Quiet Luxury vs. Old Money Aesthetic: What’s the Difference?
Recently, the fashion trends of Old Money Aesthetic and Quiet Luxury have been making rounds on social media. These two styles are often used interchangeably because they both exude elegance and refinement, but they are not the same. In this article, we will delve deeper into these styles and explore what sets them apart.
What is Quiet Luxury?
Quiet Luxury is a fashion movement centered around refinement and subtle class without flashy brands or logos. Instead of flaunting big names, it focuses on high-quality materials, craftsmanship, and timeless designs. Quiet Luxury has its roots in the minimalist fashion movement but with a more classic approach.
The concept behind this movement is to emphasize understated, high-quality designs and craftsmanship, rather than bold designs and brand names. Here, you invest in high-quality clothing and accessories that last a long time, creating a capsule wardrobe for different seasons.
What is Old Money Aesthetic?
The Old Money Aesthetic is rooted in the traditions of the elite and aristocratic families, particularly those with generational wealth. This is the style of people who have been wealthy for generations, and whose fashion reflects their heritage and privileges.
It’s not just about what you wear, but the lifestyle behind it. Old Money refers to traditions passed down through generations, which is also evident in clothing choices. The Old Money style is timeless, understated, and grounded in the history of exclusive schools, estates, and aristocratic traditions.
The Old Money Aesthetic can be divided into different style categories: the Ivy League style, the British country style, the royal style, and the Italian style.
The Look: Subtle Wealth vs. Heritage and Tradition
While both styles exude elegance and sophistication, they do so in different ways:
- Quiet Luxury is subtle and understated. It’s for those who want to show they appreciate quality without drawing too much attention. It’s about refinement and simplicity, with materials like cashmere, silk, and leather taking center stage. This style is popular among the nouveau riche, who opt for understated chic.
- Old Money Aesthetic, on the other hand, embodies tradition and heritage. It’s less about a conscious fashion choice and more about a lifestyle passed down through generations. Classic knits, neutral colors, and accessories like pearls and leather loafers dominate the look. Here, it’s less about flaunting wealth, and more about its effortless presence.
Color Palette
Quiet Luxury uses a more neutral color palette than Old Money Aesthetic. Typical colors for Quiet Luxury include soft neutral shades like beige, taupe, warm ivory, soft gray, and cream. Muted earth tones such as stone, sand, olive green, camel, and charcoal are also common. Deep, rich tones like navy, dark chocolate brown, forest green, and burgundy are used sparingly.
Old Money Aesthetic tends to have a more colorful palette than Quiet Luxury and often features more pronounced colors. The color usage also varies by sub-style. The Ivy League style is more colorful than the British country look or the Italian look. The colors of the latter two styles more closely align with the color palette of Quiet Luxury.
Formal vs. Casual
Quiet Luxury is generally a bit more casual in style, whereas Old Money Aesthetic tends to be more formal. While Quiet Luxury incorporates classic elements such as blazers, trousers, and suits, these often have a contemporary, minimalist design. The styles within Old Money Aesthetic are more rooted in tradition, making them often more formal. Of course, this also depends on the specific garment and the occasion.
Boldness vs. Subtlety
While Old Money Aesthetic is a classic fashion movement grounded in tradition, it can be quite bold and distinctive. Quiet Luxury, on the other hand, is an understated style that consciously opts for simplicity.
Conclusion
Quiet Luxury and Old Money Aesthetic differ in several ways, but they share similarities in their classic, timeless designs and strong focus on high-quality materials and craftsmanship. This aligns perfectly with Andavour’s vision.
At Andavour, we started with the mission to create bags that support men in their daily endeavors. Our designs are timeless and crafted from high-quality materials by skilled artisans in Italy. The goal is for our bags to be suitable for various occasions and outfits, allowing the wearer to fully focus on their ambitions.
