As we pass the mid-year point, there's ample evidence that the recession is coming to an end. In fact, the whole "Recessionista" trend seems as pass as white shoes after Labor Day. The reality is, it's okay to be wealthy again - and it's okay to flaunt it, too.

Purse strings and wallet depth are not the only things that separate the wealthy from the rest of the population - their media consumption does, as well. A survey conducted by Ad Age two years ago claimed that approximately 90% of affluent Americans (defined as those with a household income of at least $100,000) still consumed their news through printed magazines or newspapers. This surprised both members of the media and the general public. With many print publishers either folding or converting to solely digital since 2011, in addition to the vast adoption of mobile technology, one would assume that …

As 2013 moves into its second half, we find that the Affluent mood has lightened significantly. We're not yet seeing an unbridled optimism, or a return to 2006-era carefree spending. But we are seeing an appreciable drop in pessimism across a variety of metrics, as well as growing spending and luxury interest in many marketplace categories.

Luxury brands, with their glamorous reputations and glowing histories, possess a unique ability to capture the imaginations of consumers. Names like Gucci, Prada and Chanel are synonymous with a lifestyle of comfort and privilege, and they create such deep affinities among consumers because they become shorthand for a lifestyle to which many aspire. Mentions of luxury brands are ubiquitous in culture, as well - high culture and pop culture. Their names and logos carry intrigue for consumers, who identify with those brands to signify that they have, or deserve, a piece of the high life. On social and digital media, …

Last month, I reviewed affluent consumers' recall of and interest in the advertising they saw or heard in selected media channels or platforms by different household-income levels ($75,000 or more -the top 39% of all American adults, $250,000 or more - the top 3%, and $500,000 or more - the top 1%). Marketers who focus on consumers who buy luxury goods or services then contacted me and asked if I could expand on what I had reported by helping them understand which media platforms and channels they should consider using to most effectively reach those consumers. They also asked if …