History Main / RetailTherapy

* The makeover variant happens in ''LegallyBlonde'' whenever something bad happens to Elle.

* On ''TheSimpsons'', Mr. Burns says this is the only way he knows to cope with defeat.

* Interestingly, it seems that retail therapy may have [[http://bps-research-digest.blogspot.com/2011/06/does-retail-therapy-work.html some basis in fact.]] Just make sure you [[http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oniomania don't go overboard.]]

* In ''TheMuppetsTakeManhattan'', Miss Piggy is given a cheer-up makeover by [[TheCameo Joan Rivers]].
* Cher from ''{{Clueless}}'' goes shopping whenever she's feeling down. When she doesn't get her driver's license, for example, she has to walk home, all the while mulling her problem. On the way, however, she's distracted by a pretty dress on a shop; she goes in, buys the dress, and ''then'' continues mulling her problem.

* On ''WesternAnimation/BeverlyHillsTeens'', Bianca Dupree says this always cheers her up,yet,when goes shopping because she didn't get a leading role in her high school's soap opera,she still feels "as miserable as ever".

* On ''WesternAnimation/BeverlyHillsTeens'', Bianca Dupree says this always cheers her up,yet,when she has this once because she didn't get a leading role in her high school's soap opera,she still feels "as miserable as ever".

* The makeover variant happens in LegallyBlonde whenever something bad happens to Elle.

RetailTherapy often accompanies a ShoppingMontage, although to demonstrate that a character is truly depressed and in a really bad spot, she may be grimly and desperately shopping alone. Alternatively a group of friends may decide that a particular friend is being [[{{Wangst}} too mopey]] and take her shopping in an attempt to cheer her up. Depending on the character, this can be met with mixed success.

Usually this occurs after experiencing rejection or turbulence in a romantic relationship, but RetailTherapy can be a response to all sorts of trauma, ranging from things like having a bad day to losing a job. A sympathetic character generally won't use RetailTherapy to cope with the death of pets and/or other characters, as this implies the character attaches a monetary value to lives. Male characters who use exhibit this trope often carry connotations of being effeminate or extremely [[DoubleStandard materialistic]].

Can overlap with CreditCardPlot if the character in question incurs massive credit card debts because of the excessive purchases made during RetailTherapy. The character is often (but not always) MsRedInk.

* Re-Al's robot assistant tries to take her shopping to keep her out of trouble early in ''ErgoProxy''.

* Becky Brandon of the ''{{Shopaholic}}'' series, who has issues with [[CreditCardPlot overspending]] during her RetailTherapy.

Can overlap with CreditCardPlot if the character in question incurs massive credit card debts because of the excessive purchases made during RetailTherapy.

* At the start of ''[[AuntDimity Aunt Dimity Takes a Holiday]]'' Emma is upset to learn her husband of ten years has kept his real name and title from her and after Lori tells her that Bill has secretly been her noble father-in-law's attorney for three months, Emma says, "I'm tired of boys' games. Let's go shopping." Lori notes, "We spent the next week buying clothes." It seems to work; after getting a newly becoming haircut at a salon, Emma stops scolding Lori for addressing her as Viscountess.

* At the start of ''[[AuntDimity Aunt Dimity Takes a Holiday]]'' Emma is upset to learn her husband of ten years has kept his real name and title from her and after Lori tells her that Bill has secretly been her noble father-in-law's attorney for three months, Emma says, "I'm tired of boys' games. Let's go shopping." Lori notes, "We spent the next week buying clothes."

This is TruthInTelevision for a very large number of people. Even men (even if they deny it).

* Lily Aldrin from ''HowIMetYourMother'' does this on a regular basis. It gets her into trouble after she maxes out a huge stack of credit cards doing it; she then goes on another shopping spree because she's depressed about her huge credit card bill.

* Sokka from ''AvatarTheLastAirbender'' loves to go shopping, and on occasion when he's feeling down, his friends will be more than happy to oblige him. It's more for stuff like weapons, though.

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* Victor, from the Canadian TV series ''StudentBodies''. He was rich and he usually dealt with negative emotions by going out and buying something expensive.

* Sokka from ''AvatarTheLastAirbender'' loves to go shopping, and on occasion when he's feeling down, his friends will be more than happy to oblige him.

* Sokka (a rare male example) from ''AvatarTheLastAirbender'' loves to go shopping, and on occasion when he's feeling down his friends will be more than happy to oblige him.
* On ''TheSimpsons'' Mr. Burns says this is the only way he knows to cope with defeat.

* Jody from ''BloodsuckingFiends'' when she's upset about Tommy having friends over during the day.

* Victor, from the Canadian TV series ''StudentBodies''. He was rich and he usually dealt with negative emotions by going out and buying something expensive.

* The BarenakedLadies song "[[http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/barenakedladies/shopping.html Shopping]]" is about this. ("Everything will always be all right/when we go shopping!")
* In ''TheMuppetsTakeManhattan'', Miss Piggy is given a cheer-up makeover by [[TheCameo Joan Rivers]].
* Re-Al's robot assistant tries to take her shopping to keep her out of trouble early in ''ErgoProxy''.

* Cher from ''{{Clueless}}'' goes shopping whenever she's feeling down. When she doesn't get her driver's license, for example, she has to walk home, all the while mulling her problem. On the way, however, she's distracted by a pretty dress on a shop; she goes in, buys the dress, and ''then'' continues mulling her problem.

* The first ''[[BetsyTheVampireQueen Undead And...]]'' book has Betsy getting a pedicure to feel better about the whole "now a vampire" business. Sadly, vampiric bodies revert to the way they were at death the next time the vampire sleeps. Seeing the pedicure undone reduces Betsy to tears.

* Sokka (a rare male example) from ''AvatarTheLastAirbender'' loves to go shopping, and on occaision when he's feeling down his friends will be more than happy to oblige him.

* Lily Aldrin from ''HowIMetYourMother'' does this on a regular basis. It gets her into trouble after she maxes out a huge stack of credit cards doing it; she then goes on another shopping spree because she's depressed about her hudge credit card bill.

* On ''TheSimpsons'' Mr. Burns says this is the only way he knows to cope with defeat.

* Lily Aldrin from ''HowIMetYourMother'' does this on a regular basis. (It gets her into trouble after she maxes out a huge stack of credit cards doing it.)

* Cher from ''{{Clueless}}'' goes shopping whenever she's feeling down. When she doesn't get her driver's license, for example, she has to walk home, all the while mulling her problem. On the way, however, she's distracted by a pretty dress on a shop; she goes in, buys the dress, and ''then'' continues mulling her problem.

* In ''{{Animorphs}}'' Rachel takes Cassie on a shopping trip after Cassie had just spent an extended period of time trapped in the form of a caterpillar. Cassie's response is pretty positive,
-->"Whip out your credit card, girl, we're adding some color!"