5 Uniform Style Essentials To Channel Your Inner Shiv Roy

If you haven't already done so, now would be the time to move those logomania pieces to the back of your closet. Luxury minimalism is here — and just in time to help you channel your inner Shiv Roy. 

As "Succession" superfans will no doubt have noticed over the past four seasons, Siobhan Roy's — Shiv to those in the know — wardrobe is anything but flashy. That's despite her character having the means to rock just about any ensemble of her choosing. Yet, Shiv and the rest of the show's cast are routinely used as templates for the early-to-mid-2020s fashion zeitgeist: a more low-key aesthetic, centered on luxe basics and office-friendly uniform dressing. So luxe, in fact, that they need no visible labels. Au contraire, luxury minimalism is all about well-tailored (though not too tailored) items, quality textiles ... and if parts of that description are ringing a bell, that might just be because quiet luxury is an off-shoot of the trend social media has dubbed "Old money" style. Old money, the Roy family — insert snarky comment about all this being obvious in Shiv's voice, here. 

The great thing about this trend, though, is that despite the name, quiet luxury doesn't have to be expensive. And, even when pieces are on the pricier side, their focus on quality means they'll stay chic basics for years to come. So, what are the pieces required to make that happen?

When it comes to luxury fashion — be it quiet or otherwise — perhaps the biggest distinguishing factor is the focus on high-quality fabrics — mainly, natural fibers. Think silk, think cotton and leather ... and despite cashmere's reputation as a luxury good, natural wool, in general, is nothing to sniff at. After all, back in 2010, King Charles III himself spearheaded the Campaign for Wool, centered specifically on using the natural and planet-friendly fiber in fashion. 

As for bringing those natural textiles into day-to-day life, wardrobe basics like coats, tops, and well-tailored pants in a natural fiber are sure to take even the most everyday items to a new level of chic. Incidentally, that stands as the very ethos of quiet luxury and luxe minimalism — quality pieces that serve as an elevated starting point. As Jess Graves (the founder of the fashion and shopping newsletter, The Love List) told Elle, "Think of it as like having a well-stocked bar or pantry. If you have good base ingredients, then you're always going to be able to whip something up." 

Read composition labels, and get ready to channel the most sophisticated version of yourself. Oh, and as a bonus, many natural fabrics get better with time. All the more reason to consider investing.

As lauded as Shiv Roy and the rest of the "Succession" cast may be for their part in cementing the quiet luxury trend, it's worth noting that their style isn't exactly recreating the wheel. Au contraire, their outfits are based on tried-and-tested classics we've seen numerous iterations of, over the years. As digital director over at Glamour, Perrie Samotin explained, "I appreciate [Shiv's] style, but I don't think it's groundbreaking." That said, there's a timelessness associated with her style, for sure. And, far from being prohibitive, that particular detail makes her signature aesthetic an easy one to replicate. All it takes is sticking to the classics. 

In Shiv's case, classic often translates into neutral tones — a quiet luxury style staple. Neutral is easy enough to incorporate, and the best part is, it makes for a seamless swap out with other pieces. Don't get too caught up on finding solid color neutrals, though. A number of prints are considered honorary, classic neutrals, like polka dots and even leopard print. Oh, and there's always the classic Breton stripe shirt: routinely associated with Coco Chanel, and a regular pick for the Princess of Wales herself, Kate Middleton. 

TLDR: Quiet luxury may be the trend of the moment, but its focus on neutrals certainly means pieces are almost guaranteed not to date — so if you're considering a splurge, this would be the place to start. 

One thing that does give the 2020s iteration of low-key luxury a distinctive edge is its focus on strong tailoring — that might not look super tailored.

Speaking to Elle, The Frankie Shop founder, Gaëlle Drevet pointed out that roomier coat and jacket fits add a little something to an otherwise timeless, super-polished vibe. "It's about breaking the perfection by having something that looks a bit odd — a little bigger, a little trapeze," she explained. Think a power suit, but with an oh-so-slightly blasé feel. Reaching for a bigger fit is a style note the fashion bible itself, Vogue concurred with, though they suggested taking it even further. Their advice? In addition to bigger outerwear, slouchier (though still business-friendly) pants also go a long way in creating an effortlessly chic silhouette. 

The truly great thing about more oversized tailoring, as Net-a-porter's Libby Page explained to Elle UK, is the comfort factor. "Oversized blazers are all about making power dressing comfortable and wearable for everyday," she said. Old school chic, but make it cozy. In other words, this look translates just as well in the boardroom as it would at a bestie's birthday lunch. 

Speaking of lunch, a note on uniform dressing for leisure: The trend's focus on neutrals, quality fabrics, and workplace-friendly items certainly makes quiet luxury the ideal go-to for business casual, and lends itself to uniform dressing for the office. However, this trend is appropriate in informal contexts, too — and not just because of the roomier fits. Enter, the case for personalized pieces.

Speaking to Town & Country about her own otherwise neutral, classic uniform dressing, former Vogue fashion editor, Tonne Goodman, shared that her go-to accessory is a scarf from high-end Parisian brand, Charvet. However, Goodman's love for the scarf has little to do with it being luxury. "The reason, subliminally, that I love this Cheerio pattern is because it was the pattern on my favorite dress when I was a child. It's comforting, in a way," she explained. 

It's worth noting that many of the biggest names in fashion history have applied that same logic, no matter the trends of the time. Audrey Hepburn, for example, kept ballet at the center of her identity by adding chic ballet flats to her outfits. Anna Wintour, meanwhile, is instantly recognizable by her signature black sunglasses. Both are easy add-ons that can be dressed up or down, for business or leisure. So, instead of forking out cash for all-new accessories, think about the things you already own that could be incorporated. Et voilà! quiet luxury, with a sentimental twist. 

We've said it before, and we'll say it again. Logomania and quiet luxury are polar opposites, so if you're looking to nail the latter, the very first step is to step away from overt branding.

In their guide to getting quiet luxury right, Who What Wear suggested that bags, first and foremost, be free from overt labels. Instead, the outlet suggested picking bags that aren't necessarily easily associated with any brand, in particular. As an aside, there's a major perk for anyone who might not be able to (or want to, for that matter) splurge on a designer option. Pick the unnamed, high street bag — or even pull out the more neutral purse you already own! Now's the time for those pieces to shine. 

Given quiet luxury uniform dressing's links to the "Old Money" aesthetic on TikTok, it's understandable that many have questioned whether the trend should be as glamorized as it has been. However, with the trend's focus on quality basics and going logo-less, there's also an option for many to jump on it in a way they might not have been with more maximalist, obviously branded fashion. Sure enough, even Michelle Maitland, "Succession's" costume designer, told Harper's Bazaar that she'd found many of the cast's items from high street stores, like Zara. Ironically enough, quiet luxury might just bring about a newfound sense of accessibility in fashion.