When Jennifer Lopez was photographed arriving at a dance studio earlier this month, she looked like any off-duty performer, with her gym outfit and hair slicked back in a neat ballerina bun. Except for the duffel bag, that is, a Hermès Birkin worth an estimated $30,000.
She’s not alone: Just this week, Kim Kardashian sat courtside at a Lakers game and placed her $40,000 Birkin on the floor, visibly sticky and covered in her son’s popcorn — because nothing tells the world that you’re a high-net-worth individual like you. It’s like treating a rare Hermès collection as a free canvas bag.
With its multitude of ultra-rich celebrities and laid-back attitudes, Los Angeles is the home of this kind of casual-meets-reward swag known as “low-luxe” dressing. And now it’s gaining attention beyond the Bel Air set.
We have the pandemic to thank; It paved the way for a more comfortable way of dressing for everyone, and although the stay-at-home mandate is over, there is an enduring appreciation for comfort; this leads to a lack of opportunity to showcase reward fashion purchases.
Hannah Almassi, editor-in-chief of Who What Wear UK, says the low-luxe aesthetic has been taking shape in fashion circles for some time. Today’s shopper doesn’t want to save special pieces for the best, she explains, “and this is a smart idea because, given that luxury price points continue to get higher and higher, one can get value for money.”
Amanda Khidhir, stylist at luxury fashion concierge The Bettina Looney Edit, agrees. “There is beauty in the unexpected blend of luxury and entertainment,” she says. “Imagine a Margaux bag by The Row with baggy jeans and a baggy shirt, or a diamond tennis necklace with a plain white T-shirt.” Low lux is all about contrast.
Are you ready to give it a try? Here are five ways celebrities wear this look…
Carry a trophy case to run errands
The most obvious way to master this look is to carry a mug bag. Row’s Margaux style has been called “the new Birkin” and has a resale value that makes it more of an asset than an accessory. Net-a-Porter states that there has been a 150 percent increase in searches for “Margaux” in the last month alone.
But the super-rich don’t stop there: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley has been seen carrying two The Row handbags at once; Harry Styles was also carrying Margaux in one hand and Slouchy Banana on his shoulder this week. Her partner, Taylor Russell, followed with two Loewe bags (a Flamenco and a Puzzle Fold).
T-shirts create a smart backdrop to fine jewelery
During the pandemic, fine jewelry brands have seen significant increases in sales as high-net-worth individuals invest in diamonds as a return. “Since then there’s been a sense of ‘you’d better enjoy this’,” says jewelery expert Sarah Royce-Greensill. “Many houses cater for this and make fine jewelry with very expensive gemstones in a more wearable way.”
It’s less important to embrace formal, matching sets and relaxed, layered looks, as seen in the “day diamonds” that Jessica McCormack styles with T-shirts and jeans in her campaigns. Zoe Kravitz adopted this attitude at the unveiling of dad Lenny Kravitz’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Bezel setting stones give a more “casual, youthful feel,” says Royce-Greensill, “while a diamond dream necklace looks less formal when encased in a thick gold chain for daytime.”
high jeans
When Bear actor Ayo Edebiri hosted an event with the British Vogue Last month, he wore jeans and a white shirt, but his appearance was not as modest as it seemed. The trousers by Bottega Veneta were actually made of leather and cost almost £5,000.
We saw this idea take an even more luxurious approach when Kaia Gerber opened the Valentino Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2023 show in a pair of jeans; This trompe l’oeil denim was made of thousands of tiny glass beads dyed with 80 shades of indigo.
for him Mary and George this month’s press tour, Julianne Moore opted for a denim shirt and low-luxe look with matching Alaïa jeans, £880.
Pair your activewear with cup sneakers
One of the easiest ways to spruce up your gym set is to add a pair of designer trainers. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley recently paired Alo leggings with pale gold Chanel sneakers featuring the brand’s distinctive CC lock logo. They probably won’t help you hit a new PB, but they look good.
A roomy jacket will make even the messiest outfits look luxuriousto
One of the easiest ways to pull off the low-luxe look is to wear a bulky coat over an otherwise inconspicuous outfit, a look adopted by Katie Holmes and Jennifer Lawrence. Brands including Miu Miu and The Row are leaning into this popular aesthetic, styling leggings and hoodies with wrap-around outerwear on the runway.