These 2024 status symbols show that it’s not all about quiet luxury

People “go for the things that are really recognizable,” Kelly McSweeney, senior merchandise manager at The RealReal, told Business Insider. “These styles continue to do very well for us.”

This indicates that quiet luxury—subtle, unbranded items that focus on quality, not logos—is falling by the wayside. It’s not so loud luxury—logomania or the “mob wife aesthetic”—that’s taking its exact place, but a handful of trends have sprung up to compete with the once-ubiquitous craze.

The trendiest pieces are the ones that are recognized by fashion people, McSweeney said, pointing to pieces like the Sophia bag and the Margaux bag from The Row, which resells. averaging 15% more than it retails for new, or the Alaïa Teckel bag, a long, slim style that has seen its popularity rise 59% this year. No bag is loudly emblazoned with the brand’s name, but anyone who keeps up with the styles can choose from a range.

“There’s definitely something to be said for familiar styles,” McSweeney said. “If you’re in the fashion world and if you know, you understand the value of that item.”

Beyond unique interior status symbols, other aesthetic trends are starting to emerge, giving Loro Piana baseball caps and Brunello Cuccinello cashmere sweaters a chance to shine.

A 69% and 68% increase in searches for Levi’s and leather fringe, respectively, shows that the West is having a moment. The increase in searches for fringed bags from Hermès, blouses from Chloé and dresses from Dôen, as well as vintage Diesel – searches are up 600% – show that people are gravitating towards classic American styles.

“For boho, it’s not just about Chloé specifically, it’s about nods that we’ve seen in the culture — like Beyoncé’s ‘Cowboy Carter,'” McSweeney said, adding that cowboy boots and belts with large buckles are having a moment.

Younger generations are also swapping streetwear for more corporate looks – think blazers, loafers, skirt suits and shoulder pads that were boardroom essentials in the 90s. The average selling price for ties on The RealReal is up 51% this year, and suits have seen a 25% increase in sales.

The brands people are buying are also a throwback to the C-suite: Donna Karan, Calvin Klein and St. John are all trending as status brands.

At the same time, several classic streetwear labels are in decline: sales of Supreme, Off-White and Nike Jordan are down 25%, 34% and 35% respectively. While sales of women’s sneakers fell 3 percent, sales of ballet flats, mid-heels and loafers rose.