Tastemakers like Richard Johnson at Mytheresa and Lupe Puerta at shopping engine The Floorr give their takes on what has fuelled the rise of names like Wardrobe.NYC, Peter Do and Khaite The terms “stealth wealth” and “quiet luxury” may have been doing the rounds for a while, but in practice, investing in quality timeless pieces has always been the smarter way. Style icons and fashion insiders have long been proponents of investing in “seasonless” wardrobe staples made to last, but now that mindset is moving into the mainstream as women in particular reassess their purchasing power.
“During times of dramatic change, people often look for longevity from their purchases and want to know that the items they invest in will stand the test of time. There’s now a collective sense that style and taste are more embedded in the quality of fabrics and the cut of garments rather than surface decoration or logos,” explains Richard Johnson, chief commercial and sustainability officer at luxury online retailer Mytheresa. While the stealth luxury category is dominated by established names like Loro Piana, The Row and Brunello Cucinelli , the market for “wardrobe staples” has grown steadily, drawing more brands to cater to the growing demand.
Favourites like Tibi and Wardrobe.NYC are being joined by newer names that are reinterpreting a specific wardrobe item to set them apart (such as Blazé and Racil, which focus on tailored jackets), while others offer a more extensiv.