Fabfrocks picks: Bold neon accessories

Hi guys,
There are some trends that are hard to avoid: you see them everywhere! But in the case of neon, not only is it a trend that's hard to avoid, it's also a trend that's equally hard to wear. The thought of my thighs encased in neon trousers makes me shudder: and neon dresses are far too attention-grabbing for me. But if there's a hot trend I'm not one to ignore it. Which leads me to neon accessories: the neon trend for the mild of heart!

There is a huge range of neon accessories on the high street (there are actually more accessories than dresses!) so why not dip your toes in the neon-waters with an attention-grabbing accessory instead? Here are my favourite picks:

Jeffrey Campbell Tanya wedges, Sarenza, £102
Cream and orange neon bag, River Island, £40
Neon and leopard print plastic watch, ASOS, £20
Fluro skinny belt, ASOS, £6
Neon green satchel, Cambridge Satchel Co, £100
Bird keyring purse, H&M, £2.99
Neon fringe necklace, Sweet Scandal, £75
Gold chain clutch bag, H&M, £12.99
Koala leather heels, Office, £40

What do you think about neon? Is it a trend you want to try, or are you neon-averse? I must admit, it reminds me slightly of the neon tops I used to wear in the early 90s (Oh yes! I was all glamour!) but I've still got a hankering for a pair of neon shoes!

Love Tor xx

New season styles from Marc b bags!

Hi guys,
You may remember about six months ago I did a review of a gorgeous Marc b bag? I gave it a very positive review and I stand by it: that bag is still going strong! Anyway, the new Marc b collection shots have just come in, and I am already drowning in lust-caused saliva, because they are really gorgeous:


Above: The Emmy in teal crocodile, The Kiki in grey, The Bianca in duck egg blue, and The Olivia in black.

When I chose my Marc b bag, I opted for the classic gold-chained Knightsbridge in classic black: a very 80s Chanel imitation style bag. But now I am lusting after than boxy Bianca in the duck egg blue: more adventurous and on-trend than classic, but oh so delicious! I know I keep mentioning the Seventies trend, but it's hard not to, because it's everywhere I turn. And this bag would be perfect for anyone looking for the seventies trend. Or in my case, anyone with an obsession with boxy, vintage-looking bags!

The Marc b collection for this season is really strong. The range includes everything from re-worked classics with antique lace detailing, modern toughened-up styles, revamped satchels and luxurious clutches in classic functional shapes. The colour palette covers just about every colour you could fancy (there's no real overriding theme to the colour scheme) want pastels, black, teal, grape? You can have all of the above and more!

I love accessories in general, and handbags in particular, so the opportunity to find good quality bags at affordable prices, meaning I can have one to match almost every outfit, is like catnip to me!

Are you slightly lustful of the Marc b bags too? Then you're in luck! Watch this space, because next week I will be running an exciting competition to win one of these Marc b bags!

Love, Tor xx

Debenhams S/S11 Press day lust!

Hi guys,
Yesterday I went to the Debenhams press day, and it was amazing: I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of new season clothes and accessories available to go crazy cooing over. Although i'm still in love with my winter coat and I love wrapping up warm, i'm also starting to get excited about next summer and the excuse to shop for pretty summer dresses again.
Prepare for a picture heavy post: I took alot of snaps!

Bags, glorious bags!! The satchel shape still seemed popular, and I was delighted to see so much tan everywhere for next season; it's my absolute favourite colour for leather! The tribal/animal print trend was also everywhere for accessories: not to my taste but some beautiful looking pieces with really luxurious fabrics.

Shoes are a personal weakness: I have more than any girl could need in a lifetime. But that doesn't mean my heart doesn't race when I see a wall full of shoes: I am human. The Faith line seems to be thriving since Debenhanms bought it out and inhouse when they went bankrupt: the cork-look heels in the middle of the wall are a particular fave!

I love the Red Herring frill detail jacket on the left, and couldn't resist a shot of some Henry Holland: his collections seem to get better and better (I know i've said that before!)Back on the satchel chat, most of the H! bags were satchel shaped and I loved them: great details and colours.

Red Herring is my favourite of all the brands stocked in debenhams (despite it being the cheapest) It's so fashion-forward and easy to wear! I love the casual styling of this outfit, but the real attention grabbers are the brown boots: I wish they were instore now, as they're just what i'm looking for in all this snow!

I can't resist eveningwear, even though I hardly wear it. The dresses in the first picture are from the new Edit collection (these were the only ones on show)The other dresses are perfect for weddings/the races/garden parties: the formal floral, again, isn't to my taste but I love the pattern and the thick cotton fabric.

Yes i'm going to say it: The dreaded H word. I love these maxi dresses and wide legged trousers for my honeymoon: the holiday wear and bikinis for next summer were lovely, and I am obsessed with the Tripp luggage in the second picture: such lovely vibrant colours, and so much more exciting than the boring black luggage everyone else carries!

Love, Tor xxx

Ready for Christmas: The perfect clutch bag

Hi guys,
Tonight i'm going to a black tie dinner, which meant last night was a panic of digging out a suitable black dress and throwing together some accessories. I'm wearing a beaded dress from New Look with the Kurt Geiger fashionista shoes I had for my MA graduation two years ago. So far so good! The thing I struggled to find in the wardrobe though was a bag to go with my sleek black outfit: all my clutches are brightly coloured! So I decided to embrace the colour and just glam it up.
Here's the clutch i'll be carrying:

I picked the bag up from a car boot sale for 50p, and then pinned on the brooch centrepiece: a vintage brooch that was a gift from my parents last Christmas. I know i've said it before, but I love brooches and the versitility you get with them: you only have to add one to just about anything to make it look much more glam.

My clutch struggle made me realise I should invest in a black one before my plethora of Christmas parties though. So I indulged in my favourite pass-time of fantasy online shopping to find the perfect, detailed, show-stopping black clutch:

Left to right: River Island, £29.99, Dorothy Perkins, £24.50 , Asos, £26, Topshop, £65.

I know it's a massive rip off of the Alexander McQueen, but I really love the River Island knuckle duster clutch: it's the only way i'm going to get my hands on such an iconic piece, even if it is just the highstreet version! The Topshop one is expensive for what it is, but the embellishment on it is amazing. The DP bag has been reduced from £35, and I love the brooch style detailing on it, and I just had to include the feathers, as they're everywhere this season!

I think it might be time to hit the shops and buy some accessories!
Love, Tor xx

Shoes, shoes, shoes...and matching bags?

Hi All,

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I know it's very old fashioned, but I like nothing more than a matching shoe and bag combo, I think it adds a certain glamour to the plainest outfits. Now I know that I should really be wearing bright pink shoes with an orange dress and a blue bag, but I just can't bring myself to do it. Sadly for fashion I am my mother's daughter and I even match my make up to my outfits. I've tried to be cool and do the whole "thrown together" look but I just can't!

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Before you all dismiss me as a fashion heathen have a look at the images and tell me that matching shoes and bags don't look lovely!?

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I am trying, and you never know, but a little perseverence you might see me with a neon green clutch bag and purple shoes a la colour blocking trend.

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Until then...I think I will stick to matching, it is what my mummy would want to see!

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Amie x

Three's a trend!

Hello again,

My posts are like buses this week: you wait around all week for one and then two come along at once! I'm writing again because a wander around the shops at lunchtime made me have a funny thought that led to the photography of some rather lovely bags. And who am I to deprive you of lovely bags!?

I often raise a smile and wonder which high street shops have the same suppliers, as they all seem to have their stock arrive at the same time. I wonder if they all come off the same ship from China and actually land on the shelves on exactly the same day? This was all I could think about as I saw more and more of the exact same things in nearly every shop! In a future life I will shop every single day to test this theory!

Anyway. This week there has been an influx in all the stores (straight off the boat!) of fringed and studded bags, all affordable and all rather lovely actually.

River Island:

New Look: TopShop:

Despite my self-confessed topshop addiction, I actually think they've photographed worst. The new look ones look great but the faux suede fabric feels a little flimsy so I don't think they'd last long (which might not matter given that this is such a "trend"!) The best for me were the river island ones. It's just a shame they were so tiny I wouldn't even fit a third of my current handbags contents in them!!
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If you see a big leather studded and fringed bag (like the river island ones!) when you're on the highstreet then let me know because i'm definitely on the look out!
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Lots of love,

Tor

Erotic jumpers - when your day is not fashion

Hello, tiny but slowly increasing readership,

Today was just not fashion. I tried, as I always do, to make sure the events that greeted me upon waking were fabulousity at at least 40% capacity. Nope. Friday 14th December 2007 said "nope" and all was, in my boyfriend's delightful slang, gash and gash to the extreme.

Un-fashion events
#1 Stomach bug
#2 Medicating iron deficiency
#3 Fluffy face
#4 Smirked at by blonde highlighted homosexual Topshop worker probably because of the following:

It's okay. I would smirk at my outfit and face too. Working in a fashion emporium elevates you morally and aesthetically, way beyond the reach of most workaday people. I was once full bodied shoved out away from the Lanvin in Dover Street Market. And I was glad, I tell you, glad to be touched by the hands blessed by Rei Kawakubo.

Anyway, I need cheering up and for that I turn to Marks & Spencer and piracy. I was going to feature this item in a post on ethical tote bags, but frankly I don't have the emotional strength to write and then read another sentence on the subject. All I care for is Erin O' Connor's face.

Behold my massive new shopping bag - 100% Organic cotton, supermodel endorsed and as scratchy as couture in Soviet Russia. All for £2.50. You could also grab a bag featuring Twiggy at her 1960s peak. Though since she betrayed this fine nation so extravagantly by appearing on America's Next Top Model, I don't see why you would do that. The camera laahves, yew, Twiggy but to me, you are less then dead. There. I said it.

Another cheering and welcoming fashion moment comes in the guise of this video of the Sonia Rykiel S/S 08 catwalk show. It's all so floaty and the models are smiling and swooping and gaying it up at the end in a most delightful way. It's so nice when you see models being silly and girlish rather than fierce. It may be heresy but I believe fierce is overrated as a lifestyle choice.





This clip also features some genuine comedy gold: Sonia wrote an erotic romance novel about a man, a woman and a sweater. Thank you, Elle.com! I'm praying to all the Gods I know that it's a sincere literary work. In fact --a dildo wrapped in high street cashmere for anyone who finds me that book!

Why, I'd be as happy as a chiffon-coated Rocha!

Your pal,
B.