The life I'd like to have versus the life I actually lead.

In my head I'm one of those women with an immaculate, glossy lifestyle that everyone tries to copy.  You know the ones - they live in all white homes accented with a 'pop' of colour (maybe a vintage chair they sourced at a flea market or a large clock).  They have amazing yet casual wardrobes and they instagram pictures of themselves eating Laduree macarons in pretty cafes with a perfect rose on the table.  Tea is always drunk out of floral teacups with gold edges and there's always a Diptyque candle on the go.

In my real life I'm a technician.  I wear steel toe capped boots & old holey T shirts to work and my hair is always a mess.  I'm not going to talk about the time I was mistaken for a vagrant on the tube (I'd worked an 18 hour day - I was tired!)  Don't get me wrong, I love my job, I just wish I had a bit more girliness in my life.

So I was very pleased last night when the waitress in the restaurant where we were eating commented on my umbrella, saying how much she loved the birds because they were so girly.

Image via amazon.com

  

Object of desire - Mary Katrantzou Structured chiffon overlay gown

Oh, I love this soo much.

Image via shopstyle.com

I adore the fabulous coutureness of it.  That picture of it isn't the best but it's the best I could find.  Click through to the Selfridges link and you'll see that the print is of a moonlit scene on organza.  It must look incredible when displayed on a human body.  It's gowns like this that reinforce my idea that couture is wearable art.

Sadly at £4,885.00 it's way out of my league but a girl can dream, can't she?  Maybe someone like Rooney Mara will wear it to a grand event and I can live vicariously.    

Object of Desire - Annie Embroidered dress by French Connection

It was when I found myself debating the merits of M8 ratchet spanners that something struck me quite strongly.  I need to reconnect with my girl side - fashion, beauty, pretty things.  I have to wear black jeans, black t shirts and steel toe cap boots for work so when I'm not at work I crave fresh white clothes, especially dresses with pretty shoes and jewellery.

This dress fits the bill perfectly.

Image via http://www.frenchconnection.com

I love its slightly longer length because I'm far too old and chubby of knee to wear short skirts these days.  The V neck and the defined waist work well with my hourglass size 14 figure.  The delicate embroidery throughout is the perfect antidote to those steel toe capped boots.

I'd wear it with some blue tribal style chandelier earrings, which would really pop against the white, and strappy brown leather sandals.  Ideal for lazy afternoons in the park or strolling along the South Bank.

And the best thing?  It's on sale, £65 reduced from £130!   Just leave me one in size 14.

My new perfume - Miller Harris 'La Pluie'

I am bad.  I went out to buy Christmas presents and came back with a bottle of perfume for myself.  In my defence, however, it is La Pluie by Miller Harris which I defy anyone to resist.

Image via http://www.earthmothersoulsister.co.uk

A few months ago I was given a free sample of La Pluie and I knew immediately that I'd be buying it.  It was just a matter of when.  

I love it because it's a such distinctive and natural fragrance.  So many perfumes, especially the cheaper ones, smell as if the notes have been chemically created.  Let's be honest, no matter how well it's made, chemically created lavender/citrus etc will never smell as good as actual lavender or citrus.

It's also nice to wear something that no one else recognises.  Much as I like perfumes like Rive Gauche, Poison and ck one, they are pretty ubiquitous.  And who wants to be ubiquitous?  

Object of Desire - The Kooples Puffer Jacket with Sheepskin

I've been lusting after this Puffer Jacket with sheepskin from the French brand The Kooples for a while now.

Image via http://www.thekooples.co.uk/

During winter it's too easy to sacrifice style for warmth and end up looking like your grandma.  

I love this jacket because the sheepskin panel elevates what could be a very run of the mill puffa jacket into something rather special.  You just have to look at it to know that you'd withstand the worst that the weather could throw at you when you're wearing this jacket.

I'd wear it with black skinny jeans, a grey or beige top and either biker boots or killer heels depending on how icy the pavements were.

And it's only £460 *sobs silently* 

Please let it be on sale soon.  For at least 80 percent off. 

Object of desire - Chanel Peridot nail varnish

A couple of days ago I saw a girl on the tube with the most incredible nails.  It looked like her nails were beautiful, shimmering gold leaf.  I don't usually talk to people on public transport but I had to ask her what nail varnish she was wearing.  It turned out to be Chanel Peridot.

Image from http://www.ebay.it

I will have to treat myself to a bottle as well as a professional manicure.  Something this lovely deserves more than my usual inept smeared efforts.

This needs to be the focus of a look, I think, so I'll keeping the rest of my outfit quite plain.

Object of desire - Chloe pleated silk-satin blouse

I just love this Chloe blouse.

Image via net-a-porter.com

I could see myself wearing it with cream wide-legged trousers and some strappy sandals for lunch in a beautiful restaurant like The Roof Gardens.  

All I need now is to find the £515 to pay for it.  And get the life style to go with it.

You can buy it in the UK here and the US here.

Object of desire - Charlene Mullen embroidered cushion

Charlene Mullen's embroidered cushions caught my eye at London Design Week.  This wonderfully witty cushion, hand embroidered with a picture of birds sitting on electrical poles was my favourite.

Image courtesy of theoldsweetshop.org

A couple of these in my living room would look fabulous.  

You can buy them online at Charlene Mullen.

I have toaster envy

This is the world's first see through toaster. I really want one...

If you've got £160 to spare, you can buy it here.