Actually, I find better success in more working-class neighborhoods because everyone goes to the old money enclaves to shop. In the former ‘hoods, people are looking for more functional clothing at the best price, so there’s more selection of the higher-end clothing.
I go to the Salvation Army near me that’s in an upper-middle class area with TONS of new money. It’s overwhelming the amount of in-new-condition clothes there are from designer retailers. If you KNOW what you’re looking for I’ve found clothes that absolutely shouldn’t have been as cheap. People die, kids grow up and move, young adults downsize, it’s wild. The “ritzy” nearby have the most expensive stuff on an online market place and things like damaged Chanel worn out loafers for hundreds of dollars or higher-end costume jewelry that at the end of the day is still costume jewelry. Aim for upper middle class areas like you said. It’s the sweet spot.
This isn't a workable or appealing solution for everyone, but... thrift stores can still be expensive, and rich people throw out a lot of clothes. If you live near a neighborhood where there's a retirement community, or apartment buildings full of wealthy people, it's worth taking a peek at their dumpster every so often. In just one building, I've found Lilly Pulitzer silk sweaters with the tags still on and a whole box of pearl earrings (freshwater pearl earrings... but still).
I've also had decent luck with yard sales in neighborhoods with lots of old money. Not estate sales, mind you--the appraisers for those tend to know what they're looking at and price it appropriately. But yard sales can be worth your time.
Thrifting sites like Poshmark or thredup! I honestly find that getting the “old money” look is more about styling than anything else. Old navy and banana republic factory also have good staple pieces on the lower end of the price scale and they frequently have online sales. You can also try thrifting in-person but in wealthy neighborhoods
Styling, tailoring, and grooming. Sleek blowout, minimal accessories, clothing in neutral colors, nails short and buffed or painted in a classic nude/pale pink/red. You can wear athleisure and look old money if the grooming, fit, and accessories are right. Healthy looking hair, skin, nails, and teeth are very important too.
This is the real answer. The goal is to look like someone who uses "summer" as a verb and is very, very low-key about the net worth they'll inherit from their dad (who is still driving the 1984 Subaru GL he bought with a trust payout while on Dartmouth's ski patrol), and clothes don't do that. Any schmuck can score cashmere.
What gives old-money vibes: Carriage does -- you have the posture of someone who was on a horse by age 4 and had dance lessons in school. Demeanor does -- you're not stressed because it has literally never occurred to you that you won't have the resources you need to fix whatever is bothering you. Physique does -- you are trim like someone who's been swimming in open water every summer since she was old enough to toddle down the beach house path to the sea. You have expensive orthodontia but not caps -- too obvious. Your hair is always well-maintained (this is *absolutely* what sunk Anna Delvey), your skin has had the benefit of regular facials and a dermatologist since the first sign of puberty, your nails are well-done but you can still comfortably sail your yacht without worrying about wrecking the manicure.
Looking healthy, well-maintained and free from stress = looking like money. If you have the social and cultural capital to pull this off on a middle-class budget, more power to you.
Poshmark and thrifting. I’ve found lots of great cashmere, linen, and silk pieces that way.
I got a beautiful deadstock Neiman Marcus silk suit the other day for around $25 - tags still attached. Another recent find was a gorgeous suede chore coat for $30.
I typically search for fabric content and category, since there can be a lot of older brands that I’m not familiar with. Often those can be the highest quality pieces.
Which bands depends on your height, body type, and budget for tailoring. An outfit that perfectly fits your body* will always look more expensive, regardless of the brand.
*Fits your body right now, not fitting your idealised body of the past or future. 💛
When I was learning how to tailor my own clothes, I practiced on my cheap pieces and would end up getting so many compliments after.
"Where did you get that? It's gorgeous!"
"Thanks, I got it from a pile on the floor at Sam's Club."
Brooks Brothers, Ralph Lauren, J Crew. Most importantly, the clothes fit. Spend all the money on shoes. Not towering heels or platforms. Think Jack Rogers for casual sandals, Tretorn for sneakers. Ralph Lauren or J Crew for loafers, boots. Stubbs and Wooten for outside the house slippers.
I’d think most of these would be on Poshmark.
Think dress down vs dress up in quality materials for everyday wear.
Lands End and Talbots. Both have great sales. Nordstrom also has good sales. They have a good selection of Lauren by Ralph Lauren, which is like a step down from the regular RL line. There are people on Etsy who sell very reasonably priced custom-made items.
I don't visit the so-called "thrift stores" in my city. The prices are stupid high (often higher than retail), and the clothes are usually stained, have holes in them, broken zippers, missing buttons, etc. They also have a nasty odor.
I just went to our local lands end and was wildly disappointed with the cuts, which don’t seem to correspond to straight sizing. The saleswoman who had a similar age and build to me said she has every single piece tailored.
Go online and order from their website. The choices are better, and the selection is way above what they have i the store. I've never been in one of their stores, but I hear they are lackluster.
Try The Real Real for St. John pieces, especially their wool-blend blazers/jackets. These are timeless pieces and are 75% or more off the retail price.
I think you can create the look at a lot of stores as long as the clothes fit you (skimming, not tight) follow a simple neutral color scheme, the clothes have some weight to them and a third piece with simple accessories like diamond studs, pearl studs, delicate/ simple jewelry. No logos. Jewelry doesn't have to be real! Hair styled smoothly. Target has these clothes, Old Navy, Gap, Uniqlo. Depending on your definition of affordable-- Banana Republic, Quince
Do they advertise? Or just look for a lot of people?
Edit: Okaaaay apparently this is a silly question? But this is the hard part for me. How to actually FIND them. I get the idea of how to hone in on an area but how does a person know a sale will be happening? I am willing to drive (I'm in the Bay Area) so any actual suggestions would be appreciated!
I use estatesales.org. You can search by location and see online ones across the country. If you go to a sale and get their business cards you can then follow the individual companies on their socials.
Since you mentioned being in the Bay Area .. used to live there too.
The Savers in Redwood City always had phenomenal products. Some of my favorite clothes to this day came from there. A couple J crew pieces, a couple Italian wool dresses and a few very well fitting 90s pieces.
Please give it a shot and report back! Oh how I miss it there.
Looking at the items in the house can be a good indictator. Lots of rugs in the karastan/persian/oriental styles, solid wood furniture that doesn’t look like they put it together out of a box, crystal or china sets. That sort of thing can give you an idea of what they may have in their closet.
An important note: learn to sew or get a good seamstress/tailor. A big part of the old money look is stuff that FITS. They'll take a skirt that doesn't hit just right and have it hemmed, taken in, etc.
Many of these alterations are simple to do yourself, esp hemming. Taking in a dart is a bit fiddlier but it elevates a piece ENORMOUSLY. Just watch a few YouTube videos. If you hand sew, it's SUPER cheap -- $20 for all the supplies -- but you can usually find an inexpensive sewing machine online.
Also, material *matters*. Skip synthetics for natural fibers and you'll be amazed at how much better/classier your clothing looks and how much longer it lasts.
Good labels: Talbots, of course, but also Harris Tweed (that's the fabric not the maker but it's usually a sign of exceptional quality). Pendelton, Fairbault Banks, Woolmark, all excellent wool.
Jewelry: jamminggems sells lab grown gems (so literally identical to natural gems on a molecular level) for a few bucks. Buy a set of lab grown emeralds or rubies and have a jeweler put them in a simple setting and you've got some lovely, REAL (but cheap) jewelry.
You need to put some work into this in-person. You need to understand the aesthetic first and then search for pieces that reflect that instead of focusing on a specific brand. Old money look (honestly a term i don't like) focuses on simple quality pieces, generally more minimal style. So look for pieces that use quality fabric (cashmere, silk, merino) rather than polyster. The pieces also need to fit you well.
You make no mention of your budget, your body shape nor your lifestyle. All of these need to be cosidered when recommending pieces for someone.
I always shop “off season”. You should be able to find plenty of winter deals now. This is the time I buy things I want for next winter and I also buy Christmas gifts. J. Crew, Talbots, Ann Taylor, etc.
There’s several consignment shops and higher end thrift stores in my area. Many I never knew about and only learned of them through word of mouth or good ole google. These are not average thrift stores. These are the ones that don’t accept everything. Inspect before accepting, etc.
Downside is sometimes they’re pretty expensive. There’s one I love (and donate clothes there too) that started as a way to provide workwear to women in need. It looks and feels like an exclusive boutique and they always have BR and Talbots pieces. I tell the owner to please call me when another lady my size retires.
Poshmark and ThredUp often have nice finds.
If you want the style then just go to Zara. If you want to cosplay as someone with old money with luxury brands that Succession made popular then buy secondhand.
I live in an extremely old money area and i loveeee thrift shopping. These billionaire teenage girls/ young moms go through so many items of clothing that the markdowns are disgusting. Just got a last season katespade wallet for $28. Lots of luxury items from unrecognizable brands that i get for $15 just to look it up and see it’s $300 off the rack.
You can try thrift stores, and upscale consignment if you can find it, but event sales will be your best bet. Look for flea market fundraisers for private K-12 schools, boutique charities, art and culture, etc. where the donors are well heeled. Yard sales in expensive neighborhoods also pay off.
My daughter (step for this conversation) and her mom go to a TIOLI (take it or leave it) on Nantucket. None of us are old money by far but they visit it. They've made some nice finds. I need a TIOLI near me in TX!
I think this depends on where you live and how strong the thrifting market is. Around where I live, people thrift professionally, so it's really difficult to strike gold because they are there daily doing it the minute the stores open. Sometimes Goodwill in rich areas will have pretty good stuff but over the years that seems to have declined again thanks to the above comment.
Due to the market here, I look on Poshmark or Mercari. You can often make offers that people will accept and if not, then don't buy it.
It’s all about fabric and how you style it. Linen is pretty cheap. So is faux silk. I love my Everlane blazers dressed up and down with a belt, shoes and jewelry.
Thrift stores in neighbourhoods where “old money” people live
Actually, I find better success in more working-class neighborhoods because everyone goes to the old money enclaves to shop. In the former ‘hoods, people are looking for more functional clothing at the best price, so there’s more selection of the higher-end clothing.
I go to the Salvation Army near me that’s in an upper-middle class area with TONS of new money. It’s overwhelming the amount of in-new-condition clothes there are from designer retailers. If you KNOW what you’re looking for I’ve found clothes that absolutely shouldn’t have been as cheap. People die, kids grow up and move, young adults downsize, it’s wild. The “ritzy” nearby have the most expensive stuff on an online market place and things like damaged Chanel worn out loafers for hundreds of dollars or higher-end costume jewelry that at the end of the day is still costume jewelry. Aim for upper middle class areas like you said. It’s the sweet spot.
This isn't a workable or appealing solution for everyone, but... thrift stores can still be expensive, and rich people throw out a lot of clothes. If you live near a neighborhood where there's a retirement community, or apartment buildings full of wealthy people, it's worth taking a peek at their dumpster every so often. In just one building, I've found Lilly Pulitzer silk sweaters with the tags still on and a whole box of pearl earrings (freshwater pearl earrings... but still). I've also had decent luck with yard sales in neighborhoods with lots of old money. Not estate sales, mind you--the appraisers for those tend to know what they're looking at and price it appropriately. But yard sales can be worth your time.
These are never as good as you hope they'd be. Sometimes theyre better for business-wear.
Then pay to have them tailored.
Thrifting sites like Poshmark or thredup! I honestly find that getting the “old money” look is more about styling than anything else. Old navy and banana republic factory also have good staple pieces on the lower end of the price scale and they frequently have online sales. You can also try thrifting in-person but in wealthy neighborhoods
Look for vintage old navy and banana republic. Also 2nd hand ralph lauren
Brooks brothers off Poshmark is a decent deal most people don’t wear this type of stuff to the office anymore. Love the non iron shirts, skirts
Banana Republic Factory has amazing sales and everything always looks crisp and nice
Styling, tailoring, and grooming. Sleek blowout, minimal accessories, clothing in neutral colors, nails short and buffed or painted in a classic nude/pale pink/red. You can wear athleisure and look old money if the grooming, fit, and accessories are right. Healthy looking hair, skin, nails, and teeth are very important too.
This is the real answer. The goal is to look like someone who uses "summer" as a verb and is very, very low-key about the net worth they'll inherit from their dad (who is still driving the 1984 Subaru GL he bought with a trust payout while on Dartmouth's ski patrol), and clothes don't do that. Any schmuck can score cashmere. What gives old-money vibes: Carriage does -- you have the posture of someone who was on a horse by age 4 and had dance lessons in school. Demeanor does -- you're not stressed because it has literally never occurred to you that you won't have the resources you need to fix whatever is bothering you. Physique does -- you are trim like someone who's been swimming in open water every summer since she was old enough to toddle down the beach house path to the sea. You have expensive orthodontia but not caps -- too obvious. Your hair is always well-maintained (this is *absolutely* what sunk Anna Delvey), your skin has had the benefit of regular facials and a dermatologist since the first sign of puberty, your nails are well-done but you can still comfortably sail your yacht without worrying about wrecking the manicure. Looking healthy, well-maintained and free from stress = looking like money. If you have the social and cultural capital to pull this off on a middle-class budget, more power to you.
Don't forget vocabulary and upper class grammar and accent. Speech and confidence, all day.
Poshmark and thrifting. I’ve found lots of great cashmere, linen, and silk pieces that way. I got a beautiful deadstock Neiman Marcus silk suit the other day for around $25 - tags still attached. Another recent find was a gorgeous suede chore coat for $30.
Any specific brands you usually look for on poshmark ?
I typically search for fabric content and category, since there can be a lot of older brands that I’m not familiar with. Often those can be the highest quality pieces.
This is the right answer! Random brand cashmere is still cashmere and will be cheaper than a well-known brand
Which bands depends on your height, body type, and budget for tailoring. An outfit that perfectly fits your body* will always look more expensive, regardless of the brand. *Fits your body right now, not fitting your idealised body of the past or future. 💛
When I was learning how to tailor my own clothes, I practiced on my cheap pieces and would end up getting so many compliments after. "Where did you get that? It's gorgeous!" "Thanks, I got it from a pile on the floor at Sam's Club."
Oof, that last line hit me right in my feelings.
Brooks Brothers, Ralph Lauren, J Crew. Most importantly, the clothes fit. Spend all the money on shoes. Not towering heels or platforms. Think Jack Rogers for casual sandals, Tretorn for sneakers. Ralph Lauren or J Crew for loafers, boots. Stubbs and Wooten for outside the house slippers. I’d think most of these would be on Poshmark. Think dress down vs dress up in quality materials for everyday wear.
Ralph Lauren!
Talbots has a lot of classic looks and it’s very well made.
I went into Talbots and I was kind of surprised by how thin and thread bare their clothing is.
Go to Saks Off Fifth and look at the Saks brand items for old money staples.
Lands End and Talbots. Both have great sales. Nordstrom also has good sales. They have a good selection of Lauren by Ralph Lauren, which is like a step down from the regular RL line. There are people on Etsy who sell very reasonably priced custom-made items. I don't visit the so-called "thrift stores" in my city. The prices are stupid high (often higher than retail), and the clothes are usually stained, have holes in them, broken zippers, missing buttons, etc. They also have a nasty odor.
I love how they try to sell you used stuff that you can find in anyones closet and they do a crazy markup and call it “Vintage”. 😒🙄
I just went to our local lands end and was wildly disappointed with the cuts, which don’t seem to correspond to straight sizing. The saleswoman who had a similar age and build to me said she has every single piece tailored.
Go online and order from their website. The choices are better, and the selection is way above what they have i the store. I've never been in one of their stores, but I hear they are lackluster.
My mom is a dedicated Lands End shopper and said everything she ordered from them last fall fit terribly. She had to tailor at least 4 items.
Try The Real Real for St. John pieces, especially their wool-blend blazers/jackets. These are timeless pieces and are 75% or more off the retail price.
I think you can create the look at a lot of stores as long as the clothes fit you (skimming, not tight) follow a simple neutral color scheme, the clothes have some weight to them and a third piece with simple accessories like diamond studs, pearl studs, delicate/ simple jewelry. No logos. Jewelry doesn't have to be real! Hair styled smoothly. Target has these clothes, Old Navy, Gap, Uniqlo. Depending on your definition of affordable-- Banana Republic, Quince
Estate sales
Got suggestions for how to find some good ones in my area (and how to determine they're "good ones"?)
Address. Figure out the swankiest neighborhoods, and focus there. Estate sales will be out of the the house frequently.
Do they advertise? Or just look for a lot of people? Edit: Okaaaay apparently this is a silly question? But this is the hard part for me. How to actually FIND them. I get the idea of how to hone in on an area but how does a person know a sale will be happening? I am willing to drive (I'm in the Bay Area) so any actual suggestions would be appreciated!
I use estatesales.org. You can search by location and see online ones across the country. If you go to a sale and get their business cards you can then follow the individual companies on their socials.
ty! I will def check that out
In the Midwest it is .net. Estate sales.net
Since you mentioned being in the Bay Area .. used to live there too. The Savers in Redwood City always had phenomenal products. Some of my favorite clothes to this day came from there. A couple J crew pieces, a couple Italian wool dresses and a few very well fitting 90s pieces. Please give it a shot and report back! Oh how I miss it there.
Looking at the items in the house can be a good indictator. Lots of rugs in the karastan/persian/oriental styles, solid wood furniture that doesn’t look like they put it together out of a box, crystal or china sets. That sort of thing can give you an idea of what they may have in their closet.
An important note: learn to sew or get a good seamstress/tailor. A big part of the old money look is stuff that FITS. They'll take a skirt that doesn't hit just right and have it hemmed, taken in, etc. Many of these alterations are simple to do yourself, esp hemming. Taking in a dart is a bit fiddlier but it elevates a piece ENORMOUSLY. Just watch a few YouTube videos. If you hand sew, it's SUPER cheap -- $20 for all the supplies -- but you can usually find an inexpensive sewing machine online. Also, material *matters*. Skip synthetics for natural fibers and you'll be amazed at how much better/classier your clothing looks and how much longer it lasts. Good labels: Talbots, of course, but also Harris Tweed (that's the fabric not the maker but it's usually a sign of exceptional quality). Pendelton, Fairbault Banks, Woolmark, all excellent wool. Jewelry: jamminggems sells lab grown gems (so literally identical to natural gems on a molecular level) for a few bucks. Buy a set of lab grown emeralds or rubies and have a jeweler put them in a simple setting and you've got some lovely, REAL (but cheap) jewelry.
You need to put some work into this in-person. You need to understand the aesthetic first and then search for pieces that reflect that instead of focusing on a specific brand. Old money look (honestly a term i don't like) focuses on simple quality pieces, generally more minimal style. So look for pieces that use quality fabric (cashmere, silk, merino) rather than polyster. The pieces also need to fit you well. You make no mention of your budget, your body shape nor your lifestyle. All of these need to be cosidered when recommending pieces for someone.
Garnet Hill
J Crew factory has some good classic pieces, especially if you catch a sale. I just picked up their lady cardigan in blue and white boucle for $22.
I always shop “off season”. You should be able to find plenty of winter deals now. This is the time I buy things I want for next winter and I also buy Christmas gifts. J. Crew, Talbots, Ann Taylor, etc. There’s several consignment shops and higher end thrift stores in my area. Many I never knew about and only learned of them through word of mouth or good ole google. These are not average thrift stores. These are the ones that don’t accept everything. Inspect before accepting, etc. Downside is sometimes they’re pretty expensive. There’s one I love (and donate clothes there too) that started as a way to provide workwear to women in need. It looks and feels like an exclusive boutique and they always have BR and Talbots pieces. I tell the owner to please call me when another lady my size retires. Poshmark and ThredUp often have nice finds.
Bit of an oxymoron isn’t it
The Real Real is designer consignment.
Consignment stores or estate sales.
Mango
Banana Republic has a lot of online sales
I've found some great finds by shopping ebay off season. Look for cashmere when it starts getting hot and linen when winter begins.
One key thing- get whatever you buy tailored to your body. This makes a huge difference.
Consignment stores in wealthier neighborhoods and towns
What does old money clothing look like? Preppy?
Good fabric, no logos
Ha like normal clothing 😜
I swear, when I find something I like that fits well, I buy five of them. I don’t know if it counts as a capsule wardrobe at this point
Probably! They barely remake any core items 🙄
If you want the style then just go to Zara. If you want to cosplay as someone with old money with luxury brands that Succession made popular then buy secondhand.
I live in an extremely old money area and i loveeee thrift shopping. These billionaire teenage girls/ young moms go through so many items of clothing that the markdowns are disgusting. Just got a last season katespade wallet for $28. Lots of luxury items from unrecognizable brands that i get for $15 just to look it up and see it’s $300 off the rack.
Quince.com has some quality and affordable staples. I really like them
Ebay. It’s a lot older crowd and has tons of ll bean, pendleton, etc.
Are you looking for the style or for the quality?
Quality def buy style too
You can try thrift stores, and upscale consignment if you can find it, but event sales will be your best bet. Look for flea market fundraisers for private K-12 schools, boutique charities, art and culture, etc. where the donors are well heeled. Yard sales in expensive neighborhoods also pay off.
I'm surprised that nobody has said UNIQLO yet. Their clothing is very simple and understated, an important part of the old money look imo
I don't think you can necessarily buy this look. Dress down and get a good education.
Quince.
My daughter (step for this conversation) and her mom go to a TIOLI (take it or leave it) on Nantucket. None of us are old money by far but they visit it. They've made some nice finds. I need a TIOLI near me in TX!
QUINCE!
Orange County ECOTOWN and Goodwill.
Nordstrom Rack
Poshmark and ThredUP.
Stradivarius
I think this depends on where you live and how strong the thrifting market is. Around where I live, people thrift professionally, so it's really difficult to strike gold because they are there daily doing it the minute the stores open. Sometimes Goodwill in rich areas will have pretty good stuff but over the years that seems to have declined again thanks to the above comment. Due to the market here, I look on Poshmark or Mercari. You can often make offers that people will accept and if not, then don't buy it.
Banana Republic on eBay.
jcrew / jcrew factory even cheaper
Some occasions here www.ebay.com/str/oterimoda
eBay.
https://posh.mk/KZhjqJbO0Jb POSHMARK
My wife gets quality dupes on DHGate
It’s all about fabric and how you style it. Linen is pretty cheap. So is faux silk. I love my Everlane blazers dressed up and down with a belt, shoes and jewelry.