the rise of stealth wealth and quiet luxury 💵💻🤫 (a study of style)

the rise of stealth wealth and quiet luxury welcome back to a study of style the series on this channel where we take a look at a specific fashion aesthetic and do our best to break it down in today's episode we're going to be talking about Stealth wealth a way of dressing that allows the wearer to maintain privacy in regard to their economic and social status and how it overlaps with quiet luxury the unassuming style philosophy that has become a signifier of the one percent the lower class have been emulating the rich and Powerful through their clothing choices for hundreds of years something the upper class detested to the extent that laws were even put in place that dictated what colors and fabric people of certain ranks were allowed to wear thereby ensuring that a princess would never be confused for a peasant or vice versa we've obviously come a long way since then and from the 20th century onwards we've seen various styles of uber Rich become mainstream trends like the ivy league look in the 1950s pastel preppy style in the 1980s the old money aesthetic throughout the 2010s and most recently quiet luxury and stealth wealth in today's video we're going to be discussing the evolution of dressing Rich the similarities and differences between stealth wealth and quiet luxury and why the upper class continue to have such a specific style philosophy now let's get into the rest of the video if you're someone who is frequently on the internet and happens to have an interest in fashion then you've no doubt been on the receiving end of countless videos posts and articles about Stealth wealth and quiet luxury which have been declared the biggest Aesthetics of 2023. although that's hardly an impressive achievement when practically any style that is talked about on Tick Tock for more than a week is reacted to in the same manner there are a variety of factors that could have led to the popularity of The Quiet luxury look with the 2000's comeback in fashion many motifs that are commonly associated with the new money look have come back into style recently like maximalism logos and bright colors and as a result Simplicity was seen as a rejection of this mainstream middle class movement there's also been a rise in media that revolve around the one percent like White Lotus billions Gossip Girl bling Empire and Industry which has made them a novelty because clothing can be a form of escapism many people have attempted to recreate These Quiet luxury looks at home working off of the idea that dressing like they're wealthy might make them feel better about their economic status with the economy about to go down the toilet public figures will all begin to dress in understated Styles in an attempt to lessen criticism directed towards their financial privilege as seen with The Disappearance of necklaces on red carpets and stealth wealth and quiet luxury will become more and more common in those circles although the two concepts are often conflated and used synonymously online stealth wealth and quiet luxury are not the same thing stealth wealth is less of a fashion aesthetic and more of a psychological strategy with the wearer's simple clothing being an attempt to seem relatable unassuming and most importantly not exorbitantly wealthy just think about some of the richest people in the world like Bill Gates or Mark Zuckerberg they make a point of dressing in a very modest even outright boring manner to draw attention away from how wealthy they actually are this carefully contrived aspect of their Public Image is essentially a way of avoiding a repeat of the French Revolution in other words stealth wealth has very little to do with wearing specific brands or colors or Silhouettes and is more about discretion something the British royal family could learn a thing or two about quiet luxury is actually what people are referring to when they're talking about the well tailored yet simple style of clothing that is currently trending quiet luxury has been slowly rising in popularity since spring 2022. in large part because of the Resurgence of the old money aesthetic online but the movement's internet presence skyrocketed in March 2023 following the season 4 premiere of succession which centers around a billionaire family who are all fighting for control of their massive company quiet luxury also became more popular following Gwyneth Paltrow's widely publicized trial where she dressed in a manner that epitomized the aesthetic the confusion between stealth wealth and quiet luxury likely stems from their biggest similarity discretion where stealth wealth hides their affluence behind nondescript t-shirts in the hopes of being perceived as an Everyman quiet luxury is all about understated exclusivity at first glance the monochromatic wardrobe resembles the elevated Basics you could find at any store but in a classic case of if you know you know all of these seemingly simple items are in fact incredibly expensive quiet luxury is somewhat of a paradox although this style itself is simple enough that it can be easily recreated at home providing a false sense of attainability and relatability the aesthetic also rejects the Bold logos and bright colors that are often associated with new money types making it clear to the public that they aren't that sort of rich person it's the Gilded Age all over again beginning roughly in 1877 the Gilded Age was an era of Rapid industrial and technological expansion in America which led to severe wealth inequality with the rich finding new ways to exploit their cheap labor force this economic boom led to the rise of the Nouveau reach or new money who were perceived as less than by old money types because they had originated from a lower social class and their Newfound riches were seen as vulgar in comparison to generational wealth this divide is epitomized through the short-lived feud between the Vanderbilts and the Asters the Aster family had first struck it rich in the late 1700s and by the Gilded Age were multi-millionaires with Caroline Astor becoming the head of the New York social scene as one of the most influential socialites of the era Mrs Astor initially attempted to exclude new money families from joining High Society including the Vanderbilts as she saw their earned money as distasteful this snubbing prompted Alva Vanderbilt to throw a lavish masquerade ball in 1883 while purposely neglecting to send an invitation to the Asters as the biggest event of the Season Mrs Astor had no choice but to call on the Vanderbilts and accept them into the upper echelons of New York Society in order to secure her family an invite this single party cost approximately 6 million dollars today and the theatrics were covered extensively by the Press stirring the Public's fascination with the one percent and making their lavish exploits all the more enviable as time passed and clothing became more affordable and accessible to the different classes it became increasingly common for normal people to emulate the style of the wealthy in the hopes of achieving a similar level of prestige in the 1950s this resulted in the rise of the ivy league look named after its source of inspiration which were Elite college campuses in the Northeast inspired by the attire worn by the British and American upper classes during the 1920s the ivy league look was especially popular with young men as it gave the appearance of being well educated and well-mannered and Paul Newman Gene Kelly and John F Kennedy were purveyors of the style while Brooks Brothers became the unofficial brand of choice for the aesthetic the ivy league look remained a popular subculture through the 1960s and 70s as seen in films like The Graduate love story and the paper chase before eventually transforming in the 1980s into what is now known as preppy Style although it got its Inspirations from a similar Academic Place preppy fashion of the 80s was more casual colorful and Youthful than the ivy style of Prior decades which was a reflection of 80s Trends in general the 1980s was a period of prosperity in the United States leading to an increase in disposable income and the rise of the Yuppie four young urban professional both men and women became more comfortable flaunting their wealth resulting in fashion growing increasingly bright and bold hence the pastel Hues which became synonymous with the preppy and Yuppie look while Jackie Kennedy had been the poster girl for wealthy women in the 1960s with her Lily Pulitzer dresses and Chanel suits being duped to high heaven in the 80s some fresh faces came on the scene including Princess Diana and Brooke Shields who made puppy style feel attainable while still being prim and proper luxury Brands like Ralph Lauren and Perry Ellis embrace the preppy Trend to the point that they're still associated with it today but their high price point Didn't prevent others from being able to partake in the look with more affordable Brands like Tommy Hilfiger Calvin Klein Lacoste and J.Crew keeping up with high demand even though it was incredibly popular Pepe's style developed a negative connotation in the latter part of the 1980s with a look often being reserved for villains or Geeks in film and TV resulting in the eventual rejection of the flamboyant style in stark contrast to the loud decade that came before it the 90s was all about minimalism on one end of the less is more fashion Spectrum was grunge a counterculture movement that some described as slacker style thanks to its incredibly laid-back nature which was even outright messy at times the rich look of the 90s was far more Polished in comparison featuring impeccable tailoring crappy elements like Tweed and Pearls a minimal color palette and Sleek Silhouettes you can see the style worn by wealthy characters and the nanny the French Prince of Bel Air and Clueless in the real world Gwyneth Paltrow Carolyn Bessette Julia Roberts and Kate Moss sported sophisticated yet understated looks throughout the 90s that would eventually be seen as predecessors to today's quiet luxury in the 2000s the pendulum swung the other way with fashion becoming more ostentatious than we'd seen in decades as an Ode to the preppy look of the 1980s sportswear became popular in the 2000s with colorful polo shirts and Tennis skirts being worn by just about everyone pop culture had a huge effect on fashion of the time and with the Rich and Famous shamelessly faunting their wealth in the form of giant logos and Monograms on the covers of magazines the new money look was redefined and solidified this was so widely known that in films like Legally Blonde White Chicks Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen and Mean Girls there are characters who are purposely dressed in this manner to signify their new money status this led to the popularization of the Burberry check which was so widely counterfeited that the Brand's previously Posh clientele abandoned them out of fear of being associated with the lower class never ones laughing up their sleeves about your date what why because she's brought in ludicrously capacious bag in 2008 this style came to a screeching halt following the economic recession with fashion becoming minimalist once again because flaunting one's wealth had become a faux pas celebrities proceeded to shove their thousand dollar bags to the back of their closets in favor of non-descript Fashions a classic case of stealth wealth in the digital age clothing has become even more of a status symbol and what better way to appear stylish and on Trend than dressing up as a rich person this desire led to the eventual rise of the old money aesthetic in the 2010s which as the name suggests took its Inspirations from those who had generational wealth not newly Rich celebrities the look is an amalgamation of various Styles throughout history that have been associated with the upper class with an emphasis on timelessness effortless Elegance craftsmanship and tradition new money style is often described as tacky which has racist undertones considering many of the Styles most obvious elements like logomania take inspiration from black fashion quiet luxuries insistence at appearing as the polar opposite of the new money look could be interpreted as a reflection of the deep-seated prejudices of the one percent with people of color being perceived as less worthy of their fame and fortune in the eyes of the white majority and even online the vast majority of The Inspirations for the aesthetic are white although many assume them to be one in the same quiet luxury and old money styles are actually very different with its matching Tweed sets pearl necklaces sweater vests hermas scarves and Chanel handbags the old money aesthetic feels more like a parody of a preppy rich kid Blair Waldorf core if you will and this fantasy aspect makes its popularity amongst young women all the more understandable quiet luxury on the other hand is more about looking polished and professional with tailored jackets starched blouses and appropriate pumps ironically it's a wardrobe that would hardly look out of place in an office although realistically these people would never have to step in one to begin with this sort of Workwear look gives the style a domineering Edge and it could almost be interpreted as a 21st century take on 80s power dressing this emphasis on Simplicity and seriousness puts even more distance between the quiet luxury Trend and other styles of Rich dressing epitomizing the concept that money talks but wealth Whispers take for instance the characters in succession even though their clothing is rather plain these Blazers and pullovers actually cost thousands of dollars the quiet luxury trend is often criticized for its overt Simplicity with some critics even referring to it as boring old-fashioned and snobby which I believe is sort of the point of the style they're not trying to hop on the latest trends in order to appear fashionable they're above that sort of thing unlike newly Rich influencers who refuse to wear the same thing twice quiet luxury is all about quality over quantity and they care very little about re-wearing their pricey items instead they have a sort of uniform mixing and matching their neutral pieces over and over again some of the trends defining features like tailored suits wool coats and simple heels are things that you no doubt have in your closet just at a much lower price point while many of the brands that are popular amongst the fashionable Elite like the Roe Brunello cuccinelli Victoria Beckham and Ralph Lauren are Out Of Reach for most the aesthetic is still somewhat attainable as it focuses on investment pieces instead of short-lived Trends these Timeless Staples might be costly now but can be worn for years and years ensuring that you get your money's worth what are your thoughts on stealth wealth and quiet luxury I hope you enjoyed this video don't forget to like And subscribe and I'll see you soon bye foreign

Channel: ModernGurlz

Views: 452,361

Keywords: style, modern gurlz, 90s fashion, fashion, movie review, movie commentary, moderngurlz, review, movies, Film analysis, analysis, video essay, trivia, movie reviews, tv theory, cinema, television, entertainment, ranking, costume design, fashion analysis, style analysis, succession, succession review, succession fashion, the row, brunello cucinelli, gwyneth paltrow, old money, old money style, old money aesthetic, preppy, preppy fashion, ivy league fashion, stealth wealth, quiet luxury

Id: XYhNMHxn5Yk

Length: 13min 35sec (815 seconds)

Published: Thu May 25 2023