What is it about holidays that brings out the inner hoarder in all of us?
There is no other context in which we would buy a full-length patterned, ruffled, garish-coloured skirt. Or an obnoxiously large European hat. Or those super unflattering gypsy pants. Or 43 scarves. Or a really ‘fun’ sarong. Or goddamn SHELL JEWELRY.
And don’t even get me started on ornaments…
Well, it turns out Zoe Foster Blake is all of us on holidays, albeit with a much cuter side kick. (Sonny. I’m talking about Sonny.)
Listen: Zoe Foster Blake on our ‘I Don’t Know How She Does It’ podcast. (Post continues below.)
Yes, even the Go-To founder and author makes holiday purchases that probably wouldn’t happen at home.
Exhibit A: a pompom bag.
Foster Blake, who is currently holidaying in Italy, shared her new purchase to Instagram with the caption, “I got a reeeaal crush on pompoms, which is handy since Sicily is filthy with them.”
“And!” the 35-year-old continued, “I don’t even think I am holiday-idiot buying; I genuinely believe Real Life me will wear and love also. Just like my Thai fisherman pants, and Greek sandals, and Indian sari, and Norwegian bunad…”
We believe you, Zoe. Ah yes, the Greek sandals — don’t we all have a pair tucked away somewhere?
Speaking of sandals, Foster Blake also seems to have snapped up a pair of Miu Mius.
Oh God, Sonny’s little feet are so cute…
However, as anyone who has traveled knows well, it’s not all beaded giraffe key rings and postcards we know we’ll never actually use.
Watch: How Zoe Foster Blake’s beauty routine has changed since becoming a mum. (Post continues after video.)
Every now and then you hit the shopping jackpot.
In Foster Blake’s case, it was the vintage find.
“I haven’t vintage shopped enthusiastically for some years (since before Carrie Bradshaw went couture, probably) but I’m having a real bloody party of it here in Florence,” the Amazinger Face author captioned the image.
“It just seems right to buy pre-loved Pucci and Gucci and Splertzatucci (sorry) in the city these brands were founded, you know? Like finding a really great vintage Bintang singlet in Bali.”
Ha. A Bintang singlet. Who would have one of those? (Us. We all have one of those.)
What slightly ridiculous holiday purchases have you made over the years? This is a safe space.
Top Comments
Ahhhh…the life, hey? Not only being able to holiday in Italy but being able to afford to stay anywhere you wanted to and to buy whatever you wanted. I'm sure I"m not the only one who didn't want to click but did and now feels that serious pang of envy.
I know it's only the happy snaps and that it's not all a a bed of roses and my life would look ridiculously awesome and amazing to an asylum seeker languishing in detention (and which is why I am accepting and grateful for it) but it just amazes me that there are people like Zoe who just get to have it all. And now we have social media so we are bombarded by this 'look at my amazing life' stuff...
Heads up, the vast majority of us don't have a life even closely resembling this wonderful one so I can only guess that most people clicking on this will feel a little bit crap about their own lives.
And then there will be those who say 'stuff it' get themselves another credit card, take themselves on that holiday and come back with a massive debt that'll enslave them forever.
And yes, I am old and bitter. I LOVE Italy and am already taken back there, it's an amazing place and when I was there (15 years ago), I imagined myself coming back with the money that's required to enjoy yourself with abandon….just like Zoe and Hamish get to do..It never happened (and I have accepted that it probably never will)
Of course I bear Zoe and Hamish no ill will. I am just jealous and, in all honesty, they seem like really great people and good for them. It's just this rubbing it in business…Just stop it! ;)
The adulation of the wealthy and their lifestyles has always been there, of course, but social media has seemed to distort our perception even more…and creating that illusion that it is a lifestyle we can all replicate. It's hard to believe when we see so much of it about but it's simply not true for most of us