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Article: 2023 Trend: "Old Money" Aesthetic

2023 Trend: "Old Money" Aesthetic

2023 Trend: "Old Money" Aesthetic

Spend the weekend sailing on the French Riviera. Summer nights spent with champagne in the Bahamas. Christmas holidays skiing in the Swiss Alps. A large manor house with a vast moor (with a stable full of Thoroughbred horses on the outskirts, of course). And, most importantly, an expensive closet filled with fresh linens, polo shirts (Ralph Lauren), designer purses, shoes, and sunglasses. As far as TikTok understands, this is how "old money" works.

The term "old money" and the lifestyle and status associated with it have fascinated people for decades. The lewd secret lives and unspoken codes of the rich have served as the backdrop for countless movies and TV shows, inspired many novels, and essentially became the gold standard of what could be achieved under capitalism. For the most part, it was done under the guise of being a lifestyle living in a dream world and, if you try hard enough, you could even live that way.And now, thanks to social media , the old ideal of money is also gaining attention among the younger generation. At the time of writing, #OldMoney has received over 2.5 billion views on TikTok, with #OldMoney Aesthetic and #OldMoneyOutfits averaging 946 million and 222.5 million views respectively. Videos of impeccably dressed attractive young people lounging in amazing places have become a common sight on the app.

Oxford's definition of "old money" is "wealth inherited, not earned." So the quest to live the literal old money lifestyle seems futile. Because to achieve that, you literally have to be born in the right environment with the right family name (and a fair amount of heritage). Perhaps that's why, at least in the eyes of younger generations, aesthetics have become style-centric."Old money" is now more of an aesthetic trend than a lifestyle destination. Consider some of the top fashion trends that have taken to TikTok this year. The core of tennis, the trend of equestrianism, the grandmother of the coast. They are all offshoots of the old money vibe. If many aspects of this ambitious life are unattainable (although you can still daydream about spending a weekend on a superyacht along Europe's southern coast), in many ways it doesn't.

Staples for the "old money look" include argyle vests, white sneakers, capri pants, quilted coats, and tailored pieces, along with the aforementioned linens, polos, and the "quiet and extravagant" designer's pieces.

Generation Z is starting to grow. But when they reach their early 20s, they typically have more purchasing power and disposable income, so many will hit post-corona inflation and rising costs of living. This is a time when, at least in Australia, even buying your own home feels out of reach for many young people.

For many young people who still want money, buying from designer retailers is out of the question. Depop saw a 70% increase in searches for “collared shirt” and a 76% increase in searches for “trench coat”). .

In short, this recent youth frenzy for exorbitant wealth is paradoxically at odds with and symptomatic of a period of economic instability. Several economic theories could explain Gen Z's move to a more conservative style (and then away from the flashy Y2K look).

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The Stealth Wealth Trend: Dressing for Success without Flashing Your Cash

The Stealth Wealth Trend: Dressing for Success without Flashing Your Cash

The Stealth Wealth Trend: Dressing for Success without Flashing Your Cash Fashion is often associated with flaunting your wealth and status with expensive designer labels, jewelry, and accessories...

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