Old Money vs New Money Style for Men

You probably already heard about the phrases old money and new money somewhere on Reddit or TikTok. Still, it feels like you didn’t really get what this is all about? We know the brands and outfit key pieces that make up these two aesthetics for men. Here is the only guide you need on the topic of old money vs new money style.

At the moment, there are many discussions online on the old money vs new money style trend, but there seems to be no common ground. Is a certain brand rather new money or old money? Which fashion trend is better? How do you know if someone has old money? And so on and so on.

We took our time and dove deep into this rabbit hole. Through connecting the information on social media with the trends and the movements in the fashion industry, this should be a complete guide to navigate through these two aesthetic choices. Firstly, we look at the definition of the terms themselves, before we look at it from a fashion point of view.

What is old money?

“Old money” typically refers to the inherited wealth and social status that has been passed down over multiple generations. Old money families have typically maintained their wealth and social standing for many years through carefully managing investments, business ventures, and strategic marriages. They often have a strong sense of tradition and culture and are associated with certain social circles, clubs, and organizations. The term “old money” is also used to describe the lifestyles, values, and attitudes that are associated with such families.

What is new money?

“New money” generally refers to individuals or families who have recently acquired their wealth or social status, often through their own efforts rather than through inheritance. This can include entrepreneurs, business executives, entertainers, and athletes, among others. New money is often more flamboyant and ostentatious in its displays of wealth. New money individuals may be more inclined to spend their money on luxurious goods and experiences, and may be less concerned with conforming to established norms of social behavior.

How does old money dress?

Old money individuals typically have a more conservative and understated approach to dress, as they value tradition, elegance, and sophistication. They often prioritize quality and craftsmanship over trendy or flashy styles.

People who fall into that category may opt for classic and timeless styles, such as tailored suits, blazers, and dress shoes for men, and dresses, skirts, and blouses for women. They may also prefer to wear neutral and muted colors, such as navy, black, gray, and beige, rather than bright or bold hues.

Accessories are often kept simple and refined, such as a fine watch, a strand of pearls, or a leather briefcase or purse. Old money individuals may also be more likely to invest in high-quality, well-made clothing and accessories that can last for many years and withstand changing fashion trends.

Typical old money outfits would include: chinos, loafers, linen shirts, polo shirts, suit jackets

How does new money dress?

New money individuals may be more inclined to spend money on fashionable clothing and accessories, and may be more likely to follow the latest trends in fashion.

They may also be more inclined to wear expensive designer brands, flashy jewelry, and other status symbols that demonstrate their wealth and social status. They may be less concerned with dressing conservatively or conforming to traditional social norms than those who come from old money families.

Typical new money outfits would include: sweatpants, sneakers, jeans, hoodies (all branded)

What brands are old money?

Up until now that was quite theoretical, from this point on we want to really look into the fashion aspect and which brands suit which style best. We already have a complete trend guide on what pieces are generally associated with the old money style. Here we solely want to focus on the brands you should look into, if you want to establish an old money wardrobe for yourself.

1. Polo Ralph Lauren

This brand is probably the one brand most people see as old money. Their heritage roots in the Polo sport that is almost entirely reserved for the rich. They even went down the road to make it into their logo. Next to the classic polo shirt, they have lots of chinos, cashmere pullovers or cardigans or shirts.

2. Brunello Cucinelli

This Italian brand has its root in the manufacturing of highest quality cashmere knitwear. The founder who breached from the engineering sector to the fashion industry has brought the meticulous technique into the designs of his garments. That is why the brand is especially love by the wealthy.

3. Ferragamo

Ferragamo started in Florence with luxury leather goods like bags and shoes. Since then, they broadened their product portfolio and are a landmark in the market of luxury sector. From Marylin Monroe, Sophia Loren and Audrey Hepburn, the brand has clients that value the matchless products from this brand.

4. Burberry

From the Italian brands, move a bit more to the west in Europe and look at the most acquainted British brand. Burberry, the brand that is best known for the infamous trench coat, also started out with garments made out of durable cotton, that had waterproof qualities while remaining breathable and lightweight. With that background they British brand stayed close to their roots and is especially after a rebranding in 2022 back to its heritage.

5. Tom Ford

This brand is the ultimate luxury brand. The modern renaissance man Tom Ford manged to establish his own brand after being the head creative director at Gucci and Saint Laurent. Highest luxury is what this brand radiates. The pieces speak with their immaculate quality rather than big logos and branding. This is definitely one of the reason, the ultrarich love the classic garments from Tom Ford.

What brands are new money?

In our comparison of old money vs new money style, we now move on to the brands that scream new money. We talk big and bold prints, as many logos as possible and collections that are only cool for one season.

Oftentimes you will find pieces like sweatpants, hoodies or sneakers from these brands. In of itself, the pieces tend to be quite basic, but the branding is what makes them special. Some brands make very remarkable and striking designs. That is what new money individuals love, because they want you to see that they spent a lot of money on their outfit.

1. Moschino

While this brand has an actually long history, in the Italian fashion industry the collections in the last decade were very much comic like. That combine with the eye-catching prints and tributes to everyday objects, fast food or pop culture, it is definitely a loud fashion statement.

2. Palm Angels

This brand is just as new as new money. Founded in 2015 by the Italian Designer Fancesco Ragazzi it quickly became popular among the young. As it is a mix between streetwear and luxury, it hits exactly the spot for all new money individuals. Basically, all the pieces have the brand name written on them. The teddy bear with the cut-off head has become a recognizable design.

3. VETEMENTS

Just like Palm Angels, Vetements is a rather young fashion brand. Just a year before Palm Angels hit the market, Vetements came out with their first designs. Again, the styles are more in the category of street style and casual wear. Eccentric and avant-garde are the adjectives that can be associated with this brand. That is a stark contrast to the more muted and demure aesthetic of the old money style.

4. Off-White

Virgil Abloh create this brand with an almost cartoon like character. He started out with prints on dead stock of Ralph Lauren pieces. This is almost the perfect story for our old money vs new money style topic. A new and creative designer puts an ironic spin on the renowned classics from Ralph Lauren. Later on, the brand established itself as a valuable institution in the fashion industry. Even after the death of Virgil Abloh, his collections are still sought after by the masses.

5. Dsquared2

The Canadian label was founded by the twins Dean and Dan Caten. The brand name stems from their names. The colorful style and the logo all over their designs makes them fall into the new money style. They use a lot of denim and in their most recent collection neon colors. Just like Moschino they don’t shy a way from nods and cooperations with topics and companies unrelated from the fashion industry. For Spring/Summer 2023, they even launched a collection with Honda.

What brands are old money and new money?

Now as many things in life, thus this discussion is not just black and white. Firstly, people from all places in society are free to wear whatever they want. Nevertheless, humans want to categorize things to fit into a specific theme.

While researching this topic for you, we came across some brands where one person said new money while another opted for old money. That is why we wanted to mention these luxury brands that combine a heritage and luxury vibe and are seen in the elite and old circles of people with old money, while also being popular among people who acquired their wealth more recently.

The following brands started as traditional fashion brands, but transformed into a more modern style. In their collections, you will find traditional pieces next to futuristic and trend driven styles.

1. Gucci

Gucci is one of the most well known fashion brands in the world. No wonder, people aspire to have something in their wardrobe, that have the iconic horse bit or GG logo on it. The fashion house started out in the classic design of leather goods and formal clothing. In the last decade, however, you could speak of a rebranding. Now Gucci is far more modern and even offers pieces like sweatpants and hoodies in different variations. Still, they also have large collections that remind us of the Italian sprezzatura.

2. Louis Vuitton

Strolling through literally any city in the world, you will probably come across some Louis Vuitton bags. The classic monogram is so popular that people regularly stand in line in front of Louis Vuitton stores. That is one of the reasons this brand is not old money, it has almost become too mundane. Regardless of the widely beloved bags, the haute couture and ready to wear collections remain reserved for the more affluent crowd.

3. Versace

Long before the street style brands entered the luxury market, Versace made their statement with bold prints and remarkable cuts. The iconic medusa print or the gold ornaments, nearly everything is heavily branded. In recent high street collections from Zara and similar retailers, they used this kind of designs. While many try to copy the loud and extravagant approaches from Versace, their designs remain iconic.

4. Moncler

The French, Italian designer is mostly known for their down jackets. But also other pieces from this brand have seen a spark in interest in the last couple of years. Moncler has made a shift in its design choices in the last seasons. Moving away from the subtle emblem on the sleeve, they now often use large prints and the brand name in a bold way. Despite that change, the fashion label is still love from old money, new money and everything in between.

5. Prada

Just like Gucci, Prada is a label with a long history. It has its roots in the classic manufacturing of leather goods, as well. The fashion house is still in the hand of Miuccia Prada, a descendant from the original founders. Today she works together with the renowned designer Raf Simmons by her side. This modern cooperation is also visible in the designs. The use of nylon and contemporary cuts is what makes the brand popular among the young, while still retaining their loyal customer groups.

We hope we could provide you an unbiased and informational take on this highly discussed topic. Check out our guide on the old money style, if you still can’t get enough of this topic.

**Disclosure: We only recommend products we would use ourselves, and all opinions expressed here are our own. This post may contain affiliate links that we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.