Christmas: Lovely luxuries

Hi guys,

Well, Christmas is sadly over, although I'm not ready to hide the Quality Street tin just yet! I've had a fantastic Christmas. For me, Christmas is all about little luxuries. Having Harrods cheese instead of the usual Cathedral City (thanks Mum!), eating your body weight in yummy chocolates, wearing my favourite perfumes everyday (am I the only one that normally has a cheaper everyday perfume?), and having calorie laden snacks whenever you want them, guilt free!

Speaking of luxuries, I have received some seriously luxurious gifts:

I was treated to a new Steve Madden cover for my ipad, the Marc Jacobs watch I added to my Christmas gift list (the hints work!), two perfume gift sets, some gorgeous candles, Betsey Johnson pajamas and slippers, a new leather filofax (I couldn't live without mine), a Vivienne Westwood purse, a Lanvin pen, and much much more.

And the biggest luxury of all this Christmas? Taking time out without focusing on work, to just spend with my family. Especially the smallest member of all: meet little Bertie, who's just 7 weeks old! I am one very proud aunt!

I know I'm biased, but that is one seriously beautiful baby boy!

So, what did you get up to for Christmas? And did Santa bring you everything you wanted?

Love Tor xx

Whats in the window: Diesel

Hi guys,
We all know I love nothing more than a good window display (Maybe in a former life I was a window dresser!) so when I was sent these pictures of Diesel's Christmas window displays, how could I not share?



My immediate reaction was that it was a very pagan and dark take on Christmas: not a Santa Claus or bauble in sight! I loved the climbing trees though, which reminded me of a scene from one of the darker fairy tales: think Little Red Riding Hood. According to the press release, it is "a seething mass of eldritch foliage which imagines a pagan journey to the temple of Diesel Black Gold" These pics are from the New Bond Street store.

I know everyone is talking about the Lanvin collaboration today, not window displays, but sadly I don't have a success story to share. Whilst everyone and his dog was joining the endless queue on Regents street this morning I had to be sat in the office, just a torturous 50 yards away. Do people take time of work to get their hands on these designer collaborations, I wonder, or are they only bought by freelancers, bloggers, and students who don't have somewhere to be at 9am on a Tuesday? If I had been able to get anything I would have liked the Tshirt dress with the ruffled collar, the yellow dress, and some of the jewellry. I'll be popping down later to see what's left over, but I won't be holding my breath!

Love, Tor xx

Latest H&M collaboration: Will it be Lanvin?

Above is the cryptic video campaign H&M have unveiled today for its latest designer collaborator. However they won't be revealing who the collaborator is until 9th September. Rumours are rife though that it's Lanvin’s Alber Elbaz (a popular choice in the twittersphere)

Lanvin, France's oldest couture house, teaming up with high street staple (and affordable option) H&M may just be the most exciting designer/high street collaboration to date. I know i've made my feelings about designer collaborations pretty clear in the past, but I think even I would be joining the round-the-block queues for this one.

According to Handbag.com, aside from Elbaz, other names being mentioned in online forums and blogs as to who the designer could be include Tom Ford, Burberry's Christopher Bailey, Carolina Herrera and Tommy Hilfiger. However, many believe that the quotes used in the viral video clips are typical Elbaz and that the voice used has been digitally altered to keep everyone guessing.

H&M always seem to get the best designers on board for their collaborations, including Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney, Roberto Cavalli, Matthew Williamson Jimmy Choo and Sonia Rykiel. I am yet to buy a single piece (although I did try to get the Jimmy Choo pumps) because the collections always sell out so quickly.

What do you think? Who are you hoping it is? (My vote is for Lanvin) Would you be tempted by a Lanvin/H&M collaboration, or is the collaboration concept too overdone for this to be interesting?

Love, Tor xx