Picture the scene. You're at a fancy party. The kind where people don't really eat or talk to you. (Fun.) Now imagine committing the ultimate fashion faux-pas. The kind that will send you to social Siberia. Not leaving the bathroom with your skirt tucked into your knickers. Not wearing the same outfit as your host. Something worse. Much worse. Carrying a big bag.
In Succession's first episode, Cousin Greg's date carries a big (make that 'gargantuan') bag to a party hosted by the Roys. Cue derision from all corners but specifically from Tom Wambsgans, who, as an object of derision himself, wastes no time in heaping scorn on the unfortunate Bridget.
Her Burberry bag, which he deems 'ludicrously capacious', stands out for all the wrong reasons. It's practical for a start. Tom asks whether it contains, 'flat shoes for the subway'. Well, quite. The 0.1% don't need to get their hands dirty with things like a laptop, tampons or a 'just-incase-jumper' that encumber your average woman on the street. No, no, all of the above belong in the safely of your chauffeured vehicle. Secondly, it couldn't be more obviously designer. (Bridget stopped short of doing a full Danniella Westbrook, but still stuck out like a sore thumb in the hermetically chic home of Logan Roy.) The opposite of stealth wealth is obvious wealth - and, in the eyes of the elite, there's simply nothing cheaper.
The counter to all this, of course, is that she's the only person who's actually normal. If you don't have a driver - and you're, heaven forbid, a hybrid worker - you need what's referred to by mere mortals as a 'shit bag' for all your shit. The best thing to do in future is to check your tote at the door if possible. Then you can play the chicest, most stealth wealth card of all. Zero bag.