Shop-tastic

Don't get me wrong. I love shopping in Harrods, Selfridges, Bloomingdale's (you get the picture). But it's the outlet experience that really excites me.

I once interviewed Joey Kaempfer, the head of designer outlet store operator McArthurGlen. He was responsible for putting the 'designer' into 'designer outlet'. He set up the Serravalle Designer Outlet centre, near Milan. This architect-designed shopping mall is bursting with designer brand merchandise - all at discounted prices.

I visit Serravalle every year or so. Here's a quick roll-call of some of my dream purchases:

1) A black calfskin coat from Fratelli Rossetti. It's so amazing that a billionaire I know told me I looked like a millionaire. Hey, I've arrived!

2) Loro Piana equestrian-style Wellington boots. Wearing these brown beauties with my Brioni cashmere coat makes me feel a million dollars.

3) A huge Loro Piana cashmere blanket that's so cosy when it's cold outside.

4) A Meltin' Pot beanie hat and scarf. The black woollen scarf is so super-long that when I wrap it round and round my neck loads of times it resembles those giant, loopy Sister by Sibling hand-knitted scarves styled by Katie Grand. (I can dream.)

Loro Piana equestrian-style Wellington boots