Isabel, interesting question. If this were a more "male" indulgence, would it get the same reaction from us?
Carla, I hear you about the racing bike! I nearly choked on the price of mine, and yes, my cycling friends tell me they know people who pay many times over what I paid for their specialized bikes and gear. Here I was balking at actually buying dedicated cycling shoes! (But now that I did, I'm so glad!)
So, yeah, the woman's closet is larger than my house. I actually can't get too outraged, really. I see some of the 10,000sf houses around our area and marvel at what it must cost to keep them clean and heated, so I have no envy. I make my choices on my indulgences and passions, and they are commensurate with our level of income. What someone else chooses to do with their money and passions is up to them, and I can't judge.