If you’ve been reading my blog regularly, I think by now you would know that I love anything elegant. It just makes me happy! Elegance doesn’t need to be expensive. A lovely vase, magazine, coffee table book, desk, handbag, dress …. Sure it can be, and while it’s lovely to dream, it’s also about finding elegance in the little things too.

As my love of all things elegant has I imagine, been with me since birth (?) I had always assumed that naturally, everyone else loved kicking back with a delightful coffee table book, or magazine, or watching an old film for the delectable sets and clothing as much as I did. However, one Saturday morning, coming home post brunch with a pile of new magazines to indulge in, my flatmate at the time advised that she couldn’t stand all of the high end magazines I bought and refused to even look at them, as all they did was remind of what she couldn’t have and couldn’t afford. I was stunned and needless to say, almost fainted.

“How could you not look to the for inspiration, to seek out new places to travel, go, see, new books to read …… To help you explore?” I questioned.

“No. No. No. Too expensive, too out of my league, best left alone.” or words to that effect were advised.

Hmm. It left me a little bit shaken I must admit. How does one dream, grow or aspire without having such materials to hand? While I appreciate inspiration comes in different forms for everyone, wouldn’t life be a little bit dull or depressing without the ability to day dream yourself to a new place, new career, new life? And without such dreams, how does one work on turning these into a reality?

With the release of this month’s Vogue, and Kate Upon the on the cover and inside spread, who I find rather delightful and dare I say it aspirational, I wonder - does everyone else feel the same? Or do these images reflect a lifestyle that is just too out of reach to be enjoyable?

Photography by Testino with styling by Tonne Goodman.