Treat day

I love department stores. I find them magical. I am, obvs, not talking about Debenhams, House of Fraser or your bog-standard chain department store... I am talking about the greats. Selfridges, Harvey Nicks, Printemps, Le Bon Marche... They hold this magical sense of possibility I never feel in any other shop. I suppose its the enormous range - from Topshop to Balmain to delicious Foie Gras in the food hall. I think they are wonderfully democratic. Where else can you freely browse Marc Jacobs and Vivienne Westwood without feeling like a total knob. I know, I know, I should never ever be intimidated by the thought of going into a horribly expensive shop, and no shop assistant ever has the right to make one feel small, and I totally agree, but but but I can't shake the feeing of being a complete and utter fraud if I ever step into a shop like Chanel, or Hermes, or Lanvin. Whereas in a department store, I feel free to wander, browsing everything from the stunning homewares to the Nicholas Kirkwood shoes to Marc Jacobs to Marc by Marc Jacobs to the lovely coffeetable books at my leisure. So inspiring and a real treat.

So this is why, tomorrow, on my second to last day alone in Paris, before darling H and her beau arrive on Thursday to ease the painful cross-channel transition, I am heading to Bon Marche determined to find that special Parisian purchase that has, as yet, evaded me. The plan is to buy one or two reasonably expensive, lasting, high-quality items that I completely adore and will always remind me of this city. I don't yet know whether they will take the form of trousers, or a dress, or a jumper, or a bag... Oh the possibilities! Of course, I may not find these elusive things, or, more likely, I shall find them and then find myself unable to imagine spending such a huge amount of money (we are talking roughly 300 pounds to give you a ball park), but I am thriled by the prospect of merrily wandering around the stunning art nouveau interiors and having a good old rifle. I'll let you know how I get on...

XxxX