When I was in my early 20’s, I was absolutely obsessed with buying designer clothing from the likes of Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Balenciaga, etc.
And they could under no circumstances be an understated piece, it had to have the logo plastered all over so people KNEW what I was wearing.
Needless to say, I was pretty insecure, really I just wanted people to notice me and like me.
I then came across a fascinating study called The Status Signals Paradox.
“Often times we think that status symbols – whether a luxury car like a BMW, a brand name purse like Prada, or an expensive watch like Rolex – will make us look more socially attractive to others,” says Stephen Garcia (University of Michigan). “However, our research suggests that these status signals actually make us look less socially attractive, not more.”
Status Signals Paradox Study
This study made me realizes what I was doing was actually giving me the opposite effect of what I wanted.
The study basically looked into how having a high-status marker (eg: a BMW) as opposed to a neutral status marker (eg: a Honda) makes you LESS attractive to people.
It’s a fascinating study that really drives home the fact that at the end of the day – most people don’t care about the fancy things you own and in-fact it can hurt you in certain ways.
I still of course love fashion, but I go about it in a different way. My guide on how to build a minimalist wardrobe focuses on understated pieces and not gaudy designers.
Fashion is now a way to express myself instead of trying to get the attention of others in a negative way (I’m better than you!).