It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single girl in possession of a good fortune must be in want of this season's hottest accessory. You might think you have already completed your spring / summer wardrobe, having invested in all things nautical, floaty and chaotic, but I urge you to think again. There is a vacuum in that voluminous bag of yours that neesds to be filled. Now, step forward the ultimate handbag charm - the meerkat.
Forget chihuahuas and pugs, meerkats are the real deal.
The furry creatures are soon to become the "it" Tinseltown companion. Paris has been spotted parading a meerkat in her customary oversized hand-bag in Melrose, LA, and it is only a matter of time before Lazy Lo, Nicole, Mischa et al follow suit.
Meerkats are no ordinary trophy pets. They require almost excessive attention and should be monitored at all times. As an owner of a particularly adventurous specimen - Rollo the Intrepid, I can speak from experience here. They are very sociable animals and this can get them into trouble.
Their tendency to wander off in search of conversation is notorious - Rollo has only just returned from living it up in the bars and clubs of Cavendish Square, London, over the weekend. I endured sleepless nights - fearing he had been katnapped - while simultaneously feeling secretly impressed by his bravery and spirit.
I will never forget being reunited with my most mischievous of meerkats. I couldnt wait to return Rollo to his sanctuary (his lookout perch in my bag). Never has a fashion accessory so ironically resembled "a symbol of unity and safety" [Tracey Emin].
So, let's immortalise the meerkat in handbags through the streets of London as well as on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square.
Adopt a meerkat at London Zoo, smuggle one into Blighty at Terminal 5 or, if all else fails, emigrate to their homelands of Botswana or South Africa. Your future as a fashionista depends on it...
[image from Turkey Whisperer.com]