Real stories · The jumper Winnie approves of

The Jumper Winnie Approves Of

There is a small dog on my jumper, a real one at my feet, and both of us are delighted about it. The Navelin is the first thing I've bought in years purely because it made me smile in the shop — and it hasn't stopped since.

Dog people will understand. We spend our lives being stopped on walks by strangers who want to talk about the dog, never the outfit. My entire wardrobe is sensible, and Winnie gets all the attention. I'd made my peace with it.

Then I saw the Navelin, from York Boutique — a British label I order from often: a soft white jumper with a beautifully embroidered dachshund on the front, wearing his own little pink knitted jumper, and a tiny paw print stitched on the sleeve. Winnie is no dachshund, but she sat down in front of it and refused to move, which in this house counts as a formal endorsement.

And it's a proper jumper underneath the charm. The knit is soft and breathable, which is why it's comfortable all day rather than itchy by lunchtime, and the relaxed fit layers easily over a shirt or under a coat for the cold walks. The embroidery is the real kind — raised, stitched, with lovely detail — not a flat print that cracks in the wash.

Four strangers on one walk, and for once two of them were asking about the jumper.

I'll admit I did check before ordering that I could send it back if it was tat in person — you can, within a fortnight, and the delivery's free — but the embroidery settled that the moment I unwrapped it. It's listed at £60 and sells for £29.95 because York Boutique sell direct with no middleman, which at that price makes it a rather perfect present for every dog person on your list.

It comes in five colours in sizes UK 8/10 to 20/22. If there's a dog in your life — or a dog person on your Christmas list — this is the jumper that gets the attention for once.