From Entertainment to Smartphones – Luxury Items and Services are more Accessible than Ever
There was once a time that luxury items were only available for the elite, but the current age is one in which increasing amounts of previously lavish items and services are accessible to many. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it just means that people who want to be considered among high society no longer need to splash a load of cash on other profligate possessions in order to maintain a superior status. So, what are the main things that have become mainstream in the lower rungs of the societal ladder?
Entertainment
In the 19th century, popular means of entertainment were only available to the upper classes. The theatre was a common spot for members of high society to mingle, and other forms of social activity included going to the opera and watching comedy shows. Moving forward into the 1900s, casinos emerged as a spot for the rich and famous to find stimulation. The smart dress codes of these establishments excluded those who couldn’t afford extravagant ware.
Fast forward to the modern age and this has all changed drastically. Entertainment is now available to a great proportion of the world’s population. Almost half the people in the world – around 3.2 billion – have access to the internet and therefore are able to view and download films, series, and games. Even the casino has adapted, with online casino sites like Buzz Bingo bringing slot games and tabletop offerings to players in their homes, where they can play them in a dressing gown and slippers rather than a tuxedo or a ball gown. Movie and television streaming services like Netflix and Amazon have made all sorts of visual entertainment available to anyone with an internet-ready device as well.
Technology
With the advancement of technology, newer generations of the most hi-tech pieces of kit are released each year. When the first smartphones were launched, they priced a lot of users out of the market. This was highlighted by the slow early sales of the original iPhone from Apple in 2007, with the 8GB model being $599 in the States when it was first released. But as newer versions of the handheld device became available, earlier models became cheaper and allowed people with smaller budgets to experience the tech trend.
Now 81 percent of Americans own a smartphone, so many argue that it can no longer be classed as a luxury device. People with an eye for extravagant items could instead look towards smartwatches, Apple AirPods, and virtual reality headsets to illustrate their affluence. All of these devices are already cemented into the mainstream tech industry, but the most advanced devices settle in a high-end price tier.
The internet and advanced technology have made smart devices and entertainment more accessible, and it doesn’t stop there. Fashion was once exclusive to the more privileged section of society, but now second-hand sites like Depop are making once expensive and valuable designer labels more affordable. Even DNA tests have been made available to people in their homes.
It seems that the elite will have to get creative and innovative when searching for exclusive products in this era of convenience and affordability.
