8 behaviors people think are classy—but actually signal nouveau riche energy – VegOut

There’s a fine line between carrying yourself with quiet confidence and putting on a performance.

What many people think of as “classy” often says more about insecurity than true elegance.

The problem? When our energy screams “Look at me!” we usually end up signaling something else entirely: that we’re trying too hard.

Here are eight behaviors that are often mistaken for sophistication but actually reveal a kind of nouveau riche energy.

1. Overspending on luxury cars

You might think the quickest way to prove you’ve “made it” is by driving the flashiest car in the lot. 

But research shows otherwise. According to Experian Automotive, 61% of households earning over $250,000 don’t drive luxury brands at all—they drive Hondas, Toyotas, and Fords.

Old money values comfort and reliability more than bragging rights. New money tends to swing in the other direction—bigger rims, louder engines, obvious badges.

Ironically, it often signals more about debt and insecurity than financial stability.

I’ll be honest: I used to look at a matte-black G-Wagon and think, “Now that’s success.”

These days, I notice when someone quietly drives a ten-year-old Lexus that still runs perfectly. That, to me, is the real flex.

2. Displaying logos everywhere

As noted in Yahoo Finance, prominent logo displays often backfire, making brands seem inauthentic and less cool. Yet walk into any trendy bar and you’ll spot giant designer belt buckles, handbags with logos the size of dinner plates, and sneakers plastered with initials.

Luxury becomes louder when it’s rooted in insecurity. The truly confident don’t need Gucci stitched across their chest to feel valuable. They let quality and fit speak for themselves.

When I was traveling in Italy, the most stylish people I met weren’t in head-to-toe designer. They wore plain white shirts, worn-in loafers, and carried themselves with an ease that no label could replicate.

3. Bragging about debt-fueled lifestyles

There’s nothing wrong with enjoying nice things—but when it’s funded by a mountain of debt, it becomes less about class and more about performance.

Research has shown that financial debt and loans are strongly linked to higher psychological distress and poorer mental health.

The irony? Flashy dinners and constant vacations meant to impress often leave people more stressed than secure.

True elegance comes from freedom, not from owing the bank for a car lease you can barely afford.

I’ve mentioned this before, but financial peace of mind will always outshine appearances. You sleep differently when you own your choices, not when you’re owned by them.

4. Pretending education doesn’t matter

There’s a strange trend where some people downplay education as if rejecting intellectual growth makes them appear self-made.

But as noted by Pew Research, adults whose parents have college degrees are significantly more likely to graduate from college themselves.

The point isn’t that everyone needs a diploma hanging on the wall—it’s that knowledge, curiosity, and learning are lasting status symbols.

Old money leans into education because they know it compounds across generations.

New money, on the other hand, sometimes dismisses it in favor of flashy displays. But confidence rooted in understanding—not just consumption—is what actually endures.

5. Equating clutter with abundance

Socio-economist Randall Bell, Ph.D., has studied success for decades and found that “those who do their chores and keep their living space tidier tend to make more money”.

Think about that. Clutter and chaos, whether it’s a garage stuffed with luxury packaging or a home overfilled with “statement” furniture, often reveal a need to prove.

Minimalism, on the other hand, has long been associated with calm, confidence, and real wealth.

When I walk into someone’s house and see empty space, clean counters, and a few meaningful pieces, it feels rich. When I see gold-plated everything, it feels like a showroom for insecurity.

6. Talking too much about money

Here’s something I’ve noticed: the wealthiest people I’ve met don’t talk about money constantly. They don’t name-drop how much their shoes cost or brag about their salary.

It’s usually those still trying to prove themselves who feel the need to narrate their spending.

True wealth—financial or otherwise—is quiet. It speaks in freedom of choice, not in endless conversations about net worth.

When I lived in New York for a stint, I met two types of people: those who constantly reminded you of their bonuses and those who didn’t mention money at all.

Guess which ones seemed more at ease in their own skin?

7. Mistaking exclusivity for sophistication

A private table, a velvet rope, a “members-only” jacket—it can feel sophisticated at first glance. But exclusivity for the sake of it usually gives away its own game.

Old money tends to blend in, not wall itself off. It’s new money that rushes to post about “the list” they’re on or how hard it was to get into a place.

I’ve seen this firsthand in Los Angeles. The people who make the biggest deal about exclusivity are often the ones trying to climb social ladders.

The people already secure in themselves? They’re usually eating tacos from a street cart without caring who sees them.

8. Confusing loudness with confidence

Volume—whether it’s in clothing, cars, or conversation—can look like power. But it often covers up fragility. Confidence is quiet.

This is where Rudá Iandê’s book Laughing in the Face of Chaos hit me hard. He writes, “When we let go of the need to be perfect, we free ourselves to live fully—embracing the mess, complexity, and richness of a life that’s delightfully real.”

That line reminded me how often “loudness” is really an attempt at perfection—a desperate effort to be seen as important.

True strength comes from authenticity, not performance. When we stop trying to impress, we actually become magnetic.

The bottom line

What looks classy at first glance often tells a deeper story.

Debt masquerading as luxury, clutter posing as abundance, exclusivity standing in for confidence—it all comes from the same root: trying too hard.

The behaviors that endure, that whisper elegance instead of shouting for attention, are rooted in substance—education, calm, balance, and authenticity.

So the next time you catch yourself thinking, “Will this make me look successful?” flip the script. Ask instead, “Does this align with who I really am?”

Because that’s the true mark of class.