I'll only comment based on a recent observation while traveling through a European country. Most of the time we were in the cities doing touristy stuff but then at the end we spent four days at a historic coastal town that incidentally is a popular destination for the sailing crowd. This town was more discreet than flamboyant. While there were day trippers, what immediately stood out was how well dressed and groomed everyone was. It didn't matter whether dining at an outdoor restaurant or casually strolling the squares or swimming or having drinks, people, mostly various European nationalities although plenty of English was overheard, were very clean cut. Clothes weren't particularly extravagant. But there was a nonchalant ease everywhere. Barely any tattoos, people were mostly in shape, everyone looked healthy, even the smokers. And attitudes stood out. A confidence.

I do think tattoos are becoming a major class signifier, or rather, the absence of tattoos. But even if you have tattoos, how it's presented will speak a great deal about your backgrounds. Something most people with tattoos probably don't realize. Tattoos automatically make people look less clean.

*looking put together

I had the hair, the skin, and all the clothes and bags and shoes, but it wasn’t until I lost 60 pounds on ozempic that I actually started looking out together. I hate that this is about weight, but it’s always about weight. Yes I’m type 2 before anyone harps on me taking medication from diabetics.

Part of it which I haven’t seen mentioned is plastic surgery. Somehow these mythical rich people never have bulbous or uneven noses, which gives a more sleek and even appearance. Women of a certain age have eye surgery and facelifts. It’s not magic.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You definitely can’t judge based on headshots. “Rich people” in good jobs get hair, makeup and styled for photo shoots. That is not what they look like ordinarily. Also, a lot of people are now using AI headshots. You can’t assume a photo is an accurate reflection of a person.

If you look at pictures from “society” functions (ie, charity events, opening nights, etc) you’ll see that rich people look a little more normal in candid shots.

Looking at pictures from the NY social diary. My observation still holds:

No one photographs the frumpy and ugly ones.

The second photo is nothing but frumpy and ugly.

They're normal looking. But you can still tell that they're wealthy, just not the 'neat, clean' look OP is going for.

Anonymous wrote:I know we all take showers but rich people, men and women, tend to look especially clean and neat.

They are obviously generally slender but how the clothes fit them, they don’t look frumpy but neat and clean. The men have neat short haircuts and the women have straight shiny hair.

I want tips as I always look sloppy!

Get a good tailor so the fit in your clothes is just right.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You definitely can’t judge based on headshots. “Rich people” in good jobs get hair, makeup and styled for photo shoots. That is not what they look like ordinarily. Also, a lot of people are now using AI headshots. You can’t assume a photo is an accurate reflection of a person.

If you look at pictures from “society” functions (ie, charity events, opening nights, etc) you’ll see that rich people look a little more normal in candid shots.

Looking at pictures from the NY social diary. My observation still holds:

No one photographs the frumpy and ugly ones.

The second photo is nothing but frumpy and ugly.

Clothes that fit well; understated; nothing fussy - look up The Preppy Handbook

Not my cup of tea because I prefer more fun and personality in my appearance but I think they look good. I just don’t want to look like that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of you are too hung up on the photos. When you see it irl you know it. They just look... Crisper around the edges. It's hard to put a finger on it. I know exactly what OP means.

Charlotte Casiraghi (Grace Kelly’s granddaughter) comes to mind when I think of this.

https://www.wmagazine.com/fashion/charlotte-casiraghi-best-fashion-moments-red-carpet-style-royal

Seriously? She has messy hair and poor posture in most of the photos. Does not appear “crisp” at all. Shes obviously a wealthy and attractive woman wearing extremely expensive clothes but she doesn’t look particularly comfortable in them. That is I think what the op is really getting at.

She was stunning 20 years ago. Now the partying has caught up.

What exactly are you referring to? She was 16?

Posture, sweetie

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think it has anything to do w/ money, although it certainly helps. It has more to do w/ personal grooming and style choices.

And being thin.

I have a friend who is very frugal and pretty much exclusively shops at stores like Target and Kohls. She is very thin, fit/athletic, and attractive at 53. She accessorizes minimally, only buys what fits her really well off the rack, and has an innate sense of style that was evident even back in high school. We went shopping the Target clearance racks a few years ago -- and she even found things that looked good on me. No idea how she does it; I certainly can't replicate it on my own!

I disagree. IMO, Ina Garten looks rich—and she is not thin.

Exactly.

I have a friend who is quite large, but she looks so fresh, clean and...expensive. I'm sure she tries harder to look sleek than a skinny person would because she wears appropriately fitting foundation garments and tailored clothes. I'm heavier as well and it's no secret that we bigger people don't look good in too tight or too baggy. We have to hit the sweet spot when it comes to clothing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of you are too hung up on the photos. When you see it irl you know it. They just look... Crisper around the edges. It's hard to put a finger on it. I know exactly what OP means.

Charlotte Casiraghi (Grace Kelly’s granddaughter) comes to mind when I think of this.

https://www.wmagazine.com/fashion/charlotte-casiraghi-best-fashion-moments-red-carpet-style-royal

Seriously? She has messy hair and poor posture in most of the photos. Does not appear “crisp” at all. Shes obviously a wealthy and attractive woman wearing extremely expensive clothes but she doesn’t look particularly comfortable in them. That is I think what the op is really getting at.

She was stunning 20 years ago. Now the partying has caught up.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You definitely can’t judge based on headshots. “Rich people” in good jobs get hair, makeup and styled for photo shoots. That is not what they look like ordinarily. Also, a lot of people are now using AI headshots. You can’t assume a photo is an accurate reflection of a person.

If you look at pictures from “society” functions (ie, charity events, opening nights, etc) you’ll see that rich people look a little more normal in candid shots.

Looking at pictures from the NY social diary. My observation still holds:

No one photographs the frumpy and ugly ones.

These ethereal rich people are an illusion.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of you are too hung up on the photos. When you see it irl you know it. They just look... Crisper around the edges. It's hard to put a finger on it. I know exactly what OP means.

Charlotte Casiraghi (Grace Kelly’s granddaughter) comes to mind when I think of this.

https://www.wmagazine.com/fashion/charlotte-casiraghi-best-fashion-moments-red-carpet-style-royal

Seriously? She has messy hair and poor posture in most of the photos. Does not appear “crisp” at all. Shes obviously a wealthy and attractive woman wearing extremely expensive clothes but she doesn’t look particularly comfortable in them. That is I think what the op is really getting at.

She is stunning, with a fantastic style and her clean, freshly cut healthy hair is what adds to that crisp yet nonchalant look that rich people sometimes have.