

I almost never agree with me either so that makes two of us hahaha

[@mykeadelic]

another banger video! the language of fashion is such an interesting idea, would love to hear you explore this in the context of costume design- clothes can say so much about a character and I feel like so many people are influenced by the fashion choices we see in media. would love to hear your in depth thoughts!

[@ronjas]

I hate rich people whether they wear beige or huge Balenciaga logos and thats consistency babe ♥️

[@lilpetz500]

Ey, that's how you know you're critiquing their attitudes and impacts rather than aesthetic preferences!

[@Dom-ck9du]

love this. feels like an educational video with a real meaning behind it. keep it going x

[@teabloom4132]

your videos are always top tier

[@KristenLeo]

😭🩷 thank you!!!

[@Giraffe27]

Oh my goodness that intro was brutal-why would you do this to me😭😭😭😭 Apologize with tears and a notes app paragraph please!!!

[@BethInABox15]

It's like an act of defiance every time I leave the house wearing something even *remotely* colourful these days. And yet I frequently receive compliments, so you can tell theres a starvation of colour and a desire from people to see it again. It feels like we are all so tired of feeling socially obliged to dress like a NPC.

[@Bruhhfsfs]

I've been shifting towards a more minimalist closet for years now for practical reasons and because I genuinely like the style. Call me boring all you want xx. As a semi-wealthy person growing up I preferred to stay incognito around my peers (I attended regular schools, nothing fancy), as to not attract ill-hearted people. The minimalist style helped me with that too, I did not stand out in some jeans and a shirt. Now the perception of wearing clean and basic clothes has changed somewhat. Luckily for me, I am growing up and don't mind it anymore when the people around me perceive me as wealthy. It even helps to be perceived this way now that I am actively networking. For me it's a win-win. I get to dress the way I like and gain an advantage in certain areas of life too. I dabble in other styles from time to time, but minimalism will always be my foundation. The only downside to the 'trend' I can conceive is that I might mistake someone for a wealthy person when they are not. With this style now being so popular. However, it is more often the conversation I am having with someone and their overall attitude that tells me whether or not they are wealthy. I'm sorry but I don't think a Zara blazer can fool an actual wealthy person.

[@monikakowalczyk9837]

Thank you for mentioning about racisim. I'm Polish but i have Armenian roots. West Slavic and Armenian traditional clothes are very colorful and with lots of jewelry and accessories. I don't see anything wrong with quiet luxury in terms of racism. People of colour aren't the only ones who can identify their heritage with colorful clothes.

[@hallihalloo586]

EXACLY! i have partly romani roots and our style is colourful aswell. i saw alot of romanis adopting this minimalistic post upperclass style because you unfortunately can't get jobs with our colourful clothes :(

[@iriemonmon]

Why are speaking on what's racism and what's not if you're not a person of color?

[@missanthropy6174]

Yeah, almost all traditional clothing is very colorful. I draw style roots from many traditional cultural clothing because I’m a hippy and styling myself that way is what I find attractive and it’s sustainable. But I mainly draw from my own heritage which is Swedish and German and I frequently get told I am appropriating culture when I am wearing clothing inspired by my own heritage which is extremely colorful and bright. Like there was a full century when Swedish peasants garb was bright ass yellow and blue ans just super floral

[@GangstaBambi]

​@@iriemonmon because racism can apply to more than one ethnicity?... It is racist to assume that all people with paler skin/from European background dress the same and specifically dress with no colors. Outside of the US there is actually meaning to individual culturs and not just white vs. "others".

[@monikakowalczyk9837]

@@iriemonmon It was a reference to the words that according to some people Quiet luxury is racist, because this style is low-key and focuses on minimalism, unlike the stereotypical style of people of colour. Unfortunately, these people probably forget that there are other nationalities outside of the United States whose traditional costumes are flashy (like mine), even though their skin is white.

[@susibaldo5377]

Maybe we should focus more on globalization. The fact that different pictures taken from all around the world show crowds of people all dressing the same, is the symptom of a global cultural standardization. I think we should prioritize protecting our cultural identity by shopping at smaller shops, owned by local people, that embed the local style and living. I am Italian, and sometimes i find myself analyzing what i am wearing, and more often that not i am wearing clothes by brands that come from all around the world, and I feel sad about it because I don't want to look like another person living, for example, in LA or NYC, where the culture is completely different from where i live. This happens everywhere around the world, and I think it is due to the rise of fast fashion and global industries, like Zara, Nike, that bring the same style at a low price all around the world. I also think it's social media's fault, because we are heavily influenced by what we see on there, without even realizing. To find our real style we should avoid big brands and only look for things we actually want, and not for what we are influenced wanting. For example, "quiet luxury aesthetic" shouldn't even exist in the first place; we shouldn't call styles aesthetics, because style is a form of language, that we talk everyday and it should represent us, and it should not be dictated by stupid tiktok trends and social media figures. This isn't real, it only exists on social media, and the only one who benefit from it are companies like Shein, Zara and H&M. What we are seeing now is the "trendification" of a lifestyle, and, as many other cultures and philosophies, as for example minimalism, or maximalism, or 2000s fashion even, the trendification of a culture only cheapens it and deprives it from its deep meaning and history. For example, even a style as "superficial" and not as deep as 2000s fashion was an expression of the culture of those years. Going out there and buyng a y2k top nowadays is meaningless , at least to me. It's far better to go thrift and buy an item produced in those years, if we want to have a little revival and add it to our personal style. The same goes for 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s aesthetics, and for all those styles that existed before. I don't know if this comment makes sense, I am sorry for my English :)

[@adrianrose7548]

I highly recomend Season 3 of the podcast Articles of Interest for anyonne looking for more background on how this style came to be. It comes from Ivy style which lead to preppy and a bunch of other styles in between

[@corretagk4215]

I know this is off topic but your skin is literally glowing!!!

[@benedettaspattini8891]

Always amazing Kristen! Thank you for sharing

[@DiMagnolia]

I find it odd that people take such hard stances on this. Sometimes I want to dress minimalist, sometimes I want to dress maximalist, usually somewhere in the middle. Quiet luxury is just a rebrand on an established aesthetic. It makes sense that people who used to dress very revealing and maximalistic are tired and doing the opposite now. It goes along with their crazy body modifications.

[@mamijote8706]

I love the gossip girl intro instantly subscribed 😍

[@jasmiencels5266]

With the recent public financial report of all the fashion houses showing even greater profitability, even at the threat of a recession, I think the quite luxury (as a trend) is a reaction to differentiate against the logo mania that seems ubiquitous at the moment. I have friends that have taken on debt just to get a logo item, proving a point of status, and now the richer need to differentiate themselves from all those they have influenced.

[@Juliette5044]

the kardashian Jenners are cosplaying inherited ultra wealth as they are getting older. Kylie also changed her makeup (application/technique) it started with Kim letting Kanye dress her.

[@papertape7911]

I respectfully disagree with you regarding the idea that classism (not racism) is the bigger problem in the quiet luxury movement, particularly in the American and African contexts. There is a clear intersection between the two, and they go hand in hand as it relates to how black people in America are seen and treated. However, in the American context, black Americans' beauty, body adornment, and fashion aesthetics have historically been (and continue to be) admonished as loud, tacky, and ghetto, the opposite of quiet luxury. Despite the fact that maintaining these practices is expensive. Simultaneously these aesthetics that are the opposite of quiet luxury and its siblings actively impede everyday black people's ability to express themselves without societal repercussions. These repercussions include having limited access to social mobility, decreased abilities to get jobs unless they conform, active threats to their lives, the ability to find safe housing, and every facet of our lives. Black people's ability to succeed/get what they need out of white spaces is strongly influenced by how they present themselves. I can confidently speak to this, as someone who works in resource navigation and advocacy. Classism is not the bigger problem because black celebrities who are wealthy and continue to participate in stereotypically Black aesthetics are not exempt from the stereotypes and repercussions of participating in those aesthetics. Yet when white people appropriate these aesthetics (however brief), the stereotypes that come with these aesthetics do not impede their ability to succeed. In fact, they benefit from them. It's why people like Miley Cyrus can seamlessly move between appropriating black aesthetics in 2013 to show that she has matured, to now 2023 looking like a basic white woman without repercussions. Yet someone like Blac Chyna cannot do the same. To add another layer to this, quiet luxury and its counterparts appeal to respectability politics, something black aesthetics (not just American but also the continent and diaspora) can never fit into. Unfortunately, those respectability politics have real-life consequences. When you do not look "respectable," society doesn't see you as worthy of humanity. This shows up in many ways, such as Black women having the highest femicide rates (a Black woman dies by femicide every 4 hours) across the country and, yet, barely making the news. Further, it serves as a source of intra-communal policing. People blame the harm and violence black people face on the individual because of their inability to present themselves as respectable (showing up with aesthetics that cater to the white gaze). An excellent (but unfortunate) example is Trayvon Martin and how he was seen as threatening when walking through a white neighborhood because he wore a black hood, ultimately having his life taken from him. I remember many people saying that he shouldn't have been wearing the hood and blaming how he presented himself as the cause of the violence he faced. I also remember many black mothers (including my own) telling their sons not to wear hoods when they go outside for fear that they would encounter undue violence. I won't touch on the African context because I've already written too much, but @darkest.hue recently made a very informative post about this on their Instagram page that is worth checking out. But to summarize this mess, racism, and classism are both the bigger picture, they are two heads on the same hydra and you cannot minimize one for the sake of highlighting another.

[@danielle.moore.22]

I really loved this video ❤ Thanks Kristen!

[@Theogteacherr]

I think you addressed the pros and cons really well. I understand in theory the old money concept is classist and racist. However, I’ve always liked old Hollywood vintage vibes and I feel old money is quite similar but a bit more beige. I don’t shy away from colour but looking for specific materials such as tweed or linen while thrifting has helped me make timeless outfits for years. I appreciate having that “classy” style since I was young because now being a teacher in a private school I can blend in. And they would never guess some of my blazers were 1€ from a flea market😂. Maybe some day we won’t judge people by their clothes but I completely understand being brown in a very white area how a lot of black girls are doing the old money aesthetic and they look amazing!

[@darienneff4540]

This is why I just wear a long black skirt with whatever shirt color, pattern, style, and material i feel like because it will always feel balanced to me. I’ll always be mostly covered up, mostly minimal, and mostly classic, but on top i can wear a band shirt to be slightly edgy, a button up to be slightly scholarly, a crop top to be slightly summery etc. Its pretty much my go to outfit formula. Its a long skirt but it’s a breezy A-line so I’ll never be too hot. I can wear leggings underneath in the winter. And literally any top looks good with a plain black maxi skirt. Its basically full proof

[@darienneff4540]

I think I do this because I love the IDEA of minimalism and a classic capsule wardrobe for its timelessness and it being extremely easy to pick out clothes every day, but i dislike the uniform blandness. I love to do clothing swaps as well so I can always enjoy new pieces without generating needless production waste.

[@elisecccccccc]

I do appreciate this discussion, but I think with the tiktok you shared you may have missed the point a little bit with saying other (white) cultures have worn color. They have, but whiteness is not a cultural identity in and of itself. For example, you mentioned Iberian people wore traditional Iberian clothes, but the distinction is that it was not white people as a whole and that distinction is important because it's sort of the whole point. To wear color is othered in white supremacy and is associated with POC, marginalized identities and/or those who have not assimilated. And of course I don't want to imply colonized peoples aren't connected to their ethnic identity in any way because they absolutely are and maintaining that connection is important. My family has ethnic traditions that have been passed down for generations. I hope I am explaining this well! Theres a really good article that I think teases this apart probably in a better way than I can explain - it's called "reclaiming the radical power of ornament in art and fashion" from Vice.

[@albertl.cruztoro3050]

Very interesting video! Just a little correction, the dresses shown in 18:41, are not form the Renaissance, but rococo (late 1600s to late 1700s). Almost 200 years after what we call the Renaissance.

[@KristenLeo]

I know! I had a note on the screen with the correction, it’s all rococo! 😭

[@Simplelivingslowliving]

I’m a person of color and poor (money wise, very rich however because I’m healthy) and I enjoy dressing myself up in neutral colors and in basics. I don’t own anything luxurious and probably never will but I still want to be perceived as elegant.

[@justnat96]

I never thought about minimalism in terms of looking expensive and luxurious. From my experience, the more patterns and colours I have in my closet, the longer it takes to get ready and figure out what to wear. Minimalism makes it easy and having more capsule wardrobe made me way less anxious about going out. I will only buy something 'louder' if i absolutely love it, and usually it's a dress which is more of a full outfit - so I don't have to think too much what goes with it.

[@Ojasoomaa]

The first seconds are amazing for ASMR. Please do moreeee

[@kjames245]

Quiet luxury in its most simplistic form is buying the best materials and well fitting clothes your budget can afford. I have been slowly cultivating a wardrobe of nothing but items made of cashmere, silk, merino wool, linen, cotton and well made leather shoes and boots. Almost all thrifted in brand new condition. It’s a slow game but once you start buying clothes made of these fabrics and having them altered to fit you perfectly if needed. You can never go back to polyester- acrylic fast fashion. Imo😃

[@aeolia80]

Have to mention sumptuary laws in certain countries at different periods of history (not just in Europe but in Asia too), that prevented lower classed people from buying let alone wearing certain luxury garments

[@isabellacorrea512_]

Very true perspective I never pay attention to trends but now that you point this all out I see it!!

[@AD-pj1rp]

Growing up in a country that had always associated wealth with maximalist ideologies and where everything was equated with bigger, bolder and more colourful patterns, the concept of quiet luxury presents a stark contrast to what my country is used to being defined as being of wealth or well off. I see colours such as beige as so less almost in a sense "naked" but sharp and professional at best. Such a drastic and sharp contrast of the colour palettes between the West and South Asia. While black is the colour of mourn in the western society, white has been so in my country and has always been associated with purity, wisdom and a struggle for freedom.

[@FeelKarmatic]

Loved this take cause it was very nuanced and took into account multiple things.

[@wendyd.beamish8286]

It is like people are wearing similar uniforms now. I like fashion and I like nice clothes, but I have noticed a tendency in myself to shy away from wearing things that I really like because I do not want to stand out. This video has given me insight into my own behaviour. Well done, Kristen Leo.

[@thegreekrunner]

Kristen you're an icon

[@freedakaye6720]

When the people say “eat the rich” the rich try to tone it down. That simple.

[@hadzeraduharkic9932]

I think it comes down to the fact that our culture is centered around the workers right now and not rich people. It's the workers, the regular people that are the target audience for most industries, for social media, for politicians' votes, etc. In the past it's been different in most cultures cuz most regular people didn't have any purchasing power.

[@hortymyty6089]

Kylie Jenner is pretty young, maybe she is just switching her style up, maybe it's a plan, we'll never know as we are not her.

[@kamorano5131]

I disagree with you about that TikTok calling out racism in quiet luxury. When they talk about the aesthetic being in contrast to black culture they mean modern clothing you usually see in the black community today, not historical. They view how we dress and style ourselves as tacky and gaudy and view their way of dress as opposite and better. Instead of logos they wear brands only other wealthy people can tell, instead of bold colors they wear neutrals, etc. Not to mention the comment who said they have to dress like this as a WOC to be sat at the table, to be heard. We don’t have the luxury to wear what gives us joy in order to get ahead which is a problem. Obviously there are other points of views about quiet luxury but you can’t brush off how racist the style is because you haven’t experienced it. :/

[@kamorano5131]

Not to mention the style you described as “Kardashian/Jenner” is them appropriating black culture and Kyle moving away from the style can be seen as her moving away from black culture into white spaces because our style no longer gives her the clout she wants. Tea Noir has a video on this and and I honestly think it would help you with this topic since it might be something you wouldn’t notice but is important to the conversation.

[@Schneeeulenwetter]

about 11:12 I ve seen this video where a girl talked about how a photographer took photos of ppl in the 2000s I believe that all wear similar thing (one was a fuchsia top and blue shorts) and she also said how annoying that it was that everyone just dressed the same. But we always did... Look at portraits from the 19th century and tell me how many you find where upper class women wore elaborated hairstyles and red dresses with puffy sleeves? you find 100s of these. I think it was just always the case that we all dresses similarly

[@courtneyraefl]

I will always associate white- and cream-colored garments with wealth, because they can afford to replace them if/when they are irreparably stained.

[@cute-and-anonymous5825]

Wow!! Just not another quite old money video! Love the history and deeper connections between fashion, politics and economics world wide. Thanks for this very insightful

[@antarktiida]

i didn't know this style had a name, i just thought that's how you dress when you're an adult/a business woman/when you have grown up and settled into a serious (boring) character. and personally i never want to reach that phase and ditch my colorful patterned clothes

[@letsgoleni]

Being minimalist and trendy Sometimes helps me feel at ease, Sometimes i felt pressured to be/look sexy in Order to be stylish(accepted). I think Sometimes people Like to blend in and be more greymousish Kind of

[@MthimkhuluZinhle]

The asmr in the beginning... Darn😊

[@jonathancangelosi2439]

I really like the point you made about how collectivism and individualism seem to swap places in the fashion industry; it really got me thinking! I’m no expert, but I think it’s because fashion is one of the most obvious forms of self-expression, so people dressing outside of the norm is immediately seen as a threat to the status quo. While capitalism is a quote unquote, “individualistic” ideology, it is only so economically; socially, however, it demands conformity to maintain its hold over people, while simultaneously pushing the *illusion* of self-expression.

[@sandratran8335]

Actually during the world wars, there were strict regulations on what clothing companies could manufacture - due to less resources as most resources were needed for the war and times were scarce. So they had to use less materials, for eg they could only use sewing patterns that requires less fabric, etc etc. i guess that is a major reason for the uniformity, during times of major lack (war, recession, whatever) people have to scale down

[@JE-ng4ty]

This is so random and unrelated to the topic but you are glowing!😍do you you tan or self tan? Drop the skincare routine please❤love your videos!

[@essie4254]

New to this channel and ❤️ it & visiting Greece 🇬🇷 in 2 months 😊

[@leizylromero]

New money wants to be old money so bad. Some things never change 😂

[@emmaschneider3638]

Kylie Jenner is the marble stick on wallpaper of quiet luxury. Better be your authentic self than try to fake some trendy aesthetic and fail miserably.

[@Simplelivingslowliving]

Yessssssssss

[@MssBeccaSpain]

Personally I find minimalist outfits or colours boring (except for black colour). I understand that it's like a dress code, a way of sending a message, but since I don't like codes or rules or anything that comes close to it (😅), I have passion for individualism, and I love when I see something that looks different or has a personal touch.

[@lilpetz500]

I love minimalism and greyscale monochrome in some contexts, but the current elitism it has gained in media has definitely made it way harder to enjoy. Like, I don't want to signify to the public an affiliation with the attitudes it's tied with so I've leaned more into my taste that counters it lately, the colourful and eccentric, the aged and customised styles. They can even be combined for a strong statement; I've worn outfits of basics and neutrals with a loud neon dyed denim bomber jacket covered in pins that I bought like 10 years ago from a thrift shop to strong effect.

[@lilavihsan3989]

Thank you so much for this; super insightful and empowering :)

[@catherineleslie-faye4302]

My grandmother taught me quiet luxury in the 1960s... it was a matter of buying shoes clothes and furniture that could be repaired... I learned to buy 5 pieces of good quality clothing instead of 15 pieces of cheap clothing with the money I had in hand.

[@imquiin8941]

14:34 to be honest I think one of the issues of the quiète luxury /old money style is that it romanticize only one type of people, for example you’ll have TikTok’s comparing old money boys or girls that usually do fit into the standard of a white skinny person and comparing them to people from other social classes that often came from immigrants communityies

[@nadiam926]

A bit random, but regarding Gwenyth Paltrow's courtroom attire, what was she meant to wear? I find the commentary on that a bit strange. Also, I agree with the idea that wearing colour is in any way specific to Black people (specifically Black Americans) is false. I've seen so many diverse people, as you've mentioned, wear colour and have a maximalist style in their culture. This commentary reminds me how American-centric this whole quiet luxury conversation is (at least, thats how it feels to me because all of the examples I've heard are of either American celebrities or of American shows, even if the brands they're wearing are from Europe or elsewhere). For those of us not living in the USA, are you hearing these recession-aesthetic conversations, specific to your region of the world? If so, how much? Overall, this reminds me how much I have to curb my consumption of American media, cause it can be so exhausting.

[@weird-guy]

This is just another tiktok trend, that if you talked to real people on the street, no one will know what you are talking about, this its being a way of dressing for middle class to upper class people in my country for decades.

[@elizabuga4337]

Gotta put my sunglasses on for this video 😎 I’ve always known this as old money aesthetic.

[@KristenLeo]

Spoiler: it is 😎

[@lilpetz500]

The "dressing expensive" trend is so dystopian. Like it's respectability politics of fashion to be praised for dressing "old money," and especially since it doesn't even signify quality and mindful consumption anymore. Making it a trend incentivises sweatshop brands to get in on duplicating it. After a recent emotional support moment with a close plus sized friend of mine, I was wondering about advice on how to shop ethical and mindfully for plus sized people, as I was left with very few supportive ideas I could give for helping that didn't encourage buying more clothing from unsustainable sources. They specifically struggle with thrifting because of the randomisation of sizing making the process inconsistent and emotionally challenging, and the stigma of quirky styles that are cute on slim bodies being considered frumpy on larger ones.

[@SebastianSeanCrow]

15:18 no but I can see it. Here in America, many people we consider white today came from rich cultures. When they came here they were not white. Not until they gave up their very own heritage, culture, language, traditions. Not until they gave up what their people values for centuries and took on the new values of white supremacy. So I can def see it being tied directly to white supremacy if we’re looking at it from the angle of Ornament and Crime.

[@lovepuppy2242]

I grew up between being lower middle class in the US and then, with less money, being seen as upper middle class in costa rica (where I was born and have spent most of my life). By the time I was 13 we were living as a one income household in farmland where I learned to sew at 9 and through the years got better with time. Fabric is expensive, polyester makes me uncomfortable and I despise working with it, but printed natural fabrics are hard to find. The solid colors i could find that i actually liked would bleed and with so little clothing having to split it into different laundry loads just didn't work. I ended up dyeing it all black, and have only bought black fabric since. All this together means I've ended up with well fitted black natural fiber clothing as the only thing I wear. So a lack of income gets me accused of being a rich fascist... while on the bus, heading to the (free) public university. The money I'd be given by family as a present immediately went to food, what was left went to fabric and notions. I'd get yelled at by classmates for not understanding what it's like to go hungry, because I was wearing a dress I made because I couldn't afford the amount of fabric I needed to make pants and a top. This was the day after I had to miss out on a school trip because I couldn't afford the 5 dollars to go. I understand the feeling of being excluded from a group you want to be a part of, but hating your neighbor who you think is in it won't get you there. Especially when you don't actually know. (Sorry for the rant, but this has bothered me for years)

[@ciaociara]

your gossip girl voice is on-point 👌🏻

[@johannagrubmair]

Design is a visual language and its meaning is given to it by cultur. I always encourage my clients (who I am doing brand design for) to start with their values, vision, ... to get a deep understanding of what story they want to tell, and to base a design on that. Design that will be timeless in the sense of the values it presents not the "style" it picks up...

[@zuzanafellerova7255]

Yeahh I always love your outfits and what message you be sending. U an inspiration - I wanna be more bold in my fashion and I love the way you do it.