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Please help me with the phrase "age of wretched excess" in the following passage"
Just as the cage crinoline had been embellished to flaunt a woman’s status, the bustle could also be covered with ornate bows, beading, and ribbons to reflect one’s social standing in this “age of wretched excess.”
The bustle came into fashion in the 1870s, when there was a great deal of new wealth in the hands of people who were new to large amounts of money and who flaunted [shown off] their wealth by high level spending on frivolous and decorative items. The more frills on your skirt, the richer you are and the less you have to do anything practical.
age of wretched excess 
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