Confessions of an Oniomaniac

Hello Fellas,

Missed this space...been a while since I wrote! 
Pinterest, a virtual pin-board network,...I guess I was one of those first few subscribers who hooked up to this space while it began in 2010. Since then, this has become a dearest space to me...useful n fun to me in all means. Whoever came up with this idea...Thank them a ton. Long live Pinterest!!! If you are looking for a healthy addiction, check it out :D!!!

I want to start a segment in this space...i.e posting my favourite pictures, because I hate them lying unappreciated. hehe. Isn't it nice to get some compliments for your clicks :). Here comes the first one.

Beginning with a beautiful swan, picture taken at Kew Gardens, London. A place which is amazingly awesome during spring. 

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"Oniomania"...Don’t you think it sounds funny?? Being called as Oniomaniac is even funnier. Did it sound as an obsession for onions. Haha. But, that’s not right. Wanna know...read on. 

Since my childhood, all the pocket money given to me was spent in a split second earning me a name as a spendthrift. I inherited my Mom's love for shopping but not her wiseness in spending. I enjoyed going to craft, book & art exhibitions while I was in India and emptied my pockets collecting my favourites.

After moving to US, my interest was ignited with the numerous stores & malls around. Fortunately, most of my dear friends also enjoyed shopping like me. Outlet malls were our favourite hangout spots. We used to explore all the stores, shop competitively, and by the closing time, forcibly got out from the store. Once back, we would have a fashion walk to exhibit the finds and chatter until dawn about the fun we had while doing all this.

During my stay in Houston, one of the famous & biggest malls in USA, 'Galleria' was right on the opposite corner of my apartment. My weekends never finished without visiting the mall. Those frequent visits helped me find great stuff at affordable prices. If there would be a hall of fame like the Hollywood, Houston Galleria would not miss my name there, I guess. Wherever I went, I made sure I did some shopping there…the minimum would be collecting souvenir items. My mom always did this. She says apart from the pictures we take, the souvenir items would be the best memories of that place.

My craze for shopping grew manifold after moving to London. As London is known as one of the shopping heavens (others being New York, Dubai, Singapore & Delhi), I had a gala time in there. Fueling my love for shopping, my husband (then boyfriend) used to accompany me so patiently all the time. Is it not surprising to find a guy being patient while shopping? Not sure, if he really enjoyed or cribbed doing so. But, in London, I did find many people like me who enjoyed shopping in spite of sultry sun, stormy rains & frosty winters. Boxing Day sale was the craziest shopping I ever did. I loved it because I could find some best items at great discounts along with bruises as it was a crazy marathon to get in and get out of the stores. Another memorable experience was being part of Vogue Fashion Night Out. Accidentally, I had been to shopping on that night…which allowed me to enjoy luxury shopping experience with great perks. I did post that experience in this page here.  Just as Galleria, Houston, I guess Stratford City mall in London would not miss my name in its hall of fame. Although Stratford city mall was newly opened just before I moved back to homeland, I made sure I made enough visits to make them richer...another awesome hangout in all ways (food, fun, shop & lazy out).

After coming back to homeland, I found it hard to maintain the same pace & interest in shopping because it is totally a swarming exercise here. But, do I avoid...no..I find alternatives :)

Generally shopaholics are considered as brand crazy. I am personally not a brand freak, but I am amazed by the effort that goes into executing a design into a brand…which includes showcasing the design, creating a brand name, advertising and publicizing the same. The value of the brand not only depends on the uniqueness of the design and its quality but also depends on how the brand is conceived, at which status it was aimed etc; this was all known to me recently when I started following some top brands and ace designers on how they evolved into big businesses. I guess, I got too much into the anatomy of brands. I also love and dream to buy brands but when spending some big notes, I will make 200% sure that it is spent on the right item. If you assume, that I spend huge bucks every time I go shopping, you are totally mistaken. I make sure I spend reasonably. But also crib for unnecessary spending at times.

The positive side of the story is the excess stuff can always be sold at the thrift stores or donated at goodwill places. 

Alright, I guess, you would have understood by now that the term coined in the beginning was all about the craze for shopping. Yes it is. Oniomania is the technical term for compulsive shopaholism. Don't curse me for writing so many lines to explain a single word, instead consider this as my confession. I disagree if this is called as a disorder. It’s a rejenuvating exercise indeed. 

If you are one among the shopaholics, welcome to the league!!! Be proud that you contribute better to the economy instead of worrying to resist the urge!!! ;)

Cheers

Jyostna