Do you think Upper class women use nail polish?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My personal observation from being married into a traditional old line family is that overly done makeup, nails, flashy jewelry, and overdone hair are never encouraged.

When I had my daughter’s ears pierced at 2 years old I was surprised at the firm disapproval from my in laws. Her school doesn’t allow girls to wear earrings or any cosmetics during the school day.

Nail polish questions aside, it could be said that the upper class “look” is best described as “understated” - nice clothes, no labels, nothing obvious.

My mother in law is a perfect example. Always put together and you can tell she is wearing very nice clothes and shoes but nothing is obvious.

She only wears a simple gold band as her wedding jewelry. Rarely wears anything flashy unless it’s a very special occasion and then she gets out the jewelry - even then, it’s still understated.

My in laws and the rest of the family drive paid for used cars, and don’t wear brand names, at least not obviously.

The whole mission is to create lasting generational wealth that won’t get burned through by the next generation.

Nail polish doesn’t seem to be the done thing.

Yep. This is all of my relatives and self. New England old $. Nails short, clean, generally no polish. Hair not balayage or overly highlighted and none of those curling iron beach curls. Pedicures- polish yes. But it’s understated, non-flashy look. A Carolyn Bessette type look.

Same. Right down to older cars. The one around town car I use is a 2006. Better for city parking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My personal observation from being married into a traditional old line family is that overly done makeup, nails, flashy jewelry, and overdone hair are never encouraged.

When I had my daughter’s ears pierced at 2 years old I was surprised at the firm disapproval from my in laws. Her school doesn’t allow girls to wear earrings or any cosmetics during the school day.

Nail polish questions aside, it could be said that the upper class “look” is best described as “understated” - nice clothes, no labels, nothing obvious.

My mother in law is a perfect example. Always put together and you can tell she is wearing very nice clothes and shoes but nothing is obvious.

She only wears a simple gold band as her wedding jewelry. Rarely wears anything flashy unless it’s a very special occasion and then she gets out the jewelry - even then, it’s still understated.

My in laws and the rest of the family drive paid for used cars, and don’t wear brand names, at least not obviously.

The whole mission is to create lasting generational wealth that won’t get burned through by the next generation.

Nail polish doesn’t seem to be the done thing.

I grew up and socialize as an adult with people from "old money." This is definitely a correct stereotype for older women in families, but the younger women (Younger Millinenials/Gen Z) have more of an edge.

+1 to the bolded

-also from NE

[Anonymous]

Clear or light pink/beige polish on fingers. Short nails. Toes can be a more vivid color, but no chips.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My personal observation from being married into a traditional old line family is that overly done makeup, nails, flashy jewelry, and overdone hair are never encouraged.

When I had my daughter’s ears pierced at 2 years old I was surprised at the firm disapproval from my in laws. Her school doesn’t allow girls to wear earrings or any cosmetics during the school day.

Nail polish questions aside, it could be said that the upper class “look” is best described as “understated” - nice clothes, no labels, nothing obvious.

My mother in law is a perfect example. Always put together and you can tell she is wearing very nice clothes and shoes but nothing is obvious.

She only wears a simple gold band as her wedding jewelry. Rarely wears anything flashy unless it’s a very special occasion and then she gets out the jewelry - even then, it’s still understated.

My in laws and the rest of the family drive paid for used cars, and don’t wear brand names, at least not obviously.

The whole mission is to create lasting generational wealth that won’t get burned through by the next generation.

Nail polish doesn’t seem to be the done thing.

Yep. This is all of my relatives and self. New England old $. Nails short, clean, generally no polish. Hair not balayage or overly highlighted and none of those curling iron beach curls. Pedicures- polish yes. But it’s understated, non-flashy look. A Carolyn Bessette type look.

Yes, this is the waspy, family used to have money but no one has made any in a long time look.

[Anonymous]

Lack of tattoos is a better indicator.

[Anonymous]

I would assume it depends on which UMC wine you want to emulate. UMC Asians or Europeans are much less puritan than American Wasps. Personally I’d rather be a Crazy Rich Asian than a miserable Waspy American in a holey sweater and no makeup, but that’s just me!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My personal observation from being married into a traditional old line family is that overly done makeup, nails, flashy jewelry, and overdone hair are never encouraged.

When I had my daughter’s ears pierced at 2 years old I was surprised at the firm disapproval from my in laws. Her school doesn’t allow girls to wear earrings or any cosmetics during the school day.

Nail polish questions aside, it could be said that the upper class “look” is best described as “understated” - nice clothes, no labels, nothing obvious.

My mother in law is a perfect example. Always put together and you can tell she is wearing very nice clothes and shoes but nothing is obvious.

She only wears a simple gold band as her wedding jewelry. Rarely wears anything flashy unless it’s a very special occasion and then she gets out the jewelry - even then, it’s still understated.

My in laws and the rest of the family drive paid for used cars, and don’t wear brand names, at least not obviously.

The whole mission is to create lasting generational wealth that won’t get burned through by the next generation.

Nail polish doesn’t seem to be the done thing.

Yep. This is all of my relatives and self. New England old $. Nails short, clean, generally no polish. Hair not balayage or overly highlighted and none of those curling iron beach curls. Pedicures- polish yes. But it’s understated, non-flashy look. A Carolyn Bessette type look.

Yes, this is the waspy, family used to have money but no one has made any in a long time look.

DP here. I disagree and think PP is spot on. It’s actually how the old money Richmond crowd looks (where I am from.) Whenever I see questions like this, I always picture my college roommate and her mother and sisters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op, try not to focus on some imaginary idea of what “upper class women” would do or did do. Some polish, some don’t. Upper class women have diverse tastes and styles just like any other group of people.

Only those who have major class anxiety (i.e., those on the fringes) are telling you what you MUST or MUST NOT do.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is an offshoot of another DC thread but fits here. So I grew up MC but now I’m UMC. My mom always said my hair and nails should be done. But I see a lot of commentary about nails not being done. Do you think UMC women always have their nails done? What about upper class?

Op, google photos of Jacqueline Onassis. Your welcome.

She wore gloves. Plus nail salons weren't really such a thing back then anyway. Cant you come up with an example from the last 40 years?

Google search shows she wore a lot frosted nail polish and lipsticks. She also smoked and didn’t use sunscreen. Too outdated to help OP.

True. And her clothing style, like Audrey Hepburn, was understated and simple in part, in order to make the most of what then would be considered a boyish figure, so she emphasized the arms, neck, shoulders, sometimes legs, to detract from a small chest and lack of curves. She was working with what she had. You should do the same op. If you want to emphasize your hands, pick bold color and enjoy it. If you want to minimize, go clear or nude. People in the upper tiers do both. The same people probably do different things on different weeks. It's just a personal preference.

[Anonymous]

Toes mandatory in summer, hands just cut them

[Anonymous]

Nail extensions and "art" are tacky, full stop. No matter what your HHI or NW, or how much your house is worth...money can never buy good taste. It's cultivated carefully from birth.

That being said, the only appropriate colours for manicures and pedicures are Dior Nail Glow, very light and sheer pale pinks, and red for evening. Nails should never exceed more than 2mm beyond the nail bed and be filed into rounded squares.

[Anonymous]

Overdone nails are fun at 15 but trashy for grown women. Keep it simple.

[Anonymous]

Nails should look clean, cut and filed. That's it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lack of tattoos is a better indicator.

Agreed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Never change, DCUM.

In my circle of UMC/UC professionals in their late 30s (think high 6-figure/low 7-figure incomes, $2-5MM net worth, $1-3MM homes), women typically have colored manicures and nail art in particular is all the rage.

When people here think nail art, they tend to think this. And I agree it's out of place in the boardroom.

https://images.app.goo.gl/aqEVZhkQtrEzyT937

But in reality, I'm seeing women who usually have their nails done once they reach this professional level. And many of them will do nail art that is more feminine/sublte in nature, like this

https://images.app.goo.gl/zujmZxXhoEo6MAh97
https://in.pinterest.com/pin/843017623984806466/

I’ve seen this. These people are typically tasteless but think they are tasteful.