For the past five years, HBO’s “Succession” has been a hit with its witty and engaging dialogue, dysfunctional family dynamics and a carefully curated wardrobe that has popularized the trend of “stealth wealth” fashion. The show has been a key example of this new fashion phenomenon, which has been around for years but has gained popularity following the success of “Succession.”
“Stealth wealth” can be described as understated and polished clothing that’s not meant to draw attention but instead encourages closer inspection. It’s the kind of clothing that requires a bit of study to appreciate fully. This trend can be seen as an extension of earlier minimalist fashion styles such as ’90s minimalism or the normcore of the 2010s, but it’s unique in its emphasis on quality and discretion.
The clothing in “Succession” is a perfect example of “stealth wealth.” Over the last three seasons, characters have been dressed in nondescript clothing, such as blank baseball caps, cashmere sweaters and neutral-colored suits. The clothes are designed to fit in with the show’s overall theme of wealth and power, but they rarely jump off the screen. For superfans of the show, the logo-less clothing has become an Easter egg-style game of determining the brand behind the styles.
The show’s costume designer, Jonathan Schwartz, said that the show doesn’t follow what real-life billionaires are wearing, but instead follows who the character is and where they would shop. “Whereas Roman might be shopping more downtown, Tom would be shopping on Madison Avenue. It fits into this overall theme of billionaires because they’re definitely going to those high-priced stores, but it’s really the character that dictates the types of clothing they would wear.”
“Succession” has been credited with boosting the sales of various luxury items within its audience, such as Loro Piana’s baseball cap and white-soled shoes. Both items can cost hundreds of dollars, but they sometimes sell out at retail after a “Succession” character wears them.
Kendall Roy’s character has had the biggest style evolution over the four seasons, reflecting the changes in his character. He started off wearing corporate-style suits and has since evolved to casual leather and suede jackets and streetwear sneakers, always from Loro Piana, Tom Ford or Gucci. Schwartz thinks the show’s costumes have worked because of their authenticity to the characters and how they don’t distract from the dialogue.
“Succession” is a show that portrays characters that start off as bastards and end up unchanged from that. Even the characters’ wardrobe hardly changes, which might reflect a larger message. Schwartz speculates that the show’s costumes and “stealth wealth” have appealed to the masses for their aspirational quality.
“Sheehan also noted “stealth wealth” can be seen as an extension of the pandemic-influenced fashion trend of paring down wardrobes and investing in better quality pieces.”
In conclusion, “Succession” has brought “stealth wealth” fashion to the forefront of popular culture. The clothing and accessories worn by characters on the show exemplify the understated and polished style that’s becoming a trend. It’s a shift from the ‘look-at-me’ fashion to something that’s more subtle and requires study to appreciate fully. This trend seems to be here to stay, and we’re interested to see how it evolves in the future.
