What is the invisible quality that separates the merely rich from the truly refined? In this foundational episode of Awkward Etiquette, Auntie Kiki goes beyond surface-level aesthetics to deconstruct the psychology and social anthropology of true elegance.

We often confuse elegance with luxury, but history tells a different story. From the stoic discipline of Ancient Rome to the "sprezzatura" of the Renaissance and the silent power of Truman Capote's "Swans," you will learn why elegance has always been a survival skill, not just a fashion statement. This episode is a deep dive into the behavioral intelligence required to elevate your life.

In this episode, you will learn:

• The Anthropology of Restraint: Why "Old Money" cultures value silence and how over-explaining signals social insecurity.
• The Psychology of the "Swan": How icons like Babe Paley used emotional discipline to maintain dignity during public scandals.
• Etiquette as Social Friction: Why "brutal honesty" is actually an act of aggression and how to master the art of the perfect, footnote-free refusal.
• The Difference that Matters: A clear breakdown of why Class is a category, Style is a vocabulary, but Elegance is the grammar that makes it all readable.

Stop dressing for attention and start behaving for authority. It's time to master the art of moving through the world without disturbing its balance.

Is taste inherited, learned, or just a synonym for money? In this definitive episode of the Awkward Etiquette trilogy, Kiki Astor dismantles the biggest myth in high society: that wealth buys discernment.

This week, we move beyond which fork to use and delve into the philosophical core of elegance. We explore why the richest person in the room often has the worst taste, why "class" and "taste" are actually opposing forces, and why true refinement is about editing, not accumulating.

From the psychology of "new money" anxiety to the quiet confidence of "old money" interiors, Kiki breaks down how taste is actually formed (hint: it involves boredom and mild embarrassment). She also covers the etiquette of taste—how to handle copycats, the politeness of sending back a dish, and how to cultivate discernment in children without turning them into snobs.

If you've ever wondered why some homes feel soulless despite millions in renovations, or why a simple European apartment feels effortlessly chic, this episode explains the invisible hierarchy of aesthetics.

Key Topics:

• Old Money vs. New Money Aesthetics: Why scarcity teaches discernment and abundance destroys it.
• Taste vs. Class: Why you can have impeccable manners and terrible taste (and vice versa).
• The Etiquette of Taste: How to comment on décor, dealing with social climbers, and the art of "quiet luxury."
• Inheritance vs. Education: Can you learn taste later in life? (Yes, but it hurts.)
• Parenting for Refinement: Teaching children value through omission and repair.
• The Moral Core: Why taste is ultimately about restraint, respect, and knowing when to stop.

In this episode of Awkward Etiquette with Kiki Astor, we tackle one of the most uncomfortable—and misunderstood—topics in modern society: class. Not money. Not income. Not net worth. Class.

From ancient Rome and Greece to modern Europe and North America, this episode explores how class has historically functioned as a system of behavior, duty, values, and conduct—not merely consumption. We trace how class evolved through feudal societies, the rise of the bourgeoisie, Victorian morality, and America's enduring myth of classlessness, revealing why pretending class no longer exists has made people socially confused, status-obsessed, and deeply anxious.

We unpack the critical difference between wealth vs class, income vs status, and why high earnings don't automatically translate into elegance, credibility, or social ease. Drawing on ideas like cultural capital, invisible manners, and long-term thinking, this episode explains what actually signals class today—and what merely signals insecurity.

You'll learn:

• The real historical meaning of class (and how we lost the plot)
• Why class markers have little to do with logos or luxury spending
• Who actually gatekeeps class, and why gatekeeping exists at all
• The 3 Generation rulle: How class mobility really works—and why so many families rise quickly only to fall within a few generations
• Why restraint, privacy, and institutional fluency matter more than visibility
• How pretending class is "dead" creates fragile elites and chaotic aspirants

Finally, we explore why class still matters—not as superiority, but as stewardship, social literacy, and stability—and how to cultivate genuine elegance regardless of your starting point.

This episode is for anyone fascinated by old money vs new money, social codes, etiquette, cultural power, and the quiet rules that still shape opportunity, trust, and belonging in modern life.