Lucie de la Tour du Pin was a famous blonde French beauty, and a maid of honor to Marie Antoinette. Lucie and her husband had to flee France during the terror. They went to the US, where they bought a homestead. The husband did not adjust too well, but Lucie loved her new home. She worked, dressed plainly, and never put on aristocratic airs; this earned her the respect of her neighbors. Lucie had excellent relations with the Native Americans too, and was especially proud of her dairy. The aforementioned touch of luxury made her butter particularly popular!
I think women have, historically, been able to make a living through the business of luxury and pampering. Helena Rubinstein, for example, started her business by selling much-needed facial cream to the women of a remote Australian town. Elizabeth Arden and Estee Lauder also built empires on the business of luxury and beauty.
Traditionally, we women have been accused of love for luxury. In the Victorian era, a woman had to be modest; love of luxury brought ruin to her husband. I think that this accusation, which still exists today, is totally unfair. No husband was ever ruined by his wife's love of luxury: normally, business men or professionals are ruined through their own ill-thought manoeuvres.
Plus, if we like a bit of luxury, what of it? We give birth to humankind -- I think we are entitled to indulge ourselves as much as possible under the circumstances.
The best thing is to be able to afford to buy yourself luxury! However, I wouldn't mind to have a Christian Grey buy some luxury for me! :-)
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