Old Money Style on a Budget: Simple Pro Tips on How to Look Expensive While Saving Your Pennies

The “old money” aesthetic has become one of the fastest-growing fashion trends thanks to style influencers such as Bella Hadid, Hailey Bieber, Zoe Kravitz and the world-renowned fashion house “The Row” that became a benchmark for quiet luxury clothing. Social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram are oversaturated with fashion inspos and styling tips navigating the viewers through the “old money” phenomenon. As awe-inspiring and aesthetically pleasing as these looks may be, one of the biggest questions in place is – do you actually NEED money to look like “old money”? The answer is NO! What you need is a passion for fashion and our cheat sheet that will teach you how to dress like you’re rich, even if you’re not (yet)!

What Does Old Money Style Look Like?

Old money fashion is an aesthetic trend inspired by the everyday style of royalties and the upper classes composed of people who stem from generational wealth. This fashion trend is characterized by classic evergreen designs, silhouettes that hug your body shape, organic materials such as linen, silk, cotton, wool, and a color palette of nudes, earthy tones, and pastels. If you’ve ever caught a glimpse of the HBO series “Succession”, then you’ve already had a masterclass in old money style. It all boils down to keeping the outfit simple, the jewellery classy and the shoes clean and preferably made of leather.

Read also: How to Style an Old Money Beach Outfit for a High-Class Summer Vacation?

How to Create an Old Money Style on a Budget?

The three most important aspects you need to keep in mind when creating your old money style are:

• Color palette – Old money fashion embodies a luxurious feel that’s best portrayed by muted and elegant colors such as white, beige, mocha, olive green, navy blue, and of course black.
• No logos – Unlike new money fashion which is all about flaunting logos and branded patterns, old money is the complete opposite of that. The focus is entirely on proportions, fabrics, and above all – comfort.
• Classic silhouettes – The reason why this fashion trend continues to be so relevant over the years is that it’s composed entirely of classic, timeless silhouettes that stand the test of time. Tailored shirts, flared high-waisted jeans, wool and cashmere sweaters, boucle jackets, stripes and polos are some of the staple pieces that should live in every “old money” closet.

Elegance and simplicity sit at the core of this fashion aesthetic, and money can’t buy you class, or style. Let me teach you how you master the “old money” style without breaking the bank on overpriced fast fashion garments.

Thrift Stores are a Gold Mine

If you’re new to the world of vintage fashion and thrifting, I’m honoured to be the person giving you an introduction to the realm of infinite styling possibilities! Thrift stores are the perfect place to find high-quality garments for a fraction of their market price, and it’s a sustainable approach to fashion consumption. They’re best for buying shirts, as well as tailored suits or putting together a casual sports everyday look a la Princess Diana. Websites such as Depop, eBay and Vinted are also great for finding affordable “old money” style clothing, even designer items if you’re lucky enough to grab a good deal.

Read also: 7 Old Money Shoes Designs That Have ”Generational Wealth” Written All Over Them

Keep an Eye on Warehouse Sales

If you’ve had your eye on a particular fashion item for a while and you’re hesitant about whether or not you want to give that much money for it – pause here because I may just have a life (and money)-saving trick for you! Warehouse sales are something I was introduced to by a friend of mine a few years ago and it’s one of the best ways to save your coin when shopping for clothes. The way it works is when a retail brand has an excess inventory of samples, old collections that did not sell out, or are overstocked, they will collect all the items in a warehouse and organise major sales events completely open to the public. The trick here is that you need to research when and where these sales are taking place. If you feel like this is too big of a hassle for you – don’t worry. There are also online warehouse sales that offer up to 90% discount on major brands, so keep that in mind next time you want to do a shopping spree!

Build an “Old Money” Capsule Wardrobe

When you’re working with a tighter budget it’s good to be mindful of what you’re going to spend your money on. This is where you can really make the most of a good capsule wardrobe of all the essential items that you need in order to create numerous outfits that will always make you look elegant and well-put together with minimal effort. The biggest benefit of this approach is that when you know what you’re looking for it’s way easier to find it. Here are all the garments you need for a fool-proof “old money” capsule wardrobe:

3 Essential Shirts – White Cotton, Black Satin, Striped Linen

High-Waisted Flared Jeans – White and Classic Blue Denim

Breton Jumper and Cable Knit Sweater

Oversized Blazer

Boucle Skirt Suit

 Pastel Polo Shirt

Linen Summer Shorts