Succession: “Stealth Wealth” and the Fashion Phenomenon
Over the last five years, HBO’s “Succession” has captivated audiences with its witty dialogue, intricate family relationships, and impeccably curated wardrobe. The show has also popularized a niche trend in minimalist fashion – “stealth wealth.”
Cathleen Sheehan, a professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology, explains that stealth wealth has been around long before “Succession” premiered. It focuses on understated and polished garments that do not scream for attention but instead require closer examination. The trend emphasizes quality and discretion and can be seen as an extension of previous minimalist fashion trends such as ’90s minimalism or the normcore of the 2010s.
Characters in “Succession” demonstrate the stealth wealth trend with their nondescript clothing, blank baseball caps, cashmere sweaters, and neutral-colored suits. From superfans to wannabe billionaires, viewers have played a game of determining the brand behind the styles, which are typically luxury brands like Loro Piana, Brunello Cucinelli, Tom Ford, Paul Stuart, Ralph Lauren, and others.
The show’s costume designer, Jonathan Schwartz, notes that they follow the character’s personality rather than what high-profile billionaires wear. They shop based on the character’s designated shopping habits, such as Roman shopping more downtown, and Tom shopping on Madison Avenue.
The show’s characters have had little evolution style-wise in the four seasons, reflecting the larger message that they start off as bastards and end up unchanged. However, the show’s costumes have worked due to their authenticity to the characters and how they don’t detract from the dialogue.
Stealth wealth has appealed to the masses for its aspirational quality, with Loro Piana sweaters, costing beyond the average consumer’s budget, being worn in “Succession.” Sheehan explained that the trend feels like a shift from “look at me” fashion, where people are now looking closer.
As the final season comes to an end, fans will continue to look to the show’s fashion for inspiration while also eyeing it for Easter egg-style label spotting.
