Haha don’t worry, this post isn’t as boring as it sounds (well I HOPE it’s not!). This is a post about fulfilling childhood fantasies to some extent I guess. Yes, I did buy an umbrella, but not just ANY umbrella so here is the story of my new umbrella, where I found it, and why it is so special.

Once upon a time, a long, long, long, long (you get the idea) ago, I was a little girl and I liked dressing up (does that surprise anyone??). I had an amazing dress-up wardrobe but all I really wanted was a pair of those little plastic kitten heels from the toy shop…. you know the ones…

All I want for Christmas is my plastic shoes

But alas, my wonderful mother is a physiotherapist, so the idea of letting her little girl (with growing bones and muscles) wear a pair of high heels was just ludicrous (we later found out that my fashion flair comes from my grandmother. When she died, we found her stash of shoes…. the whole puzzle fell into place, THAT’s where I got it from!)

So we all know how well that worked in my mum’s favour….what is my favourite thing in the whole world now (well, almost) SHOES!!! haha, oh the irony is not wasted on me, don’t you worry.

My obsession with plastic shoes hasn’t wavered either…. the ones I want now are just a little more expensive….

Vivian Westwood for Melissa plastic heels (available from Asos.com)

So now to the umbrella. I can’t even remember where I first saw this plastic umbrella, you know the one I’m talking about….

The classic plastic umbrella

Ever since I was a little girl I always wanted one. I wish I could remember where I first saw it (I’m thinking in a movie, or on Sesame Street or something) but wherever it was, it made an impression.

Enter a spot of bargain hunting on the weekend (you know how much I love a bargain!) and we came across a rack of umbrellas…. and there she was, my childhood fashion fantasy, sitting there on the rack (I have to ‘fess up. Actually the boy found it, but boy did I keep it!). So here I am with my proud new toy, life-long wish fulfilled!!

Please excuse the lack of hair and makeup - it's a cold, rainy day! But how awesome is my umbrella

So what is the point of your story? I hear you say. Well it just got me thinking about things that we hold onto from our childhood.

Have you held on to any childhood fashion fantasies? (If you are an 80’s baby, do we really want to know?!?!) Is there still something you could have in your wardrobe as a child that you now have in your wardrobe as a grown up? Or is it just me…..