After watching Livinia Nixon skip round Paris in Nines “Try Before You Die” series and drooling over her red and white polka dot dress (if anyone knows who that’s by can you drop me a line?) I thought to myself goodness gracious! What would I do if some lovely person dropped a ticket to Paris into my back pocket, my wardrobe just isn’t up to scratch!

I have always prided myself on my wardrobes ability to take me from city to city in stylish ease, a mere five minutes to pack and I’d be ready. My best friend used to carry a weeks worth of fabulousness in her backpack just in case some millionaire suddenly invited her to Paris on his private jet at a moments notice. She even had her passport! I used to think she was mad but after watching Ms Nixon jetsetting about I realised she was right! In a near state of panic I hit the shops. I needed a quick fix, French fashion in a flash!

There was only one place to go - Chatswood Chase, the ultimate location for the very best chainstore shopping. Small, contained centre, easily navigatable with the best of what fashion has to offer without the junk that comes along with a mega-centre set over two city blocks.

After months of seeing black, black and yet more black I was thrilled beyond belief to see racks groaning under new shapes, colours, natural fibres and shiny summer baubles.

First off the mark was the French Connection concession store inside David Jones. F-C-U-K has been a cross between Euro trash and catwalk C-A-R-P for many seasons now so you can imagine my disbelief at the goodies I encountered there. Cream cotton knit dresses more at home on the streets of Paris than this humble department store in suburban Sydney. Available in black with a short or long sleeve it was all too much choice for this shopper.

I picked up the silver sequin sleeveless shift perfect with white leather thongs for wandering the streets with an icecream or skyscraper heels and a handsome stranger. For cool winter nights and roll up suitcase style it was into the shopping bag the best black jersey dress I’ve seen in years.

After waiting with bated breath for the Country Road spring catalogue (sad I know) it was the obvious next stop. I want the white linen balloon sleeve shift with beaded detailing. So does everyone else who walks into store – warning shoppers if you saw it front page on the catalogue buy it now it won’t be around long. And for those of you who missed out on the trench I told you all to buy for winter you will know what I mean! The racer back singlet dress is fabulous in red, and if you want to go all patriotic you simply must grab the white pure cotton micro shorts and sky blue anorak.

Kookai has stunning summer days covered with their soft as silk jersey t-shirt dresses in all the new shapes. Sexy stuff, just waiting a night out at the Moulin Rouge.

I ducked into Mimco for their oversized chunky beads to work back with everything and an oversized tote to carry it all.

Disaster averted I am ready for any offer of a ticket to Paris, thank goodness I’m sure you were all terribly worried.

So any offers?

Anybody?

Image Credits: Top Left, French Connection www.frenchconnection.com.au, Top Right, Country Road www.countryroad.com.au, Bottom Right, Mimco www.mimco.com.au, Bottom Left, Kookai, www.kookai.com.au