What's in your Handbag? Check out what's in mine!

Hi guys,
The last time I wrote about what was in my handbag was back in March 2012, and since then the contents have increased dramatically: no more tiny body bag filled with make up and basic essentials for me! But I'm not ready for a big ugly mum bag either: I want something on trend, made of buttery soft leather, but roomy enough for all of my supplies. And boy, do I have a lot of supplies! My handbag contents for today are: My Vivienne Westwood purse, house keys and car keys, mobile phone, Missoni sunglasses, Chanel lipstick and Filofax (just the same as last year). However the new additions are: rice cakes or carrot puffs (depending on what snacks the boy fancies for the day), a teddy bear and a rattle, and wet wipes to mop up any spills and snot. Oh the glamour!
With all of this stuff to carry around every single day, I require a pretty special bag. This bag from Marks and Spencer's new season leather bag range is the perfect size for just about any occasion; small enough to carry around everyday but roomy enough to stash a hearty supply of snacks and toys for Wilbur in. It feels so soft (I have a place in my heart for pony skin leather, and buy far too much of it!) and the leather literally melts under your hand as you carry it. I love the zip detailing and leopard print is another of my obsessions, so it really is the perfect bag for me.

This bag is one of the key leather items from Marks and Spencer's A/W '13 collection, and would be the perfect addition to a capsule winter wardrobe, because you could carry it all day (it's perfect for work or for Saturday afternoon shopping trips) or dress it up for the evening and it wouldn't look out of place to dinner: especially if you carry a big bag at all times, like me. Marks and Spencer are very focusing on quality with their leather offering for this season, and it definitely shows in the craftmanship and design of this bag.  Good old M&S: they always seem to know exactly what I need and they never let me down!

If you want to buy one of your own you can pick it up from the M&S website: It's available right now, and will cost you £99.

Love Tor x

Daily wear: Happy Mother's Day!

Hi guys,
Well, if you're in the UK today is Mother's Day: my first as a mummy! We were planning to spend the day by the beach in Cromer and eat fish and chips. Then it started snowing: plan scuppered. I can't believe it's snowing, when you consider that it was only Tuesday that the weather was so warm I left the house without my coat (Yes, I do have that British preoccupation with talking about the weather)

So instead we had lunch at home (steak and dauphinoise potatoes: yummy!) and then spend the afternoon trawling the local antique shops looking for treasure. Here's what I wore for the occasion:
Leopard Print coat, Next. Striped blouse, Primark. Jeans, Miss Selfridges. Boots, Topshop. Bag, Pucci via TK Maxx.

It's not very often I wear my hair up: I tend to use it as a safety blanket! And it's even less often I leave the house without make up, like I did today. But a clean face and simple pony tail are perfect for lazy Sundays. As is this outfit; jeans and blouses tend to be my uniform at the moment: so easy to throw on with minimal effort required, but they still look stylish and well put together.

Do you have a go-to weekend outfit or style that you wear over and over again? And what is it?

Oh and as a PS - Happy Mother's day to my lovely wonderful mum, who I know will be reading this!

Love Tor x

Daily Wear: My favourite sale bargain so far....

Hi guys,
Sorry for the long absence - we spent New Year's with my parents (we only got back yesterday) and frankly I was having so much fun that I didn't open my computer the whole time I was there!

I also haven't hit as many of the January sales as I was planning to: but I did make time to check out a couple, including Topshop, River Island, and Dorothy Perkins. And my favourite sale purchase (so far) is from the Dorothy Perkins sale, believe it or not: a (p)leather jacket with gold stud detailing reduced to £35. Not the investment buy leather jacket I was looking for, but it fit so nicely I just couldn't resist it! And here it is:



Jacket - Dorothy Perkins, Leopard print dress - River Island, H by Hudson boots - c/o Sarenza, Pucci bag - c/o TK Maxx, Necklaces - vintage and gifted 

You might remember this dress because I picked it up from River Island a couple of months ago in the mid season sales. I seem to be having a real leopard print obsession at the moment: I picked up another leopard print dress and two leopard print tops from the River Island sale last week too!

And if you're wondering why I've shown you the close up of my new gold locket, that would be because my son got it me for Christmas! It has pictures of the three of us (the boy, hubby, and I) inside, and the back is engraved with a special message - too cute for words. I haven't not worn it for a single day since Christmas.

A bit late to ask I know, but better late than never! How was your New Year? And what's your favourite/best sale purchase that you've made so far?

Love Tor x

Mid-season sales bargain: Sensible court shoes

Hi guys,
When it comes to shoes I tend to either wear super-high super heels or comfy flats: I'd never owned a pair of mid heels, and I must admit I thought of them as a bit of a cop out. My philosophy when it comes to heels was always go high or go home! But actually, comfort is my newest mantra: and you can't get a more comfortable heel than a classic mid-heel court shoe.

You can wear them for almost anything. And because they are so comfortable that you can actually walk in them, they're perfect for day to evening, wearing to the office or, in my case, breaking yourself back into wearing heels after a long period of wearing nothing but flats!


These leopard print mid heels are from Dorothy Perkins and cost just £20 in the sale. They're still available on the website. As an aside, there are hundreds of lovely pairs of shoes in the Dorothy Perkins sale: definitely worth a quick peek! I think the fact that they're leopard print makes them look much cooler than, say, a plain black mid-heel. It seems to be the week of leopard print: I also got this dress from the River Island sale for just £12:

Have you been hitting the mid season sales? And have you picked up any bargains you want to share?

Love Tor xx

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

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

Daily wear: A very cold sailor!

The weather has taken another turn towards the significantly cool this morning, which meant a great opportunity to wear my faux fur again! Despite the cold weather, I was feeling nautical and so (like everyone else in the world, it seems) it was time to drag out one of my stripey tees!

Outfit: Coat from river island, scarf from camden market, top from new look, skirt from matalan, bag from miss selfridge, shoes from Topshop.
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This scarf is so old it has holes in it, but it's a great put-on when you don't feel like wearing jewellery - I have really sensitive skin, and it often needs a break from my beloved necklaces! The shoes have gotten wide and sloppy with wear, but I think that only adds to their masculine affect.
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This outfit is a perfect compromise between feeling Spring-y but keeping warm whilst it's still so cold outside. I just wish i'd remembered to pick up a pair of gloves: I have very cold fingers!

Are you sick of the cold weather and longing for more summery clothes yet?


Love, Tor xx

Daily wear: I'm a tiger baby!

Yup that's right, i'm a tiger. But only if tigers come in electric pink! I love unnatural coloured leopard prints, but especially those that come in vibrant colours such as blue and pink. Leopard print in itself is fairly attention grabbing but subverting the colour only draws further attention to it; it also implies youth!
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This dress is from Matalan and was an absolute bargain: I got it in the 70% off January sale for just £5. I'm wearing it with the suede and cotton scarf Mike got me for my birthday last year, my usual winter combo of thermal top and leggings, and my heeled biker boots.
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I got these biker boots for a Christmas party and then left them under my bed at my parents when I went up for the festivities. I visited the folks this weekend and retrieved them: it feels like i've had something new and i've fallen in love with them all over again. If this is what "shopping your wardrobe" feels like then I heartily recommend it: I can't wait to have a couple of hours in my wardrobe this weekend and see what other treasures I unearth!
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I'm going to see the princess and the frog tonight: you know how I feel about Disney! I'm hoping it will make me release my inner princess and finally wear the long lace skirt from River Island that i've had stashed in my wardrobe for the past twelve months. It's very romantic and delicate but insanely difficult to find anything to go with it. Shopping my wardrobe, here I come!
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Love, Tor xx

Betsey Johnson loves me.....

I love Betsey Johnson. In fact, last time I was in the States I blew my entire holiday budget on a rodeo style oversized tan and cream leather handbag. (And borrowed money from my parents for everything else for the rest of the week: when there's fashion there need not be sense)

And it seems that Betsey Johnson loves me back: Or at the very least, designed her A/W08 ready-to-wear collection with me in mind. (yes, I am that self obsessed and the whole world does revolve around me) Almost every single piece in the collection incorporates one of my own personal favourite things; leopard print (my biggest obsession, cheesy or not) floral, geek chic, and sailors.

These pictures excite me so much; I can imagine myself wearing every single outfit, and quite frankly I think I could make them all rock!

There's nothing nicer than seeing a whole new season range and knowing you can recreate it for free from the content of your own wardrobe: except of course maybe being able to afford to buy the full range.