Some of you may have seen the hit Netflix series Bling Empire, and if you did you, like us, probably was paying just as close attention to the fashion as you were to the drama. Which is saying a lot.

When we weren’t following the psychological rivalry between Anna Shay and Christine, we definitely noticed the difference between the way these two assertive women dress. Before we go into further, let’s take into consideration the difference between how Anna Shay and Christine got their “bling”. 

One of Bling Empire’s stars Kane vaguely explained that Shay’s father “sells bombs, guns, defense technology – and it’s worth, like, a few billion”. In reality, she is the daughter of billionaire Edward Shay, who in 1955 founded Pacific Architects and Engineers (PAE), an American defense and government contractor worth over $2 billion. 

Whereas Christine Chiu and her husband are the founders of Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery and the Anti-Aging Institute of Regenerative Medicine in Beverly Hills. Her husband, Dr. Gabriel Chiu, is also a direct descendant of the Song Dynasty. 

The way these two women have come into wealth is very much reflected in their attitudes and in their style. To put it simply, Anna Shay is “old money” whereas Christine is “new money”. 

“Old money” is a term that refers to generational wealth accrued over a series of generations of family, versus “new money” which is more recently acquired. While the two may not seem different, trust…. They are.

“Old money” is clearly well-off; however, they don’t like to show off their wealth or talk about it in the way that “new money” does. Here are a few ways to dress like “old money” versus “new money”:

New Money

• Loves to dress with obvious labels on their clothing. Such as the iconic interlocking Gucci G-print or Chanel’s entwined double C’s.

• More willing to experiment with fashion choices or follow the latest trend.

• Bold with colors. Much more likely to play with patterned prints, neons and more. 

Old Money

• Loves jewelry, but the jewelry is not always obviously expensive. Whereas “new money” would wear more flamboyant statement pieces, “old money” is more likely wearing jewelry pieces that are family legacy pieces or ones that are not available for public purchase.

• Invest in classic pieces; such as the Chanel Tweed Jacket, well-knit cardigans and other high-quality fashion items. 

• “Old money” typically dresses in a more “posh style” a.k.a neutral tones and fairly conservative hemlines or necklines, particularly in comparison to “new money”.

A big difference between “old money” and “new money” is the way they talk about their fashion. “New money” individuals are much more likely to hype up where they went shopping or which designers they’re repping, versus “old money” who finds it ‘gauche’ to talk about what they spend their money on.

Written by: Nicole Kirichanskaya