The media has been abuzz in recent months breathlessly detailing the impact that private jets and super yachts have on the environment. Here’s an ARTICLE from The Guardian. While I don’t disagree with the data and the argument that ‘the Rich’ dump more than their unfair share of carbon emissions into the atmosphere and consequently … More A Very Personal Solution to the Climate Crisis
Apologies for the radio silence. The internet connection at Downton Shabby has been intermittent at best and nonexistent at worst for the past three months. Recently, I tried to write a blog post on my mobile phone. This exercise was beyond cumbersome and quickly ended in frustration. So now, while the connection is holding, if … More The Old Money Book…Now in Polish!
It’s a grammatically butchered term, and I’m sure sociologist and psychologists have a more technical or clinical label for it. However, regardless of what we call it, it’s a behavior pattern that is easy to recognize: acting out in public like a teenager. Like someone who’s in high school. Like someone who is probably old … More The High-Schoolization of Society
In the introduction of The Old Money Book, I talk about the scenario of two people who receive a financial windfall. One person handles the inheritance poorly. The other person handles the inheritance well. It may surprise you to know that many people, not just the wealthy, are going to receive an inheritance or some … More Anatomy of a Windfall
In addition to being stunningly beautiful tokens of love, diamonds have enjoyed an enduring reputation as being a highly portable, highly liquid, and highly desirable asset. While not as predictable as gold or real estate as a hedge against inflation or as a safe haven for wealth, they nevertheless gave a sense of security to … More Diamonds Are Not Forever
A friend commented not too long ago about ‘upward facing’ social signals and the contrasting ‘downward facing’ social signals. A confused moment fell over our group, so he elaborated: the way we dress and the things we buy can often be subtle or obvious social signals. These signals–logos, brands, accessories, styles, or trends–are used by … More Social Signals
Not too long ago, one of our longtime contributors (The Salty One) forwarded a link to an insightful and timely article by well-known columnist George F. Will. You can read it HERE. Mr. Will makes a few good points. He bemoans the creeping 24/7 casual nature of dress today. He notes the reverse-snobbery of a tech … More The Lost Art of Dressing Appropriately
I recently came across a website that I would consider a ‘cousin’ in philosophy and tone to this blog. Gentlemans Codes has timely and relevant posts, like THIS ONE, on noblesse oblige, which I find relevant and worthwhile. The site does focus more on lifestyle than we do here, but that’s refreshing and different. The … More Recommended Site: GC
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
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