In a reflection on the American abandonment of thrift, Patrick Deneen relays David Cloutier's thoughts on "luxury":
Cloutier not only pointed out that the word “luxury” went from having a negative to a positive set of connotations, but that it came largely to mean items that are expensive or rare. According to a more ancient understanding, however, “luxury” includes not only expensive items, but the effort to accumulate goods that are extraneous and unnecessary, as well as any use or employment of items in a way that is wasteful or irresponsible. Thus, he argued, even the purchase of Wal-Mart socks can be considered the purchase of a “luxury” item, particularly in an age in which we no longer repair (or “darn”) worn socks.
The Dish 