why the 'old money' aesthetic is dumb

todays video essay dives into the world of the old money aesthetic, why it's one of the most popular fashion trends in the current fashion zeitgeist and why it's just the same thing as quiet luxury , stealth wealth , preppy, classy and sartorial style.
If you want to engage in billionaire cosplay, wear loro piana, brunello cucinelli and hang out at the grosvenor estate you probably won't like this video.
if you enjoy this video and would like me to deep dive on more aesthetics/subcultures let me know in the comments !
my tank top - arcana.co.uk/products/black-t...
you can find me everywhere just search 'gallucks'

[@junux7465]

I don't really participate in these kind of trends but i see why some people like investing in high quality, timeless and classic clothing as long as you are not forcing yourself into an aesthetic of acting wealthy.

[@Gallucks]

this!

[@wavestation999]

Yeah but most people are just trying to act rich. You can buy quality clothes without having this aesthetic at all

[@creativeeyeguy]

Now Joel is an old fashion historian,yet we are here for it!!

[@Gallucks]

😂 what would you like to learn about next?!

[@FF-949]

Totally agree with you…the fact that it’s a trend undermines the whole of it.

[@Gallucks]

Thank you! so frustrating 😂

[@fendigucci6307]

This proves people buy designer clothes to impress others when they adopt all the different trends rather than dress how they want. Now i live in Coventry and it used to be such that there was a flurry of students that all dressed hard in Vetements, rick, undercover, Alyx, ambush, and then there was the common flexers rocking the obvious surface level designers like LV, gucci, moncler, canada goose however this has all dried up since last year rarely when i walk through the city centre now do i see people in anything designer and i really people watch for fashion ideas alot so it looks to me that people are adopting the latest trends like quiet luxe and old money at this current time still.

[@Gallucks]

yeah unfortunately a lot of people just trend hop because they just want to be seen in ‘what’s cool’ 😪

[@2000Doriyas]

The ONE good thing (there’s arguably others, but..) is that that “quiet luxury” trend is making it cringe to constantly flash big branding and loud colors all the time.

[@siobhanchalmers6348]

really enjoyed this well thought out and articulated critique, agree with everything you said! as a former scene kid i’ve never thought of it as the last authentic subculture but that makes a lot of sense, i’d love to hear a deep dive into that, the subcultures of the past and how the trends of today don’t grow organically in the age of tiktok

[@Gallucks]

that's a great idea - i'd love to do that video! thank you!

[@el-HONDO]

As a 45yo geezer I am always fascinated by your spot-on views. "Back in the days" this Old Money-thing was always preppy a*holes with rich parents (mid 90s ca). I watch your videos a lot even though I do not understand your style most of the times. But videos like this show that you are indeed a down to earth guy.

[@Gallucks]

thank you that really means a lot !

[@NotARandomUser1234]

Just like any tik tok fashion trend people will be over it by the end of next week. At least they’ll have enough office appropriate clothing to last them their whole careers

[@saisamsuri]

No they won't, these kids bought a bunch of "old money-looking" clothes from Shein. They weren't buying actual Loro Piana.

[@NotARandomUser1234]

@@saisamsuri is Shein quality really bad? Never bought anything from them before

[@saisamsuri]

@@NotARandomUser1234 I haven't either, I just used it as a representative of fast fashion. All I know is that at $10, that jumper's definitely not made of Vicuña wool.

[@314jrock]

The problem that I have is that most people aren’t wearing Old Money and Quiet Luxury clothes because they genuinely like the style. Most people are wearing these clothes because they want other people to think that they’re rich or to at least look like they have more money than they do. This is no different than people who wear Gucci and Louis Vuitton in order look rich. People who genuinely like this style have worn these clothes long before it became a popular trend and they will continue wearing these clothes long after the trend loses its popularity.

[@gabrielhues]

Good take,I agree that with everything there are ways to find balance and do things tastefully. Where does fear of god mainline sit in your opinion?

[@Gallucks]

fear of god mainline to me personally was really exciting like 5 years ago? I don't see much of an evolution and the prices are so high! I get why people would like it though it's just not really for me!

[@malik_alharb]

Ive always liked the "old money" style and have dressed this way since highschool when I went to a private prep school (went there on scholarship, im not rich). Really i think people are enjoying classic style and in particular classic menswear. Everything is so causal and trendy today and its a bit juvenile. Im knocking on 30 and want to look like a gentleman. I work as a marketing manager at a Luxury Hotel and this style suits my field. I think people just want to look put together and refined. 100 years ago it was common or casually wear a suit. Now people rarely wear classic clothing and freak out if tou put on a collared shirt

[@mariliadalabeneta6436]

I started to wear old money style because I hit 30 and I need to look professional hahahhaha and I didn't know how to do that. I always ended looking like I was going to a medieval festival hahaah. So I decided to adopt old money aesthetic, to keep it simple for work hahaha, but I still wearing my cottage core dresses at the weekends 😂😂

[@Gallucks]

It’s not bad at all!! It’s quite an easy aesthetic to tap into really I just hate the name of it 😂

[@carmensavu5122]

I don't understand why being over 30 means you have to dress boring and colorlesly.

[@odinxrk1424]

Honestly I get your point but it being a trend, I think you have to look past it’s name (especially because it has different names) and taie it for what it really is: minimalism and clean outfits. Sure you can be like hurr durr rich people bad cosplaying as rich people even worse but when it comes to fashion I think it’s just a cry for the end of this entire maximalism era. I don’t really dress like that but I understand where it is coming from. I doubt most people participating do it because they wanna look rich but rather because they like the clean aesthetic and what surrounds it, which is fair tbh.

[@Gallucks]

yeah definitely agree here! I think the tiktok generation is hellbent on naming each individual facet of style with some crazy buzzword name to make it seem edgy/unique, kind of exhausting tbh

[@understitchYT]

"I dont want to judge anyone, in this video I just want to analyse the trend, where it came from and why its stupid" 😭😭😭 lysm Joel 😂😂

[@Gallucks]

🤭 skskskskksk

[@zoelhernandez8319]

I have to admit I find this aesthetic super cute, especially all the tennis court vibe, but would never wear it haha definitely not my style

[@Gallucks]

it is super cute!! but yeah definitely not my style either! Maybe old money in like an addams family kind of way?!

[@zoelhernandez8319]

@@Gallucks omg that I would do! Haha to embrace my inner Wednesday lmao

[@aimeeaztec4601]

Very eloquently put! Liked your analysis of the birkin being a contradiction of itself - not thought of it like that before and very much agree. Shout out to your tank going on sale - she’s a beaut! Great vid❤

[@Gallucks]

thanks aimee :)

[@icanreadandwrite2]

Chileeeeeee the mic is out today!

[@Gallucks]

she means businesssss

[@dmd7472]

Yeah but I am old. Really old..

[@Bhethar]

How can you make a trend out of old money style considered old money style is understated fashion lol As this lady once said “if I buy a Cartier tank no one will know I am wearing an expensive watch” 😂 I agree, this tend culture is just rebdraning existing stuff for likes.

[@burgersuperking]

Old money is not only dumb, but factually inaccurate. Lapo Elkan and Princess Turn und Taxis do not look like this aesthetic at all, although they ARE old money. Also, primary customers of Loro Piana and Brunello Cucinelli were 'aspiring' Russian oligarchs trying to fit in into art auctions, now they are personas non-gratas, and those brands started to look for new customers.

[@m__6930]

There's absolutely nothing funnier to me than people faking looking ultra wealthy by buying cheap mass manufactured shoddily made fast fashion

[@Gallucks]

right?!!?! 😂

[@sgtappo2625]

For me I appreciate the stealth wealth/old money trend. I don’t buy the fast fashion stuff. I’ve been buying Ralph Polos, fitted chinos, linen shirts Ever since I got into fashion. I’ve Always gravitated to the minimalism section of streetwear. I like the subcultures of stealth wealth and old money. John Elliot has always been a favorite brand of mine. Even got the common project lows and been rocking them. But I also buy Bape hoodies and off white on weekends. 😂😂

[@charlesblack1086]

Very well said Joel. I grew up in KY where the horse people were old money dressers. I found it costumey and not particularly interesting. My sister embraced and still embraches it. It is a trend. You said it well.

[@Gallucks]

thank you!

[@joni3345]

I love you even more for this sis ❤️🤣

[@Gallucks]

😂❤️

[@y.preyer]

I want to have an old money heritage, such as expensive real estate, cars and a yacht. Rather than a clothes aesthetic to pretend rich.

[@heartsofiron4ever]

you don't, I'd like to have a 24/7 Pub in my basement, I don't accept it and move on

[@aldousjerusalem]

♥

[@Gallucks]

🖤

[@abundanz]

The old money aesthetic trend is especially ridiculous because the fashion influencers who are promoting it are themselves the epitome of new money . They literally are nouveau riche !

[@abundanz]

Also the whole point of “Quiet Luxury” & the behavior of “old money” is to be low key and not flaunt it like the nouveau riche do. They want to be understated . Which means they wouldn’t fuss about it & share it on social media .

[@abundanz]

The irony is Birkin bags in particular & Hermes in general used to be understated upto the year 2000 , after which it blew up in popularity (due to sex and the city & oprah) and now it’s the birkin back epitome of nouveau riche and desperation !

[@joaournau9592]

You should try it bro, you’re needing. always putting some extravagant clothes to show off

[@Gallucks]

Lmaoooo you think my style is extravagant? sounds like you need to touch grass broski