There was a time when all that people needed to dress themselves had to be homemade. Shopping was already in the air, but the privilege of nobility, and it merely consisted in choosing among luscious silks or rich brocades and have others turn them into luxurious garments.
The commoners had to do it all from scratch, weaving, cutting and hand sewing the cloths they'd likely wear for years. It started to change around the mid 19th century, with the opening of the first department stores, in France and Britain, and the emergence of a strong middle class. In our contemporary world of mass consumption shopping has become a way of life and shopping centers spread like mushrooms all over the world.
On rainy days a visit at the local shopping mall is sure to raise our spirit; and in the summer most will indulge in main street shopping at least once a week. It doesn't mean we need something in particular... we just enjoy looking around. On the Web the shopping sites are the most popular; e shopping is IN these days and it offered many advantages. Our computer gives us access to a worldwide online shopping mall, filled with whatever our heart desires.
For cloths, books, music, decorations, we all have a favorite shopping website we can visit at will... in the middle of the night if we feel like it, in our pyjama and with no sales person around to make us feel guilty if we don't buy anything.
