The royal raised eyebrows earlier this month when royal fans spotted a hole in his sock after he took off his shoes while visiting an east London mosque.
Royal fans on Twitter were shocked to see the 74-year-old monarch wearing worn-out clothing, as they assumed a member of the royal family would only wear first-class clothing in pristine condition.
However, according to some style experts, all may not be as it seems. They argue that upper-class people tend to dress a certain way, a style that some don’t necessarily associate with wealth.
Celebrity stylist Rochelle White told FEMAIL that she’s noticed two distinct styles of dress among wealthier people, which tend to be categorized as “old” and “new” money.
She said: “Usually with generational wealth/old money [people] tend to wear designer items that show either no to small brand labels.
Can you tell an upper class person by the way they dress? The Princess of Wales (pictured visiting Ulster University in 2021) has been known to opt for the so-called ‘I’ve got money’ combo of a turtleneck and blazer on several occasions
“You could wear an £18,000 outfit but to the normal everyday person it looks like a well put together outfit that has quality.”
Here FEMAIL takes a look at some of the typical features of an ‘Upper Class Wardrobe’ – and some may surprise you…
Worn out socks
King Charles’ scuffed sock, on display during his visit to Brick Lane Mosque, could actually be a sign of wealth, fashion experts suggest
When the king removed his shoes during a visit to the Brick Lane Mosque earlier this month, some people were surprised to see that one of his socks had a hole in it.
Royal fans took to Twitter to laugh at the royal’s perceived fashion blunder, which proved he’s just like the rest of us.
One person wrote: King Charles really is one of us! Most of us have at least one pair of socks with a hole.”
However, according to some, the hole in the sock may not have been an accident, but rather a subtle indication of wealth.
Jeremy Hackett, co-founder of menswear shop Hackett, told The Telegraph: “The King is known for patching his clothes, and as for his socks, he probably thought, ‘Damn,’ they’re going to last a little bit longer.”
He added, “Though they may look unkempt, what they wear was the best when they were made.”
Rochelle agreed that the upper class has a different take on dong things, often investing in “timeless” pieces that aren’t the latest trend, meaning they sometimes look a little worn.
“I think upper class people have a standard of fashion and dress that’s (sometimes) in a league of its own,” she said.
The stylist added that one of the key indicators of quality clothing is “investing in not having the latest on-trend pieces, but pieces that are timeless.”
The “I Have Money Combination”
During a visit to the Oxford House Nursing Home on Shrove Tuesday, the Princess of Wales again showed a play with the combination, with a turtleneck and structured camel coat
According to Town & Country magazine, one of the classiest outfit combos you can wear is a very simple combination of a turtleneck and a navy blue blazer.
A classic combination if ever there was one – and some fashion-loving royals even put their own spin on it, playing with different colors and tailored jackets.
The Princess of Wales is one such example, dazzling in a black turtleneck with a bright fuchsia suit during a visit to Ulster University in 2021.
Kate, 41, wore her brunette locks in a sleek ponytail and let her outfit do the talking, while her structured lapels complemented the black turtleneck.
Just this week, she debuted another classy look derived from the same rule during a visit to a nursing home in Slough.
When she arrived at the Oxford House Nursing Home, the princess was dressed in a navy blue turtleneck and navy blue tailored trousers. Instead of a blazer, she teamed the jumper with a classic structured camel coat from Max&Co for £470 – a favorite of hers.
The princess ticked off two of Town & Country’s upper class style rules with her Mardi Gras outfit, as the magazine also recommends owning a camel coat to subtly flaunt your wealth.
Designer clothing without logos
The Duchess of Sussex, who left her baby shower while pregnant with Archie in 2019, kept the athleisure look chic yet demure – without showing any logos
Did Meghan follow Diana’s book? The Duchess’ late mother-in-law was pictured wearing a tracksuit with no visible logo on a visit to Berlin in 1865
An age-old rule for anyone wanting to show off their class – don’t brag about how expensive your clothes are.
While this applies to your behavior, it also applies to the products you choose from your favorite designer, with logos and branding often described as “sticky”.
Etiquette expert Anna Bey revealed her top indicators that someone is from “old money,” with the question mark over logos being one of her litmus tests.
In a video on her YouTube channel, Anna said that people coming out of the old money tend to “avoid trends” and stick to a “classic style.”
Princess Diana certainly embraced that mantra during her lifetime, often appearing in snazzy gym clothes that didn’t necessarily feature any logos – but it was clear she was wearing the highest quality gear.
In 1985, the then Princess of Wales appeared on a trip to Berlin in a black tracksuit with white stripes that was structured and stylish, but with no logo in sight.
And her daughter-in-law Meghan Markle has also adopted the guideline since becoming a member of the royal family, making sure her off-duty attire is chic and elegant while staying away from any labels.
Pictured leaving her baby shower while pregnant with her first child, Archie, the Duchess of Sussex cut an understated figure and kept her head bowed.
Wearing a dark athleisure ensemble paired with a camel coat and baseball cap, she always looked classy and regal in the demure combo.
Although the cut and quality of the pieces made it clear they were likely from slightly more upscale brands, Meghan kept her look modest without showing any obvious logos or labels.
Statement pieces with little function
Princess Beatrice’s look for the wedding of the Prince and Princess of Wales in 2011 caused quite a stir, and many royal fans were a little confused by her unusual Philip Treacy fascinator
The Princess of Wales rocked a striking pair of opera gloves as she attended the BAFTAs on Sunday night
While the upper class tends, for the most part, to dress in classically tailored outfits made from well-made pieces that will last a lifetime, there is room for some more unusual pieces as well.
With plenty of money at their disposal, the more affluent in our society have the means to buy the pieces they like from the latest trends at fashion week.
Take the Princess of Wales, for example, who caused a stir in her BAFTA outfit last weekend as she graced the red carpet in black opera gloves.
Kate, 41, looked radiant in a recycled white Alexander McQueen Greek dress (another indicator of an upper class dress when she wore the dress new) contrasted with black gloves, which stylists say have long been a feature of runway shows are year or so.
According to Rochelle, it’s not uncommon for the upper class to dress in outfits featuring pieces inspired by the runways.
She said, “You can find people who might want to stand out and rock items that are fresh off the runways and are statement pieces, eye-catching and bold.”
The stylist added that while some wealthier people make their names as “eccentric” dressers with flashy outfits, others only rely on a standout object like an accessory.
Another statement piece that will go down in royal fashion history was the fascinator worn by Princess Beatrice to the 2011 wedding of the Prince and Princess of Wales.
Philip Treacy’s design is said to have cost around £2,000 and was later sold at a charity auction for around £108,000 ($130,000).
Repair and re-wear
King Charles is known for his commitment to sustainability and he’s proven throughout his years in the spotlight that he applies that belief to his wardrobe. He was first seen in a gray Anderson & Sheppard morning suit in the early 1980s and wore the same outfit almost 40 years later and at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding
King Charles has long been an advocate for the environment and sustainability, particularly in fashion, and has even launched an initiative encouraging young designers to create sustainable lines, The Modern Artisan.
So it’s no surprise that the royal prefers to recycle old outfits wherever he can — particularly a morning suit he first bought in 1984. While he has been spotted in the Anderson & Sheppard outfit at polo events throughout the decade, eagle-eyed royal fans have noticed that he also donned the gray number to give his daughter-in-law Meghan Markle as a gift when she met Prince Harry almost 40 years later in the Married in 2018.
Speaking to British Vogue editor Edward Enninful about his beloved suit, the King said: ‘As long as I can put it on, I only wear it a couple of times a year, in the summer, so you want to keep that natural way of things going.’
The royal, who is known to hate waste, also admitted he would prefer to recycle a quality garment than replace it with a newer item in his wardrobe.
“I’m one of those people who hate throwing things away. So I’d rather let them wait, even patch them if necessary, than give them up,” he said.
Rochelle explained: Because [upper class people] Knowing they have the money and resources to buy what they want, they invest in more classic pieces that can become part of their everyday lives. You will most likely attract items again.”