Shopaholic & Baby Q&A
The following Q&A took part at the time of publication of Shopaholic & Baby:
In Shopaholic and Baby, Becky craves the perfect everything for her baby and goes rather overboard with her pre-baby shopping...! How much of this was based on you when you were expecting?
I'm afraid to say I did go bit overboard! Especially with the prams - I ended up with five, like Becky. (And I can justify each one :) ) I also had a slight online frenzy right at the end of my pregnancy, it really was my 'nesting'.
Where did you get your inspiration for the hilarious situation between Becky and her celebrity obstetrician Venetia, later to be named 'Cruella de Venetia'?
Venetia is just that perfect bitchy woman that strikes a chill into your heart. We all know them. I wanted her to be Becky's obstetrician because there is a real power relationship there - which Venetia abuses. My own obstetrician also had red hair - but was a man and totally delightful!
When you did your research in all the designer baby shops, you must have come across some expectant Mums who bought so many things that even they were too outrageous for the book! What was the most extravagant purchase you heard about?
It's the clothes. I remember chatting to a boutique owner who told me about some mums who would buy EVERYTHING designer, even the tiny baby-gros. They must have spent thousands of pounds - and the baby just throws up on them!
Where in the world are your favourite places to shop, for you or for your children?
I love Anthropologie in New York. It's the most fabulous shop, full of gorgeous clothes and homewares. And last time I was there (while pregnant) I found some adorable vintage-style baby's building blocks. So it's perfect for all the family.
Becky's desperate for a special shoe room in her and Luke's new house (every girl's secret dream!). Have you got a shoe room? If so, how many pairs do you have and what's your favourite pair?
I don't have a shoe room sadly! Although I aspire to one :) What I do have is a gorgeous shoe cupboard. It's painted pink inside and has all my shoes in rows. The only trouble is my shoes now overspill the cupboard! My husband tried to instigate a rule: 'Only as many shoes as fit into the shoe cupboard' but that didn't really work. I think I have about sixty pairs (which is not nearly as many as Imelda Marcos) and my favourites are my yellow Prada wedges which I bought two summers ago. They are really comfortable and add about three inches to my height!
What is the worst impulse purchase you have ever made, and later regretted?!
A pair of platform shoes with diamante and silver things to tie up your ankles. They were on sale but still quite expensive - God knows what I was thinking when I bought them! I've never worn them.
What's your idea of a perfect shopping trip?
Celebratory shopping trips with friends are the best. Every Christmas I have lunch with my agent and we have a little spree in Harvey Nichols. We talk and have fun and find things we never knew we needed... it's the perfect way to end the year.
Have you ever bought the 'perfect' present for a friend and secretly kept it for yourself, just in case they didn't love it as much as you do?
Of course! Doesn't everyone do that?
Finally, is this the end of Becky Bloomwood, or will she be back to fight her way through another Dennyand George sample sale...?
I'm not planning another Shopaholic book immediately - but I can't quite believe I've said goodbye to Becky forever - so watch this space!