FANTASY SHOPPING . . .

When you think of Chanel, the first images that might flood to mind are of quilted handbags and rather fabulous clothing with liberal sprinklings of C's everywhere. After all, it is not a label that has been backward at coming forward of late. All this is changing. "I have taken things far enough at Chanel. Today, 10 years on, I am going back to the starting block," says Chanel's designer Karl Lagerfeld. Certainly you wouldn't immediately associate this exquisite and simple pair of shoes with Chanel; but flat lace-up Derbys (named after the 12th Earl of Derby who founded the race of the same name) featured heavily in Chanel's autumn/winter 1995 ready-to-wear collection and were worn with three-quarter length coats, knits, and trouser suits. They are beautifully made in two tone leather (black patent with beige leather as shown or black patent with black leather). AB

! Chanel two-tone Derbys, pounds 360 in sizes 36 1/5 to 41 1/5 available from Chanel, 26 Old Bond Street, London W1 (0171 493 5040) and 31 Sloane Street, London SW1 (0171 235 6631).