If you’re out on a shopping spree, the last thing you want is to be belittled by workers who don’t think you’re fancy enough to shop in their stores. Unfortunately, it can be tough to find a high-fashion space that’s also a judgment-free zone.
Considering fashion is an industry rife with elitism and classism, is it any surprise that some non-wealthy shoppers have bad experiences in the higher-end fashion retailers? This phenomenon is so well-known that it was immortalized in the iconic ’90s romcom Pretty Woman, in which Julia Roberts’ character gets snubbed at an expensive boutique for not looking like their customary, rich clientele. This “Pretty Woman effect” sometimes even boosts sales in real life.
