I don't have a problem with fashion as a hobby (although it isn't one of my hobbies). If people enjoy fashion, thats perfectly good, I don't see how it's any different than... home aesthetics or something like that. Its just a hobby about making something look good by altering it in different ways -in this case, it's yourself. Some of my friends are interested in fashion to some degree, and thats cool with me.
A fixation? Would that be like... someone being obsessed with fashion and how they look? That probably isn't healthy, but it depends on a few other variables, like whether or not they care how others perceive them and how much if they do.
Conspicuous consumption is rediculous to me, because it
is being too concentrated on showing off the other people. Showing off is fine, like say you are into fashion, its fine if you want to wear your clothes and have everyone see them. Its fine if you are an actor and you'd like everyone to come see your movie. These are cases where it seems there is something the person does and they'd like to be seen and recognized for their work/hobby.
At what point does it turn into, as Wikipedia refers to it, "keeping up with the Joneses"? I think its probably unhealthy for people to do things to keep up with and beat or impress people. Its complicated though, because some people get their sense of fulfilment from pleasing others and it isn't neccesarily unhealthy. Is buying a porsche and moving into a huge house unhealthy (I know people who moved out of a regular middle class size house and into a mansion like house and bought a porsche)? Is it unhealthy to want to study in another country at a private boarding school (once again, I know someone... I think he actually wants to go to the exact one the Wikipedia article on status symbols uses an an example
He definitely wants to go to some kind of swiss boarding school)? Where is the line drawn?
Personally, I'm a fan of the saying "the superior man speaks humbly but acts outstandingly"... I think it was confucious, and for me it means to do incredible things but to remain humble and grounded about it.
By the way, I found this hilarious in the Wiki article for status symbol:
"In a Western society, possessions perceived as status symbols include:
A trophy wife/trophy husband
A large, expensive house.
A grand piano (especially if its owner does not know how to play it).
...
..."
I hate the people on MTV Cribs who have a grand piano they don't know how to play. They look like deuchebags!