看国产时装剧的时候，常被那斗大的logo闪瞎双眼，还以为有钱人都这么“炫富”呢。

直到前几年迷上了《继承之战》，发现里头的“老钱”怎么都穿的这么低调？！

这才从中明白一个道理：泼天的富贵要低调，金钱的恶臭要藏起呐~

所以，今天我们就来聊聊低调的奢华如何？

In today's Buzzword Mix, our Buzzword is Stealth Wealth.

今天的Buzzword还是由两个词组成, 这两个词后面是一模一样的, 相信Wealth大家都知道就是财富的意思; Stealth means secretive.

So basically stealth wealth is secretive wealth.

If you're into fashion, then chances are that your social media feed has thrown up some videos discussing stealth wealth or quiet luxury recently.

其实这个概念还有一个跟它很相近的词叫做quiet luxury, 基本可以理解为低调奢华.

In an era when some self-made billionaires are increasingly flashy, many generationally wealthy are decidedly restrained, at least in what they wear.

这个年代很多self-made billionaires就是那种白手起家的富豪, 他们看起来会更加高调的去炫富;

但是那些generationaly wealthy也就是我们所谓的老钱, 世世代代都有钱的这些人, 他们反而会显得更加节制, at least in what they wear.

Their current dress code, described as "stealth wealth" and"quiet luxury" is expensive, but discreet.

所以他们现在流行的这种着装风格就有很多人把它概括为stealth wealth或者是quiet luxury.

01

What is stealth wealth or quiet luxury?

The idea is that certain privileged folk, i.e. super rich people, they adopted a subtle dress code that exudes luxury without the obvious markers.

就是所谓那种没有任何明显的奢华标记, 但是又处处展现奢华的quiet luxury.

For example, their clothes will not include any excessive logos, big name brands, and the trending shapes and styles that everyone else is wearing.

所以这个风格主要就是要低调, 没有任何大的logo, 甚至你连牌子都认不出来, 也不会有任何所谓追当季流行风的这种现象.

Someone with a 'quietly luxurious' wardrobe wouldn't, for example, carry the Dior Saddle bag or a Louis Vuitton monogrammed accessory –

since they both clearly signal that brand and the price tag associated with it.

比如说他们不会有这种标志性的迪奥包或者说是LV的老花配饰, 因为大家都知道这个东西值多少钱, 也都知道它是奢侈品.

The quiet luxury or the stealth wealth look supposedly includes things such as tailored coats, shirts, and trousers usually in more neutral tones like black, white, beige, gray, and navy rather than the more trending looks of the moment.

这种低调奢华风一般指的就是这种剪裁非常合适, 很多时候是定制的衣服, 然后色调一般是neutral, 中性色, 比如说黑色, 白色, 米色, 灰色, 还有深蓝.

Stealth wealth prefers labels that say luxury without saying luxury.

这个风格喜欢的不是那种普通的大牌, 而是那种say luxury without saying luxury.

就是只有懂的人才懂的奢侈品牌.

For example, the very pricey cashmere brands Loro Piana and Brunello Cuchinelli.

如果你不知道这两个牌子, 但又好奇心泛滥, 可以到网上去查查这两个牌子的东西, 都是特别中性的颜色.

有人说这不就是现在流行的老钱风吗?

其实Stealth Wealth and Old Money they are kind of different, because

Old Money is that they have generational wealth and they still want to show money but just in their own way.

But Stealth Wealth is more like people are trying to hide their money at least to the public.

It's unclear when the trend started, but in 2008 at the height of the Global Financial Crisis, media have already reported on the effect that the downward economy had on recently minted millionaires.

其实具体要说到 self wealth低调奢华的风潮到底什么时候开始的, 似乎没有一个定论, 但是大概从2008年的金融危机开始, 媒体就开始报道说这种下行的经济对于新晋的富豪有一些什么样的影响.

As it noted, millionaires, billionaires weren't as ready to flaunt their riches as their predecessors.

他们就发现这些富豪跟他们的前辈不一样, 他们没有那么热衷于flaunt their riches去炫富了.

Many of them were living more reserved lifestyles, patiently waiting for the economy to turn around.

Fast forward 15 years and many of these original stealth wealthers have kids who are coming of age. They have likely learned from their parents’financial practicality and aren't that willing to showcase their wealth to the world.

从08年的经济危机到现在又过了15年, 当时的这些低调奢华的富豪, 他们的后辈可以说也沿袭了这样的一个风潮, 多少有点闷声发大财的意思.

There was a very interesting comment on this quiet luxury or stealth wealth movement.

有一个对于这种低调奢华风潮的评价非常有意思, 就是4个词, 2句话叫做:

“Money talks, wealth whispers,”

这个是个文字游戏, 因为money talks其实就是中文里有钱能使鬼推磨那个意思;

但这里主要就是说赤裸裸的钱才会非常大的声音, 而wealth而真正的财富能积累下来的财富会低声细语.

It's basically about new money and old money, I guess.

Although other people might claim that the fact that stealth wealth becomes a trend is elitist and vain in itself when people are trying to imitate billionaires and the social elite.

不过也有人觉得说这种所谓的什么老钱风低调奢华风, 其实对于普通人来讲, 如果你去追求那个的话, 同样也是掉进了这种精英主义或者说虚荣的陷阱.

02

What are the benefits of

stealth wealth?

You might ask what are the benefits of stealth wealth? Why is it that you have wealth but you can't flaunt it?

有人就说我要有钱我不可劲儿得瑟, 我为什么还会要追求这种stealth wealth呢?

Well, there are actually many reasons for people to practice stealth wealth.

First of all, it is actually a way for them to separate themselves from other classes. Remember this whole luxury that only the elitist class would know.

首先, 虽然看似低调, 但其实也是一个划分阶级的, 比如说你拎一个大logo的包, 所有人都知道这个东西是奢侈品;

但如果你穿着一个价格不菲, 但是一般人根本看不出来是奢侈品牌的东西, 那么就只有你的同类才会嗅到你钱的味道.

But there are also some practical reasons.

For example, people with money, they want to keep their assets hidden, so they don't have to deal with unwanted interest from friends, extended family, or anyone with an ill intention.

If people aren't aware of your wealth because you choose not to flaunt it, then they may be less likely to ask you for money.

大家都觉得在现在这个世道不要露财比较好, 省得被人惦记.

Now don't get me wrong. Stealth wealth doesn't mean that they will live poor.

On the contrary, people who are practicing that style, they would prefer to purchase high quality but not flashy items that last much longer than the latest fad.

他们更倾向于这种质量很高, 但又很低调的经典小众奢侈品牌.

And also using hidden wealth gives out an imagery of sincerity and modesty.

还有一些富豪可能更觉得不露富, 更能塑造一种他们更加真诚并且谦逊的这样的一个形象.

But whether they truly feel like that, we wouldn't know.

I think for most of us ordinary folk, we shouldn't really be taking this stealth wealth trend too seriously because let's face it,

if we don't have enough wealth, we don't really have much to hide, do we?

And on that note, let's move on to the sample sentence.

新词拓展

Sample 1：

-Instead of being flashy, the stealth wealth trend is all about being discreet about your wealth.