Shopaholic

At my interview forSuccessful Saving ,  ugg   I went in holding copies of theFinancial Times and theInvestor's Chronicle -and I didn't get asked about finance once. As I remember it, we spent the whole time talking about holiday villas and gossiping about other edi-tors.

So I stop at a newsstand and buy a copy of theFT . There's some huge headline about Rutland Bank on the front page, andI'm thinking maybe I should at least skim it, when I catch my reflection in the window of Denny and George.

I don't look bad, I think. I'm wearing my black skirt from French Connection, and a plain white T-shirt from Knickerbox, and a little angora cardigan which I got from M&S but looks like it might be Agnès b. And my new square-toed shoes from Hobbs. Even better, although no one can see them, I know that under-neath I'm wearing my gorgeous new matching knickers and bra with embroidered yellow rosebuds. They're the best bit of my en-tire outfit. In fact,   ugg boots   I almost wish I could be run over so that the world would see them.

It's a habit of mine, itemizing all the clothes I'm wearing, as though for a fashion page. I've been doing it for years-ever since I used to readJust Seventeen. Everyissue, they'd stop a girl on the street, take a picture of her, and list all her clothes. "T-Shirt: Chelsea Girl, Jeans: Top Shop, Shoes: borrowed from friend." I used to read those lists avidly, and to this day, if I buy something from a shop that's a bit uncool, I cut the label out.   ugg  boots  sale  So that if I'm ever stopped in the street, I can pretend I don't know where it's from.

So anyway. There I am, with theFT tucked under my arm, thinking I look pretty good, and half wishing someone fromJust Seventeen would pop up with a camera-when suddenly my eyes focus and snap to attention, and my heart stops. In the window of Denny and George is a discreet sign. It's dark green with cream lettering, and it says: SALE.

I stare at it, and my skin's all prickly. It can't be true. Denny and George can't be having a sale. They never have a sale. Their scarves and pashminas are so coveted, they could probably sell them at twice the price. Everyone I know in the entire world aspires to owning a Denny and George scarf.   ugg boots ireland    (Except my mum and dad, obviously. My mum thinks if you can't buy it at Bentalls of Kingston, you don't need it.)

I swallow, take a couple of steps forward, then push open thedoor of the tiny shop. The door pings, and the nice blond girl who works there looks up. I don't know her name but I've always liked her. Unlike some snotty cows in clothes shops, she doesn't mind if you stand for ages staring at clothes you really can't afford to buy. Usually what happens is, I spend half an hour lusting after scarves in Denny and George,  ugg ireland   then go off to Accessorize and buy something to cheer myself up. I've got a whole drawerful of Denny and George substitutes.

"Hi," I say, trying to stay calm. "You're . . . you're having a sale."

"Yes." The blond girl smiles. "Bit unusual for us."

My eyes sweep the room. I can see rows of scarves, neatly folded, with dark green "50 percent off" signs above them. Printed velvet, beaded silk, embroidered cashmere,  ugg bailey button   all with the distinc-tive "Denny and George" signature. They're everywhere. I don't know where to start. I think I'm having a panic attack.

"You always liked this one, I think," says the nice blond girl, taking out a shimmering gray-blue scarf from the pile in front of her.

Oh God, yes. I remember this one. It's made of silky velvet, overprinted in a paler blue and dotted with iridescent beads. As I stare at it, I can feel little invisible strings, silently tugging me toward it. I have to touch it. I have to wear it. It's the most beauti-ful thing I've ever seen.    ugg classic tall    The girl looks at the label. "Reduced from ￡340 to ￡120." She comes and drapes the scarf around my neck and I gape at my reflection.

There is no question. I have to have this scarf. Ihave to have it. It makes my eyes look bigger, it makes my haircut look more expensive, it makes me look like a different person. I'll be able to wear it with everything. People will refer to me as the Girl in the Denny and George Scarf.

"I'd snap it up if I were you." The girl smiles at me. "There's only one of these left."

Involuntarily, I clutch at it.

"I'll have it," I gasp. "I'll have it."

As she's laying it out on tissue paper, I take out my purse,   ugg classic short   open it up, and reach for my VISA card in one seamless, auto-matic action-but my fingers hit bare leather. I stop in surprise and start to rummage through all the pockets of my purse, won-dering if I stuffed my card back in somewhere with a receipt or if it's hidden underneath a business card . . . And then, with a sick-ening thud, I remember. It's on my desk.

How could I have been so stupid? How could I have left my VISA card on my desk? What was Ithinking ?

The nice blond girl is putting the wrapped scarf into a dark green Denny and George box. My mouth is dry with panic. What am I going to do?