I think that you are spot on. A new culture was promoted by the elites. When Labor won in 1972 with Gough Whitlam its slogan was "It's time" (for a new beginning) and "it's time for change". There was a rejection of anything seen as old fashioned. The opposition to the Vietnam War was in some ways a turning point, a point of division between the old and the new. There were TV shows like Kingswood Country that were designed to denigrate the old and celebrate the new. Ted Bullpit and his values were to be mocked. Similar shows happened in the UK (Alf Garnett) and the US (Archie Bunker). As for women, second wave feminism was designed to get women out of the house, into work, almost doubling the workforce. Two incomes to spend on houses pushing up house prices(and mortgages). Women are easier to sell to if the marketing is tailored to their sensibilities. There's that old joke about a woman will buy a $2 item that she doesn't need simply because it's on special at $1, whereas a man will pay $2 for a $1 item because he needs it right now. As you say, men's need for fashion followed the female obsession. And they both follow celebrity fashion trends. For example, how do you get half the young population tatted up? Simply have a few Hollywood celebrities get a few tattoos and the fashion craving herd will follow....
