THE TICKET INTO LITTLE WORLDS
By Shawn Hassanzei
November 4, 2026
Graphic by Samanvita Nalla
Whether on purpose or inadvertently, we work to portray a stylized version of ourselves. We want people to know who we are and what we stand for with a cursory glance. Luxury fashion houses know this performance well. The fashion houses that stud Gallerias, Rodeo Drive, and Fifth Avenue offer us ready-made images of who we could be.
These houses sell more than just clothes. They sell the idea of a person, an idea of an ideal life. They curate a rich story to enthrall their patrons, who carry the brand’s image into the real world. Prada, for example, oozes chic, minimalist professional who is strictly no funny business. When we think of the quintessential Prada girl, we see an office siren with a slicked-back bun, thin glasses, and sleek outfit in the office restroom mirror. Or maybe Balenciaga’s world is more your style? Grungy, dark palettes accompanied by silhouettes that swallow you whole. Its brutalist store design conveys dystopian effervescence and coolness. Its patrons complete the picture, fitted out in pre-distressed, mud-stained jeans that retailed for $2,000 while donning huge face shields. For those of us without trust funds, however, the $4,000 chartreuse dresses and dry-clean-only silk-viscose pants remain out of reach. Those rights are reserved for those with deep pockets, or even deeper overdrafts.
Enter the little luxuries: knickknacks that are specially curated for those of us who don’t have investment funds reserved in our names. Things like makeup, perfumes, and keychains that are made to give you just a taste of luxury. And that taste? It’s simply irresistible.
When thinking of the standout “little luxury”, I believe it’s right under our noses. Literally. Fragrance is the premier ticket into a world you very much desire to be a part of. I mean, it’s everywhere – even with me. As I write this, I sit next to a myriad of bottles and tinctures that emulate a certain vision of myself. If I’m thinking of clean minimalism, I’ll pick up Juliette Has a Gun’s Not a Perfume. If I’m in the mood for the cozy nighttime version of myself, I’ll choose Penhaligon’s The Dandy. And fine, these references seem kind of niche, so take YSL Black Opium for a more mainstream example. It’s an intoxicating, rich scent that evokes a sexy YSL woman wearing a black slip dress. The night is hers! Fashion houses are able to represent themselves through signature scents. People claim that they’re donning their own signature scent, but, really, they’re wearing the signature scent of a brand, with its name printed right on the bottle. It’s not how good the fragrance smells, it’s about getting to wear the house’s image without wearing its clothes.
Graphic by Samanvita Nalla
Okay, scents are one thing, but what if you have a bit more to splurge? Introducing the joy of jewelry! A beautiful, sparkly, big ring with the logo of a brand you just adore. I mean, who wouldn’t want that? And at a bargain price compared to those fine jewelry places. But wait! You step out of the shower, and your lustrous gold ring is tarnishing!? My own Balenciaga ring has already lost some of that lustrous promise. The jewelry departments of many of these houses are gilded at best. How do you think their prices are so cheap compared to their clothes or actual fine jewelry? Some of these pieces are brass coated in gold or silver, but with that delicious logo, and it’s just so tempting! These pieces are meant to make a statement, with large rings, earrings, and necklaces, but they’re just that – a gaudy free advertisement for the brand. An advertisement you paid a premium for! Their materials alone don’t explain the price, but their brand does…
Now you’re really looking and smelling like your brand of choice, and at a relative bargain! But how quickly that world comes undone once we step into your abode! Worry not, these brands have something for your entire life! We can get you started on a few Gucci throw pillows, then fill your cupboards with the finest Hermès china and Louis Vuitton shakers. And then, my personal favorite: the LOEWE $130 tomato candle and accompanying $55 candle lid. It’s beautiful, you’re beautiful, your life is beautiful, and it’s the premier form of advertisement for your beloved fashion houses as well. The world they sell now extends beyond your outfit and into the room where you take it off.
I’m not saying this from outside that idyllic world. My own perfume collection and tarnished Balenciaga ring are proof that I’ve bought a ticket too. I chose those things because they felt like me, or at least like the person I wanted to be that day. But how much of that imagined person have I put together myself, and how much has already been put together for me? These little luxuries make a brand’s world feel close enough to enter, even when its clothes are still out of reach. These tickets can influence how we dress, how we decorate, and how we imagine ourselves. Once we’ve found a version of ourselves in that world, the dress or bag can start to feel like the next step. We’re buying things we enjoy, but the houses also benefit from making their image part of our own. The ticket is small, but the life it invites us to want is much bigger. ■
Other Stories in Fashion
© 2025 SPARK. All Rights Reserved.