The Thing Before Preppy

One of our commenters, NL, provided the link below from the Saltwater New England blog. It refers to appropriate clothing as ‘the thing before preppy’, which I think is the perfect way to describe Old Money Style. https://www.saltwaternewengland.com/2023/03/why-people-love-preppy-clothes-why.html?m=1 Ms. Aldrich also articulates quite nicely the enduring appeal of this wardrobe: it fits this way of … More The Thing Before Preppy

Old Money: The Culture

As readers begin to delve into the values, priorities, habits, and customs of Old Money–people who’ve enjoyed wealth and privilege for 3 generations or more–they often have questions. These sometimes run along the lines of “What kind of shoes do Old Money Guys wear?” or “Would this (fill in the blank) be considered appropriate for … More Old Money: The Culture

Happy New Year, and An Update…

I hope 2023 has begun wonderfully, and that the entire year will be filled with health, joy, and prosperity for everyone. First, I’d like to thank everyone who purchased a copy of How To Be A Rich Man…or Woman! If you haven’t written a review on the Amazon product page, please feel free to do … More Happy New Year, and An Update…

Material Possessions: How To Define and Refine Your Choices

After relocating to Paris from Los Angeles several years ago and more recently combing through the belongings of Mommy Dearest, I’ve had, once again, time to consider the mixed bag that is material possessions. More precisely, I’ve had the chance to identify what makes a worthwhile acquisition, even as we try to streamline our lives … More Material Possessions: How To Define and Refine Your Choices

Pretend You’re Moving

It’s inevitable that we accumulate material possessions. We need to be sheltered,  clothed, fed, and nurtured, so we buy or rent a house or an apartment and fill it with furniture. We buy pots and pans so we can cook. We purchase clothes which will, at minimum, keep us protected from the elements. We purchase … More Pretend You’re Moving

Recommendations Update: The Rolex Dilemma

My apologies for the gap in posting. A series of out-of-town guests, numerous work projects, and a short trip to Nantes have interrupted the usual workflow. Our foreign correspondent David was in Paris recently. We had a coffee at the cafe across the street from my office and discussed all manner of things: solutions to … More Recommendations Update: The Rolex Dilemma

In Defense of Red Pants

I have a complicated relationship with Tatler magazine, the British magazine that breathlessly chronicles the latest goings-on of the royals, high society, and well-heeled wanna-be’s. On the one hand, they have published some interesting articles on how to raise children in an affluent environment, estate planning, and other more grounded subject matter. On the other … More In Defense of Red Pants

Fresh Set of Eyes on Paris…from Karl

Bonjour, everyone. Karl was kind enough to post a very detailed comment about his recent trip to Paris. I wanted to make sure that everyone saw it, so I’ve done a cut and paste. It appears below in italics. So enjoy. My thoughts…I think Karl has a great approach to European vacations: pick one city … More Fresh Set of Eyes on Paris…from Karl