Fabfrocks Reviews: Blank necklace from theRemedi.co.uk

I'd never heard of theRemedi.co.uk until last week, when they dropped me an email asking me to check out their site and (even more excitingly) choose a piece from the site to review for you guys. Obviously I said yes, and hotfooted it over to the site to find out what it was all about: I was pleasantly surprised to find a unique website stocking gorgeous items you really wouldn't find anywhere else. Nothing on the site is mass produced, and some of the pieces are even one-offs!

After much prevarication amongst the many pages of beautiful things, I chose a necklace from Blank London, and was massively surprised (in a good way) when the necklace turned up the very next day!

I was so excited when the necklace arrived: It came in a beautiful box, which made it feel especially luxurious, as I hardly ever have jewellery that doesn't come on a plastic hanger which says Freedom @ Topshop on it! But I was even more excited when I opened up the box: the necklace is beautiful! It smells of leather, it clinks satifactorily when you move it, it's heavy and it looks great. I love chunky oversized jewellery, so for me this was an instant hit.

There were only two of these necklaces available on the site, and it makes me feel really special to know that I am wearing something that is such a limited-edition, there is only one other person in the world I can bump into that would have it: unlike shopping in topshop or primark, where you'd have to walk down the street with your eyes closed if you wanted to avoid seeing someone else wearing your new top!

I love this site, and my new necklace: I can see it becoming my go-to piece of statement jewellery this winter. More pictures of this are coming shortly, as I wore it yesterday when I was filmed for a very special competition that's coming soon. And I love it so much i'm wearing it today too!

Love, Tor xx

All dressed up with nowhere to go!

This gorgeous dress from Goddiva arrived on Monday and I love it, but it also makes me sad at the same time!
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The fit is great: i'm obsessed with sharp shoulders at the minute, even though I haven't decided if I can pull them off or not. I'm starting to come to terms with the idea that I can wear body con, even with my little pot belly, and I love the scoop back, showing off a little bit of flesh I wouldn't normally show. The sequins dig in when you press your arms against the dress, and I have a little scratch on my left arm from playing around a little too much in this sparkly baby, but beauty is pain, right? It's not worth crying about anyway!

So why does the dress make me sad then, I hear you asking? Well, because I have nowhere to wear it! Where would you were a dress this spangly and stand-up-and-pay-attention glamorous? It's a dress that demands a seriously fancy party, and i'm more of a couple of beers on a Saturday night kind of girl.

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What does one do with a dress this gorgeous in that situation, I ask myself? Well surely the answer is obvious; put it on and run barefoot round the garden in the early morning light, then have your boyfriend chase you like a wildlife photographer of course; it's the only answer!
"Swoosh! She sneaks into the undergrowth stealthily in an attempt to disguise herself. The fuschia sequins are the perfect camoflauge" - Read aloud in best David Attenborough voice.

Love, Tor xx

Seeing stars with Jasmine Guinness!

Whilst at the LGPout party on Thursday night I met the wonderful PR ladies from fashion (and everything!) online store very.co.uk. They told me all about the Jasmine Guinness collection that they are currently stocking on the site, so naturally I had to pop over and check it out. And I was impressed: a cute shooting star motif everywhere = yum!

Despite it's simple shape, I am a big fan of this black dress: it's hard to decide whether I love the dress or the way she wears it though! And of course that sweater would be perfect for teaming with boyfriend jeans and blazer for a slouchy saturday afternoon of shopping (because what else can you do with your Saturdays!?) It's very "me": I just wish that it didn't have the turquoise bands around the wrists and waist! Oh, and the ditzy floral dress? Perfect for teaming with an insanely oversized Tour de Force bow for a late summer wedding methinks! The first dress (the shooting star one) is the weakest piece: like so many things I have seen on the highstreet before, but overall I think the collection is solid.

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Oh, and i'm not sure why I am having such a hair obsession this week, but this is also on the long list of hair I would like to sport! Gorgeous!

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Love Tor x

Love is... every single piece by Gadofka!

A blog post by Queen Michelle directed me to not just a label, and what I found there was a love that is pure and true. Because I have moments of fashion dunce-ary, I had never heard of the website, nor of my favourite label on it; Gadofka.

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The collection is entitled africanalprogressivemadness, and although i'm going to rave on amount this a little more, i'm pretty sure that one word and these pictures sum the whole collection up:

I love the prints, the sheer leggings, the baloon pants. I love the Fred Butler-esque necklace in the third picture which is made of the same fabric as the rest of the clothes in the collection. And the pose and styling of the final picture makes the model look like a modern-day dishevelled Cleopatra. The collection, the styling, the ideas behind it, all seem so full of whimsy and fun, fun, fun. I especially love the blurb about the collection, which I have printed in full below:
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The label GADOFKA is Achamyelsh Biftu Bojia a womangirl whose imagination is filled with curiosity,innocence,fantasy,theatre, experimental films, modern dance , no boundaries, tradition and music. Achamyelesh Biftu Bojia was born in Germany and is originally from Ethiopia but she believes in another life she was married to Jean Michel Basquiat and the daughter of Miles Davies.However Gadofka was born in 2008 after Achamyelesh Biftu Bojia created the collection AFRICANICALPROGRESSIVEMADNESS for A/W 09, which is expressing all her experience in life and everything she has observed trough her journey so far. That includes the African heritage materials from Ethiopia and Nigeria. The collection itself is an echo for her life. Gadofka is a storyteller, it is the messenger of the african culture .Every print is telling a vibrant colourful story. Achamyelesh Biftu Bojia is a messenger of her own and culture, a true storyteller. She celebrates life and she believes in no boundaries and with a little bit of fantasy, braveness ,patience and optimism we can break limitations!
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I know its a big fat cliche, but I love the urbanisation of the African fabrics; the collection is very modern, very big city, and very wearable. It's true love!
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Love Tor x

Sweet like candy

Feeding my inner 15 year old, I am kind of in love with this website. Lunacy clothing stock an indecent amount of jewellery that looks like foodstuffs and not only is it making me hungry for pick and mix, it's making me hungry for shopping too!

I stumbled across the website thanks to google whilst looking for quirky gifts to give to my sisters to thank them for coming to my graduation. (because they already sat through it once, and didn't sign up for me making them do it all again!)

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Although I know these aren't to their tastes, just looking at them invokes memories of a child hood spent rather seriously debating the merits of a custard cream versus a bourbon, and various types of pick'n'mix. I used to be a big fan of the gummy bears, but my favourites were the fizzy sweets, covered in sugar! Of course at 25, i'm far to old and important to get excited by sweets! Ahem.

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Anyway. I am so glad I stumbled across this website; not only do they stock the candy jewels, they also have a great range of sailor and tatoo themed jewellery my heart desires, great fashions, and homewares that have got me in a tizz!

A cake stand made out of an old record? That, my friends, is for my kind of kitchen...if I ever get round to learning to cook, of course!

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Sadly, anything I order now won't arrive before Friday, so it's no good for me. But if you're working outside such hideous time constraints (trust me to leave everything to the last minute!) then I highly recommend you check them out, if not for the jewels (the best bit) then for the amazing dollface background to their website!

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The whole package is so sweet I don't know whether to eat it or brush my teeth!

Have a great day!

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Tor x

The wardrobe clear out: watch out ebay, here I come!

Despite my very best efforts, I have never won anything on ebay. I try my hardest, watching the items, sitting at the computer religiously for the last 5 minutes of bidding, but I always get pipped to the post - I missed out on an amazing pair of Betsey Johnson sunglasses by just 50p yesterday!

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However in spite of my own lack of winning ability (and some might say skill) with the whole ebay thing, I wrote aaages ago that I would be having a clear out, and so, by golly, I am! Its good for the wardrobe, the pocket, and dare I say it, the soul, to get rid of all the stuff that's too big, too small, or that you just can't stand the sight of, every now and again.

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I have a bin liner stuffed full of things I dont want any more (the result of a very brutal wardrobe clear-out) and i've decided to give ebaying them a go! I've only listed about 8 things to start with - mostly as I had no idea putting them up would be so time consuming (!) but there are about 50 things in total that need to go!

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Here are the highlights of what's up/what I will be putting up, all with a 99p reserve. If you're very very nosey, my ebay handle is 079fashionista, so feel free to stalk me a little/see what else I am ridding my wardrobe of!

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(My boyfriend is going to be so happy when all this stuff is gone, and I finally let him have a drawer for his things!)

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Kate Moss @ Topshop white one shouldered dress

Topshop ruffly top

H&M Hello Kitty cardiganGeorge @ Asda cat dress
Primark trapeze top
I will photograph and put up another load of 10-15 things this weekend; who knew trying to clear out your wardrobe would be such hard work??

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Anything that doesn't sell will find its way to the Cancer research shop on Mill Hill broadway; Apart from the fact that it's a very good cause, it has a lovely atmosphere in there (and doesnt have that funny charity shop smell!) I think my things would be very very happy!

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Love Tor

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PS - I know I said I would be selling my Tommy Hilfiger skirt, but Becky read those very words and asked if she could have it instead- of course I said yes! It will look so lovely on her!

Erase and Rewind (and the launch of yourlondonstylist)

....'cause i've been changing my mind!

I don't know why but whenever I sit down to think of a title for a post, song lyrics come into my head. Sometimes you just have to go with it!

I think the theme of this post, or a summary in a sentence, is a change of direction. Its time for me to make a change that I am very excited to be sharing with you all, but as usual I shall probably ramble around it for a couple of paragraphs.

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As I approach my mid 20s (I'm 25 next month, despite my baby face!) the fact that I live in a real world where I have responsibilities and an obligation to give every oportunity my best shot becomes more apparent. I live and breath fashion; I think I always have since the first time I stuffed my chubby hand into my mums jewellry box! I always thought this love would manifest into a career as a fashion writer, but although I have truly enjoyed all the freelance work I ave done and will never give it up, this really hasn't been regular enough to count as a career!

This is where the change comes in. As part of a role working for a small fashion website, i had to style the models for a PR photoshoot: this was so much fun! Then a friend asked me to take her shopping to find an outfit for a wedding. after convincing her to try on a dress shhe would've never picked up and finding she looked amazing I was hooked. I knew that if I could do anything for a living it would be to go shopping (who doesn't dream of that?!) and use my knowledge to make other people look and feel fantastic. Six months, and a smattering of personal shopping appointments later, YourLondonStylist is born.

YourLondonStylist is me; starting up in the middle of the recession (because apparently i'ma lunatic!), taking people shopping, detoxing their wardrobes, and hopefully making them feel great! Over the next couple of weeks I will be rebranding the blog so that it matches the new website (because it just makes sense really!) but don't worry; the content will be exactly the same, no changes going on there! I hope the rebrand doesn't put you off and you keep coming back!

And because the pictures on the new website are so small, and I am possibly the vainest person in the entire world, here are my PR shots; I will actually go as far as to say (deep inhalation please!) that I think I look kind of pretty!

Lots of love, and wish me luck!

Tor x

Bringing back black!

Despite my continual effort to introduce new colours to my wardrobe, we all know my mantra: "I'll wear any colour as long as it's black!" Remember that fateful picture of my wash day?

I rest my case! Every season the fashion editors pronounce another colour as "The New Black" but actually there's no such thing: thats why beloved black is their constant source of reference. You never hear anyone going on about the "New Red" do you? I rest my case, m'laud!

So when the website "basically black" was brought to my attention, my initial thought was what a damn good idea! Imagine never having to trawl through the pages of asos again falling in love with their vibrant patterned dresses, only to wish there was also a black version! Everything on this site definitely comes in black already!

The word basically immediately conjured pictures of basics - sensible shirts and t shirts; great for our mums, but not so great for fashion conscious young things like us! But actually I was completely wrong. You can buy your basics and they're great quality(we all need them, even if we resent the expense!) but you can also get glamourous dresses, coats, and sparkly sparkly bags (oh how I love sequins and black - i'm suprised i'm still typing straight!)

I know its shockingly simple but I think i'm slightly obsessed with that last dress; perfect for going to dinner or drinks straight after work (dahhling!) it looks uber flattering and more excitingly than that, its cashmere; nothing feels more wonderful than cashmere on your skin, except perhaps knowing it was a bargain, which this certainly is!

My quest for the perfect boyfriend blazer was not sucessful on this website (I know i'm obsessed, but their jacket selection sadly leads a lot to be desired!) but the next time my already fairly extensive collection of black dresses for work, play, and everything else I can think of to wear a black dress to, runs low, I know exactly where i'll be turning.

In fact, maybe i'll add that waffle dress to my birthday list (only 3 weeks to go!) Poor old Mike; I keep adding so much stuff I don't know what will explode first - his head or his wallet!

Love Tor x

New web love: Queens of Vintage.com

I know I constantly have a new "love" but I found a fabulous website yesterday that I just have to share with you.

Billed as the 'Vogue of Vintage' (I promise that that awful intro is the only part of this site you will find so trite!) queensofvintage.com’s content spans vintage fashion, beauty, interiors and culture.

You can organise your posts by city: an amazing feature for anyone living outside of London given the majority of vintage sites and blogs (sorry about that!) are so London-centric!

The feature I most enjoy is the reviews of vintage stores in cities near you. It's like someone taking the hassle out of vintage shopping for you by reviewing the stores before you even leave the house!

The layout is a bit confusing to start with (the homepage is so damn busy!!) but you soon get used to it. And although talking about the credit crunch is getting dull and seriously getting me down, it is happening and starting to affect our purses. Or at least, its definitely affecting my purse! So the make do and mend feature is perfect for its easy tips (even someon with monkey paws could do it!) on revamping what you already have. I know, I know, I'm raving again but it is a good site!

And if this isn't all exciting enough, I found a feature (or is it a blog post? This looks like a blog but bills itself as an ezine!?) on where you can buy beautiful vintage brooches online now.

I love vintage brooches (although now the collection has passed the 50 mark i'm trying to be a little more selective) but selective or not, this one would definitely make it into the collection. Or maybe this one:How do you choose!? Queens of vintage is definitely a site I will visit again, if only to see what their top picks are. Not to mention the gorgeous photos in their "Top 100 queens" section. Now back to the important issue of brooches. If I just start raiding the penny jar....

Much love,

Tor

Crown Me, Immediately!

I read about the work of Camille Roman, creator of Tour de force, on the stylebubble blog last month, but didn't really take it in. Then this morning my catwalk genius newsletter arrived (did I mention i'm slightly in love with catwalk genius?) and they were waxing lyrical about Camille's work.

Such praise from two highly trusted sources meant that I had no choice other than to check it out. And now i'm totally obsessed! According to Catwalk genius Camille produces "hairpieces which allow people to make an impact with a high-end statement, but be easily adorned comfortable at the same time." And i'm quoting directly because I really couldn't but it better myself!

This is the image gracing the homepage of tourdeforce.com and the one attracting all the attention on the bloggosphere (I really hate using that word!) And you can see why: it really is a statement piece! At £140, it's also the most expensive thing on the site. And I would love to own it, and sit in my living room sporting it and feeling glamorous whilst I watched eastenders with a can of lemonade. I really do live the high life, don't I? But, like most people too afraid of attracting the attention, I don't think i'd be brave enough to wear it out. I'm not letting that put me off though. That doesn't mean tour de force isn't for me. Or for you. Because, for a wedding or a party, this is a hairpiece I would love to wear day in and day out:

It's called the butterfly crown and I think it's beautiful. Its soft floppyness reminds me of a cartoon bunny, and it has something of the anime princess about it.

And the thing that suprised me most? Actually, it really isn't that expensive! As the CG website shows prices in Euros, the weak pathetic pound is working against us at the moment, but even bearing that in mind, the butterfly crown of my dreams is only 76.96, which works out at a nicely rounded £69.91.

These hairpieces are quickly going to become my new obsession. I'm picturing everyone around me wearing them- here's a gold lame turban rose for Becky and monochrome pleated flower that would look amazing set against my sisters dark hair:

You can tell that Camille gained her experience at at Johnny Loves Rosie and Lulu Guinness. Looking at her designs makes you think of last seasons oversized (and I really mean oversized) floppy bows from Johnny Loves Rosie. But bigger and more intricate: they did the mini episode and she wrote the whole animated movie. Her work reminds me of 80's cartoon characters crossed with gorgeous mysterious 1930's film sirens travelling via Japan. And I love it.

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Oversized glamorous attention grabbing wild hair pieces. They're going to be the new black!

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You read it here first.

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Love Tor xxx

A little Etsy loving...

Hunting for unusual furnishings for our new home drove me back to Etsy (I have to have these robot wall transfers on my bathroom mirror!) but it was the amazing fashions that kept me there. My self imposed ban (I really am trying to cut back on my shopping addiction, honest!) meant that it had been so long since I looked on etsy, that i'd almost forgotten it existed, but now i'm back and the obsession starts once more.
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I've just started work on my first ever DIY dress, and it just makes me admire more the handicrafted magic all the clever people on etsy weave over every treat you buy. And shopping there is so much more exciting than on a high street website, because every item you look at is from a different shop meaning the style and atmosphere (yes, I do think an online shop can have an atmosphere!) is completely different. And more so with etsy than any other store, something doesn;t have to be wearable for you to fall in love with it. Which leads me neatly to my first lust -have object:

This beautiful kimono covered in apples by missbubbles (who also makes beautiful cards) is sold with a story: made inspired by the concept of Japanese dress and European folklore tales where the sun tree was a centre of happiness, shelter and beauty. This tree is represented by a blossoming apple tree on the back of kimono. The red apples symbolise happiness, life and magical future.

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It makes me feel special just looking at it and thinking about wrapping it around me. As does:

This feathered and beaded collar/cape by Lestat couture is more Victorian costume than fashion, technically. But I saw it and I loved it. I want to wear it like jewellery over a simple black dress or even jeans and a sweater. In fact, I don't care how I have to wear it, I just want to feel it's weight around my neck and just for once not shy away from all the eyes on me.

For a more every day wear (and if I owned them, I really would wear them everyday) here are the final 2 things my heart desires: This technically bridal organza jacket from the english department, to wear over layers of chiffon dresses and logo tshirts

And this cartoon inspired T shirt dress. In fact, I liked all of luchaworkshop's screenprints so much that it was hard to choose which one I loved the most. The warriors narrowly took the prize!

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When i saw a beautiful handbag on Sunday, I told my boyfriend we didn't need a microwave, i'd much rather have its soft leather in my kitchen instead. If I keep mentally spending money at this rate, we will not only forget the microwave....we won't have any plates or cutlery either!

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Oh well. I always did think practicality was a little overrated. And it's a well known fact that I can't cook anyway!!

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Love Tor x

And the DIY begins..

As I mentioned in a previous post, I was gifted a sewing machine from my wonderful parents for Christmas. I've been wanting one for ages, and am really excited about it! However, what I didn't mention previously is that I have no idea how to use it!

But since when did a little thing like skill get in the way of ambition: with a little determination and lots of failed attempts no doubt, i'm sure i'll be making dresses in no time. And to help me on my way i've discovered a wonderful website; http://www.burdastyle.com/ The site has free patterns, how to guides, forums, and is fantastic for novices like me as each task is given a difficulty rating from 1-5, and as long as you follow the simple steps, some of the grade 1's have proven quite achievable.

Here's what i've made so far:

The fabric flower is more of an embellishment than a bonafide project, but it only took about 10 minutes to do and I think it looks really great. I think 6-7 of these on the shoulder of a plain white tshirt would be perfect for the summer.

Draw string bag; it really is the simplest thing to sew isn't it? OK, so they aren't the kind of thing you need all the time. Or in fact, ever, but at least now I know I can officially stitch a straight line on my fabulous sewing machine. And i'm using the bag in my sewing box to hold all my buttons.

Excuse the not exactly fashion forward fabric of my upcoming DIY attempts by the way: whilst i'm still practicing, i'm using old pillow cases and any other scraps of free fabric I can lay my hands on. As soon as I feel a little more confident it will be silk and lace and lux galore!

Next on my hit list is a dress and a cape: awarded 1 and 2 stars respectively, they should prove an achievable challenge...I hope. I realise I won't be making them in the 1-3 hours suggested, but I've downloaded the patterns which i'm busy sizing patiently, and my sister and I are hitting John Lewis tonight to choose the fabric. Hopefully by the end of the month I will have something to show you for my efforts that looks a little like this:

(These are the patterns i'm using by the way. I know you know what a dress and a cape look like)

Wish me luck!

Tor

Leaving no stone left unturned.....

When I read about mama was a rolling stone on the fashion tribes blog, I was excited. Billed as a one stop vintage fashion destination we were told we would find look books of celebrities and normal folks alike. A blog, forums, editorial insider stuff, and a fabulous shop.

And nearly all of this is true. The look books aren't completed (unless 10 pictures of Nicole Richie counts as a lookbook to you?) the blog, although well informed and fabulously well written, is super hard to navigate, and more like a very confusing online ezine. And it made my head hurt. And finally, noone has written on the forums (which is OK, as the site is new, but surely a good community manager should at least be stimulating a comment or two?)

However despite all these fatal flaws (I can't help it, it's the web editor in me) this is a great site! The store section is by far the best and what I love most is that Bryna, the owner, models all the clothes herself.

On the fashion tribe blog she says that ""I've been collecting vintage for years and it's great to be able to share that with others," she explains about the cool vintage threads, accessories and kicks from around the world that she stocks. "I'm just so excited to be doing something I love!" As she only sells things she would wear herself, it's like having amazing access to the closet of a stylish pal."

And you can really tell she cares about what she does. The quality of the garments look amazing, and although I would be stung hard on the import tax, if you're from the US, the prices are really affordable.

For the second time today, here's my pick:

All from the online store, and all between $60-$100.

I want to wear so much of these precious things, it's almost enough to make my head explode!

Do it for me, my American readers! Go shopping! (and send me pictures of what you buy!)

Lots of love,

Tor