Sophie Kinsella Reveals Her Own Shopping Demons

Sophie Kinsella series of Shopaholic novels cemented her as one of the most popular chick-lit writers and this popularity was cemented by a big screen adaptation of the first Shopaholic novel.

In this upbeat and deliciously funny film, Becky is the kind of heroine that everyone (at least most of us) can identify with. She is fun, friendly and engaging. But shopping, we rapidly discover, is her Achilles heel.

There is just no stopping this woman, not even credit card debt that is potentially crippling.  Because of her shopping addiction, she's constantly getting into messes. And the irony of the story is that this profligate young woman is a financial journalist, (having previously worked for a gardening magazine) who ends up dishing out financial advice to readers.

However Kinsella reveals she has a few shopping demons of her own.

What was the inspiration for your stories?  

I used to spend money and get amnesia every month when the VISA bill arrived and that’s what inspired me to create this character. I would say ‘what is this? What am I looking at? I don’t remember going to that shop and buying that?’ It is that complete denial we all have. I would say to my husband: ‘I’ve never even been to that shop, what are they talking about?’ and he would be the one to say ‘remember when you bought that?’

And than I would have that sinking feeling. That was the starting point for Becky, this crazy girl who loves to shop. I could see the comedy potential. A lot of the inspiration came from the way I think about shopping, the thrill and the excitement.

Is it just clothes that tempt you as a shopper yourself?

Oh no. I think it is what Becky talks about in the book, she goes in cycles:  makeup, shoes, clothes, cushions, that’s me. I will buy all the clothes I need and think that’s enough and then I think to myself: but I need more makeup and then there is a lamp I have to buy or a rug and ooh I need gardening tools.  And so it goes on.

I do love clothes but another thing I do is visit museums and   then of course I have to go to the museum store and do some shopping.  I will justify it by saying: ‘oh it’s cultural’ because I am shopping at a museum. I often forget what I’ve bought. I’ll buy Christmas presents for friends and put them in the cupboard. Then at Christmas they come falling out and I realise I have bought three things for the same person.

Can you reveal your own funniest shopping experience?

I found an absolutely beautiful, beige shearling coat with studs that I desperately wanted for my birthday. It was by Max Mara and it was really special. I was planning to drop hints to my husband and say ‘wouldn’t that be a lovely birthday present for me?’ I had tried it on and I had put it on hold in the shop. Then the shop manager phoned me and said: ‘another customer wants the coat’. 

It was about to be sold, so I was in a panic. I said to my husband: ‘right we have to go and get it now’. So we shoved the baby in the pram and literally ran to Max Mara so he could see it and decide whether he was going to buy it for me. The poor baby was bouncing around all over the place. But he liked it and we bought it and I was happy.

Which shopping trip stands out for you as being particularly memorable?

I went on a girlie trip to Washington DC to visit a friend who was living there and we went shopping and then went to a movie right afterwards and we actually filled the whole row of seats in the cinema with shopping bags. Shopping is a great way to bond with friends, I love it.

What has been your most thrilling shopping spree?

One day, I had told my husband I had to work really hard on my writing. I was busy working and thought I would pop out for a coffee  - as you do. I happened to walk past a shop window and saw an amazing Jenny Packham evening dress with sequins and a train. It was on sale, 500 pounds down from a thousand pounds and I was just drawn to it like a moth to the flame.

It wasn’t exactly cheap but I couldn’t believe it was half price, a real bargain. They only had one and it happened to be my size, so it was meant to be of course. But I was half way into the dress in the changing room when my husband phoned me asking how my work was progressing. ‘Are you really focused?’ he asked with concern. ‘I’m so glad you are making progress.’ And I said ‘Oh yes it’s going well’ and whispered ‘shhhh’ to the shop assistants.  I felt so guilty.

They asked me: ‘What’s the event that you are buying the dress for?’ and I said, ‘I don’t have an event. I just love the dress’. It was a perfect fit and I did buy it. Then my agent threw a party for me. No one was actually wearing a full length sequined dress but I didn’t care, I wore mine and felt great.

Do you have too much of anything in your wardrobe?

Probably shoes, although really I don’t think there is such a thing as too many shoes. Perhaps I have too many white t-shirts.  I’m a magpie. I love so many designers and have every label under the sun, I am very fickle.

Is there one item in your wardrobe that you can’t live without?

It changes every month, I have a gorgeous bag that I love just now.  I saw it in the Prada store when we were shooting the scenes for this film in Miami. I put my name on the waiting list and they pushed me up the list, so I got the bag and love it.  Prada is currently my favourite label.

Is there anything that you regret in your wardrobe?

I wish I could say no, but there are weird purchases made under the influence of hormones. I have a terrible pair of shoes, just terrible, what was I thinking? They are platform shoes with silver bits and straps that wind up your legs and a hole that goes through the heel.

They are hooker shoes, but they were on sale and I thought I would wear them for a special party; they sit in the wardrobe doing nothing. It is shameful.

Do you shop everywhere you go?

Everywhere, you can always find something wherever you go. I was in Oman on holiday a while ago and I kept seeing beautiful shawls for sale. Now I do not wear shawls ever, but I became captivated by them. I thought ‘oh my god shawls, why have I never bought any before? This will be my new thing’. My husband said: ‘people will call you the girl in the shawl’. 

And I thought: ‘I really am turning into Becky Bloomwood’. Anyway I bought three and have only ever worn one of them. But it is easy to get carried away; you see something and suddenly have a new image of yourself.  I thought: ‘I will look like a Bedouin princess in my lovely cashmere shawls’ ..yeah right.

How does your husband deal with your shopping sprees?

He has come to understand my love of shopping, he’s very sweet.  He sometimes comes with me and he tries to look interested, he tries so hard, but he just can’t get into it.

For him, shopping takes half an hour. He’s a good shopper, but he’ll buy two suits and ten shirts and then he’ll be done. And that is the difference.  For men like him it’s a mission. You get what you want and then you are finished for the rest of the year.  

But I need more and more. I can do a big shop and stock up my wardrobe and think I have enough.  and then I walk past a shop and see some fab little bag and I say:  ‘oh I want that’ and that is the difference between men and women.

What is your advice for men with shopaholic women in their lives?

I think they should have tolerance and frankly I think they should all read the Shopaholic books and then they will understand the working of women’s minds. If you don’t want to join in a shopping trip, don’t come. There’s nothing worse than that sight of half a dozen men loping around miserably in a shop, with all the women.

What they have to remember is that they are usually spending money on other things, such as sporting fixtures, nights at the pub or gambling weekends. Perhaps they just upgraded the computer, they buy a lot of   expensive stuff. Every time my husband says to me ‘do you need another pair of shoes?’ I say ‘does the computer need to be any more sophisticated? I don’t think so’.

Finally what advice do you have for shopaholics?

Buy yourself a little treat if you feel the need to shop. Instead of buying the Chanel bag, buy the Chanel lipstick; you still get the packaging, which we love of course and the experience, which we love too.

Go to a lovely store, wander about and enjoy it all; then head for the makeup department and buy eye shadow rather than the head to toe outfit. You can still get a buzz. There’s no point trying to go cold turkey and stop shopping altogether.

Confessions of a Shopaholic is released 20th February

Sophie Kinsella series of Shopaholic novels cemented her as one of the most popular chick-lit writers and this popularity was cemented by a big screen adaptation of the first Shopaholic novel.

In this upbeat and deliciously funny film, Becky is the kind of heroine that everyone (at least most of us) can identify with. She is fun, friendly and engaging. But shopping, we rapidly discover, is her Achilles heel.

There is just no stopping this woman, not even credit card debt that is potentially crippling.  Because of her shopping addiction, she's constantly getting into messes. And the irony of the story is that this profligate young woman is a financial journalist, (having previously worked for a gardening magazine) who ends up dishing out financial advice to readers.

However Kinsella reveals she has a few shopping demons of her own.

What was the inspiration for your stories?  

I used to spend money and get amnesia every month when the VISA bill arrived and that’s what inspired me to create this character. I would say ‘what is this? What am I looking at? I don’t remember going to that shop and buying that?’ It is that complete denial we all have. I would say to my husband: ‘I’ve never even been to that shop, what are they talking about?’ and he would be the one to say ‘remember when you bought that?’

And than I would have that sinking feeling. That was the starting point for Becky, this crazy girl who loves to shop. I could see the comedy potential. A lot of the inspiration came from the way I think about shopping, the thrill and the excitement.

Is it just clothes that tempt you as a shopper yourself?

Oh no. I think it is what Becky talks about in the book, she goes in cycles:  makeup, shoes, clothes, cushions, that’s me. I will buy all the clothes I need and think that’s enough and then I think to myself: but I need more makeup and then there is a lamp I have to buy or a rug and ooh I need gardening tools.  And so it goes on.

I do love clothes but another thing I do is visit museums and   then of course I have to go to the museum store and do some shopping.  I will justify it by saying: ‘oh it’s cultural’ because I am shopping at a museum. I often forget what I’ve bought. I’ll buy Christmas presents for friends and put them in the cupboard. Then at Christmas they come falling out and I realise I have bought three things for the same person.

Can you reveal your own funniest shopping experience?

I found an absolutely beautiful, beige shearling coat with studs that I desperately wanted for my birthday. It was by Max Mara and it was really special. I was planning to drop hints to my husband and say ‘wouldn’t that be a lovely birthday present for me?’ I had tried it on and I had put it on hold in the shop. Then the shop manager phoned me and said: ‘another customer wants the coat’. 

It was about to be sold, so I was in a panic. I said to my husband: ‘right we have to go and get it now’. So we shoved the baby in the pram and literally ran to Max Mara so he could see it and decide whether he was going to buy it for me. The poor baby was bouncing around all over the place. But he liked it and we bought it and I was happy.

Which shopping trip stands out for you as being particularly memorable?

I went on a girlie trip to Washington DC to visit a friend who was living there and we went shopping and then went to a movie right afterwards and we actually filled the whole row of seats in the cinema with shopping bags. Shopping is a great way to bond with friends, I love it.

What has been your most thrilling shopping spree?

One day, I had told my husband I had to work really hard on my writing. I was busy working and thought I would pop out for a coffee  - as you do. I happened to walk past a shop window and saw an amazing Jenny Packham evening dress with sequins and a train. It was on sale, 500 pounds down from a thousand pounds and I was just drawn to it like a moth to the flame.

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