Luxury Is a Scam, But You Still Want It—Here’s Why

AKA the Hermès Upgrade: My Most Superficial Saga Yet?

When My Apple Watch Betrayed Me

I was deep in my Apple Watch Tamagotchi era—religiously closing rings, tracking my heart rate through minor emotional breakdowns, and logging every brunch-to-dinner stroll like I was training for the Olympics.

The Watch wasn’t just a gadget—it had become an extension of my personality.

Then summer hit.
Flowy dresses. Linen vibes. Soft girl energy.

But in every photo? There it was. That chunky pink silicone band.

It clashed with everything. Screamed “fitness tracker” when I was going for “carefree chic.”
It was like wearing Crocs to a wedding.

The Hermès Moment

And then I saw her: the Hermès leather band.

Sleek. Subtle. Understated flex.

It didn’t scream “I’m rich.”
It whispered, “I’m put together.”

So yes—I clicked Buy Now.

Nothing Changed, But Everything Felt Different

Did the watch do anything new? No.
It still tracked my steps and judged me for skipping leg day.

But me? I felt different. Luxe. Composed. Balanced.

Because luxury isn’t about utility.
It’s about the story we tell ourselves while wearing it.

The Psychology of Expensive Things

We associate price with quality.
We equate luxury with status.

It’s branding. It’s marketing.
It’s decades of conditioning.

Think about Apple. Think about handbags.
We’re not buying stuff—we’re buying identity.

The Scam That Isn’t

So is luxury a scam?

Yes—and no.

The scam isn’t in the stitching.
It’s in the illusion that the thing makes you better.

Luxury sells aspiration.
Status in a strap. Identity in a logo.

What we’re really buying is a belief:
That more expensive = more worthy.

The Final Peanut Butter Smear 🥜

So yes, luxury is kind of a scam.
But it’s a beautiful one—and we’re all willing participants.
Just… don’t call it self-care if you’re racking up credit card debt for the aesthetic.