Mitford mania, shrinking husbands and namedropping notoriety. London-based fashion journalist Lucie Goulet pens some thoughts on consciously-too-clever Tatler's arty-farty March issue...

In true high-culture style, the March fashion edition of Tatler is heavy on arts content. As usual, 'In Fashion' pairs key trends with paintings: cornflower blue is associated with Naomi Clements Wright’s 'Cornflowers in a Chinese Vase'; romany with “a postcard of a Turkish woman” from the beginning of the 20th century; Michael Kors’ mood board displays Claude Monets’ 'The Ducal Palace in Venice' and Jackson Pollock’s 'Enchanted Forest'.

For £50,000 for three years, The Style Council has acted as “an insurance policy” for the The Serpentine Gallery. All members are rich, but not necessarily famous, and share a love of art, especially of the contemporary kind. In return for their generosity, those philanthropists “might sit next to Anish Kapoor at a Council dinner; go to Gilbert & George’s house and have a look at what they collect”. Could this be the answer to the financial challenges art faces in the recession?

In 'A Piece of Work', Thomas Nutzl photographed “this season’s most creative fashion against a backdrop of bold art by London’s new stars”. Chanel poppies meet poppies painted by Scarlett Raven, Prada crystals stand strong against Stuart Haygarth recycled art and Etro’s prints blend with Matthew Small’s motifs. The result is beautiful; in strength, colours and contrasts.

The Good Bits
- "Tea with Tatler" was clearly inspired by the Financial Times Weekend’s famous column “Lunch with the FT”. Over scones and English Breakfast tea, David Jenkins interviewed screenwriter Peter Morgan about having dinner with Barbara Streisand, hoping Warren Beatty would play Nixon (Frank Langella ended up taking the role) and how everyone missed the story in the MPs’ expenses scandal.

- England is fascinated by the Mitfords, including "The Last Mitford Debo", Dowager Duchess of Devonshire. Her sister Nancy’s Wigs on the Green just got republished, and she has her own memoir out in September. As is customary with the Mitfords, expect a whirlwind of famous characters (Uncle Harold Macmillan, Kathleen Kennedy and a plethora of UK aristocrats) and history seen from the inside.

- Diane von Furstenberg is Tatler’s "Queen of the Scene". On her demand, Vassi Chamberlain tries to find a new angle to tell her successful fashion-créateur-and-entrepreneur story. The result is a family tale, including her marriage to Barry Diller and her children's antics. I’m slightly uneasy with Tatler referring to her son’s fiancée as “her new mini-me”.

- In "An Ideal Husband", Miranda Taylor talks about the other side of a diet: dealing with your spouse’s new eating habits and weight.

The Not-So-Good (Oopsie) Bits:
- 'In Fashion' profiles Florence Brudenell-Bruce’s wardrobe. It includes some writing gems such as: “‘My wardrobe is a bit of a mixture," says Flee, dreamily looking out of the window into the depth of W2” (the London borough where she lives). There is nothing wrong with a bit of colour in an article... unless it lacks sense.

- In 'Dangerous Liaisons', Richard Dennen’s main aim seems to be showing off how well connected he is. You write for Tatler, honey – that's a pretty big clue. His account of the Crillon Ball, described as “the most aristocratic roll-call of the year” and “the annual international deb couture convention” fails to mention the presence of Jane Aldrige (she of SeaOfShoes). Clearly blogging doesn’t give you Tatler-worthy pedigree.

Pretty Pages:
- Jessica Walsh’s jewellery photoshoot, 'Time Flies', is as dreamy and well thought-out as ever. It mixes beautiful birds and high-cost jewellery for an editorial both visually appealing and semantically meaningful.

- Cover girl Amber Le Bon looks pretty in florals in 'The Name’s Bon'. According to Richard Dennen, “she’s part of that whole return-to-curves trend”. Having Simon and Yasmin Le Bon as parents, Le Bon is familiar with fame and photoshoots, which doesn’t mean she enjoys either.

- Whereas many magazines took the military road to showcase spring 2010 trends, Tatler chose to spend a 'Night at the Museum'. In the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, Cassandra Smith goes dinosaur searching in Dior and Gucci, photographs stuffed birds in Chanel and catches butterflies in Ferragamo. As You Do.

Blosses: Catherine Ostler; Patricia Stevenson
Glossy stats: March 2010, 236p, £3.99
Glossy ads: Fendi, Dior, Gucci, Giorgio Armani, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Prada, Burberry, Miu Miu, DKNY, Rolex
Glossy rating: 3/5

Yours truly,
Lucie @ Girl With a Satchel