Street Style is Boring—and That’s the Point
Photos below via © Toteme
There was a time when street style was a full-blown spectacle. Outside fashion week, sidewalks looked like runways: oversized puffers clashed with neon accessories, logos were everywhere, and subtlety was for the uninspired. Today? The mood’s changed.
Street style has quieted down, and some are calling it boring.
The Shift from Peacocking to Uniforms
The shift didn’t happen overnight. But look closely at recent seasons and you’ll notice it: clean silhouettes, monochrome looks, well-cut coats, unfussy shoes. Street style has moved away from “look at me” to “look how well this fits.”
There’s less irony, fewer stunts. In its place: clothing that’s thoughtful, wearable, and intentionally restrained.
Brands like The Row and Toteme helped pave this path. Their pieces aren’t meant to go viral. They’re meant to last. The quiet-luxury movement, once reserved for the elite, has trickled down into everyday fashion consciousness. But as that aesthetic became a trend in itself, boosted by shows like Succession and TikTok’s fixation on stealth wealth, it started to feel overexposed.
Now, we’re seeing a version that’s less costume, more character. Less about aspiration, more about functionality.
Fashion Week’s New Look
The circus still exists, there are still attendees decked out in archival Galliano or full-body fur. But those moments are the outliers now, not the rule. Most of what’s being photographed outside the shows looks like people who know their clothes well. Who dress for themselves. There’s a calmness to it.
It’s not aesthetic. It’s cultural. After years of hypervisibility and online performance, fashion is taking a breath. The focus is shifting inward. What feels good? What moves with you? What doesn’t need an explanation?
Why It Works
The clothes make sense. They’re built for walking, sitting, layering, living. It’s a wardrobe that fits into real life instead of existing only for the flash of a street style photographer. There’s a growing preference for pieces that feel intentional: well-cut coats, shirts that hold their shape, trousers you can wear on a plane or to a meeting. They work because they don’t demand attention, they earn it through form, fabric, and function.
This isn’t about playing it safe. It’s about knowing what works and not needing to shout about it. In a moment where so much online feels forced or filtered, this kind of dressing offers relief. It’s clear. It’s confident. And it lasts.
Photos below via © Toteme
