We are getting tired of looking rich: It’s time to make your own style

Is it just me, or are we getting a little tired of looking rich? Not of actual wealth, heaven forbid, but of the aesthetic of wealth. For several years now, the fashion world has been asking us to look as polished and put-together as Gwyneth Paltrow. We’ve worn beige, cream, gray, brown, black and another 17 shades of stone, just like her. Then we bought jeans that looked like hers, a logo-free handbag and the same ballet flats all our friends were wearing.

The most dedicated followers of the trend began roaming Israeli cities in groups, all sporting exactly the same hairstyle: hair slicked back with strong gel and a fine-toothed brush, then secured with an oversized scrunchie.

The icons of this aesthetic, from Paltrow and Sofia Richie to Karlie Kloss and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, have turned looking wealthy, calm, polished and understated into something of a profession. According to their style philosophy, clothes must always be made from exquisite fabrics, cuts must be impeccable and colors must remain muted. There are very few logos and a whole lot of “if you know, you know.”

There’s just one small problem: Eventually, we all knew. And naturally, we all copied the look, each according to her budget.

Well, it seems the fashion world is finally beginning to say, “Thanks, it’s been lovely, but can we please have enough of all this quiet luxury already?”

Looking at the latest runway shows, something different is clearly happening. Restrained minimalism is facing competition from a much more colorful, expressive and playful direction. The new encounters between classic style and eccentricity can also be seen at major fashion houses. Everyone is taking part, each in their own language, in the return of fashion with more playfulness, texture, imagination and personality.

The collections appearing on runways increasingly resemble wardrobes assembled over a lifetime rather than outfits purchased all at once. At the latest New York Fashion Week, for example, there were bold colors, sequins, mixed prints, statement skirts, quirky handbags and even sweaters tied around waists rather than worn in the usual way.

Similarly, one of the key takeaways from London Fashion Week was that style is becoming increasingly individual. Street style is loosening up, too. For several seasons, women seemed to be heading to the same very serious board meeting. Now we’re beginning to see more color, accessories, unexpected combinations and pieces with a story behind them, and fewer outfits that look as though we all downloaded them collectively from Pinterest.

Let’s make one thing clear: This is not a declaration that beige is dead. Absolutely not. Quiet luxury isn’t dead either. It’s simply no longer enough as an entire fashion philosophy. You can absolutely wear black trousers, a white shirt and ballet flats and still look like the most interesting woman in the room. The question now is what you do with those pieces.

Because fashion in 2026 is asking for something much harder to buy: personal taste.

And personal taste isn’t about an expensive handbag or a costly pair of shoes. It’s about continuing to wear something you bought 10 years ago simply because you still love it, even if the algorithm has already declared it “out.”

Keep the weird piece: That shirt your mother doesn’t understand, the earrings that seem a little over the top, the bag someone once asked you “Where did you get that?” and not in a good way. Sometimes that’s exactly where a truly great outfit begins.

Stop buying complete looks and start collecting pieces: A shirt from one place, shoes from another, an old handbag you can’t remember why you bought but can’t bring yourself to part with.

Mix high and low: A designer handbag with a basic T-shirt, fine jewelry with old jeans. The most interesting outfit isn’t necessarily the most expensive one.

Add one deliberate “mistake” to your outfit: Shoes that don’t quite match, clashing colors or socks where socks supposedly don’t belong. Want more specific ideas? Try an elegant dress with sneakers, a feminine skirt with a soccer jersey or a tailored blazer with a funny handbag. Style begins precisely where something feels a little “off.”

Don’t throw away things you love just because they’re no longer trendy: Personal taste doesn’t change every six months. Find your signature: Oversized glasses, gold earrings or anything you wear again and again until it becomes unmistakably “you.”

Have fun with it: If you’re not enjoying this whole fashion game, what’s the point? Go back to your pajamas.