Latest Female Fashion Trends - Women's Buying Power

Let there Be Luxury! Why Women Are Buying So Many Luxury Items

Advice Seeker: Dear April,

I've been thinking about opening a boutique that carries women's luxury items. I notice that a lot of women are ordering stuff online in my area because we don't really have stores where you can buy high-end brands, and I see an opportunity. What do you think?

Sincerely,

Eager Entrepreneur

April Masini's advice:

Dear Eager Entrepreneur,

I think it's a great idea, particularly if your area doesn't already service this growing market for women!

Women are most definitely buying more luxury items -- for themselves and others -- and they're buying them in more ways -- in stores, in person and online. Women work for paychecks more than ever, and they want to reward themselves for their efforts as well as make themselves look successful to promote themselves in their work. The way they do this is with luxury goods that they buy for themselves.

In addition, more women are buying more luxury items for their children, husbands and boyfriends -- and each other. Double incomes in families and single working women have all given women more buying power than ever before. Women have more complicated lives -- they have children, step-children, best friends, faux-friends, relatives, exes and their relatives who they're still friendly with for the sake of the children, etc. And all these people reap the benefits of women's luxury shopping and purchasing power.