In a way, the worn-down bag is a power move, akin to the rising popularity of $20 Apple wired headphones over $159 AirPods.
The choice [of wired earphones] connotes that she can’t be bothered to keep up with the latest tech and prefers the simpler things in life, which is, oddly enough, the true measure of success.”
– Vogue.
In general the signalling here is that you’ve got good taste, have been able to put down good money up front, and then used the item confident that you can replace it with no effect on your finances.
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