Retail Therapy

Written by: Heather Leong Ning Yan (20-E6)

Designed by: Liew Yi Xuan (21-E1)

My go-to move to cheer myself up has always been to pick out and purchase something pretty and most likely unnecessary, only to feel guilty about it afterward, but then again where’s the fun in it if I don’t feel slightly guilty about it. I’m a firm believer of retail therapy. In this age of social media, and I must admit, as someone who is quite caught up in this whole consumerist culture, keeping up with trends and dressing up is my guilty pleasure. More often than not, I take pride in the way I present myself, and find joy in an outfit I’ve picked out, or a piece of jewelry I purchased. 

Now before you judge me for my superficial methods of making myself feel better, I’d like to point out that this is actually a phenomenon that a lot of people partake in. The idea of shopping when you’re feeling down seems to be an appealing concept to a lot of people, especially in this day and age, with the convenience of online stores making it  easier and faster to get our hands on new things we may or may not need. 

The reason you seem to impulsively purchase items, or better said, go through retail therapy, is because shopping gives us a form of mental preparation. As people shop, they’re naturally visualizing how they’ll use the products they’re considering, and in doing so, they’re also visualizing their new life, which is a great way to reduce anxiety. Turning negatives to positives is always a good mindset to have, for when I look back at that bad day I experienced a while back, I see sadness and anger, for sure, but I also see that tank top that makes me feel confident every time I put it on, and who wouldn’t want that? 

Read ahead as I give you ideas on where to find such feel-good items suited to all your taste buds. 

1. Carousell: The best place to purchase items if you’re an environmental enthusiast yet would love to buy slightly unnecessary items to pamper yourself. This online platform sells second hand items at an affordable price and it offers a wide variety of selections . It even allows for easy communication with the sellers so this is heaven for those who love to get a good bargain. 

2. Cotton on: A good place for cheap and trendy clothing, although the downside is that the material for their clothing is not that sustainable. Has both instore and online access to their clothes, plus regular sales for those who would not like to burn a hole in their pockets. Sells accessories, shoes and bags as well. 

3. Zara: A must go for those who want high quality clothes that are in trend. Made of sustainable material although the price may be a little high for some. A personal favourite due to the excellent quality and how pretty their clothes are. Caters to people with all styles. 

4. Shein: A very popular, super affordable and cheap website for you to purchase once again trendy pieces, not forgetting how wide the range of selection there is. Not a very good option for those who are all about the good quality of clothes as they vary with the different pieces. Excellent place for those who want to splurge when feeling down.