Author/designer Prometheus Worley’s passion for art redefines the aesthetic of old silver
A genuine passion, as well as an appreciation for “old world art, literature and the aesthetics of old money,” is something that author/designer Prometheus Worley is very proud of. The sophisticated artistic motifs associated with eras like the Second French Empire, the Victorian era, and the Golden Age are just a few of the inspiring historical periods in which he was inspired to launch his fashion clothing brand. “Old Money” leisure, Fashion 4 The Leisure Class™.
“The clothes are designed more with an Old Money aesthetic in mind, containing a contemporary twist,” is how Worley describes his new designer label. So, the “Old Money Aesthetic” embodies this idea of “old world” style with contemporary elements, which is increasingly popular among the ever-fashionable Gen Z. This rapidly growing trend is all about redoing its aesthetic sense to reflect looks and values. representatives of the affluent class, wealthy heiresses and modern descendants of aristocratic families captured the imagination of millions of young people and became the #1 trending topic on many social media platforms. According to a recent article by The CUT.com, “Together, the hashtags #oldmoney and #oldmoneyaesthetic have accumulated over 1.3 billion views.” One would think that this fad was somewhat centralized and popular mostly in the United States, but those assumptions would be dead wrong. In countries like Hong Kong, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Korea, Bangkok and India; various global fashion luxury brands noticed and began to see a direct increase in sales for many of their “old school” vintage style product offerings. According to an article in Lifestyle Asia, “It’s no coincidence, as the so-called ‘Old Money aesthetic’ is becoming all the rage.”
Possessing a great passion for the arts and for fascinating periods of history such as the Renaissance, the Impressionist era, the Belle Époque, the fin de siècle and the golden age, this growing global appreciation for the “aesthetic look Old Money” vintage within the fashion world, has not escaped Prometheus. Indeed, some of the vintage motifs chosen by the couturier recall models and concepts typical of well-to-do youth in high places at the turn of the century: the detail of the buttons of the timeless cardigans and polo shirts are repeated in the row of buttons on the front which characterizes his collection of designer graphic tees, while sporty-chic crop tops are a revival of classic ‘leisure class’ tennis wear. At the height of the Golden Age, cutting-edge fashions with similar designs within the art scene in Europe were extremely popular among society. From the Vanderbilts, the Astors, the Morgans, the Hearsts, the Mellons, the Frick’s, the Carnegie’s and the Rockefellers to all the other upper-class American families, regularly taking transatlantic trips across the pond to get the latest fashions at fashion was written in stone on many of the family’s annual travel calendars. Although some of the women’s fashion styles of this era strove to maintain a more traditional corseted approach, brilliant groundbreaking designers like Charles Fredrick Worth, Coco Chanel and Paul Poiret strove to approach fashion design from a different and more radical point of view.
It is in this same line of thinking, regarding the “Old Money aesthetic” style, that sets Worley apart from most traditional “Old Money aesthetic” fashion styles available today. It is his contemporary touch and his approach that distinguish the genius of this designer. The neutral colors and unique hues that her style choices of the “old school” Old Money Aesthetic revolve around, give way to an explosion of color and eccentricity that allows the wearer to visually express the idea of wealth. Even the theme of gold, which for a certain social class is found in the classic use of bracelets and wristwatches, is revisited in a new key: Prometheus Worley once again proposes the theme of gold by means of large prints of chains and golden details.
The brand’s most authentic originality, however, is found in the world where Fashion 4 The Leisure Class reinterprets the concept of heritage expressed through the bold and unapologetic attribution of “LEISURE CLASS”, i.e. say how he reinterprets the feeling of being the heirs of the heritage and the class that we have defined ourselves. In the days of Thorstein Veblen (author of The Theory of The Leisure Class), the very notion of “leisure class” was full of indolence, frivolity, and fanciful, ostentatious consumption. Worley turned this concept on its head and, like many other creative artists and designers, redefined the parameters of what is meant by the term “Leisure Class”. While the term “Old Money Aesthetic” – as it is understood – has traditionally been expressed as a noble heritage combined with generational wealth, the garments signed by Prometheus Worley instead present a very different artistic concept of heritage and wealth. multidimensional rooted in the foundation of the sense of self. Like a Warhol, a Motherwell or a Pollock, Worley uses the transformative medium of art design to express and convey this revised take on the aesthetics of old silver.
Through her carefully selected prints and designs, Worley communicates the subtle, sophisticated elegance of a bygone era inviting participation while displaying an element of artistic and philosophical dynamism that activates whenever the fashionable piece depicted is seen by the observer. The prints thus engage multiple levels of emotion and conceptual thought: materialism versus idealism, conspicuous consumption versus austerity, class distinctions imposed by society versus self-defined distinctions. It is at this point that the creative artistic genius of this emerging designer begins to shine. From its diverse product offerings like tops, blouses, graphic tees, and dress shirts for men and women, to its designer travel bags, Fashion 4 The Leisure Class takes on a broader meaning: to deepen societal discourse regarding “who” or which “power structures” have the inherent right to “define” or stratify a dynamic, ever-changing global society. It is this term “class” in which Fashion 4 the Leisure Class redefines and reorients. With the very notion of ‘class’ being a societal construct, Fashion 4 the Leisure Class challenges and transforms the traditional boundaries of ‘old money aesthetics’, subverting authority and class. It’s a retro fashion aesthetic that belongs to no one… but is accessible to everyone.
A true appreciation of Old Money aesthetics gained through contemporary experience
Based in a 7,200 square foot, 9 bedroom, 11 bathroom, historic Victorian mansion from 1870 (House of Pillars), Fashion 4 The Leisure Class is located in the historic Van Wyck Brooks neighborhood of Plainfield, New Jersey (historically known as “Millionaires Row” from the influx of intellectuals, Wall Street bankers and generational wealthy families of the late 19th and 20th centuries). Like stepping back in time, just stepping out from its front door, Prometheus is surrounded by 10 beautiful historic neighborhoods in which 85% of the grand private residences still retain their “old-fashioned” architectural style and elegance.this author/designer with a deep appreciation and healthy respect for the environment “Old Money” is something that is continuously nurtured every day.
Surrounded by numerous works of art, canvases, sculptures, antiques and an extensive private library, Worley draws inspiration daily from many of her creative fashion designs as well as her writing projects. For him, the “Old Money aesthetic” isn’t just a passing fad experienced through a TV show like The Gilded Age, or a monogrammed Polo knit cardigan worn on a windy day while boating. , for Prometheus Worley, experimenting with the subtle elegant nuances of that bygone era, is a tangible reality of the “real world” that inspires him artistically every day of his life.
