Piece of cake.

I spent last year living in France, occupying most of my time with the copious consumption of delectable gateaux, tarts and pastries. I suppose that if my 2009 could be summed up in but one word, it would be gluttonous. And, as is usually the punishment for such carbohydrate-laden greed, I landed in Sydney with a very light wallet and an extremely hefty paunch. France, it seems, was very good to my voracious appetite for sugary treats, but not so good to my thighs. Or my waist. Or, indeed, my entire body from the ankles up.

And so, I have been in self-imposed sweet-toothed exile for the good part of two months. Much of my wardrobe has been rendered unusable, and my too-skinny jeans sit on their shelf, silently mocking me for such French gluttony. No more cakes for me!

Addison Gill as Blueberry Muffin in Cacharel, Kate Somers as Raspberry Tart in Sonia Rykiel, Kim Noorda as Strawberry Shortcake in Charles Anastase

With such an insatiable appetite for sweet treats, imagine my sugar-starved joy when I picked up the latest issue of Lula. The issue celebrates Lula’s fifth birthday with designers’ interpretations of the characters from Strawberry Shortcake. As a five year old, I remember playing with saccharine scented Strawberry Shortcake dolls. With their cute-as-pie frocks and freckled faces, the girls from the cartoon were my favourites, and it is quite a delight to see them all grown up, fitted out in designer frippery, all a bit more sassy than sweet.

Seeing such delectably dressed girls made me realise that perhaps my cake-based cravings could be satiated in a way much more friendly to my belly than a trip to the bakery. I was reminded of a beautiful silk scarf by Paul Smith I bought for my mother in Paris. Covered in scrumptious looking tarte aux fraises and rainbow cupcakes, it was a novel way to bring a bit of sweetness home without it spoiling in my suitcase.

Paul Smith

And so, I have been converted to Dessert Dressing. I can have my cake (I just can’t eat it, too). I’ll be sticking to clothes that make me look like they’ve been frosted on with the help of a piping bag, and dusted with a liberal amount of icing sugar.

Opening Ceremony, Topshop, Panasonic, Judith Leiber, Opening Cermony