For quite some time now, the internet has been obsessed with teaching people how to “look old money.” But the truth is, I have very little interest in trying to appear as something I’m not. To be completely honest, I am not old money. I never will be—and I don’t believe there is anything wrong with that.

I don’t think style and elegance need to be tied to wealth, because those are two entirely separate things. Elegance is not inherited through family money, nor is style reserved for those born into privilege. Some of the most stylish people in the world come from ordinary backgrounds and still manage to express themselves through fashion in ways that are far more compelling than many who dress to signal status.

To me, fashion loses its meaning when it becomes purely about performing wealth or climbing social hierarchies. Fashion has always been a form of self-expression—a language for people who want to communicate something about themselves without saying a word. It should be about identity, taste, mood, creativity, and storytelling, not about positioning yourself within unequal systems of power.

There is nothing wrong with coming from money. But there is also nothing wrong with coming from a middle-class family, a working-class family, or any background that doesn’t fit the fantasy the internet loves to romanticize. Wealth does not determine whether someone is worthy of beauty, elegance, or aesthetic expression. Anyone can use clothing and personal style to communicate who they are and what they value—because that is, ultimately, what fashion is for.

I also think there is something deeply liberating about stepping away from status-driven aesthetics altogether. Most people trying to look “old money” are not, in fact, old money. They are participating in an aspirational performance, attempting to mimic an identity rooted in exclusivity rather than authenticity. And personally, I find far more freedom in accepting who I am than in trying to cosplay someone else’s social class.

Instead of chasing an image built around inherited wealth, we can pursue other ideals—ones that are healthier, more creative, and more personal. We can strive to look stylish. Mysterious. Elegant. Refined. Serene. Romantic. Bold. Artistic. Whatever reflects who we actually are.

Because in the end, the most compelling style is not the one that makes people think you are rich. It is the one that makes people feel that you know who you are.

And that, to me, will always be far more interesting than looking rich.