Allie's Observation Journal

Insight: Luxury student apartments have normalized college students' lifestyles, making them more comparable to those of working adults than to those of typical students.  Background: This is something I picked up on, especially when I moved into my most recent apartment, which was full of working adults and families. Living at this apartment has made me realize how normal it has become for college students, especially at SMU, to live in high-end apartments with expensive rent and luxury amenities. While these buildings are not technically considered student housing, properties like Eastline here in Dallas have become hubs for college students. This stood out to me because many students here in Dallas are maintaining lifestyles that are, truthfully, unrealistic at such a young age. Not only does it open my eyes to how social media and social expectations on campus have severely shifted expectations of what college life is supposed to look like, as we have made luxury living feel li...

Insight: Owning an iPhone has become so normalized that it feels less like a luxury and more like a social expectation.  Background: Through the years, I'm sure as many of us have noticed that the majority of the population are iPhone users, and we can easily say that has become the social standard despite the high ticket price. I can still remember getting my first iPhone in probably the fourth grade, and now that I really think about it, that really is crazy. This luxury item has become less of a splurge and more of an expectation as we have been accustomed to features like Facetime, AirDrop, iMessage, etc., and even began serving some level of judgment when we see the text turn green on our phones. This whole concept stands out to me because, through the years, Apple has created a culture where having an iPhone feels tied to fitting in and our social status, rather than just having a phone. 

Insight: Trends move so quickly that brands constantly replace each other as the new “it” brand, even when they sell almost the exact same products. Background: I noticed this with the shift from Lululemon to Alo becoming more popular recently, especially on social media and college campuses. For years, Lululemon was seen as the go-to activewear brand, and almost everyone wanted to wear it. I can still remember receiving my first pair of Lulu leggings and thinking how cool they were.  Now, Alo feels newer, trendier, and more connected to influencer culture, causing a lot of people to switch brands even though the clothing is very similar. Despite the similarity, Alo seems to even sit at a higher price point than Lulu Lemon from what I have seen. This stood out to me because it shows how much branding and social media influence what people think is cool at a certain moment. It made me realize how trends are less about the actual product and more about what feels culturally relevant ...

Insight: People often care more about how aesthetically pleasing or Instagrammable a restaurant looks than about the actual quality of the menu or food, signaling how much social media now influences our everyday experiences.  Background: I noticed the idea of this when browsing restaurants for a reservation on OpenTable, as many of the listings first featured the interior of the restaurant, rather than highlighting any of their menu. I myself am guilty of this (as seen above, one of the restaurants I visited during the holiday season). It seems today places with trendy decor and colorful drinks (ex. the soft-serve margarita trend) are the things we gravitate to and what takes the spotlight on social media.  Many times myself I find myself gravitating towards restaurants that are considered to be aesthetic rather than focusing on the quality of the food on the menu. I think this whole idea leads to a much larger idea than just one's choice of dining, but represents that consum...

  Insight: Political ideas and messaging have been increasingly tied to fashion, turning clothing and accessories into ways for people to express identity and cultural affiliation.  Background: Recently, on campus, I have seen an emergence of the "Mustangs Are Great Again" hats, and they quickly became one of the most recognizable and best-selling hats on campus. When you see these hats, it is clear they are referencing a political campaign, yet many students wear them simply because they are trendy and socially recognizable.  This idea stood out to me because it shows the idea that political language has become so embedded in pop culture that it now functions as fashion and branding. While the Mustang hat is just one example of this, it has become an increasingly popular fashion trend that brands are capitalizing on in recent years. I have found this especially prominent in the South as people use clothing to communicate their identity without explicitly discussing polit...

Insight: Social media and modern marketing have normalized impulse spending have normalized impulsive spending by framing purchases as forms of self-care or emotional rewards. Background: I noticed this through a TikTok trend that says something along the lines of, “we really needed this,” despite “literally never depriving themselves of anything in their lives.” The humor stood out to me because it reflects how often people online frame vacations, shopping, expensive coffee, and other luxuries as necessities or deserved rewards. I will say I myself am guilty of this attitude on both small and big scales, whether it be a new clothing item or just a nightly sweet treat. Social media frequently encourages the idea that constantly treating yourself is part of maintaining happiness and wellness, even when the behavior is excessive or unrealistic. This trend also makes overconsumption seem relatable and funny rather than financially irresponsible. It made me think about how internet culture...

 Insight: Fashion trends are constantly recycled. The styles that were once considered outdated often return years later as popular and desirable again. Background: This is something that I have been particularly hyper aware of recently through the return of particular trends, such as capri pants (which is one of the reemerging trends I am still not so sure I can get behind) or flip-flops becoming stylish again. These are just two of the trends associated with early 2000s fashion that have been making an appearance in the last few months. Growing up, my mom would always tell me how things that were popular when she was a kid would always come back, and now that I am in my early 20s, I have begun to realize she was exactly right. This particularly stands out to me because I feel like so many things I was once found undesirable are now at the forefront of fashion as trends are reintroduced to younger generations. I have even caught myself saying more times than I can count, "Wow, if...

Insight: Advertisements often use attractiveness and sexuality to grab attention, even when it has little connection to the actual service being advertised. Background: I noticed this through a specific Mint Dentistry billboard that I pass each day on my way to work. Upon further investigation, I began noticing these billboards placed throughout Dallas, which include some variation of models, flashy visuals, and suggestive marketing to promote dental services. Rather than focusing mainly on dentistry, which is the whole point of the ad, they are made to feel trendy, attractive, and attention-grabbing. This stood out to me because it shows how companies use sex appeal and entertainment to make routine things like going to the dentist feel more exciting. Considering this, I think it can be argued that modern advertisement often focuses on what sells and capturing consumers' attention rather than directly communicating the service itself. 

Insight: Consumerism is so powerful that people will invest extreme time and effort in items that aren't even essential, but just because they feel exclusive or trendy  Background: I noticed this when I attended the Parke sample sale in Dallas, where, despite the long lines and unknown items, my friends and I still arrived hours early and spent a whole six hours of our day from start to finish on this experience. This made me start thinking deeper about situations like this, and I had the realization that even though these items and many others aren't necessities, the exclusivity and trendy nature of them create a sense of urgency within consumers and can even make them act in irrational ways (such as sitting in a line for three hours). This whole concept stood out to me because it made me realize people are willing to dedicate so much time and energy just for the experience of getting something that is perceived as rare and trendy. 

Insight: Social Media has made it easier for us to care about the chaos than the cause- turning real issues into relatable conveniences.  Background: I noticed this while seeing videos approaching Spring Break about the long TSA lines and airport frustrations during government discussions. Most of the content I saw on my for you page focused on the inconvenience travelers faced rather than the larger political and economic issues and impacts at hand. This stood out to me because this is not the first instance where people react in a frustrating manner, rather than taking the time to understand the deeper cause of the problem. It really made me think about the idea that platforms shape not only what we see, but what we choose to care about. 

  Insight: Even when people pay for subscription services, we still end up seeing ads and have just accepted that as the new norm. Background: I noticed this while using streaming platforms that many now include commercials, even with paid subscriptions. This idea stood out to me because streaming services were originally marketed as an alternative to traditional television, such as cable. Over time, though, companies began slowly introducing tiers with limited ads even on the paid plans. Not only that, I think this has just become the new norm because I have sat and watched months of ads (most notably the Hulu ads, which loop the same three ads throughout the entire series), and I have never even thought twice about it. This stood out to me because we have become accustomed to spending loads on subscription services that lack convenience for us as consumers. 

 Insight: People justify small purchases because they feel insignificant, even though they often add up to the same cost as something bigger they actually want.  Background: I noticed this in my own spending habits and in how we are often willing to spend small amounts daily on things like coffee, snacks, online shopping, and DoorDash with little to no hesitation. In the moment we make these purchases, these items feel relatively inexpensive, making them easy to justify. Over time, though these small items end up adding up to be even more than a larger, more meaningful item, we hesitate to purchase. This idea stood out to me because I myself am particularly guilty of such, and even when going through my Apple Pay purchases, I start to add up the small charges and think "wow could have bought those shoes I said were too expensive" for the same price as all of these meaningless and impulse purchases. 

Insight: People are more likely to spend money in airports because they feel disconnected from their normal routines, which makes irrational spending more acceptable.  Background: Following my spring break travels, I began to reflect on how much money I spent on things like food and drinks just at the airport alone. Typically, I would never justify spending $7 on something like a water bottle, but when traveling, it is not something I even think twice about. That made me realize the fact that airports create a limited environment where consumers have fewer choices and often feel rushed. This whole concept stood out to me because even people who try to avoid overspending become much less price-conscious and make out-of-character decisions as a result. It also makes me wonder with the cost of flying, if people begin to say "oh well" due to the high cost that they have already invested.