Final answer:
In Thorstein Veblen's time, an elaborately dressed wife who did not work symbolized that her husband was wealthy. This reflected the societal norms and practices of conspicuous consumption in the upper classes of Veblen's era.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Thorstein Veblen's day, an elaborately dressed wife who did not work was a symbol of a wealthy man.
This was indicative of the husband's ability to afford a lifestyle that allowed his wife to engage in leisure and not in paid labor, a sign of status among the upper classes.
Veblen extensively wrote about the leisure class and theorized on conspicuous consumption, which includes the display of wealth through one's family members.
In societies that valued wealth and social stratification heavily, the clothing and accessories of a person, especially those of women who were not employed, reflected the stature of the household.
Thus, adornments worn by these women, as well as their detachment from work, served as markers of wealth and social class.