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Old Money Brands: Those interested in the timeless, elegant style of the upper class and nobility will surely wonder where to find garments in this style.
We have put together a collection of 14 affordable stores and one of 21 designer brands.
You’re sure to find what you’re looking for on your way to the old-money aesthetic!
Table of Contents
Taking inspiration from women’s lives and needs, 12 Storeez strives to create a wardrobe that you will wear for years to come.
A capsule wardrobe for a busy life. Clothes that work for you time and time again. Timeless, feminine, and subtle.
ARKET is a modern marketplace and a trendy lifestyle destination at the same time: they offer high-quality products for men, women, children, and living spaces.
The name ARKET is a reference to the Nordic heritage and our Nordic soul and means "sheet of paper" in Swedish.
It symbolizes creativity and innovation and open-mindedness in connection with the simple aesthetic that runs strictly through their range.
Massimo Dutti, part of the Inditex Group, is the higher-quality, more expensive brand next to Zara.
Behind the dark sunglasses, elegant suit, and immaculately styled hair - behind the appearance of the global fashion icon - Karl Lagerfeld was above all one thing: an incredible human being.
Blessed with an extraordinary capacity for perception.
Incredibly well-read. A fantastic storyteller. His friends knew him as a brilliant, generous, and loving person. And what may surprise many: as someone who had a sharp sense of humor and always used it at just the right moment - a quality that made him an incredibly entertaining conversationalist.
So behind the carefully staged image that the public saw of him, there was an incredible amount more...
Designed in Paris, Stockholm, and Los Angeles - for stylish diversity.
Each piece of the design studio has its unique expression, reflecting the constantly evolving, characteristic styles of the city in which it is located.
The “Old Money Aesthetic“ refers to the nobility, the aristocracy, or the rich upper class in general. These are people who haven’t earned their wealth themselves but have inherited it.
A motif of this aesthetic that can hardly be overlooked is the sports of golf and tennis, which in most countries tend to be associated with the upper class. Polo or other equestrian sports are also seen time and again.
By stamping these motifs, you can see that it’s a timeless, very classically chic style that exudes pure elegance and therefore enjoys great admiration in society.
And contrary to what you may think, the enthusiasm for this aesthetic can be observed in all generations and even in the youngest fashion fans.
Because in truth, the hashtag #oldmoneyaesthetic has more than 90 million views on TikTok worldwide, while #oldmoney already counts 322 million.
So the trend is clear: fashion-wise, we’re moving – finally – back towards timeless fashion. Fashion houses like Chanel and co. will surely be happy about that!
As I mentioned earlier, so-called “old money“ is money that has been passed down and inherited over several generations.
Moreover, families with old money don’t come from middle-class or working-class families, but from businesses or fortunes from several generations ago.
The so-called “new money,” on the other hand, was earned recently. The new rich are first-generation millionaires and billionaires.
Accordingly, the “Old Money Aesthetic” originally came from families with aristocratic titles (titles of nobility) in Europe or also from the WASP culture (White Anglo-Saxon Protestant) in the United States, who can afford, for example, the sports of polo, golf or tennis.
In series like “Bridgerton” or “The Crown,” we see again and again such families, who with their elegant, chic style contribute to this style (again) gaining popularity.
In particular, the rich upper class and nobles were the original bearers of this style.
However, as more and more fashionistas have been swept away by this timeless style, today we see a veritable bubble of people enjoying and following this aesthetic.
In other words, today this style is no longer just for the rich, but for anyone who wants to be and who can identify with the class of this group of people.
When you’re rich, you can afford to be picky about what you wear. You don’t just buy anything off the rack. You want your clothes to feel like an extension of yourself—an expression of who you are and what you stand for.
That’s why rich people stick with old money brands—brands that have been around for decades, even centuries because they know that those brands understand how to make high-end goods that are timeless and chic.
These brands have an elegant aesthetic that transcends trends and seasons, so they’re perfect for dressing up or dressing down any outfit.
These brands aren’t flashy or trendy—they’re refined and classic.
Old money clothing brands in general are made for the wealthy who appreciate high-quality products and good taste. Old money people don’t buy into trends; they buy into quality and style that will last them a lifetime.
Their aesthetic is clean and simple, without being boring or bland. It’s about classic lines and subtle details that elevate their clothing from ordinary to extraordinary.
Whether you’re a man or woman, young or old, rich or not-rich at all: if you want to dress like an old money brand, don’t miss these 35 best old money clothing brands.
That’s a challenging question, which we can only answer very stereotypically again.
It’s clear that wealthier people, in particular, also buy from more expensive brands. But just because a person wears a designer brand, it doesn’t mean they are affluent. There are far too many good tricks for faking wealth these days.
But I can say from experience: the really wealthy people hardly ever wear clothes where you can immediately recognize the brand. In most rich circles of acquaintances, it is simply indecent, if not inappropriate, to wear clothes with a thick inscription or an all-over print with a designer logo.
They are much more likely to go for genuine quality in the form of proper material, cut, and durability. But in the end, most of them don’t care about the brand – it’s just that quality often comes at a price, and that’s why wealthy people tend to spend more on their clothes.
Of course, there are also just as many people who wear these “flashy” clothes who have money, but usually, these are then rather nouveau riche than really rich.
To recreate the old money style, it is first important to understand the basic rules of this aesthetic, so that you can do it with ease.
These are the main tips you need to follow to look old-money:
Especially in summer, a simple and super helpful tip is to go for lighter colors like white, light blue, pink, yellow, or other light pastel shades.
This is because the rich know that light colors not only protect them from excessive sunlight, but these colors also make them look much neater, friendlier, and most importantly, chicer.
Dark clothing quickly looks dull and can leave a rude, distant impression, which is to be avoided at all costs, especially for rich people.
After all, just because these families are already wealthy doesn’t mean they don’t want to expand their wealth. And for that, good contacts and long business relationships are essential – so their overly bright clothing sets a foundation stone for friendly, open conversations here.
So if you’re also interested in networking with successful, interesting personalities, you should heed this simple but effective tip.
Bad materials can ruin your outfit within seconds. Because even if you think that most people don’t see the fabric composition of your look: They do, unfortunately.
Maybe not necessarily the direct fabric mix, but still, you see – and worst case you smell – the bad production and manufacturing of these items.
Pieces from predominantly synthetic fabrics should be taboo from now on! They only make you sweat excessively anyway, always look cheap, and make you look anything but elegant.
I, therefore, recommend, especially if you’re on a budget, that you create capsule wardrobes with 20-30 elegant, timeless pieces for each season, which you can then combine in the most diverse chic ways. This will not only save you a lot of time and stress, but also a lot of money.
So invest rather in a few, high-quality materials, for example, linen, cotton, wool, silk, or cashmere instead of unnecessarily many pieces in poor quality at the worst of almost fashion stores to own.
Who doesn’t know this preppy, adorable look?
I actually put together a few outfits in this style myself yesterday and even though I already loved tying sweaters over my shoulders before, yesterday I realized even more how much it makes the outfit more elegant.
And I highly recommend this to you too: tying a sweater over your shoulders has such a great, casually elegant vibe that puts you right into that “right off the tennis court” flair.
It’s basically such a simple trick, but it really works wonders and is practical too. When it gets a little chilly in the evening, you’ll have something you can throw on right away and you won’t have to lug a jacket around.
Something that wealthy, “old money” people probably hate the most are flashy logos that literally scream “I want to look rich“.
Since these people 1. don’t need it and 2. don’t find it elegant, you won’t see anyone with old money walking around like this.
And that’s a good thing – it gives us the advantage of not having to wear designer pieces to recreate this aesthetic.
With high-quality materials and a good fit, everything is already done – it shouldn’t even be recognizable from the outside, from which brand an item is. And if you can see a logo it should be a small, minimalist logo such as on Ralph Lauren* or Lacoste Polos.
An important motif of the aesthetic is the sporty chic side of golfing, playing tennis, or polo.
That is why many wear the elegant style as in these sports.
The obligatory “hanging sweaters over shoulders” actually comes from golfers, who would otherwise be too cold. This style always has something very elegant, and casual.
The good thing about it: To look old-money, you can also be sporty and elegant on the road. The best way to do this is with an elegant tennis skirt or a polo shirt. But never forget the sweater over your shoulders 😉
The Polo Bear Sweater* is a classic example of an old-money piece. This 100% cotton sweater was made famous in the 1980s when it was worn by celebrities such as Tom Cruise and Bruce Willis.
The Polo Bear Sweater* comes in several colors, including white, navy blue, hunter green, and maroon.
It can be worn both as a sweater or jacket depending on your preference for warmth on that particular day. The garment also boasts an embroidered logo with a bear paw print on the left breast pocket.
This type of clothing can be worn with jeans and chinos to give you that relaxed look while still looking classy at the same time—and you can wear it with a suit or t-shirt too! It’s versatile enough to go well with any ensemble you put together since its design allows it to fit seamlessly into any number of outfits (ex: vests).
The Polo Ralph Lauren Polo Bear Sweater* is a timeless piece of the old-money aesthetic.
Ralph Lauren Purple Label is a luxury brand known for its high quality and high price.
If you want to see what the rich wear, this is one of the brands you can find in their closets.
It’s hard to go wrong with Ralph Lauren Purple Label. The brand offers several different collections for men and women, each with its own distinct style.
For example, their classic line features timeless staples like t-shirts and jeans that are perfect if you want something simple but stylish; meanwhile, the Double RL line offers upscale tailoring options that will make you look like an A-lister on Oscar night (if only).
If you have the budget and are looking for a classic watch that will remain in style forever, then the Cartier Tank Watch* is a great choice. This timepiece is one of the most popular watches among old money people and it has been worn by many famous people.
It’s also worth keeping in mind that, while some watches are not ideal investments (like an Apple Watch), the Tank watch is a great choice. The watch has been around since 1917 and will remain in style for years to come.
Cartier also produces limited edition versions of their classic designs every now and then, so if you’re lucky enough to own one of those then that could increase its value even further!
A Burberry Trench Coat* is a classic investment piece. It will be with you for years, and it’s worth every penny.
This is because the trench coat has been around for over 100 years, but it’s never gone out of style. The trench is a classic raincoat and travel coat, but it can also be worn as outerwear or even as a formal coat.
There are two considerations to make when deciding which trench coat to buy. First, and most importantly, is color. As a general rule, the brighter the color of your trench coat, the more expensive it’s likely to be. The second consideration is whether or not you want your coat lined.
Loro Piana is an Italian luxury clothing brand that produces cashmere, wool, and silk clothing.
The company was founded in 1953 by brothers Giuseppe and Renzo Loro Piana and was based in Milan, Italy. Today, it has expanded its operations to include offices around the world including New York City.
The brand has a royal warrant from Queen Elizabeth II of Britain and also a royal warrant from King Carlo Felipe IV of Spain because they sell some clothes made from cashmere wool that comes from Tibet (and is protected by law).
Hermès scarves are a symbol of luxury.
The brand has been making them for more than a century, and their craftsmanship is unparalleled.
The silk, cashmere, and wool used for these masterpieces are sourced from the best suppliers around the world, resulting in a product that exudes quality and elegance.
They’re expensive but worth it: you can never go wrong with an Hermès scarf because they’re classic and timeless—and they’ll age beautifully over time (just like any other luxury item).
These scarves make great gifts too!
Finding out whether a has old money isn’t so easy these days.
Because nowadays you can not only buy a driver’s license or a high school diploma and fake it, but also the status of being “rich”.
In truth, it’s often the other way around: the really rich are usually less conspicuous and also often very restrained, relying on timeless, minimalist pieces.
Those who are forced to look rich often tend to want to show very obviously what they have:
This can be through (fake) watches or other designer pieces that very obviously show the brand’s logo.
Nevertheless, there are less obvious signs that tell you that a woman is wealthy and has old money:
Now that we know WHERE to shop to look old money, we need to know WHAT to buy there in the first place.
Here are 10 timeless pieces that are unbeatably old-money-looking:
They’re also perfect for the increasingly warm transitional season leading up to summer, as they look just as classic buttoned up as they do casually thrown on.
Because one thing is for sure: as the trademark of the renowned and globally popular luxury brand Chanel, it’s hard to imagine a catwalk, Parisian alleyway, or Instagram feed without the expensive-looking tweed jacket.
In principle, no.
But it always depends on the intention for which you like these things. Is it because you want to impress others and get the recognition of your friends and acquaintances or because it simply motivates you?
If you see these material things as motivation and incentive, for example, it’s no problem at all to like these things and maybe even manifest them because they’re connected to one of your dreams, what you want to achieve.
But please: Don’t go broke trying to look rich. Don’t be tempted to buy expensive things when you can’t really afford them, just to impress others.
*Disclosure: We only recommend products we would use ourselves and all opinions expressed here are our own. This post may contain affiliate links that we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
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