Luxury Fashion: A Symbol of Belonging
Luxury fashion is more than clothes. It is about how clothes make us feel. It is also about what the clothes say to the world. When someone wears a luxury item, like a Gucci bag or a Chanel jacket, it tells a story. It says, “I care about style. I want to belong. I have taste.” People buy luxury fashion for many reasons. Some want to show success. Some want to feel happy or proud. Some want to be part of a group. Luxury is not only about money. It is also about culture, family, and even feelings. Let’s look at why people love luxury fashion and what it means today.
A classic black Chanel quilted handbag with gold chain strap, a timeless symbol of luxury fashion.
Image via Legit Grails
Money and Fancy Fashion
Money plays a big part in luxury fashion. Clothes from brands like Louis Vuitton or Hermès cost a lot. Not everyone can afford to buy them, but people who can, often do.
Young women with multiple luxury brand shopping bags.
Image via Pursuitist
High Income Consumers: They buy many luxury items. They see fashion as an investment.
Working Class people: They might buy one luxury piece, like a bag or belt, to feel special. This is could be seen as “treat yourself shopping".”
Hard times: Even when the economy is bad, very wealthy people still shop luxury. But the average working class shoppers seem to slow down, and companies lose them as customers.
Age Groups and Style
Different age groups see luxury in different ways.
Gen Z (born 1997–2012): This is the youngest group. They grew up with phones and social media. They like resale apps such as Depop and The RealReal. They care about saving the planet, so they love secondhand fashion.
Millennials (born 1981–1996): They like both luxury items and fun experiences, like travel. They buy eco-friendly brands and collabs with artists. They want fashion that tells a story.
Gen X (born 1965–1980): They are in their big earning years. They buy classic pieces that last, like a black Prada bag or a Burberry coat.
Baby Boomers (born 1946–1964): They like tradition and heritage brands. They are loyal to Chanel, Hermès, and Cartier.
A difference in fashion between Millennials and Gen Z.
Image by Edward Berthelot/Jeremy Moeller via Business Insider
Fashion for Everyone
Luxury used to be mostly for women. But this is changing.
Men’s fashion: Luxury fashion for men is growing fast. Brands make sneakers, streetwear, and suits for men. Collabs like Louis Vuitton x Supreme made men’s fashion cool.
Unisex and gender-free: Younger shoppers want clothes that anyone can wear. Brands like Gucci and Balenciaga now make unisex collections.
Ads and identity: Luxury ads now show many gender identities, not just “male” or “female.”
Gucci Campaign
Image via The Impression
Why People Buy Luxury
Luxury fashion is about feelings, not just fabric. People shop for many reasons:
Status: To show they are successful. Carrying a Birkin means carrying status.
Self-expression: To show who they are. A bold outfit says “I let my clothes tell my creative story.”
Feel-good: To reward themselves after hard work.
Social media: To post photos on Instagram or TikTok. Many people want likes and comments on their outfits.
From status to self-expression, here’s why shoppers reach for luxury.
Image via Chatgpt
How Life Is Changing
Life changes affect luxury fashion too.
Resale apps: The RealReal and Vestiaire Collective let people buy and sell secondhand luxury.
Sharing fashion: Rent the Runway lets people borrow luxury items for a short time. This makes luxury more affordable.
COVID changes: When people worked from home, they stopped buying suits. Instead, they bought comfy luxury clothes like sweaters, jewelry, and handbags.
Passing style forward — from one owner to the next.
Image via USA Today
Why Luxury Still Matters
Luxury fashion is powerful because it mixes money, culture, feelings, and stories. It shows who we are, who we want to be, and what groups we want to join.
Whether someone buys a $10,000 Birkin or rents a Gucci dress for one night, luxury makes people feel proud, special, and connected.
In the end, luxury is not just what we wear, it is apart of who we are.
References
Canva. (2025, September 23). Canva.com.
Chatgpt. (2025, September 23). Chatgpt.com.
Fashion Revolution. (2021). The impact of Covid-19 on the people who make our clothes. Fashion Revolution. https://www.fashionrevolution.org/covid19/
Pablo Gutiérrez-Ravé Villalón. (2024, March 22). Report on the different luxury consumers by age and how much each generational group consumes | LUXONOMY. LUXONOMY. https://luxonomy.net/report-on-the-different-luxury-consumers-by-age-and-how-much-each-generational-group-consumes/
Page, V. (2024, June 19). The Psychology Behind Why People Buy Luxury Goods. Investopedia. https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/091115/psychology-behind-why-people-buy-luxury-goods.asp
Image by Alexandra Oakland via Canva
