Once a status symbol, now worthless junk A nostalgic look back at the decade of excess, the 1980s, reveals a time when conspicuous consumption reached new heights. Technology promised to revolutionize ...

A new status hierarchy emerged where emotional regulation is the ultimate flex. Having composure in chaos signals strength. Remaining calm when others panic signals intelligence. Managing emotions ...

There is something deeply uncomfortable about the idea that the things we buy to show the world we're doing well might ...

Travel has overtaken luxury vehicles as the primary symbol of having "made it" among mass affluent Americans, according to the Forbes Research 2025 Mass Affluent Survey. We polled more than 1,000 ...

Three-quarters of Americans say they plan to trade down, forgoing more extravagant purchases in the future. For decades, the markers of success in America followed a familiar script: bigger homes, ...

Class and status have defined and disturbed civilisations for generations. In monarchies, a family monopolised power, privileges and status. Political reforms, based on voting, watered down their ...

Remember when showing off meant a flashy logo or a fast car? Those days are fading fast. Now, the real "flex" is looking like ...