Some people go to work and have great views of the city. Concrete landscapes which twinkle in the light and grassy city squares that bear trees and the promise of a relaxing lunchtime escape from the noise and pollution.
I work at Bicester Village and everyday I drive through the most beautiful countryside just outside of Oxford only to be teased on arrival by an overwhelming selection of delicious fashion, handbags, shoes and accessories which continually wink at me through the boutiques elegant windows begging for my attention. Working in a place like this requires serious self control and I have learnt that will-power can indeed be my wallets greatest ally.
It was Coco Chanel who said “Fashion fades, only style remains the same”, a mantra adopted by myself and every savvy shopaholic intent on taking advantage of the credit crunch. Now is the time for smart shopping and when it comes to fashion I find myself leaning towards those collectible investment masterpieces that complement my style and will last a lifetime.
So imagine my elation (not so much my bank managers), when I was told that Donna Karan would be opening a boutique. Now every self respecting fashionista knows that no wardrobe is complete without a classic pair of Jimmy Choos and a Mulberry statement bag, but what a girl really needs is several easy to wear basic pieces and of course a statement LBD. And that is where Donna Karan excels, creating a flexible, chic and luxurious system of basic, modern essentials in a range of classic colours, silvers and nudes, which can take you from day to night and back again, effortlessly.
But alas, it is the LBD I simply cannot say no to. Upon entering the boutique for the first time I am presented with the opportunity to purchase a perfect Donna Karan LBD at a “hard-to-say-no to price”, reduced magnificently from £1,710 to £513. At this point I am skipping with delight but my heart races as I see the most exquisitely tailored trousers reduced by 70% at £131 from £435 and a black leather jacket at a bargain price of £762 from £2,540. By this time my eyes are becoming a bit squiffy reading the price tags, my wallet has developed its own armour and I hurry out of the boutique back to the safety of my desk with just the one safely wrapped in tissue and nestled in a luxurious Donna Karan bag.
As I revel in the delight of my almost guilt free shopping I satisfy my actions with the knowledge that like shoes, a girl just can’t have enough designer black dresses. “It is an investment piece after all” I tell myself when I get my much coveted LBD home and peer into my wardrobe to see the black Vivienne Westwood jostling for space with the black Vera Wang, the sexy DVF number and an assortment from Issa, Marc Jacobs and Matthew Williamson.
By the time I die I would like to own an enviable ebony creation from each of the great designers, Lanvin, Gucci, Dior, Roland Mouret and of course Chanel. As the great lady said – “A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous.”
Tags: designers, donna karan, little black dress
