New Look press day: Accessories lust!

Yesterday was the New Look press day and it was the accessories (especially the shoes!) that had me going weak at the knees. There were some incredible chunky wedges that I wish I could get my hands on now, loads of faux fur, lovely velvet, and lots of lovely nudes (again).

I love the chunkier more masculine style shoes in tan and camel and the tapestry bag in the very bottom picture is already on my "must-have" list: it's the perfect faux-vintage look. The jewellery was a little garish for my personal tastes but again explored the faux-vintage theme. The feathered head scarf below is gorgeous:it looks really luxe, but with the added bonus of knowing it will come with a New Look price tag! I will definitely be heading to New Look for my accessories fix need autumn/winter: there is a nude fur deer stalker with my name on it!

I don't really have much more to say but in this case, I think a picture says a thousand words!

Hope you all have a fabulous weekend and if you're in the UK - bank holiday! Woo!

Love, Tor xx

You're Invited! Now What Do YouWwear?

Today's post is something we've become experts on these past few weeks.  An old friend of ours is getting married this weekend (Yay, Mike!) and when we got the invitations in the mail we were excited.  Then, the excitement was overcome by stress as we both realized we had nothing to wear but black (inappropriate for the season) and white (how rude!)  So, over the past few weeks we've been busy scouring the racks for that perfect dress.  We've literally tried on dozens of different dresses, in a variety of different styles and colors and lucky for you we've decided to share some of the ones we found that we think are worth heading out to the store to check out. So, here are are picks for the top dresses to wear as the guest of a wedding this spring or summer:

 

This Calvin Klein Dress is perfect for the less formal event. We think this would be the perfect dress for a daytime garden wedding or an anytime of day beach wedding. This dress seems like it was designed perfectly for a women's body - the 1950's style fitted top and flared bottom will add curves if you have none or perfectly accentuate your assets if you are well endowed. 

For a dressier occasion, we love this green Grecian dress from ModCloth.  Our friend Maggie has had her eye on this one, and we must agree, the color and cut of this dress are simply fantastic.  This dress can easily be dressed up with some sparkly jewelry and metallic heels, or dressed down with some brown leather sandals and a little jacket.

Did you know David's Bridal dresses are not just for Brides and Bridesmaids?!  You can actually go and try them on just like any dress shop and many of the dresses for bridesmaids would be perfect to wear as the guest of a wedding.  Take this strapless number for instance.  It comes in a million colors, is only $99, and has pockets!  What more could we ask for?

Remember how we are in love with gray?  Well, we sure would have been fighting over who would have gotten to wear this elegant dress from J. Crew, but we found out the wedding colors were gray and yellow and neither of us wanted to run the risk of wearing the same shade as the bridesmaids!  Nevertheless, this is a fantastic color and the dress is so delicate and feminine with the pretty chiffon overlay.  Plus, a simple, muted dress like this one serves as a fantastic blank pallet for bold and beautiful accessories and sexy heels!

So, you're probably wondering what we picked for ourselves!  Jen had a terribly hard time finding a dress, as her body shape is extremely difficult to fit. Finally, after trying on at least 40 dresses and dreading the costs of alterations, she found this royal blue, spaghetti strap dress that fits fairly well and was only $60!  This chiffon tiered dress was purchased from Group USA in the Franklin Mills Mall in PA and will be accessorized with black and pewter shoes and jewelry for a more glam look.

Saira, luckily, came across this strapless navy blue dress 9 months ago (someone was a little eager).  This tiered dress by Adrianna Papell is modern with it's subtle, unfinished edges but classic with the soft, delicate layers of satin. This dress is simple and understated, but perfectly elegant for any formal or semi-formal occasion.

Whatever you do, don't wear white!

XOXO

Jen & Saira

Fabfrocks goes to Paris!

Lovely boyfriend has organised us an impromptu day out to Paris on the olde Eurostar on Saturday: very short notice, but i'm ridiculously excited! He's never been to Paris before, so i'm sure we will be visiting the old faithfuls like the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame, but i'm hoping there will be time for a little bit of shopping too (as well as plenty of eating - the diet can go out the window!)

The problem with impromptu trips like this is decided what to wear: i've been a household slut this week and almost all of my clothes are in the laundry basket (or as I like to refer to it, the bottomless pit) Obviously I will be opting for comfort with a little style (flat shoes and an umbrella are essentials - sadly they've forecast rain) but whilst I excite myself planning a loose itinerary, i'm also looking at some Parisian street style for sartorial inspiration. Here are some of my favourites:

I'm not French or especially stylish (Although I do like to wear a lot of black, which comes as standard) so I won't be oozing a single ounce of this effortless glamour, but i'm hoping my wardrobe will assist me in channeling a little chic: whilst still allowing room for a pastry or two!

Love, Tor xxx

Thank you cards

Dearest Dolls,

Every modern girl knows that even though some social practices are outdated, good manners are still and always will be extremely important in both your personal and professional life.  Proper etiquette and good manners are not just for the old fashion, stuffy folks, they are crucial to building positive relationships with others and serve to show others that you respect, care about, and appreciate them. Therefore, we think it's always handy to have a good set of thank you cards ready!  Whether it's thanking someone for a gift, helping you move, or setting up a job interview, a thank you card is a nice, intimate touch that really shows you care. Here are some unique thank you cards that we thought are sure to liven up your correspondence:

This thank you note available at Barnes & Noble is elegant and tasteful. The front of the card is designed with Queen Anne lace, and the inside is blank, giving you plenty of room to share your thanks with a friend, family member, or employer.

If you want something more unique, then these handmade thank you cards by Etsy seller thecraftpantry are right for you. The simple design and the bright florals make this a fun and fresh choice to express your gratitude. 

These pretty note cards from Etsy seller Sweet Bella are also handmade, and are just so fresh and sweet. We love that the set comes with matching envelope seals, to provide a very finished look to your correspondence. 

Continuing with the bird theme, we recommend this card from PaperPrince Marami. The splashes of color and delicate print give the card a vintage touch, but it is still formal enough to send to co-workers as well as friends and family.

For a more eco-conscious choice, try this "green" thank you note by Night Owl Paper Goods. Made from layers of harvested wood bits and paper scraps, every single card is one-of-a-kind, not to mention absolutely lovely.

Sometimes less is more! This thank you card available at Red Stamp is so simple and cute, and would be a great for teachers and students alike. Plus we love that the card is gender neutral, so you can share them with whomever!

Thank you, ever so much, for reading!

XOXO,

Jen & Saira

Fabfrocks loves...Agyness Deyn at Uniqlo

Hey guys,

Uniqlo have announced an upcoming collaboration with British-born supermodel and fashion icon Agyness Deyn (Or Aggy to the British press!) and her sister; Emily Deyn, owner of the Hussaindeyn brand. Obviously this could go two ways (given its Uniqlo): jeans or t shirts. I'm sure you can't take the suspense anymore, so the answer is, it's Tshirts. I actually really love them: the shapes, colours, and especially the images are great!

The collection takes inspiration from the punk era, using retro Polaroid photos. My two favourites are the "life in the fast lane" and the" more to life than cake" ones, although I prefer the Tshirt shape that comes with the sleeves than the vest shapes. I will refer to the "cheese" one as the fashion bloggers Tshirt: perfect for the narcassist in all of us!

I have written before about how bored I am with designer collaborations, but this is one I think I could really get behind: especially given the Tshirts are only £12.99 each. I suspect my casual summer stylings just got a little easier, these would look fab teamed with leggings or shorts. The Tshirts land in stores on the 1st May and given that I love the fit and feel of uniqlo tshirts (so soft, yet they hold their shape) I suspect there will be an orderly queue outside of the stores to get their hands on these: I also bet that i'll be at the front!

Love, Tor xx

Color Day: Aqua & Lime

Here is a playful, modern color palette for a spring or summertime wedding.  The bright lime green with the shade of aqua is an eye catching combination that is youthful, fresh, and of course, bold.  These vibrant hues scream fun and excitement and will be sure to energize your party, wedding, or lifestyle.

Aqua & Lime Inspiration Board Images:  Polka Dots Stationary, Coco and Kelley, JMNPottery, BeachHouseLinens, InviteCottage, Prima Donna Bride, Zazzle, Gracious Paper, MeandMatilda, Trendy Treasure, AbbeyandIzzieDesigns 

XOXO

Jen & Saira

Dorothy Perkins and Faith: time to bag a bargain

I don't think the mid-season sales this season have been anything to write home about, and the Dorothy Perkins sale seems like a prime example of this: with just four rails of sale clothes in the store (and this is the big Oxford street store) there was more sale jewellery available than there were sale clothes.

I really like the peachy flats (although at £20 the original price was only £25, so it's not a massive discount!) and there were some great earrings on the jewellery racks: I think the best bargains can be found if you're looking for new costume jewellery. In terms of the clothes, knitwear was well represented, and if you like Dorothy Perkins jeans you have the potential to pick up a pair very cheaply! There were also some lovely soft cullote type shorts in various colours and patterns: these were the best buy for wearing for the coming season, and came in at just £12.

On Friday the news was announced that Faith had gone into administration: the latest victim of the recession we're slowly coming out of, this is more bad news for the British high street. However in the short term it can be good news for your wardrobe and especially good news for your feet:

The window grandly declares discounts of 50%, however in reality there are only about 8 designs which have 50% off (their normal seasonal sale) The rest of the stock in the store has 10% off: this is still a decent discount if you were looking to buy new shoes anyway, but if not then my advice is to do what i'm doing: wait and see if the discounts get bigger!

I don't really need any new shoes, so i'm only buying them if they're an absolute bargain, however there are so really gorgeous sandals in store so it's definitely worth checking out if you need new season shoes! You have to do into the store though: because the store has gone into administration the website has been suspended.

Have a great day!

Tor xx

Ahoy there, matey!

Summer is around the corner, and the nautical look is back in fashion. But, don't fret, you don't need to own your own yacht to try out this look. It's fresh and cool without being too preppy, plus it's a really simple look to put together...no eye patches or peg legs required! All you really need is a striped shirt, some oxfords, and a blazer, and you're all set to go. Here are some must have pieces to include in your wardrobe that will have you on deck and ready to set sail this summer:

This simple boat neck striped shirt by BDG is pretty and casual. Jazz up the nautical stripes by pairing it with rolled up jeans or khaki capris, and add some gold or yellow accessories or red heels (or flip flops if you're feeling a little more laid back) for contrast.

Don't just walk the plank... strut your stuff!  These wedges by Jessica Simpson will add a pop of color to all the navy and white and we love the braided rope look on the wedge itself.  Plus, it will draw attention to your cute summer pedicure!

But if you're looking for a piece that is a little more summery, we suggest something like this nautical sun dress by O'Neill. It has a fun sea gull and sailboat print and ties in the back to give it a nice slimming fit. 

Every girl knows that a snug blazer can go a long way, and can be paired with almost anything in your wardrobe for an instantly polished look. Chart your course to style with this navy blazer by Gap! It's all about the fit, so don't be afraid to get something narrowly tailored to fit your physique. 

It's probably pretty obvious by now, but we are crazy for charm necklaces. This nautical themed necklace available at Metropark is a great look for this summer. The gold will look great with your navy pieces and the white gives it that beachy shell look that will perfectly compliment your tan.

We love this flowy striped shirt available at Mod Cloth. The stripes are subtle and the bow and peasant style sleeves are just darling!  This top makes it easy to wear the nautical look without going overboard!

Those ocean breezes are killer! To stay warm during the cool summer nights, try on this cropped nautical-inspired coat from Delia's. We love the brass buttons and the bold red stripes but what's really fantastic is it's made from sweat shirt material, so it's super comfy!

All aboard!

XOXO,

Jen & Saira

Exposure press day: Wellies and jewellery galore!

Hey guys,

I've been pretty lax in writing up my press days, but i'll get there in the end and lets be honest, winter is a long way away, so we're in no great rush (this is my excuse and i'm sticking to it!) Next up is Exposure: this isn't a comprehensive look at all the brands they represent, just the things that held my interest enough that I took pictures of them!

Claire's accessories: once home to plastic jewellery for pre-teens (and the place I had my ears pierced when I was 13) Claires is now making a move to become a contender in the high street costume jewellery market and their a/w collection is not disimilar to that you would see in Topshop or H&M. And the price points are so much lower! Only time will tell on the quality front, but it definitely looks like it will be worth checking out:

Hunter: I'm not a wearer or owner of wellies, but I think if I were going to a festival a quilted, wedges or crocodile print pair from Hunter would be at the top of my list. They actually look comfortable too! The quilted ones below are cut at an angle so they would look like riding boots:

Globetrotter: If I were a millionaire that could travel the world I would be doing it with Globetrotter luggage. That's all there is to say about that really: it's truly beautiful!


Exposure also represent a host of beautiful luxury fashion brands, but these really deserve a post of their own. I have more press day highlights to share: but so far I predict that it's going to be a very stylish autumn and winter next year!

Love, Tor x

When two tribes go to war...

Part one of the Aussie Angels experience came to an end last month, and all the angels were asked if they wanted to take part in part two: I love being an Angel, so it was clear to me the answer was yes! For part two we have been asked to divide ourselves into tribes depending on our hair type: obviously it was the colour mate tribe for me: i've been colouring my hair all the colours under the sun since I was a teenager!! My first adventure with my tribe happens at the beginning of August but yesterday a lovely goody bag arrived containing everything I need to keep my hair in tip top condition: coloured shampoo, conditioner, and three minute miracle especially for coloured hair (I didn't even know they made this!) There was also a comb (for detangling) mirror, tribe badges and a yummy square of chocolate (immediately eaten)

Of course I couldn't wait to try my goodies out so I jumped straight in the shower. The arrival of the pack couldn't have come at a better time, as I recoloured my hair last week! My hair now smells amazing; I know this is an integral part of the Aussie experience but it smells especially good! The coloured products come with peach extract (apparently the oils are good for dry hair) so I smell like a yummy cocktail: peach schnapps is my favourite drink!! My sister noticed my new shampoo immediately and said I smelt "really sweet" which I like, but if you don't like sweet fruity smells it might not be for you. My hair also feels incredibly soft: because of all the bleach I put on it my hair generally feels really porous but today it feels soft and sleek. I was really impressed! Also, aren't the new bottle designs nice? They were inspired by Australian designers and are much prettier than the usual, fairly functional, packaging.

Speaking of tribes, we went to the Belmont animal farm yesterday to play with the animals (we couldn't find any children to take, so we went by ourselves!) It was a very fun hour out, and they have more animals than your average farm: as well as the aminals you would expect there are also llamas, kangaroos, ostriches, and birds of prey. My favourites will always be the humble goats though, who have such lovely little faces and are so comical when they're fighting for the food! Our trip was followed by some pub grub and an afternoon in the beer garden enjoying the sunshine: heavenly!!

I hope you guys have had good weekends too!

Love, Tor xx

Travel in Style

The worst possible thing when traveling is losing your luggage! In a sea of boring black and grey luggage that can be easily lost in the shadows, one way to ensure that your luggage gets there and back is to have it stand out from the crowd. Plus, cute luggage is a great accessory if you travel often for work or for pleasure. Here are some of our favorite travel styles:

Roxy makes fashionable gear for cruising the waves, the slopes, and apparently the skies! This super cute rolling suiter by the popular surf brand is pretty, functional, and will definitely stand out on the luggage carousel. And you can get a matching carrying case to go with! Accessorizing is the best.

If you're more of a day tripper, then try out this stylish leather duffle by Love Luggage. We love this brand because it makes durable, handheld luggage, and throws in a skull and crossbones now and then to add some edge.

Carry-on luggage can be cute too! This piece by Orla Kiely features multiple pockets for extra storage, but is still compact enough to fit right over your head. Plus the trolley print adds some much needed kitsch to your travel itinerary. 

If you run into turbulence during your flight, never fear, your luggage is safe in this shell cased trolley designed by Hideo Wakamatsu. It comes in two sizes, and has a pretty purple interior lining so your clothing can ride in style.  

While we did caution to stay away from black luggage, something tells us that this polka-dot luggage set available at Target will still be pretty easy to find. It's a bit more understated than some of the other pieces we've shown, and it comes at a bargain price. Bargain style -- what more could a doll want? 

Happy travels!

Jen & Saira

Topshop sale: My shopping picks!

The Topshop mid-season sale started yesterday, andI got straight in there to see what I could find! I actually got really lucky because alot of the stuff had been wrongly priced on the tills (according to the guy serving me this happens on the first day of every sale) and so I got a top for £5 (today it's £25) a top for £10 (today it's £20) and a pair of black leggings for £7. Leggings never normally go in the sale and I wear them every single day so I was chuffed with my bargain there!

Here is a quick outfit shot of the top I got for £5. I'm wearing it simply with the black leggings and a long line black vest teamed with my ASOS wedges. With hingsight the top makes me look broader than I am, and really needs a belt!

There are still loads of bargains to be had from the Topshop sale: if it wasn't the week before payday I would be going crazy! Here are my picks of the top five bargains from the sale that are currently available on the website:

Moths and bugs print blouse, was £35 now £15 (I loved this and tried it on but it cut too high on my bust)
Mesh tunic, was £28 now £12. (This has massive layering potential and is something you could do so much with whatever the season)
Horse sweater, was £28 now £12 (They didn't have this in my size or I would've snapped it straight up!)
Danielle Scutt dress, was £50 now £25
Shoes, were £22 now £3. Yup you read that right, now £3: and they're 100% leather. How much of a bargain is that???
Belt was £25 now £12. If nude tones don't really suit you this would be the perfect way to jump on the massive nude trend without having to go overboard. Plus it's really cute!

I know I normally do my sales reviews from the shop but it was madness yesterday and I didn't even queue for a changing room - just threw the tops on over my dresses on the shop floor! Now all the summer sales are starting to get into full swing I will do some more proper reviews over the coming weeks: it's a good excuse to hit the shops!

Love, Tor xx

PS -Tadaa! Above is the inadvertant unveiling of my new hair colour - i've had lowlights put in to take away some of the harshness of the blonde. I'm not sure how I feel about it yet, but I do think it suits my complexion more. It is weird to be darker whilst everyone else is going lighter for summer though!

Painting my nails: D.I.Wah

Inspired by Gem Fatale's post on how to paint your own leopard print nails, and missing my vibrant WAH creations (but lacking the scratch to have them done properly) I decided to give it a go myself. Rather than going for Gems vibrant blue and red versions though, I went for a more "natural" print using nude, hot pink, and brown. Here are the results:

Given that i'm naturally cackhanded, I don't think I did too bad a job, however you can see wobbles and they obviously don't look as good as they did when I had them done professionally. These ones were free though: there's pros and cons to everything! You can use any three colours to create your own leopard print, although obviously the base colour has to be lighter than the two you put on top.

I used: Bourjois so laque in beige glamour for the base, No 7 long wear nail varnish in hot pink for the spots and Barry M in chocolate for the very top detail.

If you'd like to have a go at releasing your inner animal then you can follow Gem's tutorial here. Hopefully you'll have steadier hands than me! And if you'd rather trust the professionals then WAH have opened a concession in Topshop Oxford Circus, meaning having your nails done won't need to interfere with your shopping!

Love, Tor xx

"Green" Weddings

We know your wedding day is important... that all your life you've dreamed of the huge, beaded, taffeta dress, orchids, ornate invitations, caviar, and the works.  But, did you ever stop to think about where all the stuff goes afterwards?  Usually, it's the trash can, or closet, if you're lucky.



The typical wedding produces an obscene amount of waste and is usually not very eco-friendly.  To put it into perspective, let's consider paper products! You've got the save the dates, then the invitations to all the different events like the showers, parties, rehearsal dinner, etc., then the thank you cards for those events, then the actual invitations and all their parts and, of course, you can't forget the envelopes for all of these things -- sounds a little excessive, right?  And that doesn't even include the programs, menus, tables cards, etc!  And let's not even talk about flowers!  



Okay, okay, so now you're probably thinking having an eco-friendly wedding is impossible since, obviously, silk flowers are tacky, email/facebook/twitter invites are inappropriate, and your guests do actually need to eat.  But, never fear, this post is meant to inspire you to have your dream wedding, and still be green!  Take a look at some green elements you can include in your wedding...even the smallest step is a step in the right direction.

Before we even talk wedding, we should talk engagement.  Get off to the right start with this engagement ring that is made using Canadian, conflict-free diamonds and recycled/reclaimed gold and platinum.  This "Amelia" ring is from the Earthwise collection by Leber Jewelers.

These Eco-Friendly Wedding Invitations are a great way to reduce your carbon footprint!  Bella Figura produces seriously gorgeous invitations on 100% Cotton Paper so no trees are harmed in the making.  In addition to that, their shop is wind powered, they are a carbon neutral company, and they donate a percentage of their proceeds to environmental charities.

This  "green" wedding gown is absolutely stunning and is made using using natural, sustainable, and "peaceful" materials.  Puridee designs fabulous gowns made with "Ahimsa" and "Tussah" silk, which is either collected in the wild or made in an organic environment that allows the silkworm to go through a natural life cycle and emerge as a moth.  Be extra green by donating your dress to a wonderful charity so that it may bring someone else the happiness it brought you!

Our favorite pick for an eco-friendly wedding favor is this adorable, biodegradable seed pot by favorcreative.  Not only can your guests enjoy this over and over as they grow their herbs, but the boxes are made of recycled material and all you have to do to have them double as table cards is add a little seed paper tag.  Or, write directly on the box if you really want to save on paper.

When it comes to wedding flowers, the trick is to think local, in-season, and double duty! We suggest checking out your local Whole Foods if you're looking for a cost effective, eco-friendly option. Their abundant floral department will surprise you and you're sure to rest easy knowing you are supporting local farmers!  As for double duty, get the best bang for your buck and waste less by re-using your ceremony decorations as part of your reception decor.  And, for the ultra green centerpiece, recycle old mason jars, scour flea markets for unique containers, or re purpose some used tea tins as vases -- the options are endless and they are sure to strike up conversation amongst your guests.

And, what would a wedding be without dessert!?  Now, we are not vegans..not even close.. but considering the impact that the dairy and factory farming industry has on the earth, you could be eco-friendly by choosing to go vegan for your wedding cake, your guests will never know the difference!  Here is a picture of one of the fantastic looking vegan cupcakes by KTsKitchen.  Though she is based out of Ohio, we're sure that if you look around you'll be able to find someone selling vegan baked goods in your area. 

Love the earth!

XOXO

Jen & Saira