TikTok’s 'Rich Mom' Aesthetic Is the New Quiet Luxury & These 7 Picks Let You Rock the Look for Under $50
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, SheKnows may receive an affiliate commission.
It’s hard to believe it was only four years ago that we were resigning ourselves to a permanent-pajamas lifestyle. Elevated athleisure was surely a vibe for a good long while, but alas, it’s not a sustainable look for the long haul. The past few years we’ve started channeling our inner heiresses and slowly assembling a wardrobe that matches those pie-in-the-sky style aspirations. But according to TikTok and basically the entire internet, the quiet luxury era is ending — 2024 is unapologetically the year of the rich mom aesthetic.
Rich mom style is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a look comprised of timeless, scene-stealing basics; logo-less accessories sophisticated enough to stand on their own; decadent, heirloom-worthy jewelry; designer denim and movie star shades, to name just a few. The aesthetic takes its cue from iconic rich moms in pop culture — think Victoria Beckham, Gisele Bundchen, Katie Holmes, Gwyneth Paltrow…the list goes on. And while we can’t help you acquire a rich mom bank account, we can help you curate a rich mom wardrobe on an everywoman budget.
Think of it like a capsule wardrobe: a collection of well-made basics that serves as the foundation of a high-quality closet that stands the test of time. All you need to start is a lineup of rich mom staples that you can build upon — and with a stylist’s eye, you can grab everything you need from down-to-earth retailers like Target, Amazon and Old Navy. Start with these seven pieces that define rich mom energy. Then just add a BMW keychain and a matcha latte with extra creamy oat milk, and step into the new year dressed to (low-key) impress.
Our mission at SheKnows is to empower and inspire women, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Target is a SheKnows sponsor, however, all products in this article were independently selected by our editors. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.
A Quilted Chevron Purse
A New Day Large Boxy Tote Handbag
This ‘very expensive and chic looking’ purse takes inspiration from a classic Chanel bag — and, in fact, its quilted chevron pattern is a dupe for this $3200 YSL bag, a Gisele favorite. But the A New Day Large Boxy Tote is a fraction of the price and even more spacious for all your busy mom essentials. It also has lots of pockets inside (because rich moms are ultra organized, too) and magnetic closure so everything will stay put securely and you can focus on walking with poise.
A White, Lightweight Button-Down
A New Day Long Sleeve Oxford Button-Down Shirt
Gisele, the queen of white on white, pairs lightweight white button-downs with white jeans (or practically anything), and with other rich moms like Sarah Jessica Parker and Gigi Hadid making them a go-to, we’re anointing this one a rich mom essential. Target’s top-rated Universal Thread Long Sleeve Oversized Button-Down Shirt hits all the right points and is “a perfect addition to any outfit.” It’s lightweight, slightly oversized and pocket-less for a more feminine appeal. Roll up your sleeves and strut like you live on Park Avenue.
High-Waisted, Wide-Leg Jeans
Old Navy High-Waisted Wow Wide-Leg Jeans
Famous rich moms like Sofia Vergara and Jennifer Lopez are all about the wide-leg jeans look, the number one style staple for put-together women of a certain income bracket. But it’s Katie Holmes who embodies the style, and her now-iconic Reformation wide-leg jeans cemented her as an early adopter of this ‘It’ fit. The jeans are all-cotton so they hold their shape and they have a chic, structured ankle crop that completes the silhouette. But you don’t have to drop $150 for ‘em when you can get almost the same exact look from another denim icon: Old Navy. Their best-selling High-Waisted Wow Wide-Leg Jeans come in four different washes and three lengths, so they hit at the ankle whether you’re tall or petite. Get them on sale — they’re still fully in stock post-holiday season.
Mary Janes
Journee Collection Carrie Mary Jane Flat
Everything old is new again, and you can count elegant Mary Jane shoes among them. These single-strapped classics have been in and out of style in various iterations since flappers made them famous in the 1920s, and they just keep getting reinvented. The Mary Janes that have been picking up speed since late last year are a flatter variety, and they’re a rich mom essential — just take it from chic celeb mamas like Michelle Williams and Jennifer Lawrence. Journee Collection Carrie Mary Jane Flats capture the aesthetic perfectly, with their square toe and faux suede upper. And they’re on sale at DSW.
An Oversized Cashmere Sweater
Lillusory Turtleneck Oversized Sweater
What could be more rich mom than a cashmere sweater, especially one that’s regal and oversized? Amazon’s popular Lillusory Turtleneck Oversized Sweater is the scene stealer you need, a perfect layer for chilly restaurants, fall outings or a day of driving around. This one isn’t real cashmere, but it looks and feels like it is — and sometimes that’s enough. “I usually buy my winter sweaters during the summer when Saks on Fifth have all of their cashmeres on sale – let me tell you this sweater is just as nice if not better made and fit,” wrote a shopper.
Thick Gold Hoops
Baublebar Dalilah Earrings
Listen up: the quickest route to adorning your earlobes like a rich mom is to invest in a pair of chunky, medium-sized gold hoops a la Reese Witherspoon, Hillary Duff and countless other icons of this aesthetic. Baublebar’s gold-plated Delilah Earrings are the statement you’re seeking, and they’re hypoallergenic for all you sensitive divas out there. Even the queen mama herself, Angelina Jolie, would approve.
Wide Leg Pleated Trousers
Vogue says wide-leg pleated pants “scream chic,” and rich moms like Jennifer Lawrence and Katie Holmes are living proof. In fact, these high-waisted pleated pants from Amazon are pretty much dupes for the ones Holmes wore with her oversized white button-down. “These pant[s] drape like a wool crepe. They also look like a wool crepe,” wrote one of more than 11,000 five-star reviewers.