Black hot glistening shadow

As you may be aware, a couple of weeks ago I set up a pop-up shop in collaboration with the good people at Next. One of the best things about having your own shop is having first dibs on the best stuff, which is precisely what I’ve been doing. I wanted the furry Almost Famous gilet above since the first moment I spied it in the lookbook, but LO, it was a mission to find. A sell-out everywhere (even in my own shop), it looked as though I was going to have to go without my absolute favourite pick of the new season collection. Over the past few days I have trawled every Next store in London, only to be disappointed. Today, I made a last minute visit to the Covent Garden branch, and, disappointingly, couldn’t find it anywhere. Just as I was leaving, I spotted an employee carrying one of the furry creations, putting it behind the till in a bag with some lucky swine’s name on it. I pounced on him the minute he emerged, and asked if he had any more. As it happens, there was one left, in the basement. The Mother Theresa of retail told me he’d go and get it for me straight away, and emerged mere moments later with the beast you see above. HAPPY ENDING. The young man in question was all round fantastic – and not just because he found me my gilet. He was helpful and nice, and complemented me extensively on my next purchase…

Yeah that’s right. I have about 50 coats so not sure I really need another, but hey, do any of us need any of the clothes we buy? No, precisely. This astounding pink and purple creation is faintly ridiculous, but if you can’t look like a Las Vegas drag queen in winter, when can you?