A cuddly animal wearing a beanie should not incite violence. And yet, this is what occurred in some Starbucks shops earlier this month after the coffee chain released a limited line of teddy ...

While status symbols have almost always been characterized in a game of "having what others can't," focused on material goods and consumerism, recent shifts in the collective experience and perception ...

This article follows the Direct Message methodology, designed to cut through the noise and reveal the deeper truths behind the stories we live. If someone drives a fancy car, we assume they’re ...

Silvia Bellezza is an Associate Professor of Business in Marketing at Columbia Business School. Her research focuses on status signaling in consumption. Whom do you hold in higher regard: Jimmy Carter ...

The difference between wealthy people today and the upper middle class in the 90s is the wealth gap. In the 90s, more people could afford some of the basic status symbols they sought out in their ...

Jade Lily wanted to show off her grocery haul. In a recent video, the 26-year-old TikToker held up item after item: celebrity-endorsed supplements, packaged berries, coconut yogurt, bone broth, ...

Parents with disposable income have been turning to certain luxury baby and toddler brands. The Snoo smart bassinet has a high price tag, but some parents swear by it. These are the brands and items ...

Labubu dolls and Stanley cups are replacing luxury cars and designer clothes as status symbols, and that says something about the attention economy. “A lot of Gen Z is not spending money on luxury ...

Digital flex matters just as much as physical ones these days. Crypto wallets have completely transformed - they're not just storage solutions anymore but full-on status symbols. The younger ...

You're currently following this author! Want to unfollow? Unsubscribe via the link in your email. Follow Samantha Grindell Pettyjohn Every time Samantha Grindell Pettyjohn publishes a story, you’ll ...

If you grew up in the '90s, you probably remember certain things that instantly shouted coolness or success. These were the symbols everyone recognized-whether it was a gadget, fashion item, or a ...

Once a status symbol, now worthless junk A nostalgic look back at the decade of excess, the 1980s, reveals a time when conspicuous consumption reached new heights. Technology promised to revolutionize ...