"Most notably, the president has transformed the look of the Oval Office into a barrage of gold, from gilded statues and vases to accent pieces that Internet sleuths said were actually just painted decor from Home Depot. ( Trump denied this.) While mocked as tacky by many observers, the look is of a piece with a continuing embrace of brazen material opulence, from a $1 million " gold card" visa and a massive new ballroom where the East Wing used to be, to accepting a $400 jet from the Qatari government."
"Walmart doesn't usually find itself in the same conversation as luxury brands. But the discount behemoth's $78 bag that echoed the design of the Hermès' iconic $10,000-and-up Birkin was dubbed "the Wirkin" on social media. It quickly became a sensation-and an emblem of "dupe" culture, in which lower prices handily trump authenticity. That may threaten the value of some high-end brands, but actual Birkins remain coveted: The original, made for actress Jane Birkin, sold at auction for $10.9 million this year."
The Oval Office underwent a dramatic gilding, with gilded statues, vases, and accent pieces sometimes traced to painted Home Depot decor, reflecting a broader embrace of brazen material opulence. Displays of wealth included a $1 million "gold card" visa, a massive new ballroom where the East Wing used to be, acceptance of a $400 jet from Qatar, and a shiny, newly invented FIFA "peace prize." Walmart's $78 "Wirkin" echoed the Hermès Birkin and became a social-media sensation that epitomized dupe culture, even as original Birkins remained highly coveted and fetched $10.9 million at auction. Starbucks faced a difficult turnaround, including hundreds of store closures and layoffs.
Read at Fast Company
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