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What’s This About
You can get close to Old Money style with plain, well-fitting clothes from brands priced well below the luxury houses.
This guide looks at ten brands and how to judge value, such as:
Polo Ralph Lauren and Brooks Brothers for classic American clothing
Massimo Dutti and Uniqlo U for plain, lower-priced basics
Drake’s and Cordings for British accessories and country clothing
Spier & Mackay for lower-priced tailoring
A value checklist covering fit, fibre and construction
and many more!
Prices change often, so check them before you buy, and judge each garment on its own fit and make.
Key Points
01The look depends on fit, plain cloth and calm colours rather than on a particular label.
02Some brands here, such as Brooks Brothers, Drake’s and Cordings, are mid-priced rather than cheap.
03Sales, outlets and second-hand shops can bring higher-priced brands within reach.
04A navy jacket, white and blue shirts, a fine knit, chinos, grey trousers and brown shoes already make several outfits.
Old Money style is a contemporary label for classic, low-logo clothing: natural fabrics, calm colours, good fit and garments that do not date quickly.
The labels most often linked with the look, such as Hermès, Loro Piana and Brunello Cucinelli, are very expensive, but you can get close to it with plain, well-made clothes from brands priced well below them.
The ten brands below are examples, not endorsements, and some of them are mid-priced rather than cheap, so compare current prices before you buy.
Neither a label nor a price guarantees fit, comfort or durability, and the clothes say nothing certain about anyone’s income or background.
How to judge value before you buy
The same checks apply to every brand below.
Scroll horizontally to see all columns →
| Check | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Fit | Jacket shoulders that end where yours do, a shirt collar that closes without pinching and trousers that do not pull; budget for a tailor if needed. |
| Fibre label | Wool, cotton, linen or cashmere for the classic look, and blends that state their percentages clearly. |
| Construction | Straight, even stitching, matched patterns at the seams and neatly finished buttonholes. |
| Colour and branding | Navy, grey, camel, cream, brown and olive, with small logos or none. |
| Cost per wear | How often you will wear the garment, and whether it can be repaired or altered. |
Sales, outlet stores and second-hand shops can bring higher-priced brands within reach, as long as you check condition and fit.
1. Ralph Lauren
Ralph Lauren started his company in 1967 with neckties and named his first full menswear line Polo in 1968.
The brand draws on the American Ivy League wardrobe, East Coast sailing style, the English countryside and equestrian clothing.
Its Purple Label line is expensive, while Polo Ralph Lauren sells a similar look at lower prices and is widely discounted.
Garments to look at:
Oxford cotton button-down shirts, which work under a jumper or a jacket.
Cable-knit jumpers in cotton, wool or cashmere for autumn and winter.
Single-breasted navy blazers.
Stone or navy chinos.
Leather penny loafers.
Choose the versions with the small embroidered pony or no logo, because large logos work against the quiet look.
2. Brooks Brothers
Brooks Brothers opened in New York in 1818, is one of the oldest clothiers in the United States and popularised the button-down collar shirt.
It is not a budget brand at full price: on 7 October 2026 its US website listed the Classic Fit Wool 1818 Blazer at $898, reduced to $673.50.
Frequent sales and outlet stores are the usual way to buy it for less, and older garments are common second-hand, although specifications have changed over the years.
Garments to look at:
Oxford button-down shirts.
Grey wool trousers, a smarter alternative to chinos.
Cashmere or merino V-neck jumpers.
Navy blazers, single- or double-breasted.
Striped repp ties.
3. J.Crew
J.Crew is an American retailer that sells a modern version of classic American preppy clothing, with an East Coast feel.
Its chinos, Oxford shirts and knitwear are useful basics, and it also sells tailoring and outerwear.
Read the fibre label on knitwear and coats, because pure wool, cashmere and blends are sold side by side at different prices.
Garments to look at:
Cashmere and merino jumpers in navy, grey and camel.
Wool or wool-blend overcoats.
Cotton chinos.
White dress shirts.
Suede desert boots.
4. Massimo Dutti
Massimo Dutti was founded in Barcelona in 1985 and has been fully owned since 1995 by Inditex, the Spanish group that also owns Zara.
It sells plain tailoring, knitwear, coats and leather shoes in neutral colours, at prices above Zara and well below luxury houses.
Garments to look at:
Wool overcoats.
Leather penny loafers for casual and smarter outfits.
Wool or wool-blend suits.
Lightweight merino jumpers.
Silk pocket squares.
5. Drake’s
Drake’s was founded in London in 1977 by Michael Drake and began with scarves, handmade ties and handkerchiefs.
According to the company, its soft tailoring is made in Italy, its traditional knitwear in Scotland and its shirts in its own factory in Chard, Somerset.
Its relaxed jackets are a softer alternative to structured Savile Row tailoring, and its Oxford shirts sit comfortably in the Ivy League wardrobe.
Drake’s is mid-priced rather than cheap, so a tie or pocket square is the least expensive way to try it, and our guide to Old Money and Succession fashion shows how such accessories fit the look.
Garments to look at:
Unstructured blazers.
Wool and silk ties.
Oxford button-down shirts.
Silk pocket squares.
Herringbone coats.
6. Sunspel
Sunspel was founded in 1860 by Thomas Arthur Hill and has made clothes in the same factory in Long Eaton, Derbyshire, since 1937.
It is known for plain T-shirts, polo shirts and underwear, including garments in Sea Island cotton, a rare extra-long staple cotton.
In 2006 the costume designer Lindy Hemming chose Sunspel to make Daniel Craig’s T-shirts and polo shirts for Casino Royale, including a version of its Riviera polo.
Its basics cost more than high-street basics, so compare prices.
Garments to look at:
Cotton T-shirts in white, navy and grey.
Merino wool and cotton polo shirts.
Loopback cotton sweatshirts.
Wool trousers.
Lightweight scarves.
7. Uniqlo U
Uniqlo is a large Japanese clothing retailer owned by Fast Retailing, and Uniqlo U is its more design-led line of basics.
Uniqlo is often described as fast fashion, but its plain knitwear, shirts and trousers are among the least expensive ways to put together calm, classic outfits.
Check the fibre label and try the fit in store, because basics at this price vary in weight and finish.
Garments to look at:
Extra-fine merino jumpers in neutral colours.
Wool-blend or cotton trousers.
Light trench coats.
Cotton Oxford shirts.
Wool-blend overcoats.
8. Spier & Mackay
Spier & Mackay is a Canadian menswear brand that sells suits, jackets, trousers, shirts, knitwear and shoes.
Menswear sites often suggest it as a lower-priced source of traditional tailoring, and in 2017 Dappered listed one of its navy blazers at $298, a price that is now out of date.
Read each product description for the cloth and the type of construction, and compare it with similar jackets at the same price.
Garments to look at:
Wool suits in navy and grey.
Unstructured linen jackets for summer.
Spread-collar dress shirts.
Wool overcoats.
Leather dress shoes.
9. Everlane
Everlane was founded in San Francisco in 2010 and became known for publishing the cost breakdown of its products, an approach it called radical transparency.
In May 2026 Fast Company and other outlets reported, and Everlane later confirmed, that the fast-fashion retailer Shein had agreed to buy Everlane, so check the brand’s current sourcing information if ethical production matters to you.
Its plain, muted basics suit a minimal take on the look.
Garments to look at:
Plain blazers.
Trench coats.
Cashmere crew-neck jumpers.
Leather loafers.
Wool trousers.
10. Cordings
Cordings was founded in London in 1839 by John Charles Cording to make outdoor and waterproof clothing, and has traded at 19 Piccadilly since 1877.
The musician Eric Clapton bought a stake in the company in December 2003.
It sells traditional English country clothing, which suits the British side of the look, although its prices are mid-range rather than budget.
Garments to look at:
Tweed sports jackets.
Wool overcoats.
Tattersall check shirts.
Corduroy and moleskin trousers.
Silk ties.
Putting the look together
The Old Money aesthetic depends on fit, plain cloth and calm colours far more than on any particular label.
A practical starting set is a navy jacket, white and light blue shirts, a fine navy or grey knit, stone chinos, grey trousers and dark brown shoes, which together make several outfits.
Weekday
Wear: a navy suit, a white shirt, a dark silk tie and dark brown Oxford shoes.
Smart-casual
Wear: a navy blazer, a light blue Oxford shirt, a grey merino V-neck jumper, stone chinos and brown suede loafers.
Weekend
Wear: a cream cable-knit jumper, dark straight-leg jeans or olive corduroy trousers and brown leather boots.
Find your style with The VOU
The VOU has three free quizzes that can help you choose clothes and colours, and none of them is required to wear the outfits above.
Our guides to menswear silhouettes and dressing for your body shape explain the first quiz: check your body shape.
Our guide to seasonal colour palettes for men explains the second, which suggests colours for your outfits: find your seasonal colours.
The third suggests a personal fashion style with outfit ideas: take the fashion style quiz.
If you would like personal help after the quizzes, you can book paid consultations with The VOU’s image consultants and stylists through our styling services for men.
You can also read our guide to styling by occasion, location, season and time of day, and our explainers on clothes, garments and accessories.
Our guide to personal style explains the main fashion styles.
Our articles explain what an image consultant does and how to choose an image consultant.
For more on luxury brands, see our articles on heritage luxury brands and how logo-heavy luxury designs come across.
You can also contact The VOU with questions.
Sources
Brooks Brothers US, Classic Fit Wool 1818 Blazer, price checked 7 October 2026.
Drake’s, About (founding and where its clothes are made), read 7 October 2026.
Dappered, affordable navy blazers, 18 September 2017.
Fast Company, Everlane is reportedly selling to Shein, 18 May 2026.
RetailDetail, Sustainable fashion brand Everlane confirms deal with Shein, 26 May 2026.
Wikipedia summaries used as an index for founding facts: Ralph Lauren, Massimo Dutti, Sunspel, Everlane and Cordings, read 7 October 2026.
Mandy Meyer’s focus at The VOU is men’s body-shape styling, garment fit and outfit proportions. Her coverage addresses the practical questions behind a wardrobe choice: how a jacket sits across the shoulders, how trousers fall and how different cuts change the silhouette a wearer wants to create.
Her subject areas include the triangle, inverted triangle, rectangle, oval, trapezoid, hourglass and diamond labels used in body-shape styling. These provide starting references for comparing visible proportions; they do not capture every body or prescribe one correct way to dress. The focus connects those observations with garment shape, construction, length and the relationship between the upper and lower parts of an outfit.
Mandy’s editorial coverage combines visual comparisons with fit checks for comfort and movement. Readers can consider whether a cut gives them the room they need, where clothing pulls or gathers and which changes might support their preferred look. The aim is to make menswear choices more understandable while keeping personal preferences and the wearer’s own styling goals central.