My Attempt at the ‘Old Money’ Look
So, I kept seeing this ‘old money’ thing pop up everywhere. You know, the look that whispers ‘rich’ instead of shouting it with logos. I got curious. My closet was mostly fast fashion, stuff that looked okay for a season and then kinda fell apart or just felt… cheap. I wanted to see if I could actually pull off that classic, understated vibe they talk about.
First thing I did? Serious scrolling. Pinterest, Instagram, old movie stills. I wasn’t looking for exact outfits to copy, more like trying to get the feel of it. What did these women actually wear?
- Lots of simple shapes. Nothing too tight or too baggy.
- Colors were mostly quiet – beige, white, navy, black, cream.
- Fabric seemed important. Stuff looked like it felt good – cashmere, silk, wool, thick cotton.
- Hardly any big logos. Like, zero.
- Accessories were there, but not flashy. A simple watch, maybe pearls, a leather bag that looked like it would last forever.
Okay, armed with that, I faced my wardrobe. It was brutal. I pulled out almost everything. So much trendy stuff, bright colors, things with obvious branding. I made a huge pile to donate or sell. It felt good, actually, like clearing out noise. My closet looked depressingly empty afterwards, though.
Building It Back, Slowly
I decided not to rush. Rushing meant I’d just buy more cheap stuff. My plan was quality over quantity. Easier said than done when you’re not actually ‘old money’, right? So, I started hunting.
Thrift stores became my best friend. Seriously. You can find amazing quality pieces if you have the patience to dig. I looked for specific things:
- A good trench coat. Found a decent one, needed minor repairs.
- Tailored trousers. This was harder. Fit is key. I ended up buying a couple of pairs new during sales and got them altered. Worth it.
- Cashmere sweaters. Found a couple second-hand, basic colors like grey and navy.
- Simple button-down shirts, mostly white and blue.
- A structured leather handbag. Scored one online, used but in great shape.
- Classic shoes – loafers, simple flats. Avoided anything too clunky or trendy.
Putting outfits together was… different. It felt simpler. Like, navy trousers, a cream sweater, loafers. Done. Or a white shirt, jeans (good quality, dark wash), and the trench coat. It forced me to focus on fit and how things felt, rather than just how ‘cool’ they looked.
Was it easy? Nope. Resisting impulse buys was tough. Sometimes the simple stuff felt boring. And finding real quality without spending a fortune takes time and effort. I also realized it’s not just the clothes. It’s kinda how you carry yourself too? Standing up straight, not fidgeting. Felt a bit like acting at first.
So, where am I now? I definitely wear more classic pieces. My closet feels more grown-up. I appreciate good fabric way more than I used to. Did I fully become an ‘old money woman’? Nah. But I learned a lot about buying less and choosing better. And honestly, getting dressed is way faster now. Less clutter in the closet, less clutter in my head. It was a pretty interesting experiment, digging through racks and trying to figure out what ‘timeless’ actually looks like day-to-day.
