Window Shopping: No Pain No Gain

Having submitted my last assignment for the semester, my days have suddenly began to feel longer. I have done everything possible to kill time; cleaning the fridge, dusting my window blinds, writing postcards to myself. Yet, I still feel like another eight hours have been added to the usual twenty-four. In the event of such boredom, I do what every fashion lover on tight budget does best; I window shop. I would visit my favourite stores, checking out what is latest, staring longingly at the mannequins on display. I could spend hours scrutinizing the different materials, the different cuts and the ways different pieces are put together to create a brilliant ensemble. It is through such experience that I slowly build my fashion resources.


But the frustration of window shopping could sometimes be overwhelming. How many times have we found that perfect dress, in that perfect shade and that even more perfect size (an added bonus would be when it fits snuggly around the bust and seems to accentuate our assets) only to flick on the price tag and boo hoo hoo, the triple digit tag simply screams 'not affordable, unless you are willing to starve for two weeks'.

For someone who wishes to have a decent university life (read: clean accomodation, 'real' regular meals), I know that even the paypackets from my two part-time jobs are only thick enough to allow for the occasional rich indulgences. I do allow myself small purchases but with the dream of touring the Europe keep on looming above my head even as I roll the kebabs and do the take-away orders, designer and branded items have to be reserved as semesterly treats.



Pic: The ultimate Louis Vuitton Manhattan PM that could almost buy me a return ticket to London

Unlike the Hilton, Olsen and other sisters with similarly ever-expanding income, the majority of us could barely invest in a Louis Vuitton without having to save up six months in prior (or for the bolder chicks, skimp six months after). And unlike Them The Privileged Ones too, the majority of us have rent and bills inconveniently standing in between us and the seen-it-on-SATC-Manolo Blahniks. The temptation to fish out the Mastercard and make one happy swipe is difficult to resist but the thought of my father even more happily snipping the plastic into two is often enough to bring me to my senses.

So with such traumatizing pain, why still window shop? I know of a handful of people who find window shopping completely time-wasting. It is the middle of the month and your purse is drier than the damns in Kuala Selangor during the draught season. Why further torment yourself with more retail cravings? While people like me make enough visits to the mall to know which floor has the best washroom, there are those whose number of shopping trip in a year could be counted by the fingers. "I dont shop often, but when I do, I just grab whatever I like, regardless of the price," confessed one non-believer of window shopping.

As thrilling as it may sound (imagine, walking into AX and not having to put your inner-shopaholic self in restraining order), somehow the idea of squeezing my weekly store visits into a seasonal event does not seem so appealing. Yes, it is difficult having to walk out of my favourite store sans a purchase but at least the frequent trips help to inform me of what is in, what is current, what looks good and what looks trash. It helps to ensure that I do not blow a week's pay on a supposedly-very-Sienna ensemble only to go home and realize that the boho maiden look is not exactly me. Regular window-shopping sessions also mean that I have the most current and updated information on fashion bargains at my fingertip. Believe me, when you have swiped on a pair of very sexy, very expensive heels, you would not want to walk into the store next door to see a very similar pair priced at very much less.

With the growing number of shopping malls in the relatively small city of Kuala Lumpur, one seldom has to wonder how much us KL-ites love window shopping. It has become almost a culture; to head down to giga-sized shopping malls on the weekends and to hold our breath as we stop in front of Tiffany & Co, joyous that the quest for the perfect wedding ring is over (so now we just have to search for the perfect groom).

And as for me, I am convinced that window-shopping shall continue to help fill the daily extra eight hours that I have until summer vacation is over. The need for retail indulgences is strong yet there is a strict budget I have disciplined myself to live on, so what better way to feed the retail hunger without placing a hazard on my financial situation?

Free ride to the mall? Anytime babes.