Thanks M&S! I'm already longing for winter...

Hi guys,
Apologies in advance for any mentions in this post of the dreaded 'C' word, but it really can't be helped! Today I went to the Marks and Spencer Christmas in July press show, and it's really got me thinking about winter: log fires, snow, and Christmas.

Despite the fact we haven't really had much of a summer yet, it's shows like this that make me think a long winter of wrapping up in knits and faux fur arriving so soon might not actually be too bad!




The jewel collared print dress in the first photograph, and the cream faux fur stole it's been teamed with, have both been immediately added to my wish list. I also really like the burnt orange fair isle jumper in the bottom picture, which will be perfect for wearing on our New Year's trip to Scotland.

To make matters worse, and despite the gloriously sunny weather outside, I also got a taste and a smell of Christmas. Perfectly roasted turkeys, smoked salmon, rich chocolates and even a stodgy fruit cake. Who can have a BBQ after sampling all of that?! No. I'm ready for a Christmas dinner!

Love Tor x

Sneak peek: Diesel A/W12 Press day

Hi guys,
Yesterday I popped down to the Diesel A/W press day. Diesel isn't really a brand I wear: their jeans were 'all the rage' ten years ago, and my husband still has a pair knocking around at the back of the wardrobe, but nowadays nobody I know really wears Diesel (A contender for the overlooked store tour perhaps?) So I entered the press day with an open mind, hoping to be surprised. Here's what I found:




Simple, utilitarian clothes with plenty of black, grey, and neutral fabrics. The quality and workmanship is obviously of a high standard. But not necessarily to my taste.

There were two leather jackets I loved. But the rest of the outfits seemed a little bland and unsubstantial. I'm not a fan of shearling, the washes on the denim made me think of chubby builders, and there seemed to be an abundance of unironed (slightly grubby looking!) white shirts. Maybe it's a sign of my age, or maybe I'm just not 'cool' any more, but I prefer a look that's a bit more 'done' than this.

What do you think about Diesel? Is it a brand you wear or a shop you go into? If you love it, why? I'd really like to be convinced!

Love Tor xx

Supermarket love: George at Asda s/s press day

Hi guys,
I don't mean to get all Gok Wan on your asses, but it really is amazing how damn good the fashion offerings from our British supermarkets are. We really do high end and fashion forward trends at affordable prices better than anyone else. I have several pieces from Clothing at Tesco and George at Asda that I have worn season after season without any signs of wear and tear. And with prices generally below £10 for separates and below £15 for a frock, it's a great way of injecting new trends into your wardrobe of staples every season, without it costing a fortune.

This morning I popped down to the George at Asda press day, to see what trends they would be offering us for this Spring/Summer:

The three main trends George seemed to be focusing on this season were similar to the rest of the highstreet: pastels, acid brights, and conversational prints. The conversational print section was the one I was most impressed with: I loved the Victoria Beckham-esque cat print top, the bird print dress, and the gorgeous crown print cardigan, which would be perfect for a kitsch Jubilee celebration. Obviously Jubilee themed pieces (in red, white and blue) are hot property for them, because they're such a cheap option if you need a new outfit for a themed party: think T shirts with corgis on them, union jack print dresses, and bright coloured jeans.

I wasn't as impressed with their accessories selection (it's the one part of my outfit I don't like to scrimp on: only real leather shoes and good quality bags for me!) but if you're heading on holiday this summer and need a beach bag or a couple of pairs of disposable flip flops or sandals, it's definitely worth checking out.

Do you shop in your local supermarket? Or do you tend to think they should stick to vegetables, not fashion? Love to hear your thoughts!

Love Tor xx

Get ready for spring with very.co.uk

Hi guys,

On Friday I made a flying visit to check out newest Spring/Summer offerings from very.co.uk. They are fast coming into their own, and could soon challenge ASOS as a one stop online shopping destination.

As a fashion blogger I probably shouldn't say this, but I'm always reluctant about shopping online when I don't know what the fabric or quality of the garment will be. I'm so tactile that I just can't bear to wear cheap fabrics against my skin. My mind was definitely put to rest on that front where Very is concerned though: I was very impressed!


These two floor length dresses are from the new LoveLabel Luxe range: higher end pieces from Very's own brand LoveLabel range. The gold sequinned dress is show stopping. It was the first piece to grab everyone's eyes as they entered the room.



I surprised myself by liking several pieces from ranges I wouldn't normally look at: the cobalt blue dress with the pleated skirt is from the Coleen Rooney range (there was also a buttery soft leather jacket in her range that I loved) And the red dress shown above is by DeeVee (Diana Vickers). It's definitely on my 'must have' list: I can't resist tunic dresses and Sixties details.

I'm still trying to save money by not hitting the shops (I'm especially avoiding impulse-based, trend-led purchases). Which is a shame. Because I think my money would be in serious danger on this website.....

Love Tor xx

These aren't just any Valentines gifts....These are M&S Valentine's gifts!

Hi guys,
I always say that I'm not a big fan of Valentine's day. Who needs a special day to show someone you care about them, right? Having said that, if I didn't get a card I'd be gutted. Hypocrite, much!?

It's a fact that Valentine's day presents are usually pretty tacky (and as a general rule not great quality). Not true at M&S though, who's Valentine's offering I went to check out yesterday:




The heart bra set is traditional valentine's fare, but still devillishy pretty (and the fabric is a luxe-feeling satin). The stand out underwear set for me though was the gorgeous floral cotton longline bra and matching high rise briefs: this set has universal appeal that will last long after valentines day. And call me boring and practical, but because it's from M&S, at least you know if will wash well over and over again. And it's all available now.

Aside from the standard cakes and chocolates (always yummy!) the other gifts I loved were the household ones. Practical and pretty, who doesn't want a heart shaped cake mould or terrine? This Valentine's day I think I'll fill the house with pink and red kitsch and just finally embrace it. It's all too pretty not to!

Love Tor xx

The Debenhams Spring/Summer press day

Hi guys,

It's time to intersperse the Christmas posts with another glimpse into the future; by which I mean, the clothes we'll be wearing next Spring!

I'm a big fan of Debenhams, especially their designer collaborations. I always love the H! by Henry Holland range (look out for the cute vintage style tea dress in the new collection) and all of the Editions designers, though my favourite is Preen.





Firstly, can I get a collective 'Oooh' for all the colours? I'm not really a big fan of pastels, so I'm delighted to report that this is the third S/S press day I've been to in the past fortnight where bold bright colours have been at the fore.

I loved the vintage 1950s-inspired swimwear (especially that blue swimsuit with the gorgeous bird print on it) and in a move not like me, I also liked the more mature Betty Jackson Black collection: think the blue coat over the patterned dress in the first image.


My favourite part of the whole press day though was the homeware collections, especially the new Editions @ Home range (complete with new designers) that is being introduced this Spring. In fact, I loved them so much I'm going to save them and show you the whole collection as soon as it launches.....


Love Tor xxx

PS - Happy 1st December everyone! Behold the new Christmassy header in its honour!!

River Island S/S preview

Hi guys,
This morning I popped to the River Island S/S press day. Now you all know I'm a massive fan of River Island, and I get half of my dresses from there (they fit my shape like a dream) so I was especially excited to see what I would be wearing next season. Prepare for a picture heavy post:


These two pieces were from the Sugar collection: the most overtly feminine trend and my favourite one! It featured lots of lovely pastels, chiffons, applique flowes, and all of the fabrics were floaty and sheer. Some of these tops and dresses were just made to be toughened up with denim and leather: perfect!





The collection was divided into 6 trends: Miami, Spring Break, Prairie, Ehtnic, Purist, and Sugar.

The acid brights and extrovert patterns of the Miami trend were the most eyecatching (and looked the best in photographs too) although not to my personal tastes. I did however love all the beaded and embellished accessories of the ethnic trend: that oversized beaded bag has my name written all over it!

As I sit here typing, wearing a sea of black and smothered in cozy knitwear, I'm already beginning to see the appeal of a new lighter, brighter Spring wardrobe!

Love Tor xx

Is it too soon to mention Spring?

Hi guys,
If you don't want to hear about Spring already then it's time to close your eyes, because the S/S 2012 press days are well and truly in full swing: my calender for the next couple of weeks is so full of Spring events I'd be forgiven for forgetting all about Christmas! (Don't worry though, I haven't forgotten about it! I am currently constructing the mother of all gift guides!)

Last night I popped down to check out the Clothing at Tesco spring/summer collections. I'm a big fan of Clothing at Tesco: they're like Primark in that everything is so cheap they're a great place to try new trends, but at guilt-free prices.

Here are some of their new season offerings:



It's unlike me to say so, but it was the bold colours that most caught my eye: there was a red deconstructed blazer that I especially fell in love with, and plenty of mustard which always makes me happy. I also really liked the cream lace dress (in the second picture) which is just so deliciously flippy and feminine. As always the swimwear offering was also gorgeous - much to my disappointment, as it just doesn't fit my bust!

The final items that I really loved were the stripey midi-length pencil skirts (in pictures one and three). Now I confess that stripes for spring isn't particularly unique or fashion-forward, but the fabric was lovely, they looked great, and they'd be perfect teamed with simple tees for a work to play look.

I'm not ready for Spring yet (I'm too excited about Christmas, wearing my winter coat, and wrapping up in warm layers) but I am already getting some ideas about what I'll be wearing when it arrives!

Love Tor xx

The Bank press day and an age crisis!

Hi guys,
Have you ever walked into a shop and thought "I'm just too old to shop here"? Well that's how I felt at the bank press day yesterday. A mix of cool urban tops and tees designed to be teamed with jeans (and combat pants) hung alongside tiny dresses with sequins and cut out detailing: perfect for hitting your favourite club!

This isn't a critisism of the collections, by the way: 5 years ago I was hitting the clubs wearing tiny dresses and killer heels myself. But now I can't remember the last time I went clubbing: a couple of cocktails then running for the last tube is my idea of a fun Saturday night out!

The one dress I did really love is the gold sequinned ones shown below. It has a really great shape, and the low V and structured shoulders would give a really great shape. Here it is, as well as some of the other things I liked:





The shoes, I loved. You're never too old for cool shoes, thank God! There was a pair of ankle boots I had my eye on, and obviously I definitely couldn't resist the (admittedly slightly tacky but) very cool leopard print and red sandals with the bow detail.

Are there any shops you feel too old to shop in? Or to young for, for that matter?
Love Tor xx

Little Mistress A/W Preview!

Hi guys,

Until I was invited to the Little Mistress bloggers preview, it was a brand i'd never heard of, but last night I was submerged in their new A/W collection, and there was alot to like. They seem to specialise in partywear and are beloved of Katie Price; but don't let that put you off, because some of their dresses are really pretty, really wearable, and just perfect for a big night out!





Partywear was the order of the day, with sequins and heavy embellishment taking centre stage. The key colours were black, royal blue, and party gold. There were two completely sequinned dresses that would be perfect come party season, and the thickness of the sequins made them look expensive, despite the very modest price points.



This was by far my favourite dress. I loved the beautiful gold embellishment and the crazy vibrant pink colour, but the cut is pretty demure and perfect for showing off curves. Just add heels and go:



I would team this with a blazer, gold heels and an oversized clutch and party all night!



Little Mistress are also releasing a brand new range of jewellery, some of which I fell immediately in love with:



Note the chunky and oversized green and gold gemstone necklace and bracelet to the left of the pic, and be still my beating heart! That is exactly my kind of jewellery. There were also some oversized rings at undersized price points (just £5!) that I made a beeline for.



When it comes to Christmas time, Little Mistress will definitely be on my 'must check out' list!



Love, Tor xxxx

Boohoo.com A/W press day

Hi guys,

Yesterday I popped over to the boohoo.com press day, where I bumped into Sherin from Hi Fashion, and lusted over a room full of lovely Autumn/Winter clothing. My new season fetish is being fulfilled and I've already planned several imaginary outfits i'm going to wear as soon as the weather gets warm enough. Of course, the nice thing about imaginary shopping in a place like Boohoo is that all the clothes and accessories are so cheap, I can actually afford to buy some!



Firstly there was the jewellery . Nothing earth shattering, but some pretty pieces nonetheless: I loved the peach rose bracelet and the big silver deco-style necklace.



Then came the handbags. I was surprised at how good the handbags looked, given how cheap they were, with boxy, lady-like bags and vibrant colour blocking ones at the fore. My favourite was the big tan and black bag in the second picture, which looked like real leather, and would go with just about every item in my A/W wardrobe:





Finally, I fell completely and utterly, head over heels-edly in love with the fur coats. I'm such a fur addict that I just can't resist! These pieces are from boohoo's more premium range meaning they're slightly more expensive, but they're still very purse-friendly, coming in at around £80:





As soon as I got back to my desk I whacked in the disc full of PR shots and indulged in some major fashion lust: always a sign of a good collection! And with the dresses and jackets (my two staple items) coming in at around £20 each, it's definitely worth a look: that's cheaper than ASOS! I've never shopped at boohoo before, it definitely won't be long until I can't say that anymore...



Love, Tor xx