I have always had a soft spot for the over-the-top and the impractical. Things that I don’t necessarily need (the concept of ‘need’ is of course very subjective in any case) are often the things I enjoy the most. Here’s a small sample:

1. Dress by Ketlin Bachmann. Well, it’s nude-coloured, see-through, has about 7 trillion ruffles and isn’t just floor-length, but literally trails behind you. Would I describe a dress like this as a necessary element of everyone’s life? No. Would I describe this as an utterly fabulous piece of loveliness that makes everything better? Yes.

2. Christian Louboutin nail polish. I usually don’t complain abut the price of anything – everything is relative and if people are buying… However, do I think anyone needs a 50-dollar nail polish? Again, the answer is no. Personally, I don’t regard Rouge Louboutin as a nail polish. Sure, it functions like one and the color is amazing, but I generally think of it as a design object and a potential weapon. It’s beautiful. And scary.

3. La Mer: The Mist. I guess there is a limit to how useful a face mist can be. Even if it works, it will provide a temporary relief only – a quick burst of hydration and freshness. So it is, of course, extravagant to use one from La Mer. But I have researched the face mist category extensively (e.g I own many) and this is by far the best. If you are going to buy something you don’t need, you can at least make sure it’s something you very much want.

4. Byredo Gypsy water hair perfume. Another category I like – maybe there is something about spraying I cannot resist? Byredo is very good at making beautiful, stylish, borderline unnecessary stuff. Somehow I don’t own any Byredo perfumes, but I adore their candles and scented body products. Yes, I’m pretty sure it’s largely because of the packaging. I don’t care. Gypsy Water is one of their best scents, green and woody and very nice in this hair perfume format.

This is by no means an exhaustive list – I own a lot of stuff most people would consider at least unnecessary, if not totally ridiculous. I’ve got about ten different varieties of salt, for example – from black lava salt to Viking smoked salt – but do you know hoy difficult it is to photograph? Also, there are the scented origami horses by Hermès, quite possibly the most unnecessary item ever invented that I don’t yet own. But I’m sure I will one day.

Picture with the dress by Kaili Uusmaa.