Shopping: Cooler bags that look cool!

Hi guys,
Summer finally made an appearance this weekend. To celebrate the appearance of Mr. Sunshine, we went for a family day out and picnic. With all things vintage and retro becoming increasingly fashionable, so too is the humble picnic having a revival. I love dining al fresco, and there's nothing nicer than eating little summer treats (mini quiche, sausage rolls, homemade salads) whilst feeling grass between your toes.

In order to picnic properly you need one of two things (preferably both!) A picnic hamper filled with plates, glassware and cutlery. And a cooler bag to make sure your drinks and sandwiches aren't sticky and warm! Here's mine, which was a birthday present that my parents brought back from America for me: I'm slightly in love with it! It's Betsey Johnson, it's the most vibrant pink colour, and I love the fish bone and fish head design. Unfortunately, I can't find anywhere that you can buy mine in the UK. But here are a selection of other cool looking cooler bags that would be perfect for taking pride of place at your summer picnic: Anorak seagulls cooler bag, £37.50 (available here)
Menu grey and lime cooler bag, £44.00 (available here)
Red polka dot picnic cooler bag, £7.99 (available here)
Pelican pattern picnic cooler bag, £11.99 (available here)
Cath Kidston drinks flask, £12.00 (available here)

Do you like to picnic? And what are your favourite picnic foods? I'm currently obsessed with the new M&S picnic selection: It's expensive but it tastes so delicious, it's worth every penny!!

Love Tor x

Daily Wear: Winter neons

Hi guys,
I think you have to celebrate the small victories. On Sunday, Wilbur let me get dressed without crying, and then go out for lunch and eat three full courses whilst he slept: the first time that's happened since he was born!

For the occasion I wore bright neons, but in an uber traditional way. A typical Sunday lunch outfit. I would say the format of this outfit is boringly stereotypical for this time of year: knee high boots, floral dress, blazer. Yawn. But the colours mean that it looked a little more interesting, and although it's not the best or most fashion-forward outfit I've ever worn, I was pleased with how it looked.
Dress - Warehouse. Jacket, belt and necklace - all H&M. Handbag - Betsey Johnson. Boots - Next.

The jacket and the dress were both January sales purchases. The dress is from Warehouse for just £15 and the jacket was from H&M for £10. With hindsight, I'm not that keen on how this jacket looks with the dress. But it will look amazing teamed with simple t-shirts or blouses and jeans when spring arrives.

My husband told me (once we'd already left the house!) that the outfit was too bright and garish. But I'm not sure I agree. What do you think of wearing neons to brighten up gloomy snowy days? Are you a fan of neons at all, and will you be wearing them this spring?

Love Tor x

My party shoe picks from Sarenza.co.uk

Hi guys,
Well, party season is officially upon us. Everyone has been mentioning the 'C' word for what feels like months (I know, I know, I probably started it!) and the atmosphere is starting to feel pretty festive. Which means only one thing: we have the perfect excuse to go shopping for pretty glitzy party dresses and their companions: matching impractical shoes. Hurrah!

Whenever I want to do some virtual shoe shopping I head straight to Sarenza: where else will you find so many premium brands all in one place? Which means that if you know you need amazing shoes but aren't sure what style/brand/colour you want, it's the perfect place to browse. Here are my picks of the perfect Christmas party shoes currently available on the site:

Heels

Betsey Johnson striped shoe, £93.50
Bordello pink glitter heels, £97.90
Betsey Johnson red heels, £93.50
Jeffrey Campbell foxy glitter shoes, £119
Dune snakeskin heels, £89
French Connection nude heels, £115

I'm really excited by the edition of Betsey Johnson to the Sarenza family: hence my including two pairs from her collection on the site! She was the first designer I really loved when I started exploring fashion, and I still have a soft spot in my heart for her now. The pair I am going to have from my selection as my Christmas party shoes though are the Dune snakeskin heels: you'd get so much wear out of these, and they're versatile enough to go with almost anything!

Flats

Ted Baker glitter flats, £75.70
Missoni sequin stripe pumps, £518.50
Steve Madden silver studded slippers, £84.99
Studio TMLS gold brogues, £101

I normally avoid flat shoes like the plague when it comes to party season time- a frock and heels is my December uniform. But actually there are a lot of really gorgeous flats out there this season and the importance of comfort really can't be overrated! I've got my eyes on these Ted Baker glitter slipper shoes: they also come in black.

What do you think of my picks? And have you started thinking about your Christmas wardrobe yet? I'd love to know what kind of shoes you're going for this season!

Love Tor xx

Get excited: New season news from Sarenza!

Hi guys,
The seasons, they're a-changing. And that can only mean one thing: autumn clothes and shoes, my favourite season of all, are starting to land in store! My excitement about this was cemented when the Sarenza A/W lookbook arrived in my inbox, and I got to see all of the amazing goodies they have instore for us over the coming months: including a host of brand new designers! Here are some of my highlights:


Snakeskin heels, Ted Baker, £160
Bright shoes, Kate Maconie, £215 and £230
Fur boots, Chie Mihara, £489
Heart heels, Moschino Cheap and Chic, £379

And here's all the hot news:

-Betsey Johnson is coming to Sarenza! I think I have mentioned before that Betsey is one of my favourite designers: the first designer item I ever bought for myself was a cowboy-style leather Betsey Johnson hobo bag, and my parents tend to buy me a new addition to my collection every christmas. I can't resist her, and can't wait to get my hands on those shoes!

- Adjustable shoes from Tanya Heath! Tanya Heath has designed the first multi-height shoe with an adjustable heel. These clever (and gorgeous) little beauties can go from a glamorous stiletto to a smart and practical low heel in one click. The best idea in shoes I've seen since the folding pump!

-In more gasp and squee about designers news, Vivienne Westwood is also coming to Sarenza for the next season. Another one to look forward to.

- Finally, what trends are Sarenza predicting will be hot next season? Well, look out for patchwork suede, structured heels, snakeskin, and ankle straps. Last year's Chelsea boots and loafers aren't go anywhere either, so if you bought a pair, hang on to them!

Sigh! I just can't wait for all of these goodies to land on the site, so that I can start planning my winter wardrobe. Have you starting thinking about your Autumn/Winter looks yet? Or is it a little too soon?

Love Tor x

Christmas: Lovely luxuries

Hi guys,

Well, Christmas is sadly over, although I'm not ready to hide the Quality Street tin just yet! I've had a fantastic Christmas. For me, Christmas is all about little luxuries. Having Harrods cheese instead of the usual Cathedral City (thanks Mum!), eating your body weight in yummy chocolates, wearing my favourite perfumes everyday (am I the only one that normally has a cheaper everyday perfume?), and having calorie laden snacks whenever you want them, guilt free!

Speaking of luxuries, I have received some seriously luxurious gifts:

I was treated to a new Steve Madden cover for my ipad, the Marc Jacobs watch I added to my Christmas gift list (the hints work!), two perfume gift sets, some gorgeous candles, Betsey Johnson pajamas and slippers, a new leather filofax (I couldn't live without mine), a Vivienne Westwood purse, a Lanvin pen, and much much more.

And the biggest luxury of all this Christmas? Taking time out without focusing on work, to just spend with my family. Especially the smallest member of all: meet little Bertie, who's just 7 weeks old! I am one very proud aunt!

I know I'm biased, but that is one seriously beautiful baby boy!

So, what did you get up to for Christmas? And did Santa bring you everything you wanted?

Love Tor xx

Daily wear: Like a spring-time cowboy

I was feeling feminine and wanted to inject a little spring colour into my outfit this morning: Although naturally my base colour is black (predictable much?!) It feels a little cowboy-like though: the ditzy floral, the ruffle of the skirt and the boots all add a country and western feel!

I just realised that this outfit was an absolute bargain: the whole thing only cost £25.50p!!

This is the first time i've worn this little cropped jacket: I got it in the primark sale at the end of last summer for £5, and it has sat in my wardrobe ever since. It's cute though, and I think it will get a lot of wear in upcoming months. The dress was also in the sale from Dorothy Perkins for £10. The ring is from primark for just £1 and although originally I believe from Miss Selfridge, I got this bracelet from a carboot sale for just 50p: over the Easter weekend (when car boot sale season starts up again) i'm going to write a piece about carboot shopping, because it really is where I get all of my best bargains! Finally the cowboy boots are from George at Asda and were £9 in the sale: if Betsey Johnson is bringing back the cowboy boots then who are we to argue?!

I'm not wearing any make up (I left the house in a slow rush having mildly sprained my ankle last night) so I look and feel very washed out, but overall I quite like this outfit: I just don't think I would wear it with the boots again to avoid the obvious cowboy feel!

Love, Tor xx

New York Fashion Week: Opinions so far

I have been so busy preparing for London Fashion Week (only two days to go!) that I haven't really given New York my full attention. In fact i've only skimmed over most of the ranges and only had the chance to watch one (Rodarte) live streamed. However a couple of shows have stood out for all of the right (and some of the wrong) reasons.

Betsey Johnson always makes me feel a frisson of excitement and I wasn't let down this season; a not very modest retrospective of her many years in fashion. I was never a massive fan of the gun print but there were still some stand out styles; the cinched in corset waists were a success proving yet again that Queen Betsey knows how to dress curves. The styles I most enjoyed though were the more modest bohemian looks, and I really want a bird hat; DIY here I come! Do I also sense that cowboy boots might make a comeback?

Marc Jacobs was very grey. Grey was, for me the overriding feeling about the collection. But I don't mean that in a bad way; I enjoy the nuances you get with shades of grey that can't be achieved with shades of black. I loved the lowered hem lines (Marc, my ugly knees thank you!) and find many of the pieces extremely wearable (I would love one of the grey sweaters) but didn't get the serene dream-like feeling others have mentioned, probably because I didn't watch the show, I just saw the images afterwards.

Rodarte was dreamy. By that I suppose I mean dream-like, rather than the way a teenage girl would describe a pop star! Layers and nudes and watercolour florals floated down the catwalk like images from a beautiful hazy dream. This felt like a bloggers collection: by that i suppose I mean that when I watched the show I could immediately think of half a dozen bloggers that were going to fall in love with it.

Oh, and with Betsey's hay, Rodarte's confetti and Marcs cardboard, what happened to the traditional white catwalk!?

What have you thought about New York fashion week so far? Have there been any collections that have really stood out for you?

Love, Tor

All images from http://www.style.com/

Take five: What would you keep?

It was renewing our home insurance that made me think about this (i'm all glamour aren't I!?) If your house was burning down and you could only keep five things from your wardrobe (or jewellery box) what would they be?
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I found this hard because I have so many things I love, but it's interesting to think about. It makes you mentally crawl through your wardrobe appreciating all the things you love and I shocked myself with the five things I hold most dear. It also makes you remember things lurking at the back of your wardrobe that you love but had completely forgotten about: time to pull them out and wear them tomorrow methinks (especially if, like me, you aren't shopping!)

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Anyway, here are my five (in no particular order):

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1. My western style Betsey Johnson handbag

I have two Betsey Johnson handbags and the second (a gift from my parents) is actually my favourite style-wise, but I will always hold this bag dear. I bought it when we were in Florida a few years ago and saved my ass off in my first "proper" job to be able to afford it. It's battered and the leather is fading but it was the most expensive thing I had ever brought myself, my first designer purchase, and it represents (to me at least) my love of fashion and a whole lot of hard work!
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2. Brown felt hat from Paris
I have actually never worn this hat out of the house. I don't feel like it suits me, and I have nothing to wear it with. But for my 16th birthday my parents paid for me to go to Paris and I felt like such a grown up, so I bought this grown up hat from a flea market. I loved its jaunty bow and how it makes me feel. It hangs next to my dressing table so that I see it every day....thinking about this has actually made me determined to find something to wear it with- time for some creative wardrobe work!!
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3. Kurt Geiger fashionista shoes

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The proudest thing I have ever done is finish my MA. It was bloody hard work, and also the bravest thing I have ever done: leaving a good job to move to another city, become unemployed and go back to school. My boyfriend celebrates every special occasion by buying me shoes (he knows me so well!) and these ones are not only beautiful, they also represent my graduation. Two special things in one!

4. Topshop trophy jacket
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There isn't really a story to go with this one, but it is the thing I own that most makes me feel good about myself. I love its sparkle and the way it fits. I love that it can make any boring old thing look exciting. When I open my wardrobe it is the first thing to catch my eye!

5. Gyspy ring

My nan had a multi coloured gyspy ring that I loved. Her dad had given it to her just before she married my grandad. When we were teens she gave it to my sister (who also loved it) and I was devastated. Rather than call me a brat (she should've, I was being a brat!) my nan took me to an antique jewellery shop in a wonderful town full of antique shops called Horncastle (if you're every in Lincolnshire its the perfect afternoon out) and we found my own gyspy ring. I love it, and I know that no matter what, I will keep this forever.
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I've eschewed the practical (i'm sure if my house really had burnt down I would want clean knickers, comfy pajamas and sensible shoes). But these are the five things in my wardrobe I love the most, irregardless of whether they are "in or out" of fashion. I think it speaks volume that there are no topshop or primark dresses (the things I own most!) on the list.
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So what about you guys...what would your five things be?

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Love, Tor xx

Oh Betsey, Betsey, all I want is you.....

You can all yawn and turn away before I even start if you want to, but, for the oooh around a millionth time on this blog, I love Betsey Johnson! She's fun and crazy, she doesn't take fashion or herself too seriously, and yet again she's managed to create a collection I wish I was brave enough to wear every piece of.

When I read that there wasn't going to be a Betsey Johnson 'runway show' this season my heart sank and I filled with panic. Had the recession hit Ms J too? Would she like to come and live in my spare room, borrow my sewing machine, have me make her cupcakes? Marry her for visa purposes and then live in a run down cottage together for the rest of our lives? Luckily for her this was not the case. Don't worry, i'll get over it! I realised it was just another typical (if there can be such a thing) Betsey quirk; a small crowd invited to "Betsey Crockers Kitchen" in her showroom to showcase the new collection. According to Susie Bubble it was full of tasty treats! Oh how I wish I had been there!

Sadly I wasn't; i'm just not damn cool enough! But instead i've sated myself by looking at these pictures over and over again:-

Things on my wish list? The floral harem pants, the 80's style stripey leggings (a big post on the resurgence of all 80s trends this season will follow shortly)the dog t shirt, naturally, knitted pastel stripey shorts, and something made of monkey fur. Its looking like anyone who's anyone will be wearing oversized monkey fur next season; once is a quirk and twice is a trend my friends!

Oh and this has given me a great DIY idea; I stole the jacket from my boyfriends old suit and regularly sport it when slouchy around town at the weekends. All I have to do is cover the lapels in sequins, ala image 3, and I am bang on a Betsey trend! Something tells me a trip to the haberdashery is in order asap....

And if you need another reason to agree with my about my Betsey obsession (agree with me dammit, i'm sweating with the exertion of loving this woman so much!) I have one; Betsey was amongst the designers to dress "real life" barbie models this week at a show to celebrate the 50th anniversary of everyones favourite doll.

Oh Betsey! A lime green cupcake dress for a ditsy blonde?!

I''ll take it!!

Love Tor xx

Dear Santa....

....I saw the red version of this watch on dressed and pressed's blog this morning and realised I had to have it. I usually avoid wearing my watch because I like to wear bracelets and it interfers. But this watch is a beautiful bracelet as well! And its by Betsey Johnson and we all know how I feel about her....

And look at the cutesy presentation case?!

The only question now is whether I get it in black, blue, or red. That, dearest santa, is up to you!

I've been a very good girl and eaten all of my greens, and this week i found out i'd passed my beloved MA with flying colours, so I think I deserve to be on the nice list and not the naughty one like last year.

And of course there'll be mince pies, and I won't forget the carrot for rudolph!

Lots of love and kisses,

Tor

PS - Santa, in case your elves don't make watches in the workshop, you can buy them here. And if you're feeling especially generous, I also like the fringed T bar sandals!

Horror Show!

Hey all,

With Halloween fast approaching, and my love of dressing up in stupid costumes well documented, what better time to chat about the gothic revival the fashion industry is experiencing at the moment. I believe the music industry and all those who are 'down with the kids' are refering to the phenomena as "nu grave". The difference between this look and a halloween witches costume is....well actually, I don't know what it is! Hence the timely posting- i'm full of smarts, me!

As I apply my eyeliner fairly liberally every morning, and my favourite colour is black (for everything) this is a look i'm all for. But how far can or should you go? When does your look stop being fashion and become costume party/caberet?

I'm always full of these important life changing questions, aren't I?

The gothic trend (officially named gothic lolita) has been massive in Japan for a long time. I'm a big fan of Japanese fashion (Fruits is my favourite coffee table book) and this is the look an 18 year old Tor spent years trying to perfect.

But now it's hit the mainstream: my favourite designer de jour (and every jour, if i'm honest) is particularly into the trend at the minute: oh Betsey I love you and your bizzarre yet wearable clothes!

Betseyjohnson.com : $425




How fabulous is the yellow dress at the start of this video?? Make that in black and you and I are in business Ms Johnson. All night long!

And its not just my beloved Betsey who's given it a go! You'd have to be blind or not live near a high street not to have noticed the explosion of black lace, leather and erm, pvc all over the highstreet.

Dress and gloves by dahlia @ asos.com

Believe me as a high street addict extraordinaire (this is my new self appointed title!) I know how much cheap lace a tenner will buy you in primark! And we all know highstreet trends come from somewhere. Namely:

Chanel

Givenchy

Alexander McQueen

So what do I think? I think my ass would look like two fighting fat puppies in PVC leggings. I think chiffon is an often underestimated fabric. And I think the subtle nod to the gothic trend is fabulous. (I even wish I had the balls to dress up as a fully fledged gothic lolita) I'm just scared if the trend goes too far, the boyfriend and I will end up looking like this;

Scary!

Love Tor x