Shopaholic men. Buy that?

The verdict is out. Men do it too? as much as women! According to a study, based on the largest of its kind survey ever conducted in the United States, men splurge and shop as much as the other half of their species on the planet.

The metrosexual man has already elbowed out the yin half of his species in city malls . After all, he’s the one who brings in the dough!

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The verdict is out. Men do it too… as much as women! According to a study, based on the largest of its kind survey ever conducted in the United States, men splurge and shop as much as the other half of their species on the planet.

The study, published in the October issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry, states: One in 20 American adults say, they find themselves unable to stop shopping for items they may not even want or need. And, men are just as likely as women to suffer from compulsive buying!

And, where do Lucknow men figure? City behavioural researcher, Ruchi Sinha, says, “Of course I have not come across any cases in Lucknow or even the metros, where I have been conducting research, of men seeking psychiatric help for compulsive shopping. But, yes, I can assure you that men shop their heart out too. You can make that out from our advertising targeting the men as much as women.”

Not just the advertising, several wives across town would breathe fire on the topic too. Banker MK Roy’s wife swoons when her husband goes out and just “blows his salary on books and CDs.” She says, “I can’t believe it how he does it month after month. I have even threatened to leave home and no, this is not a joke. I understand his passion for music and literary pursuits but to be obsessive about spending money illogically on these objects doesn’t go down well with me.”

Smita Saxena, a medico by profession, says, “I hardly have time to shop. My husband Amit makes up for both of us. He’s a managing director with a leading MNC and not only does he shop for clothes to suit his professional status, he does it for me as well. Sometimes, he goes overboard though. Recently, he was in London and picked up six jeans!!! I almost fainted when he opened the suitcase.”

Take a stroll down one of Lucknow’s malls—Wave or Saharaganj—and more than the girls, it’s the guys scourging the markets to pick up stuff. Dhruv Pandey says, “Yes, every weekly holiday I do go out. I try and window shop but more often than not, I end up picking up a T-shirt or pant or, maybe a belt.”

He grins, “Don’t call me a compulsive shopper. Let’s just say that I like to make a personal style statement and thankfully, I can afford it. So, why not?” His friends agree in unison.

“Men are the best buyers in my store and we have dedicated a major section to cater to their demands. The assortment of brands available in our shops are for brand savvy male customers so that they get their variety of brands under a roof,” says Vishal Kohli of a multi brand outlet (MBO) Kohli Bros.

In fact, with the mall culture coming to Lucknow, the range for men’s shopping has widened. But, then, not all Lucknow men shop for ‘self satisfaction’.

Many do it to please family and friends. Even though, some men may crib, “Oh! women make us shop…” all in all, shopping’s another bastion, the metrosexual male is braving with aplomb.