Where's no such thing as too many clothes. Or is there? Why do women love collecting shoes and bags? And black spaghetti tops and dark blue jeans and white shirts... It seems like every woman has one fetish hiding in her wardrobe. And sometimes this can go from fun to addiction. Arguably for us, we haven't reached a point where it has been classified as a common personality disorder. But across the globe, many women are turning to support groups to get rid of their shopping obsessions.

Fun For Some
So it's still fun when we hear Shehnaz Treasurywala mention in a TV interview that she has more black dresses than she can count. Or when Nina Manuel claims that she has more bags than she can carry. Or when Namrata Barua says she loves buying shoes. Or when Kirron Kher admits she loves buying saris. To their credit, most women will say that if you like something it's only natural that you will splurge on it! But what is the dividing line between buying out of passion and buying because you are obsessed?

What Is Hoarding?
Hoarders are people who genuinely have lost control. Shopping becomes an easy fulfillment of wishes for them and a replacement of needs not being met elsewhere. But there's a fine line between healthy buying and buying because of an underlying disorder.

Says businesswoman Caryn Rao, who has a penchant for watches, "I have friends abroad who go shopping twice a day. I love shopping... my passion is watches. I have over a 100 watches, but for me, it's more of a collection. Like others collect art. I love watch designs and feel every woman should have one watch for each day of the week. But many women I know are obsessive about it. It's about impulse control, some have it; some don't."

Adds marketing executive Shruti Belliappa, "It's wrong to point out to anyone who has a collection of something and say she has obsessive compulsive buying disorder. Like I love buying books and am unable to curb my enthusiasm. But for me it's enjoyable. I don't buy to hoard. No way! I think books are beautiful to have around. But I know women who are shopping addicts and buy just to feel good about themselves - like they are in control of the moment when they flash that credit card."