I found myself today at the mall, the busy one, in Scottsdale, because I had a gift certificate to redeem.  Normally, I wouldn't consider going this time of year, for myself or others, but I needed a bra before the weekend, and I had to go to Victoria's Secret.  I have little use for that store, although they have one bra style in my size that happens to fit, feel comfortable, and look relatively good.  With this in mind, every two years or so I go in, pick up a few more, and leave.  It was not so easy today. 

I was not impressed that the store was very busy, because it is three days before Christmas and half the women in the area are aspiring underwear models.   The sales staff, all young women under 30, were attentive, polite, and on top of their game.  I was offered three fittings, which I declined for my own sake.  Finding my way to the location took a wending and winding through the length of the mall and I was already beat.  I go inside there literally less than twice a year, and not always because I am shopping. There is a movie theater and some restaurants, as well, that may be the reason for the occasion.  I haven't tried on or bought clothes there for myself since 2008.  Fashion Park isn't very far, maybe a 10 min drive, I just hate the mall.  All malls.

As I am not a twenty something or a hot body, I don't have much to look for in Victoria's Secret.  I would rather buy at Nordstrom's or Macy's for this kind of thing, but so it goes.  Not like these bras are cheap, either, $40-50 for the engineering.   Of course, they keep changing the "same" bra, so I had to try it on, again, to find out it doesn't fit the same.  Not bad, just more padding and a different lift.  I had to try on another "new" line, which is essentially the original style of the first line.  Why lingerie designers (or any really) have to keep doing this astounds me.  

I thought about what it means that Victoria's Secret is so busy, in this day and age.   They employ young women who may not have the skills, money or talent to go to college.  Not saying they aren't valuable, just that these are the girls who are made for retail.  I overhear them bantering about their friend, who has taken a new retail job in another store in the mall.  More than 50% of the mall is geared towards women's fashion, and probably more than 50% of that is geared towards them.  They are young, mostly hot bodied, and probably not too many of them are married.  I thought about this when I picked up an embroidered nightie sweat shirt that said something like "Hottest Little Bride", in blue thread over white.  Seriously?  Bridal nightie sweatshirts? 

In my world, a professional world, business is still primarily a cash economy.  We sell healthy lifestyle.  Patients want to do things with less drugs, and they come to me and my colleauges for help sorting out what is the best route.  It isn't always one over the other, often a combo, but when it comes down to paying for things, it is still out of pocket for much of it and then they have to also buy healthier food choices, supplements, or pay for treatments or prescriptions.  The holiday time is very slow for me, because people want to spend their money on feeling and looking good.  Which means, makeup, hair, hormones and aesthetic procedures.  Many physicians are finding out that the best way to infuse cash into their practice is to offer these options.  Patients will often balk at paying a $35 dollar copay, but think nothing of dropping $500 on a face full of botox.  And perhaps, that smooth and shiny face looking back at them will give them more help in the self esteem arena than a fistful of prozac.  

I think about all the ways in which women are the backbone of this economy.  Seriously, they are the primary users of medical care of all kinds, they primary purchasers of cosmetics and procedures, clothes and shoes, furniture, decorations, lots of stuff.  And men are totally into looking good and getting hormones and aesthetics now.   And it's not like women don't like their electronics, either, I own several Apple products because they make me happy.  I  just don't have much bling.  

It turns out, people pay for what makes them happy.  Men (still) pay for women to look beautiful for them, or women (still) pay for themselves to look beautiful to attract a man to pay for things.  We can talk all we want about what we think is important, what is necessary, and what is meaningful, and yet people want what they want. Which it turns out, is a push up bra and pajama pants, long hair and eyelashes, smooth skin and perky breasts. 

If you took away all the money we spend on all this stuff, what would you have?  Half the female work force would be out of a job.  Sales staff, hair dresser, nail tech, bling pusher, make up lady, clothing model, plus all the women who make up the reception and nursing staff in Medspas and other salons and spas.  These jobs have definitely slowed down in this economy, but they haven't gone away, and they won't.  Retail businesses are likely owned by men and women, but their staff is primarily women filling the part time, flexible, and season hours.  Our oldest has her first job at Macy's, barely part time, helping out in the shoe department, but it is a job she can do and there aren't many others.  She isn't going to getting a degree for a paying career any time soon, and this is what there is for her.  When she is old enough, she can be a server, another great way for women to earn tips.  If she took more time with her appearance, she would do amazingly well in sales.  She is taller, thinner and prettier than most. 

Still, it all comes down to the staff looking as young, beautiful, vibrant as possible.  We don't buy a lot of clothes to look old, we don't color our hair and smooth out our wrinkles in order to look our age, we don't squeeze into tight jeans so we can look like a mom.  I have never been in this kind of retail work, I lack both the look and the attitude, but I also know I am the last person I would ask for tips on fitting a great bra into a vavavoom dress.  Which I still hope to be able to wear.  My sweetie loves it when I look hot, and it turns out, he is willing to pay for these things sometimes.

One of the receptionists at work is a bombshell. She is tall and pretty, young, and often wears stiletto heels or platform shoes.  She has long, platinum blond hair mostly worn down and in curls, and shows off her busty figure in tight clothes.  She wears a lot of makeup.  Now, you may think, this is totally unnecessary to do the job, but it thrills the patients to have a knockout to make conversation with when they are waiting.  I think some of the men come in for visits just so they can have a conversation with her.  Our other reception is also a knockout, petite and brunette, older, but also beautiful and friendly.  It really matters what kind of image you put out in front, not just skillset.  Their jobs are customer service, and their attention to their hair, clothes, makeup, and jewelry make a huge difference in a place that runs on cash.  

For me, I know half the money I make is related to women wanting to look better.  It could be losing 25 pounds, it could be looking less tired and bedraggled due to stress and lack of sleep, it could be the desire to have the buzz of sexual allure through revitalized hormones.  While all of these issues have medical concerns that we address, nothing makes someone feel better faster than looking better (most of the time, anyhow).  The common politeness insists that we still compliment women on 5 pounds of weight loss, a dress or pants that is particularly flattering, a hair cut or color that just sets off their face, a piece of jewelry that is eye catching and uncommon.   If we took all those things away, I imagine a fair amount of the people I know would be out of a job, and also not feeling so very good about themselves at home.  Sure, maybe one or two of them have a husband who can support them if they don't work, but most of them are the primary or at least equal breadwinner.  I have learned a lot working with them, these past few years.  

I won't go overboard and suggest that we all take up the Real Housewives lifestyle.  From what I can tell, their lives are full of drama and hate, and soul crushing narcissism.  Still, their money lubricates the wheels of my economy, as they shop their way into health and beauty.  For many, it is their husband's money, for others, their own.  Their words and compliments go a long way for making referrals and keeping a business afloat.  Without their spending habits, a lot of other women would have no job at all.