I want to dress upper middle class

[ConfusedWife1234]

I actually am upper middle class, live in an upper middle class neighborhood and because of this I would like to dress more upper middle class.

A woman I know told me she thought I was desperately poor first time we met... and I am really not happy with the way I dress.

Can you help me?

Is joules the new Burberry??

No joules is Breton striped Bon marche

@diddl If I am UMC among UMC people how comes I do not know how to dress?

I'm not diddl but dress seems doesn't come as an instinct, it's learned. It's group marker, you didn't grow up among this group so you don't have it.

The way people dress is different from place to place, it's not just a class marker.

Dress for yourself and be comfortable in your skin, this is what your children should pick up from you, not desperately trying to blend in somewhere.

Well Burberry is about 10 x more expensive than Joules, so not comparable.

Burberry appeals to a certain very fashion-conscious 'tribe'. Footballers' wives types and style-conscious teenagers. But not remotely umc.

I find this thread very disturbing.

I like nice clothes and I like to look nice. I like good clothes ...wool for warmth etc but the snobbery on this thread is staggering.

Wearing something from Burberry/ Joules/ Whitestuff/ next or Primark etc etc does not make you better or worse than anyone else!

Does no-one aspire to be a nice person anymore?

@Somewhereovertheroad: I aspire to be nice and dressed smart. Why can‘t you aspire both .

Am I Rich?

· Got $2200? In this world, you’re rich. Assets (not cash) of $2200 per adult place a person in the top 50% of the world’s wealthiest.*
· If you made $1500 last year, you’re in the top 20% of the world’s income earners.
· If you have sufficient food, decent clothes, live in a house or apartment, and have a reasonably reliable means of transportation, you are among the top 15% of the world’s wealthy. *
· Have $61,000 in assets? You’re among the richest 10% of the adults in the world.*
·If you earn $25,000 or more annually, you are in the top 10% of the world’s income-earners.
· If you have any money saved, a hobby that requires some equipment or supplies, a variety of clothes in your closet, two cars (in any condition), and live in your own home, you are in the top 5% of the world’s wealthy.
·If you earn more than $50,000 annually, you are in the top 1% of the world’s income earners.
· If you have more than $500,000 in assets, you’re part of the richest 1% of the world.

Ok being rich is not exactly the same as being UMC but this thread is unbelievably shallow.

@ConfusedWife1234
I think you can but my goodness judging others or even yourself by their clothing isn't exactly nice.

@Somewhereovertheroad Actually I never judge other by their clothes (if you could see me you knew why ).

You know I think dressing better would even be an act of kindness because his insecure about clothes and asked me to dress less scruffy.

Sorry I just meant is joules being adopted by a market which the company would rather not target - in th same way as Burberry which became a favoured chav brand.

Sorry - I do realise Burberry is more expensive. I think I was to crypto W for the mumsnetter womansplaners!!!!

Secondly - if you really are that desperate to fit in, I have two words for you. Boden. Joules.

I thought Boden and Joules were just 'middle class'. Hobbs (which I love) looks more 'upper middle class' to me.

Hunter wellies, tweed suit, tweed hat. Red lipstick. Splash of mud ( working with the horses darling). Job done.

If you really are upper middle class you wouldn’t be bothered what the neighbours think because you wouldn’t have any. You’d be in a nice big detached house on a country estate somewhere surely? No pesky neighbours for miles!

I thought we’re supposed to be getting rid of this class nonsense?

The UMC people I know (in London) don’t care how they dress. My best friend is UMB and she is a socks in sandals type person and have worn the same pair of jeans for at least 10 years now. I don’t think that is what you aspire too

My best friend is UMC not UMB.

I simply can't get my head around anyone growing up in East Germany to think in class categories.

OP. You should be planning how to successfully avoid that woman in future, not how to impress her with clothes

If anyone ever says anything like that to you again just look at them and laugh.

Well, going on the style of the woman you said you liked (black, smart etc) why not look at say Charlotte Casiraghi’s style? Sounds like she is your age & build with similar colouring.

"I thought Boden and Joules were just 'middle class'. "

If they were just middle class, that would include lower middle class wouldn't it and lower middle class people definitely don't wear Boden. I hadn't heard about it before here.
Hobbs is workwear.

I’d have thought lower middle class was Boden’s main market?

Op lives in Germany and ( possibly) with an Eastern European background so a lot of the advice on here won’t be relevant as it will relate to British UMC style

Okay, OP... I can possibly help here. I grew up in Germany, most of my family still live there and we were very much part of the 'obere Mittelschicht'. My parents still live where I grew up, which is known as the wealthiest area of a city known to be 'snobby'. One of my closest friends lives in Munich (which is probably the 'centre of wealth and glamour' in Germany).

The funny thing is that upper middle class Germans are a little anglophile. They WILL wear Barbour & co. constantly – however, UNLIKE their British counterparts, their Barbour jackets will look immaculate as though it's the first time they have ever been worn. Boots and shoes are always polished.

Get yourself loads of quality (expensive) blazers. Pair them with trousers, jeans, anything. Get some pearl earrings. Get shoes from TODS, etc. Have a nice bag.

It's the same as everywhere really... but much more polished. Like you can't get away with the British UMC style over there.

If you ARE in Bavaria, there are also other sets of rules... like if you ever wear a Dirndl, get a proper one that costs around EUR300-500 and not those cheap ones that look like Halloween costumes.

Similarly, your hair must be immaculate. Not overkill GHD straightened, but 'effortlessly' chic... the old lady who used to live across the street from us used to achieve this by getting her hair blowdried professionally every week.

And this is why I am somewhat relieved I didn't marry the rich German guy my parents hoped I'd marry who was one of my closest friends as a teenager. His mom spent like forever getting ready every day.

Well, if you've the money, just go to a high brand shop/department and ask the assistant if they can help you pick out stuff.

Oh... and in Germany, Joules and Boden are definitely not UMC. They look quite cheap compared to the clothes UMC people wear in Germany (but are likely just as expensive).

I assume OP feels she comes from a certain class in East Germany, and that it isn't quite recognised by 'West German' neighbours. Whatever anyone thinks of class systems, personal confidence etc etc, I can understand that might make a person feel defensive.

No advice OP - but if it makes you feel better, then watch and observe - but please be openly proud of your own equally worthwhile heritage! Good luck!

I’d have thought lower middle class was Boden’s main market?

I'm LMC and definitely wouldn't pay Boden prices or indeed want to look so...floral/printy.

I do think it's a shame you are still smarting over your more bohemian parents not 'fitting in'. Are these UMC really nice or friendly or caring or good people with good values to the point that you need to pretend to be something you are not to fit in with them? I am wondering if your husband is saying you look scruffy and need to change that the problem is also him and his lack of acceptance of you.

I could buy UMC clothes but I don't really like the look, I'd rather look a tiny bit more common and show some cleavage for example. If you do, though, I agree blazers plus good jeans plus loafers is an easy look where you can't really go wrong. I often wear a version of this with heels and a scarf (I know, the shame!) This is really quite achievable.

I like Boden, well, I did. Only ever buy stuff in the sale, but they have sales on the whole time. I liked it because the clothes lasted so well.

However, of our last order I’ve had to return three items already because they were falling apart. It’s really put me off ever buying their stuff again.

But that’s completely OT, sorry!