When bad taste becomes a status symbol

Christmas jumpers and a £1,300 'pub carpet' Guinness sweater anchor this look at 'ironic consumption' and Veblen goods. Taylor traces how Christmas jumpers went from unfashionable to unavoidable, then uses the JW Anderson x Guinness range to show how a high price is the point: people buy because the cost signals status. The in-group and out-group idea (the same look means different things to different buyers) adds a nice layer on signalling and market segmentation. It covers similar ground to the luxury-pricing entry, so you might pick one, but this version is stronger on trends and conspicuous consumption. Accessible to all students and a good way into why willingness to pay is about more than usefulness.  Read here