Color Day: Orange & Fucshia

A year from tomorrow, our good friend Vik will be getting married (yay!).  With just a year left to go, it's time for V & J to start gathering ideas for ceremony and reception decor, tuxedos, dresses, shoes, etc. etc. etc. Putting together an elegant and festive Indian wedding on a budget can be overwhelming. So, this board was created, with their colors in mind,  to help get their creative juices flowing.  Bright fuchsia, cheerful orange, and dramatic chocolate brown will make for an Indian wedding that is vibrant, fun, and romantic.

Fuchsia, Orange, and Brown Wedding Inspiration Board

1. Dessy | 2. Etsy  | 3. Sandy Photo Art | 4. Wedding Paper Divas | 5. Wedding Cupcakes | 6. Shoe Metro | 7. Wedding Dresses | 8. After Six | 9. The Soul Style | 10. The Knot | 11. Smart Ideas | 12. eTuxedo |

13. Oh So Beautiful Paper

and some others that we love but that for whatever reason we couldn't upload to this board:

14. Wedding Bee | 15. Wedding by Color | 16. Wedding Wire 



XOXO

Jen & Saira



PS. What do you think of our new format?

It's tea party time for everyone!

Hi guys,

As you know doubt already know (I talk about it enough!) the theme of my wedding is Alice in Wonderland and the Mad Hatters tea party. We're having flowers in tea cups, tea pot favours, and all manners of other whimsical things. Which is why Marie Curie's new "blooming great tea party" campaign resonated so much for me.

Marie Curie are asking people to hold tea parties to fundraise for Marie Curie nurses who provide free care for people with terminal cancer and illnesses in their own home. Tea parties big and small will make a difference in helping terminally ill people spend their final days at home. Every £20 that's raised will pay for an hour of nursing care. 1 in 3 people in the UK are affected by cancer (either themselves or someone they love) so I think caring for those people is something we all think about/know about.

The best thing about throwing a tea party or getting involved in the campaign is, this only has to be as much hard work as you want it to be! Your tea party can be everything from a vintage high tea (the fashion bloggers dream) to agarden party, our just a cuppa and a cake in the office with colleagues. The ‘official’ tea party season lasts from June 12th to July 12th but people can register to hold one any time up to 31st July. My wedding is on July 15th, and I think i'm going to register and hold a party in my office for the week before that: that way I can celebrate my big day with my work friends that can't make the wedding, and save some money for a good cause too.

Will you be throwing a party? What theme will you have? Wedding planning has turned me into a party planning addict, so i'd love to hear all about it!

Love,
Tor xx

Saving for a rainy day. Even though the sun is shining!

Hi guys,

I have a secret confession to share with you today: I love saving money. I’m totally terrible at it, and seem to spend my entire pay check every month, but I have three different saving accounts and I use each one to save for different things. One is primarily used as my fashion savings account: if I see an incredible handbag or pair of shoes that I just have to have then I filter off some of my wages into the fashion account every month until I can afford what I want. And it feels really really good! Better than having something pretty when the pay off is debt, any day of the week! I also have a savings account which I call my teeth account: I’m pretty paranoid that one day something really terrible is going to happen to my teeth (it’s a recurring nightmare!) so I have a little cash put aside to get them fixed, should that terrifying day ever come.

I wish I was a better saver. I wish I could save “for a rainy day” or for my distant retirement. But I have to have a specific savings target to keep myself motivated. Right now of course, all my saving efforts are going towards the wedding: its amazing how much easier it is to save for something you really want!

As soon as the wedding is over (the finishing line is in sight!) I’d like to upgrade my car, buy a Mulberry handbag, and have a really great cashmere winter coat that would last forever. Ahh, the shallow targets of a fashion blogger! Ultimately of course we’d like to buy a house, but that is a saving situation bigger than I can comprehend right now!

Are you guys saving for anything at the minute? And how is it going?

Love, Tor xx

*This is a sponsored post

Happy Birthday, Jen!

 TGIF, dolls!  But, not only is it Friday, it's Jen's birthday! Yay!  

We've been looking forward to this long weekend for some very much needed r & r. Lately,  Saira's been busy job hunting and Jen's been busy getting ready for her birthday bash and, at the same time, prepping for her school's graduation ceremony this week.  So, unfortunately, we don't have a new post for today and it looks like you'll have to wait until next Wednesday for more.

So, please forgive us for falling behind schedule and remember to check back for next Wednesday's color day.  And, if you get a chance, be sure to wish Jen a warm welcome to her late(ish) twenties.  

Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy your Memorial Day!

XOXO

Jen & Saira

Very.co.uk A/W press day

Hi guys,
Yesterday I went down to the very.co.uk press day. Since the terrible experience I had ordering that Fearne Cotton dress, i've avoided the website, so I haven't been keeping up to date with new developments from the brand. However, if the gorgeous clothes at their press day are anything to go by (and if their delivery/ordering service has improved) I might well give it another go: the temptation of that swallow print dress is just too strong to resist!

Nude and black. Mmmm.....

Isn't it gorgeous? The net overlay, gorgeous pattern, and pearl detailing....

I love the super-high burgandy platform shoes

The dreamy swallow dress (which I haven't stopped thinking about since I saw it) is from Dee V: Very's newest designer collaboration with popster Diana Vickers. She joins Fearne Cotton and Holly Willoughby as the staple celebrity designers on the womenswear front. The price points are higher than I expected (around £50-65 for a dress) but the result of that is that the quality is better than I expected: celebs-as-designer lines are never usually so well made and thought out, but these ones really are.

If I have a better order experience from Very next time then i'll let you know, and they'll definitely make it back onto my 'great place to shop' list!

Love, Tor

New Website: Your Fashion Jewellery

Hi guys,

If I had to list my fashion obsessions, then the list would look like this: 1. Dresses, 2. Shoes, 3. Coats and Jackets, and 4. Stacks of gold jewellery (see today's stack below as evidence). Today's post will focus on no. 4, and my new website discovery: yourfashionjewellery.

Similar to ASOS back-in-the-day, the jewellery is divided into categories by celebrity, so you can pick the star who's jewellery you'd like to imitate, and choose the piece you like. But what I really love about the site is considerably more simple: I love the the charms and trinkety costume jewellery, which is massively wearable, and has the added bonus of being cheaper than Freedom @ Topshop (my usual jewellery haunt).

I don't really wear quality real gold/silver jewellery: I still love to layer my fashion jewellery and stack it high! I don't tend to wear earrings, and have abandoned most of my rings since I got engaged (it seems weird to wear a cocktail ring next to an engagement ring) so my jewellery obsessions are bangles, bracelets and layerable necklaces.

My favourite pieces from the site are: the 6 row gold chain necklace (£7.99) and the studded bangle (£5.50) See what I mean? I told you it was cheap! But the quality and finish looks really good: I can't wait to see a piece in the flesh and check it out!

The website also sells fashion accessories: hairbands, silk scarfs (perfect for wrapping around your head if you're creative, or tying to your handbag if you have monkey fingers like me!) but it's the jewellery that's caught my eye....as if I needed any more bangles, I have a feeling i'm about to go shopping!

Love, Tor xx

Color Day Themes: The Jersey Shore

This weekend is Memorial Day weekend in the US and that means it's the unofficial start of summer here at the Jersey Shore (or, as us locals call it, "the beach").  The boardwalk opens, families will be stuffing their faces with fried Oreos, children will be filling their cups with tickets to later redeem for friendship bracelets, and the brave may even venture out to dip their toes in the water. The boardwalk and Jersey shore are central to some of our best childhood memories- the first time we ever got a 100 in skee ball, the slices of boardwalk pizza  bigger than our faces, and the feeling of hope and anxiety we get when we here the tick-tick-tick-tick-tick of the prize wheels spinning. These are some of the things that made growing up on the Jersey shore so much fun, before the days of hairspray, tanning, and four loco.  So, bring a little of that childhood fun into your space by incorporating some true boardwalk elements like cotton candy, funnel cake, photo booths, and bright colors!

Jersey Shore Boardwalk/Beach Wedding Inspiration Board

Images from: Pizzazzerie, Jamie Hammond Photography, Squidoo, NBWildflowers, Roggio Weddings, Brides, Inspired  By This, Faceless Fashion, Beautiful Bridal, Courtney Reece, Photography by Rebecca, The Knot, Sacred Waste

  

XOXO

Jen & Saira

           

Fabfrocks at home: Second-hand nesting

Hi guys,
I've found myself being more and more interested in everything around me being aethetically interesting, and my house (which started life looking like an ikea starter home) is my newest project. Mike's natural instinct is for things to be clean and simple and minimalist. I prefer things to be more cluttered, and I love old vintage/retro furniture which is a bit beaten up, and looks like it's had a life. Our house is a compromise of both of these things, and i've spend the last couple of months scouring antique shops, car boot sales, and charity shops looking for new furniture to breathe a little of my taste into the living room:


I love this yellow wing back chair, which I got from a car boot sale for £6: the mustard colour of the fabric is gorgeous. The following week on the same car boot sale (and for just £5!) I found this embroidered footstool with the cutest mustard coloured house on it. It was fate! The dark wood on both isn't to my personal taste, but I plan to strip it back and repaint it: it's the first job on my things-to-do list after the wedding!

As well as buying new old furniture, i've also been repurposing some of our original furniture. This futon (a gift from my mum) is one of the most useful pieces of furniture in our house, and gets loads of use. But the colour doesn't match our living room at all: cue blankets, cushions, and voila! A perfect little corner snug in our living room that overnight guests can sleep on too!

The next thing on my "really really want" list is a cabinet for my fancy china and other bits to sit in our living room: i've been searching for the perfect one for over 6 months. It has to be right around the corner - but half the fun is in the hunt!

Love Tor xx

Packing for my honeymoon

Hi guys,
As you can see by our his and hers sunhats sat side by side (can I get an awww!) Mike and I have finished our shopping for our post-wedding honeymoon - there's just 7 weeks to go! With all the final payments on the wedding to make in the next 6 weeks, I wanted to get the expense of clothes shopping out of the way - but didn't want to go on holiday in an ill fitting bikini! So over the past couple of months (using sales, deals, and discounts) I have been hitting the shops....

As well as three bikinis for sunbathing and tanning, I also have a more sensible swimming costume for snorkelling in: it's leopard print, and it fits like a dream! Almost all of my swimwear is pink and gold (or colours that will compliment them) I have 2 pink bikinis, the pink and gold sarong, 2 pairs of gold sandals and this big brown and gold beach bag: I got it from the Monsoon outlet at Bicester village for a bargain price!

When i'm not on the beach my outfits will be pretty conservative: outside of our resort I have to keep my arms and legs covered. I've been buying up maxi dresses, pretty hareem trousers, and pashminas for easy (and cheap) arm covers. I'm also obsessed with the £2 stretch vests from Primark: i'm taking £10 worth! We have to 'dress for dinner' in our resort though, so my beloved gold D&G wedges will be coming with us, to team with simple floaty frocks.

As well as all the sensible clothes, i've also got a beautiful armoury full of new Soap and Glory toiletries (a Christmas gift from lil sis) which I have been patiently saving for our trip. I've added the Trevor Sorbie miniatures for my hair (from the Boots January sale - 70% off!) and aside from a little make up, that's everything I need!

As well as both of our digital cameras, we're also taking 2 disposables, and 2 waterproof disposables (for snorkelling/boat trips) with us: this will be one well documented trip!

The weekend after next has been set aside for ironing, folding, and packing both of our suitcases: our last weekend that won't be spent in Norwich making the final wedding preps! I don't think I could be more excited: both for the honeymoon and the wedding!

Love, Tor xx

*This is a sponsored post

Rent the Runway

Drooling over that gorgeous, never-in-your-life-could-you-afford-it, $1300 D & G dress? What if we told you you could have it for $150...at least for a few days anyway?  First, there was Bag Borrow Steal. Billed in Sex and the City as the "Netflix" for purses, this site offers designer handbags for rent at a fraction of the retail price.  But, why stop at handbags? Rent the Runway has kicked it up a notch, offering savy shoppers like us the opportunity to rent dresses, handbags, jewelry and more! 



We are not among the fortunate few who can afford to pay retail price for high end designer clothes, but, that doesn't mean we don't dream.  Thanks to Rent the Runway, our fantasies of wearing gorgeous gowns and dancing the night away with Nate Archibald are just a little bit closer to becoming a reality. Concerned about fit or hygiene?  Don't fret, they want you to be satisfied so much that they send you a back-up size just in case.  And, they'll even pick up the dry cleaning tab so you won't have to worry.  We have not had the opportunity to try this out for ourselves but you can bet we'll let you know when we do!  Until then, take a look at some of the great styles, designers, and amazing prices Rent the Runway has to offer:

Love Story Dress

 Designer: Tracy Reese

Perfect for: that springtime wedding, engagement party, or graduation dinner you've got coming up. 

We love: the 50's style silouette and pretty lace. 

Retail: $525

Rent the Runway Price: $75

Ladylike Beaded Skirt Dress

Designer: Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent

Perfect for: looking totally sophisticated at your next office party or work event.

We love: the simple elegance of the soft fluttery top and beaded skirt.

Retail: $400

Rent the Runway Price: $50

Sparkle Halter Dress

Designer: Lela Rose

Perfect for: a chic cocktail party or for a modern bride/bridesmaid.

We love: the tasteful, elegant sparkle and halter neck!

Retail: $1,095

Rent the Runway Price: $150

Petal to the Metal Dress

Designer: Sachin & Babi

Perfect for: the edgy rocker chic with a soft side.

We love:  the hard metal details, soft tiers, and that gorgeous yellow!

Retail: $660

Rent the Runway Price: $125

Paris Love Dress

Designer: Milly

Perfect for: commanding the upper east side a la Blair Waldorf.

We love:  the bow, of course!

Retail: $450

Rent the Runway Price: $50

Romantic Sage Gown

Designer: Philosophy Di Alberta Ferretti

Perfect for: showing off your love for romantic and vintage style at your next black tie affair.

We love: the vintage blue color, rough edges, and dainty lace trim.

Retail: $1,895

Rent the Runway Price: $250

Red Ripple Effect Dress

Designer: Adam

Perfect for: stealing the show.

We love: the sexy siren-like confidence you'll exude by wearing this.

Retail: $495

Rent the Runway Price: $75

Glenda Necklace

Designer: Erickson Beamon

Perfect for: making a bold statement.

We love: the look of hard tangled metals paired with the delicate pearls and crystals.

Retail: $930

Rent the Runway Price: $85

Crystal Fringe Necklace

Designer: Rachel Leigh

Perfect for: the effortlessly chic bride on a budget.

We love: fringe!

Retail: $190

Rent the Runway Price: $25





So, what do you dolls think?  Planning to try this out for your next event?  Let us know!





XOXO

Jen & Saira

Daily Wear: One night in Paris

Hi guys,
This is my last Sarenza post (I promise!) but I had such a good time in Paris, I have so much to write about! After much twitter chatter with Jen and Reena about what we should wear to the Sarenza "What's Hot!" party, I opted to overdress rather than underdress: my motto is any excuse to put on a pretty frock! And given the theme of the party was "hot shoes" how could I resist the chance to take my D&G wedges out for a date?! Here's what I wore:



Dress and belt: H&M, Cardigan: Topshop, Bag: Marc B, Shoes: D&G.

I love this dress, and was excited to have a chance to wear it: it was only £14.99 from H&M, but I think it looks so much more expensive. It matched perfectly with my D&G shoes, then I scruffed it up (because thats what I do!) with the lace cardigan and the tan and gold belt. Also: underneath the dress I am wearing the Panache strapless superbra: it comes in sizes D-H, and is genuinely the best strapless bra I have ever owned. My boobs stayed in place all night, and they had a good shape too! Overall, I was pretty happy with this outfit!

Love, Tor xx

The Sarenza trip to Paris

Hi guys,
As I mentioned on Tuesday, on Wednesday afternoon I headed to Paris with Reena from Fashion Daydreams and Jen from A little bird told me, to meet the lovely Sarenza team and go to a party to celebrate the launch of the new "What's Hot!" section of their French site (which will be coming to the UK site soon!) The Whats Hot section basically showcases some of the best shoes they have on the site: there is a Jeffrey Campbell tapestry pair on there right now that i'm totally in love with ! We had such a wonderful time, that i'm going to give you a blow-by-blow account of the trip. This is going to be a pretty image heavy post: we just couldn't stop taking photos!

By Night:
We arrived in Paris and headed to our hotel to change, then it was straight to the party! Several French bloggers had been out taking street style photos, and we had to choose who's style we liked best: all the guests voted, and the winner gets a massive 5000 euros worth of shoes! Once the serious business of choosing our favourite street style was over, we got on with enjoying ourselves. Yummy cocktails, great canapes, hotdogs, and gorgeous shoes: what more do you need from a night out?!








By Day:
Following our party night, we had a leisurely day planned for the rest of our time in Paris. We met the Sarenza team for a delicious brunch, then headed to several vintage shops for a good rummage: I had no idea vintage was so cheap in Paris! I picked up a full skirted dress and a sequinned top for just 15 euros. The rest of our time was spent meandering through tiny streets, and sitting outside cafes in the sun. It was a wonderful day!






Whenever i'm in Paris admiring the little things (like the graffiti or the shape of a tree!) it makes me want to come home and look at London with fresh eyes too: I think it's easy to miss all that stuff in the city you live in, but admire it when you're away. Nonetheless, Paris is beautiful, and I have such fun everytime i'm there. It was such a wonderful break, so big thanks again to Sarenza for organising such a great trip!
Love, Tor x

New website: Qrated.com

Hi guys,
I received an email last week about a new website which is launching on 15th June: so far so normal. So I decided to check it out: and (here's where the not normal bit comes in) I was pretty impressed! I'm quite hard to please when it comes to the interwebs: i'm obsessed with good web design, and this site has the right mix of colour, content, and quirk! Q Rated is based on the concept of "a fashion find a day": their buyers travel the globe looking for beautiful pieces, then when they find something they love, they sell it for just 24 hours (or until it's sold out) It's that simple! And each fashion find will include details on the designer, background info on the product and some handy styling suggestions, so they kind of do the hard work for you!


Q Rated is a membership website (with limited availablity) but membership is free. You can pre register for Q Rated on their facebook page: they also have a launch competition to win an ipad 2 on the facebook page, so you can't really lose! I registered this morning, and am looking forward to the site launch, so that I can really check it out properly!

Love, Tor

Romp Around

Everyone is gearing up for spring and summer and there's no doubt you've seen, and possibly considered purchasing, at least one romper.  The romper, or jumper, is a convenient one piece garment that combines both shorts and a shirt.  While they used to be popular for women back in the day (yes, there are pictures of Grandma Butler in her rompers back in the 50's and 60's) they were phased out and we've really always thought of them as apparel for toddlers.  The romper has returned in full swing, and while the PDR jury is still out on how we feel about them, we have to admit some are quite cute and the idea of having a casual all in one outfit is pretty appealing.

The casual romper would be great for running errands or just lounging around on a warm day. It's billowy top and terry shorts are sure to keep you comfy and cozy while the bow pulls it all together and keeps you from looking frumpy.

Another comfy looking option is this taupe romper with sparkly golden thread sewn in.  It's casual, but still has some pizazz making it easily wearable to the beach during the day and to the bar with your girlfriends at night.

Romantic florals dot this pretty blue romper.  The fitted top and wide leg shorts look comfy and casual but the real show stopper here is the sexy strappy back! 

Sun kissed skin, strappy sandals, and gold jewelry are the perfect accessories to accompany this bright orange romper.  With flirty ruffles and playful pleats, this romper is sure to add a little cheer to your wardrobe.

  With a tie neck halter and off center zipper detail, this BB Dakota number is certainly not your grandma's romper.  We love it's sexy, edgy look and the sultry, smoky blue hue.

Need a look that could go from day to night with little effort?  This solid blue romper has a lightweight fabric and romantic draping that would be perfect for casual wear but it's deep v neck and side tie make it sexy and chic enough for the evening when paired with black or metallic sandals and  some fun jewelry.

You can't wear just any old thing to that graduation party that you've got coming up.  But, what you wear can be comfy!  This romper is sweet and sophisticated and would be great for that grad party or just everyday summer wear.

And finally, another casual but totally stylish option would be one like this from Michael Kors.  This romper has a comfy fabric and beautiful wide scoop neck.  This would look great with sandals, sun kissed hair, and maybe a nice, long charm necklace to top it all off.



XOXO

Jen & Saira