There’s a big difference between dressing for the algorithm and dressing for real life—and that’s especially true when it comes to the exhausting quiet luxury trend. TikTok will have you believe that a classic trench can be duped, and a pink tweed set from Amazon gives “Old Money.” But as anyone who’s found themselves on the commuter train to Westchester knows, the clothes of the generationally well-off are actually rather dull, and they like it that way. Your Friends & Neighbors nails the “so rich it’s bland” look better than anything else streaming right now.
The new Apple TV+ series follows Coop (Jon Hamm), a New York City financier whose life has quickly fallen apart. He’s divorced; he’s broke; and he’s out of a job until his two-year non-compete expires. Without giving away too many spoilers, he takes these frustrations out on the Friends & Neighbors from his wealthy suburb, which looks a whole lot like Westchester.
Apple TV+
Jon Hamm wears an expensive, forgettable suit in ‘Your Friends & Neighbors.’
As much of prestige TV seems to these days, the show revolves around the lives and habits of the ultra-rich. However, unlike similar send-ups (Succession, Sirens, and even The White Lotus), this aesthetic is not a fantasy. The intentionally beige stylings of hedge fund managers and Old Money families that populate the quiet hamlets outside New York City are on full display here, in all their yawn-inducing, bank account-emptying glory.
After all, these characters are not media scions or vacationing actresses, but rather, people who prefer to be discreet about their elite status. “From the beginning, my approach was to focus on achieving the authenticity of this ultra-wealthy world,” explains the show’s costume designer Jacqueline Demeterio. Rather than channelling Kendall Roy–style nepo baby vibes or the campy hallmarks of prep, the clothes here are intentionally forgettable—and modeled after the names you won’t see populating the Forbes list.
Apple TV+
Grays, blues, cream, and beige dominate the show’s color palette.
“I have designed projects in the past that have been pushed or elevated into a ‘hyper reality’ fashion world,” she continues. “It was important for me not to do that on Your Friends & Neighbors. I wanted their wardrobe to reflect what the true 1 percenters of Westchester County are wearing. It was always intended for their clothes to speak volumes but never scream.”
Her chosen palette of beige, navy, cream, and more beige evokes more of a yawn than a jealous whisper—and that’s true to life, rather than fashion. Her moodboard was not full of runway looks or celebrities, but rather “real-life hedge fund CEOs and their families, images of wealthy country club members, and wealthy suburban wives.” These nameless, faceless references helped build a visual world that more accurately depicts quiet luxury attire than TikTok ever could.
Apple TV+
Olivia Munn wears tastefully elegant denim ‘Your Friends & Neighbors.’
“The quiet luxury world of online often still consists of louder, flashier luxury pieces, which doesn’t always align with the true wealthy of the world,” the costume designer explains. Rather, she turned to brands like Brunello Cucinelli, Zegna, Carolina Herrera, Hermès, and Khaite to execute her vision.
“These people convey wealth through their demeanor, their homes, their country club memberships, their watches and the carats of their rings—so, in service of that reality, it was an intentional choice to keep some of the neighbors more subdued and elegant,” she says, adding that Coop’s ex wife’s new boyfriend and former NBA player, Nick (Mark Tallman), is an exception to the rule with his Louis Vuitton and Gucci.
Apple TV+
Oh look, more cream and beige!
The resulting look reveals that blending in is more important to these characters than standing out. They want their moneyed peers to intuit their wealth, but not necessarily the rest of us. It’s not sculptural or textured in the way the more buzzy “quiet luxury” outfits appear. This is not Pheobe Philo’s latest drop or the Olsen twins’ eccentric personal style (although the costume designers did pull pieces from The Row), but clothes an unimaginative yet quality-obsessed conformist might find on the rack of a high-end department store.
The fashion is oppressively dull and geniusly curated, adding to the sense of deterministic doom and desire for a bit of chaos that our spiraling hero feels. When you spot one elegant beige trench coat on the street, it’s intriguing. When you’re surrounded by an entire neighborhood of navy suits and understated cashmere, it’s crazy making.
Apple TV+
A white t-shirt that’s low-key about its luxury.
The costume team here captures the drudgery of elegance, something many TikTok commenters miss. Self-expressive is never the fashion goal for this cohort. These are clothes for people who care about status over self-expression, privacy over fame, and money above all else.
As Demeterio explains, “it may look ‘normal’ but trust me, it’s not. The true key to dressing like the ultra-wealthy is how the clothes feel against their skin, how they fit, and how they make them feel.”
Read the original article on InStyle
