For several years, while I was working as a portrait model, I used to play that very game with myself, as a way of passing the time while I sat.  Of course, the destinations and purchases changed frequently, but I never, ever tired of working it all out in my mind.

Today, I invite you to join me on my dream shopping spree, so grab your passport and your spending shoes, and let’s get shopping!

I think we’ll work from the ground up, so shoes to start.  First stop is Unique Shoes in East St Kilda, to pick up a few pairs of quirkily decorated shoes in hard to find prints and styles.  Next, up to Shoemakers Wholesale in Glenhuntly, where the ever-changing array of shoes always holds some artfully designed, vintage-style pretties to add to my collection.  Then into Melbourne CBD, where we’ll loosen the purse strings just a little, and head into Miss Louise to pick up the pair of very 1930’s looking black patent stiletto scooped sandals with diamante trim that I’m currently harbouring a major crush on.

Obviously, while we’re doing our shoe shopping, we’ll need to call into Manolo Blahnik - the New York store, I think - for a pair of Mary-Janes.

As we all know, beautiful shoes need beautiful hosiery, so first it’s off to Myers (my childhood shopping icon) to stock up on Levante (www.levante.com.au) Suede Matte 70 denier opaque tights, which are my winter legwear mainstay.  If we’re talking tights, we’re probably also going to need to pick up a plethora of Wolford’s best – I think London is the best place for that, and then while we’re in the UK, we can nip over to Edinburgh to pick up a few pairs of retro style seamed fishnets (my personal shopping holy grail), which only seem to be readily available in Scotland.

Now it’s on to clothes.  I must confess here, that I like to design my own clothes, and then have them made up by my lovely and loyal dressmaker, so for me, clothes shopping generally equals fabric shopping.  So, while we’re at Shoemakers Wholesale, we’ll call in next door to Darn Cheap Fabrics (this is not a made up destination, I swear! Find them at www.darncheapfabrics.com.au )  to peruse their exceedingly varied range of gorgeous fabrics and trims, and then across  to Blooms (www.bloom.com.au ), the home of wonderfully embossed, embroidered and elaborate material.  Speaking of beautiful material, I think that side trips to India (sari silk) and Italy (beaded fabrics) are in order, and maybe a brief stopover in Dubai (all of the above), so that we can snap up metres and metres of potential!

Occasionally, though, I do spot an item of clothing so desperately beautiful, that I can’t actually live without it.  One such item is the coat that my friend Lauren recently purchased; a knee length, black silk velvet affair, printed with deep red roses; a thing of such breathtaking beauty that I’ve been fantasising about it ever since I first laid eyes on it.  So, while we’re in Myer, we’ll definitely be purchasing one of those.  Then, perhaps, on to the Chinese silk clothing shop in the Australia arcade, to indulge my passion for mandarin collars and oriental lines.  There, I shall purchase several dresses and tops, plus maybe a skirt or two, all in gorgeously coloured shot silk jacquard.

Now it’s time to think about accessories, which are my worst shopping weakness.  There’s nothing I like more than a sparkly hair ornament (particularly a butterfly), unless it’s a gorgeous necklace or bracelet, and I am fully aided in this addiction by the staff at Princess Avenue, Scally & Trombone and The Rose Garden, so naturally, we’ll be visiting all of those places.  While we’re out, we’ll also call into Westminster, to raid their amazing collection of jewellery, and then we’d be mad not to duck over to Sydney and snap up a few choice items from Michal Negrin, (www.michalnegrin.com.au or www.michal-negrin.co.il ) which is absolutely my idea of jewellery shopping paradise.

While we’re thinking accessories, we’ll pick up a few vintage floral chiffon scarves. The best places for that are always specialist retro boutiques, so we’ll be calling in to Shag, Frocks and Slacks, and of course, Chapel Street Bazaar.  And, even though I’m not a huge ‘labels’ girl, a side trip to Hermes (www.hermes.com )in Paris is definitely on the cards.  There, we’ll pick up a Hermes butterfly scarf (like the one that was designed to commemorate the wedding of Grace Kelly to Prince Rainier), and I guess while we’re thinking about Grace Kelly, it would be rude not to pick up a Kelly bag or two, seeing as we’re already in Hermes.

Hmmm…handbags.  I never need to be prompted too much to buy a handbag, but occasionally, I do show a modicum of restraint.  One such example is the scalloped red handbag that I yearned over for literally months.  A true symphony of different textures, trims and prints, I kept promising myself that one day, the time would be right, and we would be together forever.  But I hadn’t banked on the fact that it was a limited edition, and so, became suddenly unavailable.  Whenever I think about it, my heart breaks a little – we could have been so happy together.  But have no fear, for today, this confection of a handbag will be mine.

And to finish my dream shopping spree?  Well, ever since I was a little girl, trips into town with my much beloved great aunt we’re my favourite treat.  And the way we used to round out these outings, was to have a spot of afternoon tea somewhere genteel, before we went home to show my grandmother our purchases.

And so, if you will excuse me, the Hopetoun Tearooms beckon…