Why Do We All Dress the Same? Fashion’s Old Money & Hollywood Glamour Obsession
At Wishlist, we’re all for a fashion fantasy. But lately, we’ve been asking ourselves a not-so-comfortable question: why do we all aspire to dress the same?
Let’s be honest. Scroll your feed and you’ll spot the usual suspects. For daytime: “old money” dressing. Think Hamptons whites, linen trousers, quiet luxury, and a closet that whispers inherited wealth. For evening? The predictable switch to Hollywood glamour. Red lips. Silk gowns. Bombshell curls. The same references, recycled endlessly.
We’re not saying they’re bad. We’re just wondering—is this really all we want?
Because when every style moodboard leads to the same two aesthetics, it starts to feel less like inspiration and more like a limitation. Like we’re dressing for approval instead of dressing for expression. Fashion, at its best, should be expansive, rebellious, and deeply personal. But lately? It’s looking safe. Sanitized. Caught in a loop of the same vintage photos of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe.
Here’s a radical thought: what if we looked elsewhere? What if we stopped pinning the same “old money aesthetic” and “Hollywood glamour” boards and explored the wilder corners of style history? Because trust us, there are references that are way more fun, bold, and original than a linen blazer or a satin corset.
Here are five other style worlds we’d love to see dominating moodboards:
The Berlin Club Scene
Think underground rave wear, harnesses, leather, and mesh. Gritty, sexy, and unapologetic. You want a fashion icon? Look no further than Julia Fox and her avant-garde street looks—or Kim Kardashian’s Balenciaga era.
The New Romantic Revival
Inspired by the early ’80s London scene. Velvet, ruffles, pirate shirts, eyeliner for days. Less “polished prep,” more Harry Styles in Gucci and Timothée Chalamet’s gender-fluid red carpet looks.
90s Minimalism with an Edge
Not the boring kind. Think stripped-down Helmut Lang, vintage Calvin Klein, and Carolyn Murphy’s barely-there slip dresses. Minimal, but dangerously cool. Look at Zoë Kravitz and Kendall Jenner’s off-duty styling for modern takes.
Y2K Cyber Couture
Forget butterfly tops—go deeper into early 2000s experimentation. Metallics, asymmetry, futuristic silhouettes. Think Mugler or Iris van Herpen with a sci-fi twist. Icon? Doja Cat in literally anything alien-inspired.
Decadent Gothic Romance
Less old money, more old souls. Corsets, lace, tulle, veils, and drama. Reference FKA Twigs or Bella Hadid’s Dilara Findikoglu moments. A little darkness never hurt anyone.
We’re not saying we need to cancel classic style codes. But maybe it’s time we stopped treating “old money” and “Hollywood glamour” like the only dreams worth dressing for. Fashion is a playground. Why keep choosing the same two rides?
Are we stuck—or are we just scared of looking too different?
Maybe the real aspiration isn’t to look rich or famous. Maybe it’s to look unforgettable.
