Interesting read. Love the stories and pictures going back decades.
However the title seems off to me. It isn't about rampant materialism as much as ostentatious displays of wealth (even if mimicking wealth). No mention of the banal consumerism destroying the earth, to which pretty much all layers of the socioeconomic ladder contribute. I wonder if part of the appeal of such articles is the ability to expiate the sins of common people, to make our own consumerism seem not that bad. Sure, I discarded perfectly functional clothing for no other reason that it's out of trend, but at least I don't live like those people!