Anonymous wrote:Aren't upper classes perceived in movies ALWAYS as being white?

There is actually less upper class in America than there is in South America, Europe, or Asia so maybe for a realistic comparison look at those continents because the upper class in the US is very very little.

Upper classes don't like public embarassment and will avoid as much as possible.

No teen pregnancies
Psychiatric help is an embarrassment and therapy is unheard of.
They always dress well and never wear old raggedy clothing even when doing nothing.
They have help such as nannies, maids, cooks, drivers if need be.
They don't intermingle with the lower classes unless it is for business reasons.
They have to have good table manners and kids are taught from a young age not to intermingle with those of lower classes.
The kids go to the best schools that are often private.
Kids learn music and are pressured to marry well or succeed academically.

Many of these are true of old money in the U.S., but I have to disagree about the bolded. Old money with true class is always on a first-name basis with people such as their regular butcher, vet, doctor, housekeeper, gardener, etc. They teach their kids to treat everyone with the utmost respect and grace and treat those who work for them as if they are friends - which they are.

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:So when Kate Middleton got engaged and showed the world her ring, she looked PERFECT - hair, outfit, teeth, smile, manicure etc. When Zara Phillips got engaged and showed the world her ring, it was extremely modest and her nails were tatty and she had a hole in her sleeve. This is the difference between strivers and the truly wealthy.

Also yes to being unflappable and stoic.

+1,000,000.

And if Kate had done that, she'd have been torn apart for it and all the "she's not worthy"/"she can never be a proper royal"/"the UK deserves better from their future Queen" sort of stuff would have begun in the media.

Kate Middleton knew she wasn't just marrying the love of her life, wasn't just marrying into a family or a social circle or a class but was marrying into a position and a role, and she obviously lived up to that. In general, people tend to expect their princesses to be PERFECT...from the moment of engagement on she belonged to the public and she knew what was expected of her.

Kate Middleton and Zara Phillips isn't really much of a comparison.

Exactly. The pressure is completely off of Zara Phillips to be anything other than herself. She wasn't marrying the future king, headed for a life constantly in the press, photographs everywhere. It must be pretty freeing to be Zara Phillips, actually. No one expects from her what they expect of Kate Middleton.

This is why Princess Anne refused royal titles for her children. They are free to lead lives of their own choosing, and from all appearances Zara and her brother Peter are doing very well.

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Anonymous wrote:Flossing and bidet

That's funny. We bought a house in DC for $325. It came with a bidet. My DD is 10 at the end of the month. She flosses morning and night and uses the bidet before her shower. (I do too). We are TRULY not upperclass-but... she can roll with the best of them. Private school, private violin lessons, ballet lessons and swim team. Well-traveled with a passport since she was 22 months old. 3 cruises and ski vacations-out west. I always think-who is this AA child going to marry.

So-not sure that the bidet and flossing make one upper class-at least not in my house-but it does make you cultured. We are well-rounded and cultured.

Flossing and toilet is middle class and up. Lower middle class, at that. The rest of the stuff you list is upper middle class and aspirational. Who's she going to marry? Some other upper middle class kid that she met in college or at her first law firm job.

Well the bolded is a dead giveaway. Sailing is one thing cruising is another thing entirely.

+100
Also, listing the things you personally do that could be considered upperclass. Old money wouldn't ever do this.

Really? Ever heard of the Seabourne cruise line?

I seriously doubt that that poster was talking about Seabourne. (exception rather than the rule).

Seaborne included. No cruises.

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Anonymous wrote:Flossing and bidet

That's funny. We bought a house in DC for $325. It came with a bidet. My DD is 10 at the end of the month. She flosses morning and night and uses the bidet before her shower. (I do too). We are TRULY not upperclass-but... she can roll with the best of them. Private school, private violin lessons, ballet lessons and swim team. Well-traveled with a passport since she was 22 months old. 3 cruises and ski vacations-out west. I always think-who is this AA child going to marry.

So-not sure that the bidet and flossing make one upper class-at least not in my house-but it does make you cultured. We are well-rounded and cultured.

Flossing and toilet is middle class and up. Lower middle class, at that. The rest of the stuff you list is upper middle class and aspirational. Who's she going to marry? Some other upper middle class kid that she met in college or at her first law firm job.

Well the bolded is a dead giveaway. Sailing is one thing cruising is another thing entirely.

+100
Also, listing the things you personally do that could be considered upperclass. Old money wouldn't ever do this.

Really? Ever heard of the Seabourne cruise line?

I seriously doubt that that poster was talking about Seabourne. (exception rather than the rule).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Flossing and bidet

That's funny. We bought a house in DC for $325. It came with a bidet. My DD is 10 at the end of the month. She flosses morning and night and uses the bidet before her shower. (I do too). We are TRULY not upperclass-but... she can roll with the best of them. Private school, private violin lessons, ballet lessons and swim team. Well-traveled with a passport since she was 22 months old. 3 cruises and ski vacations-out west. I always think-who is this AA child going to marry.

So-not sure that the bidet and flossing make one upper class-at least not in my house-but it does make you cultured. We are well-rounded and cultured.

Flossing and toilet is middle class and up. Lower middle class, at that. The rest of the stuff you list is upper middle class and aspirational. Who's she going to marry? Some other upper middle class kid that she met in college or at her first law firm job.

Well the bolded is a dead giveaway. Sailing is one thing cruising is another thing entirely.

+100
Also, listing the things you personally do that could be considered upperclass. Old money wouldn't ever do this.

Really? Ever heard of the Seabourne cruise line?

Anonymous wrote:So when Kate Middleton got engaged and showed the world her ring, she looked PERFECT - hair, outfit, teeth, smile, manicure etc. When Zara Phillips got engaged and showed the world her ring, it was extremely modest and her nails were tatty and she had a hole in her sleeve. This is the difference between strivers and the truly wealthy.

Also yes to being unflappable and stoic.

Being impeccably groomed, especially all the time, is a mark of the middle class. Having impeccable table manners is also a mark of the middle class.

Being emotional - middle class.

I agree with the above characterization. Kate Middleton is middle class - in both attitude and life. Zara has always been upper class. On the other hand, Kate having to be impeccably dressed in public now - I wouldn't characterize her as middle class because of that. She's a royal and there are expectations; being impeccably dressed in public is her job. It would be disrespectful for her to not be impeccably dressed.

Agree with other posters here too - not being loud - that's upper class.

Being low key.. Drinking a lot.. Being outdoorsy.. Liking dogs (in many instances liking them better than people).. Certain activities - sailing, squash, skiing.

European vacations being not a big deal (that said cruises are usually lower class, unless you charter a boat that fits ... say ..10 people)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aren't upper classes perceived in movies ALWAYS as being white?

There is actually less upper class in America than there is in South America, Europe, or Asia so maybe for a realistic comparison look at those continents because the upper class in the US is very very little.

Upper classes don't like public embarassment and will avoid as much as possible.

No teen pregnancies
Psychiatric help is an embarrassment and therapy is unheard of.
They always dress well and never wear old raggedy clothing even when doing nothing.
They have help such as nannies, maids, cooks, drivers if need be.
They don't intermingle with the lower classes unless it is for business reasons.
They have to have good table manners and kids are taught from a young age not to intermingle with those of lower classes.
The kids go to the best schools that are often private.
Kids learn music and are pressured to marry well or succeed academically.

Asian nouveau riche with colonial mentalities =/= upper class.

Old money is typically upper class so colonial mentality or old values are what defined them. FyI I didnt say this was for asians. I said that upper class is fewer in the US than in other continents.

Anonymous wrote:Aren't upper classes perceived in movies ALWAYS as being white?

There is actually less upper class in America than there is in South America, Europe, or Asia so maybe for a realistic comparison look at those continents because the upper class in the US is very very little.

Upper classes don't like public embarassment and will avoid as much as possible.

No teen pregnancies
Psychiatric help is an embarrassment and therapy is unheard of.
They always dress well and never wear old raggedy clothing even when doing nothing.
They have help such as nannies, maids, cooks, drivers if need be.
They don't intermingle with the lower classes unless it is for business reasons.
They have to have good table manners and kids are taught from a young age not to intermingle with those of lower classes.
The kids go to the best schools that are often private.
Kids learn music and are pressured to marry well or succeed academically.

Asian nouveau riche with colonial mentalities =/= upper class.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aren't upper classes perceived in movies ALWAYS as being white?

There is actually less upper class in America than there is in South America, Europe, or Asia so maybe for a realistic comparison look at those continents because the upper class in the US is very very little.

Upper classes don't like public embarassment and will avoid as much as possible.

No teen pregnancies
Psychiatric help is an embarrassment and therapy is unheard of.
They always dress well and never wear old raggedy clothing even when doing nothing.
They have help such as nannies, maids, cooks, drivers if need be.
They don't intermingle with the lower classes unless it is for business reasons.
They have to have good table manners and kids are taught from a young age not to intermingle with those of lower classes.
The kids go to the best schools that are often private.
Kids learn music and are pressured to marry well or succeed academically.

I greatly dislike the attitude above. This has not been my experience with European and American upper classes. It does sound like my DH's BIL from South Asia though. We limit our children's exposure to them though.

What attitude? I was stating fact not opinions.

Anonymous wrote:Aren't upper classes perceived in movies ALWAYS as being white?

There is actually less upper class in America than there is in South America, Europe, or Asia so maybe for a realistic comparison look at those continents because the upper class in the US is very very little.

Upper classes don't like public embarassment and will avoid as much as possible.

No teen pregnancies
Psychiatric help is an embarrassment and therapy is unheard of.
They always dress well and never wear old raggedy clothing even when doing nothing.
They have help such as nannies, maids, cooks, drivers if need be.
They don't intermingle with the lower classes unless it is for business reasons.
They have to have good table manners and kids are taught from a young age not to intermingle with those of lower classes.
The kids go to the best schools that are often private.
Kids learn music and are pressured to marry well or succeed academically.

I greatly dislike the attitude above. This has not been my experience with European and American upper classes. It does sound like my DH's BIL from South Asia though. We limit our children's exposure to them though.

Aren't upper classes perceived in movies ALWAYS as being white?

There is actually less upper class in America than there is in South America, Europe, or Asia so maybe for a realistic comparison look at those continents because the upper class in the US is very very little.

Upper classes don't like public embarassment and will avoid as much as possible.

No teen pregnancies
Psychiatric help is an embarrassment and therapy is unheard of.
They always dress well and never wear old raggedy clothing even when doing nothing.
They have help such as nannies, maids, cooks, drivers if need be.
They don't intermingle with the lower classes unless it is for business reasons.
They have to have good table manners and kids are taught from a young age not to intermingle with those of lower classes.
The kids go to the best schools that are often private.
Kids learn music and are pressured to marry well or succeed academically.

Noblesse oblige and good grammar

Anonymous wrote:^ Wow. Are you black or white?

Does either one make me any less right?

How did this jump over upper and land in royal. Not the same thing

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's take Prince William and Kate as an example of upper class (not just upper class but Royalty).

I think that they are in the habit of always looking capable, competent, in control and are always well groomed and tastefully attired. Appearances are everything.

They quietly outsource - nannies, tutors, house cleaning, grooming, dog training, yard work, catering, party planning, interior decorating, etc - to the best pros in the business that money can buy. Every detail is attended to with great care and expectations are extremely high. They are confident, educated, well traveled and this makes them well spoken and interesting. They are highly competitive but are well mannered about it.

Interesting. I disagree. They happen to be royalty. You can spend and arm and a leg and still get awful service from your employees. Of course, you fire them, but you still have to screen them and consider all angles of their hiring/firing. It can be an issue just to have a manager to do so; and you have to be involved at least minimally. There are also families that are dirt cheap, and try to pay $10. an hour, if that, so the "help" can get on their hands and knees and scrub behind the disgusting stove. So, point being, having help it is not as easy as it sounds.

As for "competitive but well mannered"....I suppose. They are not resorting to trying to kick the hot MILF out of the neighborhood because the creepy husbands notice her. Or pulling every string possible and eating burgers every night, to get their not so bright son into Georgetown Day, so he will have a shot at college. So, there's that.

Let's face it, royalty is royalty - and you are not royalty.

PP here. Meant to add - re: "looking capable and confident": guess this rules out the moms who run around like chickens without heads, yet have so much time to tell people how "busy" they are?!