Year in Review: My Favourite Shoes of 2013!

Hi guys,
The New Year is the perfect opportunity to reflect on the previous twelve months- so expect a couple of these Year in Review posts!! In 2013 I made some sartorial decisions I was proud of. I also made some decidedly dodgy choices too. It has definitely been the first year I've worn jeans more than I've worn dresses, and flats more than heels. Shoes will always be my first love though (whether they have a heel or not) and here are some of my favourite shoe purchases of 2013:

1. Minna Parrika Bunny Shoes 

I was delighted when Minna Parrika came to Sarenza, and immediately ordered a pair of the sensible but super-cute bunny shoes. On reflection, these are hands down my favourite shoes of 2013 and they get a hell of a lot of wear. Because they're black they go with almost everything, and I've even worn them with opaques and a little floral dress to a low-key wedding!

(The heeled version of these have gone into the sale, and currently have 20% off)

2. Topshop Studded Boots

These were my first shoe and sale purchase of 2013, and a bargain at just £20 from the Topshop sale. Until I got my Sol Sana boots recently, they are the shoes I have worn most in 2013. I love the stud detailing, and they make the most simple outfits (like jeans and blouses-my staple) look a little more interesting.

3. Jonak Summer Sandals

How tan do my feet look in these sandals?! It's enough to make me long for summer (as I stare at my currently very pasty white skin!) I love feeling the air between my toes, so sandal season is a great one for me: and these were my favourite pair from this summer, combining both leopard print and pony skin: two of my favourite things. They were also endlessly comfortable, meaning I wore them all day without so much as a twinge in my feet. Result!

4. Heart Cut Out Detailings

Mike calls these suede Mellow Yellow shoes my hippy shoes! I suppose they do have a slightly 'crunchy' feel: they remind me of the school shoes I used to wear in the nineties! I'm a big fan of Mellow Yellow shoes, which cleverly combine sensible shoes with unusual detailing: and the shoes are always great quality too.

5. And Finally, A Sneaky Pair of Heels!

Finally, I had to throw these in, because they are the only pair of heels that have had any wear in 2013! These Steve Madden heels surprisingly comfortable, and I have worn them to Wilbur's and both of my neice's Christenings. Because they are built up so much at the front it doesn't feel like you are teetering on heels: and I have such happy memories of wearing these shoes!

Could you pick your favourite shoes from 2013? And if you could, which shoes would you pick? I'd love to hear your choices!

Love Tor x

Objects of Lust: Beautiful Boots by Sol Sana

Hi guys,
One of the things I like most about working with Sarenza is that the site almost constantly introduces me to brands I haven't heard of before, and immediately fall in love with. One of those brands is Sol Sana, who's boots I am newly obsessed with. In fact, I ordered these feline print Sol Sana Jessie boots last month, and have been wearing them near-constantly since they arrived:


They look incredible teamed with skinny jeans and boxy blouses, but I've also worn them out to dinner with black tights and a little black dress.They are a really gorgeous statement boot that get positive attention whenever I wear them. But they aren't the only incredible boots from the Sol Sana brand. Here are my picks of some other Sol Sana boots that have got my pulse racing:

Sol Sana Jessie boot in black, £145.70
Sol Sana Jai boot in khaki, £159.90
Sol Sana Larry boot in black, £132.00
Sol Sana Nic boot in wine, £145.70

My feline print Jessie boots are so comfortable and stylish (and get so many nice comments every time I wear them!) that I just ordered myself the Nic boots in the wine colour too: I have a wine coloured Vivienne Westwood scarf they will match with perfectly, and these statement boots are the perfect way to wear eye-catching shoes without having to wear heels. I'll be sporting a pair of these boots all Christmas long!

Love Tor x

*I am a Sarenza brand ambassador

Shoes: Give me metallic detailed boots!

Hi guys,
If you're looking for winter boots that will really make a statement then I have found the statement boots for you: especially if you're a fan of anything gold and shiny like me! These Antik Batik knee high boots are quite the show stoppers. I really like Antik Batik: their collections always have a really ethnic and bohemian feel, and these boots are no exception. 
I just love these shoes: because they're so detailed you wouldn't have to do too much with the rest of your outfit to stand out: jeans and a simple fine knit sweater, or tights and a classic tea dress. And because they're flat you could wear them all day without any problems too. I don't currently own any knee high boots (I tend to be more of an ankle boots fan) but I think I would definitely be prepared to make an exception for these!

Want a pair of these beauties of your own? You can add them to your shoe collection for £255.99. And they are available here.

Love Tor x

  *Post written as part of a partnership with Spartoo shoes

New Season: My Choice of A/W13 Winter Boots

Hi guys,
It's that time of the year again and one of my favourite things to hit the shops for: It's winter boot shopping time! This year I have been seriously greedy because I've decided that I want three new pairs of boots. I've already got two pairs, so there's just one pair left to find. As usual I hit my virtual shoe shop of choice, and headed to Sarenza:
I went for the Vagabond Grace heeled ankle boots (£79.99) for my slightly smarter boots that I can pair with skirts and dresses. Although they're simple, these are by far the best boots I have ever owned and I love the way they look. The fact that it's like walking on a cushion helps too! They have a great slightly grungy '90s feel that really appealed to me. I'm already dreading the day I wear these boots through: I may have to buy a spare pair just in case anything ever happens to these ones!
For my throwing on and wearing with jeans daytime boots, I went for the Melvin and Hamilton Susan boots in black (£119.90). I was attracted to these because of their rainbow elastic and because of their slightly masculine feel. These boots look incredible with skinny jeans but if I'm being realistic they don't really look good with anything else: they are definitely not dress boots! I am also on the look out for a rich tan pair of ankle boots (yes, more ankle boots. I'm nothing if not consistent) but haven't spotted my dream pair quite yet: there's still time!

Have you been shopping for your winter boots yet? And what style have you gone for? I'd love to hear all about your choices!

Love Tor x

*I am a Sarenza brand ambassador 

Shoes: Lusting after Minnetonka Boots

Hi guys,
Every celebrity that you can think have that has ever been associated with the word 'boho' has worn Minnetonka boots; Kate Moss, Sienna Miller, Nicole Richie. They've been around for ages and I've never really had a hankering after them, but since wearing my pair of Chocolat Schubar Minnetonka-style boots for the past two weeks I've got a new found interest in getting a pair! Apparently they're so comfortable they're like slippers, and I can't deny that they do look good teamed with skinny jeans. I always call them Pocahontas boots, because of the fringing and the rough undone feel of the suede! I know it's a trend that's over ten years old but I do still love all things boho: it's relaxed, it's flattering, it's seriously comfortable.

Every pair of Minnetonka boots comes with a soft soul (meaning you can feel the ground beneath your feet as you walk) and has been hand stitched, hence the visible external stitching that is the trade mark of the brand. This pair are available here and they can be yours for £74.99.

What do you think of the Minnetonka boots? Are they a little too 'back in the year 2000' or are you hankering after a pair of your own too?

Love Tor x

*Post written as part of a partnership with Spartoo shoes

Shoes: The perfect studded boots from Topshop

Hi guys,
Am I allowed to change my mind and have a new favourite purchase from the sales? Because if I am, it would definitely be these studded boots from Topshop:
And they were a serious bargain! The original price was £80. They were reduced to £50, and having tried them on I decided to snap them up straight away. Then, when I got to the till I discovered they'd been reduced again and I ended up paying just £30 for these babies: you wonder if that even covers the cost of the leather!

It just goes to show that even though the sales are dwindling down, it's definitely worth popping in to some of your favourite shops to see what they have left and further reduced: you could be pleasantly surprised.

Here are some of the best sale offers still on right now:
Debenhams Blue Cross Sale -Up to 70% off (also available online)
Boots 75% off all Christmas gift sets
Matalan 70% off (also available online)
Warehouse 70% off
Topshop: Further reductions (discounts vary)

These boots are going to look great teamed with my gold studded leather jacket. And the best thing is, they look just as good when they're worn with tights and skirts as they do with jeans and trousers. Could they be a contender for the crown of my new favourite boots? It's too early to tell. But lets just say my beloved H by Hudson boots should sleep with one eye open....

Love Tor x

Boots sale: Where there is Soap there is Glory

Hi guys,
One of the sales I always check out is the Boots sale: straight after Christmas all of their gift sets are reduced by 50%. Later in the month the reduction will be increased to seventy percent, but the products available by that point are usually pretty limited: shoppers have already snapped up all the best stuff!

As well as picking up a few birthday gifts for family and friends, the thing I have my eyes peeled for are Soap and Glory sets. I really love the scent of their bath products and buy them regularly, full price or not. So getting them in the sale is a real treat! When I popped into my local Boots on the 27th I got the hand wash and hand lotion set for £5 (reduced from £10) and the travel miniatures set for £9 (reduced from £18) which I will be saving for our next holiday in February!

Other great brands and products I spotted were Charles Worthington hair sets, French Connection bath sets for men and women (complete with lovely wash bags) and even some gorgeous Jamie Oliver cookery sets. There were huge Champneys boxes full of products too - basically I could have spent a small fortune filling my bathroom with gorgeous lovely-smelling goodies!

Have you checked out the Boots sale yet? Are reduced toiletries on your sale shopping itinerary? And if so what have you picked up so far?

Love Tor x

Daily Wear: Don't step on my blue suede boots!

Hi guys,
Believe me when I say that I am so excited for the day to come when I am not  wearing maternity jeans any more. For the last nine months they have been my uniform, and I actually have hot sweaty dreams about tea dresses, patterned tights, and a certain leather skirt I have been saving for nearly 8 weeks (I couldn't risk it going out of stock, even though I can't wear it yet!) I want to get my style back, goddammit!! Sigh and end rant.

Nonetheless, I do try to make an effort with my jean-y ensembles every now and again. And today was no exception, as we tackled the crowds in the city to throw ourselves into the festive spirit and shop for some Christmas decorations.. Here is my latest jeans-based outfit for the occasion:



Jeans, Debenhams (Red Herring maternity)
Leopard print coat, Next
Scarf, Missoni from TKMaxx
Handbag, Pucci
Blouse, George Maternity @ Asda

The suede ankle boots are from Espirit, c/o Sarenza. They come in three different colours (red, black, and blue) but I just couldn't resist these vibrant blue ones! In a stroke of luck, they match my new Missoni scarf perfectly too (totally a happy coincidence, as I ordered the boots before I found the scarf!)

I worry about the practicality of blue suede and puddles, but since when has fashion been about being practical, right? What are you wearing today? Taunt me, and let me know all about your newest pretty dress!

Love Tor xx

Shoes: I'm bringing Boho back! (?)

Hi guys,
This season the main boot trends are chelsea boots, studded rock chick leather, sleek wedges, metallic banana heels...the list goes on. All great trends I can get behind, and all lovely boots I poured over on the Sarenza website. The trend most definitely is not for moccasin boots.

Which is why it seems illogical that the latest boots I've fallen in love with are exactly that. Not on trend at all: in fact, they remind me of Sienna Miller/Kate Moss in the height of the boho trend, circa 10 years ago! But I just can't get enough of them. And I think they look great!



These moccasin boots from Chocolate Schubar at Sarenza are as gorgeous in the flesh as they looked in the photos. I love the way the top pulls together in a draw string style, and the lace is made of the same suede as the boot itself: a really nice touch! They'll be perfect teamed with skinny jeans and chunky knit jumpers and cardigans for those casual days that seem to happen much more often in winter than in summer.

They look great paired with my favourite tan Pucci bag, and they're so soft that they literally mold themselves around my feet. Maybe they'll even challenge my beloved H by Hudson boots to be my new favourites! It just goes to show that sometimes following 'the trends' can be overrated, and it's much better to just buy what you like!

Now I want your confessions! Do you have any not-quite-on-trend items in your wardrobe that you just can't live without? Any pieces you just can't bear to part with? Go on, you can tell me....

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

Sponsored Post

My new A/W Boots....Yes, already!

Hi guys,
August is such an awkward month. The weather is too warm and sunny to really want to put serious thought into your new season wardrobe (let's face it, who wants to think about coats when you're still wearing flip flops?) The problem is, it's far too late to be buying summer clothes too: and the chances of finding any in store, apart from in the dregs of the sale, are minimal anyway.

But me? Well, I like to plan ahead. And Autumn/Winter is my favourite season of all; I love it when it's cold, I love seeing my breath when I'm walking. I love frost, and snow, and wrapping up warm. Bonfire night, and Halloween and Christmas. You get the idea!

So August is the time I start planning my new Autumn/Winter wardrobe. And this year, I've started with my boots first. Here are my two new pairs:



H by Hudson Horrigan boots, Sarenza, £170 
Georgia Rose Bilboq boots, Sarenza, £72.50 

I love both pairs! The H by Hudson boots will look amazing with either my favourite tan or black leather handbags, and they're so comfortable and versatile. The neon and sand Georgia Rose boots make more of a statement, but when you don't want to make an effort with your outfit, statement boots are just what you need!

Luckily my winter boots from last year (One pair of zebra print ankle boots, and one pair of studded black cowboy-style boots) are still going to be very much on-trend this winter! And I have my tall Bearpaw sheepskin boots for those really snowy days. I would like a pair of knee high riding boots (my nod to this season's Heritage trend) which I have my eyes open for but other than that, I think the winter boot box of my new season checklist can be well and truly ticked!

Love Tor xx

AW10: Primark's coats and boots

Hi guys,

Looking through my stats and site traffic yesterday, I couldn't believe how many people were finding the blog by searching for new season Primark boots or coats. But actually, my Primark winter posts are from last winter, so those poor souls won't be able to buy whatever they find! So being the selfless lovely person that I am (ha!) I popped down to Primark armed with my camera to seek out the best of this seasons winter wears: what the people want, the people get!

Primark still don't allow you to take photos in store, and the staff are getting particularly vigilant about enforcing the rules, so apologies if the picture quality isn't great but I had to take these on my iphone:

The camel coat on the top right is the most expensive thing I have ever seen in primark: this cashmere mix coat is £49. I can testament that it feels beautiful though, and it looks great on! The black coat on the top right is exactly the same except that it is a wool mix, and is therefore cheaper at £29. There were lots of military details on coats too, and if you still need protecting from the Autumn showers, they still had all their rain macs and lighter weight coats in store too.

Ahh, the ubiquitous faux Mulberry Alexa, as seen in nearly every store on the high street this winter! The Primark one costs just £9, and they also comes with a matching purse. It's actually a good sized bag, and not bad quality, given the price.

If there's a trend on the high street then you can guarantee that Primark have come up with their own cheaper version of it! The boots instore today were replicas of so many other boots i've seen: cowboy boots, heeled clog boots, biker boots, and traditional knee high boots. There was also the best pair of Gareth Pugh replica-style chunky black wedge boots that I fell absolutely in love with, but sadly I couldn't take a picture!

Another thing worth mentioning is the pajamas! I'm a self confessed pajama addict, and I had a field day in the pajama section of the store where all the winter PJs are out in force, and you can even buy an adult onesy, complete with built-in feet! You can guess what i'll be wearing when the cold nights draw in!

Love, Tor x

Happy Birthday Dr Martens: 50 Today!

Today is the 50th birthday of Dr Martens and to celebrate on Monday I was invited to look around the DM factory, based in a small village just outside Northampton.

The day was split into three sections: first we got to explore the products that will be available in the AW10 collection, then we were given a tour of the factory where we saw a boot being produced from start to finish. Finally we were shown the videos being produced as part of their 50th Anniversary celebrations which feature specially recorded classic songs from 10 up and coming artists, including The Noisettes. The first three of these videos are released now, and the other seven will be lauched throughout the year. You can see the videos, download the tunes, and find out more on the new Dr Martens website, which launches today.

As cool as the videos and lovely lovely boots were (floral= love) the most interesting part of the day was the factory tour: I think it's amazing that the DM vintage collection is still made in the UK using traditional techniques.

It was fascinating to see the soles being produced, the leather being stitched, and the traditional techniques used to put the whole shoe together. Did you know that out of a side of leather (that's a whole half of a cow) the same piece have good strong parts, and weaker parts: the nearer you get to the cows belly, the weaker the leather is. How fascinating is that!? I always just thought leather was leather!

The gentleman that conducted our tour, Brian, was amazing; he has been working at the factory for 37 years and is the longest serving member of staff, so he knows everything there is to know about making Dr Martens! As part of the 50th Anniversary celebrations the factory is being opened once a week, so if you'd like to check out this tour, and meet Brian, you can!

Oh, and if you're London based and you love DMs as much as I do then get yourself down to the flagship DMs store on Neal Street today: For one day only to celebrate their birthday all of the 1460s (those are the classic standard height boots) will be just £14.60! No, this isn't an April Fool. And at that price, i'd pick up three pairs!

Love, Tor xx

Bargain of the week!

I have written before about my undying love for Soap and Glory, but this is a deal that I don't think anyone could resist!

It is the Boots offer of the week (less than half price) and it is just £20. For that you get the pretty carry case, 11 full sized products and the pouff and cotton draw string bag as well. I dont want to sound like i'm promoting Boots here, but to put that into perspective, another gift pack with 2 full size products and a shower cap comes in at £15: this is the best bargain i've bought for ages! Here is a close up, so you can see what products are inside:

It all looks and smells so delicious that I wish I could use it all at once! According to the lady who served me in Boots this morning, this has been their most popular offer of the week to date, and they anticipate having run out of the sets completely by tomorrow, despite the offer running until Thursday (Christmas eve) The bf bought me this one, but its such a good deal i'm thinking about going back to get another: that way I have replacements for when this one runs out!

.

PS - Today is "Christmas" in our house (because Mike and I still like to go to our respective families for the festivities) so I have a hoard of lovely presents to share later, and am writing this with my feet soaking in my new Scholl foot spa whilst Mike fetches me candies. Later there will be a Christmas dinner. This is a life I could get used to!!

.

Love, Tor xx

Love of the day... Soap and Glory

So the whole of the soap and glory range is one 3 for 2 at Boots at the minute, and their gift sets are also on 3 for 2 in the Boots Christmas gift range. What better excuse did I need to buy 3 things (paying for only 2 of course!) when I popped to Brent Cross on Sunday afternoon??

I got the body scub, the anti-cellulite gel (it's nearly Christmas - time to panic!) and the convenient spray on moisturiser. Except of course they all have much better names that that (thing no1 I love about Soap and Glory) such as Mist you Madly, The righteous butter, clean on me, and my personal favourite, sexy mother pucker. The lovely man at the counter also gave me 2 of the free gift bags (it must be my winning smile!) which the bf is going to use for my sisters Christmas presents: he isn't one for wrapping paper!

I was given two wonderful Soap and Glory gift sets last Christmas having sampled some of the shower gel ala Becky's house, and I have been hooked ever since.

The packaging is amazing and brightens up your bathroom with its witticisms and vintage bathing beauties (thing no2) and thing I love about Soap and Glory no3 is that each item in the range has the same rich distinctive scent. This means that the more of the products you use the more that smell is layered, and once on it lasts all day. It also compliments every fragrance on my shelf. Oh, and to answer the most important question, in my opinion at least, it works! I user the sexy mother pucker lip gloss on every night out for a magnificent pout and the body butter and moisturiser soften and moisten my skin. If it wasn't so close to Christmas I would be heading down for another 3 for 2 bargain, but i'm hoping santa has another gift set in his sack!

In other news:

• There is no Jimmy Choo @ H&M post because by the time I got there on Sunday nearly everything had sold out
• I saw a poster this morning saying that Brent Cross had started their Christmas opening hours: they're now open until 10pm on weekdays. Woo!!
• Watch this space, because in the next few days I will be launching a competition in collaboration with the lovely folks at Aussie hair.

Have a great day!

Love, Tor xx

PS-I just realised that the pictures I used make this look like an advert but it isn't! I paid for all the products and just wanted to share!! And I felt too lazy to take pictures of my own products - my laziness will be my downfall!!

Primark new season boots AW09/10

This is the final post in my three post installment on what's in Primark this week (from inside the store at least, I also got loads of lovely pictures of their windows to post for tomorrow's "whats in the window" feature!) I like to call it Primark Friday!
.

This post is on the new season boots. Boots are my biggest bugbear of the winter season; how to marry looking fabulous with feeling comfortable (especially in the rain and snow) is troublesome. Even more troublesome is the number of cheap boots that let in water, only you don't discover that until the middle or a torrential rain storm! Luckily you'll be pleased to hear that this isn't a problem I have ever had with Primark boots.

.

Here are 3 of the best pairs of knee high boots in the store (because I showed you their ankle boots a couple of weeks ago) There are 2 pairs which are colourful and fabulously unusual and one pair of thigh highs which makes me die and sigh and all manner of other words that would drive Sister Wolf insane!

1. For your inner country life reading bumpkin. Or anyone who wants to look like whatshername from Gossip Girl!
2. Crazy Fringe! These also come in black; I think I love them because they would make you look like a hairy beastie, and they would swoosh and move as you walked.

3. The winners! Believe it or not, these are only £24 but they look so much more! Flat and comfy riding style boots with gold buckle detailing and a long fringed tassle down the side. These are my kind of boots! As you can see, they were flying off the shelves in double quick time, so if you want a pair I suggest you get down and check them out asap!
.
Now that i've done by primark sales pitch, i'm going to give the Christopher Kane for topshop look book a serious inspection. More on that later!
.
Love, Tor xx

Primark pick of the week: ankle boots

If the highstreet has anything to do with it, we will all be wearing flat ankle boots this Autumn and Winter. Which is why i've chosen these as my Primark pick of the week.....


Primark have got alot of there Autumn/Winter stock instore this week. Knitwear, boots and shoes, leather jackets and coats...And these boots which I picked up for a bargain £15. And having worn them for the past 2 rainy London days, I can confirm that they are so comfortable they're a blessing!

.

The crazy flash on my camera has made the boots look slightly shiny, but they really aren't!

.

Compare these to the £65 from Topshop and the £75 versions from River Island (see below). No doubt the quality and finish is much better for your money, but the look is shockingly similar:

The only difference as I can see is that the Primark ones are slightly taller: which on my cunky calves is actually a much more flattering thing! The more I think about it, the more impressed I am. So much so that i'm thinking about going back to get the brown pair too. The problem is, if I go to primark, I know I won't just come out with the boots....

Love Tor xx