Style & Fashion
The luxury pages of Country Life feature some of the most exlusive clothes and accessories for men and women – not many publications cater to both. In addition, every week online we find some of the most beautiful things to buy for yourself, or a loved one. Often made by some of the oldest, and most loved British brands, these pieces are the best we can find, whether it’s a classic trench coat or a Christmas party dress.
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The Utterly Inessential Shopping List: Spring scarves, wonderful wine for your Easter lamb and Godiva's £10,000 Easter egg
As we leave the snowdrops behind and welcome the bluebells, we turn away from the world of wellies and jackets and towards a softer, lighter world, filled with silk scarves, wonderful wines and £10,000 Easter eggs. You know, just the normal things.
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The perfect Easter pendant by Cassandra Goad, taking inspiration from the sustainably-farmed cocoa beans of the Caribbean
Cassandra Goad's latest collaboration with Islands Chocolate led to the designing of the stunning Cocoa Pod pendant, the sale of which will help support the education and wellbeing of the plantation which galvanised its creation.
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The Utterly Inessential Shopping List: A bag to save lives, your house as a map and why the time might have come for fizzy red wine. Really.
This week on Utterly Inessential we bring you a selection of products to browse while you consider what happens when people need neither a house nor alcohol they can actually, reasonably drink, and thus decide to sink enough money to buy the house which owns the estate on which my dream house sits on into a breakable bottle of whisky.
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The Utterly Inessential Shopping List: Boat Race boots, beautiful benches and better-late-than-never bouquets
Whether you're Oxford or Cambridge, white or dark chocolate, or flowers or champagne (always both), you're sure to find something on the Utterly Inessential Shopping List to make you with you were a millionaire. Not that you'd need us for that...
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Meet the Beadles: The centuries-old private police force at Burlington Arcade, the world's swishest shopping mall
This week marked the 200th birthday of London’s Burlington Arcade. Adam Hay-Nicholls goes undercover with the Beadles, its private police force. With photographs by Richard Cannon.
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The Utterly Inessential Mother's Day List: Cruising the Ouse, tea with Queen Titania and a massage for the future mothers among us
They love us unconditionally, unquestionably and, in some cases, utterly irrationally (there's always that one sibling and if there isn't, it's you) so, especially on this one day of the year, let's make sure our utterly incredible mothers know how much we absolutely adore them.
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The Utterly Inessential Shopping List: Whisky is coming, a hat to blow you away and shuttlecock swim shorts
Welcome back to our friendly neighbourhood round-up of the best wine, furnishings and completely, utterly inessential products available now.
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The Utterly Inessential Shopping List: The Ministry of Defence's watch of choice, the perfect gift for the perfect puppy and our weekly wine blast
Another week has gone by in which producers and purveyors of goods have asked themselves not 'what does the world need?' but a far greater question: 'What does the world absolutely not need, but still whimsically wish for?'
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The Utterly Inessential Shopping List: A cat hotel with an a la carte menu, magical night lights and Ariat's latest offering to boot
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The Utterly Inessential Shopping List: Plant pots worth their weight in gold, posh chess and a Porsche to get your motor running
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How to choose wedding music: Band, DJ or something a little bit different?
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Wedding dos and don'ts: Nine tips to hold the perfect wedding reception
Hamish Shephard, founder of Bridebrook and owner of wedding venue Hedsor House, shares his expert tips how to ensure your wedding reception goes with a bang.
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Curious Questions: Why do brides throw their bouquets? And wear white? And wear something old, new, borrowed and blue?
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The Utterly Inessential Wedding Shopping List: From beautiful bouquets to romantic getaways
As the excitement of last night begins to fade into memory, we hold dear in our hearts those who are about to embark on months and months of careful planning, menu tasting and reckless spending. Alexandra Fraser presents to you everything you (may or may not) need to get through the wedding planning season and your special day.
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The Utterly Inessential Shopping List: A bag good enough to ride, a golden fountain pen and a doghouse to die for
There's nothing quite as good as something you absolutely don't need, but still want anyway. Because really, assuming you have food, water and a safe place to sleep, what really is essential? Alexandra Fraser takes her regular look at some of life's little luxuries.
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The Utterly Inessential Shopping List: Gifts to make him fall at your feet, a delightful decanter and all the Valentine's experiences a happy heart could hope for
The chill of February is ill-fated to be accompanied by a day dedicated to those lucky few among us who succeeded in surviving the stress of the festive season. It is for this group of people that we present a collection of utterly inessential products and experiences with which to say "I love you". For the rest of you, we recommend gin.
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The Utterly Inessential Shopping List: Scarves aplenty, whisky candles and some charitable cushions
In a world infested with 'must-have', 'don't miss' and 'buy now', one list stands alone as the voice of reason: this list, where everything is both entirely marvellous and completely unnecessary. Welcome, dear friends, to Utterly Inessential.
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The Utterly Inessential Shopping List: Step back in time with nightshirts, port and good old fashioned dice games
In a world plagued by 'must-have's and 'buy now's, one list and one list alone strives to bring you the 'must-never-have's and 'please lord never buy this's. Welcome, dear friends, to Utterly Inessential.
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The utterly inessential shopping list: A toaster you'll want to drive, the world's smartest cardigan and a £2,700 bedside lamp