Shoes: Three trends in one boot!

Hi guys,
I love ankle boots. I've been wearing mine for weeks, whilst everyone else has been trying to enjoy wearing their sandals a little while longer! I put them on in September and don't like to take them off until spring springs, no matter what the occasion. That means it's time to search for that holiest of Holy Grail ankle boots: a pair that you can wear in the evening. Normally I am fairly boring in my boot selections, when it comes to colour at least. I like uber versatile varieties in black and tan. But when I saw these gorgeous Irregular Choice ankle boots combining both metallic red, leopard print (my guilty pleasure) and even a big old bow on the back, I fell a little bit in love.

I've always had a soft spot for Irregular Choice shoes. They're always over the top and I'm sure the company motto is why try one trend when you can try three. But that's part of what makes them so appealing. Because I tend to default to a simple black dress for pretty much every evening wear occasion, a coloured shoe is a great idea for adding pattern and interest, and as an added bonus they're so damn comfy! I have several pairs of Irregular Choice shoes and their low stable heel makes them perfect for dancing on all night.

Want to make them your own? You can pick them up from Spartoo for £76.49 (they currently have 15% off!)

Love Tor x

*Post written as part of a partnership with Spartoo shoes

Shoes: Time for Autumn... Time for Ankle Boots

Hi guys,
Autumn is officially here! The mornings are crisp, I've dug out all of my favourite blazers, and now its time to start looking for my new Autumn ankle boots. I love ankle boots and I always prefer them to knee high boots: they're just so flattering and versatile, you can wear them with pretty much everything. My new go to outfit combination is an oversized blouse paired with rolled up skinny jeans and ankle boots: I'm going to be wearing this outfit all autumn long and will probably be wearing the same outfit but with socks when the winter hits!

These Bertie ankle boots with the cut out details are currently the ones I am lusting after the most. I have a soft spot for shoes with cut out details: it's the only shoe trend of the last year that I've really thrown myself into! My favourite brown ankle boots are from Bertie, so I know these will be comfortable and that I'll be able to wear them all day long. Without sounding like an old lady, comfort really is important when it comes to buying shoes you'll be wearing all the time: luckily with these I won't have to sacrifice style on the alter of  comfort. I can have both!

You can buy these lovelies from Spartoo for £106.24. I will definitely be picking a pair up and wearing them all autumn and winter long.

Love Tor x

*Post written as part of an ongoing partnership with Spartoo shoes

Primark's A/W 2014 New Season Picks

Hi guys,
I feel I ought to start this post with a disclaimer: I very rarely shop in Primark any more. Over the past couple of years I have tended to shop less but shop smarter, so I would rather spend a little more on something that will last a little longer. That means I can't vouch for the quality of any of the things featured in this post. Having said that, I do still like a browse in Primark and I am always interested to see their new season press images. Much like Topshop (but on a more inexpensive scale) I always think Primark are great at nailing trends and assimilating all of the new seasons looks just a couple of garments. Of course, they also get alot wrong, but sometimes isn't that just the fun of fashion?! Anyway enough of my rambling. Here are the new season looks from Primark:

Image 1: Coat £30, Bag £10, Jumper £4.
Image 2: Coat £25, Skirt £6, Boots £15

Image 3: Coat £25, Jumper £14, Skirt £12, Boots £24, Hat £8.
Image 4: Coat £28, Dress £13, Shoes £12, Bag £14

Image 5: Coat £25, Top £6, Cullottes £14, Boots £24, Socks £2, Hat £2.
Image 6: Dress £20, Shoes £14, Hat £8, Snood £6, Bag £8.

I have a huge weakness for faux fur collars, so the lovely bright coral coat with the cream fur in image 3 immediately grabbed my attention. In fact, I love that whole outfit and the way it is styled. I'm pleased to see that Primark have moved away from the 90s revival trend (a trend I just can't wear - because I wore it the first time round! Shudder) and are focusing on lovely pieces that are wearable for everyone instead. Speaking of wearable by everyone, did you know that Primark have widened their size range? You can now buy sizes ranging from 6-20 in store. A very clever move meaning they can appeal to a much wider demographic of people looking for discounted fashions.

Love Tor x

Current Obsession: Vagabond Ankle Boots

Hi guys,
Every so often I stumble across a new brand that have a style I just can't get enough of: and when I was shopping for my new autumn/winter ankle boots this afternoon I discovered Vagabond. Here's the blurb: "The Vagabond shoe label was launched at the end of the 1960s, a time of total freedom where nothing seemed impossible. Based in Italy, the brand offered a collection of shoes for men. In 1994, Vagabond set itself up in Sweden, manufacturing designs from prototypes. This new approach allowed the brand to intervene at all stages of production, from design right through to sale — a real innovation in the shoe industry at the time. Today, Vagabond offers ranges for both men and women and sells over 2 million shoes per year in more than 30 countries. "

All I need to know about them though, is they make some seriously stylish and on-trend ankle boots. Making it hard to decide which pair to choose:

Vagabond Grace 3628-001, £79.99
Vagabond Palma Low, £89.99
Vagabond Grace 3628-450, £79.99

Yes, I know that these three boots look pretty similar. But they have subtle differences that means it took me almost an hour (and that is no exaggeration) to decide which ones to pick. They're all such classic and versatile boots that they'll go with everything in my wardrobe. In the end I went for the Grace model (the first pair shown above) and I can't wait for them to arrive! It's cold, wet and rainy here today: the perfect day to be thinking about your new autumn boots. What do you think - did I choose wisely? And which pair would you have chosen?

Love Tor x

*I am a Sarenza brand ambassador

Guest Post: Affordable Shopping for New Season Trends

Everybody has that one friend who can waltz into a shop and return after five minutes with bags full of the season’s latest trends...then you hear how little they paid for everything and you’re left bemused and, in all honesty, pretty damn jealous. Well hopefully this guide will give you a head start on kitting your wardrobe out with must have garms for AW13 without the designer price tag!

Animal Print
Just when we thought it was time to trade in that leopard print coat, Burberry rock up at London Fashion Week with a whole host of animal print designs to bring the trend back to life. For those who dare trying, combine various prints into one outfit. When done right, it’s the ultimate style statement for the fashion gurus out there.

1. Iron Fist Leogir Leggings (£25.59) 2. Vila Chee Mini Skirt (£21.99)
3. RVCA Moon Safari Shirt (£27.49) 4. Vila Colorado Shirt (£24.49) 5. DC Bristol Mid LE shoes (£54.99)

Winter Floral
Who said flowers are just for Summer? Next season we are set to see an explosion of wintery floral prints to bring some colour into our dowdy December wear. Ultimately feminine and full of fun, a versatile floral with brighten any outfit.

1. Jorge Gypsy Floral Cut Out Dress (£35.99) 2. Jorge Dream Lover Leggings (£24.99)
3. Loreak Mendian Bahamas Dress (£53.18) 4. Only Shaded Flower Leggings (£12.99)
5. Louche Bali Flower Pastel Floral Shirt (£34.99)

Oversized
Next season is all about slouchy, oversized clothing. Apart from being incredibly comfortable, oversized items can channel a multitude of looks depending on what you wear them with. Keep an eye out for apparel inspired by the days of punk and grunge. Although this was big last year, a more subtle approach to this look is set to be at the forefront of fashion next season.

1. 55DSL Dadrap Dress (£54.99) 2. Traffic People Tribal Dress (£34.98)
3. Cheap Monday Melinda Short Dress (£20.98) 4. Religion Clark Long Sleeve Shirt (£59.99)
5. Ichi Knur Top (£19.99)

Bold Prints

It seems the trend next season is to incorporate exotic Summer colours and eye catching prints into your Autumn/Winter attire. Geometric designs are always popular, and when accessorised with a large statement necklace will give you an outfit to get those fellow fashionistas hankering for your style flair.

1. Numph Emma Dress (£38.99) 2. Vero Moda zigzag leggings (£14.99)
3. Motel Rocks Hollyanna Print Dress (£34.99) 4. Ted Baker Keicon Kaleidoscope Bag (£27.99)
5. Yumi Printed Top (£17.49)

And remember it’s not always the clothing that makes an outfit, accessorising is the key to a successful style. Use an oversized handbag or bold coloured shoes to make a statement. Team plain clothing with large jewelled necklaces or an extravagant headpiece to add a quirky edge to your look. Don’t forget it’s not always designer or high street stores that hold your every fashion need, having a rummage in charity shops, boot sales and vintage fairs could result in you finding your favourite piece of timeless treasure!

Natalie Gale  is an online content writer for Surfdome.com. Surfdome specialise in the latest fashions and best equipment for extreme sports such as skating, surfing and snowboarding

Embracing Model Diversity: The Latest Campaign from TK Maxx

Hi guys,
TK Maxx have become the latest high street brand to embrace all things diverse, by including the world's oldest supermodel, Daphne Selfe and Felicity Hayward, the UK's hottest new plus size model, in their latest campaign video.

I like the TK Maxx ads: they're so fun and upbeat and cool (can I get away with saying 'cool'?). They're definitely the kind of ads you wish you could transport yourself into, anyway!
 
I'm loving all of the vintage styling and the oversized statement necklaces. And some of those chunky wool coats are enough to have me running to my closest branch of TK Maxx as fast as I can, looking to do some new season shopping!

TK Maxx did a quick Q&A with  plus sized model Felicity Hayward at the shoot for their latest campaign (images definitely to follow: they look as great as the TV ad!) and I've popped a little snippet below:

TK Maxx: Can you describe your personal style? 
Felicity Hayward: A modern day Jayne Mansfield, whose wardrobe got mixed up with the costume department of a John Waters movie. 

TK: What is your favourite trend from TK Maxx’s AW13 collection? 
FH: I would say winter pastels as I am a big fan of those colours, I could be a little biased on the grounds that I want to be an ice-cream lady when I am older and the colours in this trends remind me of all the flavours from mint choc chip to tutti frutti. 

TK: Do you have any fashion pieces in your wardrobe that have an amazing story behind them, or that you could never bear to part with? 
FH: I have a thong which once belonged to Prince and was worn by one of his dancers at the VH1 Fashion Music Awards in 1994. That baby isn’t going anywhere.

She's plus sized, she's gorgeous and sexy, and she loves Prince! Could this woman be my new fashion crush? I think so!

Love Tor x

What's in your Handbag? Check out what's in mine!

Hi guys,
The last time I wrote about what was in my handbag was back in March 2012, and since then the contents have increased dramatically: no more tiny body bag filled with make up and basic essentials for me! But I'm not ready for a big ugly mum bag either: I want something on trend, made of buttery soft leather, but roomy enough for all of my supplies. And boy, do I have a lot of supplies! My handbag contents for today are: My Vivienne Westwood purse, house keys and car keys, mobile phone, Missoni sunglasses, Chanel lipstick and Filofax (just the same as last year). However the new additions are: rice cakes or carrot puffs (depending on what snacks the boy fancies for the day), a teddy bear and a rattle, and wet wipes to mop up any spills and snot. Oh the glamour!
With all of this stuff to carry around every single day, I require a pretty special bag. This bag from Marks and Spencer's new season leather bag range is the perfect size for just about any occasion; small enough to carry around everyday but roomy enough to stash a hearty supply of snacks and toys for Wilbur in. It feels so soft (I have a place in my heart for pony skin leather, and buy far too much of it!) and the leather literally melts under your hand as you carry it. I love the zip detailing and leopard print is another of my obsessions, so it really is the perfect bag for me.

This bag is one of the key leather items from Marks and Spencer's A/W '13 collection, and would be the perfect addition to a capsule winter wardrobe, because you could carry it all day (it's perfect for work or for Saturday afternoon shopping trips) or dress it up for the evening and it wouldn't look out of place to dinner: especially if you carry a big bag at all times, like me. Marks and Spencer are very focusing on quality with their leather offering for this season, and it definitely shows in the craftmanship and design of this bag.  Good old M&S: they always seem to know exactly what I need and they never let me down!

If you want to buy one of your own you can pick it up from the M&S website: It's available right now, and will cost you £99.

Love Tor x

Autumn Inspiration: Mad about Monochrome

Hi guys,
As all of the autumn/winter collections start landing on the high street my lust-o-meter has gone into overdrive. I love shopping for a new season, and I really love it when that season is autumn/winter: it's my favourite time of year by far! Every so often when the seasons are changing over, I see individual press images that have such an impact that I can't stop thinking about them. I want to be the model. I want to run out and recreate the look immediately: this image from Marks and Spencer was one such image!
The Autograph coat comes in at £99. The shirt is £32.50, the hat is £19.50. The gorgeous handbag costs £59.

It's simple, it's clean, it's slightly sixties-inspired. I need to have that hat with the contrasting snake print peak in my life immediately, and I now have a hankering for a crisp white cocoon coat. I know you can't buy them from Marks and Spencer but, man, what I wouldn't do to have those thick statement eyebrows. This is the kind of look that would suit just about everyone: I can see Joan Collins wearing this, but also a sexy young thing like [insert name of one of The Saturdays here: I'm too old to know them by name!] too. The mum in the back of my mind has reservations about sticking fingers and white wool coats, but for a look this good I think I'd take the dry cleaning bill.

What do you think? Will you be rocking some statement monochrome this autumn/winter?

Love Tor x