Highlight of the week came at lunch last Saturday with Jules, when a bottle of red, which we’d both thought was lovely and light, turned out to be practically vodka. In my defence, I never claimed to know anything about wine. Jules once said that if I were blindfolded, I’d struggle to say if it was red or white. She, on the other hand, knows a fair bit, so the blame for our accidentally drinking 14.5 per cent wine lies squarely with her, as does the fact that we then decamped to Knightsbridge to go shopping. If I have learnt nothing else in my 40-odd years, it is that no good comes of drinking wine, then going shopping in Knightsbridge.
It is therefore high time that I practised some much needed economy, and where better than my area of greatest weakness, shoes? A high-up man in fashion once told me that I was an inveterate shoe snob, which is true, and that it was perfectly possible to get good, cheap stilettos, which is not. But then I complimented my niece on a pair of particularly spiky beauties – it runs in the family – and she said they were 40 quid from Topshop. So to Topshop we went, and what a revelation it was. Take the nude velvet Grace spikes, with a wide ankle strap, for example, which remind me more than a little of Gianvito Rossi but for £42 (topshop.com). Or the black Roar evening sandals with feathers across the front, which are reduced to a barely credible £15. I’m not entirely sold on the shape of the stiletto, which in my experience is usually where inexpensive heels disappoint, but still: 15 quid.
And it’s not just fancypants shoes. Topshop has a pair of perfectly plain black leather courts with a 110mm heel for £56 (Glorious Setback style). With the active encouragement of her aunt, Amber acquired some fabulously spiky black sock boots (Margarita, £39), which most rational people would take as evidence that I’m a very bad influence. We disagree. Look, nobody over 30 is going to find Topshop at Oxford Circus, where we were, a pleasant experience during school holidays. But if you can get there, it’s worth the pain, because there is loads more choice than there is online.
I leave you with two random thoughts I’ve been meaning to share. The first is Beaufort & Blake popover shirts (£55; beaufortandblake.com). Shirts are far too boring to discuss at any length, but these are plain, Henley style, well cut, made of lovely soft fabric and best of all they don’t have darts. I loathe those tapered, waisted shirts with darts at the bust – they’re naff and they always look awful – so if you’re in the market for a shirt, try these.
The second is bengaldownclothing.com, a little family business making full-length padded jackets. Two provisos: Moncler they are not, and the styling on the website is challenging. However, if toastiness trumps all, and if you stick to the black, then you can focus on the joy to be found for £399 at the point where duvet meets coat.