OBJECT OF DESIRE

My beau just got sent list of temptation from our favourite vintage furniture shop The French House. This 1970's brass floor lamp is so heavenly I want to weep. Such a statement piece, it would transform a sitting room and never go out of style. Such a pity it has a statement price tag too.

BRAVO FIFI!

Lingerie is one of my guilty pleasures. I could peruse the underwear section of a posh department store for hours, lusting after the lace knickers and sighing for the silk bras. Such is my addiction that I've even written a book about it! I'm always on the lookout for chic and saucy brands and Fifi Chachnil ticks both boxes. Plus the retro styling is right up my 'rue' too!

HITCHCOCK HAIR

This post could also be entitled “what have you come as?” as that’s what one charming colleague utters every morning when I try to mix up my look a little bit! Today my outfit (blush sheer sweater, black mini tulip skirt, black tights, two-tone jazz flats, a string of pearls, Revlon red lips) is topped with hair inspired by Tippi Hedren, Kim Novak and Grace Kelly. Blonde, coiffed and piled high on my head. But because too prim is not ‘in’, I’ve taken inspiration from these women at the end of their Hitchcock thrillers – slightly dishevelled and askew (with a spritz of hairspray to keep those fraying ends in place). I’m not the only one to covet the ice queens’ manes – Mulberry and Chanel both showed similarly undone up-dos for Fall.

FABULOUS FLORA

Net-A-Porter just sent me these beautiful flowers from McQueens to say thank you for a piece in the latest issue of GLAMOUR (it was about their new collection from J.Crew - love!). My desk has been instantly transformed from a pile of flatplans and magazines to a place of joy!

TARTE TATIN- VOILA!

What could more perfect than a pudding that looks beyond sophisticated, but only uses three ingredients and very little chained-to-a-hot-stove time? I made this tart tatin, to follow some slow-baked lamb (which tasted yum, but used up most of my culinary enthusiasm). This is brilliant for a dinner party because it has that classic French bistro thing going on and let’s face it, who doesn’t like apple tart? Serve it with good vanilla ice cream if you’re that way inclined, or if you’re feeling particularly decadent, clotted cream. Mmmmm.

It’s really that simple tart tatin:

One packet of ready rolled puff pastry

Two Granny Smith apples

200 grams of caster sugar

Sprinkle the caster onto a baking sheet, then pop into the oven at gas mark 6 for five minutes or until it’s melted into a golden brown liquid.

Remove from the oven and leave to cool and harden, then it chuck into a food processor and whiz until it becomes a superfine powder.

While you’re waiting for your sugar to cool you can roll out your pastry and cut out a circle, approx eight inches in diameter, then pop this into the freezer for ten minutes to chill.

Slice your apples thinly and layer them in concentric circles on your chilled pastry. Sprinkle the top with your superfine caramel sugar.

Bake in the oven at gas mark 7 for 25 minutes or until the pastry has rise and turned a golden brown and the sugar has formed a rich sticky glaze.

GA GA FOR GINGHAM

How much would Betty Draper love these gingham shorts? They're from the APC Madras range and they're also available in a navy check, but I think the green is just gorgeous. I'd wear them preppy with a navy, cap-sleeve tee and white canvas plimsolls, or more grown-up with a cream, long-sleeved, crewneck sweater and brown strappy heels, oh and red lips, of course!

SWEET GREETINGS

There are times when you want to take a birthday gift to someone you don't know so well. During these social dilemmas, I head straight to Fortnum & Mason, my personal foodie nirvana and the perfect place to buy a present for, actually, just about anyone. More than once I've splashed out on this darling biscuit tin (also available in blue!). It has a little wind-up handle of the back and tinkles out the tune to Happy Birthday - and is filled with shortbread, lemon curd and chocolate pearl biccies. It's also worthy of recycling to give your everyday digestives a little flair afterwards.

ITSY BITSY: PART TWO

Have tracked down this gorgeous high-waisted floral number thanks to the lovely Urban Outfitters PR Stefanie! Even more reason to avoid the 3pm chocolate run and devote my evenings to Fitz at the Third Space gym.

THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT SU

I don't know a boy named Sue. But if I did I'm sure I'd adore him - as all the girls I know by the same name are bloody brilliant. Sue Sylvester from Glee wears cool striped tracksuits (just like my PE teacher mum did) and has the best lines on TV ("All I want is just one day a year when I'm not visually assaulted by uglies and fatties"). One of my best pals Susan Phear is a photo editor at Vanity Fair in New York and has the slickest dance moves, the sweetest disposition and the gooiest carrot cake. And then there's Su Blackwell. Possibly my favourite artist of all time. Su creates the most exquisite three-dimensional works of art using a scalpel, glue and old books and clothes. She trawls second-hand bookshops to find the tomes, and reads them first, to inspire the work she creates with them. The clothes are often vintage. Her pieces are mystical, intricate, feminine and hauntingly beautiful. I'd dearly love to own one some day. Until then I'll carry on admiring from afar.

PRINTS CHARMING

The GLAMOUR office is two doors down from Prada - deliciously dangerous as I end up spying so many things my closet is crying out for (bursting at the seams? I could totally make some room...). My current craving is the new limited edition Print Collection, which hit stores last week and is waving at me prettily from the elegant window display. The 50s-inspired dress, perfect-shaped ballet flats and quilted silk faille handbag with a chain strap, are available in myriad fabrics and prints, all selected from the Prada archive. Did I mention they are limited edition? And beautiful? I don't know how long I can keep my credit card away...