Gen Z and Money: Quiet Luxury is Dead – What the Hell is Going On?

Title: Gen Z's "Quiet Luxury" is Dead; Now It's Just Conspicuous Lunch-Packing

The Trophy Lunchbox Era

So, "quiet luxury" is dead, huh? Give me a break. It was always a load of crap peddled to us by brands who wanted to sell us beige cashmere sweaters for the price of a used car. Now we're supposed to believe Gen Z is packing their own sad desk lunches while blowing their cash on Coach bags and Louboutins?

Right.

According to the article, these kids are cutting back on Chipotle (RIP my beloved burrito bowl) but dropping $400 on a Coach tote? That's not some sophisticated rejection of consumerism; that's just…prioritizing different crap. It's trading one form of conspicuous consumption for another.

And the "vicarious leisure" angle? Please. It's not about "displaying discernment"; it's about showing off on Instagram. A $400 bag isn't proof of self-control; it's proof you're willing to starve for a week to look cool.

Red Bottoms and Red Flags

Don't even get me started on the Louboutins. Sales are up 82% among Gen Z buyers on resale sites? Seriously? The article claims the discomfort is part of the appeal, a visible pain endured for the "privilege" of being seen enduring it. What is this, some kind of bizarre Cinderella fetish? Are we glorifying foot torture now? I'm pretty sure my grandma had more sense than this, and she used to wear orthopedic shoes with pride.

And the guys aren't any better. Luxury Swiss watches? On TikTok? As "social currency"? Newsflash: a watch tells time. That's it. It doesn't buy you friends, respect, or a personality. It just tells everyone you're insecure enough to need a shiny object to validate your existence.

Wait, Sotheby's watch sales to under-30s went up? Are these kids getting dumber or am I just getting old?

(Actually, don't answer that.)

I swear, sometimes I think the entire world is just one giant influencer marketing campaign disguised as reality.

The Algorithmic Overlords

The article mentions that 65% of Gen Z get their fashion cues from social media. No freakin' surprise there. They're basically lab rats in a dopamine-drip experiment, constantly bombarded with targeted ads and influencer endorsements. It's not about personal style; it's about algorithmic suggestion. They're not expressing themselves; they're regurgitating what TikTok tells them to like.

And these poor kids are already drowning in debt, facing a garbage job market, and dealing with the existential dread of climate change. Now they're supposed to be socialites on a ramen noodle budget?

Ten-year-olds using anti-aging serums? Chemical burns from TikTok trends? What the hell is wrong with people? I miss the days when kids were just worried about cooties.

Offcourse, none of this is really new. Veblen figured this crap out over a century ago. It's always been about social reassurance, about proving you're worthy, about keeping up with the Joneses (or, in this case, the Kardashians).

But maybe, just maybe, there's a glimmer of hope in the "affordable opulence" trend. Recreating Ralph Lauren Christmas with dollar-store finds? At least that shows some creativity and resourcefulness. Maybe they're not completely lost. Maybe.

We're Doomed (And It's Hilarious)