Introduced as a mainstream trend in the wake of Gwyneth Paltrow’s sensational wardrobe choices during her ski crash trial in March, quiet luxury is the ultimate status symbol for anyone aiming to look effortless but still wanting to make a style statement. 

Paltrow’s double-breasted grey trouser suit, black long-sleeved midi dress and chunky boots and her cream cashmere jumper and statement metal opticals had us in a spin.

Since the pandemic, the runways have largely been showing elevated, wearable but luxurious-looking wardrobe staples: Gucci’s wide-leg jeans, vest and trench coat; Tove’s elegant ankle-grazing dresses and coats; and Bottega Veneta’s denim, relaxed tailoring and leather separates, for example. But with price tags into quadruple digits, it’s a dress code reserved for the few.

Luckily for us, the high street takes inspiration from the catwalks, and fashion editors have been wearing elevated basics forever, so we know exactly where to go for the best suits, denim, crewneck T-shirts, knits and accessories to channel the trend.

Outerwear

As confirmed by Gucci and Bottega Veneta, an ankle-grazing beige trench coat is ideal autumn outerwear, perfect for throwing over everything from jeans and a T-shirt to a slouchy suit. This Jigsaw style is perfect, thanks to its minimal design, elevated fabric and long length, Uniqlo’s new Uniqlo:C trench is also excellent and Next’s hooded style ticks all of our boxes.

Tailoring

If you don’t already see a suit as an everyday item, it’s time to start. Relaxed tailoring is as comfortable as it is chic and Marks & Spencer has some great options in different colours, but this light teal jacket is particularly good. It comes with matching wide-leg trousers and would look great worn with a pale lemon shirt underneath.

Weekend Max Mara x 24 by Kate Phelan is a masterclass in timeless tailoring and the grey tweed Crombie is the ultimate forever coat. For a more affordable option, John Lewis’s And/Or grey Crombie is hard to beat and is part of a covetable collection by director of design Queralt Ferrer, which focuses on tailoring, outerwear and practical but trend-led accessories.

If it’s a black suit you are after, H&M’s new Studio collection (available from 28 September at hm.com) has a brilliant and not-too-boxy double-breasted blazer and matching wide-leg trousers. 

Hobbs’s Limited Edition collection, which just launched, has some great cord, camel and tobacco pieces, and one of the most important details when shopping for quiet luxury is a neutral colour palette.

Basics

Well-cut denim is a great everyday option and slim, straight or wide-leg indigo denim jeans will work well with knits, ankle-grazing coats and elegant flats. Whistles and Boden have a great selection currently.

More than half of what Primark sell is everyday basics and essentials. The brand launched The Edit two years ago to bolster its higher quality, modern, classic wardrobe essentials and the Basic White Tee is a best-seller thanks to its’ heavyweight fabric and great roomy shape. Other highlights from The Edit this season include a longline trench and crew-neck jumper.

Uniqlo basics are perfect for a day-to-day wardrobe, especially its oversized T-shirts, cashmere jumpers and that mini round shoulder bag – the £14.90 lightweight cross-body bag that riffs off The Row’s £1,300 banana bag and went viral on Tiktok. The bag will be available in leather and cord for autumn, in an earthy palette that’s perfect for the new season. Speaking of the new season, this month Clare Waight Keller’s collection for the brand – Uniqlo: C – just launched, and it’s an elevated, feminine collection featuring particularly excellent knitwear, with highlights including oversized knits, round-neck button-down cardigans and felt caps.

For a more sturdy bag that will look stylish with all of your quiet luxury silhouettes, Been London’s Annis sling bag, £295, comes in black and brown, and is made from recycled leather. 

Eveningwear and accessories

Relaxed silhouettes and ankle-grazing hemlines are two key quiet luxury signifiers. An ankle-grazing silk maxi skirt is versatile and will work as well with chunky boots and ballet pumps as it will with a kitten heel and blazer.

Relaxed day-to-night pieces and elegant eveningwear featured on the runway for autumn/winter 2023, largely as slip dresses, simple and special separates and futuristic yet minimal eveningwear. Mango’s Capsule collection is a failsafe for effortless evening pieces, from satin dresses with simple details to understated strapless black maxi dresses as well as mini evening bags and simple, strappy monochrome heeled sandals.

This season, Reiss launches its elevated Atelier collection, designed by ex-Tom Ford designer Jamie O’Hare, which is perfect for a cocktail dress code, but it’s the brand’s wide-leg woollen trousers and easy-tailored coats that are perfect for day-to-day.

In terms of accessories, it’s all about wearable footwear and practical, low-key, logo-free bags. A chunky clog or loafer works well, and a roomy trouser suit or fine-knit maxi dress with an elegant ankle boot will elevate your look. Arket is great for chic Scandi-inspired styles.

Opening image: Weekend Max Mara x 24 by Kate Phelan

Additional images: courtesy of brands