Lovely Lady Luck – My £900 Prize ‘Spending’ Spree At Cochinechine.

About To Receive My Lovely Gifts.
Sunlight Coming Into Cochinechine From Heath Street.

I entered the competition on a whim to win a £900 spending spree at my gorgeous local designer emporium in Hampstead, little expecting to win – I mean who ever does win those things???  Well as it transpired, when I switched on my ‘phone after swooning at a sneaky afternoon screening of Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby, as I read my winner’s email with shocked glee, that I do!  My name was plucked out of the bowl; miracles do happen!

Rows of Gorgeousness.

I am a stylist.  I am a quick stylist.  I can edit a look in my head in seconds and scour a rail in a matter of minutes.  For clients, for editorials, for celebrities, I am quick.  But for myself, somewhat overwhelmed at the kindness of strangers, when let’s face it the fashion industry is filled with sharks with nice teeth, it took me two visits and a quantum amount of time to select my booty loot!

My selection.I fell in love with a Sacai cardigan, but after a ‘phone a friend call to Liam my assistant, this was vetoed in favour of maximising my quantity quota.  I never normally wear designer jeans, foregoing their charms for cheaper Topshop and Asos options.  Given this wasn’t my money, for once I was seduced by the fit, the softness of an Acne grey pair.  Cochinechine have one of those mirrors downstairs where you look slim, trim and pretty – the mirror we wish we all had at home.

I also ‘bought’ a pair of Kenzo trousers, which fit like a pair of school boy ones, in that Helmut Lang meets John Lewis school section way – ie my favourite trouser fit.  I had deliberated about summer dresses by Carven and floral printed shorts by Mother of Pearl; but after considering the vagaries of our non-existent summer and the knobbliness of my knees, I decided to go for the more covered choice.

Bag By Tila March.

The Tila March grey leather handbag was a practical choice, great for meetings and I know will look fantastic with my wardrobe’s many grey and black dresses.

Acne Silk Pink with Orange trim Blouse.

Love this blouse.  It feels like Alka Seltzer in silk and I think will work under some dresses, or with a skirt, or indeed with those Kenzo trousers.

Bra Top By VPL

I knew Vicky the designer in New York and love that my last piece is by her.

Some Of The Things I Didn't Buy.

Service With A Smile! Fantastic Service At Cochinechine.
Upstairs At Cochinechine.

If like me you want to support local, independent shops and boutiques; if like me you want to enjoy great service and really be properly looked after, then I urge you to shop at Cochinechine.  It was an amazing gift to be given the gift of £900 to spend there: something which I didn’t feel I deserved and couldn’t quite believe was happening to me.  I am lucky as a stylist to be able to go to sample sales and I do have a car boot sale and vintage habit, but this was a precious treat and for that I will always thank them.  The staff are all really attentive and sweet.  Service is one of my bugbears: I don’t understand why people go to lifeless shopping hellholes and spend their money on lots of rubbish, when they could, for the same amount of money, enjoy one lovely piece per season from somewhere special where the service, the buy, the edit and the attention justify the price.

Thank you team Cochinechine x.

http://www.cochinechine.com/