2016 is when I first discovered Vetements. If anything, there are few other brands on the market who have perfected the hoodie (or “hOoDeD SwEaTsHiRt”) Backwards hoodies, upside-down hoodies, and even one that was torn to shreds, I've seen it all from this brand over the years. Few though, can justify the price tags that come along with such quirky pieces, especially on consignment sites like Mr. Porter and Farfetch that increase the price to make their own profits margins. We all know that better quality only grows with the price of the piece to a certain extent, so I went ahead and got my hands on a basic vetements hoodie to see if it is worth the hype.
Quiet luxury has been a term used to describe a toned down, classy, & logo-free, expression of designer pieces. Often seen in womenswear, there is definitely a masculine version of this distinct style. Dominated by blazers, knitwear, and trenchcoats, the style has seen an explosion in popularity gathering over 300 million views on the hashtag #quietluxury.
The logo-print zip-up hoodie is the one I went with. Pressed a few buttons, then waited a few weeks for shipping and we were off to the races.
On first impression something really stood out to me; the unboxing experience. The smell, the packaging, and the title card, this is what separates the luxury brands from the mom and pa’ shop brands. But we didn't pay for all that now did we?
The fabric composition is the real hero here. 80% cotton / 20% polyester is what gives it its rigid quality made feel. (No this is not an advertisement)
Spending a day in this piece was great because it gave me the feeling of luxury while not being too flashy. I did get compliments on my overall fit, mostly because of my daily choice of head to toe black. The hoodie mixed comfort and elegance together by turning a casual piece into a slightly dressed up version with the construction techniques. The stark rise of “quiet luxury” has been resonating with many especially due to many brands taking this approach. Is it a new trend? Or are designer brands just running out of new creative design ideas? Either way Gen Z and millennials alike have taken a liking to it. It exudes the aura of what designer pieces were supposed to be in the first place - exclusive and esoteric. Just the thought of being able to tell someone - “Do you even know what this piece is?”, when asked about your outfit, makes many of the wealthy and elite crack a smile.
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The problem many fashion enthusiasts face is finding pieces that convey their original style. That is a huge reason why luxury is often pinned with fashion enthusiasts due to there being very few affordable brands that are actually deemed “cool” or having truly unique designs in this niche industry. With the rise of tik tok fashion and more affordable apparel manufacturing options, there are dozens of brands (i.e Jadded London, liamciavarelli, &plaugeround) that are emerging that can bridge the gap between interesting pieces and affordability. Sustainability also goes hand in hand with this trend because gone are the days (for now) of loud boisterous pieces that have a shelf life of one season. The Balenciaga triple S didnt really have a lasting impression for more than a year or so, but the COS Leather Jacket is a piece that will be in style forever. With a sustainability-focused direction that the industry is moving in, there will be an even bigger push to create timeless pieces that can be used over and over and last as long as possible - from a fashion and environmentally friendly point of view.
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So the verdict? Many people ask if there really is a big difference between the quiet luxury pieces and the Walmart hoodie, but my answer is - slightly. The brand image and slightly above-average quality are really the driving force behind the price point. If you are not an influencer or socialite, there are many other cost effective pieces that you can get wit the same look and feel. As for me, I enjoyed the hoodie, but I may like my $1000 a little bit more.
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