Joanne ChenEnglish 201Ryan Hudgins

Look at that Shirt! Are Look at that Shirt! Are they Rich? : How People they Rich? : How People View Social Status View Social Status through Fashionthrough Fashion

Regular T-Shirt vs. Polo Shirt

BackgroundConspicuous Consumption:

Displaying wealth & possession to show others their prosperity

Fashion:A style or trend that people follow in society

Low Class = Working for a living

Middle Class = Enough to spend and live

High Class = Superfluous income without jobs

My PredictionI believe that:

Lower-Income are judged unequally for their class status

They consume conspicuously through fashion

BUT…Fashion evolves & changes each week

Therefore:

Low-Income consumers ≠ perceived equally

Expensive Vs. Affordable Dress

17.7 Million Dress

2000 Stones w/ worlds rarest and expensive red diamonds

22.80 US Dollars

Floral Lace Dress with Belt from Forever 21

Magazines promotes current

fashion.

Role Models

Adaptation

Copy Version of Wealthy = Similar dress code

The Bandwagon EffectWhen a specific brand is excessively bought within a short period of time

Regular LV bag that is overly popular working classes

LV Limited Edition Monogram Shearling Thunder Bag for wealthy

class

Fashion Changes Throughout Centuries

1700s

Farmers in the 1700s1990s

2000s (Today)

Fashion Changes

April 2012 April 2013

ConclusionLow-Income consumers tries to adapt

Style currently trending

Brand Name Items

Bandwagon

Fashion changes yearly, monthly & daily

Therefore this is still a distinguishExpensive Dresses = Wealthy able to afford only

Affordable Dresses = Working Classes

Questions

Will things change in a few centuries?

Will the low-income be able to reach equality through fashion?