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| Jane Birkin in 1996, Handbag made in 2008 and sold in 2016, and for the same money - a house in Atlanta, GA! |
The French Open... I'm no fan of Novak Djokovic - Andy Murray's my man and I feel for him. He played his heart out, which is all one can ask. Coming second is no joy but I hope that his team can work with him on the good and try to eliminate as many faults as possible. The grass court season will be here next week and I'll definitely be giving all my hopes and thoughts to him winning, winning, winning!
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| Looking forward to seeing Andy beat Novak again! |
I just read a very interesting article about the rise of returning clothes bought online… How to buy, wear and then return an outfit. My first thoughts on this is how appalling! The obvious losers in this are the retailers, especially the small brands. Which, on thinking of this, surprises me. If they were to put tags on the front of the outfit in obvious sight, this would surely create a big problem but maybe unlike shops, online purchases don't have tags. This I don't know, having never bought online. It seems we are not happy about being seen in the same outfit twice... Really? Why not?! I've often thought that this Curse of The New is a bad thing. I wore my gold coat’s new incarnation yesterday and nothing pleased me more than knowing that I've had great value from a coat that I think looks better now than it did in its first incarnation 15 or so years ago. But maybe this is just me, and one friend was able to remember all its previous incarnations. I love that - clothes with a past! We all have one…
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| A lesson in Same Outfit Dressing from those who know. |
But, now to the future… The future of shopping as seen in the new Dior shop in Bond Street. Where to start? For those of you that have visited Avenue Montaigne - forget that! That can fit into Bond Street’s VIP changing room. It's huge! Four floors of the Dior vision. I think it's a very interesting concept, although I'm not sure that when you’re surrounded by up to 700 people and lots of champagne… But that was last night’s party. Last week's book signing in the unopened store was, although a much more sedate affair, still overwhelming in that the first time of viewing is always a surprise. So for an in-depth report I'm going to go back when all the hoo-har has died down. In the meantime, as per normal, I can be found in Sloane Street. Just think - when I was married I shopped across the road in Dolce & Gabbana, and as a divorcee I crossed the road (so to speak!) Still, Sloane Street will always hold a place in my heart.
Did you know that if you’re a Chinese visitor to these shores, the first place you want to go to is Buckingham Palace and the second place (drum roll, please!) is… Bicester Shopping Village. Yes - the discount outlet one hour from London. See? Everyone loves a bargain…
All looked after by the very accomplished VIP manager Maxine Messenger, pictured above in a great dress some weeks ago.
I'm back with the "official" opening party at Dior last night, and the shop’s proximity to the huge Chanel next door with the equally voluminous Louis Vuitton opposite with Hermés and Burberry next door but one. In a part of Bond Street that sort-of ends to cars then starts again, is it a Big Money Dream or a Big Expensive Folly? If I think about the Bond Street shops, starting at Oxford Street is Zara - the quick cheap fashion and as you progress down the street somehow organically the shops become more expensive until you reach the apex in the Holy Triangle - Dior, Chanel, Louis Vuitton.
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| J'adore... |
What that part of Bond Street is now missing is a cafe/restaurant to watch the world and shoppers go by (buy). It's a shame that none of these huge names have done the same as Dover Street Market (now in the Haymarket) and put a Roses Bakery or their own equivalent on the top floor. Dior do food… Imagine what fun - “Darling! Meet me for Coffee at Dior?” Love to!… Thing is they give it for free when shopping - Champagne, Water, Tea, Coffee, Chocolates (who needs chocolate when you’re aiming for French size 38, English 8-10. OK, I can dream). But still, if you weren't really shopping but watching shopping, (it's a bit like placing restaurants and bars beside a Marina or Port (boat watching!) Never really understood that - next we'll have bars by car parks, car watching… Really?! Anyhow I digress. Maybe it's the pounds per square foot? As anyone who knows me, knows I'm no economist - but it's just a thought. So now we can all enjoy shopping at whatever level, but after your splurge in Zara or (further down Bond Street, Fenwicks) go and have a look at Dior - it's definitely worth a look. And if you know anyone that plays cards, the Dior double pack of playing cards are only £80. So that’s someone’s present sorted!
Happy Shopping!
F XX
Lust of the week:
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| Peace! |
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