#Social class

[without-ado]

(x)

[gem-femmes]

Insider Secrets: The Truth About "Old Money" Style and Breaking Into Elite Circles

As someone close to to “old money” and “new money” in Europe, I’ve learned a few secrets that I can share with you, especially if you’re trying to navigate these circles.

The trend of “old money” or “quiet luxury” style is everywhere these days. Ladies are flocking to this understated, elegant look, thinking it’s the golden ticket to penetrate old money/HNWI social circles, often driven by the hope of hypergamy.

But here’s the thing—while the allure of quiet luxury is understandable, it’s not as simple as wearing Loro Piana knits or perfectly tailored blazers.

Let me be clear:

Old money, or any big money really, isn’t just about how you dress. I’ve seen multimillionaires in torn, frayed jeans at professional events, looking like they couldn’t care less about fashion (or etiquette). Of course, I’ve also seen others in bespoke suits from Savile Row and Milanese tailors.

The common thread? Rich people wear what they want, without a second thought about how others perceive them.

Yes, brands like Loro Piana, Hermès, and Brunello Cucinelli are often associated with old money due to their quality and timeless appeal. But simply buying these pieces doesn’t grant you access to elite circles.

I’ve met women who dress head-to-toe in the latest “quiet luxury” trend—neutral cashmere, silk blouses, simple gold jewelry—yet they stand out as outsiders almost immediately.

Why?

Because it’s not about the clothes. It’s about your worldliness, your experiences, and your confidence.

Being in these circles is more about where you’ve studied, what you’ve accomplished, and where you’ve been—both geographically and culturally.

It’s the woman who spent a summer sailing the Mediterranean, the one who effortlessly converses about art, politics, and global events, or the one who knows the hidden gems in every European city because she’s lived there.

That’s what sets you apart.

Old money recognizes old money not by brands but by behaviors, experiences, and subtle cues that can’t be bought off a rack.

Wearing a Loro Piana coat (or a dupe) won’t compensate for not knowing which fork to use at a formal dinner, or being out of place in a conversation about the latest Sotheby’s auction.

Additionally, these circles are small and everyone has known each other forever. That isn't to say newcomers can't establish connections with rich people. You simply won't be seen as “one of them”, ie a person who has enjoyed the same privileges from birth.

If you really want to fit in with HNWIs, focus less on the wardrobe and more on the experiences that shape who you are.

Travel, educate yourself, cultivate diverse friendships, and engage with the world in a way that enriches you. That’s where the real currency lies.

In the end, the most important lesson is this: rich people are not a monolith. Some care about fashion and brands; many do not. What they often do care about is authenticity, and no amount of “quiet luxury” can substitute for that.

So next time you’re thinking of investing in that perfectly understated designer piece, ask yourself if it’s really what you need—or if there’s another way to truly cultivate the essence of the life you aspire to.

Stay savvy, stay genuine.

[mediamatinees]

Another Eat-the-Rich Film, "Parasite" is an Exploration of Class at Its Deadliest

The wait is (finally) over! My review of Bong Joon-Ho's materpiece, "Parasite" is now live!

Content Warning: Parasite contains depictions of severe class disparity, violence, grooming, and extreme manipulation. Viewer discretion is advised. Spoilers for Parasite ahead! In January of 2020, the English-centered film industry was put on blast for not giving foreign language films their proper flowers. Director Bong Joon-Ho, already celebrated by Hollywood and audiences alike for previous…

[yagikidd57]

[jademickian]

Sometimes i just be watching shameless then get hit with lines like “Role models and morals are for the comfortable middle-class. Rich people don’t have ‘em, and working guys like us can’t afford ‘em” so i pause and just sit there letting it soak because yeah. it’s a reminder that a lot of the plot points in shameless are a class thing. even the relationships involved elements of class disparities.

[theauthorpaula]

CLASS IN FICTION

[blackswaneuroparedux]

Egalitarian dogma does nothing to abolish social hierarchy: it simply ensures that children at the bottom cannot rise to the top. The way to make hierarchy acceptable is not to pretend that it can be abolished, but to provide poorer children with the means to rise in it.

- Sir Roger Scruton

[paulapuddephatt]

(via Writing Diversity: Creating Working Class and Underclass Characters)

[doriana-gray-games]

ROs social classes? As far as I remember Sherlock is upper (?) middle class and H is upper class.

Others?

Yes! True, so-

Mc - upper middle

H - upper

L - low middle (I guess?)

W - middle

A - it's complicated 😔

[alwaysbewoke]

white people are the same everywhere

[herdreamywasteland]

help needed

heyo, I was wondering if anyone on here would be willing to answer some interview questions I have for a sociology class. It’s nothing personal, just your opinion on things. Just message me if you would like to, it would be greatly appreciated <3

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

[madlad-sadgal]

Goldenheart AU Pt. 2

I got bored, you get this. Enjoy.

[Part 1]

I'm gonna talk about why the Director/Livia (I'll be calling her Livia because calling her "Director" feels weird in this AU (she doesn't deserve a name but oh well)) doesn't want Goldenheart/Boldloin to be a thing

Just for fun, I'll also talk a bit (I say while writing a whole book) about the band members' backstories

Livia's reasons of not wanting Ambrosius and Ballister to get together comes down to three things: Social Classes, Influence and Reputation

Even though Ballister is doing pretty well thanks to his band, his family is essentially part of the Lower-Middle Class; he had some trouble when it came to getting education and his parents had a low income.

Ambrosius on the other hand is part of the Upper-Upper Class; a good portion of the Goldenloins' money is "old money" which has been passed through generations in his family thanks to their very successful company

For the influence part. The Goldenloins have an absurd amount of influence in a lot of stuff, and Livia worries that Ambrosius marrying someone like Ballister, who kind of has influence in the music industry but not much, will change the way other see him and will then make other companies trust them less (they aren't influenced much by him) which would send the company tumbling to the ground

Reputation now. The Goldenloins' reputation is interesting to say the least. They're known to indulge in their company a lot, making changes to raise profits and all in all just keep it at the top, but they're also known to be snob and kind of rude. Something that's interesting about Livia, Valerin and Ambrosius is that none of them fall in the same categories

Livia is the snob one. She is always seen following Valerin around and is often the one sent to attend meetings when Valerin isn't available. She says her decisions are for the good of the people, but often makes them because she does not wish for the lower/middle class people to gain more money and cause this whole social class thing to fall

Valerin is exceptionally kind and spends a portion of her work looking into helping the lower/middle class people, but she still spends most of her time concentrating on the company because she believes her status and money is what allows her to have such influence and therefore allows her to help the lower/middle classes

Ambrosius falls into none of the two categories. He is kind and charming and doesn't mind stopping to talk to kids who are curious about "his work" (he doesn't have the heart to tell them he doesn't own the company yet) contrary to Livia who will more often than not glare at them and keep walking (that's just an example). Ambrosius also believes that although keeping the company running is important, keeping on top isn't. His main idea for when he inherits the company is to make a few changes that will benefit the lower/middle class people only without lowering the upper class people. He basically just wants to start slowly removing social classes until everyone is around the same level when it comes to education, money and food because he made a friend who lived in bad conditions (Ballister) and wants to change society to make it a better place for people who had similar struggles as him

Obviously, Livia doesn't like Ambrosius' idea, so when she realizes Bal is actually just Ballister (shocking, I know) she is convinced he put those ideas in Ambrosius' head and basically tries to foil their relationship to make sure Ambrosius doesn't "ruin" everything his ancestors have built

Now onto the band. In the first part, @echoing-locations talked about how they thought The Shifters (band) could be a three person band with Nimona, Bal and Meredith Blitzmeyer (character from the comic) and I loved that idea

Nimona would definitely play the drums. Hitting something on repeat to make a beat, it fits them so wonderfully. At first I wanted to make Bal the lead singer, but I think the both of them sing their own songs throughout the shows and have occasional songs they sing together

Bal definitely plays bass. I have no idea when or from where this idea came to me, but I think it just fits.

Then I was struggling with how Meredith would fit into the band, which instrument she would play, especially considering she's this kinda weird scientist in the comic, but I eventually decided she works more backstage, with the lights, making sure the mics, bass and drums work, and everything else that needs to be done backstage

So I had written down what I wanted for the band members' backstories but I lost my notes and my memory is shit so I'll do another part about that when I either find my notebook or write down new ideas.

[mediamatinees]

White Girls in the Early 2000s Took a Crash Course in Blackness and Discovered Their Voices . . . Somehow? 🤷🏽‍♀️

Get ready for the teen dance film showdown! Today, we're deep diving into Save the Last Dance and Bring It On. Which film holds up better after 20+ years?

I’ve said it before, but my love of movies was much more shallow as a teenager than it is now. I used to see movies as a way of turning my brain off and just blindly enjoying a fantasy. I wasn’t critical of what I watched the way I am now. And, so a lot of movies I watched back then escaped some much-needed scrutiny. I can’t even remember when I last watched Save the Last Dance, let alone how I…

[fayegonnaslay]

"High Society in Cuba"

LIFE Magazine, February 6, 1950

[femmefatalevibe]

Hi, I grew up in a UK working class background and have just started working in academia which is predominantly middle class. I recently went to a conference and during the day when it was all work talk I had no issues fitting in and have a number of people who wish to collaborate with me due to my unusual skill set.

However in the evenings when we went for dinners/drinks I felt out of place as conversation topics were more general. I know that I need to become more well versed in politics and history, but I was wondering if you could recommend any other topics I should start learning about to make conversations at these events easier?

Hi love. I'm not from the U.K. but have some friends from university/clients/special friends who live or have lived in London, and it seems like these hobbies & subject matters tend to be of interest:

The art market & general art knowledge/art history

Tennis/Football/Rugby/Polo/Cricket/Equestrian sports

Knowledge of social clubs, restaurants, museums, where to shop, etc.

Significant or trending books, social media trends

Best places for traveling during different times of the year, hot spots in these destinations, general cultural knowledge of these areas

Buzzy television shows, movies, celebrities, media events, etc.

General understanding of the real estate market/social climates of different regions and their social scene groups

Anyone from the U.K. in this community, please feel free to add anything or correct any of my outsider observations.

Hope this helps xx