10 brands that used to mean high status but now just look dated

I recently went through my wardrobe and found a designer bag I bought seven years ago when I first moved to São Paulo. Back then, carrying it made me feel like I'd finally arrived. These days, it sits in the back of my closet while I reach for something simpler.

Status symbols shift faster than we realize. What once signaled wealth and sophistication can start to feel tired or even try-hard. Sometimes it's because everyone has it now. Other times, the world just moves on and what felt luxurious begins to look out of touch.

Here are ten examples that used to carry serious weight but have lost their shine over time.

1. Logo-heavy designer belts

There was a moment when those big Gucci or Louis Vuitton logo belts were everywhere. People wore them to signal they could afford luxury, and for a while, it worked.

Now they feel like relics from a different era. The trend has shifted toward quiet luxury, where the focus is on quality and craftsmanship rather than obvious branding. When you see someone wearing one today, it can feel more nostalgic than impressive.

The loudness that once felt confident now reads as outdated. Subtlety has become the new status marker, and those belts just don't fit the current mood.

2. Abercrombie & Fitch

In the early 2000s, Abercrombie was the brand to wear if you wanted to look cool. The logo tees, the heavily perfumed stores, the shirtless models at the entrance. It all screamed exclusivity and aspirational youth culture.

That image collapsed pretty quickly. The brand's problematic marketing and narrow definition of who could belong became impossible to ignore. What once felt desirable started to feel exclusionary and out of touch.

These days, wearing Abercrombie doesn't carry the same weight. The brand has tried to reinvent itself, but the cultural moment has passed. It's a reminder that status isn't just about the product but about what the brand represents.

3. Juicy Couture tracksuits

I remember when those velour tracksuits with "Juicy" written across the back were the ultimate casual luxury item. Celebrities wore them everywhere, and suddenly everyone wanted one.

Looking back, they feel like a time capsule from the mid-2000s. The appeal was partly about being part of a specific moment, and once that moment passed, the tracksuits lost their meaning.

Wearing one now feels more like a costume or a nostalgic nod to Y2K fashion. The status symbol became a joke, and what was once aspirational turned into a cultural punchline.

4. Hummer vehicles

Hummers were the ultimate status vehicle for a certain type of person. They were big, aggressive, and screamed wealth and power. Driving one meant you could afford the gas and didn't care what anyone thought.

Then the conversation around climate change got louder, and suddenly those same qualities felt tone-deaf. The excess that once signaled success started to look irresponsible.

Now when you see a Hummer, it doesn't read as impressive. It feels like a relic from an era when bigger was always better, and the world hadn't yet caught up to the consequences. The status symbol became a liability.

5. Blackberry phones

Before smartphones took over, Blackberries were the phone for professionals who needed to stay connected. Having one meant you were important enough to need constant access to email. It was a clear marker of success.

The iPhone changed everything. Touchscreens and apps made the Blackberry's keyboard feel clunky and old-fashioned. The status shifted from being constantly connected to having the most advanced technology.

These days, using a Blackberry would feel like a novelty or a statement about rejecting modern tech. The brand that once defined professional status couldn't keep up with the pace of innovation. What was cutting-edge became outdated almost overnight.

6. Ed Hardy clothing

Ed Hardy exploded in the late 2000s with its bold tattoo-inspired designs and flashy graphics. Celebrities wore it, and it became a symbol of being edgy and fashionable. The pieces were expensive, and wearing them meant you were part of the in-crowd.

The oversaturation killed it. Once everyone from teenagers to reality TV stars was wearing Ed Hardy, the exclusivity disappeared. What felt cool and rebellious started to look tacky.

Now the brand is mostly remembered as a cautionary tale about trends that burn too bright. Wearing Ed Hardy today doesn't signal status. It signals that you're either nostalgic or didn't get the memo that the moment passed years ago.

7. McMansions with ornate details

There was a period when bigger was always better in real estate. Homes with grand staircases, columns, and elaborate detailing were the ultimate status symbol. They showed you'd made it and had the square footage to prove it.

Tastes have shifted toward minimalism and authenticity. Those oversized homes with mismatched architectural styles now feel overdone and impersonal.

People are prioritizing quality over quantity now. A thoughtfully designed smaller space feels more impressive than a sprawling house with no clear vision. The McMansion went from aspirational to embarrassing pretty quickly.

8. Designer sunglasses with huge logos

Oversized sunglasses with prominent designer logos used to be a staple accessory. Wearing them was a way to show you could afford luxury brands without saying a word.

The trend shifted as people started valuing understated style. Now those logo-heavy sunglasses feel more like a cry for attention than a mark of sophistication. The biggest status marker is often what you don't show off.

When I see someone wearing those today, my first thought isn't "they have good taste." It's more like "they're holding onto something that doesn't work anymore." The logos that once impressed now just distract from the face they're supposed to complement.

9. Luxury department store shopping bags as everyday totes

There was a time when people would reuse shopping bags from high-end stores as everyday totes. Carrying a bag from Bloomingdale's or Saks Fifth Avenue was a subtle way to signal where you shopped and what you could afford.

It became so common that it lost all meaning. Everyone figured out the trick, and suddenly those shopping bags were just paper bags. The status signal became noise.

These days, using a luxury shopping bag as a purse feels more desperate than impressive. It's like you're trying too hard to show people you shop at expensive stores. Real status is carrying a well-made bag that doesn't need to advertise where it came from.

10. Owning every new Apple product on launch day

Being first in line for the latest iPhone or iPad used to mean you were tech-savvy and had money to spend. Early adopters were seen as trendsetters who valued innovation and weren't afraid to invest in the newest technology.

That appeal has faded as tech releases have become more predictable. The differences between models are often minimal, and waiting for reviews makes more sense than rushing to buy on day one. Being an early adopter now can look more impulsive than impressive.

The status has shifted from having the newest thing to making smart, thoughtful choices about technology. Showing up with the latest iPhone doesn't turn heads anymore. Everyone upgrades eventually, and the window where it matters keeps getting shorter.

Final thoughts

Status symbols change because culture changes. What impresses people today might feel embarrassing in five years, and that's just how it goes.

The lesson isn't to avoid all status symbols but to think about why you want them. Are you buying something because you genuinely love it, or because you think it will make other people see you a certain way? The things that age well are usually the ones you choose for yourself, not for the impression they make.

Trends will keep shifting. The real flex is knowing what matters to you and not needing everyone else to notice.