Welcome back to the Gentleman's Gazette. In
today's video, we'll examine how Old Money aesthetics relate to classic style and
if they are potentially the same thing. ♪ Gentleman's Gazette Theme Song ♪ From TikToks, Instagram reels, and YouTube
shorts on how to master the "Old Money look" to popular television shows like "Succession," it seems
like "Old Money" as a concept is everywhere these days and it can sometimes get out of hand. So, with
all the hype, you might be wondering what does "old money" actually mean and how does it relate to
classic style? After all, they certainly do seem similar on the surface. So, before we get started ,
let us know in the comments below: Do you think Old Money and classic style are the same thing?
To start answering these questions though, we first have to tackle what exactly "Old Money"
means; and before we can define the Old Money aesthetic specifically, we should first define the
broader Old Money concept. Broadly speaking then, Old Money refers to family dynasties that benefit
from inherited wealth. Then, from this wealth, they derive status, influence, and significance and,
technically speaking, Old Money is distinct from the concept of a "noble aristocracy," where
privilege in society is derived from noble birth and titles. In fact, Old Money is often associated
with societies that have no aristocracy with the United States being a prime example. And of course,
Old Money is invariably contrasted with "New Money." This, in turn, refers to families that possess
equal or perhaps even greater wealth, but have not yet, through time, become acclimated to the
customs and norms associated with Old Money. But, with sufficient time and influence, some New
Money families have become Old Money families. For example, you can think of the Astors, Rockefellers,
or Kennedys. Next, the Old Money aesthetic - or OMA as we'll be referring to it for the rest of
this video - is related to but distinct from the broader Old Money concept. Essentially, it's
the cultural perception of what Old Money wears, and it's defined not only by historical realities
but also by modern-day assumptions. For instance, to most modern-day onlookers, both the characters of
Tom Buchanan and Jay Gatsby from "The Great Gatsby" dress like Old Money, but a major theme of the
story is that Jay Gatsby is actually New Money and hasn't embraced the traditions or social niceties
of Old Money as evidenced in the famous "pink suit scene." Conversely, Lord Grantham from "Downtown
Abbey" is renowned for his passionate dedication to wearing the proper dinner shirt. [scene from "Downton Abbey"]
Violet Crawley: "What have you come as?" Lord Gramtham: "I'm sorry. Thomas has
lost all my dress shirts." But, as a titled nobleman, he technically
isn't Old Money either as his status from his title and not from, well, money. So, here we have
three characters who could all be associated with the Old Money aesthetic, even though only one of
them is technically "Old Money." This illustrates an essential point of today's video: that contemporary
notions of the OMA are broader than what Old Money actually wears and that anyone can dress according
to OMA conventions. What then are the conventions of the Old Money aesthetic? Well, let's find out. When
it comes to defining what Old Money looks like some people simply say, "I know it when I see it," but
have difficulty defining it. These ensembles are definitely giving Old Money, but these aren't. And,
uh, I'm sorry. I promise to never say "giving" like a Gen Z again. A similar sentiment is associated with
identifying classic style, but fortunately, we've already made a video defining what classic style
is and is not; and we've also made a couple of short videos about Old Money, so look for those in
the shorts feed on the Gentleman's Gazette YouTube channel. So, we'll now go over what we consider to
be the stylistic hallmarks of OMA, which do share considerable overlap with classic style. First on
our list today is that OMA is subtle and unassuming. As Illustrated in our Great Gatsby example,
flashy attire like a pink suit isn't typical of OMA because it says - or seems to imply - that you
have something to prove, while the true Old Money aesthetic doesn't have anything to prove. After
all, if you can retreat back to all of that money, there's a certain carelessness that can come along
with this. OMA, therefore, makes impression through its finer details like fabrics of exceptional
quality, exquisitely elegant lines, and perfect drape and fit. Here, we can introduce the tangential
topic of "Quiet Luxury," which refers to goods that communicate their quality through their materials
and not through flashy labels. So, while not all Quiet Luxury products are OMA, many OMA pieces will
exude that "quiet luxury." Number two: OMA is memorable. OMA does make an impression, but not in a striking
way that causes people to stop and stare on the street. Instead, OMA creates a subtle fixation
that causes others to have thoughts like, "Wow! Kyle is a really elegant dresser, but I can't put
my finger on exactly why." This nuanced memorability then speaks to the inate allure of a well-crafted
OMA ensemble. Number three: OMA is timeless. Of course, timelessness is also a defining characteristic
of classic style, indicative of the aesthetically pleasing patterns, proportions, and fits that make
classic style classic. In addition to this factor though, OMA also emphasizes the generational aspect
of Old Money. Here, time-tested styling conventions establish a sartorial connection to the past put
another way: If granddaddy's money is good enough for you, then the cut of his suit should be, too.
Number four: OMA is quality. This is another value taken directly from classic style. As something
of a long-term investment itself, Old Money understands the value that long-term Investments
can have in one's life, including an investment in one's clothing. Even if Old Money individuals
could afford to buy new clothes every week, the Old Money aesthetic prefers to look for quality in
clothing that will last a long time and look good all the while. OMA in particular is always willing
to invest in an exceptional fit. After all, when you can afford bespoke clothing, everything you wear
should look like it was made for you even if it wasn't. And on that note, Kyle's "Ten Guidelines
for Perfect Fit" will help you to get that Old Money aesthetic no matter where your money came
from. Number five: OMA is personal. While it isn't obtrusive or gaudy, OMA also isn't boring and cookie
cutter. You can't just buy a $500 brand monogrammed t-shirt and expect to fit in. OMA encourages
a certain amount of creativity. In other words, cultivating a look that is within the conventions
of Old Money styling but still unique to you. This is often achieved through signature statement
pieces like a garment, accessory, or way of dressing that you have entirely made your own. As another
example, we can look at Dickie Greenleaf, a character from "The Talented Mr. Ripley" that well represents
a youthful take on the Old Money aesthetic. As part of his laidback, athletic take on OMA, Dickie embraces
many of the casual aspects of OMA like sport shirts, linen dress shirts, and duck cotton trousers. This
brings us nicely onto our number six point: OMA is lifestyle-oriented. In addition to being personal,
OMA is also cultural. This is because it reflects the recreations, pastimes, and experiences of
Old Money individuals. So, you'll see lots of collegiate looks, typical of Ivy and Prep styles;
recreationally-inspired looks around hobbies like shooting or yachting; or more Cosmopolitan looks,
typical of a jet-setting lifestyle, incorporating aspects of other cultures modes of dressing like
English odd jackets or Italian spezzato. Essentially here, OMA involves dressing like you're doing Old
Money activities. For example, boating off the coast of Capri or taking tea with Mimsy Bancroft
at the country club. Buffo! Number seven: OMA is effortless. Simply put here, if you've had people
to do everything for you all of your life, as Old Money often projects that it has, then everything
you do should be easy and effortless and this includes dressing. Some OMA doesn't involve cramming
yourself into skinny jeans, shoving your feet into pointy-toed shoes, or wearing suits so skinny,
they're basically only cut for a male model. Instead, it's about finding clothes that suit your
body type, complement it, and make you look and feel your best.This effortless effect is highlighted
with the understated application of Italian sprezzatura, essentially ensuring that you are wearing your
clothes and not the other way around. Number eight: OMA is appropriate. Dickie Greenleaf might wear a
knit sport shirt and swim trunks while pulling an espresso and Tom Buchanan might privately
entertain friends in jodhpurs, but when it's time to wear formal attire, both characters would get it
exactly right and follow its conventions to the letter. This is because OMA is hyper aware of time
and place, being to the manner born of learning the complex aspects of Old Money while also in
the "manor" born more literally. Accordingly then, there's also an emphasis placed on age-appropriate
dressing. This reflects the duties, maturities, and responsibilities in Old Money at every stage
of life. Therefore 5-year-olds in rakishly-cut, three-piece suits are not indicative of OMA - even
if this little guy definitely does look sharp. And conversely, sneakers aren't appropriate for
a typical OMA businessman either, much as he might want them to b. Number nine: OMA is more formal.
So, while OMA is aware of the dressing conventions of time and place and certainly wouldn't do
something like wearing a business suit to the beach, OMA is still considerably more formal in
most cases than what the average person would be wearing at those same places and times.
In other words, in an effort to showcase its exceptionalism, OMA has largely defied the overall
trend in society of the casualization of clothing. After all, a heightened sense of decorum and an
increased formality is indicative of the broader Old Money lifestyle. By the way, if you want to
learn more about mastering elevated looks even in casual settings, you can watch our short video
on casual style swaps here. Now, we come to the 10th and final item on today's list, which is that
OMA is inherited. In a nod to the inherited nature of the wealth of Old Money, we'll close today
by saying that Old Money styles and aesthetics are also inherited. This is chiefly expressed
in the form of heirloom-grade articles like jewelry, leather goods, or time pieces. These are of
sufficient quality to be passed down and are worn and treasured because of their legacy. And even if
you haven't received any articles like these, you can start your own legacy by procuring pieces that
you'll want to pass down to your descendants; and alternatively, you could "inherit" well-made vintage
items by purchasing them secondhand as Raphael and I have done. Pieces like these certainly put the
"old" in Old Money. So, now that we've examined the tenets of the Old Money aesthetic in today's
video and examine those of classic style in a previous video, we can truly answer the question
of if they're the same thing. It's clear that the OMA does draw extensively from classic style and,
in most cases, Old Money looks are going to have quite a bit in common with classic style. But, with
that said, we don't think that the terms are truly interchangeable, and this is primarily because
classic style encompasses a much broader field of looks and outfits than just the sector of Old
Money aesthetics. To illustrate this further, let's use the example of our own Types of Gentleman
Quiz; and by the way, if you haven't taken that quiz yet, you can do so on our website. Using the
categories we've defined then, Classic, Modern, and Aspiring Gentlemen might fit fairly easily into
the Old Money aesthetic, while Vintage and Dandy Gentlemen might or might not. And even though
not all of these categories are necessarily going to fit into the Old Money aesthetic, all of
them are indicative of broader classic style, and we'll also note here that the OMA can include
several non-classic style looks. For example, extremely minimalistic or monochromatic looks
are indicative of contemporary OMA, taking a more modern, paired-down approach to the Old Money
aesthetic; and some Quiet Luxury looks can also be indicative of OMA while not necessarily
fitting into classic style. The Loro Piana baseball caps featured on "Sucession" would
be a good example here. ake your hat off excuse [scene from "Succesion" with Preston's
face superimposed on a character] How many times do I have to tell these guys? And
it should also be said that, somewhat ironically, the current hype around OMA, including its emphasis
on showing off the increasingly cookie cutter nature of alleged OMA looks and the introduction
of elements like baseball caps, sneakers, and t-shirts that are not historically associated
with OMA - threatens to make OMA a parody of itself. And this is especially true with the increasing
emphasis on faking OMA looks using cheaper, fast fashion, or other off-the-rack garments. After all,
these products are actually antithetical to what the true Old Money aesthetic really means.
In conclusion then, we'll say that classic style affords the wear of with a similar wearing
experience, aesthetic, and perception to OMA; however, we believe that classic style also provides
more versatility, personality, and attainability. So, no matter how trendy or hot the Old Money
aesthetic might be right now, we're definitely going to remain a channel that is focused, first
and foremost, on classic style. In conclusion then, while the Venn diagram between OMA and classic style
does have considerable overlap, there are also definitely key differences that set them apart.
But, with that said, how did our conclusions on this subject compare to yours? Let us know in the
comments below while I run you through today's OMA-inspired outfit. In today's video, I'm wearing an
ensemble consisting of a jacket and odd trousers, featuring a navy blue, double-breasted blazer with
gold buttons that is definitely indicative of the Old Money aesthetic as it's related to nautical
pursuits. Meanwhile, my two-toned Winchester shirt in light blue and featuring a white collar and
cuffs is also indicative of Old Money; and it, as well as my vintage silk tie in red, blue, and
gold tones, both come from the classic American brand Brooks Brothers. Meanwhile, my trousers are
in plain medium brown and my shoes are Adelaide styled Oxfords featuring some broguing in a dark
chocolate brown, a conservative color from the Swedish brand Skolyx. My cufflinks today are also
vintage, and they feature burgundy-colored stones surrounded by gold to harmonize with both my
tie and the other gold elements in my outfit. My pocket square is also vintage, and it's
in burgundy and a very pale light blue to harmonize with other colors in my outfit, and it
also features a classic glen check pattern. In the outdoor footage, you're seeing I'm also wearing
a classic Old Money hat, the straw boater, which features a red and blue hatband. And rounding out
the outfit today, all the rest of my accessories are from Fort Belvedere. These would include my red,
exotic, Caribbean boutonniere; my yellow gold collar clip; and my two-tone, shadow-striped socks in khaki
and navy. And for a fragrance today, I've gone for what is perhaps the quintessential fragrance in
the Roberto Ugolini collection, the scent Oxford, which is the favorite of Roberto Ugolini himself.
The scent is rich, warm, and complex, but definitely speaks to the tradition of craftsmanship and
hearkens back to an Old Money aesthetic. And of course, I'm wearing Oxfords today, so this
seemed like a natural choice for that reason as well. So, for all of the accessories I'm wearing
in today's video, as well as a wide array of other classic men's accessories, many of which could fit
into the Old Money aesthetic, and for fragrances from the Roberto Ugolini collection, you can
take a look at the Fort Belvedere shop here. ♪ Gentleman's Gazette Theme Song ♪
