How French Women Shop: The Secret Revealed! (Maybe)

What is it about French shopping habits? Why do we yearn to be French shoppers? I subscribe to the fantasy as much as the next person, even though my behavior is probably the opposite of French. Whenever I am actually in France, I wonder if the idea of the Parisienne buying only 3--maybe 4--exquisitely chosen items per year IS a fantasy. I see loads of people weighed down by giant shopping bags from H&M, Mango, and the like, same as in any American city. But I think I know the secret. You see I have ONE French friend, who came to the USA 30 years ago and ended up marrying an American fellow. Here is the secret. She goes shopping ONLY when she needs something (like a nice suit when there was a dinner in her honor). It might take her a whole day (or more) to find an acceptable one, since she is hard to fit (petite, curvy). She will spend whatever (though she generally looks at mid-priced stores). The above is not news. This is the news. Once she gets something--and this includes things for her home also--SHE STOPS LOOKING or EVEN THINKING about it. In short, she is a DECIDER. When I get another black top, say, I'm always wondering: is there a nicer one? My French friend has a daughter, born in the USA. Daughter is fluent in French, but she shops like her American peers. That is, she shops recreationally and she's ALWAYS LOOKING. Hmmmmm. A generalization--even a tabloid-type headline-- based on a single example. Not scientific! What do you think?