Things that are unintentional status symbols.

[Anonymous]

An immaculately kept 15-plus-year-old Mercedes or Audi. One buys nice things, but treats them well so they last a long time. If it doesn't have a CD player (let alone iPod/bluetooth connection), one must deal with it.

Going back to more mainstream unintentional status symbols:

... Genuine Hunter wellies (olive green, not leopard print or Georgetown Cupcake pink)
... Monogrammed cardstock stationery, and if you use it to thank a neighbor who handed down some old baby clothes to you
... If you google yourself and one of your first hits is your wedding announcement in the New York Times (no other paper counts)
... Ski or boat rack on your car roof
... High school ring not manufactured by Josten's (i.e., no large fake gem in the middle)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not realizing how student loans make for a very uneven playing field post-college. I didn't for many years.

On a similar note, unpaid internships. After the age of 15, I could never afford to "not work."

Yes and working on the hill after graduation for no money. Never understood how unless someone is paying your bills

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Stokke anything, esp $1200 strollers that let the baby be at your eye level

hahahahahahahHHHHAAAAAA. ha. I'm 5'10" and I'm picturing the absurdity of a stroller that would hold a baby at my eye level. But anyway, you are completely missing the point of OP's post….so tiresome.

[Anonymous]

I'm still flabbergasted that North Face is considered by anyone to be a status symbol. Go to a real ski or outdoors store and NF is bottom of the barrel.

[Anonymous]

Men at their son's sports event at 2:30 on a Wednesday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Competing in triathlons, marathons, etc. It's trickling down a bit, but still largely belongs to upper middle class and up. Although they are show-offy pursuits, it's athletic prowess that's being shown off; I don't think most participants do it to flaunt wealth. Therefore, unintentional status symbols.

Yes plus the free time to train et

Here's my secret -- I do both because I can't get a job, acknowledgement of my resume, or an interview. I have lost track of the applications I have submitted, the number of networking events I have attended, recruiters I have talked to who have not helped in the least bit and informational interviews I have pursued that have gone nowhere.

I am incredibly discouraged and down on myself and exercising is the one consistent thing I can do. Oh yeah, I don't wear make-up either because I can't be bothered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:An immaculately kept 15-plus-year-old Mercedes or Audi. One buys nice things, but treats them well so they last a long time. If it doesn't have a CD player (let alone iPod/bluetooth connection), one must deal with it.

Going back to more mainstream unintentional status symbols:

... Genuine Hunter wellies (olive green, not leopard print or Georgetown Cupcake pink)
... Monogrammed cardstock stationery, and if you use it to thank a neighbor who handed down some old baby clothes to you
... If you google yourself and one of your first hits is your wedding announcement in the New York Times (no other paper counts)
... Ski or boat rack on your car roof
... High school ring not manufactured by Josten's (i.e., no large fake gem in the middle)

Yeah well, my sister's ring from Cathedral came from Josten's and my Sidwell ring (with an onyx stone) also came from Josten's so you know nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:An immaculately kept 15-plus-year-old Mercedes or Audi. One buys nice things, but treats them well so they last a long time. If it doesn't have a CD player (let alone iPod/bluetooth connection), one must deal with it.

Going back to more mainstream unintentional status symbols:

... Genuine Hunter wellies (olive green, not leopard print or Georgetown Cupcake pink)
... Monogrammed cardstock stationery, and if you use it to thank a neighbor who handed down some old baby clothes to you
... If you google yourself and one of your first hits is your wedding announcement in the New York Times (no other paper counts)
... Ski or boat rack on your car roof
... High school ring not manufactured by Josten's (i.e., no large fake gem in the middle)

Yeah well, my sister's ring from Cathedral came from Josten's and my Sidwell ring (with an onyx stone) also came from Josten's so you know nothing.

Again the difference between "intentional" status symbol vs. "unintentional" status symbol. You went to Sidwell, they did not cover "new vs. old money" ... sad, you should sue for your money back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
+1. Yup. This is a New England thing, though, I think. I'm from CT so I get this (though, sadly, I'm not one of the lucky ones). But yeah, we have friends with old family homes on the Vineyard and random little islands in Maine. They wear LL Bean fleeces all summer at said cottages (which are always extremely low-key, weathered, and rustic but at the same time perfectly tasteful and of obvious quality that has aged well). Old Volvos and Saabs and, back in the day, Jeep Wagoneers (remember those? LOVE). Very little jewelry or makeup, but they're always in shape so they can pull of the sporty look well. They ski, they sail, they know art, and they have interesting names for their grandparents. Point being, they don't have to broadcast their money with more high-end fleeces or white elephant summer homes. The low-key approach broadcasts their privilege and family background much more effectively to those who understand the code. I actually find it more refreshing than the flashiness around DC.

YES!!!!!!! Nailed it.

+1 (pp here who was the cape cod vacationer). Totally agree.

It's not just New England. I'm from Maryland. Old money just doesn't like to be flashy. It's tacky.

Right, so owning multi-million dollar homes and yachts is so understated. I'm confused. New England wealthy folk don't wear brand names, except they do; don't drive brand name cars, except they do; don't own flashy things, except they do. Remind me what's so classy about them whilst tacky about all the nouveau riche folks in their multi-million dollar homes and Mercedes?

[Anonymous]

15:08, is this the first time you've ever thought about this question?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Old oil painting of a 19th century great great grandfather/senator hanging in the dining room, framed letter from George Washington to relative hanging in home office…

In the dining room in 2014? Pompous…grasping, etc…but having these things in a den or home office, very cool.

So your dining room walls are blank, or you feel it's only appropriate to put art from Target on them?

[Anonymous]

I have a high-schooler and if I ask his friends where they're thinking of applying and it's a list of private universities, AND I know they aren't National Merit Scholars or great athletes, I have a pretty good idea that they're rich or some relative has a tidy nest egg put aside for Larla to use at Bennington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:15:08, is this the first time you've ever thought about this question?

It's the first time 15:08 realized that he/she is tacky...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:An immaculately kept 15-plus-year-old Mercedes or Audi. One buys nice things, but treats them well so they last a long time. If it doesn't have a CD player (let alone iPod/bluetooth connection), one must deal with it.

Going back to more mainstream unintentional status symbols:

... Genuine Hunter wellies (olive green, not leopard print or Georgetown Cupcake pink)
... Monogrammed cardstock stationery, and if you use it to thank a neighbor who handed down some old baby clothes to you
... If you google yourself and one of your first hits is your wedding announcement in the New York Times (no other paper counts)
... Ski or boat rack on your car roof
...High school ring not manufactured by Josten's (i.e., no large fake gem in the middle)

I believe a NYT wedding announcement is the very definition of "intentional status symbol".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:An immaculately kept 15-plus-year-old Mercedes or Audi. One buys nice things, but treats them well so they last a long time. If it doesn't have a CD player (let alone iPod/bluetooth connection), one must deal with it.

Going back to more mainstream unintentional status symbols:

... Genuine Hunter wellies (olive green, not leopard print or Georgetown Cupcake pink)
... Monogrammed cardstock stationery, and if you use it to thank a neighbor who handed down some old baby clothes to you
... If you google yourself and one of your first hits is your wedding announcement in the New York Times (no other paper counts)
... Ski or boat rack on your car roof
... High school ring not manufactured by Josten's (i.e., no large fake gem in the middle)

Yeah well, my sister's ring from Cathedral came from Josten's and my Sidwell ring (with an onyx stone) also came from Josten's so you know nothing.

Again the difference between "intentional" status symbol vs. "unintentional" status symbol. You went to Sidwell, they did not cover "new vs. old money" … sad, you should sue for your money back.

What are you even talking about…I don't think 1st PP knew that signet rings from elite schools do come from Josten's…whatever, you sound like a very small minded, barely have any meaningful values sort of garden variety grotesque, so, carry on.