12 Understated Luxury Buys You'll Treasure for Years to Come

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(Image credit: @modedamour)

Two words I have heard being used a lot this year by fashion buyers is the phrase "quiet luxury." This aesthetic is certainly nothing new, as it perfectly describes the Phoebe Philo era at Celine and the ethos behind Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen's 14-year-old brand The Row. However this move towards classic, elevated pieces, that are beautiful and special, but not too shouty or flashy, is particularly resonating in 2023.

Last autumn there was a shift towards more classic pieces and this customer's mindset is invest now and wear forever. "Although dressing up means something different now, there are still excuses to wear something a bit more glamorous, there are plenty of evening options that are comfortable, elegant and ideally suited for a more relaxed occasion such as entertaining at home," Cassie Smart, Head of Womenswear Buying, at MATCHESFASHION, explained last year. "The Row and Gabriela Hearst are great for quietly luxurious pieces."

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(Image credit: @chrystelleeriksberger)

Tiffany Hsu, Fashion Buying Director at MyTheresa, adds: "Understated luxury is the keyword for many collections, and the vocabulary is high-quality knits, cashmere, and neutral tones. Among the ways to achieve the look, the knit dress is a new wardrobe essential." In terms of the key items to achieve this look, Hsu noted last year: "A standout style for us was Joseph’s head-to-toe layered knit look, which included a long, matching shawl. We also loved the pared-back silhouettes from Deveaux and The Row’s cosy cashmere slippers."

The appeal of these understated luxury buys is that they are designed to be seasonless and so are guaranteed to go the distance within your own wardrobe. The 12 items below are all classics that you will treasure forever.

1. Knitted Dresses

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(Image credit: @abimarvel)

Style Notes: Knitted dresses always make a comeback at this time of year, and the market is full of excellent options. Although we love them all, they look particularly beautiful in camel, biscuit and other neutral shades.

Shop Knitted Dresses:

2. White Button Down Shirts

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Style Notes: Trends may come and go, but sometimes there is nothing as elegant as an oversized white shirt. Wear with jeans, leggings, skirts and tailoring for a polished look that's effortlessly put together. 

Shop White Shirts:

3. Simple Sandals

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(Image credit: @monikh)

Style Notes: A good pair of sandals are worth investing in as a seasonal staple—and even in spring, they're on all of our editors' wishlists. 

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4. Gold Jewellery

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Style Notes: Oversized gold chain necklaces and bracelets are a key accent, and can make even the most simple outfits look instantly polished. Our tip? Invest in mid-to-fine jewellery that's worth every penny. 

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5. Silk Separates 

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(Image credit: @symphonyofsilk)

Style Notes: 'Quiet luxury' is all about paying attention to the quality of fabrics, and so it'll be no surprise to you that silk features on this list. Think luxe-looking tops and silky soft skirts and shirts that feel as good as they look. 

Shop Satin and Silk:

6. Camel Coats

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(Image credit: @iliridakrasniqi)

Style Notes: When it comes to outerwear, nothing is quite as chic as a camel coat—we have Max Mara to thank for this one. 

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7. Loafers

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Style Notes: If you are after simple, but beautiful, shoes that will go with everything you own, look no further than a pair of eassy-to-style leather loafers. 

Shop Loafers:

8. Fine Watches 

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Style Notes: For most of us a luxury watch is a once in a lifetime purchase, and we particularly love simple straps with a classic appeal, like Hermès and Cartier. 

Shop Watches:

9. Blazers

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Style Notes: We believe that every wardrobe should include at least one wear-with-everything blazer, and right now we love glossy, leather iterations. 

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10. Black Leather Shoulder Bag

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(Image credit: @aidabadji_)

Style Notes: It bags come and go, but a black leather handbag will always be worth investing in. Nothing works harder than a black handbag that goes with every outfit and works for every dress code. 

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11. Leather Belt

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(Image credit: @modedamour)

Style Notes: Okay, this admittedly isn't the most exciting item on our list, however a leather belt can be the perfect finishing touch to most outfits as well as being a practical must-have. 

Shop Belts:

12. Simple Rings

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Style Notes: When it comes to fine or expensive jewellery, we often lean towards simple designs, such as gold rings either worn stacked or individually.

Shop Rings:

Opening Image: @modedamour

This story was published at an earlier time and has since been updated.

Maxine Eggenberger
Deputy Editor

Maxine Eggenberger is Who What Wear UK’s deputy editor and has over twelve years of experience in fashion journalism. She been creating engaging and elevated style content for Who What Wear UK since 2018, covering runway reports, emerging trends, long-form features, self-styled shopping stories, and columns, including her edit of the best new-in buys. She ensures the highest editorial standards are met across the site, works closely with influencer talent on content initiatives, represents the brand at industry events, and regularly contributes to social media. Previously, Maxine appeared on TV in her own fashion segment and has interviewed countless celebrities—everyone from Victoria Beckham to Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o. 


Prior to Who What Wear UK, Maxine’s career began when, after completing her first-ever internship, she was offered a position on the Look magazine fashion desk. She accepted, leaving university a year early in the process. She went on to become the title's fashion news and commercial content editor, with a stint as InStyle.co.uk’s fashion writer along the way. She later served as Look’s acting Editor in Chief before embarking on a successful freelance career, working with Grazia, The Pool, and Marie Claire amongst others. Maxine works remotely from her countryside home near Edinburgh.