"People bought few clothes during the Great Depression; ... "

Probably true - but there probably weren't millions of square feet of retail space devoted to women's clothes during the Great Depression (?)

"Too many people working too many hours for their health and family life, and part of it is to support their clothing purchases. Some clothing we need to keep the weather out and some to somewhat adorn ourselves and compete in the mating game..but some is unnecessary..addictive perhaps."

I'd agree with all of that. But then I am a man - and, to me, buying clothes is a boring and hateful activity to which I prefer to devote as little time as possible ... I do buy too many books though ...