A small window of opportunity

I’ve always been jealous of those girls who manage hefty discounts on luxury items – you know the type, the girls who work for L’Oreal who get discounts on "like everything", beauty editors who have so many free night cream samples that they complain about not having enough skin or nights to trial it all on (sucks to be them) and even closer to home are those major big gun bloggers who receive random luxury goods in the post in hope of a little free advertising in return. I love love love to hate hate hate these girls and I’m completely aware that this built up angst is generated by pure, undeniable, green with envy, jealously. Sadly, I have always paid the full, fat price for my goods and services plus any extra VAT, shipping, alteration, gift wrapping, steaming or any other ridiculous made up consumer cost.

Last Friday, however, saw me swanning the floors of Burberry's flag ship store on Bond St for the trunk show preview of the AW08 range. This joyful experience included both AW08 Pre collection and AW08 Runway. To die for, I know. How I ended up as a VIP warranting an invite to this elite event is a long “I know someone in head office who knows someone in head office” story, but never the less, there I was faced with 3 floors of luxury ‘not yet for sale’ items and a nice 40% discount on top of a “I know someone in head office who knows someone in head office” discount.

With an exceptional markdown situation staring me in the face, a beautiful display of some of the worlds most extravagant and lavish items I suddenly began to feel a little light headed and hot, really hot actually, the red ears, rash on the neck, Prince Harry pink cheeks type of hot. Was it the bubbly that was served to me by a waiter who was most possibly the most handsome man in the entire universe? Was it the sugar hit my blood system was getting from the most delightful bite sized dessert canapé also served by an outrageously handsome man or was it the fact that for the first time in my life I was “one of those girls” one of the rare lucky ones. Lets keep in mind this was a once in a life time opportunity for me, imagine the pressure, I had no choice but to choose well and to choose smart, the pressure was so intense.

It all started to became too much, should I use this rare, lucky break to purchase the classic double breasted trench? Should I stick with beige or should I risk a seasonal colour, Aubergine anyone? Should I play it super safe and buy an LBD that I will hand down to my ever so stylish (not yet conceived) daughter or should I enter my birthday soiree next week in a never before seen, out of this world Burberry creation that will blow my crowd away with its pure awesomeness and its fashion forward theme. AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

It was at this point that I think I began to have a small breakdown. I had to get out, I couldn’t cope, I didn’t know what to do, where to turn, let alone what to buy.

So I left.

With nothing.

Not a single purchase.

.....and now the show is over and I may never again have the chance to be served champagne by the worlds most handsome man or buy an heirloom trench at ridiculous %ages off.

It’s official. I suck.