Is ‘Quiet Luxury’ On its Way Out? Why You Should Embrace Maximalism This Winter

Like most, I’m an offender of the late-night doom scroll, but don’t worry, I’m not totally rotting my brain because some of the accounts I follow are vaguely educational. Recently, I came across this @databutmakeitfashion post hinting that quiet luxury might be on its way out and fashion is about to become fun again, with unique pieces  gaining popularity over their ‘bland’ and ‘simple’ counterparts. 

Credit: @databutmakeitfashion on Instagram

Although the increasing popularity of leopard print, blue eyeshadow, and sequins may represent smaller seasonal shifts, the rise in positive sentiments about each of these individually, alongside the apparent decline of ‘Quiet Luxury’, points towards a broader movement.  

‘Quiet Luxury’ is a trend that has been all over our social media feeds for the past few years. It is characterised by its neutral colour palette, lack of logos, and elegant clothes. At its core, ‘Quiet Luxury’ is about thoughtfully investing in timeless pieces. However, the aesthetic has been adapted by the fast fashion industry and is now associated with beige collections of low quality clothes rather than the curation of a classic, luxurious wardrobe. Even though the central premise of ‘Quiet Luxury’ is aspirational, the aesthetic has somewhat lost its way and become an excuse for boring fashion choices. 

This movement away from the minimalism of ‘Quiet Luxury’ can manifest in various ways, but some people seem to think it means Maximalism is on its way back. Both Pinterest Predicts and Vogue predict that maximalism’s self-expressive values are making a resurgence as it is being seen in more and more luxury fashion houses’ branding. This is expected to trickle down to the everyday consumer, who are also hoping to make fashion fun again.  

Credit: Valentino

The instagram account @databutmakeitfashion references Valentino’s recent maximalist campaigns, such as their Resort 2026 collection, as one of the signifiers of the return of unique and exciting fashion. The collection features bright colours, fur accents, and patterned tights, which all together might feel like a bit much for your everyday outfit. However, adding just one of these slightly eccentric items can quickly take your outfit from unimaginative to exciting. 

Though I don’t think I have the ‘bold and experimental personality’ that Hasfa Lodi thinks is necessary to pull off the style, I can still appreciate the unique sense of fun that maximalism promotes. Instead, I think balancing the minimalist staple pieces of the ‘Quiet Luxury’ aesthetic with bolder, more colourful items helps create interesting but wearable outfits. 

As we enter the colder months here in St Andrews, it gets easier to incorporate these types of accessories into our daily wardrobes. Jackets, jumpers, scarves, and gloves are all relatively easy ways to inject a sense of fun into your daily look and stay warm as temperatures drop. By having a solid capsule wardrobe that I can accessorise with individual pieces that represent me, it feels like I’m able to move away from the rigidity and monotony of ‘Quiet Luxury’ . Even though I’m not totally swinging the other way into fully-fledged maximalism, I admire the opportunities for individuality the aesthetic offers.  

Rejecting bland fashion choices happens one item at a time. Whether you’re adding a colourful jumper to an otherwise boring T-shirt and jeans, or wearing a bold scarf and matching gloves, there are so many opportunities to start dressing playfully.

Finding these new and individual staples takes time, particularly when so many high street stores are full of black, white, and beige clothes. But even a patterned pair of tights or a different belt can be the first step into finding your own style.  Fashion is an essential way of expressing yourself, so rather than fitting into the ‘Quiet Luxury’ aesthetic, maybe it’s time to be loud and proud about our individuality.