Sorry I meant generally pre the last period of the 20th century, not the actual hard end. IMO you are right in saying it began in the 80s.

And I'd still disagree with you. There's a long line of fops, dandies, social climbers, hangers-on and aspirants however far you choose to look back in history. We may be in a particularly acute period right now but the desire to be wealthy and admired didn't just appear 50 years ago.