- Joined
- Feb 27, 2020
Displays of wealth through conspicuous consumption don't seem to be as much of a thing with people who come from real or intergenerational wealth. Jeff Bezos going into space is a display of wealth, no handbag in the world can really compete with that. Charity too, having a pet project that air drops food to children in war zones with your name on the side of the box is a rich person flex, not the latest pair of shoes.What do real rich people buy? Is there like a brand barrier these people are trying to cross to be perceived as having "made it"?
These women are Rothschilds-
No obvious branding. Someone who's interested in designer fashion could ID those bags based on the cut and hardware, but there are no loud logos or monograms screaming what it is, and there's definitely no stacking logos or prints so everyone walking past knows all your clothes are designer. There's the saying, money talks but wealth whispers.
If anything, rich people would tend to go for more classic and understated brands like Chanel or Hermès, and those brands do keep their prices high to keep them exclusive. Chanel jacks up their prices by a good 10-20% most years, though I have heard that their quality has started to decline. Hermès iconic bags like the Birkin start at around $10k and go way higher for exotic leathers, and you can't even just walk into a shop with the cash and buy one. You have to establish a relationship with the sales associates, give a list of preferences and then take what you're offered, if you're ever offered one. They also might get custom work or one off pieces, which big fashion houses will do for people who can pay for it.
As much as they try to keep things exclusive, you still the occasional Jeffree Star who's tackiness incarnate and has the money to show it.