8 things Boomers consider "classy" that Gen Z finds completely outdated

Have you ever noticed how what one generation considers the height of sophistication can make another generation cringe?

I saw this play out perfectly at a recent family gathering. My aunt proudly showed off her formal dining room, complete with china cabinet and crystal glasses she uses twice a year, while my teenage niece quietly asked why anyone would dedicate an entire room to eating when kitchen islands exist.

It got me thinking about how drastically our definitions of "classy" have shifted between generations.

After nearly two decades in finance, where I watched traditional corporate culture clash with younger employees' values daily, I've witnessed this generational divide firsthand. What Baby Boomers see as refined and respectable, Gen Z often views as performative and wasteful. And honestly? Both perspectives make sense when you understand where they're coming from.

Let's explore eight things that perfectly capture this generational disconnect.

1. Formal dining rooms and china sets

Remember those dining rooms that stayed pristine 363 days a year? The ones with the fancy china that required hand washing and caused mild panic if a piece chipped?

For Boomers, having a formal dining space represented success. You'd made it if you could afford a house with a separate room just for special dinners. The good china was an investment, something to pass down through generations.

But Gen Z sees unused space and unnecessary stuff. Why have dishes you're afraid to use? Why maintain a room that sits empty while everyone crowds into the kitchen anyway? They'd rather have a multipurpose space that actually gets lived in, with dishes you can toss in the dishwasher without having a heart attack.

When I left my corporate job, I sold my formal dining set without a second thought. Those crystal glasses I'd registered for years earlier? They'd become symbols of a life I was trying to impress people with rather than actually living.

2. Business cards and firm handshakes

In my finance days, the business card exchange was practically choreographed. You'd present your card with both hands, receive theirs respectfully, and make a mental note about the paper quality. A weak handshake could tank a deal before you even started talking numbers.

Gen Z finds this ritual bizarre. They're already connected on LinkedIn before the meeting ends, and they've probably checked out your digital presence before walking in the door. To them, carrying little pieces of paper with information that's already online seems environmentally wasteful and technologically backward.

The handshake thing particularly puzzles them. After a pandemic that normalized virtual meetings and fist bumps, the idea that grip strength determines professional competence feels antiquated. They value authentic connection over performed rituals.

3. Matched furniture sets

Walk into a Boomer's living room, and you'll likely see it: the complete bedroom suite, the matched living room set, everything coordinated down to the throw pillows. This represented having your life together, being able to afford quality pieces that went together perfectly.

Gen Z calls this boring and soulless. They mix vintage finds with IKEA basics, pair their grandmother's armchair with a modern coffee table, and somehow make it work. To them, matched sets scream "no personality" and "bought everything at once from the same store."

Their spaces tell stories through collected pieces rather than displaying purchasing power through coordinated sets. Each item has meaning rather than just matching the color scheme.

4. Designer logos and brand names

That Louis Vuitton bag with LV plastered all over it? Boomers see investment piece and status symbol. Gen Z sees walking advertisement and try-hard energy.

Growing up with parents who emphasized education above all else, like mine did, many Boomers learned that visible success markers opened doors. The right watch, the right handbag, the right car logo signaled you belonged in certain spaces.

But Gen Z grew up watching influencers get paid to wear brands. They understand marketing manipulation in ways previous generations didn't. They'd rather have unique, sustainable, or vintage pieces than broadcast someone else's logo. When they do buy designer, they often choose pieces without obvious branding.

5. Formal dinner parties with assigned seating

Those dinner parties with place cards, multiple courses, and strict etiquette rules? Boomers considered these the pinnacle of adult sophistication. Knowing which fork to use demonstrated culture and refinement.

Gen Z prefers potlucks where everyone contributes, casual gatherings where people eat standing up in the kitchen, or takeout spread on coffee tables. The formality feels stuffy and exclusionary to them. They'd rather focus on actual conversation than worry about using the wrong spoon.

After leaving finance, where every client dinner followed strict protocols, I discovered the joy of messy, authentic gatherings. Some of my best connections now happen over pizza eaten straight from the box.

6. Gender-specific anything

"That's for boys" or "That's too masculine for a woman" were phrases Boomers grew up with. Men wore dark colors and avoided pink. Women were expected to be interested in fashion and decorating. These rigid rules supposedly showed you understood social norms.

Gen Z finds gendered expectations exhausting and limiting. They wear what they want, pursue careers they're interested in regardless of traditional gender associations, and roll their eyes at "man caves" and "she sheds." They see these divisions as arbitrary restrictions that keep people from expressing themselves authentically.

7. Keeping up appearances at all costs

"What will people think?" drove so many Boomer decisions. Maintaining a perfect lawn, never discussing money troubles, pretending everything was fine even when it wasn't. This was considered having dignity and class.

Gen Z shares their struggles on social media, discusses salaries openly, and values transparency over perfection. They'd rather be real than respectable by outdated standards. They see "keeping up appearances" as lying, not class.

Learning that financial security had become a cage I'd built around myself taught me what Gen Z inherently understands: authenticity beats appearances every time.

8. Formal titles and hierarchies

Calling your boss "Mr. Johnson" or your doctor "Dr. Smith" without fail? Boomers see respect. Gen Z sees unnecessary distance and power dynamics.

They're comfortable with first names across the board, viewing respect as something you show through actions rather than titles. They question why someone needs constant verbal reinforcement of their position rather than earning respect through behavior.

When I transitioned careers, I lost most of my finance colleagues as friends. The ones who stayed? They were the ones who saw me as a person, not a title.

Final thoughts

This generational divide isn't about right or wrong.

Boomers developed their ideas of class during times when conformity meant security and visible success opened doors. Gen Z's rejection of these norms comes from growing up in a world where authenticity sells and traditional markers of success often mean debt and environmental damage.

What strikes me most is how both generations want the same thing: respect, success, and connection. They just pursue these goals through completely different means.

Maybe the classiest thing we can do is recognize that class itself is subjective, shaped by our experiences and the world we grew up in.