Launching tomorrow: 'Perfectly' at Marks and Spencer

Hi guys,
As you guys know (because I bang on about it all the time) my current fashion focus is on building up my collection of good quality wardrobe classics. Staple pieces that will go with everything, and that I can wear again and again.

With that in mind, you can understand why I was so excited to read about the new 'Perfectly' collection by Marks and Spencer. The range consists of flattering understated key pieces, anchored around a neutral colour palette in quality fabrics, making the collection both easy to wear, stylish yet affordable. I've only seen pics of a few of the pieces, and there are already to things I'm chomping at the bit to get my hands on when the collection launches tomorrow: The thing that I love most about the range is the attention to the little details. The crisp white shirt for example, has covered buttons, helping it to reduce gape and give a smooth silhouette. The simple black dress comes with a skinny riveted belt to draw in the waist, and tiny shoulder studs.

Because these pieces are such classics, it also means they're ageless, and will look good on everyone. A hip young teen, my very stylish mum, and even a saggy tummied new mama like me will all look stylish and put together with just a couple of pieces from this collection in their capsule wardrobe. I will definitely be heading instore to check out the collection when it lands instore on 21st March. And that leather jacket with the fabric sleeves will be mine!

'Perfectly' by Marks and Spencer launches online tomorrow.

Love Tor x

Sex and the City Character Inspiration: Charlotte York

As we anxiously await the release of the newest Sex and the City movie next week, we've found ourselves wondering what types of outfits are out there this season that we'd be sure to find in the closets of Manhattan's favorite fashionistas.  Today we'll be inspiring you to channel your inner Charlotte.  Charlotte York's style is classic, feminine, and sexy (although she is typically considered to be the most conservative of the bunch).  This look is easy to pull off on a budget! Take a look below at some of our picks to help you on your way to creating a Charlotte-esque wardrobe.  You can't go wrong with neutral colors, feminine detailing like bows, lace, and ruffles, and fitted, classic silhouettes!

Charlotte always looks incredible put together, which is why we could imagine her in this sweet and simple black and white dress available at Macy's. This is something that could be worn while out running errands, brunching with the girls, and volunteering at the museum.

For a more casual look (and we use that term loosely) check out this preppy and sophisticated fit and flare shirtdress with gold buttons. Charlotte always has a wonderful tan, which would look great with this bright white dress, and the belt would flatter her pear shaped body.

This strapless, pleated floral print dress would be perfect for a hot summer day out shopping with the girls. The dress is very feminine, just like Charlotte, complete with a sweetheart neckline and piping at the waist. 

 While Charlotte loves her pearl necklaces,  pearl earrings are just her style as well. These romantic rose and classic pearl stud earrings for all occasions, and at just $3.80, they're quite a steal!

Now that Charlotte has two girls of her own, playing dress up isn't always practical. However "play clothes" don't need to be boring, which is why we think this ruffled and frilly cardigan from Anthropologie would be perfect for the afternoons chasing the kids around the park.

Although being a mom sometimes means the end of tiny little clutches, Charlotte knows how to keep her style in tact (her pregnancy outfits are a clear testament to this). We think this dainty wicker and lace clutch purse from Mod Cloth is a perfect accessory for those days when Charlotte is able to take off with the girls, as it can comfortably carry her phone, lip gloss, and credit cards -- no snack packs or baby wipes included!

While channeling her inner Martha Stewart, Charlotte would look timeless in this retro, printed halter dress. Whether she's making pot roast, Sabbath dinner, or ordering take-out, Charlotte is the picture perfect housewife.

While Carrie is definitely the shoe fanatic of the bunch, Charlotte loves her sandals. We thinks this feminine and delicate "Daarling" platform pump by Steve Madden is exactly the type of sandal Charlotte would go for -- it's sexy but not too loud, just like our favorite Park Avenue Pollyana.



Stay tuned for our next post about our favorite Manhattanites!



XOXO

Jen & Saira

An interesting twist on an old classic...

Hello, dolls!

We are very excited about our post today, because we feel that being a girl means more than just weddings and shopping. Today's post is reflective of some of our other interests, including art, literature, and yes, even comic books. Pretty much every little girl is familiar with all the traditional fairy tales, and every teenage girl has read the classic novels by Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters featuring strong, independent females. That is why we wanted to share some new updated versions of these classics that have been such an important part of our life. So here are some new renditions of some of the greatest stories of all time:

This illustrated version of Jane Eyre is absolutely gorgeous. With beautifully detailed glossy images in both black-and-white and vibrant hues, these Gothic inspired illustrations by the talented Dame Darcy are wonderful compliment to this haunting tale. It's a must-have for anyone besotted with this unconventional love story.

Like many girls, we are in love with Elizabeth Bennet and Mark Darcy. So you can imagine our excitement when we first saw this 5-issue collection by Marvel. This is a faithful adaptation to the classic by Jane Austen, with Hugo Petras immortalizing all of our favorite characters with his rich illustrations. Plus it's combining two literary giants: Jane Austen and Marvel.

Keeping in theme with Jane Austen, I'm sure many of you have already read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith. And if you loved that, you are sure to love Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters. The Dashwood sisters are forced to live on Pestilent Island after their father is tragically eaten by a hammerhead shark. Mr. Willoughby sweeps Marianne off her feet after she is attacked by a giant octopus, and poor Elinore learns that her true love, Edward Ferrars, is engaged after facing off against a deadly sea serpent with his fiancee, Lucy Steele. While keeping true to the original plot (to some extent) this version of the story is action-packed, high-paced, and dare we say, romantic?

These are definitely not your childhood fairytales. Vertigo's ingenious series by Bill Willingham is one of our favorite comic book collections right now. All of our favorite fairytale characters, including Snow White, Beauty and the Beast, Pinnochio, among countless others, are brought to life in this clever series set in modern day NYC. Be sure to check out your local comic book store to grab Volume 1 of Fables: Legends in Exile.

With all the hype of Alice in Wonderland, the movie, we thought it would be nice to focus on Alice in Wonderland, the book. Lewis Carroll's original story is available, in full, with art by Camilla Rose Garcia. Her art escalates Alice into a darker, more surreal universe than what has been traditionally associated with the classic story, but still keeps the lovely, whimsical feel of the original intact.  



Happy reading!



XOXO,

Jen & Saira

Perfecting the classics: The little black dress

A recent worry about my severe lack of savings coupled with a new 12 months plan for the bf and I to stop renting and start buying and my decision to get the phd I have been planning since I finished my Masters nearly two years ago (breath!!) means that I have had to reassess the way I shop and spend.

I think about a third of the new things I buy every month are featured on the blog, but I guestimate that around £400 a month disapears from my purse to the British high street. That's around £5000 a year! Not only is this silly and unrealistic, it is also impossible to maintain that and have all the other, more important, things I want. So I have made the unprecedented decision to (drum roll please) buy quality not quantity, purge my wardrobe of all the things i've bought and never worn, build a solid wardrobe of classics (hopefully in the january sales) and by January 31st to have STOPPED SHOPPING. I don't know if i'll be able to do it, but i'm really determined to give it a go. I don't need to buy half the things I buy, so i'm just going to stop. Having you guys monitor my spending and shame me when I shop will also be a good incentive! (unless of course I win the second best job in the world, in which case I will be shopping, guilt-free, and noone can stop me!!)

The first thing I decided my wardrobe needs for its new harder working ways is a perfect little black dress. I love black, and wear it nearly every day! There is a reason the LBD is a classic and that's because its easy, flattering, and so versatile.

A closer inspection of my wardrobe however revealed that I don't need to shop for a little black dress at all: I have 5 really great ones, and once I get out of the frame of mind that it is a bad thing to wear the same dress twice, they can start working for me harder than ever before. Here they are:

They range in quality from vintage to Topshop to a self-modified Primark number too. The cut of each might not be "in vogue" but I think its more important to dress for your figure, so almost all of my dresses are high necked to minimise my bust and nipped in at the waist because my figure is fairly hourglass. The exception is the 80s dancing dress which I rarely wear because it's so dressy, but I love the way it looks!

I have also kept half a dozen other evening dresses, but my favourtie 3 are: a white sequinned French connection one, an electric blue low cut one from Dorothy Perkins and a black and gold sequinned one from Miss Selfridge. Obviously I would love to own a beautiful timeless designer lbd, but I think these ones will be perfect, so that I can save my money for other things on the list that I don't own at all. I know a capsule wardrobe demands only 1 evening dress, but i've kept 11 and got rid of around the same number: I call that progress!!

Next thing on my list I think is a flattering breton tee: perfect to clash with another pattern or wear simply with my favourite colour: black! What are your wardrobe staples? What things do you think I need in my wardrobe that I will wear and wear again?

Love, Tor xx