Kennebunkport: The Land of Quiet Luxury

During a quick jaunt to Kennebunkport, ME, I was reminded that it’s the embodiment of

“quiet luxury” and that it is a lifestyle as much as it is a look. By capturing the lifestyle,

you can reflect the look and you can do it without spending a lot.

First, minimalism is key—no big logos or over the top trends, but instead it’s all about

the fabric, the shape and how it’s made. Typically, these items are not at the end cap in

the store or up front as they’re considered a basic by most retailers.

Second, to be quiet luxury, garments should look expensive, but that doesn’t mean they

are expensive. Features like draping, pleats, and tailoring make a garment appear

more luxurious, even if it came from a fast fashion or discount store.

If you find two similar garments while shopping, hang them together and close your

eyes. When you open them, which one looks more expensive??

Third, look at the fabric and stitching. For the stitching that’s visible, make sure it’s not

pulling, lays flat and there’s no missed stitches. If you have two t-shirts, the one that

has double stitching always looks more expensive. Edges and hemming are key to

pulling off the look of quiet luxury.

Finally, by using understated but expensive looking accessories, you can take what

would otherwise be a plain button-down shirt to the next level. Just add a strand of

pearls or a delicate gold necklace with stud earrings and your shirt and shorts outfit

looks more expensive.

Tammy’s Truism: Spend as much as you can afford for investment pieces but for less expensive staples, the above details make all the difference.