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Fashion
Thursday's Object of Desire is this bang-on-trend spring tweed jacket from Browns
Today’s object of desire is a tweed jacket by Carven which elegantly marks the transition from winter to spring for £410. Yes, it’s tweed, but in a cotton micro-fibre rather than wool to mark the change of seasons, and in a pale mustard, one of the classier and more subtle pastels which were the talk of the catwalk at the spring shows.
The buttoned-up collar, big patch pockets and piping fall in with the current vogue for military, but a playful, faux-cutaway curve to the front suggests fun and the glorious lightness of being on a sunny spring day. Wear it over a pencil skirt for office or formal occasions, or team it with skinny jeans for weekends and off-duty wear.
Wednesday's Object of Desire is this perfect envelope clutch bag by clever Wilbur & Gussie
We are huge fans of Wilbur & Gussie bags, ever since first spotting them at London Fashion Week just after they launched, around 10 years ago. They make gorgeous, beautifuly made clutch bags in a raft of ravishing colours, exquisitely trimmed so that each one is a little work of art, which is why this baby, with its beautiful jewelled butterfly, is today's Object of Desire.
We love this elegant, olive-coloured envelope clutch, in 100% silk. Handily, it has an optional wrist strap - very handy if you are need to hold a glass of champagne - and an inside pocket for credit cards and cash. Not only does it look super-chic but it holds all your essentials for an evening out or a smart wedding reception.
Monday's Object of Desire is this perfect dress by Diane von Furstenberg
Today's Object of Desire is this adorable little bell-skirted shift dress by Diane von Furstenberg at £345.
In this wonderfully spirit-lifting water-melon shade, this is the perfect spring frock for every woman with the legs to work it.The bell or cocoon shape make it spot on trend, while the simple styling and big pockets make it a relaxed look for formal occasions. It works especially well with the Louboutin cork wedges shown here, at £365.
This is not a frock for the faint-hearted, but would make a knock-out piece for summer weddings, or for holiday wear, or for the city on those hot sultry days (even if there are only a couple all summer).
The shoulder-to-hem length is 91.5cm (36"), which makes it on the knee for a woman of 5' 4", but just above for anyone taller.
Sunday's Object of Desire is the achingly cool Elsie bag by Chloe
We rarely choose "it" bags as our Objects of Desire - they are rather too obvious; we prefer to uncover items that are a little more recherche and original.
But we have been forced to make an exception for the Elsie by Chloe. While it is very elegant and useful in black, in this barely there shade of white-with-a-hint-of-rose, it is so achingly cool and desirable, we had to make it our Object of Desire.
It is - as you might have guessed - not cheap; it sells at £855, but it is the most elegant shape, with chunky but not too intrusive hardware, and a handle and strap so it can be handheld, hooked in the crook of your elbow or carried over the shoulder. The beautifully crafted interior has all the pockets, zips and compartments we need for our busy lives. It works with all your looks and the size is perfect: large enough for business, but not so vast it looks as if you are shlepping a suitcase to dinner...
Saturday's Object of Desire is this fabulous silk tee from Hermione de Paula
The luxe tee is this season's must-have piece, and an incredibly versatile way to update your wardrobe for the new season's trends.
And this one adorned with one of Hermione de Paula's exquisite coveted prints, at £245, just has to be today's Object of Desire. We love the relaxed shape, and the oh-so-flattering length, and that slightly wavy hem, which is also a key detail for the season, and we love that gently scooped neckline and cap sleeve. And in case this soft blue is not your favourite shade, it is also available in an old-rose colourway.)
This exclusive silk T-shirt will ensure that you radiate of-the-moment elegance. It will work perfectly over skinny jeans for weekends, or over skinny leather jeans or leggings for those times when you want to ramp up the glamour quotient. Just add chunky, graphic heels and maybe that Tom Binns cuff, below, that was our Object of Desire last Monday.
Shop the Hermione de Paula silk floral tee, £245
Friday's Object of Desire features the season's big design detail - the peplum
Peplums, as all you savvy fashionistas know, are one of the key details for the season, which is why this gorgeous top from Swedish design house Acne, at £265, is our Object of Desire.
Some peplums, we admit, are plain silly - a great big Pierrot frill stuck around the waistline of a skirt or a top making any woman larger than a size 6 and shorter than 5'11" look like a small cottage. But this one honours the peplum silhouette, without making the wearer look ridiculous. First of all, it's in black which none of you need telling, instantly slims. Second, it is gently curved and flared not gathered which is so much more flattering, while the long sleeves and that wide boat neckline make it restrained and ultra-wearable.
Team it with a black pencil skirt, and clunky sandals and it will make a smart work outfit, add some bold jewellery and a pair of stilettos and it will work for evenings, and with slim, ankle-skimming trousers it becomes the perfect "smart casual" look.
Thursday's is this stylish and, um, very practical navy tipped trench coat
Today's Object of Desire is, um, more practical than our Objects of Desire usually are. This very stylish, navy, tipped, trench-style raincoat is an acknowledgement that in the UK, spring is not always the sunny, rain-free period it might appear from the magazine images and shop-window displays. The pretty floral prints, floaty pastels, broderie anglaise and lace are all well and good, but on a typically British spring day, you need a great cover-up, and this one by Jaeger is it.
Well cut, double-breasted and with that nice contrast piping, it is a great wardrobe staple, and will work as well over a gorgeous spring dress or pencil skirt and silky tee, as over skinny jeans and a sweater for dress-down days and weekends, meaning it's great value at £299.
Wednesday's Object of Desire is this adorable chapeau, perfect for spring weddings or Ascot
Today's Object of Desire is this ravishingly pretty designer headpiece from millinery designers HatsnStuff. It has a large curved brim with split back detailing and that so-pretty sinamay bow with veiling trim. And although it is a hat in the broadest sense, it is actually a fascinator hat, which means it is much lighter in weight that a conventional hat. That, in turn, means it is much easier to wear for extended periods - i.e. for a day at Royal Ascot when you are required to keep your hat on all day.
Like most of the fascinators and hat fascinators at HatsnStuf, it is perfectly acceptable inside Ascot's Royal Enclosure because its base measures 10cms in diameter. At its widest point, this gorgeous creation measures 45cms. It stays on your head with an attached comb and headband. And even better, the hat costs £110, and is available in the vastest range of colours - 64 in all, from black, navy, chocolate and muted neutrals to the season's favourite brights and pastels.
And this is just one of dozens of gorgeous hats, fascinator hats and fascinators from HatsnStuff. You can see a whole page of them here...
Tuesday's Object of Desire is this floral print dress from the master of print, Erdem
Today's Object of Desire is this simply gorgeous floral printed, stretch cotton frock by Erdem. With the round neck, cap sleeves and on-the-knee length it looks perfectly demure, but the stretch cotton and a triangular opening at the back - nothing vast, just something to show off a little bit of tanned or perfect alabaster back (far better than Angelina's leg) - transforms it into a real statement frock.
Worn with high heels and a clutch, it would be perfect for a summer wedding, but pop a blazer over the top, and you have a very elegant, on-trend ensemble for work. And best of all, it has a power mesh lining, which means it smooths over any little bumps, gives a streamlined look without the need for a pair of Spanx underneath.
We concede that, at £860 it is not exactly a steal, but as we have previously observed, an Object of Desire is to be aspired to...
Tuesday's Object of Desire is this beautiful Sterling silver bangle by Elinor Cambray
Today's Object of Desire is this deliciously desirable, wonderfully tactile, twisted and plaited torque-style bangle in silver by clever jewellery designer Elinor Cambray.
Elinor, who is one of the brilliant jewellery designers featured in our Store Directory, uses sterling silver, gold and gemstones to produce a totally individual and unusual collection of necklaces, bracelets, bangles and rings.
Elinor uses flowing lines and striking textures to create individual pieces of hand-made jewellery featuring fluid, organic designs inspired by botanical forms. As well as selling her collection via her website, you can view a range of her hand-made jewellery in her studio in the Fisherton Mill Gallery, Salisbury, Wiltshire.
This torque bangle costs £150 and is 10mm wide at its widest point and 70mm in diameter, but it can be made in any size or as a solid bangle.