Accessories love: Suedey-lady!

Hi guys,

My leather obsession is well-documented. I only wear leather shoes and carry leather handbags. And although I'm still looking for the perfect leather jacket, I've picked up five contenders on the way! Now though I'm thinking I might have to switch my allegiances. To suede!

Suede is the perfect fabric for this time of year. It looks wintery, and it's matt finish doesn't reflect the light (avoiding that shinky/cheap finish). It's also better for spring/summer than winter, because there's less chance of it getting wet, and therefore ruined, in the rain and the snow. And it's generally more lightweight than leather too.

The bag is from Hotter. It's the perfect size for days out and weekends (when I don't want to carry my heavy satchel) and I love the fringing detail, which gives it a perfectly on-trend boho feel. I like to be hands free when I'm out and about (which probably explains my satchel obsession) and this bag more than fits the bill for that. It would also be perfect for nights out to the pub!

The ankle boots are Carvela c/o Sarenza. I chose them because I fell in love with their vibrant wine colour, which looks brilliant when teamed with black jeans and leggings. The gold zip detail is gorgeous too, and more importantly, they're comfortable! So far I've worn them for three very long days without so much as a single foot twinge: for me, that's almost unheard of!

What accessories can you not live without? Do you have a preferred handbag style, or a comfortable shoe your completely in love with?

Love Tor xx

Color Day: Salmon, Chartreuse, and Baby Blue

Inspired by a photo found on Pinterest, we decided to pull these shades together for an inspiration board that is modern, youthful, and fun.  Chartreuse adds a unexpected burst of energy to the otherwise muted and romantic salmon and blue.  This is a combo that's prefect for an outdoorsy, whimsical spring or summer wedding or for some preppy meets shabby chic home decor.

Salmon, Chartreuse, and Baby Blue Inspiration Board

1. Barn Yard Chic | 2. Wedding Bee | 3. Flower & Flour | 4. Flowers from the Garden | 

5. Lemon Square Designs | 6. Mod Dot Textiles | 7. Ready Go | 8. Blue Dove Studio |

9.  Chartreuse Love | 10. Enchanted Dream Weddings | 11. Brideorama | 12. Invitation Crush |

XOXO

Jen  & Saira

Daily wear: The way I wore a Winter Christening

Hi guys,
Whenever you tell someone you're going to a winter event, they immediately wince and then ask you what you're going to wear. That's because winter occasion dressing is one of the most fraught outfit experiences for anyone. When I wrote my post on what to wear for a winter graduation, I didn't expect even half the response I got from you guys! It seems everyone knows that in the summer most occasions can be sorted with a floral frock and sandals, but in the colder months things get much more hazy.

This isn't a post full of lots of ideas for dressing for winter events, but a snap shot of what I wore to a winter Christening this weekend. My nephew Bertie was Christened, and Mike and I were one set of the Godparents. So naturally, I decided that an occasion such as this required a hat!


The felt hat is from Clothing at Tesco. I wore it with a Topshop blazer, and H&M dress. The ankle boots are from Marks and Spencer (wore for comfort, as we were walking to and from the church) The necklace is from All Saints, and the belt is actually one of Mikes, stolen at the last minute because I forgot the pack mine.

The whole outfit was a little dull (black and grey are my two favourite colours, but probably aren't lively enough for a Christening). So I added a pop of red lipstick, and a tan, black and orange oversized clutch bag from Zara. I felt really good, but more importantly I felt comfortable for a whole day of cuddles with my little nephew, and chasing around my toddling niece!

Do you have any hints and tips for winter event dressing? And what would you have worn to a winter Christening? Share your ideas and outfit inspiration!

Love Tor xx

Beauty: A week in my finger nails!

Hi guys,
According to new research, the fastest selling beauty product right now is no longer the lipstick, but the humble nail varnish. The theory is that in the recession, where we can't afford to update our looks with new clothes right now, women are instead choosing to update their look by changing their nails.

I've always loved painting and looking after my nails, and generally I varnish them every other day: every day if they chip. So rather than look at what I wear in a week (because let's face it, you've seen almost every piece in my wardrobe before!) I thought I would show you a week in my nails:

Friday: You may have seen these nails in my post of what I wore for London Fashion Week, Day 1. I cheated with these and applied nail wrap: these are Nail Rocks. As you can see, they peeled really quickly though, and the ends didn't look great!

Sunday: The grey base colour is from Essie. The shade is called Then and Now, and was specifically designed for the new online shop of the same name. The mustard is from Topshop. I don't have any nail pens or fancy tools, so I applied the polka dots using the end of a lolly stick! I wore these nails with a simple grey dress and mustard heels: I love coordination!

Tuesday: I'm prepared to admit that I was watching My Big Fat Gyspy Weddings when I painted my nails on Tuesday, and that definitely influenced the results! To create this look I applied a lovely rich red Nails Inc. varnish called Victoria, and used my Barry M glitter varnish for the tips. It looks a little bit cheap (like badly applied acrylics) and I was definitely pleased when it started to chip and I could take it off!

Thursday: I went home to my parents house for my nephew's Christening over the weekend on Friday, so on Thursday night I applied a simple and glossy coat of this neutral looking brown Boujois varnish. I wanted something that I could touch up quickly and easily over the weekend, and this definitely fit the bill!

How do you update your look without spending a fortune? Are you a slave to your nails, or happy to let them chip?

Love Tor xx

Oscars 2012: Best of the Red Carpet

Once again, we thank The Academy for a fantastic parade of glitz and glamour on this year's red carpet.  We loved Billy's song, Octavia Spencer's and Meryl Streep's winnings, and of course there was the glorious Christopher Plummer too (we won't lie that we were secretly hoping he'd break into a romantic rendition of Edelweiss right there on the stage). But, we all know the red carpet is sometimes even more entertaining than the show itself.  So, who was the best dressed at the 2012 Academy Awards? While we admit most of the ladies looked absolutely gorgeous, there are a few that really shined. The PDR award for Best Dressed goes to Michelle Williams (Jen's pick) with her sweet, elegant, and romantic vintage look and Jessica Chastain (Saira's pick) with her gorgeous McQueen gown that is perfectly royal and fits like a dream.  Do you agree?  Let us know what you think!  Here are some of the other best dresses (you may disregard the hair because honestly we have no idea what was going on with some of these looks) at this year's Oscars:

1. Michelle Williams (Louis Vuitton) | 2. Jessica Chastain (Alexander McQueen)| 

3. Milla Jovovich (Elie Saab) | 4. Kristen Wiig (J. Mendel) | 5. Natalie Portman (Dior) |

6. Gwyneth Paltrow (Tom Ford) | 7. Tina Fey (Carolina Herrera) | 8. Rooney Mara (Givenchy Couture) |

9. Angelina Jolie (Atelier Versace) | 10. Cameron Diaz (Gucci) |

XOXO

Jen & Saira

Wild Thing

Fashion week may be over, but we're just getting started! Tired of all last week's Valentine's mushiness? Then we know what you need: a little leopard print to bring out your wild side. We're actually a little shocked that it's taken us this long to post about leopard print, especially because it's a favorite of ours. Leopard print has always been a little bit tacky, a little bit rock and roll, and a whole lot of sexy, which is why we love it. And you can thank the Kardashians for making leopard print more accessible as every day attire. It's fashion for all seasons, so show your attitude dolls and rock some spots!

1. Victoria's Secret | 2. Vans | 3. Urban Outfitters | 4. Forever 21 | 5. Asos | 6. Delia*s | 7. Mod Cloth

XOXO,

Jen & Saira

The Overlooked Store Tour: Select

Hi guys,
When I was growing up in my tiny hometown of Skegness, there were only three 'young' clothes stores, meaning fashion options were pretty limited. I think that's where my love of charity shop and vintage fashion came from: anything was better than wearing the same polyester rubbish as everyone else! These three stores were New Look, Dorothy Perkins, and Select. It's a long time since I've been inside a Select store (probably not since I moved away from home 10 years ago) but if there website is anything to go by, things have definitely changed. Which makes it the perfect contender to be the next visit on our Overlooked Store Tour.

Select is another store that is aimed firmly at the 'fast fashion' market. It offers fun, trend lead clothes for the under 30 at seriously affordable prices. I actually think it might be cheaper than Primark (which, lets face it, is the benchmark for the high street's cheapest offerings). There's much to like, and the trend they seem to have really got spot-on for this spring/summer is the soft sorbet and pastel shades. The tones are just right!

Here are my picks from their new season offerings:

Purple short sleeved blouse, £12
Floral trim shirt, £12
Snake print scarf, £5
Chain mail bodycon dress, £16
Leopard print loafers, £12
Heart print playsuit, £18
Daisy print jeggings, £14
Leopard print jumper, £12
Coral duffle bag, £8

I'm heading home to visit my parents for my nephew's Christening this weekend. And last time I was there I noticed that little sis was wearing a gorgeous thick jersey skater dress from Select. I might have to pop down and check it out....

Love Tor x

Color Day: Pink, Teal, & Seafoam

Ready for spring?  While there's still 26 days left of "Winter", it certainly feels like Spring's on it's way with these crazy 50 and 60 degree days in the northeast.  While we're sad to have missed out on snow storms (and snow days!) this winter, we are looking forward to Spring and are multitude of weddings that are coming up.  Here's a look at one of our favorite muted, yet modern, spring color combos. We love the contrast of the teal, which helps add a little sophistication and richness to this otherwise muted palette.

Teal, Sea foam, and Pink Wedding Inspiration Board

1. Snippet and Ink | 2. Dessy | 3. Flights of Fancy | 4. Fairy Forcast | 5. Baby Lifestyles | 

6. Caroline + Ben | 7. Juliet Marries Romeo | 8. Wedding Bee | 9. Jewelry Case |

 10. Modern Wedding | 11. BHLDN | 12. Wedding By Color |

XOXO

Jen & Saira

The Topshop outlet:What's in store right now?!

Hi guys,
It's been a while since I wrote a post about the Topshop Outlet, and yet I still visit really regularly. I shop there a lot less now (I'm still on my mission to curb my spending and avoid impulse buys) but if you're looking to bag a bargain, it's definitely at the top of the list of shops I would recommend. It's perfect for a quick-fix, guilt-free shopping fix. And the staff are friendly and helpful too, which is rare in a discount store.

Here are my picks of some of the best things in store this week:

Did you know the Topshop Outlet also stocks occasional pieces of Topshop maternity wear? Perfect if you're on a budget, and frankly, why spend a fortune on something you're only going to wear for a couple of months anyway?! This red long sleeved jersey dress is just £10.

Leopard print sweatshirt, £15. Boat knit jumper, £20. Floral detail jumper, £30. Leather tee, £3o. And remember everything in store is Buy One Get One Free. The Topshop outlet always seems to be a season behind, which means that now (whilst normal Topshop stores are filling with their spring collections) the outlet has the best of their winter wears. Perfect if you're looking for something you can buy now and wear now!

The one thing you always seem to get a lot of in the Topshop Outlet is evening wear/going out frocks. I never think of these as being particularly fast paced on the trends front, so it's a great place to pick up a cheap party dress. I love this beaded bodycon dress, £40.

The Topshop outlet is in the Broadwalk Centre in Edgware, London (On the Northern Line). As I have written before, this is a great place to shop if you live nearby, but because you can't always guarantee the quality/amount of clothes in store, it's probably not worth travelling a long way to visit.

Love Tor xx

LFW AW12: The exhibition

Hi guys,
For fashion buyers, the London Fashion Week exhibition is the place to go to choose the pieces that will fill your stores, and pick the trends that you think will sell. Fashion press use it as a chance to view collections up close, checking out the details and choosing which pieces they will shoot and feature.

For me, the exhibition is a place to go virtual shopping, and I always find myself subconsciously drawn to pieces that I would wear myself. When I got home from visiting the exhibition yesterday, I realised that I had only photographed the pieces I wanted to buy! So here is my virtual shopping list from the LFW exhibition:

Check out that riot of colour! The sage coat with the fringing is by Prose, the rail of brightly coloured fun is by Nova Chiu as are the jewelled shoes, and I wish I knew who designed the white necklace, because it was by far my favourite piece of the day! I also loved the paper dresses are by Morana Kranjec: not necessarily wearable, of course, but beautifully innovative.

Have you been watching any of the live steamed LFW shows this weekend? And what have been your highlights? I caught the Mulberry show yesterday morning, and thought it was amazing!

Love Tor xx

Fashion Week: Fall/Winter 2012 Wrap Up

So many designers, so little time. It's hard to choose just a few favorites to share with you when there are so many fantastic designers on the schedule.  We had a hard time narrowing it down but we've finally made our last pics for our fashion week favorites. Without further ado, here's our final post on the Fall 2012 RTW Collections from the Mercedes Benz Fashion week in NYC.

Michael Kors

L'Wren Scott

Nanette Lepore

Milly by Michelle Smith

Temperley London

Vivienne Tam

Calvin Klein

Ralph Lauren

All images courtesy of www.nymag.com

XOXO

Jen & Saira

LFW AW12 Day Two: The highlights

Hi guys,
It could just be me, but I think there are more people than ever at Fashion Week this year! The courtyard at Somerset House is full most of the day, and buzzing with creative fashionable people who want to be seen: some of the outfits are as outrageous as ever!

Also at Somerset House were Topshop, selling the 'New Gen 10' T shirt collection from the back of a van. Topshop are always ahead of the curve when it comes to utilizing the buzz from LFW to market their products: the season the Christopher Kane collaboration launched I missed my first show to get my hands on that gorrilla tee. And the Mary Katrantzou collection which launched on Friday has sold out already. Nevermind showcasing trends and collections for next winter: fashion week is fast becoming the place to go to pick up key pieces right now!

My schedule for the day involved four shows: Spijkers en Spijkers, Bernard Chandran, Shao Yen and Ashley Isham. The day wear at Bernard Chandran didn't leave me particularly inspired, but this was more than made up for by the outstanding eveningwear. The rich blue lace gown (above) was the stand out piece from the collection. The collars on each frock was high; the design feature that held the collection together. Colour-wise, monochromatic black, white and grey was the order of the day The only highlight of colour was the electric blue, and those pieces really popped! Overall the collection had all of the sculptural simplicity I love most about Chandran's work.

My photos from Spjikers en Spjikers just aren't good enough to share, but the collection is definitely worth looking up. The colour palette was rich and bold (perfect for long cold winter days) and the collection was inspired by eccentric society girl Edie Bovier Beale. I especially loved the utilitarian 1920s-style hair.

If I didn't already have a slight obsession with knitwear, the Shao Yen presentation would have made me want to start my love affair all over again! The room was packed for the presentation, but it was definitely worth the pushing and shoving to see the collection up close. It was inspired by a quintessentially British style, and I liked it alot. That white dress is definitely on my "when I win the lottery" list....

Finally, I always love Ashley Isham: the dresses are just begging to be worn on the red carpet, and this year was no exception. The collection was inspired by "the city girl with a passion for clean lines, contemporary statement dresses and tailoring". I loved the colour scheme, which was the perfect mix of cool and rich tones. Think patriot blue, emerald, fig, black iris, smoked pearl and antique gold.

Spotted on the front row were Jameela Jamil, Jodie Harsh, and Michelle Keegan of Coronation Street fame, looking surprisingly fantastic in a graphic printed Andrew Majtenyi frock. I do admit I'm the world's worst celebrity spotter though, so I could have seen lots more celebs and just not noticed....

Love Tor xx

LFW AW12: What I wore for day one

Hi guys,

London Fashion Week kicked off this morning, and I started what is going to be a fairly hectic weekend. I always love Fashion Week, even if I don't attend a single show or party: it's just exciting to be surrounded by so many creative and fashionable people.

This year I won't be bringing you coverage from every single show I attend, but I will be writing a couple of posts a day covering trends, key pieces I've fallen in love with, a little bit of street style (because lets face it, the outfits of the fashion crowd are just as exciting as the shows) and my outfit choices.

To get the ball rolling, here's the outfit I wore for day one:



I went for comfort with my shoes, and wore my flat Jeffrey Campbell dalmatian print pumps (c/o Sarenza.) Expect to see lots of comfortable flats over the next few days: life's too short to walk over cobbles in heels!

I teamed the shoes with my Topshop skinny jeans, a striped blouse from Primark, All Saints necklace, Kenneth Jay Lane ring, and a studded bag I picked up on holiday in Egypt. Sadly, I had to wear a coat (my leather sleeved jacket from Miss Selfridge) which made the outfit look bulkier and more top heavy than I had planned. Make up wise, I went for a punchy red lipstick and statement nails.....

....Yes, I did match my nails to my shirt! I used Nail Rock nail wraps. It's the first I've used them, and they looked great and were really easy to apply. However they started to peel off really quickly: maybe I applied them wrong! Overall though, my verdict is they look great for a couple of hours (night out, special event) but aren't good for everyday wear.

What are you doing this weekend? Will you be watching any of the live steamed fashion shows? Hitting the shops? I'd love to hear your plans!

Love Tor xx

Fashion Week: Fall/Winter 2012 Continued

Fashion week came to an end yesterday, but we've still got a lot more of our favorites to show you.  Here's part two of our fashion week favorites. We're definitely seeing a lot of glam and certainly a good amount of Tangerine Tango. Stay tuned for more on Monday!  Have a great weekend, dolls.

Badgley Mischka

Naeem Khan

Tory Burch

Carolina Herrera

Victoria Beckham

Jenny Packham

XOXO

Jen & Saira

The overlooked store tour: Internacionale

Hi guys,
Our high streets are full of shops: some of them great, lots of them good, and many of them sadly not worth even popping in to. But we all have our favourite shops, and often choose to overlook the ones that aren't on our radar. For me a trip to the highstreet involves Topshop, French Connection, Miss Selfridges, Primark and Urban Outfitters. These are the shops that always have something I know I'll want, and that makes for very easy shopping. But it doesn't encourage me to push my boundaries, or really give the other retailers a chance.

Which is why I decided to put together this series: the overlooked store tour. A look at some of the shops on most high streets that I would never think to go into. And who knows: maybe we'll all discover a new hidden gem we'd never visited before, but couldn't live without!

Internacionale isn't a store I see very often, and one I go into even less frequently. It looks cheap: it is cheap. (The prices are equivilent to Primark). And it always seems to be frequented by 13 year old girls wearing far too much make-up, accompanied by their harrassed-looking mums. But actually it contains some hidden gems: last week I picked up a thick cotton midi skirt for £7.99 which I've worn three times, and now don't know how I lived without!

Here is a sneak peek at some of their new season pieces which will be appearing in store any day now:

Particularly worth mentioning are their coloured skinny jeans (in gorgeous sorbet shades) for £17.99 and scallop edged vests in a variety of patterns and colours for just £6.99. I've never picked up shoes or jewellery for Internacionale, so I can't vouch for the quality, but I do know that the cotton washes really well, and fits like a dream!

Have you ever shopped in Internacionale? And how would you rate it?

Love Tor xx

New York Fashion Week: Fall/Winter 2012

Ok, dolls, it's that time again!  Fashion Week in NYC kicked off last Thursday and we've been catching up with some of our favorites over at www.elle.com.  Here's a few highlights to provide you with some excitement and to prepare you for what's in store for this Fall and Winter fashion season.  From what we can tell, it looks like color blocking and leather will still be pretty big so you may want to start hitting those sale racks now. Check back Friday for more from some of our other favorite designers!

DVF 

DKNY

Tadashi Shoji

Charlotte Ronson

Rebecca Taylor

Lela Rose

Monique Lhuillier

Images courtesy of Elle, Imaxtree.com, and Matteo Volta.

XOXO

Jen & Saira