Frugal February

Hi guys,
As I mentioned back in January, all of my New Year's Resolutions revolved around saving money. I've been shopping (who can resist the January sales?) but not half as much as usual. And as the accompanying image to this post illustrates, I've taken my packed lunch to work every day (bar two slip ups, when the extra ten minutes in bed was just too tempting!) These little changes mean I've been able to add an extra £200 to my savings account.

This month though, I'm taking things up a notch: No unnecessary spending. On anything. I read about Frugal February on Big Girls Browse, and thought it was such a good idea that I joined up immediately. Frugal February participants stick to one simple rule, which is…
I vow, for one month from 1st Feb, to avoid shopping for anything other than essentials.

And no, new shoes, red lipstick, and that little dress you spotted at 75% off don't count as essentials. I've stocked up on my basic toiletries and filled our fridge and freezer. Instead of socialising at expensive bars and restaurants, Mike and I have invited our friends to our house this month for movie nights, Sunday lunches, and we've even organised a boozy games night.

I know it will be hard to avoid post-work cocktails, too-lazy-to-cook take aways, and especially the new season collections that are hitting the stores. But I know when we finally own our own home it will be worth it. And I'm excited to see how much money I can save!

Want to join in too? You can sign up over at Big Girls Browse, or just let me know how you're getting on in the comments: we can motivate each other!

Love Tor xx

You Know You Love Me

Happy 100th episode to our favorite guilty pleasure show, Gossip Girl. Tonight's long anticipated episode features the wedding of Blair Waldorf; where our Queen Bee will marry Prince Louis and finally become the princess she's always dreamed about.  But, sneak previews show Blair fleeing with a somewhat panicked look.  Will she go through with it?  We'll have to wait and see.  But, one things for sure, noone does elegant events better than Blair and her wedding is sure to be full of soft and beautiful, super feminine touches.  Here's a few details we found we'd expect to see at a Blair Waldorf Wedding:

 1. David's Bridal | 2. M & J Bridal | 3. Wedding Mountain | 4. Proper Hunt |

5. Piperlime | 6. Elizabeth Anne | 7. Kiss The Groom | 8. Amina Michele |

XOXO

Gossip Girl  Jen & Saira

Get ready for spring with very.co.uk

Hi guys,

On Friday I made a flying visit to check out newest Spring/Summer offerings from very.co.uk. They are fast coming into their own, and could soon challenge ASOS as a one stop online shopping destination.

As a fashion blogger I probably shouldn't say this, but I'm always reluctant about shopping online when I don't know what the fabric or quality of the garment will be. I'm so tactile that I just can't bear to wear cheap fabrics against my skin. My mind was definitely put to rest on that front where Very is concerned though: I was very impressed!


These two floor length dresses are from the new LoveLabel Luxe range: higher end pieces from Very's own brand LoveLabel range. The gold sequinned dress is show stopping. It was the first piece to grab everyone's eyes as they entered the room.



I surprised myself by liking several pieces from ranges I wouldn't normally look at: the cobalt blue dress with the pleated skirt is from the Coleen Rooney range (there was also a buttery soft leather jacket in her range that I loved) And the red dress shown above is by DeeVee (Diana Vickers). It's definitely on my 'must have' list: I can't resist tunic dresses and Sixties details.

I'm still trying to save money by not hitting the shops (I'm especially avoiding impulse-based, trend-led purchases). Which is a shame. Because I think my money would be in serious danger on this website.....

Love Tor xx

Hairstyle Look Book: The Bob

The bob is a classic hairstyle that will never go out of style. Popularized in the 1920s, it was a symbol of female independence and vitality. In more recent memory, it's been brought to the forefront of fashion by Victoria Beckham, and perfect by Katie Holmes (and Suri Cruise!). It can look both youthful and mature, and can be sleek as well as shaggy. While you can definitely work a bob with different hair textures, it's optimal for those with medium to fine straight hair. You can definitely add some waves to a bob, but there's nothing quite as stunning as a shiny sleek bob. One day we will be bold enough to rock this look, until then we will satisfy ourselves with this gallery of babes with bobs.

XOXO,

Jen & Saira

Do you remember your first love?

Hi guys,

Do you remember your first love? Aside from chocolate biscuits, mine was a chap called Andy from Rotherham (yup, it's all glamour for me).

I was fifteen years old, and I thought he was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen. I even thought the fact he came from Rotherham made him mysterious and exotic: oh the deluded power of love! When we broke up I thought I would never recover. We were the Romeo and Juliet of the North, and there was no way to get over it: for a month or two at least, until boyfriend number two came along!

Aside from to make you all cringe, why am I sharing my puppy love stories? Because of Dr Martens new campaign: #Firstandforever. They're inviting people to tell them about their firsts: first love, first heartbreak, first pair of Dr Martens....

I popped along for a sneak preview of the new campaign video last night, featuring Agyness Deyn looking unfeasibly beautiful. And now you can see it too. I promise this video will make you wish you were fifteen again:

I still remember my first pair of Dr Martens. They were shoes, not boots: black and clunky and ugly as hell. Especially when teamed with my gangly teenage legs! But I loved them: just as much as I love my chunky boots now. At least that's one love that did survive!!

Tell me about your first love!

Love Tor xx

TKMaxx Bridal: If only they'd invented it sooner!

Hi guys,
Do you ever see something awesome, but way after you needed it? Like the perfect swimming costume two days after you get back from your summer holiday. Or the perfect present for your mum three weeks after her birthday. Well that's how I felt when I saw the new wedding boutique launched by TKMaxx.

TKMaxx have added a wedding shop to their site, selling everything you'd need (fashion-wise) to have the perfect wedding. Think gorgeous wedding dresses, with prices starting from £39.99, bridal shoes, Mother of the Bride outfits, and bridesmaid's dresses. Believe me, when I was looking for my bridesmaid's dresses, this would have saved my life. Who says getting married has to break the bank, right?



To prove it I created outfits for the bride, the bridesmaid, and the mother of the bride, all from TKMaxx, with each outfit costing less than £100!!

I love the short lace-embellished wedding dress (which would be perfect if you were looking for an evening wedding dress you can dance in). I also really like the gold bridesmaid dress, which is so versatile and could be worn over and over for so many events.

If you've got a wedding coming up this year then why not check it out? We're attending two this summer, so I plan on popping down and seeing if they have as great a range of guest-wear too....

Love Tor x

Shapewear from Gok Wan and Simply Yours

Hi guys,

I've been singing the praises of Gok Wan's shapewear for years (I first reviewed it back in 2009). So I was delighted when I was invited to check out Gok's latest shapewear collection, and him in person.

This is Gok's 8th collection for Simply Yours, which consists of six pieces: the multi-way Banger Booster bra, the Pull Me in Pants, the Curve Controller body, the Slicker Knicker, the Sassy Slip and the Divine Outline multi-way slip. All six styles are available in 3 gorgeous colours: Crush, Sweet Slate and Blush.

I asked the man himself what his inspiration for the collection was. Gok said he'd gone back to basics with this range (which definitely oozed old-school Hollywood glamour). He also said he'd tailored it to real women's needs: and with the seamless panels, boning, and amazing structure that was easy to see.

When asked why he decided to design his shape wear collection, Gok said: "I just think it's really important that every woman deserves to look and feel truly fabulous, regardless of her budget, size and shape."

I think Gok probably has the best job in the world, so curiosity led me to ask him what he loved most about it. He said:"It probably sounds a bit cheesy but it's about helping others and inspiring them. I think the main obvious point is making women feel wonderful and fabulous about themselves. Seeing them transform from a very shy, insecure person to being vibrant, and confident and happy just because they have a brand new look! "

And for all you mummies out there (inspired by my sisters, who are both new mums) I also asked Gok for his thoughts on shapewear for mums. He said: "Over the last nine months your body has changed, because you've made a beautiful baby. You need to embrace your new body because there's a reason why it has changed. But if you want to create a silhouette that you are used to then maybe try shape wear instead of beating yourself up about your changed body and the way you look." Frankly that's not just advice for mums, that's advice for everyone!

I really loved the collection. And I think now is the perfect time to launch it: spring/summer is fast approaching, and if you're going to reveal a hint of bra under a strapping summer dress, you want it to be as pretty as these! Why should shape wear just come in black, white, or that horrible flesh colour anyway?

Just 10 minutes with Gok left me smitten. I can't decide what I love more: Gok or his shapewear. But he can rifle through my knicker drawer anytime!

Love Tor xx

Color Day: Tangerine Tango

Every year we love to check to see what Pantone's "Color of the Year" is.  Last year was the cheerful and feminine Honeysuckle Pink. This year we are delighted to see Tangerine Tango, a vibrant, edgy, and sexy shade of reddish orange.  We're big on the red/orange color as we think it's fun and energizing and perfect for a Spring or summer wedding or to spice up your wardrobe for the new year! Added bonus to choosing the color orange for your event: it really goes a long way in the lighting department to create a warm, cozy, and romantic glow.

Tangerine Tango Color Inspiration Board

1. Starshaped Press via Flickr | 2. Teapots and Tulle | 3. The Vegas Wedding Planner | 4. Urban Outfitters |

5. Pantone | 6. Fearon May | 7. Butter | 8. Nordstrom | 9. Artesan Jewelry | 10. Urban Outfitters | 

11. Glamour | 12. Sweet Pickle Jewelry | 13. Amina Michele | 

XOXO

Jen & Saira

January according to my iPhone

Hi guys,
Taking pictures of everything seems to be a cultural endemic: especially if you're a blogger. There's a reason the iPhone comes equipped with such a good camera! No shopping trip, lunch or cupcake is left unsnapped, and I'm just as guilty. If I think something looks good, interesting, or just worth sharing with my husband I whip out my phone and pap it! So I thought it would be fun to pick out some of my iPhone pictures from the month and share them with you.

This month I:
-Made chocolate brownies and ate ice cream in Harrods (diet be damned!)
-Cut my own fringe. And I'm getting pretty good at it!
-Lusted after all of the chintzy homewares at the M&S press day
-Picked up plenty of bargains in the sales
-Fell in love with baby Bertie (my nephew) all over again
-Tried on 6 different white shirts at TM Lewin.

What have you been up to this month? Anything exciting?

Love Tor xx

Deeply Yours

Is it nearing the end of January already?! Valentine's Day is approaching which for some means adding an insane amount of red to your wardrobe. Our snarky side hates color coding holidays, but then we go ahead and do it anyway. If you want to be a little festive but not seem over-the-top-weird, then forego the candy red and instead try on a deep, rich red / maroon / burgundy for a more mature and professional look. The rich full color adds drama to any outfit, but is still understated enough to wear in the office. Plus, the deep red hue tends to look good with every skin tone.

1. Victoria's Secret | 2. Bettie Page | 3. Urban Outfitters | 4. American Eagle |

 5. Steve Madden | 6. Ralph Lauren | 7. Express |

XOXO,

Jen & Saira

These aren't just any Valentines gifts....These are M&S Valentine's gifts!

Hi guys,
I always say that I'm not a big fan of Valentine's day. Who needs a special day to show someone you care about them, right? Having said that, if I didn't get a card I'd be gutted. Hypocrite, much!?

It's a fact that Valentine's day presents are usually pretty tacky (and as a general rule not great quality). Not true at M&S though, who's Valentine's offering I went to check out yesterday:




The heart bra set is traditional valentine's fare, but still devillishy pretty (and the fabric is a luxe-feeling satin). The stand out underwear set for me though was the gorgeous floral cotton longline bra and matching high rise briefs: this set has universal appeal that will last long after valentines day. And call me boring and practical, but because it's from M&S, at least you know if will wash well over and over again. And it's all available now.

Aside from the standard cakes and chocolates (always yummy!) the other gifts I loved were the household ones. Practical and pretty, who doesn't want a heart shaped cake mould or terrine? This Valentine's day I think I'll fill the house with pink and red kitsch and just finally embrace it. It's all too pretty not to!

Love Tor xx

Real Wedding: Lauren and Gil (Part 2 of 2)

Ready for more Lauren and Gil?!  Check out some of there cute, personalized details! Lauren's handmade dress featured lace from her mother's wedding gown, their friend (and groomsman), Carl, performed for the guests during cocktail hour, they had a photo board featuring photos of them and all of the guests at the wedding, and the basket of flip flops was a serious life saver.  Also, the ice cream wedding cake and sweet little cupcakes were fantastic!  And, we particularly loved their guest book!  It was a beautiful and creative idea that now, instead of sitting on a shelf or in a box, can be displayed as a sentimental piece of art. Plus, it went right along with their fingerprint motif (which we helped to inspire!). And, speaking of fingers, did you see the rings?  Lauren and Gil try their best to live an eco-friendly lifestyle so, naturally, their rings are from Brilliant Earth.  Here are some of our favorites:

And, some words from the bride:

What was your wedding "theme" / inspiration? Gil and I are simple, sentimental, and we love the beach. We wanted an understated beachy theme, keeping things as simple as possible, and making sure to add in special, personal touches along the way. For example, my dress was handmade using lace from my mom's dress, I had tile pictures of my parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents attached to my bouquet, we made two large photo collages on fishnets with a picture of every single guest at our wedding, etc.

 What was the most important thing for you when planning your wedding? The most important thing for us was to try to incorporate as many personal touches to the day as possible, to try to make it meaningful to us and our guests and try to avoid the "factory" type wedding as much as we could. Due to certain restrictions, we couldn't have the reception under a tent like we wanted, but we were able to have it at a semi-casual venue on the water!

What made you decide on your gorgeous (and handmade) dress? I didn't want to spend a ton of money on a dress, and the one I had my eye on was too much. Visiting a few dress shops for ideas just turned me off to the idea even more. Plus, I had the idea to use the lace from my mom's dress on mine, so handmade was the way to go! I had met a great tailor who used to own a bridal shop, and the rest was history...I ended up with a great fitting, very meaningful dress that was custom yet similar to the one I had in mind all along, and was able to pay tribute to my mom and my parent's marriage in the process!

What was your first dance to? We chose Jack Johnson's "Better Together" Hawaiian version. Jack has had a hand in our relationship from the beginning...it was only fitting.

What was the most memorable moment for you? I remember what Gil's face looked like when I was walking down the aisle, my dad humming to keep from crying during our father/daughter dance, the bus ride with our wedding party to the reception, my mom dancing like crazy to the Black Eyed Peas. I tried to soak in as much as possible, but the day goes by so fast!

Anything else? I think one of the best things we did was host a brunch the morning after the wedding. It was really great to see most of our guests again and discuss the day! I had a chance to sit down with people I didn't really get to spend enough time with at the wedding, and I really appreciate having that opportunity! I recommend it to any future brides :)

Photographers: Matt Catalano and Erik Fawcett

Wedding Dress: Shirley Gilinsky (handmade and amazing)

Bridesmaid Dresses: Bill Levkoff

Suits: Calvin Klein

Venue/Food: Martell's Waters Edge, Bayville NJ (great people to work with, beautiful venue and views, and the chef was super accommodating to dietary restrictions)

DJ: The Pros

Flowers: O'Briens, Point Pleasant NJ

Hotel/Brunch: Holiday Inn, Toms River

Rings: Brilliant Earth

Hair/Makeup: Salon Du Monde

 

Special thanks to Lauren and Gil for allow us to share their special day with you.  Best wishes to them for a very happy marriage!

XOXO

Jen & Saira

Could you be the next Sarenza Ambassador?

A selection of some of my amazing Sarenza shoes

Hi guys,
As you guys know, I am a Sarenza brand ambassador, and I love it! What's not to love about reviewing shoes, buying new shoes, and taking photos of lovely shoes?! It's thanks to Sarenza that I've discovered great new brands (like Valensi, who make the most comfortable pumps I've ever worn) as well as experiment with old faithfuls, like Jeffrey Campbell.

And now I have great news, because Sarenza are recruiting for a new blogger brand ambassador! (This post is just for any readers that are also bloggers, I'm afraid)

As a Sarenza Ambassador you’ll receive a £150 voucher to spend on shoes EVERY MONTH which you will then review on your blog, as well as the chance to win an extra £50 voucher each month for the ‘Ambassador post of the month’. On top of that, you’ll also receive invitations to events in Paris and London, exclusive news and sales previews! Not bad,right?

If you'd like to be a Sarenza brand ambassador, all you have to do is write a short article on your favourite shoes from Sarenza on your blog. Then send a tweet to @SarenzaUK with a link to your article (so they know you've taken part!) and the hashtag #SarenzaAmbassador.

The deadline for entries is 27th January 2012. Five finalists will then be chosen by the Sarenza team, and compete in a battle to the death (or not!) on twitter, and the blogger with the most votes will win. Simple!!

Let me know if you enter: it would be amazing if one of my lovely readers made it to the final five!

Love Tor xx

Sneak peak: Primark S/S12 Collections

Hi guys,
It's cold. In fact, it's colder than cold. The sudden drop in temperature means that not only am I wearing a hat, scarf, and gloves, I'm also wearing a coatigan under my coat and tights under my leggings! But that doesn't mean I don't want to indulge in a little 'when it's warmer' fantasy, and look at some gorgeous S/S collections....

Whatever your stance on Primark, they always make their look books look amazing. The clothes are always bang on trend, massively wearable, and affordable too. Although I have noticed an increase in prices throughout the store: dresses that would have been £10-12 are now £17. It's still not a massive amount of money for a new dress, but I do hope as prices increase the quality continues to as well.

Here are some of my favourite pieces from their S/S collection, all of which will be landing in a store near you very soon:

Spotted blouse, £10, Yellow chinos, £11, Skinny belt, £2. Court shoes, £10.
Colour block shift dress, £17.

Bird print shift dress, £13
Contrast sleeve floral blouse, £12. Coral trousers, £12. Court shoes, £10.

Floral dress, £17. Rope belt, £2. Bag, £8.
Green shirt dress, £17.

I have been very good at sticking to my resolution not to buy faddy trends or make impulse buys of things I don't need. And I know I can resist the plethora of pretty dresses, as my wardrobe is already full of them. Nonetheless, I know that spotty blouse will be mine.....

As well as having an amazing selection of women's wear (who can argue after seeing the pictures above) they also stock gorgeous menswear, homewares, and kids' clothes too. I'm slightly obsessed with buying clothes for my niece at the moment, and often pop to Primark. I also love Emma Bunton's new kidswear range for Argos - particularly her girls clothing - and H&M have a too-cool-for-school selection too.

Have you had any great Primark purchases lately? And what are your thoughts on the upwardly shifting price tags?

Love Tor xxx

Dailywear: Sixties leopard print

Hi guys,
Another weekend has flown by and it's goodbye pajamas and comfy hooded tops, hello work clothes, once again! I know it's not a very fashionable thing to admit, but comfort is always my main priority when choosing what to wear: once I'm dressed I don't like to think about my clothes or feel restricted by them.

Today I've managed to combine an outfit that feels loose and comfortable and looks great at the same time: a double win!



I'm slightly in love with this Jarlo dress: it's double layered chiffon (making it seriously flattering) and it flares in a gorgeous Sixties style. Admittedly, it's very very short, but with leggings that really doesn't matter. The best thing is how versatile it is: with my boots it looks amazing during the day, but it would look just as fabulous for the evening teamed with heels and lipstick. It's from our newest Fabfrocks sponsor, a lovely brand called FashionPony, and it's been reduced in the sale to £48.

I've teamed it with my Primarni Owl necklace, Friis & Co bag, and knee high riding boots from Next. Actually I got these from the Next outlet store (called Choice) where they were reduced to £24.75. I never normally wear tall boots, but I think these ones look fab!

Love Tor xxx

Real Wedding: Lauren and Gil (Part 1 of 2)

What better way to bring us into the new year than with a fantastic real wedding!? This past October two of our very favorite people got married and we've been dying to share their wedding with you. We were busy during November and December with holiday posts and vacation but now we are back and ready to share the wedding of our friends Lauren and Gil.  

Lauren and Gil met at a Rutgers pre-college "Connections" program in 2002 and while Lauren was instantly attracted to him, he was seeing someone at the time and the two went their separate ways.  Flash forward to our sophomore year of college when the two had their first kiss after Gil happened to crash a holiday party that Lauren was having.  Lauren and Gil officially start dating until February of 2004 and they have been together ever since! Gil popped the question on the beach on November 5th, 2010 and the couple quickly got to planning their wedding for the following fall.  Lauren and Gil are a fun, laid back, and thoughtful couple and their wedding certainly reflected those qualities.  From the beachy feel and sentimental details, to the Jack Johnson first dance and basket of flip flops we really felt totally relaxed and free to kick back and have a great time with our friends.  Here's a look at some of our favorite shots of the bride and groom getting ready and of their beautiful ceremony.:

(The groomsmen left for the ceremony and forgot the groom!)

(Luckily he made it in time!)

We hope you enjoyed Part 1 of Lauren and Gil's wedding. Be sure to stop by on Friday for more shots of the happy couple, bridal party, and reception!  Also, we'll have info on the vendors and some words from the bride about her wedding planning experience and inspiration.

XOXO

Jen & Saira