Daily Wear: Long and lazy Sundays

Hi guys,
This weekend was dominated by a friend's wedding (which was great!) on Saturday and Saturday night. As is expected for these occasions, I got all dolled up and boogied the night away. Which meant that today was the perfect day for a lovely long relaxing day: which we chose to spend having a fat steak in the pub then mingling with the crowds of Bicester Village, alongside my parents, sister and gorgeous nephew. You can tell I had a late night the night before, as it doesn't look like I remembered to brush my hair!



I love the dress, which is from French Connection; a bargain picked up in the sale earlier in the summer. It's not maternity wear but where stretch jersey is concerned, I really don't think it matters. The scarf is from Alice Temperley's Somerset Collection for John Lewis, and the bag is BCBG MaxAzria, which I picked up from TK Maxx, also earlier in the summer. The ring is from Swarovski (and one of my faves!) Without wanting to be predictable (ha!) I am wearing my favourite River Island leather jacket and H by Hudson boots (c/o Sarenza) too. Again.

I love Bicester Village: it's one of my favourite shopping days out. And usually I come home with bags full of goodies to show off. But this trip, aside from an oven glove and two tea towels from the Cath Kidston outlet (oh the glamour!) I left empty handed.

Have you guys all had a good weekend? I'd love to hear what you've been up to - especially if it involves shopping. I really do think I'm addicted!

Love Tor xxx

To everything there is a Seasons (Turn! Turn! Turn!)

Hi guys,
Sometimes I hear something that puts a song lyric into my head and I just can't get it out: hence the title of today's post. Because it's all about my latest online shopping discovery: seasonsclothing.co.uk. Which immediately made me start singing The Byrds 'To everything there is a season'. Over and over again in my head. In fact, I'm doing it now! Anyway, I digress.... 

Like most websites, its name doesn't actually give anything away about it, so let me explain. Seasons is a designer clothes site featuring a myriad of amazing designers, including Acne, Alice Temperley, Marc by Marc Jacobs, See by Chloe and many many more. Before I started writing this post I spent over an hour creating a virtual shopping list on the site: I didn't intend to, but there were just so many things I wanted, and once I start creating wishlists I just can't stop! Check out all the great pieces I'll be wearing this season (see what I did there?) when that lottery win finally comes in:

Marc by Marc Jacobs tote bag, £143.50
Acne burgandy knit cardigan, £260
Barbour chunky knit, £195
Aamaya-by-Priyanka ring, £175
Acne short boots, £360
See by Chloe oversized jacket, £570
Equipment snakeskin shirt, £280

This whole moodboard is pretty much how I envisage my new mummy wardrobe will look. Of course realistically it's likely to be more pajama heavy, and covered in more baby sick than this, but a girl can dream! I really love the snakeskin shirt, which would look amazing teamed with either leather leggings or waxed jeans.

Live t'up North? Then your in luck! As well as exploring the website, you can visit an actual Seasons store! The brand have two stores: one in the Devonshire Quarter in Sheffield and one in the Victoria Quarter in Leeds.

Love Tor xx

*This is a sponsored post 

River Island jewellery: Whoever said that less is more?

Hi guys,
This week I have been as busy as a beaver working on a jewellery feature for one of the mags I freelance for. And whilst trawling through press images looking for suitable pieces, I kept being drawn back to the jewellery shots from River Island's A/W campaign:

Bold, brash, in your face and over the top. Frankly, it's everything I look for when I'm looking for jewellery. I love River Island: it is one of my favourite high street stores, and the shop I ultimately got my new winter coat from (outfit post coming soon!) Some accuse them of over-embellishing sometimes, but I think that's part of the reason I like them so much. As far as I'm concerned, whoever said less is more was very very wrong!

With that in mind, I headed over to the River Island website to pick out and share my favourite pieces from their new season jewellery drop. And anything delicate need not apply!

Silver and gold spike and crystal cuff, £25
Cream pearl bow collar, £25
Gold door knocker earrings, £6
Multi coloured print chain hand harness, £18
Clock pendant necklace, £15
Gold tone ring stack, £8 
Blue cupid jewel brooch, £10

What do you think of the jewellery from River Island? Is it a high street store you would head to if you needed new costume bling, and if not, which high street stores do you prefer?

Love Tor x

Fabfrocks at Home: The circus-themed nursery

Hi guys,
We have been living in our new house for almost four months, and slowly but surely, it is starting to look like a home I am proud to live in. Last month I showed you the final version of my walk-in wardrobe. This month, we have finally (very nearly!) finished the baby's nursery. So here's the tour:



The shelving unit, cot, and wardrobe are all from good ol' Ikea. We changed the knobs on the wardrobe door to make it look a little more unique. The red double sofa bed was already a spare room feature, but we decided to keep it as a big comfy seat to watch him sleep/play/whatever, and as a spare bed for overnight visitors: we only have a 2 bedroom house, so it's important to maximise space.


The vintage circus posters (which we talked about here) are all from eBay. The cushions on the sofa are from Cath Kidston, Etsy, and Little Joules. Cath Kidston does a vintage circus print fabric that I absolutely fell in love with. So I made some bunting using it, and then enlisted my much craftier mum to make all the other soft furnishings in the room using the fabric: She made the cotton bags hanging from the wardrobe doors, the huge sofa throw, and the quilt on the end of the baby's cot. She even used the circus print fabric to trim his little towels: now that's attention to detail! She's seriously talented and you can visit her website for more incredible nursery creations by clicking here.


The glass balloons hanging in the window are from Murano; the glass island off Venice. We picked them up when we were there last month and my dad made the frame so we could hang them. The giant elephant seat is another Ikea purchase and he already has more bears, books and toys than any little boy needs: and he isn't even born yet! With that and his fancy wardrobe full of clothes, I think it's fair to say we've gone a little over the top.

All we have left to do is buy a light fitting (we're finding it really hard to choose!) and make the curtains. I've bought the fabric: red and white striped, like a big top. I just have to get my sewing machine out, sit down, and actually make them!

Love Tor xx

What's new in TK Maxx this Autumn/Winter?

Hi guys,
Last week I was invited along to TK Maxx's bloggers dinner, where they showcased all the trends and key pieces we'll all be able to find instore for Autumn/Winter this year.

You guys know I have a lot of love for TK Maxx. My inner bargain hunter just can't resist a rummage through their rails, and the Gold Label section is like a designer treasure trove! But I think a lot of people are mistaken and think that TK Maxx is nothing but last season's designer clobber: Actually, they also have a mountain of on-trend new season fashions, and their buyers always cherry pick the best pieces available. Yup. I'm not afraid to admit that I love TK Maxx! Which is why it really wasn't hard to pick out my favourite pieces from their Autumn/Winter collections:

Blue coat with fur collar and cuffs, £69.99. RRP £195
Green tweed coat with fur collar and cuffs, £99. RRP £450.
Glitter heels, £19.99
Tan and leopard print bag, £69.99
Sequin jacket with bow tie, £49.99. RRP £149.99
Sunglasses, £49.99

The key trends TK Maxx are championing for this season are: Folklore, English Heritage, Pastels, Modernist, Bourgeois, Empress, and Military. It's the heritage-style tweed coats that I'm most in love with: my coat obsession is well-documented. And there is a checked Moschino coat on their website that I have my eyes firmly planted on! Looking at all of the gorgeous TK Maxx campaign images (full of wonderful coats) only makes me wish that I could wrap up warm and see my breath when I walk through crisp fresh snow. Bring on the cold and frosty mornings:




By the way - Have you seen the new TK Maxx advert on TV yet? I love it, I think it's great! Apparently TKMaxx didn't cast models for the ad; everyone that appears is a 'real person'. And the super-cool woman in the green coat and turban? (AKA the woman I want to be when I reach my dotage) is 76 years old!

What do you think of TK Maxx? Is it a place you shop? And have you picked up any amazing bargains instore recently?

Love Tor xx

COMPETITION: Win my goody bag from the Fearne Cotton catwalk show

Hi guys,
Last Thursday I went to the catwalk show for the unveiling of Fearne Cotton's SS13 collection for Very.co.uk. You can find out more about what I thought of the show here.  All the attendees at the show were given a goody bag: and I'm giving YOU the chance to win mine:


So what's the prize? Well, the prize is a natural cotton Fearne Cotton tote bag, a Fearne Cotton iphone cover, and a black chiffon blouse with silver stud details, as modelled by Fearne herself in the picture above. (The top is a size 8 but its slouchy style means it would look fine on a size 10 figure too).

To Enter: Simply follow the blog (using the follow box to your right) then click here to drop me an email. All you need to do is let me know your full name, and the subject of your email should be "Fearne Cotton comp". I know I usually run competitions by entering in the comments but sometimes that makes it hard to contact the winner: that's why I'm trying it this way, so that I know I have all the potential winners email addresses!

For an extra entry: If you want to be entered into this competition twice, you can also follow Fabfrocks  on Facebook! Mention that you have done this in your email, and I will enter you into the competition twice!

The competition closes at midday on Sunday 30th September. Good luck!!

Love Tor xx

ThePrizeFinder - UK Competitions

London Fashion Week SS13: Tahir Sultan

Hi guys,
The Tahir Sultan show was hands down my personal favourite show that I saw on Saturday. By that I mean that of everything I saw it was the show that most appealed to my own sense of style: I could imagine wearing every single piece. Think stud embellishment, feathers, sharp shoulders and relaxed tailoring: it was like looking inside my dream wardrobe.

I'd never heard of Tahir Sultan until I was invited to his show: that's one of the best things about fashion week though, isn't it? Discovering and then falling in love with new talent! Tahir is a Kuwait based designer who described his collection as being "dedicated to the secret few who know that there is nothing more fashionable than just being yourself". A philosophy I'd like to thing this whole blog is all about!

Here are some of those all-important details:

The collection was very feminine and wearable, and it felt really modern. I loved the dramatic tailored jackets that drew attention to, and emphasised, tiny waists, and the grecian inspired evening dresses with their perfect draping would be my first port-of-call for all of those imaginary red carpet events I go to! The key colours from the collection were greys, black and white whilst hints of fluro pink and orange lifted everything and gave a more summery, sun-shiney feel.

What do you think of the Tahir Sultan collection? And have any other new or upcoming designers caught your eye during London Fashion Week this season?

Love Tor xx

London Fashion Week SS13: Spijkers en Spijkers hair inspiration

Hi guys,
The Spijkers en Spijkers collection this season was very 1920s inspired, with a mix of simple geometric prints and intricate screen printing. But what really caught my attention was the hair.

Most of the models had natural-looking blonde hair which had been simply styled in twisted plaits. The hair was then lifted at the crown to give a half chignon feel, and then a strand of soft gold string was tied around the forehead to give a relaxed, hippie, bohemian feel. It caught my attention because of its undone look, and the fact that it would be so easy and effective to replicate at home. I know these are the Spring/Summer collections, but wouldn't this be perfect Christmas party hair?




The make-up was also understatedly lovely: Think healthy-looking dewy skin and pink tinged lips. The only really 'done' part of the look, designed to compliment the 1920s feel of the collection, were the heavily black kohled eyes. The Body Shop were the official make-up sponsor of Vauxhall Fashion Scout this season, so it's nice to know that you can get everything you need to replicate this look at affordable prices from the high street too.

What do you think of the undone hair at Spijkers en Spijkers? And have you got any new hair or make-up inspiration from the London Fashion Week shows you've seen so far?

Love Tor x

London Fashion Week SS13: The Ones to Watch

Hi guys,

Let the write-ups from my first day at London Fashion Week begin! My first show of the day was the Vauxhall Fashion Scout Ones to Watch. I always enjoy this show and the chance to check out the new and upcoming talent. This year the Ones to Watch were: Helen Van Rees, Hana Cha, Charlotte Simpson, and Ming Pin Tien.

My two favourites were Helen Van Rees and Ming Pin Tien:



Helen Van Rees won my unofficial award for best use of cereal boxes during London Fashion Week! I can imagine constructing some of her headpieces at home with weetabix packets! In all seriousness though, I really loved her collection. It was inspired by Chanel tweeds but for the modern age:three-dimensional weaved cubes were added to more traditional tailored pieces. And what would a fashion show be without a mental hat, eh?! I'm a sucker for old fashioned tweed, so this really had me sold. An added bonus? The pieces were made from 100% recycled materials.

I was also sold on Ming Pin Tien's collection the moment I saw the leather cage armour-type bodices and oversized jacket. The whole collection was both feminine and wearable, and architectural and extreme at the same time. I would have worn several pieces from this collection, and felt like a warrior-woman whilst I was doing it - I predict big things for this designer! Sadly not a single one of my photos for this show came out, but you can see and read more about Ming Pin Tien's collection on the Vauxhall Fashion Scout website.

I would love to know what you guys have thought about London Fashion Week so far: are there any trends that have got you excited? Any pieces or designers you particuarly love? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Love Tor xx

Daily Wear: The way I wore London Fashion Week

Hi guys,
Well I'm sure you don't need me to tell you that London Fashion Week is finally here! I started my week by attending the Fearne Cotton for Very.co.uk show on Thursday, followed by the always awesome TKMaxx bloggers dinner. I wasn't planning on covering Fashion Week this year - I didn't think I would be up to it, to be honest. But then the excitement started building, the tickets started arriving, and frankly I just couldn't resist! So I am going to fashion week, but for fewer days and fewer shows than I normally would.

Choosing what to wear was difficult. If I was going to spend 5 hours on trains (and rail replacement buses - thank you Saturday trains!) then on my feet queuing for shows, comfort had to be key. But I wanted to look as stylish as I could muster as well! Here's what I came up with:



Dress - Mothercare, Leather jacket - River Island, Tan bag - Pucci c/o TKMaxx, Black studded bag (for carrying magazines, tickets, and my camera) - Friis & Co, Boots - H by Hudson c/o Sarenza.  

I love this leather jacket - I got it in the River Island January sale last year and have worn it so much that the cost-per-wear on it has to be less than 10p per wear by now! I flung it over one of my bump-hugging maternity dresses from Mothercare in the hope it would lend a slight rock chick edge! I then added practical bags and as many chunky bangles as I could fit on my wrists - done!

Also a quick note on my boots. They are H by Hudson Horrigan boots, c/o Sarenza. I wrote about them last month, but I really can't sing their praises highly enough. I've been on my feet all day, and they don't feel sore at all: they are the most comfortable boots I've ever owned! At £170 I admit that they aren't cheap, but they really are worth every penny. And because of their black/brown combo they're versatile too: they'll go with pretty much everything! Yup. I'm officially in love with a pair of boots.

Proper coverage of today's shows will follow tomorrow - but for now, I need to put my feet up and the TV on, and have a cup of tea!
Love Tor xx

Fearne Cotton's SS13 Collection for Very.co.uk

Hi guys,
Well London Fashion Week has officially started. And last night I went to my first show- Fearne Cotton's latest SS13 offering for Very.co.uk. The show was held in the ballroom at Claridges (a very impressive venue) and there was an equally impressive guest list.

I'm a terrible celeb spotter, but I saw Jo Wood (Fearne's soon to be mother-in-law) Milly Mackintosh and Professor Green, Keith Lemon, Bo Bruce (from The Voice) Reggie Yates, Davina McCall, and Mischa B of X Factor fame. No doubt someone with a better eye than we would have doubled this celeb spot count. Fearne's soon to be sister-in-law Leah Wood also walked the catwalk, and afterwards Fearne described her as her 'muse'. If only this were a celeb blog, eh?! Instead, let's talk about the fashion show.

The theme was English country garden, and the catwalk was covered in quintessentially English trees. Naturally this was reflected in the clothes: the opening pieces were bedecked in floral. There was also lace, bright coloured leopard inspired prints, and a lovely traditional mac which had been given a vintage 1960s twist. As has become Fearne's signature, sheer and chiffon cut outs also featured on several of the dresses.


There were a couple of dubious items (I'm thinking of the capri-length jeans with the fluoro pink go-faster stripe down the sides and the green heart print tee) but there was also a couple of pieces I loved- I can't wait to get my hands on one particular maroon jumpsuit! Truthfully, the collection wasn't really to my personal taste, but the pieces I liked most were the simple minimalistic ones, which really focused on good clean lines: something you don't often find on the highstreet. And for the finale piece.....


The lady herself looked lovely, wearing a floor length fitted black dress with sheer sleeves, also from her own collection, and with her hair piled high in a retro beehive. Are you a fan of Fearne's previous Very.co.uk ranges? Do you own any pieces from her collections, and what's the quality like? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Love Tor xx

PS - I am aware it's not OK to hate celebs for being prettier than you. But am I allowed to hate Fearne just a little for looking so glowing and fresh faced whilst sporting her tidy pregnancy bump? It just seems terribly unfair that she can still look so beautiful. I meanwhile look like a whale!

Isabella Oliver 365 rebrands as Baukjen

Hi guys,
I've been a fan of Isabella Oliver 365 since I reviewed one of their cashmere shirt coats back in 2010: I still wear it now! But I always felt they were slightly overshadowed by the Isabella Oliver name: for those of you not in the know, Isabella Oliver is more famous for their well fitting amazing quality maternity wear. There isn't a pregnant celeb who hasn't been spotted wearing an Isabella Oliver jersey dress: they're everywhere!

But now Isabella Oliver 365 have stepped out from behind their pregnant sisters shadow and rebranded as Baukjen. Brand new name, same amazing quality clothing! Here are some shots of the pieces I'm most lusting after from their look book:



I'm not saying these pieces are the most fashion-forward and aimed at the super-young and trendy: but they are well cut, versatile, and come in gorgeous buttery-soft fabrics. They're the kind of pieces that would suit literally everyone. I'm a huge fan of their jersey dresses: they're figure hugging but flattering at the same time, and they really hold their shape.

If you're looking for easy-to-wear, easy to throw on, mix-and-match pieces then I really think the new Baukjen website is worth checking out: I could stock up on all of my wardrobe staples in minutes! What do you think?

Love Tor xx

PS - To celebrate the start of London Fashion Week, if you enter the code LFW15 at checkout, you'll get 15% off the entire collection. Definitely worth a peek!

Lust: Marc by Marc Jacobs baby bag

Hi guys,
Please excuse me this slightly self-indulgent post, because it's arrived! It's finally arrived! As soon as I found out I was pregnant, I knew I definitely didn't want a plain black changing bag. If I have to carry just one bag with me every day for two years, I wanted it to be a cool one!

The problem is, anything other than plain coloured decidedly practical bags are hard to find, and whilst there are some great leather options on the market, I find the shapes of them a bit clunky. So to find the one I wanted I had to think outside the box and look a little further afield. Then someone told me that in the States, you could buy Marc by Marc Jacobs baby bags. Obviously I had to check this out immediately: and not only did I discover this was true, I fell completely in love!!



The bag comes in a massive variety of different cool colours and patterns, including snakeskin, animal prints, and some great geometric prints: I love this one. But I think I chose wisely: now I've seen it in the flesh, I couldn't be happier with my black and neon patterned baby bag. It's definitely not boring! And it has the added bonus of matching my new Georgia Rose neon winter boots from Sarenza!

A note on ordering from outside the EU: My bag was supposed to arrive last week, but instead I got a letter from ParcelForce telling me before customs would release the bag, I had to pay tax on my purchase. In my case, this amounted to an extra £26. So if you are thinking of buying from the US, bear in mind that it will ultimately cost you more than the ticket price. Irritating, but for this gorgeous bag, totally worth it!

Love Tor xx

ASOS Curve A/W12 Look book: Ahead of the curve...

Hi guys,
Another day, another look book to lust after! Just as soon as Autumn was starting to sneak up on us, and I was preparing to really embark on my Autumn/Winter shopping spree, the weather has taken a typically atypical turn for the better: this weekend has been hotter than summer! Not that I'm complaining. And that doesn't mean we can't still lust after some seriously gorgeous new season shots.

I'm a big fan of ASOS Curve. For those that don't know, Curve is ASOS's plus sized range, and is available in sizes 18-26 (It's designed for sizes 20-26 though, because ASOS have now extended their mainline range to include size 18 too) And, quite rightly, their new Autumn/Winter collection is just as fashion-forward and covetable as their mainline collection:

Looking at the look book you can literally tick off this season's trends one by one! Androgynous coats and tailored trousers? Tick! Oversized boyfriend knits? Tick! Velvet, tweed, jewelled details? Tick, tick, and tick! Well, you get the idea!

Prices range from £20 - £120, and the collection will start landing in store this month! I particularly like the look of the black leather skirt, the black lace body con dress, and the red and blue striped hounds tooth dress too.

What do you think of ASOS Curve? Are there any other plus sized collections you would really recommend?

Love Tor xx

Reader discount: £10 off at Motel

Hi guys,
You know how I love a good discount, and picking up a bargain! So when Motel got in touch offering a discount code for you guys, how could I say no?!

Motel are offering readers of Fabfrocks (and some of their other favourite blogs) £10 off when they spend £40 or more. That equates to up to a whopping 25% discount!! All you have to do to get this discount is enter the code TOPBLOGTREAT at the checkout! 

Here are my picks from the newest arrivals on the site: 



ZeeZee 50s cap sleeved dress, £65 
Missy metallic bustier dress, £58
Razzle dazzle sequin shorts, £25 

Is anything tempting you? Visit the website and start shopping now. And don't forget to enter that discount code!

Love Tor xx

The small print: The discount is available on Motel Rocks/Full priced items only/Excludes sale or promo stock. Customers must enter the code at the check out to receive the £10 off. 

Daily Wear: Keeping it simple

Hi guys,
I've mentioned before that my style is starting to naturally evolve. But last night I surprised even myself by heading out to dinner wearing jeans!

It's hard for me to look slick and sophisticated right now, and everything I wear makes my stomach the comedy focal point. But by keeping everything simple and minimalist (and wearing my favourite colour: black, of course!) I think I managed to pull off a simple and understated look.


T Shirt - H&M, Jeans - Topshop, Bag - Pucci c/o TKMaxx, Watch - Marc by Marc Jacobs, Necklace and spike bracelet - Topshop, Black bracelet - See by Chloe, Brown ring - Swarovski. 

A note on these shoes: If you're looking for heels that are truly comfortable no matter how long you wear them (even if you're carrying, ahem, a little extra weight) then I can heartily recommend these. I got them a while ago from Bertie @ Sarenza, and they are still available on the site now. If you're not a tan fan, they also come in black: I have been tempted to get myself the black pair too. That's how comfy they are!!

Love Tor xx

Fabfrocks loves: My new ECCO boots

Hi guys,
For the past 6 months, my life has been largely a heels-free zone. Heels and pregnancy aren't exactly best buds: I've been wearing pumps, slipper shoes and my glitziest flipflops instead! And all the winter boots I've been busy stocking up on are flat as pancakes. When it comes to giving my feet the comfort they crave, flats are always my very first option. But then these gorgeous boots from ECCO arrived, and they are so so damn comfortable, that for the first time in months, I left the house wearing heels!

My new boot is a revelation. It's called the Sculptured 65 from ECCO, and it is the perfect mix of sexy shoe (with its 6.5cm heel) and I-can-wear-this-all-day comfort, thanks to its inbuilt comfort technology: Each boot comes with a textile lining, a leather inlay sole covered with the ECCO Comfort FibreSystem, and a moisture-absorbent circulation system. Which is a fancy way of saying they're really padded inside, meaning it feels like you're walking on a cushion! I'm not sure how even the biggest heel hater could fail to feel comfortable in these!

I've worn these beauties three times since they arrived last week, and they're so versatile they go with almost everything! So how did I style my new boots? Well up until now I've teamed them with a slinky black dress for a dinner date with my husband, and leggings and an oversized paisley shirt for a trip to the shops. And today, I'm wearing them with a simple blouse and rolled up jeans: my favourite look so far!!  The patent finish of the shoes immediately makes my favourite jeans look and feel so much smarter! Because I love matching, all I need now is a black patent leather bag and I'll be able to wear these boots everywhere!

What do you think of the ECCO shoe? There's loads more in the range (different styles, same level of comfort) that I heartily recommend checking out on the website? Do you look for comfort when you're shopping for heels? And how would you have styled my new boots? As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Love Tor xxx

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