Reconciling the Public & Private Self

Prompt No. 37: A “Drinking” Game, Broken Dress Codes, A Playlist for Rearranging

Me making my fashion theory content.

Editorial Note: The word “status” is written so many times that I feel a bit self-conscious about having to use it this much in order to convey my thoughts. Therefore, I propose a drinking game — take a sip of something every time you come across the word. Whomever makes it to the end of this Prompt without passing out or having to use the restroom wins. Let me know how you did in the comments!

One of my favorite niche (and rarely spotted) genres on TikTok is the Luxury Creator’s Justification for the Uninspired Home. It often comes as a response to an uncouth commenter observing what many have likely noticed and ignored: an apparent discrepancy between the creator’s public presentation and their private space. Although many have invested time and money in making neutral or even enviable spaces conducive to their content, some bravely showcase their lives and positional goods without much consideration for their surroundings. To be clear, I have no interested in the explanation; there can be any number of reasons why someone has, for instance, an Hermès Birkin and mini blinds (particularly in an era where luxury can be made [more] affordable through retail lending and the secondhand market). Rather, I find the expectation of an aligned lifestyle, and the call out of any perceived incongruence, fascinating. It is as if a sort of fraud has taken place; that the conspicuous consumption meant to signify high status was undermined by other available evidence. With a fuller picture, the commenter has determined someone’s “real” social position. Conveying status through the home requires considerably more money and taste than most have. While the problem may seem exclusive to a certain type of content creator, the deceit is common — it’s just that most get away with it. It begs the question, should we expect congruence between the public and private selves and how should we interpret any discordance?