Cause Celeb: Are Celebrities Reflecting a Cultural Shift Toward More Mindful Consumption?

by Avis Cardella

For decades now, one of our prevalent media images has been the celebrity who indulges in shopping sprees of epic proportions. We’ve all seen the magazine spreads and websites, the photographs of bag-toting actors, models, and musicians, caught in the act. The notion was simple: one of the rewards of big fame was big fortune. The ability to shop ‘til you dropped went with the territory. But a recent rash of candid celebrity remarks has me wondering if even celebs are becoming more thoughtful about their hyper-consumptive ways.

 

It was self-proclaimed shopaholic Victoria Beckham who recently caught my attention when she admitted that ”shopping is like a drug”—this after indulging in a million dollar shopping spree in Italy. Then, Lindsay Lohan grabbed the spotlight with the painful revelation that she was plagued by a hoarding problem. Most recently, Bollywood star Lara Dutta is quoted on the pages of Vogue, India, as having said: “I need therapy when it comes to shopping. I have no rules.”

While celebrities are not likely to stop shopping any time soon, these remarks sound more incisive than boastful. And that’s a good sign! After tackling my own shopping addiction, I’m an advocate for any level of introspection when it comes to compulsive buying.

I’m hoping these celebrity statements indicate a trend toward more mindful consumption, where we start to question “When is enough, enough? And just what is it that we are all so desperately shopping for?”

By Carrie Rattle

Carrie Rattle is a Principal at BehavioralCents.com, a website for women focused on mind and money behaviors. She has worked in the financial services industry for 20+ years and hopes to inspire women to better prepare themselves for financial independence. Read More