Mary Altaffer/AP, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Tiffany co, Prada, Van Cleef, Tyler Le/BI
New York Fashion Week is one of the most famous style events in the world.So, we asked attendees what status symbols are popular among their friends, colleagues, and peers. They said Dior skiwear, designer kitten heels, and Prada clothes are all having a moment.
If anyone knows what’s trendy, it’s the people attending New York Fashion Week.
So this year, Business Insider asked a handful of people on-site what status symbols they’ve been seeing in their inner circles. What handbags are all their colleagues carrying, and what designer clothes do their friends love?
From Dior skiwear to designer kitten heels, here’s what they said.
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Juliet Shroder, an influencer and Celeb Secrets correspondent, told BI that she recently purchased a rare version of the coveted handbag and loves carrying it.
The fashion brand’s Capucines line is inspired by the first Louis Vuitton store in 1854, which was located on Rue Neuve-des-Capucines in Paris.
Sold in various colors and sizes, each bag is made from leather and crafted during a 250-step process, according to the Louis Vuitton website. They range in price between $6,100 and $7,700 each.
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While Shroder said she dreams of owning a Chanel suit one day, Teodora Bakardzhieva — a friend of the Badgley Mischka team — said her most luxurious purchase of the past year was a Chanel bag.
“It’s so cliché; everyone’s got one here,” Bakardzhieva told BI about seeing the bags at NYFW. “But you know, it’s timeless.”
Chanel was predicted to have a strong year among luxury shoppers in 2023. And with the quiet-luxury trend still going strong, it’s unsurprising that the designer brand’s suits, bags, and other pieces continue to serve as status symbols in 2024.
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“I was just in Aspen a couple of weeks ago, and there were a lot of furs and Dior ski suits,” Shroder said. “Anything après-ski, if you have that, is kind of It Girl.”
And as Shroder mentioned, you can’t get more luxurious than Dior. The French fashion house launched its skiwear line, DiorAlps, in 2021.
Today, the collection includes $450 ski headbands, $1,230 monogram ski goggles, $1,290 snow boots, $2,600 ski pants, $5,700 quilted jackets, and $7,300 snowboards.
Tiffany and Co.
If you followed fashion and celebrities in the early 2000s, you know exactly which necklaces these are. Crafted from thick silver chains with toggle clasps, the jewelry is decorated with heart-shaped pendants that read, “Please return to Tiffany & Co.”
“I bought myself the toggle choker, and I was super excited about it because I saved up,” Molly Farrell-Savage, a costume designer and stylist at NYFW, told BI.
The classic necklaces retail for $925 each, while more extravagant versions featuring pearls and diamonds cost $1,700.
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When asked what status symbols are popular in her inner circle, Bakardzhieva quickly replied: “Aside from the Range Rover? That’s the status symbol outside fashion.”
“The Real Housewives of Atlanta” star Eva Marcille agreed, telling BI that her most luxurious purchase of the past year was “more cars.”
“Gracie, my Porsche Panamera, is my favorite,” she said.
Elizabeth Woods, the mom and manager of Jordyn Woods, said her status-symbol car of choice is a Mercedes S500, one of which she purchased last year.
So, regardless of which model you choose, it’s safe to say that expensive cars are in.
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Van Cleef & Arpels jewels aren’t just status symbols. They’re part of a legacy.
The brand was founded by Alfred Van Cleef and Estelle Arpels in 1906 and has remained a major player in the fashion industry ever since.
Today, its fans include jewelry fanatics and celebrities like Taylor Swift, who wore a Van Cleef & Arpels piece to the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards.
New York Fashion Week attendees like Marcille also describe the brand’s jewelry — which can reach prices of $1,180,000 — as fashionable symbols of status and wealth.
“If you don’t have a Van Cleef, step your game up,” she told BI.
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In 2024, Italian fashion house Prada is known for its trendy handbags, chunky shoes, and $925 white tank top.
But one New York Fashion Week attendee is making the case for the brand’s suits and menswear.
“I’m a big Prada fan,” Dhaval Bhanusali, a dermatologist and member of the Rhode formulation team, told BI. “Most of my clothes and suits are Prada.”
So, what is it that draws Bhanusali to the brand’s designs? Simplicity.
“The less is more approach to life has taken over, so I always support that,” he said.
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Influencer Daisy Marquez told BI she’d noticed pointed pumps with super-short heels popping up everywhere.
“All my friends and I have been obsessed with kitten heels recently. We love them,” she said. “Stilettos and very tall heels will be out this year.”
Some of the most luxurious kitten heels on the market include a $1,050 pair from Dior, a $1,100 set from Celine, and $1,295 heels from Manolo Blahnik.
“Comfort is luxury,” Marquez said.
Photo by Edward Berthelot/Getty Images
“Birkin, Birkin, Birkin,” Woods said when asked to name a popular fashion piece in her circle. “A lot of people I know have them.”
“I love them, but the prices are crazy,” she laughed.
Those prices can start at $25,000 for a standard bag and exceed $500,000 for a rare design.
As BI previously reported, the purses were partially designed by and named after Jane Birkin, who came up with the concept while seated on a flight next to Jean-Louis Dumas, a former Hermès executive.
Decades later, they’re still highly-coveted and admired fashion staples.
