In a nutshell, this trend, coined by ufodelaney on TikTok, grew as a response to the economic downturn. It’s a shift in the way we dress up, embracing a more dressed-down look that’s understated in nature. Think: neutrals and muted tones, classic fits like plain T-shirts, trousers, minimalist jewelry, etc. It’s a stark contrast to, say, the beads-, feathers- and-fringe-covered wardrobes of the roaring ‘20s that preceded the Great Depression, and especially the maximalist styles that have gained popularity over the past few years. But what was evidently born out of a stance to shed ourselves of signs of conspicuous consumption has frantically taken a twisted life of its own. It’s less look-at-me, but make no mistake: Those minimalist looks still (often) cost a fortune. And that’s kind of the point—outfits that subtly signal your status, rather than shout it, because that’s the polite thing to do when times are tough, right?
And let us not forget Miranda Priestly’s credo in The Devil Wears Prada: The lumpy cerulean sweaters of the world hold more weight than face value.
On the one hand, the recession-core movement doesn’t have to be that way. To Christian Juul Nielsen, creative director and founder of AKNVAS, a women’s fashion label “creating garments that play with color, texture and drape…that break the mold of traditional work-wear,” it’s clear: “Fashion is bigger than what is presented on the runway or in stores,” he says. “[It] reflects a wider look into what is happening culturally and politically. While it feels right to dress in ‘quiet luxury’ with a particularly dark cloud cast on the world in recent years, I am a firm believer that people will always want to dress up, and there is a confidence that comes with feeling luxe. Evoking luxury is more of a feeling and does not require a large cost.”
The challenge, though, is that supply and demand can make this minimalist aesthetic soon fall out of reach for most people, even if you don’t shop at the quiet luxury labels du jour. You know the drill: High supply with low demand equals lowered prices. Now what happens when the demand starts to rise while supply fails to follow suit? (I.e., your basic tank and bodysuits continue to sell out, as we’ve recently seen happen on many retailer’s websites.) Prices rise, making your beloved, everyday $15 t-shirt now cost a whopping $35 (or even upwards of $100 for some luxury brands). And don’t forget to factor in a post-pandemic economy, where businesses continue to recover from manufacturing delays and scarcity of materials and resources…yet some take advantage of pricing “appropriately” to such demand.
