Primark AW13: Another peek (Because it's all so good!)

Hi guys,
As you're reading this I am at The Crazy Bear in Stadhampton celebrating my 2nd wedding anniversary. But I thought I'd leave you guys with some yummy scrummy Primark fun! I get back tomorrow, and I'll share all the details of my trip!

After last week's peek at some of the campaign images from Primark's autumn/winter offerings, I thought we should have a look at some more of the product we've got to look forward to. I said it last week, and I'll say it again, I'm so excited for all of this stuff to land in store! It's a range that really appeals to me because it's lady-like, grown-up, massively wearable and would fit in so nicely with my existing wardrobe.
Image 1: Sweatshirt, £10. Trousers, £8. Shoes, £18.
Image 2: Jacket, £25. T shirt, £12. Trousers, £16. Shoes, £14. Necklace, £8.
Image 3: Jumper, £10. Shirt, £10. Jeans, £13. Shoes, £14. Earrings, £5.
Image 4: Dress, £13. Boots, £20. Tights, £3.50.
Image 5: Sweatshirt, £12. Skirt, £6. Shoes, £18. Necklace, £8.
Image 6: Coat, £25. Sweatshirt, £10. Trousers, £8. Shoes, £14. Earrings, £5.

The peep toe ankle boots are gorgeous: I tried on a similar pair in Topshop last week, and they were £75. They'd look great with coloured tights or skinny jeans! I also really like the cobalt blue coat, which has an awesome, retro 1980s feel. My final pick? That chunky knit dusty pink jumper is a piece you would buy and wear again and again. It's so versatile, and could be dressed up or down.

Want to see more? Check out last week's post showing the first peek at Primark's new season campaign images.

Is there anything that's caught your eye this time? And what do you think about the new Primark autumn/winter collection - are you tempted to start shopping?

Love Tor x

Primark AW13: The first campaign images are here!

Hi guys,
We're finally having our first heat wave of the year, so it seems natural that now would be the perfect time for me to start talking about autumn/winter. Because what everyone wants right now is a new winter coat! Seriously though, the first campaign images from Primark for autumn have been released, and I knew I had to share them as soon as I saw them!

The unwearable crop tops and youth-focus of the spring/summer collection has gone. Instead it's been replaced with a grown up, lady like range that is really wearable and very covetable. There are so many pieces I'm lusting after that it's hard to know where to begin:
Image 1:Leopard print sweater, £10. Ring sets from £3.
Image 2: Nude coat, £32. Nude cropped jumper, £10. Nude trousers, £12.
Image 3: Black and white jumper, £14. Black skirt, £14. Black heels, £16.
Image 4: Leather sleeve coat, £28. Shirt, £12. Trousers, £12. Bag, £10. Trainers, £12.
Image 5: Grey and black dress, £17. Bag, £4.
Image 6: Pink coat, £25.

Where do I even start with my list of items I'm coveting? Obviously, because I'm a coat addict, I'd like the leather sleeved cream coat. The full faux leather skirt is just made for teaming with a vintage-style tee and heeled ankle boots. And that leopard print sweater has my name written all over it!

I really do like this collection. It feels like it's aimed at 20-somethings, rather than the teens and pre-teens of the past couple of seasons. What do you think? Is there anything you really like from Primark autumn/winter so far? Or is it just too early to start thinking about your winter wardrobe?

Love Tor x

The shoes every girl needs Part Four: Winter Wellies

Hi guys,
Here's part four of my series of shoes you need to have a perfectly rounded shoe wardrobe! I believe that with just 6 carefully selected pairs of shoes, you can have a shoe for every possible occasion.

This month's shoe that every girl needs couldn't have come at a better time, given all the snow we've had: it's the winter wellie. Much more versatile than a snow boot (only worth buying if you go skiing) but won't get damaged in the snow and rain like your leather boots. Perfect for adding a flash of colour on a dreary day. And just as useful for April showers as they are for January snowstorms. If you don't have a pair of wellies, I suspect this week is the week you'll be asking yourself why not!

Gold Hunter wellies, were £109 now £43.60 (60% discount)
Missoni print boots, were £148.90 now £74.50 (50% discount)
Moschino Cheap & Chic leopard print wellies, were £156 now £109.20 (30% discount)
Haviaianas summer print boots, were £48.90 now £29.30 (40% discount)
Guess pink wellies, were £72 now £42.30 (40% discount)
Giesswein carnival boots, were £68 now £34 (50% discount)

The Sarenza sale is in full swing, so now is the perfect time to pick up a pair of designer wellies: I've never seen Hunter wellies so cheap! The pairs that have really caught my eye though are the patterned Missoni ones and the leopard print Moschino boots. I'm definitely going to be picking up one of them, I just can't choose which ones!! With a pair of these on my feet, dressing for the snow will have never looked so good.

Wondering what other shoes every girl needs in her wardrobe? Check out part one (black heels) here,  part two (leather pumps) here, and part three (comfy flat boots) here.

Love Tor x

Winter styling ideas from Next

Hi guys,
Winter is here. It's cozy up warm time, which means knitwear, party dresses, snuggly winter boots and of course the perfect winter coat. Yes, I'm talking about that again!

Finding the perfect winter coat is something of a life mission for me: I'm obsessed with coats and own more than twenty: Nope, that's not including jackets! But realistically, most people (quite rightly!) only have one in their wardrobe: understandable too. Those things are expensive! So using the latest collections from Next,  I'm going to show you how to take one perfect winter coat, and style it in three very different ways. I've opted for a fitted faux fur coat because they suit everyone, regardless of age and body type. And because I have one from Next which fits like a dream:


For a shopping spree and girly lunch

Leopard print faux fur coat, £65 - Black leather trousers, £110 - Pussy bow blouse, £28 - Black stud slippers, £30 - Black leather bag, £75 - Silver crystal watch, £28


For a walk in the park

Leopard print faux fur coat, £65 - grey bakerboy hat, £10 - Relaxed skinny jeans, £26 - Star jumper, £28 - Feather necklace, £10 - Ankle Boots, £70

For a night on the town

Leopard print faux fur coat, £65 - Black sequin dress, £65 - Hidden platform shoes, £38 - Gold stud clutch, £25 - Black and gold bangle, £12

I hope this proves that if you choose the right, versatile coat, you can wear it for every occasion and it will look great! Although I'm not sure it means I'll be taking my own advice and getting rid of my beloved coat collection...

Lovely blogger Amy Antoinette is collaborating with Next to giveaway a £500 voucher to the blogger who best styles three versatile looks from the new season Next collection. The above is my entry to the competition - wish me luck!! 

Love Tor x

Daily wear: The way I wore a Winter Christening

Hi guys,
Whenever you tell someone you're going to a winter event, they immediately wince and then ask you what you're going to wear. That's because winter occasion dressing is one of the most fraught outfit experiences for anyone. When I wrote my post on what to wear for a winter graduation, I didn't expect even half the response I got from you guys! It seems everyone knows that in the summer most occasions can be sorted with a floral frock and sandals, but in the colder months things get much more hazy.

This isn't a post full of lots of ideas for dressing for winter events, but a snap shot of what I wore to a winter Christening this weekend. My nephew Bertie was Christened, and Mike and I were one set of the Godparents. So naturally, I decided that an occasion such as this required a hat!


The felt hat is from Clothing at Tesco. I wore it with a Topshop blazer, and H&M dress. The ankle boots are from Marks and Spencer (wore for comfort, as we were walking to and from the church) The necklace is from All Saints, and the belt is actually one of Mikes, stolen at the last minute because I forgot the pack mine.

The whole outfit was a little dull (black and grey are my two favourite colours, but probably aren't lively enough for a Christening). So I added a pop of red lipstick, and a tan, black and orange oversized clutch bag from Zara. I felt really good, but more importantly I felt comfortable for a whole day of cuddles with my little nephew, and chasing around my toddling niece!

Do you have any hints and tips for winter event dressing? And what would you have worn to a winter Christening? Share your ideas and outfit inspiration!

Love Tor xx

Daily Wear: Wrapping up warm

Hi guys,

Last night the temperature hit -18 oC. So I probably didn't pick the best day to rebel against my coat! But at around this time every year I just get fed up of covering everything in a big old jacket, and want to wear something different. Which is why I left the house today without my coat, and instead wore a thermal vest, thinsulate top, chunky knit cardigan, and very questionable hat to keep warm:

The blouse is Clothing at Tesco. The jeans are Topshop. The cardigan, the Rock and Republic sunglasses and the All Saints necklace are all from TKMaxx. The hat is from Matalan, the boots are M&S. And the big bag is vintage.

It wasn't my wisest decision: despite all the layers, I was still freezing! Next week is London Fashion Week, and if the temperature stays like this I have no idea what I'll be wearing: but I do know it will be less about fashion, and more about wrapping up to stay warm!

Oh and by the way - This is the second post I've written which featured my new hair colour, but I keep forgetting to mention it! It's still pretty blonde, but I've added some frosty overtones to it: removing the warmth of the previous blonde colour and introducing a light ashy brown to give it some texture too. What do you think?!

Love Tor xx

Color Day: Winter White, Cream, and Gray

Anyone get engaged over Thanksgiving and looking to plan a winter wedding for next year?  Here's a great color combo for you that features cream paired with gray and white for a chic, yet comfy cozy winter look.  Neutrals are calming and inviting and this color combo definitely relaxes us and feels very luxurious, despite it's simplicity. We can just imagine how romantic this would look with the soft glow of candle lights all around!

1. Elizabeth Anne Designs | 2. Robert Blancaflor | 3. Lauren Ashley Clements | 4. A Stylish Design | 

5. Talia Events | 6. cococozy | 7. Style Me Pretty | 8. Once Wed | 9. Zazzle | 10. woomi | 11. Modcloth |

XOXO

Jen & Saira

Nice Bootie

Our trip to the mall this weekend helped us scope out some of the things we hope to pick up during those black Friday and cyber Monday sales. One of the main items on our list is a cute pair of booties.  Recently Jen went on a boot bender and ordered at least a dozen boots from Zappos before finding the perfect pair of knee high boots to fit her wide calves. But while knee high boots are sexy, and great for those of us who can't bear the thought of giving up our skirts in the winter, the hassle that comes with finding a pair can be frustrating. Measuring calves, packaging and returning, struggling to zip them - it's all very time consuming and somewhat stressful. So, put down that measuring tape and focus your energy on snagging yourself a great pair of ankle booties. Ankle booties are really popular right now and can be dressed up for work or down for casual get togethers. Wear these heeled booties with your jeans and sparkly top or a cute dress and tights for a holiday worthy look that is casually cool and chic:

1. Nine West | 2. Anthropologie | 3. DKNYC | 4. Kimchi Blue |

5. Seychelles | 6. Jessica Simpson | 7. Madewell | 8. Steve Madden |

XOXO

Jen & Saira

Winter Style: Scarves

A warm neck goes a long way when there are temperatures below freezing and 40 MPH winds. Cover yourself up with a stylish scarf and keep that chill from cooling you to the core.  With over 7 ways to tie it, a scarf can be a winter survival essential and a risk free fashion statement.

Not only is this colorful scarf perfect for fighting frostbite, it's also bright and cheerful enough to warm your mood as you clear those 18 inches of snow from your car.

Who doesn't love pom poms?  This warm knit scarf is grown up and mature looking but the fun and playful pom poms makes us smile as we think back to childhood snow days.

Here are some scarves you can really feel good about!  When you buy one of these lovely hand made scarves  it helps to fund mammograms for women in need!  We particularly like this intricate pattern and modern colors of these hand made alpaca wool scarves, but there are plenty of other styles and colors to choose from.

 These cashmere scarves are luxurious, colorful, and elegant - great for staying warm and for pairing with your professional work attire to look effortlessly chic.

We love vintage looking items! This cream colored crocheted scarf is simply charming and sure to keep you cozy!

Speaking of vintage, how about an infinity scarf (aka: snood)? This popular accessory from the 1940's has morphed from a hairnet to a ski slope staple in the 1950's to it's tubular shape you see today that lets you wear it in a variety of ways!

And, finally, you can never go wrong with a great plaid scarf! Plaid lets you incorporate all the colors you like in a way that is classic and sophisticated.



That's a wrap!



XOXO

Jen & Saira

Winter Wedding Wonderland

We've already begun exploring the beauty of winter weddings in our Color Day posts, but here's a more in-depth look at all the wonderful options available to you on your big day. There are many things that come to mind when you think of winter: snow, ice, hot cocoa, mittens, sleighs... so why not incorporate these ideas into your decor? 

 Walk down a snow covered aisle by decorating with a white carpet, white chairs, and white flowers. The white on white look creates an elegant and pristine setting for your wedding vows that you will remember for the rest of your life.

A lovely idea is to use Christmas ornaments as place card holders! While we're partial to this delicate snowflake design, you could incorporate your wedding colors, add brighter designs, or engrave your names or wedding date to create a one-of-a-kind wedding favor.

If you're not into florals, have allergies, or are just tired of making choices, ditch the traditional and opt for the pine cone bouquet. It's seasonal, unique, and perfect for a more understated and earthy couple. A more common approach is to incorporate pine cones in your arrangement, but we're all for new ideas and there is something very lovely and down-to-earth about carrying all pine cones. Just be careful when tossing your bouquet! 

Have fun with your wedding photos and throw on some woolen mittens! It looks very cute, keeps you warm, and you can incorporate your wedding colors so that it all ties together. In fact, get pairs for your whole bridal party... they'll thank you the next morning when they're scraping ice off their cars!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow... on your cake! A snowflake design on your cake is such a simple and charming way to add some flair to your dessert.  While you can go for a more bold approach, we love the delicate snowflakes and how they add just a bit of texture to the icing.

While you'll probably serve hot cocoa at the wedding, how about giving it away as a wedding favor? We love these jars of hot chocolate with little bags of heart shaped marshmallows, but we're especially in love with the packaging!

While winter weddings are beautiful, then can be downright frigid! This is especially the case if you plan on taking photos outside, or your ceremony and reception are at different venues. To stay warm, but still look every bit the bride, throw on a faux fur shawl or coat, which is both stylish and practical. Better yet, get some for your bridesmaids too!

Okay, we're not going to lie... we think ice sculptures are a little over the top. Beautiful, yes... but over the top. But if your heart is set on an ice sculpture, then a winter wedding is the perfect setting for it because, let's face it, having an ice sculpture of a snowflake is much more original than the usual two hearts intertwined.

Not a fan of all white or ice blue? Add some color to your wedding with this gorgeous bouquet full of flora and peacock feathers, with just a touch of holly. The warm, vibrant colors is perfect for a less traditional winter wedding, but is still very seasonal. Plus, Martha Stewart approves!

A beautiful sight, we're happy tonight...

XOXO,

Jen & Saira

Inject some colour into your winter wardrobe: buy new tights!

Hi guys,
I never thought i'd say this, but I am getting seriously bored of wearing head to toe black. Black is my favourite colour to wear, but during the winter generally the only colours I break it up with are charcoal grey, or if i'm feeling really adventurous, brown. I can't wait for spring to arrive so that I can start wearing my lovely floral dresses again!

I'm on a pre-wedding shopping ban, so I can't go out and buy new winter dresses in jewel shades (my dream way to dress at this time of year) which means i'm stuck with the black dresses: classic and flattering but not always that exciting. But I did think of a cheap and cheerful way to brighten up the black and inject some colour into my wardrobe: tights.

Jonathan Aston: Yellow opaque tights. Jonathan Aston: Pink sheer tights.

A pair of tights in a vibrant colour can make an outfit look completely different. I have a wide pink leather belt which I love, but never wear: I could throw it over my favourite black dress and add these pink tights for a coordinated work wear look that would look much more exciting that my usual drab offerings! I love the amazing colour of these yellow tights, but I just don't think I have the legs to pull off yellow however they'd look great poking out of the bottom of my ankle length hareem pants teamed with brogues, and they'd keep my legs warm too: result!

Miss Oroblu: celebrity tights. Miss Oroblu: floral print tights.

I love patterned tights: they're like works of leg art! Sadly, my legs just aren't a good enough canvas for the beautiful art and patterned tights stretch out and make me look much wider. It has to be plain block coloured tights for me!

If I go out and buy 4 pairs of tights in lovely jewel colours then I can jazz up my wardrobe all the way until Spring (is it too early to think about Spring? I'm so ready for it to arrive!) and all for less than the cost of a new top I probably won't ever wear from Topshop! Now that's shopping I can justify! (Just don't tell the fiance: I promised not to shop until after the wedding. Shhhhh!)

Love, Tor x

This is a sponsored post on behalf of mytights.com

Jack Frost Can Nip Someone Else's Toes, Thank You

All of these winter snowstorms have got us going crazy for winter boots  and there's even more snow expected to come into our area tomorrow! In the search for a great boot, we're torn between fashion and function, especially when we think how we'll be navigating the snowy channels on our way to work. The trick is, of course, finding a boot that is practical, warm, but still looks good. While we haven't found "the perfect boot," we have found a number of boots that will suit your needs.  Take a look below!

We are huge fans of of the Sorel Tivoli boot, which looks like a hybrid of a rain boot and snow boot. It's waterproof, with great traction and fur lining... what else can you want in a winter boot? We especially love the plaid pattern, and think this is the perfect casual boot for a girl with a fun sense of style.

No discussion of serious winter boots can go without a shout out to the famous Russian Valenki boots. While not the most gorgeous choice out there, they will keep your feet warm and dry. They come with removable galoshes, which they suggest you wear if the snow is more slush than powder. Made of 100% wool, these boots actually form to fit your feet, which is very Back to the Future Part II.  You know these are the real deal... those Russians don't mess around when it comes to the snow.

Another more "serious" winter boot are the Janey boots by Northface. Like the Valenki boots, they come equipped for slush with a rubber sole. They are also water proof, have a faux fur lining, and are made from recycled materials. We also love the side laces... très chic.

 Wearing hot pink never looks serious but, kid you not, this is a serious winter boot. Moon Boots are a a ski fashion staple and are super warm, waterproof, and incredibly lightweight. When you slip them on, you feel like you're walking on air... or perhaps the moon.  They come in an array of colors and styles, but are known for their rounded, oversized shape.

Back in 1996, Timberland boots were all the rage. Best known for their iconic yellow work boots, Timberland boots dominated hip hop fashion in the 1990s, but have since faded out of the cultural mainstream. You still see them around nowadays, but what many people don't realize is that the company offers so many different styles, such as this winter lace-up boot. With a rubber sole and fleece lining, this boot is perfect for the winter and is very sleek and stylish. One word of caution: that many laces can be a huge pain in the winter if you have frozen fingers. But we're a huge fan of lace-ups, so we'll take it!

 Another tall, lace-up boot we love is the Winter Transit boot by Columbia. To us, this is the embodiment of urban winter footwear. It's fashionable, sleek, subtle, and practical, which is exactly what you need this winter. It's waterproof, with faux fur lining and a rubber sole for extra traction. It sort of reminds us of something that Russian soldiers would march in in the war against Napoleon... and we know how well that turned out!

Meet the Ugg boot's greatest rival... the Emu boot.  Also made in Australia with sheepskin lining, the Emu boot gets a lot of comparisons to the famous Aussie brand, and is currently facing a law suit from the company. If you check out their website, you'll definitely see the similarity, but this Armadale boot is a different style, and we're really liking the look of it. It looks more equestrian than the typical Ugg boot, is covered in leather rather than suede, and has an interesting top shape.

The classic Ugg boot is the most popular winter boot around. While we were haters of the boot a few years ago, we've come around after actually trying them on. They are incredibly warn and comfortable, and are seriously perfect for a cold winter night. But when it snows or rains, you're in trouble, because the boot isn't waterproof, leaving you with wet feet and stained suede. So if you want a serious winter boot, but love the warmth of Uggs, try the Adirondack boot by Uggs. We're partial to the camel color, although it's also available in dark brown and black. The boot is waterproof with extra traction and, of course, the Ugg staple -sheepskin lining throughout.



Here's to walking in a winter wonderland!



XOXO,



Jen & Saira

Color Day: Ice Blue, Platinum, and White

Christmas may be over, but it's still winter and that means plenty of frost and ice to go around.  So, we've taken cues from the season and created a lovely, glacial inspiration board for this week.  Go the way of the polar bear and dive into glacier (ice) blue, white, and silver (platinum) for chilling colors that help bring the look of the arctic to any space or event.

Images from: humankindness, woomi, kiudesigns, bleu nature, groom sold separately,  Harriet Kelsall, Travel Pod, Brenda's Wedding Blog, i do inspiration, Cafe Makeup, MariesVintage

XOXO

Jen & Saira      

Winter Sweaters: Alpine Style

Welcome back, dolls, and a very happy new year to you!  2010 was a great year and we're excited to see what 2011 has in store for us. So far,  we were lucky enough to get over 2 feet of snow and can foresee some wonderful skiing and snowboarding fun in our near future.  Although we can hit those blue trails like champs, we agree that one of the best parts about a long day skiing or snowboarding is coming home, changing into something super warm and comfy, and drinking cocoa by the fireplace. While we personally wouldn't wear alpine sweaters every day, they are perfect for winter activities. If you plan on taking a ski-cation, we'd suggest packing a few of these babies, or else you'll end up getting ripped off at the gift shop after you see how cute everyone looks in their Fair Isle getup!

Whether you're skiing in the Alps of shoveling snow in the suburbs, cozy up in front of the fireplace in this thick, turtleneck sweater from Victoria's Secret. The red and white make it look especially Swiss, and we guarantee that you'll be craving some fondue in no time!

Another look straight off the ski slopes is this toggle sweater from American Eagle. We love that it's a cardigan, because you can always layer up and make it more casual by adding a graphic tee shirt underneath.  It comes in a number of different colors, so get your crew together and hit the slopes!

For all you snow bunnies out there, bundle up in this wrap snowflake sweater from Forever 21. If you're dreaming of powder fresh snow, we hear that wearing snowflakes the night before increases the chance of snowfall by 8.2%. It's all a numbers game, really. So we're thinking, if you wear this sweater, put on your pajamas inside out, and spin around three times, odds are that you'll have perfect ski conditions come morning.

 If you're a tree hugging snow bunny, then you'll love this wool cardigan from Free People. It has a large collar, big buttons, and a cute alpine pattern which is great for any après-ski party. We think this would look particularly cute with a vintage tee underneath (kelly green is always our favorite color choice), Utilitarian boots, and a Peruvian style beanie.

We'll admit, when we think snowfall and skiing, we don't think poncho.  But with a snowflake pattern and roomy hood, this poncho is perfect for the frigid winter cold. We love that you can layer up underneath and just drape it over whatever you're planning on wearing for the evening.

If you plan on attending a more sophisticated après-ski bash, you may want to go for this Fair Isle sweater dress available at Macy's. It's a little more posh than the big bulky sweaters shown above, but it'll still keep you cozy warm in the cold winter nights. You can dress it up with tights and flats, make it look funky with leggings and fringed boots, or go comfy with jeans and Uggs.



Let's hit the slopes, dolls!



XOXO,



Jen & Saira