What’s the origin of the phrase ‘Sex and shopping’?
This genre of novel, also called ‘bonkbuster’ or just ‘S&S’, came into prominence during the 1980s. The first reference to it that I can find in print is from The Ladies’ Home Journal, May 1985:
“Jackie Collins, charming, vibrant and stunningly attractive, could serve as at least a minor character in one of her sex-and-shopping-among-the-rich-and-famous page-turners.”
See also - power dressing.