14 DAY TRIAL // With the financial crisis wreaking havoc in all areas, most expected the fashion industry to be at least half as affected as other fields. However, the situation is far from that, as a new study performed by British "Grazia" magazine and cited by "The Daily Mail" reveals. Not only are women not about to give up on being fashionable and stylish, but the number of their weekly purchases has increased considerably over the past couple of weeks.
If this is not quite an unexpected piece of news, what is about to follow will surely be: although more in numbers, women have also become more moderate as to what they buy, the same study indicates. While, before, they used to go for the most expensive items that they first laid eyes upon, they now show a marked tendency towards thinking twice and actually bothering to check other retailers as well before making a decision – an informed decision, as they say.
Speaking strictly numbers, for once, the survey shows that, out of the 1,000 women questioned, 83 percent still shop for a new item (be it clothes, accessories or cosmetic products) at least once a week, up 2 percent from half a year ago. Nevertheless, despite the increased number of female shoppers, the moderation they show in terms of shedding out their hard-earned money is also subject to alterations due to the financial crisis. Thus, 53 percent of the women say they have become more "selective" when out in stores, while 58 percent confess that a little bit of "research" and due consideration before opening their wallets actually make them feel good.
The "Grazia" survey also comes to confirm the emergence and consolidation of a new type of shopper, known under the dubbing of "recessionista." Mostly referring to women, the term comes to describe a very stylish and elegant person, who manages to keep up said appearance by sticking to an otherwise very tight budget, a thing that also applies to some of the 1,000 women interviewed by the magazine. For instance, 32 percent of them admit to no longer following one-season trends, while another 28 percent reveal that they would rather go for classic, somehow timeless items (the ever so popular little black dress, knee-high boots and coats with casual, yet elegant, cuts), instead of buying what’s "hot."
"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." reads an excerpt of the article accompanying the survey in "Grazia" magazine.