Quiet Luxury is a Mindset.

Inner silence promotes clarity of mind;It makes us value the inner world;It trains us to go inside to the source of peace and inspiration when we are faced with problems and challenges - Deepak Chopra

While this newsletter was written before the horrific attacks on Israel, the notion of quieting our minds for our well-being still applies. But don’t suffer in silence. We need to listen to — and demonstrate our love for one another — now more than ever.

Coined in 2010, the fashion world tied “quiet luxury” to pared back looks and, according to Vogue, fashion that is “less austere than minimalism but more polished than ‘normcore.’” But I think it’s a mindset. And, ironically, too loud.

Today there are innumerable people saturating the web with fashion and beauty ideas — and subsequent links — telling us exactly what we need to wear, brands we must invest in, the requisite skincare to appear younger. A departure from its initial intent of perpetuating easy elegance and modern-age minimalism, quiet luxury now feels synonymous with constant chatter.  What I long for is less noise. That would feel like true luxury.

As a fashion, beauty and wellness writer, and a minimalist since in utero, I respect the notion of investment in luxury— and subscribe to a slower, more simplistic approach to getting dressed, which beautifully lends itself to greater sustainability — but believe the push for “quiet luxury” often contributes to feeling unworthy; what we have (or more oft, don’t have) is never enough. Rather than bringing us peace, the trend has shown to escalate fashion to elitism. Smothered by the unattainable, we have lost our way, forgotten our unique identity and are often left questioning who to trust.

Quiet luxury can be more profound than our sartorial selections (and the influencer chokehold, of over $4 billion in sales) when we reframe the concept of buying less and finding satisfaction in what we have — not just in our own closet but as our own self, without external validation. As a mindset, we can elevate this easy elegance trend to one toward greater contentment. Valuing authenticity. Achieving serenity by sitting in stillness, where you can hear what you need. Luxuriating through journaling to sharpen your instincts, helping you determine what you feel, who you can trust and whom to behold.

Once we embody quiet luxury, we can approach life with a more discerning eye, prioritizing ourselves with high esteem, investing in our needs and those we cherish. Where we selectively learn from, live with and love not based on followers or arbitrarily entrusting those paid to influence, but genuine connection. True bonds trump a trend every time.

We deserve so much more and need to hear so much less. The haughtiness of fashion’s quiet luxury, like the “no pants” looks that graced runways last year, should permanently leave the chat. While we gain wisdom with age, don’t wait for a wakeup call with birthday candles. When we start listening to ourselves, rather than the inundation of messaging, we can feel greater fulfillment and self-confidence. And knowing ourselves — and having unconditional self-worth — is the truest luxury.