Most women are not letting money worries put an end to their shopping trips, but they are certainly more careful about what they buy, a survey by Grazia Magazine has revealed. Although seven out of 10 women (71%) said they are worried about the credit crunch affecting their lifestyle with almost half (46%) cutting back on their spending, 83% of women still shop for clothes, accessories and beauty products at least once a week - up 2% from six months ago. The survey identified changing attitudes with the emergence of a new kind of female shopper dubbed the "Recessionista".
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Gone are the days of buying anything and everything from cheap to high-fashion items to designer handbags. Instead, now women are going into more shops, doing more looking around to do their fashion homework and then visiting several more stores before parting with their cash. Half of those questioned (53%) said they were now much more selective about what they buy and the act of research and thinking twice before buying made 58% feel good when they finally did make a purchase. The Female Shopping Survey found that two-thirds of women (67%) bought an item at least once a week and almost a third (31%) bought something new at least three or four times a week. But a third (32%) admitted they no longer shell out for risky one-season trends, with a growing trend for choosing classics like a little black dress, knee-high boots and a well-cut coat, or a jewelry style that will serve several seasons and lasts longer (28%).
Gone are the days of buying anything and everything from cheap to high-fashion items to designer handbags. Instead, now women are going into more shops, doing more looking around to do their fashion homework and then visiting several more stores before parting with their cash. Half of those questioned (53%) said they were now much more selective about what they buy and the act of research and thinking twice before buying made 58% feel good when they finally did make a purchase. The Female Shopping Survey found that two-thirds of women (67%) bought an item at least once a week and almost a third (31%) bought something new at least three or four times a week. But a third (32%) admitted they no longer shell out for risky one-season trends, with a growing trend for choosing classics like a little black dress, knee-high boots and a well-cut coat, or a jewelry style that will serve several seasons and lasts longer (28%).
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Credit cards are also falling out of favour, according to the survey, as two-thirds (65%) of women said they now only use existing money to pay for their goods. If they don't have the spendable cash, then they don't need the item. Almost half of women (46%) are cutting back on their spending but rather than stopping buying clothes, they are cutting down on their social life, drinking of alcohol (32%) and a fifth (20%) are reducing their weekly food shopping. Jane Bruton, editor-in-chief of Grazia, said: "Reading all the doom and gloom recession predictions it's easy to believe shopping is dead and fashion will never be the same again. There will be tumbleweed blowing around the High Street fashion stores and we'll all have to wear 'safe' black trousers and 'sensible' court shoes for the next five years. "But our survey proves that, though of course we're worried about the economic climate, it's just turning us into more responsible, savvy shoppers who are becoming more creative and inventive with our wardrobes. Women have always used fashion as a feel-good way of expressing themselves. And no credit crunch is going to change that. Instead it's making us braver, not safer, with our style."
Credit cards are also falling out of favour, according to the survey, as two-thirds (65%) of women said they now only use existing money to pay for their goods. If they don't have the spendable cash, then they don't need the item. Almost half of women (46%) are cutting back on their spending but rather than stopping buying clothes, they are cutting down on their social life, drinking of alcohol (32%) and a fifth (20%) are reducing their weekly food shopping. Jane Bruton, editor-in-chief of Grazia, said: "Reading all the doom and gloom recession predictions it's easy to believe shopping is dead and fashion will never be the same again. There will be tumbleweed blowing around the High Street fashion stores and we'll all have to wear 'safe' black trousers and 'sensible' court shoes for the next five years. "But our survey proves that, though of course we're worried about the economic climate, it's just turning us into more responsible, savvy shoppers who are becoming more creative and inventive with our wardrobes. Women have always used fashion as a feel-good way of expressing themselves. And no credit crunch is going to change that. Instead it's making us braver, not safer, with our style."
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Excerpts from the Grazia Magazine shopping survey.
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