Things that are unintentional status symbols.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Walking to the grocery store because you simply cannot abide having to freeze some chicken.

Owning a Vitamix, a Sodastream, and a Nespresso.

Not wearing make-up.

I totally agree with this.

I don't wear make-up because I'm lazy.

Me too. Could some explain this one? I read the thread on French women and still don't get it.

I don't do my nails either.

I'm not writing this to be snarky, but if you've been around a lot of people with understated old money, you would know what this means. We have always vacationed in Chatham, Truro and Welfleet on the cape. Tons of people like this (unlike us, they own their houses and only use them 8 weeks a year) The dowdier they dress, the more money they have (at least up there). I almost lol thinking of lipstick or any make up really on any f them.

Lots of poor people don't wear makeup, so I don't get how this is a moniker of a status symbol, unless ofcourse they are shopping at a high end store with no makeup. But shopping at a high-end store speaks for itself. Maybe it's regional like PP stated. Like in a certain town, rich people don't wear makeup but the poorer people do. Weird.

I saw a Japanese film once that took place during feudal times. The upper class had their eyebrows shaved off and drawn on high on their forehead. Looked alien. If I were upper class, I woulda made the poor people look alien and me more human. That's just me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Driving to a store that's less than a mile away.

Paying anything for kindergarten.

Taking medication that makes your eyelashes thicker or injecting toxins to make your forehead smooth.

Waxing parts of your body that no one but your waxer will ever actually look at.

This is all wrong. These things are either intentional status symbols (private school) or just insecurity (botox).

The topic is UNINTENTIONAL symbols of status. The person who said "competing in Ironman triathlons" got it right. Not because the competitor is really fit or hot or something, but because only the upper echelon of people can take the time and have the income to train for that.

Those in the know, know this. You need nannies to watch your kids for the HOURS it takes to train, big bucks to fly all around the US, expensive equipment and food, personal trainers/ coaches, elective medical procedures, sports massages, and on and on and on. A good tri bike alone costs $5,000. Look it up.

Joe Schmoe, GS-11 commuting from Burke, Va. and married to Julie Schmoe, GS-10, with 2 kids in daycare at that closes at 6:30, SHARP, is going to have a hell of a time carving out the hours a day to prepare.

The two people I know who compete in triathlons are a grad student who makes almost no money and my mentally-challenged uncle who works as a grocery store checker. It isn't the activity you are commenting on, it is how someone goes about it. You can be into triathlons without an expensive bike or you can be really into yoga without expensive yoga pants.

I said Ironman.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nanny
New cars
New homes

Bzzzzzt

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Not knowing what public school your address is zoned for, since it was never considered an option.

That just sounds like living in large swaths of DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Walking to the grocery store because you simply cannot abide having to freeze some chicken.

Owning a Vitamix, a Sodastream, and a Nespresso.

Not wearing make-up.

I totally agree with this.

I don't wear make-up because I'm lazy.

Me too. Could some explain this one? I read the thread on French women and still don't get it.

I don't do my nails either.

I'm not writing this to be snarky, but if you've been around a lot of people with understated old money, you would know what this means. We have always vacationed in Chatham, Truro and Welfleet on the cape. Tons of people like this (unlike us, they own their houses and only use them 8 weeks a year) The dowdier they dress, the more money they have (at least up there). I almost lol thinking of lipstick or any make up really on any f them.

Lots of poor people don't wear makeup, so I don't get how this is a moniker of a status symbol, unless ofcourse they are shopping at a high end store with no makeup. But shopping at a high-end store speaks for itself. Maybe it's regional like PP stated. Like in a certain town, rich people don't wear makeup but the poorer people do. Weird.

I saw a Japanese film once that took place during feudal times. The upper class had their eyebrows shaved off and drawn on high on their forehead. Looked alien. If I were upper class, I woulda made the poor people look alien and me more human. That's just me.

Pp here. I guess that's it - context. In circumstances where most women would dress themselves up, including makeup, these women wouldn't put on the makeup. So, no makeup at at drop off/pick up, probably not a status symbol. But no makeup (or extremely light makeup -powder) when you go to a nice dinner or to a evening wedding - status symbol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:School stickers to good college prep schools

Visitation, Sidwell, Bullis, Stone Ridge

The opposite of what we are talking about.

[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

Yes, the running clothes, shoes, and registration fees cost a lot of $$$. My friend keeps trying to get me to run races with her and I almost always decline because the fees are just too much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nanny
New cars
New homes

These are not "unintentional"!!!

[Anonymous]

A (volunteer) board position with a charity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wearing (expensive) sneakers to work with your sportcoat. At least in STEM fields, it means you're on trend and innovative, but still important (see sportcoat).

Shopping at the farmer's market

Making your own baby food

?? I disagree. I made my own baby food because it was less expensive, and I knew exactly what was going into said food. I didn't buy special equipment - just used the food processor I got as a wedding gift, and froze the food in ice cube trays.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Northface

Not more... U need mountain hardware or HH

Again, intentional!!

Do you people need a dictionary to understand "unintentional!" Brand snobs are doing it intentionally!! North face and HH are the total opposite of unintentional status symbols. They are like the text book photo of a status symbol!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Northface

Not more... U need mountain hardware or HH

Again, intentional!!

Do you people need a dictionary to understand "unintentional!" Brand snobs are doing it intentionally!! North face and HH are the total opposite of unintentional status symbols. They are like the text book photo of a status symbol!

Along this line, I'd say ll bean.

[Anonymous]

Why are people jumping all over the "unintentional." Every purchase in life is intentional -- you had the free will to buy it or not. I'm guessing the OP wanted to just talk about status symbols -- someone buys a North Face bc they want a fleece and look turns out they're wearing what someone else considers a status symbol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are people jumping all over the "unintentional." Every purchase in life is intentional -- you had the free will to buy it or not. I'm guessing the OP wanted to just talk about status symbols -- someone buys a North Face bc they want a fleece and look turns out they're wearing what someone else considers a status symbol.

No one accidentally buys a NorthFace without caring, on some level, that it has a visible NorthFace logo. Don't be dense. If NorthFace is not an intentional, purposeful statement of status, I don't know what is.

[Anonymous]

Chinese vases that have been in the family since the mid 19th century.