An ermine skirt is quite a grand and opulent way to stay warm in Winter.
"P.S. Dare you wear it to a Junior League lunch with your mother..."
... She opened the box with a startled "Oh my God!"
... The coat spilled out into the light. Russian lynx, fashioned from pure white bellies, which were speckled with subtle black markings like dry leaves fallen on an early snow. Junior League? The Saudi oil minister's concubine would have blushed to wear it to Nell's.
... She opened the box with a startled "Oh my God!"
... The coat spilled out into the light. Russian lynx, fashioned from pure white bellies, which were speckled with subtle black markings like dry leaves fallen on an early snow. Junior League? The Saudi oil minister's concubine would have blushed to wear it to Nell's.
Tropes all about the many ways people can show off wealth, just to make things nicer for themselves.
These can be used just because the people want to show off their wealth, or because it's socially required of them to spend their money that way.
Such tropes can be functional (like a mansion for shelter, limo for travel, or fur coat in cold weather), or strictly sybaritic (like wearing lots of jewelry, gold-plating items, or wearing a fur coat in warm weather).
Note some tropes here are not strictly for the most wealthy. Even middle class people can afford the occasional luxury (which shows off the aggregate wealth in a culture as well). It's just that wealthy characters are more likely to have several of these instead of one or two, and of a much higher quality.
Compare Garnishing the Story.
Contrast Poverty Tropes.
Tropes:
Related:
- Absurdly-Long Limousine
When a regular limo isn't sybaritic enough. - Beleaguered Benefactor
When being the person who pays for everything backfires terribly. - Big Fancy Castle
A castle that's impossibly big and expensive. - Big Fancy House
A home that's big and expensive. - Billionaire Wristband
A luxury watch that's big, made of gold or platinum and expensive. - Bling-Bling-BANG!
A weapon which also serves as jewelry. - Breakfast in Bed
Being served the first meal of the day upon waking in bed. - City of Gold
The entire land is full of wealth and luxuries. - Conspicuous Consumption
Spending loads just to show off wealth. - Cool Boat
A costly and luxurious boat. - Cool Car
An expensive, fancy car. - Cool Garage
A garage that's far fancier than a car storage location needs to be. - Cool House
A large home with luxurious features. - Cool Plane
A fast, beautifully designed plane. - Cool Train
A luxurious train. - Crimefighting with Cash
Buying the stuff needed to be a superhero. - Cucumber Facial
A high-class spa treatment. - Distracted by the Luxury
Using luxury items to buy forgiveness. - Dumbwaiter Ride
Elevators for food trays are more likely to be found in luxurious restaurants, hotels and homes. - Ermine Cape Effect
For royalty and nobility who choose to wear their regalia everywhere. - Every Man Has His Price
Using money to open any door. - Everything's Sparkly with Jewelry
Jewelry is glamorous. - Fairytale Wedding Dress
A very fancy, old fashioned bridal gown. - Fashion Magazine
The fashions they cover usually are luxuries more than everyday clothes. - Fiction 500
Characters who have absurdly unrealistic and uncountable amounts of wealth. - Fluffy Fashion Feathers
Feathers are glamorous, even if just a plume or two. - Formal Full Array of Cutlery
A fancy table covered with several pieces of cutlery for each guest. - French Maid
A hot maid in a skimpy dress. - Gem-Encrusted
Sticking jewels on anything just to pretty it up. - Gilded Cage
A luxurious prison. - Going Fur a Swim
Showing that you can afford to wear fur even at the beach or pool. - Gold Makes Everything Shiny
Anything made of, or decorated with, gold. - Gold Tooth of Wealth
Gold-encrusted teeth signifying that these people like to literally put their money where their mouth is. - Grapes of Luxury
Being fed fruit by servants as you recline on a divan . - Happy Holidays Dress
Fancy Christmas-themed dresses. - High-Class Fan
Decorated hand fans made of expensive materials are often used by noble women and royalty in their social etiquette. - High-Class Glass
Wearing a monocle. - High-Class Gloves
Fancy gloves often set apart the old money from new. - Idle Rich
Affording to do no real work at all. - If I Were a Rich Man
A fantasy of luxuries. - Luxurious Liquor
Luxurious lifestyle is told as casually drinking expensive alcohol. - Luxury Prison Suite
An island of privilege in an ordinary prison. - Made O' Gold
A mundane object made of gold. - Maid Corps
A veritable army of maids. - Meido
A hot Japanese maid. - Modeling is Glamorous
Modeling portrayed as an inherently ritzy profession. - Money Fetish
When money itself is the luxury. - Money to Burn
Treating money like firewood. - Money to Throw Away
Tossing money into the air. - Mundane Luxury
When everyday comforts seem like an untold luxury to someone. - No Fame, No Wealth, No Service
It's a luxury to have such places treat you well. - One Man's Trash Is Another's Treasure
Almost anything can be a luxury to someone. - Pimped-Out Cape
Cape with expensive decorations. - Pimped-Out Dress
Dress costing a lot due to all the trimmings. - Platinum Makes Everything Shinier
When gold doesn't cut it, amp it up with platinum. - Pooled Funds
Rejoice among your fortune, literally. - Pretty in Mink
Fur garments are great to wear for warmth, or just for style. - Private Military Contractors
A private army. - Private Tutor
A private teacher all your own. - Reclining Reigner
A ruler reclines on something. - Requisite Royal Regalia
A necessary luxury for royalty, but still a luxury. - The Rich Have White Stuff
The use of white belongings as a signifier of wealth. - Rich Recluse's Realm
A private domain bought and/or built by a super-rich recluse. - Roll Out the Red Carpet
Indicates the arrival or interior decoration of royalty, the rich, and the famous. - Screw the Rules, I Have Money!
Using money as a form of authority. - Simple, yet Opulent
Luxuries that are extravagant without appearing so. - Sommelier Speak
When a person is so familiar with fancy wines that they can expound upon the intricate flavor subtleties of all of them. - Snobby Hobbies
Certain (normally expensive) pastimes are used to indicate wealth. - Snooty Haute Cuisine
Gaudy food as shorthand for wealth. - Starship Luxurious
A Cool Starship with an overly fancy design and numerous luxuries. - Status Cell Phone
A phone shows off money and modern technology. - Stylish Sunhats
Sunhats are luxurious and in style. - Sunroof Shenanigans
Someone uses a sunroof (typically in a limo) to misbehave. - Suspicious Spending
Incongruous luxuries indicate criminal activity. - Symbolic Glass House
Troubled rich people live in glass houses. - Table Space
That one can afford both a long table, and a room big enough to hold it. - Tea Is Classy
Rich people love drinking tea, and often have elaborate tea parties or tea breaks to relax. - Too Important to Walk
Having people carry you around on a litter, sedan chair, etc. to show off status. - Travel Cool
Using an awesome vehicle to get around. - Unlimited Wardrobe
Loads of different clothes. - Unnecessarily Large Vessel
When a starship (or boat) is much larger than it needs to be, often for ostentatious purposes. - Up Marketing
Appealing to consumers who spend the most. - Upper-Class Equestrian
Horses are a luxurious hobby associated with rich people. - Wealthy Yacht Owner
A fancy boat just to show one can afford it. - Where Does He Get All Those Wonderful Toys?
Buying loads of gadgets. - Wine Is Classy
Wine is treated as a luxury, or at least proof of being upper crust.
