Pretension
Etymology
From Latin "praetendere" (to stretch forth, put forward, allege), "prae-" (before) + "tendere" (to stretch). At root it is holding something out in front of you — a claim advanced, here a claim that outruns the reality behind it.
noun · /pri-TEN-shun/
A claim to importance, sophistication, or merit greater than one actually possesses.
What it names
The effortful display of being more than one is — culture worn as costume.
Example
The menu’s pretension peaked at a "deconstructed" sandwich served as three bowls.
Related idea
Affectation is any studied, unnatural manner; pretension specifically claims a higher standing. All pretension is affected, but not all affectation reaches for status.