There’s nothing wrong with liking nice things or showing off a little—if it comes from genuine confidence, that is.
However, when someone’s more invested in how things look than how they feel, you’ll often find a pattern. They’re wowed by style over substance, obsessed with surface-level wins, and constantly chasing status symbols that don’t actually hold much weight. If you’ve ever been in a room full of flash and felt completely bored, this list might make a little too much sense. How sad for these people, really.
1. Bragging about luxury brands (without a shred of personal style)
Owning expensive things isn’t the flex some people think it is, especially when they’ve got no idea how to wear them. Anyone can buy a designer label. Having actual taste? That’s a different story. The people who obsess over name brands usually do it for validation, not self-expression. It’s less about style and more about shouting, “Look how much I spent!”
2. Constantly name-dropping (especially when it’s barely relevant)
There’s always that person who can’t get through a story without casually slipping in, “Oh yeah, I know someone who dated [insert D-list celebrity here].” It’s never organic—it’s just a status signal. That kind of name-dropping doesn’t impress people with actual depth. If anything, it makes them wonder why you need someone else’s name to carry your story.
3. Flashy cars used solely for Instagram posts
Look, driving a nice car is cool. But if your entire personality revolves around posing next to it, revving it loudly, or constantly talking about it? That’s not personality—it’s product placement. People who are all flash get obsessed with symbols of wealth. But people with real substance want to know who you are when the keys are out of sight.
4. Talking endlessly about how “busy” and “booked” they are
Their calendar is packed, their schedule is “insane,” and they’ll make sure you know it. However, scratch beneath the surface and a lot of that busyness is just fluff dressed up as hustle. Busy doesn’t always mean productive, and it definitely doesn’t mean important. Of course, people who crave flash often wear it like a badge of honour to seem more in demand than they really are.
5. Bragging about knowing VIPs, but never actually doing anything
Source: Unsplash They’re always “in the room” with powerful people. They love saying things like, “We’ve got some big things coming,” but those “big things” never materialise into anything real. Depth shows up in follow-through. Flash just keeps recycling the same vague promises in shinier packaging.
6. Curating every single moment for social media
If they can’t eat a meal, attend an event, or go for a walk without turning it into content, chances are their life exists more for the camera than for real connection. You don’t have to be anti-Instagram to find this tacky. It’s about recognising when the performance has taken over the person. Flashy people need constant external proof they’re living well. People with depth don’t need the internet’s approval.
7. One-upping people in conversations like it’s a competitive sport
You mention a trip to Italy—they’ve been to five more countries. You talk about a work win—they’ve just signed a deal “bigger than they can talk about.” Every story becomes a trigger for their own self-promo. This behaviour impresses other shallow people because it feeds their mutual obsession with appearing superior. Unfortunately, for anyone grounded, it’s just exhausting.
8. Overusing buzzwords they don’t really understand
They’ll talk about “manifesting abundance,” “being an empath,” or “leveraging synergy” in every sentence, without being able to explain what any of it actually means. Flashy people use trendy words like accessories. Deep people ask, “What are you actually saying though?” Suddenly, the whole performance unravels.
9. Living for designer home aesthetics, but never actually living in them
Their space is showroom-perfect. Every throw pillow is fluffed. Every candle is unburned. It photographs like a dream… and feels like a hotel you’re not allowed to touch. It’s not about comfort or personality—it’s about impressing visitors. However, when the vibe matters more than the people inside it, you know you’re dealing with flash over depth.
10. Bragging about working non-stop as if burnout is a status symbol
“I haven’t slept in two days.” “I skipped lunch again.” “I’m so slammed I forgot what day it is.” Flashy people love the grind aesthetic, not because they’re achieving more, but because it makes them look committed, even if the work itself is pointless. Deep people know that real success includes rest. Flashy people think collapsing from exhaustion makes them more impressive.
11. Throwing money at problems instead of learning how to solve them
They’ll hire someone for everything, then act superior about it. Cooking, cleaning, basic admin… all beneath them. The goal isn’t efficiency—it’s to look like they’ve “made it.” The thing is, if you can’t do anything for yourself, what’s left when the cash runs out? Substance is about capability. Flash is just outsourcing character development.
12. Constantly demanding applause for basic decency
They donate once and need a press release. They “support” other people, but only when there’s a camera around. Helping someone or being kind isn’t the point—the recognition is. That kind of performative goodness feels hollow. People with depth help quietly. People who are all flash need you to clap for their every move.
13. Making everything about how other people see them and what they think
Whether it’s the way they dress, speak, or share opinions, everything’s calculated for maximum admiration. They’ll switch personalities depending on who’s in the room, chasing approval like it’s currency. But here’s the thing: if you’re constantly shaping your identity to impress, there’s rarely anything solid underneath. Flash is reactive. Depth is rooted, and you can feel the difference a mile away.
