Preppy/"Old" Money DC - tell me everything

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP here. Also FWIW the older members of DH's family all have what is called the Piedmont accent.

That doesn’t make any sense if you’re claiming your “old money 10 generation NOVA” DH’s family is from here (and never left) for that long. The piedmont of Virginia and the accent is from Richmond, which sounds NOTHING like northern Virginia. Not now, not a few generations ago and not 10.

It’s also completely different from Tidewater. So not buying it.

DP but I'm from Virginia and Loudoun and Fauquier Cos. count as the Piedmont. Piedmont Environmental Council, for example, is headquartered in Warrenton.

When she said Northern Virginia I assumed she meant Middleburg area. Ten generations in Middleburg is nice, no one would brag about ten generations in like, Fairfax or something.

Or like Upperville or Culpeper. Crozet is more mid-VA but would work too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP here. Also FWIW the older members of DH's family all have what is called the Piedmont accent.

That doesn’t make any sense if you’re claiming your “old money 10 generation NOVA” DH’s family is from here (and never left) for that long. The piedmont of Virginia and the accent is from Richmond, which sounds NOTHING like northern Virginia. Not now, not a few generations ago and not 10.

It’s also completely different from Tidewater. So not buying it.

DP but I'm from Virginia and Loudoun and Fauquier Cos. count as the Piedmont. Piedmont Environmental Council, for example, is headquartered in Warrenton.

When she said Northern Virginia I assumed she meant Middleburg area. Ten generations in Middleburg is nice, no one would brag about ten generations in like, Fairfax or something.

Nope, that’s still not the Piedmont accent. Just because you found some 2025 headquarters of an environmental council in Warrenton, it’s not where the Piedmont accent is (was) located. And that’s ok, but posters need to get their story straight and stop lying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP here. Also FWIW the older members of DH's family all have what is called the Piedmont accent.

That doesn’t make any sense if you’re claiming your “old money 10 generation NOVA” DH’s family is from here (and never left) for that long. The piedmont of Virginia and the accent is from Richmond, which sounds NOTHING like northern Virginia. Not now, not a few generations ago and not 10.

It’s also completely different from Tidewater. So not buying it.

DP but I'm from Virginia and Loudoun and Fauquier Cos. count as the Piedmont. Piedmont Environmental Council, for example, is headquartered in Warrenton.

When she said Northern Virginia I assumed she meant Middleburg area. Ten generations in Middleburg is nice, no one would brag about ten generations in like, Fairfax or something.

Nope, that’s still not the Piedmont accent. Just because you found some 2025 headquarters of an environmental council in Warrenton, it’s not where the Piedmont accent is (was) located. And that’s ok, but posters need to get their story straight and stop lying.

Well, one, I didn't "find some 2025 headquarters" because a) the PEC has existed for over 50 years in Warrenton. I've known about it for years because I used to be a fundraiser in Middleburg. So I know the area well.

https://geology.blogs.wm.edu/piedmont/
https://virginiahistory.org/learn/regions-virginia
https://www.virginia.org/listing/virginias-piedmont-americas-wine-country/16295/

Here's some more information about the Piedmont region of VA as it relates to Northern Virginia. I'll even include a map:



The regions of Virginia run the full length of the state, North to South. The Piedmont doesn't cut off in Richmond.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP here. Also FWIW the older members of DH's family all have what is called the Piedmont accent.

That doesn’t make any sense if you’re claiming your “old money 10 generation NOVA” DH’s family is from here (and never left) for that long. The piedmont of Virginia and the accent is from Richmond, which sounds NOTHING like northern Virginia. Not now, not a few generations ago and not 10.

It’s also completely different from Tidewater. So not buying it.

DP but I'm from Virginia and Loudoun and Fauquier Cos. count as the Piedmont. Piedmont Environmental Council, for example, is headquartered in Warrenton.

When she said Northern Virginia I assumed she meant Middleburg area. Ten generations in Middleburg is nice, no one would brag about ten generations in like, Fairfax or something.

Or like Upperville or Culpeper. Crozet is more mid-VA but would work too.

Is Crozet in the Piedmont? I would think it's far enough west it's in the Blue Ridge.

[Anonymous]

I had thought Piedmont was above the fall line.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the term was actually intended to describe this exact group: people who were old DC (or at least one spouse is) but largely apolitical. I'm not saying that is what these people are, but the term might not be far off. Here is their profile:

- Wesley Heights/Spring Valley/CCV/Georgetown
- Christ Church (Georgetown)
- Blue Igloo/Little Folks/Little Graces
- Beauvoir
- STA/NCS (but more Holton lately)
- Ivy for smarties/athletes, mid-tier northeast lib arts for the rest, UVA/UNC/Vandy/Duke for Southerners, Sewanee/Trinity for non-academically inclined
- Commercial real estate
- Met Club, Sulgrave, CCC
- MV, Nantucket, Gibson Island, Jackson Hole, Maine

Did I miss anything?

A friend belongs to one of these clubs and was invited to a “meet up” with some other ladies. She arrived and it turned out to be a meeting of women trying to get others to write negative letters about a woman applying for membership. When she asked them why they didn’t like her - none of them could give a concrete answer or example. They didn’t like her because.

This is what you are dealing with. The mean girls in middle school….

Idk, I have a friend in one of those clubs mentioned and I don't see the people she knows from there going to enough trouble to do that. Lazy dolts riding their coattails on daddy's money.

That is great that your friend does not seem like that but there are others that absolutely do engage in that behavior. They rally against certain people that they are threatened against. Saw them do it to a man in DC trying to get in - he is very handsome and younger than many of the others at the time and I think the dads were jealous. They blackballed him. Really bizarre. Yes it absolutely happened even though would can't imagine adults actually behaving this way.

This happens at every club and private school, it isn’t notable.

No it actually does not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP here. Also FWIW the older members of DH's family all have what is called the Piedmont accent.

That doesn’t make any sense if you’re claiming your “old money 10 generation NOVA” DH’s family is from here (and never left) for that long. The piedmont of Virginia and the accent is from Richmond, which sounds NOTHING like northern Virginia. Not now, not a few generations ago and not 10.

It’s also completely different from Tidewater. So not buying it.

DP but I'm from Virginia and Loudoun and Fauquier Cos. count as the Piedmont. Piedmont Environmental Council, for example, is headquartered in Warrenton.

When she said Northern Virginia I assumed she meant Middleburg area. Ten generations in Middleburg is nice, no one would brag about ten generations in like, Fairfax or something.

Or like Upperville or Culpeper. Crozet is more mid-VA but would work too.

Is Crozet in the Piedmont? I would think it's far enough west it's in the Blue Ridge.

noone cares seriously

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the term was actually intended to describe this exact group: people who were old DC (or at least one spouse is) but largely apolitical. I'm not saying that is what these people are, but the term might not be far off. Here is their profile:

- Wesley Heights/Spring Valley/CCV/Georgetown
- Christ Church (Georgetown)
- Blue Igloo/Little Folks/Little Graces
- Beauvoir
- STA/NCS (but more Holton lately)
- Ivy for smarties/athletes, mid-tier northeast lib arts for the rest, UVA/UNC/Vandy/Duke for Southerners, Sewanee/Trinity for non-academically inclined
- Commercial real estate
- Met Club, Sulgrave, CCC
- MV, Nantucket, Gibson Island, Jackson Hole, Maine

Did I miss anything?

A friend belongs to one of these clubs and was invited to a “meet up” with some other ladies. She arrived and it turned out to be a meeting of women trying to get others to write negative letters about a woman applying for membership. When she asked them why they didn’t like her - none of them could give a concrete answer or example. They didn’t like her because.

This is what you are dealing with. The mean girls in middle school….

Idk, I have a friend in one of those clubs mentioned and I don't see the people she knows from there going to enough trouble to do that. Lazy dolts riding their coattails on daddy's money.

That is great that your friend does not seem like that but there are others that absolutely do engage in that behavior. They rally against certain people that they are threatened against. Saw them do it to a man in DC trying to get in - he is very handsome and younger than many of the others at the time and I think the dads were jealous. They blackballed him. Really bizarre. Yes it absolutely happened even though would can't imagine adults actually behaving this way.

This happens at every club and private school, it isn’t notable.

It does NOT happen at every club. We belong to multiple clubs across the country - old old money clubs and I have never not once had anyone approach me either in DC or elsewhere to help them blackball someone. It is not a thing. If a member likes someone enough to try to have them join the club and they obtain the required letters in support then most people are fine with that. The clubs above have a lot of families that seem to have a lot of time on their hands that they care who eats dinner or swims at their club.

[Anonymous]

TLDR most of this. I'm most of what OP describes. White, rich (by any normal standards), Catholic (so not WASP), live in NW DC, and kids were at top privates in DC. And I have a Barbour jacket filled at all times wit dog poop bags.

And, I worked my ass off to be able to do what I do, professionally and personally. Am neurotic, and have been ultra high achieving through school (public high school ivy college and law school). I'm blessed to be unusually gifted intellectually, and have put that gift to very good results. If you were to see me in the neighborhood, you'd have no idea my background, and might assume multigenerational wealth. This is similar to several friends in my neighborhood. All to say it would be incorrect to assume certain clothing or other external attributes indicates a person's background, talents or work ethic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:TLDR most of this. I'm most of what OP describes. White, rich (by any normal standards), Catholic (so not WASP), live in NW DC, and kids were at top privates in DC. And I have a Barbour jacket filled at all times wit dog poop bags.

And, I worked my ass off to be able to do what I do, professionally and personally. Am neurotic, and have been ultra high achieving through school (public high school ivy college and law school). I'm blessed to be unusually gifted intellectually, and have put that gift to very good results. If you were to see me in the neighborhood, you'd have no idea my background, and might assume multigenerational wealth. This is similar to several friends in my neighborhood. All to say it would be incorrect to assume certain clothing or other external attributes indicates a person's background, talents or work ethic.

This post is not about you, yet you decided to humblebrag about yourself. Biglaw partner? Don't flatter yourself...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the term was actually intended to describe this exact group: people who were old DC (or at least one spouse is) but largely apolitical. I'm not saying that is what these people are, but the term might not be far off. Here is their profile:

- Wesley Heights/Spring Valley/CCV/Georgetown
- Christ Church (Georgetown)
- Blue Igloo/Little Folks/Little Graces
- Beauvoir
- STA/NCS (but more Holton lately)
- Ivy for smarties/athletes, mid-tier northeast lib arts for the rest, UVA/UNC/Vandy/Duke for Southerners, Sewanee/Trinity for non-academically inclined
- Commercial real estate
- Met Club, Sulgrave, CCC
- MV, Nantucket, Gibson Island, Jackson Hole, Maine

Did I miss anything?

A friend belongs to one of these clubs and was invited to a “meet up” with some other ladies. She arrived and it turned out to be a meeting of women trying to get others to write negative letters about a woman applying for membership. When she asked them why they didn’t like her - none of them could give a concrete answer or example. They didn’t like her because.

This is what you are dealing with. The mean girls in middle school….

Idk, I have a friend in one of those clubs mentioned and I don't see the people she knows from there going to enough trouble to do that. Lazy dolts riding their coattails on daddy's money.

That is great that your friend does not seem like that but there are others that absolutely do engage in that behavior. They rally against certain people that they are threatened against. Saw them do it to a man in DC trying to get in - he is very handsome and younger than many of the others at the time and I think the dads were jealous. They blackballed him. Really bizarre. Yes it absolutely happened even though would can't imagine adults actually behaving this way.

This happens at every club and private school, it isn’t notable.

It does NOT happen at every club. We belong to multiple clubs across the country - old old money clubs and I have never not once had anyone approach me either in DC or elsewhere to help them blackball someone. It is not a thing. If a member likes someone enough to try to have them join the club and they obtain the required letters in support then most people are fine with that. The clubs above have a lot of families that seem to have a lot of time on their hands that they care who eats dinner or swims at their club.

I will add that while it does NOT happen at most clubs - it has and still does I hear happen at one or two of the clubs above.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the term was actually intended to describe this exact group: people who were old DC (or at least one spouse is) but largely apolitical. I'm not saying that is what these people are, but the term might not be far off. Here is their profile:

- Wesley Heights/Spring Valley/CCV/Georgetown
- Christ Church (Georgetown)
- Blue Igloo/Little Folks/Little Graces
- Beauvoir
- STA/NCS (but more Holton lately)
- Ivy for smarties/athletes, mid-tier northeast lib arts for the rest, UVA/UNC/Vandy/Duke for Southerners, Sewanee/Trinity for non-academically inclined
- Commercial real estate
- Met Club, Sulgrave, CCC
- MV, Nantucket, Gibson Island, Jackson Hole, Maine

Did I miss anything?

A friend belongs to one of these clubs and was invited to a “meet up” with some other ladies. She arrived and it turned out to be a meeting of women trying to get others to write negative letters about a woman applying for membership. When she asked them why they didn’t like her - none of them could give a concrete answer or example. They didn’t like her because.

This is what you are dealing with. The mean girls in middle school….

Sure this happened. Are you a member of any of them? Were you there? Otherwise. Stfu.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:TLDR most of this. I'm most of what OP describes. White, rich (by any normal standards), Catholic (so not WASP), live in NW DC, and kids were at top privates in DC. And I have a Barbour jacket filled at all times wit dog poop bags.

And, I worked my ass off to be able to do what I do, professionally and personally. Am neurotic, and have been ultra high achieving through school (public high school ivy college and law school). I'm blessed to be unusually gifted intellectually, and have put that gift to very good results. If you were to see me in the neighborhood, you'd have no idea my background, and might assume multigenerational wealth. This is similar to several friends in my neighborhood. All to say it would be incorrect to assume certain clothing or other external attributes indicates a person's background, talents or work ethic.

We could tell you’re not multigenerational wealth because you are impressed with yourself.

Kudos for your achievement, but old money would find this all as normal and routine as working the dog.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:TLDR most of this. I'm most of what OP describes. White, rich (by any normal standards), Catholic (so not WASP), live in NW DC, and kids were at top privates in DC. And I have a Barbour jacket filled at all times wit dog poop bags.

And, I worked my ass off to be able to do what I do, professionally and personally. Am neurotic, and have been ultra high achieving through school (public high school ivy college and law school). I'm blessed to be unusually gifted intellectually, and have put that gift to very good results. If you were to see me in the neighborhood, you'd have no idea my background, and might assume multigenerational wealth. This is similar to several friends in my neighborhood. All to say it would be incorrect to assume certain clothing or other external attributes indicates a person's background, talents or work ethic.

You'rw right - Working ass off and "unusually intellectually gifted" are not what comes to mind when thinking of WASPS. No one would assume multigenerational wealth if working ass off at a law firm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the term was actually intended to describe this exact group: people who were old DC (or at least one spouse is) but largely apolitical. I'm not saying that is what these people are, but the term might not be far off. Here is their profile:

- Wesley Heights/Spring Valley/CCV/Georgetown
- Christ Church (Georgetown)
- Blue Igloo/Little Folks/Little Graces
- Beauvoir
- STA/NCS (but more Holton lately)
- Ivy for smarties/athletes, mid-tier northeast lib arts for the rest, UVA/UNC/Vandy/Duke for Southerners, Sewanee/Trinity for non-academically inclined
- Commercial real estate
- Met Club, Sulgrave, CCC
- MV, Nantucket, Gibson Island, Jackson Hole, Maine

Did I miss anything?

I've never heard Sewanee described as for non academically inclined. Wbery alum I know is an attorney, dentist, or doctor.

I’m not seeing the contradiction?