by When Jennifer Lopez was photographed arriving at a dance studio earlier this month, she looked like any other off-duty performer in her activewear, hair slicked back in a neat ballerina bun. Except for her gym bag, that is: an Hermès Birkin, worth an estimated $30,000.
She’s not alone: just this week, Kim Kardashian sat courtside at a Lakers game, laying her $40,000 Birkin on the floor, clearly clingy and covered in her son’s popcorn — because nothing reminds the world that high net worth individual you as a rare collectable Hermès treat like a freebie canvas tote.
With the high number of super-rich celebrities and a relaxed attitude, Los Angeles is the homeland of this kind of casual swag-trophy-wins, known as “low-luxe” clothing. And now it’s coming on beyond the Bel Air set as well.
We have the pandemic to thank; it’s given everyone a more relaxed way to dress, and while the stay-at-home mandates may be over, there’s an enduring appreciation for comfort – leaving behind a lack of opportunities to show off trophy fashion purchases.
The low-luxe aesthetic has been building in fashion circles for some time, says Hannah Almassi, editor-in-chief of Who What Wear UK. Today’s shopper doesn’t want to save for special pieces for the best, she explains and “that’s a smart idea, because you might as well get their money’s worth considering luxury price points continue to accelerate more higher and higher.”
Amanda Khidhir, stylist at luxury fashion concierge The Bettina Looney Edit, agrees. “There is beauty in the unexpected blend of luxury and leisure,” she says. “Picture a Margaux by The Row bag with baggy jeans and an oversized shirt, or a diamond tennis necklace over a basic white tee.” Low-luxe is about contrast.
Ready to give it a whirl? Here are five ways celebrities are wearing the look…
Bring a trophy bag for running errands
The most obvious way to master this look is to carry a trophy handbag. The Row’s Margaux style is called the “new Birkin” and has a resale value that makes it more of an asset than an accessory. Net-a-Porter notes that searches for “Margaux” have increased by 150 percent in the past month alone.
But rich people don’t stop there: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley can be seen carrying two The Row handbags at the same time, as did Harry Styles, who had Margaux in one hand this week, and a Slouchy Banana over his shoulder. , and his partner Taylor Russell followed with two Loewe bags – Flamenco and Puzal Fold.
T-Shirts are a smart background for fine jewellery
During the pandemic, fine jewelery brands saw significant spikes in sales as high-net-worth individuals invested in pick-me-up diamonds. “Since then there’s been this feeling of ‘you might as well enjoy it'”, says jewelery expert Sarah Royce-Greensill. “Many houses are catering to this and making fine jewelery with very expensive gemstones in a more wearable way.”
It’s less about formal, matching sets, and embracing a relaxed, layered look, as seen with “daytime diamond” Jessica McCormack, styled in her campaigns with T-shirts and jeans. Zoe Kravitz embraced this attitude when her father Lenny Kravitz’s star was unveiled on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Bezel-set stones have more of a “casual, youthful feel”, says Royce-Greensill, while “a diamond reverie necklace looks less formal during the day when layered with a chunky gold chain.”
Haute denim
When The bear actress Ayo Edebiri co-hosted an event with the British Vogue last month, she apparently wore jeans and a white shirt – but the look wasn’t as low-key as it sounds. The trousers, by Bottega Veneta, were made of leather and cost almost £5,000.
We saw an even more beautiful view when Kaia Gerber opened the Valentino Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2023 show in a pair of jeans – this denim trompe l’oeil was made from thousands of tiny glass beads colored with 80 shades of indigo.
For her Mary & George press tour this month, Julianne Moore went for a low-luxe look in a denim shirt with £880 Alaïa barrel-leg jeans.
Pair your activewear with trophy trainers
One of the easiest ways to spice up your gym gear is to add a pair of designer trainers. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley recently paired her Alo leggings with bright gold Chanel trainers, showing off the house’s distinctive CC logo. They’re probably not going to help you achieve a new PB, but they look good.
A brushed coat makes the scruffiest outfits look luxe
One of the easiest ways to master the low-luxe look is to wear a brushed coat over an understated outfit – a look that Katie Holmes and Jennifer Lawrence have adopted. Labels including Miu Miu and The Row are pushing this pop-to-the-shop aesthetic, styling leggings and hoodies with covered outerwear on the scene.
