Originally Posted by rants

Iv'e always been fascinated with "old money" people in America and the things they do, like go to the Hamptons for the summer or Nantucket, and they wear a lot of Lily Pulitzer?

This is something interesting I found from a book review from amazon.com reviewing a professor's book on class:

Paul Fussell has concluded that overweight people are usually of lower class. Clothing and clothing color, also expresses class. A scarf is considered upper class, simply because it is useless.

A person wearing a white shirt and white pants can be considered to be upper class while a person wearing blue is thought to be middle class, and a person wearing purple is considered to be of lower class.

Too much jewelry can also lower a person's class. Flashy jewelry represents middle to lower class, while simple, elegant jewelry represents the upper class. An upper class watch is very simple but the more the watch does, the more middle to lower class the watch becomes. Also, simple accessories such as neck ties and hats can raise or lower one's class. A necktie, is upper class while a bow tie, is lower class.

Hats that have adjustable straps and brand names are lower class hats while simple, leather or white hats are upper class hats.

A house's surroundings, accessories, and architecture represent a person's class. A driveway that is longer and the harder to find is upper class. Next, the way in which the number of the house is presented, can raise or lower class. A simple display of the numbers are considered by Paul Fussell to be middle to lower class. However, a house with the numbers spelled out represents upper class.

A person's lawn also determines their class. The upper class will have trees in their lawn, the middle will have an immaculate lawn and the lower will have a discolored and unhealthy lawn. Also, the larger the windows the person has, the higher up they are on the class hierarchy.

Paul Fussell, also describes how a television represents one's class. The lower class might have one or two small televisions, the middle will have five televisions, and the upper will hide their televisions. Paul Fussell, also explained the drinking habits of the classes. The lower class will drink beer, the middle will consume bourbon and ginger, and the upper will drink white wine or other light alcoholic beverages. The upper class will have a cocktail hour in which they drink and talk prior to the dinner. The middle and lower classes will simply have their drinks during dinner.

The automobile also represents a person's class. The lower class drives dated Fords, Plymouths, Cheveys and Crystlers with bumper stickers stuck to the back of the car. The middle class drives new Fords, Plymouths, Cheveys, Crystlers, and S.U.V's. The upper class drives BMW's, Mercedes, and any other expensive car.

The only audible reference to class made by Paul Fussell was that of a person's speech. A person's vocabulary is a marker of their class. The lower class will use expressions such as "Golly!" or "Oh my Lord!" The middle class speaks very intelligently using complex words every now and again. The upper class speaks with complex words continuously integrating them into their speech. Also, little variances in a person's speech can express their class. The upper class tend to use less syllables.
When saying beautiful the upper use three syllables while the middle and lower use four.

The names given to clothes by people also can represent their class. The upper class call a tuxedo a "formal dinner jacket," the middle call a tuxedo a "tuxedo", and the lower call a tuxedo a "tux" In conclusion, Paul Fussell discusses many aspects of class. After reading Class, one can easily judge their own social standing as well as the class of others. Class, correctly depicts the signs, symbols, and customs of the American class system. Thus, by describing what class is, Paul Fussell provides the reader with a description of America.