Fashion

Why Kieran Culkin’s Walmart T-shirt in the ‘Succession’ finale made everyone’s head explode

The show that ignited the ‘quiet luxury’ trend exits the stage in a $7 boys’ crewneck.
article cover

@successionfashion/Instagram

less than 3 min read

Retail news that keeps industry pros in the know

Retail Brew delivers the latest retail industry news and insights surrounding marketing, DTC, and e-commerce to keep leaders and decision-makers up to date.

HBO’s Succession has fueled the “quiet luxury” trend, aka “stealth wealth,” whose affluent adherents wear clothes that lack logos and at first glance may look everyday, but on closer inspection are from the most prestigious of brands.

Take Kendall Roy, played by Jeremy Strong, who was seemingly dressing down in a leather jacket in Episode 7 of the fourth and final season, which just ended. The jacket, by Tom Ford, retails for $6,590.

So when Roman Roy (Kieran Culkin) appeared in Sunday’s finale in a light blue T-shirt with wide stripes on the shoulders, fashionistas started sleuthing to figure out whether or not this understated piece would set them back more than a month’s rent.

It was the @successionfashion Instagram account, which takes a Talmudic approach to identifying the brands used on the show, that solved the mystery: It was a Wonder Nation boys-sized T-shirt from Walmart, which sells in a two-pack for $13.96. It’s available in sizes 4 to 18 and Husky. (Culkin could fit in one because he’s a trim 5”7’.)

Needless to say, fashion mavens were shook.

“This is the biggest shocker of the season,” @charlottethebrussell commented on Instagram.

“Finally,” added @itsmikepascua on Instagram, “something I can afford!!!! 👍🏽👍🏽”

But it won’t be easy to find. Walmart sold out of the shirts.

The retailer introduced the private label Wonder Nation in 2018.

“Built with fun, comfort, and durability in mind,” Walmart stated in a press release introducing the brand, “Wonder Nation lets kids be kids while feeling and looking great wear after wear, wash after wash.”

Retail news that keeps industry pros in the know

Retail Brew delivers the latest retail industry news and insights surrounding marketing, DTC, and e-commerce to keep leaders and decision-makers up to date.

R
B