Daily Wear: The Perfect Stripey Dress From Joules

Hi guys,
I have written before that on a day to day basis I have a very specific mummy uniform that I tend to wear: simple blouses, pumps, and skinny jeans. I still wear fashion-focused clothes a lot too (mostly at weekends or when I'm going out without the baby) but for running errands, crawling around on the play mat and going to baby groups it's the mummy uniform all the way: I suppose that's one of the bonuses (and downsides) of working from home. However occasionally, I find a compromise dress like this one. It's simple and preppy so it fits in perfectly with my mummy uniform, but it's a little more dressed up and smarter too:
The dress is from Joules (It's the Thurwell heavyweight dress and it costs £49.95). I've teamed it really simply with my new Minna Parrika bunny pumps, black suede tassle bag from Hotter, Missoni sunglasses and black leggings. No fuss, no jewellery. Just an easy to wear outfit that I know is quickly going to be a go-to look for busy weekdays.

The dress is made from a lovely and soft, but really heavy sweatshirt material. The thicker fabric means the dress hangs really well and looks super flattering. It also comes with the added bonus of not needing to be ironed which is a massive plus for me: and there aren't many dresses you can say that about! And I just love my new bunny shoes: I've had them on almost constantly since they arrived. They make every outfit look a little bit happier!

I'm not the only one that's been wearing lovely Joules products this week: you can read Wilbur's review of his new little nipper short suit over on the Fabfrocks and Family blog.

Love Tor x

*I was sent this dress from Joules for the purpose of this review

Fabfrocks reviews: Groupon (and a new haircut)

Hi guys,
I'm signed up to a small army of daily deals websites. And I've written before now about my experiences with beauty treatments brought from Wahanda and similar dedicated beauty voucher sites. But I had never bought a beauty voucher (or any other voucher in fact) from Groupon before. Until now. And I have to say, it was a remarkably easy experience.

My voucher was for a half head of highlights, cut, and blowdry at Pasha in Norwich. (Until recently I didn't even know deals sites existed outside of London, and now I'm obsessed!) I bought my voucher just over 3 weeks ago, and it arrived that same day, so obviously I immediately called the salon and was surprised to get the appointment day and time I wanted straight away. I was half expecting to receive inferior service because I was paying with a voucher, rather than cash. But this really wasn't the case: as shown by the 3.5 hours I spent in the salon receiving my very precise cut and colour!


Ah yes! The obligatory gurning self-portrait....real pretty!

So what did I have done? Sadly I have no outrageous new hairstyle to show you guys: no mullets or pink tips here (as an aside, I was sorely disappointed by how long they lasted!) Nope. I had what I would refer to as 'the usual': light blonde highlights, and a long straight blunt cut. But I'm really pleased with how it looks: and frankly, because of the voucher, it was a huge bargain! If I can keep finding bargain deals like that, then the root-y period I go through between colours could become a thing of the past....

Sign up for your local Groupon daily deals email here.

Love Tor xx

*I received a voucher from Groupon to enable me to write this review. 

Book review: Quant by Quant. The autobiography of Mary Quant

Hi guys,
I first read this book when I was writing my MA dissertation 5 years ago (a battered old copy I borrowed from the library) so I was delighted when the V&A got in touch saying the book was being re-released, and asking if I wanted to see a review copy. Quant by Quant. The autobiography of Mary Quant covers the early years of Mary Quant's life: from growing up during the Second World War through to the early success of the Mary Quant brand in America, via her marriage to Alexander Plunkett Green and the infamous Bazaar days.

Admittedly I prefer the original cover, but excluding a brand new foreword from Quant herself, the contents of the two books are exactly the same.

Mary Quant helped define the world of British fashion. Regardless of how I feel about her now (you can read more about my interview with her here) she certainly was an icon of her time: a pioneer in mass production in the UK, and one of the first British designers to conquer the states. This autobiography definitely gives a real insight into how the Quant empire came into being: and this was a surprisingly haphazard process that could never be recreated now. To start with all of the fabrics for the dresses stocked in Bazaar, for example, came from Harrods, because Quant and Plunkett Green didn't know how to buy wholesale fabric.

This book is great because it makes you feel like you are experiencing the changes and the pop culture of the 'swinging sixties' from the inside: Quant shares what it was like to be there, tells tales of her favourite fashion journalists of the time, and even her stories about air travel and fashion export during the sixties are fascinating. Because I have a personal interest in Quant, I particularly enjoyed the first section of the book, reading about her childhood and how this shaped the woman she went on to become.

The optimism of the book is overwhelming, due in part to its original mid-Sixties release date(It was first published in 1966) when the Quant  brand was still riding high and it seemed nothing could go wrong. This makes in an exhilarating read, especially if you know that just ten years later, the empire will collapse into a pile of cliche, leaving nothing but the make-up brand to survive in its wake. Nonetheless, the Quant that writes this book is in equal parts naive but business-savvy, and ultimately very very likable.

I could talk about this book all day, but really you should check it out for yourself. If you have any interest in the history of British Fashion as we know it now, the sixties, or Mary Quant then I heartily recommend you read this book. Now, now, now! I've just run through it for the second time, and am still as fascinated now as I have always been.

You can buy the book from vandabooks.com for £8.99. If you would prefer an e-copy, that's due for release later this month.

Love Tor x

Going dotty for my new Hotter pumps

Hi guys,
We probably all know of Hotter shoes: their uninspiring TV adverts show middle aged women beaming delightedly whilst wearing chunky, slightly unattractive shoes. But actually, there's a new side to the Hotter Comfort Concept: and it's one I can definitely get behind!

I was sent a pair of their new Mabel canvas lace up pumps. And they're so comfortable, I don't know if I'll ever be able to bring myself to take them off! They look seriously cool (I've worn them with leggings and jeans and they look cool with both) which is the key factor when I'm choosing shoes, but they also feel fantastic. Despite the fact the shoes are made of canvas, they have a cushioned, breathable sole which means you can walk around in them all day without any rubbing or pain - and that's tried and tested!!

The tan leather tabs are a nice touch too: little detail touches like this always get my attention, and they're a sign of a quality and well-made shoe. The pumps come in a variety of different patterns, including a nautical pinstripe and a Cath Kidston-esque ditzy floral. If you're not into patterns, they also come in a plain denim and a plain white. 

The final verdict? For £45 these pumps are obviously more expensive than the similar styles you can pick up from Topshop or even Primark. I have a similar white primark pair I picked up for £4 in fact. But when it comes to comfort, there really in no comparision. And the way my feet feel at the end of the day (like I've been walking on cushions!) means that in my opinion, they're worth every penny.

Love Tor x

Disclosure: I was sent these shoes by Hotter for the purpose of this review. 

Fabfrocks reviews: Nails that cut the mustard

Hi guys,
For the past 4 weeks I have been hunting for the perfect mustard nail varnish. I love the warmth and vintage feel of the colour mustard and have been wearing it for years but it's current fashion popularity means it's so much easier to find now, so as well as buying a couple of new mustard dresses, I resolved to get myself some mustard fingers!

I don't normally spend alot of money on nail varnish, so first I tried Barry M. The nearest they had to mustard was an egg yolk yellow, and it was very very runny. Even after two coats it looked thin and streaky: often a problem with light coloured varnishes. I wiped it off and started again.

Then on Monday whilst in Topshop to check out their sale, I found this:


I've never tried Topshop make up before, and was dubious: I always am when fashion brands branch out and try other things. The colour is called 'cut the mustard' and as it was only £5 I decided to give it a go. The colour is really rich and although I did need the second coat to get a flawless finish, with two coats it has given a thick and glossy finish. I think it looks fantastic!

I've now had it on for two days and haven't suffered a single chip (admittedly I am wearing a base coat and top coat, which is probably helping). But for £5, I'm really impressed! Having been unsure about Topshop make up, on the nail varnish front at least, I'm a new convert.

Love Tor xx

Fabfrocks reviews: Anesis Spa, Clapham Common

Hi guys,
If you're looking for a hand and feet treat, then I would recommend a visit to the Anesis spa.

I popped down last night with Jenny from The Style PA to enjoy a fish pedicure. And unlike my last experience this was relaxing, in a lovely environment, and it actually worked!

There were hundreds of fish in each tank, and they went to town, nibbling at my feet and toes. For those of you that haven't had it done before:A fish pedicure is a pedicure with a difference. You dip your feet into a tank full of garra rufa (or doctor) fish, who suck away all your dead hard skin. For those of you worrying about losing more than you expected (a toe perhaps!) they only consume the affected and dead areas of the skin, leaving the healthy skin to grow.

Because I knew what to expect from my last fishy experience, it actually felt really relaxing: like a tickly massage. The atmosphere in the spa was nice too: chilled out music, mood lighting, and comfy snakeskin seats that you sank into. After 30 minutes of fish nibbling and a glass of champagne, my tootsies were dried, then shaped and polished. I opted for an OPI shade called Russian Navy which looks lovely, and makes a nice change from my usual black!

After we had sat gossiping, letting our toe nails dry, we were asked if we'd like false eyelashes applying too. Obviously we jumped at the chance! We chose dramatic (maybe a little too dramatic with hindsight) sets of strip lashes, but unlike having your striplashes applied at home, these are supposed to last for up to two weeks. I was sceptical, as two weeks seemed like a long time for strip lashed to last. But so far so good: I slept with mine on last night, and they're still in place this morning!

I think Anesis would be a great place to head before a special girly night out. The therapists are warm and friendly. The atmosphere is perfect for pre-night out prep (Think an Ibiza chill out zone). And the fish pedi booths are organised so that you can sit with friends whilst having it done: perfect for girly gossip! The spa also offers individual blink + go lashes, high definition eyebrow shaping (which looks amazing: definitely on my must-try list) and OPI and gel manicures. All you'd need to do is book an afternoon at Anesis, buy a new frock, and you'd be ready for a night on the town!

Love, Tor xx

For more info visit: http://www.anesis.uk.com/

The Jaegar runway report challenge!

Hi guys,
I'm never one to back away from a challenge, so when John Lewis challenged me to write a report on the Jaeger A/W catwalk collection, I just couldn't say no!

The dresses are always the first thing I look at from any catwalk collection (this blog isn't called fabfrocks for nothing!) and these certainly don't disappoint. I love the mustard coloured dress: and mustard is a colour that was used liberally throughout the collection. The lines are simple and clean: they remind me of simple 60s shifts, but with longer, Seventies-style hemlines.

Jaeger is a heritage brand, so it was no surprise that there was an old English heritage feel to the collection, but with a Seventies twist. From the skirts with their preppy below-the-knee skirts to the silk blouses and even the coats with the shearling collars, there was definitely a Seventies-retro feel to this collection.

The steal-the-show pieces though (for me at least) were the knits. They were chunky, heavy-looking and surprisingly simple: unlike the coats which wanted to take all the attention with their wide lapels, leather and shealing detailing, and unusual proportions. But I just couldn't stop thinking about snuggling up in those jumpers and cardigans, which looked perfectly ladylike, cinched in the middle with belts!

And as for my second-favourite obsession, the handbags? Think classic boxy shapes in shades of tan, black and blue, with vibrant orange detailing.

-Do you love Jaegar? Then there's good news! John Lewis are running a competition where you can win two tickets to the Jaegar show at LFW. All you have to do is follow the link and enter your details. Hurry though, as the competition closes at midnight on 8th September!

Love Tor x

Images courtesy of MPDClick.com

Sarenza: Friis & Company special!

Hi guys,

One of the things I love best about being a Sarenza brand ambassador is that I get introduced to new European brands (well, new to me!) that i'm now completely in love with, but had never heard of before.

One of these brands is Friis & Company, who I can definitely say are a new favourite. They're a Danish company that was set up just over 10 years ago, and what they can do with leather defies belief: I can't wait to get my hands on some of their heels!

I picked out a gorgeous pair of their black studded leather boots, and a matching black leather satchel. I'm breaking in the boots today, and so far, so very very comfortable:


The boots are £119 and the bag is £145. (Luckily I got in there before the Sarenza sale ended, so I paid a little less!)

One of the things I love about the brand is how lovely the packaging is. The boots came in a very pretty pink and black box, and each boot came in a satin dust bag, which is how the satchel arrived too.

The leather of both pieces is really soft, and the satchel is even more roomy than it looks: today it's holding my filofax, 2 notebooks and my camera with room to spare! And the boots are such a statement piece I don't have to make much effort with what I wear them with: today i've just thrown on my black jeans and a kimono.

Fashion week is just over a fortnight away, and I know these are going to be my go-to pieces when I want to look great and practical at the same time!

Love, Tor xx

In the changing room at Pepperberry

Hi guys,
A couple of weeks ago I went to the launch of Bravissimo's new clothing line, Pepperberry, and I promised you guys I would go back once the stores were open, to try on some of the range and write a proper review. Well, a promise is a promise, so here it is!

I picked up four dresses and headed to the changing rooms (which like Bravissimo changing rooms were refreshingly massive, and had plenty of mirrors) I couldn't decide whether I would need a 14 RC (Really curvy) or a 14 SC (Super curvy) so I took a mixture of both.

The Pepperberry range immediately solved my often-whinged-about sizing problem: It was so amazing to feel the dresses nip in nicely at my waist without squashing my boobs: normally I have to size up for boob comfort, but the payoff is a wide and gaping waistband, and clothes that don't really fit properly. With the Pepperberry dress my waist was cinched in, my boobs had room to breath, and the dresses skimmed my hips, creating really flattering hourglass shapes: If you want dresses that will give you a 50s movie star figure, then this is the shop to go to!
Another problem the Pepperberry range solved was the under-the-boob issue. In dresses that have panels which are supposed to fall just under the boobs, I usually find the line sitting half way across the fullest part of my boobs looking unslightly: if your slightly fuller busted then anything on an empire line from the high street is a massive no go. The spotty dress in particular surprised me: the panels fit perfectly and the waist started at exactly the point it should, creating that much-longed-for hourglass shape.

Pepperberry very kindly gave us a voucher for one item of clothing when I went to the launch event. I immediately chose the blue full skirted dress: I loved it on the night, and I loved it even more once i'd tried it on. I'm going to wear it in a seventies fashion with retro wedges, replacing the sash with a tan leather belt, and slinging a vintage satchel over my shoulder.

I could've quite easily opted for any of the four dresses I tried on though: they all fit incredibly (In the RC not the SC variant, if you're interested) and i've got a feeling I will be visiting this store again soon!

Love, Tor xx

Fabfrocks reviews: Anna Nicole Smith, The Opera

Hi guys,
Last week it was with much excitement, but not especially high expectations, that I went to see Anna Nicole Smith, The Opera. As soon as i'd heard that the ROH had comissioned this new show I was excited: Anna Nicole's life story lends itself perfectly to opera. But I had read some bad reviews, and was worried a show I knew had so much promise might turn out to be terrible. Luckily, in my opinion at least, the other critics were wrong, and I wasn't disappointed.

The whole show was visually spectacular: more so than any other opera I have seen before. It was also notable that there were loads more young people in the theatre than I have ever seen for any other production at the ROH I have been to (Paloma Faith was sat in the same seating zone as me) Maybe comissioning new young work like this will reenergise the face of opera, which is stereotypically seen as archaic and outdated.

The lead, playing Anna Nicole, was especially energetic. And you really will chance your perception of opera when you watch it being sang by three girls in lingerie hanging upside down from pole dancing poles! The score wasn't always vocally challenging, but the lyrics were hilarious, particularly at the beginning, when we were whizzing our way through Anna Nicole's early life. As a big Anna Nicole fan anyway, I loved the interpretation of her hick family and terrible first husband. The youngster playing her son, Daniel, was adorable, and the guy playing her second and more infamous husband, J Howard Marshall, brought an unexpected slap stick to the proceedings. The end of the show depicting ANS's death was sad and poigniant , and as always, the villain was the media.

For me, it was like the operatic version of Legally Blonde, The Musical: and that is the best West End show i've seen in the past year! I completely loved this. It was hilariously funny but also tragic and moving. Everything you'd look for in an opera, really! If you get the chance to see this show then don't say no: you'd definitely regret missing it.

Love, Tor xx

Fabfrocks reviews: Sen spa @ Harvey Nichols

Hi guys,

As part of Saturday's dream day out, I had a relaxing lower legs and foot massage at the Sen spa in Harvey Nichols, and I found the experience so enjoyable, I thought I should write up a review!

When you walk into the Sen spa it just looks like a normal herbal therapy shop with rows of teas and people browsing, but when you get into the spa area at the back it's completely different: it feels weird, because you know you're in the middle of a busy department store, but it feels like you're a million miles away from anyone.

The therapy room had the obligatory low lighting and pan pipe music, and I was already feeling relaxed before the therapist even came into the room, bringing a bowl full of hot soapy water to soak my feet in. After a long days shopping sitting on a big sunken chair sipping on green tea and soaking my feet felt really amazing!

I was left alone to soak for 5 minutes then the therapist returned, gesturing that it was time to get on the bed. She didn't say a single word before, during, or after the treatment, but that didn't bother me at all. She worked wonders on my feet. I usually hate getting massages (I don't really like being touched by strangers) but this was so relaxing that I started drifting off to sleep! I didn't know you had knots and tension points in your feet, but I could feel her working them out and after the treatment my legs felt lighter and I had a real spring in my step: I also felt so relaxed that it was a struggle to keep my eyes open, so I probably wouldn't recommend this as a pre-shopping treatment!

As a post-shopping treat I would more than recommend this though: I think i'm going to make another appointment for next week to have my aching back and shoulders done too!

Love, Tor xx

Fabfrocks reviews: Silk scarves from Betafashion.com

Hi guys,
I am an accessories addict, so I was delighted when betafashion.com got in touch and asked if i'd like to check out their scarves. Their look book looked beautiful: full of unusual modern designs. I picked my four favourites from their extensive collection to take a closer look at:
The scarves arrived a couple of days ago, and I am delighted: If possible, they are nicer in the flesh then they looked in the pictures. The designs I chose are called (from top to bottom): Urban Jungle, Skulls, Tokyo, and Interstellar dust. I wish I had a crazier fashion sense, because I think they look amazing stacked together like this, but i'd never wear anything that clashed so much! The scarves are soft, almost sheer and incredibly lightweight. The sheer-ness (is that a word?) means the colours don't look as intense as they do on the site, but they are just as beautiful.

The reason the designs are so eclectic is that Beta Fashion have an open call to artists around the world to submit their scarf designs and contribute to its collections, sharing revenue with those whose designs are selected for production. The scarves are printed on high quality silk and cost £35 each. Contributing designers range from graduates of Central St. Martins to independent artists from all over the world. It's just a shame that when you're shopping on the website it doesn't let you know who has designed each scarf. Here are the full designs on each of the scarves I chose:

My mum loves silk scarves and wraps one round her neck every day, in a sophisticated way I could probably never replicate. I've mentioned before that i think alot of fashion-behaviour is learnt from your parents, and so I have a little scarf collection too. The thing I love about scarves is how versitile they are: tie them around your neck, in your hair, or, my personal favourite, use them to brighten up your favourite handbag. What looks like a bright splash of colour from afar becomes a beautiful intricate pattern up close: I love the madness of the scarf below, where skyscrapers sit alongside flowers and flying dolphins. (I took a close up so you can see the detail)

I couldn't resist tying each scarf to my bag and posing in front of the mirror, like a girl! They're much bigger than you think and leave lots of lovely fabric trailing along your bag, or a big ruche of fabric at your neck. As you can probably tell, i'm a little smitten!

Love, Tor xx

PS -I have one more image of the scarves to add (me actually wearing one!!) but stupidly left my camera cable at the office! I'll update tonight!

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

Accessory lust: Marc B bags

I love my accessories: I think they make an outfit, especially because I dress quite plainly most of the time. That means that i'm crazy about shoes and handbags (not to mention my love of oversized jewels!) So how delighted was I when Marc B asked if i'd like to review one of their bags?

The answer is, pretty delighted! The website is very funky and easy to navigate, which made choosing my bag stress-free. I couldn't decided whether to go for my usual oversized holdall-type bag, or something a little more delicate. I opted for the latter, and chose the Knightsbridge bag in classic black. Apparently i'm in good company: it's one of the brands best sellers!

I went for the matt black, but the bag also comes in a patent black and an array or bold and pastel colours. The gold strap can be switched around so you can wear the bag two ways: which a long strap (which is long enough to go across your body) or a short shoulder bag-type strap. Looking at their site, it seems the chain handle is something of a specialism for them, and they do it really well. Obviously when you look at this bag you draw immediate comparisons to a Chanel, as the style and quilting are so similar. This didn't bother me as much as I thought it would though, as it's such a lovely bag.

On a boring and practical front, the thing I loved most about the bag was the inside: it has so many pockets and zip up areas which makes this the perfect bag for a day trip or holiday. You could put your cash/camera in the very middle zip up pocket, and it would be impossible for anyone to pickpocket you. Also, the lining of the bag is leopard print, which I love !

The bag is slightly too small to contain everything I carry on a day to day basis (it's a tad too narrow to fit my filofax in) but everything else fits in like a charm. This would be a perfect bag for a day when I wanted to be more streamlined: for example for going out after work, going to a gig, or a daytrip when i'm on holiday. I think it's lovely, and overall i'm really pleased with it!

Love, Tor xx

PS - Don't forget to enter my competition to win a £60 voucher from Sarenza!

Fabfrocks reviews: the fish pedicure

Thursday's deal from Wahanda was a half price fish pedicure (just £9) and having read so much about them via twitter, I decided I had to give it a go! A fish pedicure is a pedicure with a difference: you dip your feet into a tank full of garra rufa (or doctor) fish, who suck away all your dead hard skin. For those of you worrying about losing more than you expected (a toe perhaps!) they only consume the affected and dead areas of the skin, leaving the healthy skin to grow.

My experience was disappointing: I went to Wanda Fish in Camden, which was a very basic establishment, rather than the salon I was expecting. I was very cautious when I dipped my feet into the big tub of fish, but aside from about a minute of weirdness, it didn't feel uncomfortable at all: in fact it just felt like having your feet in a bubble spa. The sensation was really gentle and soothing. The water was tepid, which was great as I expected it to be cold, but apparently garra rufa are warm water fish.

The problem with fish is that unlike a therapist, you can't tell them to concentrate on your problem areas: the fish seemed to enjoy the tops of my feet, which didn't need any work, and left the soles of my feet alone. I also didn't think there were enough fish in each tank, and that may have affected the performance: other salons say they have between 150-200 fish per tank, but I would estimate that there were only around 50 in mine. So although this had no real affect on my feet, it could be that the experience is better in other locations. I think this kind of treatment would work best in conjunction with a therapist as well, which this salon didn't offer: after my half an hour with the fish I would've liked the rest of the hard skin removed from my feet and my nails painted, which you get with a normal pedi, but don't get with a fish one.

I'm glad I tried it, and it was definitely worth giving it a go, for the experience if nothing else. But sadly it hasn't made any real difference to my feet, and i'm still going to have to go for a proper pedicure to remove the hard skin on my heels, and for a shape and polish.

Love, Tor xx

Sex and the City 2: The Movie review

Last night my sister and I went to see the new Sex and the City movie. I was looking forward to it, but apprehensively: every single review i'd read had been awful, so I didn't want to expect alot. I think that is the way to approach the film, because with my low expectations I actually found I had a great time!

In a recent interview SJP decribed the film as "a romp" and that's exactly what it was: I laughed out loud several times (usually at Samantha) I despaired at Carrie's hopelessness (and at the sometimes wince inducing plot) and I left the theatre feeling somewhat fulfilled. Some parts of the story were cut off too quickly, and the storyline that lead them to the Middle East in the first place was thin and patchy to say the least. But if you suspend your disbelief and accept it for what it is then I think you can still have a good night out with "the girls" (Isn't it ridiculous to call women in their 50s girls!?) The film franchise will never live up to the TV series for me, but in whatever way its nice to watch characters you love grow and develop, even if it isn't in the way you would've chosen for them.

The fashion though, was fabulous: it felt like some scenes had only been added as set pieces for Patrica Field to show what she could do. The big gay wedding (between two characters that hated each other - did I miss something?!) and the trekking across the desert on camels (yes, I felt your collective sigh) were costume high points, but plot-line low points. (Although Liza Minelli was incredible and we left the cinema still singing Beyonce because of her!) The scene where Miranda and Charlotte have a heart to heart about motherhood is touching, and could have been made much more of: the dresses they wear in that scene are fantastic too! SJP wears ALOT of Halston (predictably) and this actually means that for me she isn't the best or most interestingly dressed character in the film: look to the other ladies for your sartorial inspiration!

Speaking of the fashion, you might remember aages ago I showed you my Carrie Bradshaw-style Fabfrocks name necklace. Well Carrie still wears hers all the way through the latest film, and if you're still thinking of getting your hands on one (your name not Carries, unless you're a super-fan!) then I still recommend mynamenecklace who made mine. They're also started doing them in Arabic Script: yet more inspiration from the Sex and the City franchise! I wish i'd remembered to put mine on yesterday, but as we went straight from work we didn't get to dress up and do our homage to Bradshaw: next time (and there will be a next time: I predict that this franchise isn't dead yet!)

Have you been to see the film yet? I'd love to know what you think!
Love, Tor xx

Simply Be: It's getting hot in here!

This week I was given the opportunity to try something from Simply Be and I opted to choose from their new (gorgeous looking) hot tropics range. Which, given the hot hot weather all of a sudden, has turned out to be a pretty good idea!

I always knew of Simply Be as that plus sized catelogue off the telly, so I was suprised to learn three new things about them this week: 1) They have a website, which actually has some pretty lust-worthy stuff on it. 2) With their new collections, such as hot tropics, they are starting their sizing at a size 12, so they are targeting normal real women, not just plus sized ones. 3) Simply Be and Simply Yours (of super-bras fame) are sister companies. When you look at the names though, I could've worked that one out for myself!!

I opted for the butterfly tunic and a jungle maxi dress, as well as a more versitile boyfriend blazer with studded lapels. Here's how they look:

I'm in love with every single piece. The clothes are cut for curves, so there's lots of room for my boobs and each piece clings in all the right places. The floaty maxi dress is my favourite of the three, and is going to be perfect for hot summer nights out, and the butterfly dress teamed with sandals will take me for a day on the beach. The blazer will come into its own in Autumn, where I can team it with dresses and boots or use it to jazz up jeans.

I can heartily recommend checking out Simply Be if you're looking for clothes to flatter curves, regardless of whether your plus sized or not. I hadn't ever considered the brand before, but now i'll definitely be checking out what they get in stock!

Love, Tor xx

Competition: Win a pair of Polaroid sunglasses

I've been a bit obsessed with sunglasses lately: cheap ones, expensive ones, i've tried on them all! So I was really excited when Polaroid asked if i'd like to try a pair from their new range. And even more excited when they said I could have a second pair to give away to you guys!

The pair i'm giving away are from their catwalk chic collection, and are worth £65.99. They are the exact same pair as those I am showing and posing in above. They have a glossy black frame which is wider at the sides and the top, giving a movie star feel. The arms have a quilted effect complete with tiny silver Polaroid pieces: when I wore these yesterday the silver flecks kept catching the sun, making them quite literally eye catching. I love the shape of them: it's so distinctive, and actually manages to make my face look slimmer!

I knew Polaroid made sunglasses, of course, but I always saw them as practical ones, mainly targeted at men, so the new range took me by suprise: as well as the ones i'm giving away there are loads of other oversized lovelies, and some of the wire frame aviators are gorgeous.

As always, nothing too complicated needed to win: you just need to be a follower of the blog, and leave a comment below about your dream holiday destination (because we all need sunglasses for our imaginary holidays!) As always, the winner will be chosen at random from a hat.

Love, Tor x

Illamasqua lipgloss: lickably good!

I think I mentioned yesterday that in the goodie bag from the ASOS access all areas event was an Illamasqua lipgloss. I was really pleased because i'd never heard of the brand before but I loved how my make up looked on the night and impressed by how long it lasted too.
The lipgloss is a pillar box red, so perfect for a night out. It's thick and looks great with just one quick coat but isn't sticky at all. It also smells like candy: i'm not sure if this is a good or a bad thing because on the one hand it's yummy but on the other it doesn't taste that way when you try to lick it! I've had it on all afternoon and only had to reapply it once (not to add colour, just to add gloss) so i'm really impressed. The blurb about the brand on the side of the box gives the brand a real sense of drama: Conceived amid the dark drama of 1920s Berlin, developed by professional make-up artists, embraced by alternative cultures, made by a unique British brand. Worn by those who refuse to be everybody.

On their website they have a massive selection of dramatic eye make up and a gorgeous new range of pastel nail varnished that would be perfect for Spring. I definitely want to explore Illamasqua more: i'm turning into quite the make up addict!

Love, Tor xx

Run rabbit, Run rabbit, Run run run!

Phase two of "Topshop Edit" launches on the 14th March, and they are adding a new brand to the mix - Rabbit on the Run. Rabbit on the Run is a Croatian label and was founded by Julie Thevenot in 2008, starting with hand-printing and dye-testing in her custom-built silkscreen studio. Its aesthetic is the result of experiments and research in large-format cutting and folding techniques, developing an unexpected symmetry. The feel of the brand is jubilant, playful and futuristic.I'm a big fan of monochrome for Spring, so the collection immediately grabbed my attention. The collection has a very tribal primative feel to me (most openly articulated in the jacket) I love the cut of the trousers but find the print overpowering: they would be wonderful for someone a little more fashion forward than myself though, and the pleats around the waistband would lend to a really flattering fit.

The piece that I liked most (and would be most likely to add to my own wardrobe) is the T shirt with the geometric print on it. The print reminds me of medeval body armour, and would look great with leggings and tough studded gladiator sandals for a relaxed summer look.

I don't know how big the range will be, but there were only four images (above) of the collection released yesterday. I hope there will be more to come though - it's so hard to get a feel for a range on such a small taster, and I feel like Rabbit on the Run has the potential to be a great addition for Topshop! I also think its great that Topshop supports up and coming designers by giving them this kind of massive opportunity: its a win-win situation.

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Love, Tor xx