Shop-A-Holic!!!

As a female, on top of being a young adult in Singapore (the country where shopping has become one of its utmost entertainment), people like to compartmentalize me with other shopaholics. I am often disturbed by this irresponsible statement, as I myself can’t really understand the enjoyment of shopping excessively. Please note the word “excessively”.

I have a friend from high school who studied in Melbourne, Australia. Her favorite holiday destination is Hong Kong and Singapore, for no other reasons than the shopping spree. She really shocked me once when she told one of her shopping adventure. So off she went to Hong Kong from Australia. Lucky for her, her bank account can quench her eyes’ hunger for fine goods. Yes, she always goes for branded ones. Having the luggage full, she continued her journey to her hometown, Jakarta. And you don’t need to be a genius to guess what’s next, she again shopped in the glitzy and luscious boutiques which swarm around the heart of the metropolitan city. With logical calculation, we can already deduce that her luggage is insufficient to contain all of her shopping outcomes. Half of them must be separated from their newly owner, and only God knows whether they ever come into usage.

Around two weeks ago, I visited another high school friend’s apartment here in Singapore. For the first ten minutes my eyes were fixed to her shoe racks. Then, with my eyes still on them, I asked her how many girls are there in the apartment. One. Apparently, all pairs of shoes that I saw were hers. All!!!! I don’t know how many of them. You can find many models, colors, tones, moods, etc. I just don’t understand how often she wears each of them.

I just knew few days back that girls are usually crazy about (high-heel) sandals. Their arguments that sandals are easily worn-off become their passports and valid reason to buy (few) new pairs. Some people can even grab five pairs in less than half an hour. It is more than the total number of pairs that I am getting for myself in one year, unless there are urgent needs arising.

I just can’t see the point of shopping so many things, without even knowing how much their value for money will be, i.e. how often will you use/wear them and how functional will they be.

I guess (it’s just a hunch so please correct me if I’m wrong) there is a certain satisfaction incurred by every shopping done. It happens that it is possessed more in females rather than males (and why does it miss me by the way?)

Me, I always feel dizzy in shopping centers. In malls. In department stores!!! Where people swarming around with piles of things to be tried, how can you concentrate of what you really NEED?? I don’t see the points why people like to buy those fancy shoes and sandals, while neglecting the comfort, which is supposed to be the main criteria? I often see ladies walking uncomfortably (and rather limping) with much effort just for the sake of wearing and showing these cute fancy koocee koocee poo (very) high-heel sandals to the people walking around Orchard Road.

I DO appreciate finer things of life. Luxurious goods DO appeal to me. Nevertheless, quality, functionality and value-for-money will always have my first priority. Rather than buying so many sandals with different colors and models, I would rather buy one with classic models, which can go along with most of my outfits, comfortable, reliable and long-lasting though the price may be thrice or even five times of those fancy sandals. I don’t mind wearing the same pair of shoes for years, at least I can be the walking advertisement for the brand for its robustness =P.

Why should I spend my hard-earned money for things that I would only use for once or few times in my life?
Why should I suffer myself with those blisters and leg-cramp only for the sake of style?
How it functions is all that matters.

There’s no offensive nor defensive remarks intended from this musing. So please don’t take it personally, people have their own way to live (and spend their money) anyway. It is just… well, you know… just scribbles.

Please just don’t generalize young female adults in Singapore as shopaholic and Charles and Keith fans.

And what kind of satisfaction that you get after shopping?