The Sum of Small Things: A Theory of the Aspirational Class
Unfortunately, like fashion trends that debut on the runway and make it into JCPenney three years later, the luxury beliefs of the upper class often trickle down and are adopted by people lower on the food chain, which means many of these beliefs end up causing social harm.
Rob Henderson • Troubled: A Memoir of Foster Care, Family, and Social Class
8. The Big Stretch. Rising incomes among a small group of Americans led to that group breaking away in lifestyle. They bought bigger homes, nicer cars, went to expensive schools, and took fancy vacations.
Nick Wignall • Outline.com
Thanks to the Internet, products across categories are now more susceptible to trends than to individual preferences. It’s easy to blame algorithms for the sameness of our taste choices, but the real culprit is us. Humans use social signals to quickly orient themselves in the world. On a daily basis, we actively classify one another by lifestyle, v
... See moreAna Andjelic • The Business of Aspiration: How Social, Cultural, and Environmental Capital Changes Brands
Modern aspiration economy is anchored not in accumulation and display of possessions or even experiences, but of social capital, environmental credits, and cultural savviness (Currid-Halkett, 2017; Eckhardt, 2020).
Ana Andjelic • The Business of Aspiration: How Social, Cultural, and Environmental Capital Changes Brands
In today's affluent consumer societies, that drive means decision making on new products, services, and experiences becomes inextricably linked to identity. Through their consumption, your customers are pursuing nothing less than the self-improvement—physical, mental, emotional, spiritual—that can help them transform into their ideal selves.