You know that feeling when you walk into a room and just look like you summer in the South of France?
That’s old money style. And the good news: you don’t need a trust fund to pull it off.
Old money fashion has been all over Pinterest lately, and honestly, I get why. There’s something refreshing about clothes that whisper instead of shout.
No logo soup, no fast-fashion chaos. Just clean lines, quality fabrics, and that quiet confidence that says “I’ve had this blazer for 12 years and it still fits perfectly.”
So here are 24 summer outfit ideas to get you there, whether you’re starting from scratch or already have some basics you’re not sure how to style.
The core philosophy before we get into looks
Old money dressing in summer boils down to a few things. Neutral colors, natural fabrics like linen and cotton, and a fit that’s relaxed without being sloppy. Think Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy in the 90s.
Think those old Slim Aarons pool party photos where everyone looks like they just wandered over from a tennis game.
The women in those photos weren’t trying hard. That’s the whole point.
Linen outfits: the backbone of summer old money style
1. Wide-leg linen trousers + a fitted white tank
This is probably the easiest old money look to build. Wide-leg linen pants in ivory, camel, or sage, paired with a simple fitted tank tucked in at the front.
Add leather sandals (flat, not platform) and a small woven bag.
The reason this works so well: linen moves like it’s expensive even when it’s not. A good pair from Mango or Zara does the job perfectly.
2. Linen shirt dress, belted
A longish linen shirt dress, mid-calf or below the knee, in white or a sandy beige. Belt it loosely at the waist.
That’s the look. Seriously, I wore almost this exact outfit to a garden party last summer and someone asked me if it was Toteme. It was from H&M.
3. Linen co-ord set
Matching linen shorts and a boxy button-down top, same fabric, same color. Wear it with loafers or mules. This one photographs beautifully for Pinterest because of the coordination, and it’s genuinely easy to style because you can’t really get the proportions wrong.
4. Linen blazer over a slip dress
A slightly oversized linen blazer over a satin or silk slip dress. Keep everything in the same color family.
Oatmeal blazer over a cream slip, for example. The contrast in texture is what makes this outfit actually interesting.
White outfits: summer’s most reliable old money move
5. All-white everything
All-white is one of those things that feels intimidating but looks genuinely expensive when done right.
White linen wide-legs, a white cotton poplin top, white leather slides. The trick is keeping the whites in the same temperature (all warm whites, or all bright whites, not mixed).
6. The white sundress with a woven belt
A simple white cotton or linen sundress with a woven leather or raffia belt to give it shape. Add gold hoop earrings and flat sandals. Effortless and genuinely timeless, which is the whole point of this aesthetic.
If you want to see how women who actually live this lifestyle dress, the Sartorialist street style archives are a goldmine.
7. White poplin shorts + a tucked-in striped shirt
Tailored white shorts (not athletic, tailored) with a navy striped button-down tucked in loosely. This is very French Riviera 1975 and I mean that as a compliment.
8. White blazer dress
A blazer-style dress in white or cream, structured at the shoulders but relaxed through the body. Wear it with nothing underneath (or a bodysuit if you prefer) and block-heel pumps.
Navy and stripe combinations
9. Breton stripe top + tailored cream trousers
The Breton stripe is genuinely the oldest money print there is. It’s been a wardrobe staple since, well, the French navy adopted it in 1858.
Pair it with well-cut cream trousers and leather loafers. This combo never fails.
10. Navy midi skirt + white fitted tee
A navy linen or cotton midi skirt, A-line or straight, with a plain white fitted tee. Tuck the shirt in fully. Flat sandals or loafers. Add a silk scarf tied around your hair or neck. Old money to the core.
11. Navy linen suit
A matching navy linen blazer and straight trousers. Wear with a white or cream top underneath and strappy flat sandals.
IMO this is one of the best investments you can make for summer, because it works for everything from a rooftop dinner to a weekend brunch.
12. Striped maxi dress
A long, simple striped dress, navy and white or classic cream with thin stripes. Minimal accessories.
Maybe a simple gold chain necklace. This is the dress you wear to a seaside lunch and look like you’ve done it a thousand times.
The beige and camel palette
Okay, side note: I genuinely love beige and I know that sounds like something a boring person says, but hear me out.
Beige in summer looks incredibly warm and polished, especially against tanned skin. The old money crowd figured this out ages ago.
13. Camel linen shorts + a white silk blouse
Tailored camel shorts with a white silk or satin blouse tucked in. This one looks more expensive than it is, especially if the blouse has any subtle texture to it.
14. Beige spaghetti-strap slip dress
A simple beige or sand-colored slip dress, knee-length or midi, worn alone or layered under a white linen shirt left unbuttoned. Flat leather mules. Done.
15. Tan trench coat (yes, in summer)
A lightweight cotton trench in tan or camel, worn as a light layer over a white dress on cool evenings. This is such a specific but genuinely beautiful look, and it reads aristocrat regardless of the price tag.
16. Ecru co-ord: shorts and a boxy button-down
Ecru (off-white leaning warm) matching set in a slightly textured fabric. Simple. Clean. Effortlessly put-together. You could find a look like this on the Who What Wear summer style guides and they’d probably price it at $800. You can do it for under $100.
Quiet details that make old money outfits work
Before the next batch of looks, I want to mention something. The difference between an old money outfit that actually looks the part and one that just sort of tries is usually in 4 specific details:
| Detail | What to do | What to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Fit | Slightly relaxed, never baggy | Oversized or skin-tight |
| Fabric | Linen, cotton, silk, cashmere | Polyester, loud synthetics |
| Color | Neutrals, navy, sage, soft pastels | Bright neons, large logos |
| Accessories | Gold, leather, natural materials | Chunky plastic, heavy bling |
Pin that table. Seriously, this is the cheat sheet.
Polo shirts and preppy summer pieces
17. A classic polo shirt + white shorts
A fitted (not baggy) polo shirt in a soft color, white tennis shorts, and leather sneakers or loafers.
This is old money summer basics at its most distilled. If you follow any preppy-style accounts on Pinterest, you’ve seen this look a thousand times because it works.
18. Knit polo dress
A short knit polo dress in a soft pastel or neutral, worn with loafers or sandals. The knit texture reads expensive and the polo collar keeps it put-together. Add small gold earrings and that’s the whole look.
19. Cardigan tied over the shoulders
A lightweight pastel or ivory cardigan tied loosely over your shoulders, on top of literally any simple summer outfit.
I know it sounds like a costume, but it’s genuinely a useful trick and it photographs beautifully. Preppiness has its charms, okay? 🙂
Sundresses and feminine pieces
20. A smocked cotton sundress in a soft floral
A simple, non-flashy floral sundress in cotton. The florals should be small and muted, not loud.
Think ditsy prints in blush, sage, or dusty blue. Flat sandals, a small woven bag.
21. Eyelet dress or skirt
White or cream eyelet fabric is one of those things that reads expensive without trying. An eyelet midi dress or skirt with a simple tucked-in tee on top. Very summery, very timeless.
22. The wrap dress in a soft solid
A wrap dress in solid ivory, sage, or dusty rose. No patterns, no ruffles. Just a clean wrap silhouette in a quality fabric. This might be the single easiest old money-adjacent dress to find at almost any price point.
Swimwear and resort looks
23. A simple one-piece + a linen cover-up
One-piece swimsuits in black, navy, or ivory, covered up with an oversized linen button-down shirt instead of a beach coverup. This is how actual rich people dress at the pool.
The beach coverup with the fringe and rhinestones? That’s not this aesthetic.
For inspiration, the Net-A-Porter swim and resort edit shows exactly the kind of pieces that define this look, even if you shop the high street instead.
24. A tennis dress worn off the court
A tennis dress, the kind with a subtle built-in shorts lining, in white or cream. Wear it to brunch, to a market, to a casual lunch. Add a baseball cap (canvas, not mesh) and leather sneakers.
This look became huge on Pinterest in 2023 and it’s stuck around because it genuinely is cute.
A few styling rules that tie everything together
- Skip the logos. Real old money dressing rarely advertises itself. A small embroidered logo is fine. A giant brand name across your chest is the opposite of this aesthetic.
- Keep jewelry small and gold. A simple chain necklace, small hoops, a thin bracelet. Nothing heavy or costume-y.
- Shoes matter more than people think. A great outfit with cheap-looking plastic shoes reads differently than the same outfit with simple leather sandals.
- Tuck your tops in, at least halfway. Even a partial front-tuck changes the silhouette from casual to intentional.
Frequently asked questions
Can you do the old money aesthetic on a budget? Yes, easily. Zara, Mango, H&M, and Cos all do linen and tailored basics reasonably well. The key is sticking to neutral colors and natural fabrics. A $30 linen trouser in cream reads better than a $200 synthetic one in a bold pattern.
What colors work best for old money summer outfits? White, ivory, cream, camel, navy, sage green, dusty rose, and soft pastels. You can build an entire wardrobe with these and never feel like anything doesn’t go with anything else.
Is old money style actually wearable for everyday, or is it too formal? Genuinely wearable. The key is choosing the relaxed versions of things. Wide-leg linen trousers instead of rigid suit trousers. A breezy wrap dress instead of a structured midi. The aesthetic works for errands, brunches, beach days, and dinner equally well.
Final thought
Old money summer style is really just about restraint. Fewer things, better quality, quieter colors. The whole aesthetic rewards the person who knows when to stop adding things to an outfit.
What’s the hardest part of nailing this look for you? Is it the color palette, the fit, or finding affordable pieces that don’t feel cheap?
Drop it in the comments. I’d genuinely love to know where people get stuck, because I think there’s a lot more to say about this aesthetic than just which pieces to buy.
