Happy Halloween!

Hope you're all having a suitably spooky weekend! Mike and I carved these pumpkins this weekend (he did the Hello Kitty!) and are on our way to the London dungeons for their "hell-oween" experience: i'm wearing my skull scarf and pumpkin orange nails for the occasion! Have a great day!

Love, Tor xx

River Island sale part two: The changing room edition

Hi Guys,

This morning Mike and I popped to Brent Cross to get his hair cut, and whilst he was being primped and pruned how could I resist another pop into River Island to check out the sale? (last week I went to Oxford Street, so I reasoned the stock might be different) And I was right: it was! The extra half price off sale ends tomorrow, so if you're interested in checking it out you're running out of time! Alot of the clothes in the sale are summery, but that's a bonus for me as I need supplies for the honeymoon. There's also a lot of stuff perfect for Christmas parties if you're looking for something new on a budget.

Here's what I tried on:

Sequinned jacket: original price £59.99, price today £12.50

I really loved this jacket (yes, I bought it!) as it's the kind of thing you can throw over a plain boring cotton dress, such as above, and turn it into a party look: it jazzes up anything! I also liked the matt-ness of the sequins and the soft cotton lining.

Embellished dress: original price £49.99, price today £10

Loved this beautiful dress with the embellishment on the waist. It fit beautifully and had great gold thread running through it. (Yup. I got this one too!)

Blue dress: original price £34.99, price today £7.50

I had such high hopes for this Alice in Wonderland blue dress, but it looked awful on: it was far too short, and tight on the boobs: as soon as i'd zipped it I had to unzip it straight away. A shame, as it was a bargain!

Leopard print dress. Original price £34.99. Price now: Still £34.99!

OK, so this wasn't in the sale, but I liked it so much I had to try it on! Loved the pattern, the skater skirt, and the fact that it had sleeves. This would be the perfect dress for my work Christmas party, which is a lunchtime affair: you can't throw on your finest party frock for lunch!

Have you checked out the River Island sale yet? What did you buy? Tell me all about your bargains!!

Love, Tor xx

Shopping haul: The River Island sale

Hi guys,
The River Island sale has just gotten even better: until Sunday there is an extra 50% off all sale prices! I am on a self-inflicted shopping ban throughout November and December (apart from for Christmas presents of course!) so I decided to have a last fling in River Island, and even managed to pick up a couple of gorgeous party dresses!

Here's my haul (more pics to be added shortly!):



Grey seude shoes (were £59.99, reduced to £25, I paid £12.50)
Black one shoulder party dress (was £39.99, reduced to £20, I paid £10)
Peg leg trousers (were £29.99, reduced to £15, I paid £7.50)
Shoulder padded space cardigan (was £34.99, reduced to £17, I paid £8.50)
Pink floaty dress (was £39.99, reduced to £20, I paid £10)
Black gypsy dress (was £44.99, reduced to £15, I paid £7.50)

So if we do some fun fashion maths, that means I got six pieces worth £249.94 for just £56.

The shoes, black dress, and cardigan all look great together, giving me a perfect Christmas party outfit for less than I would have normally spent just on the dress. The pink dress will be teamed with my tough black wedges and trusty leather jacket giving another festive outfit: I love having new things for special occasions, so this is the perfect way for me to make that an affordable option.

These prices are considerably cheaper than Primark, but of course the cuts and quality are better! If you're thinking of checking it out remember the sale ends on Sunday! There's plenty of stuff on the River Island website, but in my experience, there's lots more variety of stuff in store than there is on the site.

Happy shopping!
Love, Tor xx

Wedding Style: Hauntingly Gorgeous Goth

It's finally here!  With Halloween just two days away, this post concludes our creepy, kooky, mysterious, and spooky series.  When planning for your Halloween event it is not always necessary to include ghosts, pumpkins, witches and the like. If those things seem a little too silly and childish for you then the best alternative for you would be to think in terms of Gothic style.  Instead of ghouls and spider webs you get roses and lace.  The key players in this motif are black and dark, blood red, candles, ornate damask prints, and lace.  These may not be the most traditionally beautiful spaces, but there is something eerily enchanting about this type of decor that we just can't seem to resist.

Horror movies always take place in the dark, which means you need candles! Candles are a great way of adding light and ambiance to your venue, and the type of candles you choose can really shape the theme of your wedding. You can opt for heavy pewter candelabras with tall, thin candles, or large pillar candles to give it a Gothic feel.

We truly believe that your choice in flowers really sets your wedding theme, which is why we think these black calla lilies are perfect if you're going for a dark, Gothic theme.  Lilies are often related to funerals and death, but traditionally they signify innocence and purity! Regardless, they are beautiful. If you're not into the lilies, however, then opt for black roses as a nice twist on tradition.

This Gothic wedding cake proves that beauty is in the details.  Seriously, how gorgeous is this cake?! It simple, but so detailed! Covered in swirls, vines and flowers, this cake really helps evoke the feelings of love and passion and it just looks too good to eat!

Or, for something even more dramatic (did you think that was possible?) check out this bloody masterpiece.  It's gorgeous in that American Beauty meets True Blood meets Twilight kind of way.

The first thing you think of when you think of horror and Gothic style are skulls, and we agree with that sentiment.  However, as far as your wedding goes, you may want to hold back on the skulls, as it can be a little too kitschy and Hot Topic for our tastes.  With that said, we think you can use skulls in your decor to add a subtle and interesting look, without coming off as too Avril Levine. Try this silver skull place card holder, for example. It's small, discrete, and tasteful (as far as skulls go), plus it's practical!

Antique rings are both unique and beautiful!  This antique Edwardian ring is an intricate little work of art and would be a perfect engagement ring for the off-beat or Gothic bride.

Sexy & sultry, the birdcage veil is a must have for a modern Gothic wedding.  There is something about it that is just so mysterious and alluring.  Plus, the feathers on top really help to give this a costume-y Halloween feel.

Unique guest books are always fun!  This ultra eerie book and feather pen are a beautiful and unique way incorporate the Halloween theme into your event.  The torn pages are a nice touch and create an aged look and the matte finish on the frame and table certainly add to the drama.

 The Goth bride can't just wear any old dress - she needs a dress with character, something enchanting and a little different. Luckily Claire Pettibone has such a great eye for romantic details and this dress from her 2009 Fall collection is perfect for our post today.  Having a Halloween wedding doesn't have to mean costumes and scary make-up, it can be really feminine and pretty if done the right way.

Double, double toil and trouble.



XOXO

Jen & Saira

Color Day: Halloween (Orange and Black)

Better late than never!  We apologize to our regular readers for having to wait so long for today's color post so, without further ado:



 When it comes to selecting color schemes not everyone goes for soft, coordinating colors. Some brave souls take the road less traveled and go for bold contrast. Luckily for those with a flair for fright, Halloween is all about the drama! Orange and black are the traditional colors associated with Halloween, probably due to a variety of things such as darkness, death, and the general orange-y colors of the harvest. Orange and black can be a fun pairing to really get you in the "spirit" of fall, but it can also be elegant and warm depending on the shades of orange you go with.  A vibrant orange will give you that youthful, spooktacular, kind of feel while a butternut squash or pumpkin hue will create a space that feels more cozy and sophisticated.

Black and Orange Halloween Color Inspiration Board

Images from: a variety of wonderful sources that were lost when Jen's computer crashed.  We are working to recover them and will credit accordingly.

XOXO

Jen & Saira

Halloween costume ideas

Hi guys,
With Halloween just a few days away, everyone is talking about what costumes they are going to be wearing. I love Halloween (we will be spending ours at the London Dungeons) and I love dressing up, but I hate unimaginative slut costumes: what exactly does a playboy bunny have to do with Halloween? My thoughts exactly! A costume party is the perfect opportunity to express yourself: do you really want people to think the inner you is a stripper, or worse still, that you have so little imagination you think its OK to dress as a witch? (again!)

So if you still haven't decided what you're going as and you need a costume quick, here are my picks of the best ones to be had:

Of course there was bound to be a Lady Gaga costume or two in the mix. And lets be honest, the Lady is pretty scary! This has all the aspects needed to be a great Halloween look! For around £40 you can buy the two official lady gaga outfits. But lets be honest, the quality is unlikely to be great, and for that money you could buy a dress you might actually wear again! Why not just invest in a couple of cans of coke to wrap in your hair, throw on a pair of fishnet tights with either a black dress or black leotard (depending on how daring you are!) and then add a black studded leather jacket. The one in the picture is from Topshop.

Corpse bride: I have weddings on the brain at the moment, and the corpse bride costume is a nice easy one to do! Tesco's had an amazing corpse bride costume on their website (it's now sold out online) However with a little time this is a costume that can look great on a budget: buy an old wedding dress or long white dress (the older the better!) from your local charity shop. Tear it and add either streaks of dirt or fake blood. White out your face with facepaints and your hair with talc and you're ready to go. Easy as that!
Speaking of my wedding (were we? again?) Alice in Wonderland characters make great costumes (especially if you team up with a group of friends) and are so popular they are no 2 on the list of 100 most popular homemade costumes. From Alice and the Queen of Hearts to the Mad Hatter and the White Rabbit, these would be super-easy to buy, and easy to make too (especially the hatter and the rabbit) The Alice dress shown is available from etsy.

Other great ideas for fashion lovers include: Marie Antionette, a 1920's flapper girl, Anna Wintour, and my personal favourite: Karl Lagerfeld.

I can't wait for the start of the witching hour: i'm making jellies with spiders in, and am even attempting orange cake pops (I want to make them look like pumpkins!)How will you be spending your Halloween? What will you be dressing up as this Halloween?

Love, Tor xx

Orange You Lovely

A good wedding guest will show up on time, not run up the drink tab, and compliment the decor or theme... at least that's our theory. Fall weddings means lots of orange details, and your attire should be no exception! While wearing orange is usually a pretty bold choice, especially at a more formal event, here are some ways to wear the color du jour and still look on fire:

You definitely won't be mistaken for a pumpkin in this sexy burnt orange dress by Elie Tahari.  It's soft and feminine enough to wear at a wedding or formal event, but add a blazer and you're all set for work or a night out. 

If orange isn't exactly your color, you can still look festive with this gorgeous floral necklace featuring orange tones in tiger lilies and hibiscus.  Wear it with a solid colored dress, and allow your accessories to speak for themselves.

Every gossip girl knows that you must have a headband of power to coordinate with every outfit.  Dress yourself from head to toe with this handmade headband designed with flowers and feathers. It's not too over the top, but it's definitely a fun and bold choice. Whether you have a cute pixie cut our luscious locks, your hair will thank you.

While not exactly subtle, this plaid dress plays up fall colors in a more understated way.  The geometrical neckline is only for the bold, but if you can pull it off, you will look sweet and sexy at the same time, as well as very fashion forward.

We're big fans of wearing bold shoes, like these orange satin pumps pictured above (which by the way are identical to the shoes Jen wore at her wedding!) We think it looks best with a more muted color dress, but if you're a New York Mets fan and want to pair these shoes with your royal blue dress, who are we to stop you?!

We're going to throw caution to the wind and say that you can pair this handmade clutch with a number of different colored dresses. Don't worry too much about matching... just focus on not clashing! We love this fabric because it shows different shades of red, orange, and yellow depending on how you hold it. So while you can definitely pair this with your LBD, why not accessorize your cute purple halter dress as well?

Your wrists deserve to be adorned with the warm and rich colors of fall!  We like this pumpkin/squash colored bracelet by Tooli.  At just $30 the price is right, it would look great with any color of the season, and it has little touches of pearls, perfect for brides and bridemaids, that add a refined touch of class.



Orange you glad we didn't say banana?



XOXO

Jen & Saira



  

The Shoe Wheel: A story in pictures

Hi guys,
Storage is always a massive problem in our house; we live in a reasonably-sized two bedroomed flat full of shelves and cupboards, but we still have piles of stuff everywhere because we have nowhere to put it. So I was delighted when I was asked by Tszuji if i'd like to try a shoe wheel: i'd seen them in the press, and always thought they looked like a brilliant idea, plus it could solve the irritating shoes-all-over-the-hallway issue. We weren't diappointed.

What follows below is the pictorial story of the shoe wheel: building it, using it, loving it!

Of course, I always prefer it if things are built already, but the shoe wheel came flat packed, so I roped Mike in to do the building. From start to finish the shoe wheel took about 20 minutes to build: I think it will take considerably longer to choose my favourite shoes to put inside though! The spin mechanism is great, and the shoes are easy to get in and out: the outer cage is made of thick elastic, so you just pull it aside for access.

I think this is such a clever invention, a storage space saver, and a handy way to choose which shoes to wear in the morning. The only small con to it is that it is taller than you'd expect, and was slightly too tall to fit into my wardrobes, which meant I had to find the floor space to store it: still, better than having shoes all over the floor!

Love, Tor xx

Cowshed lifestyle: A quick peek!

Hi guys,

This is just a little post, but during the week I went to the launch of Cowshed's new lifestyle range, and I wanted to tell you lovely people about it!

The collection featured a selection of lifestyle products including lounge wear, make up bags, some lovely leather notebooks, and the gorgeous cashmere sets shown above. Cashmere is, of course, incredibly expensive, so the prices of the sets were wince-worthy; nearly £300 for the travel set! Having said that, if I were lucky enough to have a jet set lifestyle then this is exactly what i'd want to have in my travel bag. It felt so soft, and looks super-stylish too: this would make a great gift! It seems a shame to waste good cashmere on babies though: in my experience, they'd only be sick on it! Much more reasonably priced were the gorgeous leather notebooks, which came in a range of colours and catchphrases, and were £40; I want the one that said 'grumpy' on it!

I love the smell of Cowshed products. I have a couple of their scented candles in my bathroom, and light them when I have a bath after a long day at work! I'm not sure that's enough to make me want to buy a pack of Cowshed branded knickers, but if you're a massive fan of the brand then this could be the range for you; I can testify that the quality of everything I saw was fantastic!

Love, Tor xx

Early Christmas Wishlist: Part One

Hi guys,

I know it's early to be thinking about Christmas, but yesterday I spent the day with my sisters starting our Christmas craft projects: we were making cards, gift tags, and felt Christmas tree decorations! The problem with crafting is that the more you do, the more you think you can do: I've even starting drawing designs for personalised Brierley-family Christmas T-Shirts!

Because i'm a girl that likes stuff, thinking about Christmas got me thinking about presents. So I thought now would be a great time to write my Christmas gift list (part one!) I'm sure this is a list that will change several times before December!

-The coat is from Miss Selfridge. I don't need a new winter coat, but this one taunts me: every time i'm in Miss Selfridge it's there, looking all gorgeous and tempting when I know I shouldn't buy it!

-Chanel and Dior make up. I am a very lucky girl, as this is actually what mum and dad are buying me for Christmas! I am doing my own make up for the wedding, and I will be doing it with the finest of products (I find this really exciting!)

- I love Disney couture accessories, and for me, this is the best piece in the new collection! It is a sharks jaw necklace from The little Mermaid.

- Sigh and drool all over this Marc Jacobs watch I found on Asos. It will be mine!
- I would love a new computer. The best thing about writing a fictional list is that you can get really unrealistic, and I would love a notebook so that I could blog on the go!

- Also on the unrealistic gifts list are these Alexander McQueen heels. It was absolutely love at first sight! I really want to wear red designer shoes under my wedding dress and these could be the winners - please let them go to half price in the January sales!

With all of these gifts on my Christmas list, I suppose it's time to start saving for the January sales!

Love, Tor xxx

Sneak peek: Florence and Fred Spring/Summer Collection

Hi guys,

Last night I went for a sneak peek of the Florence and Fred collection for next Spring/Summer. I know it's a little early to be thinking about next Spring when it's just starting to get cold and icy, but now i'm looking forward to it already! For me next summer immediately equates to my wedding and honeymoon, so I get really excited when I see summer clothes, and mentally pack them in my suitcase!

I loved the navy mid-length full skirt (shown above) and they had a great range of crazily affordable accessories, including some really pretty peach sandals, which were gorgeous! And i'm definitely going to be picking up that straw boater (also above)

Below are two of the pieces I really liked! They aren't the most fashion-forward dresses that were in the collection, but they looked and felt lovely: great patterns, gorgeous soft fabrics, and nipped in waists. Yum:

Other pieces I loved were some wide legged almost sheer floral trousers, and a selection of amazing patterned shorts. The leg wear was awesome! There was also a great range of floral dresses with a 50s flare that would be a curvy girls dream!

The nicest sideline of going to events is getting to hang out with other lovely bloggers. It was awesome to see Gem (of Gem Fatale) and Amy (of Wolf Whistle). It was also awesome to drink yummy cocktails and eat yummy canapes. I know they're laden with calories, but I am a girl who likes a canape. Go figure!

Whilst checking over the collections we also got to see the Autumn/Winter Limited collection, which is going online shortly. It featured some Christmas dresses so gorgeous that i'm going to give them their own little party feature next week!

Love, Tor xx

Halloween Planning: More Treats, Less Tricks

Halloween is one of our favorite times of years, and it's only a week away! Almost every year we throw a Halloween party with all our friends, who have the most amazing, over-the-top costumes. And when you have serious Halloween costumes, then you need serious Halloween treats. Here are some ideas on how to get creative and express the true spirit of Halloween:

This looks disgusting, but it's actually delicious! It's just shortbread cookies topped with almonds and a little bit of red dessert sauce. The hardest part is getting the shape right, and adding in the authentic finger lines. But if you can pull it off, then this will be one grossly yummy snack!

Halloween cupcakes are one of the most creative treats to make. The smooth, rounded surfaces makes for a great palette, and there are endless options available online. Rather than provide an exhaustive list, we decided to feature these cupcakes that are to die for! We're not entirely sure how they made the little knives on top, our guess is that they took some card stock, cut it shape, and threw some icing on top. Of course, an all edible version would be perfect, so if you have any ideas how to do this, please let us know! 

If you're not much of a baker, then these vampire cupcakes are for you. We like this cupcake style because it's simple, a little creepy, and a little artsy. Plus they're super simple to make: all you need is vanilla icing and some red gel, and voilà! You have your own mini Edward Cullen, sorta. 

Halloween doesn't have to only be about candy! Check out these creepy teeth made from healthy and delicious apples! All you need is a half a dozen apples, a sharp knife, and maybe some lemon juice to keep it looking fresh. On second thought, the apple turning brown will make it that much creepier! 

There are many ways to make creepy eyeball snacks (cupcakes, deviled eggs, fresh mozzarella) but we love how squish and slimy these lichee eyeballs look! They're pretty easy to make, you just need some fresh lichees, strawberry jam, and blueberries. Of course, we're not sure how many of your guests will want to actually eat these... they look a little too real.

Another simple, but very festive option, are these blood test tube shots. Fill them with anything you want, fruit punch, jello shots, what have you, and throw in some little gummy spiders to add some extra spook to it.

These tombstone pudding cups are very detailed, but require very few ingredients! You just need some dark chocolate pudding, cookie crumbs, cookies, and some chocolate icing. The little flowers are a good touch, but if you're feeling especially morbid, you can also throw in some little skeleton hands!

Happy Halloween!

XOXO,

Jen & Saira

Daily wear: Fur hat and thermal knickers

Hi guys,
I know the whole country is going on about the weather (well, we are British!) but it's just turned even colder! I very foolishly decided to wear a light jacket today, and layer it up with a cardigan and winter accessories, and I have been left feeling like an icicle! At least i'm wearing my thermal underwear: thermal vest, and two pairs of tights. Check out the frost on the ground, as well as what i'm wearing:

Hat: Urban Outfitters, Dress and clogs: Topshop, Belt: Primark, Jacket: River Island, Snood: H&M, Bag: Joy, Necklace: theremedi.

Yes I do wear that Primark belt a lot: I would go as far as to say it is one of my wardrobe staples! And those topshop clogs have been my best Autumn/Winter investment: having taken a while to break in they are now the comfiest shoes I own, and are perfect for smartening up an outfit or going from day to casual night!

The bargains of this look though are the jacket and the hat. I got the jacket this time last year (ish) in the River Island sale for just £5. The hat was from an Urban Outfitters sample sale and cost just £3. Here's a closeup:

I just wish i'd thought to throw sunglasses in my handbag, because it may be freezing cold, but it is also really sunny!
Love, Tor xx

Christmas Party Time: Girl Meets Dress

Soooo, your Christmas party is approaching? Check. You want to look better than all the other girls in the office? Check. (noone will admit this but it's true!) You wish you could afford a designer dress, but you know you can't? Check. This is my own personal Christmas story, but i'm pretty sure I speak for loads of you when I say that it sucks to wear Primark when everyone else will be wearing Prada!

But I have just discovered Girl Meets Dress. Or as I will be referring to it from now on, The Solution. Girl Meets Dress is a site that lets you hire dresses for any event, at a fraction of the cost they would be to buy. And it's much easier than I thought it would be: you don't have to be a member to hire a dress, whatever you pick is sent to you before your event, and you even get a try-on option, and they even send an returns envelope with the dress so sending it back is easy peasy too! The site is like designer dress heaven: for a couple of nights at a time, all these dresses could be yours!

I have spent ages trawling the site choosing gorgeous dresses to wear to my Christmas party, and a series of imaginary events to (dinner on a yacht, a celebrity wedding, the list goes on!) Here are the three dresses I wish I could wear to my next big event:

Mark Jacobs frill dress, Haute Hippie ruffle skirt dress, Phillip Lim ballerina dress.

Dress hire from Girl Meets Dress starts from £39: admittedly you could buy a dress from Topshop for about the same, but if you really want a showstopping designer dress for a special ocassion then this is the affordable way of doing it: hiring a dress from here could be the most satisfactory one night stand you ever had!

Love, Tor xx

PS - As a girl with curves myself, I wanted to point out that they don't just stock sample sizes! You can search for your dress by size, and they go up to a size 16. xx