Achieving the “Old-Money Aesthetic” on a Budget: A Tale of Cheap Thrills
I couldn't resist the temptation and decided to jump on the bandwagon by purchasing one of those inexpensive yet trendy $20 pseudo-quiet luxury outfits that's been making waves in China. Surprisingly, it actually manages to hold its own, especially when viewed from a distance.
I purchased a trending $20 luxury outfit from China, and it surprisingly looks good from a distance.
The clothes look nice from afar, but when viewed up close, the details and workmanship leaves much to be desired.[^1^]
From Sofia Richie to Gwyneth Paltrow, celebrities have been all over the quiet luxury trend this year. And it’s not just Hollywood — even the rich Chinese are eschewing flashy logos in favor of something more minimalist.
To help out those who want to achieve the “old-money aesthetic” without splashing thousands of dollars on an outfit, influencers on Chinese social media platforms have created tutorials and where-to-buy guides for affordable “quiet luxury” clothes.[^3^]
So, out of curiosity and a desire to flex my style on a budget, I decided to put these affordable clothes to the test. I ordered a pseudo-quiet luxury outfit from the Chinese shopping site Taobao. I paid a mere $20 for a black vest and skort combo that promised to embody the essence of old-money elegance.
After waiting patiently for eight days, the package finally arrived. I eagerly tore it open and… well, let’s just say it wasn’t quite what I expected. The fringe trimmings on the vest were longer and messier than I had hoped for, reminding me of Victorian-era curtains gone wild. And the skort, well, it turned out to be a skort with attached safety shorts on the inside. Not exactly what I was going for, but hey, no need to worry about accidentally flashing anyone, I suppose.
But wait, there’s more! The buttons on the vest had a fancy crest-like design, but they were sewn haphazardly, so the crests weren’t facing upright. The fringe trimmings on both pieces were just too much — unruly and over an inch long. It looked like they needed a serious trim, or a full-blown intervention by a fashion therapist.
Despite these flaws, I decided to soldier on and tried on the outfit. From afar, it looked pretty good. Understated but fancy, like something you’d see in a high-end boutique. But up close, oh boy, the magic disappeared like a cheap vanishing act. The materials used for the buttons and the zip had that lightweight, plasticky feel that screamed “faux luxury”. It was as if they were mocking me, winking in their pseudo-richness.
I reached out to the store for comments on the quality, but unsurprisingly, I have yet to hear back. Perhaps they’re too busy creating more knockoff creations to respond. And even my mom, who usually nods approvingly at my fashion choices, raised an eyebrow and commented that it wasn’t really my usual style (which usually consists of crop tops and wide-legged pants).
In the end, I’m not sure if I’ll ever wear this outfit in public. It’s just not my cup of “quiet luxury” tea. But hey, for $20, it was an experiment worth having. I may stick to buying regular clothes on Taobao, like T-shirts and jeans, rather than attempting to replicate a luxurious aesthetic on a shoestring budget.
So, there you have it — a cautionary tale of cheap thrills and the not-so-luxurious life of “quiet luxury”. If you’re ever in the mood for a budget fashion adventure, just remember to check your expectations and keep those scissors handy for some creative DIY fixes. Because, in the end, it’s the confidence and the occasional fashion flop that truly make a statement.
“The clothes look nice from afar, but when viewed up close, the details and workmanship leaves much to be desired.”[^1^]
