Fashion's Obsession With Wealth

For centuries, fashion trends have generally been driven by the elite for the elite. Throughout history, royals have held an especially high degree of influence over fashion. The trends started by these royals would often be imitated by members of the upper classes. Historically, fashion has been associated with wealth and status.

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However, we are living in a new age of fashion that is accessible to everyone. Trendy clothing can be purchased not just at high-class boutiques but virtually anywhere, from thrift stores to fast-fashion retailers. Furthermore, fashion is no longer controlled by a select group of society’s most elite members. It’s now a tool for self-expression awarded to everyone, elite and working-class alike.

Even so, fashion continues to maintain its wealth-based roots. Society’s most celebrated brands, from Gucci to Chanel to Louis Vuitton, are unaffordable to most people. These brands maintain their status not only from their rich history but also from their sense of exclusivity. The most respected figures in the fashion industry are nearly always seen clad in outfits costing thousands of dollars, out of reach for most ordinary people. Those who can afford such outfits have developed an obsession with maintaining the exclusivity and elitism of high fashion, and those cannot have developed an obsession with creating the illusion of wealth.

All throughout the many blogs, Youtube channels, and Instagram accounts dedicated to fashion, posts about dressing to appear rich abound. Influencers will often post tricks regarding what colors and silhouettes to wear to appear as wealthy as possible. I once read a blog suggesting that New Yorkers should wear uncomfortable looking high heels when exploring the city, as they give off the impression of being able to afford to hail cabs everywhere instead of taking the subway. Appearing put-together is a key aspect of fashion, but it seems that many of today’s fashion trends stem from an obsession with wealth which has gone too far. Even during this current quarantine era, I’ve seen many posts about styling one’s sweats to appear as rich as possible.

One of many Youtube videos showing how to dress rich. Image via.

Fashion’s obsession with wealth is understandable. It’s only natural that people are fascinated by the lives of society’s elite. We are all drawn toward the lives of those whose lifestyles we cannot attain. And this especially makes sense given fashion’s history of domination by society’s most powerful. But fashion has shifted to a point where it should no longer revolve around presenting wealth. We are living in an unprecedented era in which fashion is truly for anyone. Clothes are more accessible than ever, and diverse styles are becoming more accepted and celebrated. The obsession with wealth feels like it should be obsolete in this new era of fashion. As fashion becomes more widespread and diverse, it’s becoming more and more powerful as a medium for creativity and self-expression. It plays a key role in allowing people to present themselves the way they want to be seen. We’re lucky to be experiencing this age of fashion, and mainstream fashion’s excessive obsession with wealth feels like it’s pulling us back into an era when fashion wasn’t accessible to everyone. Fashion is about far more than just money: there’s a great contribution to identity, art, and culture that is disrespected by focusing only on creating an illusion of wealth.

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