Luxury Principles Work at Every Price Point: Fall Shirt Styling

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How to master this season's most sophisticated looks—whether you're shopping Miu Miu or Madewell

I finally get why trend lists annoy me so much. They usually focus on superficial shorthand rather than the history and construction behind fashion's current moment. They give you polyester versions that pass for Brunello if you squint really hard but look cheap now and tragically dated in months.

That, and the insufferable "in or out" declarations cheapen fashion almost irredeemably. I much prefer instead to examine how the past got us to the current zeitgeist and to find the construction must-haves that help achieve a certain look.

I am writing this post to decipher what makes luxury design work, then how to apply those same principles at whatever level you're shopping – and that includes shopping your closet.

Why Luxury?

There's a reason romantic silk pussy bow blouses emerged at Saint Laurent well before the high street, and why Brunello Cucinelli perfected the shirt-under-sweater proportions that everyone's now copying. Luxury houses have the resources – and duty – to perfect fit, test unusual styling, take cultural risks, and refine details that mass market brands can then adapt.

Along the way, luxury also adds justifications for the price tag that are secondary to the main message. Details like branding or even some of the obsessively impeccable tailoring may not be desirable for everyday, not in terms of price, of course, but also not in terms of execution. They can look too perfect and too precious for their own message. Navigating what's essential is where personal style is honed.

The Four Shirt Trends Actually Worth Your Attention

1. Skip the Half-Collar Performance

That trend where one collar point is tucked in and one is out? It's everywhere: Miu Miu, The Row, Celine, Simone Rocha. It looks forced in real life rather than insouciant, which means it defeats its own mission. What do you even do at the back where the tucked-in side meets the side that's out?

Why luxury shows it: Runway styling is about creating memorable moments for photographs, and the sculptural asymmetry captures the eye by adding movement to still photos

Why you should skip it: It's maintenance-heavy styling that reads as trying too hard for everyday wear

2. Romantic Details That Look Effortless

We're seeing ruffles and long silk cravats adding textural contrast to sharp blazers and trench coats at McQueen, Brunello, Ralph Lauren, Celine, Chanel, Dior, and Patou. Sézane does this beautifully with their blouses, or you can add a thin silk scarf to any white shirt or turtleneck.

The luxury principle: Soft, flowing elements against structured, precise ones create sophisticated contrast

How to apply it: The magic is in the contrast – any long, thin silk scarf can transform a basic white shirt under a wool coat