So, how do very wealthy people dress day by day?

[bellaiceberg]

Very daft thread title i know.
I don't need to know this because I want to emulate it or copy it. I'm not interested in looking rich, I could make the most expensive item in the world look like a bin bag, hehe

But have been in a conversation with my sister who believes rich (or very well off) people don't feel the need to worry about clothes or style so wear very basic, ordinary (even cheap) clothing during the day or school run, etc but get the really expensive stuff out for special occasions and specific pursuits only. So basically you would never guess from the clothing if a person was very well off (generalisation alert!)

My opinion is a bit different in that I would imagine you can enjoy playing with style and might prefer to express your identity with lovely quality pieces, like we all might (depending on our budget). So I mainly presume we are all essentially the same, just having different incomes.
I must admit that having once lived in a wealthy part of the UK a lot of people did tend to just bob about in jeans, tshirt and converse. But that was years ago,

So which is it? P'raps it differs across the UK?

@bellaiceberg

I think i may have not made it clear in my OP but have tried to in recent comments.

What i am asking is NOT how rich people dress, which is basically all of the replies. I am concerned with how WE approach style and clothing dependent on our income, and whether being wealthier would alter our perception of it. Im sorry if it wasnt clear.

Im already aware of how many different types of wealthy people do dress. Im more interested in the approach or feeling towards it.

I honestly don't think it would change my choices or my style. I might lash out on some more expensive jewellery but that would be it.

We are not rich, but my DH is a high earner: well into 6 figures, but definitely not millions. We are both originally from working class backgrounds and I do like value for money. We are fortunate to be able to buy pretty much whatever we want but have simple tastes.
My husband mostly dresses in Next or M&S for work and at home lives in jeans/ joggers and old t shirts.
I do like to look nice and enjoy buying clothes but I only have a small capsule wardrobe of high quality clothes, made to last. Not crazy expensive but just good quality, nicer high street type stuff. I do believe in spending on coats, shoes and boots, but no designer stuff. I have 3-4 bags in total, including a couple of evening clutch bags. My most expensive bag is maybe £60. I buy things to last me as I don’t like buying for the sake of it. We are also both introverted with casual lifestyles so don’t have fancy clothes such as expensive cocktail dresses as I never go anywhere to wear them.
I have regular haircut and highlights and a fairly expensive hairdressers but don’t get my nails done as I like them neat but natural. I do have a weakness for jewellery but again most of it is cheap and I buy some nice pieces from Etsy. I really don’t think you would guess our household income from the way we dress. However, if you knew your jewellery then my ring finger would give a clue as my engagement, wedding and eternity bands together cost about £13k.
The village we live in is home to some farmers who are seriously wealthy, into the millions and they all dress very casually, in old jeans, wellies, etc - no obvious labels etc and they seem to get their clothes from regular high street shops.

Honestly ? I think those with real wealth are more constrained by the circles they move in fashion wise, than those with less or no wealth.

@bellaiceberg

I think i may have not made it clear in my OP but have tried to in recent comments.

What i am asking is NOT how rich people dress, which is basically all of the replies. I am concerned with how WE approach style and clothing dependent on our income, and whether being wealthier would alter our perception of it. Im sorry if it wasnt clear.

Im already aware of how many different types of wealthy people do dress. Im more interested in the approach or feeling towards it.

Well again doesn't it entirely depend on the individual? There is no one size fits all. You are trying to ascribe clothing choices to wealth. It doesn't work like that, at all.

I know people who's wealth ranges from a few million to a billion. They wear all manner of styles, fashions, and while some may have obvious signs of wealth like an expensive watch or a sizeable diamond ring, many don't. They spend on other things.

You say you are interested in 'the approach or feeling towards it', well perhaps some people don't have one. It's irrelevant to them.

@bellaiceberg

I think i may have not made it clear in my OP but have tried to in recent comments.

What i am asking is NOT how rich people dress, which is basically all of the replies. I am concerned with how WE approach style and clothing dependent on our income, and whether being wealthier would alter our perception of it. Im sorry if it wasnt clear.

Im already aware of how many different types of wealthy people do dress. Im more interested in the approach or feeling towards it.

In answer to this, my perception has changed in the following ways:

• money buys you peace of mind. Our expenses for clothes, and most things is probably less than many of the people we know. However, having barely had enough money to buy food in the past, there is a comfort in knowing we won’t run out of money. When I was on a low income I would often buy little things to ‘treat’ myself. However, that urge isn’t there now. I buy something if I really like or need it but I won’t buy something just for the sake of it or if the quality is lacking (although I do love supermarket pyjamas).
• my working class routes mean I still like value for money so I look for items that are well made, not necessarily the most expensive.
• growing up my parents really struggled for cash but wouldn’t be seen dead in the value supermarkets (Netto where we grew up) or buy stuff from charity shops. They worried that people would think (know) they were poor if they did that. Whereas I happily buy in Aldi and love an EBay bargain because I don’t have to prove to anyone that I can afford not to. Grabbing a bargain for me does not have the same stigma it did for my parents. I am happy to be seen in the local charity shop without worrying what someone might think about me. It is a choice for me, which I think is a very different headspace than someone who cannot afford anything else.
• my in laws are fairly well off, but not massively so: comfortable middle class level. It other than that we don’t socialise either anyone else who has money. I think that if I had a lot of rich friends it would be easy to get into the habit of spending more or ‘keeping up with the joneses’. Whereas I’m the opposite and actually feel embarrassed if I buy anything I deem expensive. Would never admit how much my rings cost to anyone in RL as I would feel judged and embarrassed… maybe that’s a hang up from my upbringing

@bellaiceberg

I think i may have not made it clear in my OP but have tried to in recent comments.

What i am asking is NOT how rich people dress, which is basically all of the replies. I am concerned with how WE approach style and clothing dependent on our income, and whether being wealthier would alter our perception of it. Im sorry if it wasnt clear.

Im already aware of how many different types of wealthy people do dress. Im more interested in the approach or feeling towards it.

In the past I dressed in my sisters cast offs because I was an unemployed single mum and she had a well paying job and loved buying clothes. So I wore whatever I was given, often stuff that didn’t suit me or wasn’t a great fit on me.

Now that I have an ok job and no money worries I can buy clothes that I like, that fit well and last.

So for me it has changed how I dress (although I’m not rich so possibly not what you are asking).

I think it is wearing very expensive clothing for rough jobs. So when I got my first job on a shite wage in conservation I can remember my volunteers of a similar age in Dorset turning up in really expensive jeans and tops to do physical work. I was earning fuck all and I coveted their work clothes!

Why are expensive items of clothing called " pieces "?

Well again doesn't it entirely depend on the individual? There is no one size fits all. You are trying to ascribe clothing choices to wealth. It doesn't work like that, at all

I am trying to do nothing except invite discussion. This is obvious. If you are in a bad mood, head on over to AIBU.

I think it depends how much rich you mean. I have a two multi millionaire friends who wear expensive but v old and torn coats, one whistles, one Barbour (not Barbour international). You can tell they are rich from their shoes tho. Always top quality.

I have middle rich friends. They wear kenzo to show they are rich.

We are millionaires on paper. V working class background. I shop in NL or Peacocks.

Thank you for recent replies, lots of interesting stuff.

I am still intrigued about the possibility of us maybe caring less if we have more security. I wonder if financial security encourages a relaxation in this sense. And likewise, might insecurity encourage more consumption?

I also agree with a pp who mentioned many of those in a high income bracket feel pressure to conform to what exists around them. Ive seen evidence of this, but I would hazard a guess these people don't necessarily feel secure, even if they are financially able to.
Could be wrong!

And is it possible that people strive to buy more in an effort to identify with having more?
I know there is no black and white, but i think our answers can tell us a little about ourselves and how we feel in society.

Waiting for someone to glance over my words and say "rich people are scruffy OP, why do you care? why do you want to look rich?"

I only know one really rich person. He lives in another country and pre Covid incorporated a visit to Izzy Miake for his winter and summer wardrobe in his visits to London, Tokyo or New York. He lives in that.

EssexLioness wonderful post, thank you for sharing.

Ive heard of the 'not buying second hand' thing before, people not wanting to be seen to be poor. Nowadays many people who are financially secure prefer to buy used, for many reasons.
I am ot rich, but comfortable. I have moved towards buying second had because many stores sell poor quality, overpriced goods that I don't like.
Perhaps it has something to do with the era we live in, too. It is more commonplace to buy vintage now, some even boasting of it, regardless of income.
I do imagine the poorer a person might be, the less they desire associating with used items, as this represents poverty - to them.

Like wood stoves and wooden floors, etc. Once only seen in either the homes of peasants or the very, very wealthy. Strange connection there!

@Bitofachinwag

Why are expensive items of clothing called " pieces "?

i prefer it to artisanal and 'makers' as a name for artists. dont get me started on curating....

Second hand buying; both multi millionaire friends buy a lot of stuff on eBay and depop. But it’s good old stuff if you know what I mean. Or items from Instagram designers. There is no real sense of “wouldn’t be seen dead in that” from either of them, they are both v down to earth.

Middle rich wouldn’t be seen dead in second hand.

I do imagine the poorer a person might be, the less they desire associating with used items, as this represents poverty - to them.

Sort of agree here, I have a friend who is newly single and having a tough time. Buying from eBay is seen as slumming it and I’d never really encountered that idea before. It’s a treat to have new new things.

It's like rich people might enjoy having a meal made with cheap ingredients like liver and mash, but wouldn't be happy if they always had to eat food made with cheap ingredients.
Rich people can buy second-hand clothes, and if they don't see anything they like they can buy new ones. Being forced to always buy the cheapest option is pretty shit.

@bellaiceberg

Well again doesn't it entirely depend on the individual? There is no one size fits all. You are trying to ascribe clothing choices to wealth. It doesn't work like that, at all

I am trying to do nothing except invite discussion. This is obvious. If you are in a bad mood, head on over to AIBU.

Bad mood? Well I wasn't, I was merely making a point that you disagree with.

I quote:

'I'm more interested in the approach or feeling towards it.'

That is what I mean by ascribing clothing choices to wealth. What if there is no approach or feeling towards it because wealth isn't a relevant factor?

@DobbyTheHouseElk

Everyone I know is old money and wears ancient clothes. Jeans and jumpers with holes covered in dog hair. Coats they’ve had for years. Filthy cars etc. Rural so might be different.

I think that's a bit of fictional steretype actually. I'm not rural living but all my clients are and wealthy and that doesn't describe them.

I think I understand. Having been on the lucky journey - from working class struggling to buy a 30 pounds dress to upper middle, to being able to casually drop by Hugo boss to buy a suit without it hurting too much - I can say perception changes with income. Several sides to it in my opinion. In the past, I was not aware of quality, cut, and similar. Brands (logos) where desirable because they were symbols: now that I can afford them I wouldn’t buy them as I would feel just silly. There’s a lot of around the aspirational weight of clothing - if you’re there, you just care about your stuff representing you, giving you joy.. the status perspective kind of fades.

There are clearly "looks" though. Just watching Question Time and Portillo is on wearing a red jacket. It is a certain look.

@Nichebitch

I think I understand. Having been on the lucky journey - from working class struggling to buy a 30 pounds dress to upper middle, to being able to casually drop by Hugo boss to buy a suit without it hurting too much - I can say perception changes with income. Several sides to it in my opinion. In the past, I was not aware of quality, cut, and similar. Brands (logos) where desirable because they were symbols: now that I can afford them I wouldn’t buy them as I would feel just silly. There’s a lot of around the aspirational weight of clothing - if you’re there, you just care about your stuff representing you, giving you joy.. the status perspective kind of fades.

Made me think of threads on S&B, often discussing low quality in high street stores, searching for alternatives, or wishing to purchase ethically from small labels who create knitwear from £300 upwards. Many people can't even begin to parse how common this privilege is to some. And often, someone will pop into such threads to offer their own perspective, that they have no choice but to shop cheaply. Everyone else is immediately, vaguely embarrassed.

It's about choice, isnt it, really? Having choice or not. This is the defining characteristic, to me, i think.

Why would someone, who was struggling financially (and this is far more common then the typical MN S&B boards let on) begin to persuade themselves to shop ethically if the clothing cost more than their rent?

I also want to apologise again for my OP title.
I ought to have titled it 'wealth and perception of clothes'
or esle 'income and perception of clothes'.

I admit my title could provoke a knee jerk reaction. Sorry

@bellaiceberg if I were very wealthy I'd hire a stylist periodically in order to play with my look.

I'd also buy the best quality & most ethical I could afford.

Durbarry boots, I think are common though
ducks for cover

[quote BobbieT1999]@bellaiceberg if I were very wealthy I'd hire a stylist periodically in order to play with my look.

I'd also buy the best quality & most ethical I could afford.

Durbarry boots, I think are common though
ducks for cover[/quote]
dont forget fairfax and favour!

ducks out of way of boots flying at me with tassels attached.

am concerned with how WE approach style and clothing dependent on our income, and whether being wealthier would alter our perception of it. Im sorry if it wasnt clear

I don't think I'm rich but my personal income puts me in the top 5% income bracket.

I don't buy mass market high street clothes. Wherever possible I only buy clothes made in the UK or EU and avoid man made material. That's for ethical reasons.

I'm not interested in whether something is fashionable or not. I like 50s full skirts and 30s and 40s tea dresses. I have a lot of very quirky, very tailored clothes from Dutch designer- some of them are ancient.I have a few things which are made to measure from a London designer - The Duchess of Cornwall and I have the same dress from this designer.

I spend a lot on clothes because I don't want something everyone else has, I don't want something which will only last one season and I don't want anything made in a sweatshop.

I don't buy anything which has a visible logo. I have about a dozen Hermès scarves- my first one must be about 25 years old. Owners of Hermès scarves will spot others wearing them- there's no need for a visible logo.

The give away is expensive watches, coats, diamond rings and other jewellery

I wouldn't even notice a watch and I don't like flashy jewellery.

The clue is how worn the shoes are. If you're walking a lot each day you go through shoes fast, so expensive new shoes = rich, because they need replacing every few weeks

French shoes must be very poor quality then because , as someone who walks a lot , that sounds complete nonsense.