Barefoot Gentry

In 2010 I coined the term "barefoot gentry" to describe something akin to Paul Fussel's "class x" but lacking the pretense that upper middle or upper class are necessarily something to aspire to, certainly something that due to money can only be achieved as fakery, pretense and social satire. If you aren't wealthy, you aren't and further why would you want to convince the world you are? That's just shallow. Further still, if you have money of any consequence, why would you want anyone to know? That's just asking for trouble to go with your weak ego seeking external validation.
Barefoot gentry is term for a cultural subset, not read as counter culture but more a quiet escape. Mainstream culture is useful, it can even be hacked. That just sounds fun right? Culture hacker should be a job title and it will at be some point. Barefoot conotates being too broke or too annoyed by the whole thing to wear shoes. What it means when paired with gentry is that a lack of shoes doesn't preclude a lack of class, sophistication or education.
I like a pair of hand made Italian shoes as much as the next guy but why I do or don't wear them is none of anyone's business but my own and if someone wants to judge my worth based on my shoes they can take a long walk on a short pier. This also comes back to the idea that there's more than one way to skin a cat or acquire a pair of shoes. The only thing worse than someone flaunting wealth is someone without it overtly pretending they do.
While working for a .com that shall remain nameless I had a boss that was arguably well heeled. One of the funniest things he did was insist the entire staff go barefoot any time corporate types, "suits", were in our space unless we were doing something too dangerous for bare feet. He wanted to send a message, "this isn't about the money."
The Barefoot Gentry concept is focused on making choices and living well on any budget by being clever and learning how to do while cultivating the enjoyment of things that can be had on any budget if you spend your money right or simply figure out how to work the system we call society.
Just because you don't have $100 to eat out doesn't mean you can't eat well. Which is better, a $50 garage sale bike that was top of the line 40 years ago or a $600 bike new from the bike shop and does it matter if they both work? Which is classier, a used Volvo 240 or a new Honda Civic? Who knows? It's up to you to decide. Maybe what you care about is luxury so you buy an older luxury car, a picnic basket and a bottle of decent wine. Maybe you just want reliability. Or maybe you don't care what you drive as long as you've got enough cash for museum memberships and symphony tickets.
It's about smart, value laden choices that get you what you want out of life when just spending money isn't your thing and maybe isn't an option.