Daily Wear: Oh those summer nights!

Hi guys,
We got back from our holiday to Kos on Sunday and we had a great time. Swimming and splashing with Wilbur for most of the day, and overindulging with food and cocktails every evening. I've come home tan and happy, despite the fact that my nose is a full five shades darker than the rest of my face (If anyone has any tips for fixing this embarrassing sun bathing disaster I would be eternally grateful!) I've also come home craving some more British summer sun, so that I can wear my new favourite maxi dress:

So much of my holiday wardrobe came from H&M, who just seem to have gotten tropical beachwear 100% right this season. This dress was a bargain at just £19.99 and I wore it a couple of evenings during our stay because it was so lightweight and easy to wear, whilst providing enough cover from the cooler evening breezes. I loved the gold detail at the neck, which meant that I didn't have to worry about adding any jewellery: it was a great throw-on dress for when I only had a few minutes to get ready:


I teamed the dress with the Steve Madden sunglasses my parents gave me for my birthday, my tan Pucci saddle bag (c/o TKMaxx) which was the only handbag I took with me for the week, because it went with everything, and simple studded tan flip flops I picked up from Spartoo.

I will definitely be wearing this dress again, teaming it with heels and a skinny gold belt for summery nights out. How do you feel about maxi dresses? Do you have any favourites you keep coming back to year after year? I suspect that's what will happen with this one!

Love Tor x

Daily Wear: Occasion Wear for Everywhere!

Hi guys,
If you have a special occasion coming up this summer then you're in luck. The high street is filling with occasion wear, and you're spoilt for choice when it comes to finding something to wear. I have two weddings to attend this year, including one very special one: my sisters! But when it comes to weddings and other special occasions there are so many more than one outfit you have to buy: you also need something for the hen 'do, the day before the wedding, for heading to breakfast on the morning afterwards...the list goes on!

Another important thing to think about when you're choosing your occasion wear is whether you'll be able to wear it again: those fancy wedding frocks are far too expensive to only wear once! That's why I've taken one dress from the Marks and Spencer occasion wear collection (which I'm completely in love with) and styled it for another equally as important occasion: a casual day of bridesmaids fun with my sisters and mum (incorporating setting up the wedding and then enjoying afternoon tea) the day before the wedding!




You can buy this dress for yourself here for £89. I've teamed it with a hat that's also from M&S, contrasting pastel yellow polka dot pumps and an over body bag. Whereas I would go for heels and a clutch if I were wearing this for the wedding, the flats and easy bag make the dress much easier and more comfortable for running around in, but still fancy enough for a sophisticated afternoon tea.

The thing I love about this dress is that it is quite clearly an occasion dress (thick luxurious fabric, gorgeous lace overlay) but its on trend pastel colour means that you really could wear it anywhere. Meaning it's cost per wear will be significantly better than some of the other frocks I've bought for weddings and other special occasions over the past couple of months!

Are you going to any weddings this year? And have you started thinking about what you will be wearing for them yet?

Love Tor x

Daily Wear: Weekend Classics

Hi guys,
Sometimes there's nothing better than not having to think about what you're wearing and just throw on the basics! My plans for today involved cooking a Sunday roast, taking Wilbur for a walk to the park, and heading to a couple of antique/junk shops to do some furniture shopping. The perfect day to break in my new legging jeans and wear something simple then! (Not the perfect day to have a blow dry though: the wind didn't stop throwing my hair around all day!)


When I read about the Gap jean leggings on Jen's blog I decided to head out and get myself a pair: and I'm really glad I did! So far they're holding their shape really well, they're flattering and they fit like a dream. I've teamed them with a thin knit striped jumper (whenever Spring approaches I feel the need to introduce stripes to my wardrobe!), my favourite Topshop boots, H&M cocoon coat, and Cambridge Satchel Company satchel.

Everything about this item is a classic/basic: something I go to and wear again and again. There studded Topshop boots are currently fitted with their second set of heels and their third pair of insoles because I wear them so often that I wear them out. And I just love slouchy oversized coats: they may not be the most flattering of coats, but they are so warm and cozy, and you can layer lots of jumpers underneath them if you need to too!

Oh, and I promised you I would show you how those Maui Jim sunglasses looked in an outfit post: well here they are! They're much smaller than the oversized shades I usually opt for, but I really do like how they look. They have a great retro feel that really suits my style: roll on the summer so I get to wear them properly!

Love Tor x

Daily Wear: A Walk in The Park

Hi guys,
Don't you just love weekends? Yesterday we hit the shops, took Wilbur to see the animals at the farm, and then had a scrummy dinner in Carluccios. Today we've been vegging on the sofa watching some of the DVDs we got for Christmas, and then we went for a walk in the park.

The other good things about weekends is that I have a little longer to get myself dressed: and so even if we're only going to the park I can scrub up to do it Basically, that's just a fancy way of saying I sometimes get to wear dresses instead of jeans! Bearing that in mind, here's what I'm wearing today:
Coat from Clothing at Tesco, dress from George at Asda, Monogrammed satchel from The Cambridge Satchel Co, boots from Sol Sana at Sarenza. 

It's also given me a chance to show off my new coat. This F&F Limited Edition faux fur collar cocoon coat is from Clothing at Tesco, and is still available on the website for £60. I've been wearing it constantly since I got it and I'm obsessed with its vintage feel and it's unusual blue colour (so much more exciting than the usual black and it goes better with jeans). I love it's oversized boxy shape and another bonus is that it matches perfectly with the new Cambridge Satchel Company satchel Mike got me for Christmas: given I ordered the coat before Christmas, how lucky is that?!

Underneath I'm wearing this long sleeved dress which has a lace Peter Pan collar, thick thermal tights (Primark's finest!) and I've added my favourite Sol Sana boots on my feet: these are another online order that arrived just before Christmas and that I've been wearing pretty much constantly since.

What have you been doing with your weekend and, more importantly, what have you been wearing to do it? Have you been wrapping up against the cold or snuggling up inside instead?

Love Tor x

Daily Wear: Pretty in Pink

Hi guys,
Another cold day in Norwich, another opportunity to wear my new favourite coat: I've worn this bubblegum pink one everyday since I got it! I mentioned that I would show you the fruits of my labour from my Westfield London shopping spree, and this is the main thing I bought: a pink Topshop coat for £98.



I've teamed it with my new favourite jumper, which is (believe it or not) from George at Asda. Badgers, Owls, and Bumblebees: could there be a more perfect jumper for an animal lover like me? It's new in store at the minute, and cost just £16. The jeans and boots are also from Topshop (both sales purchases from last January) and the handbag is vintage.

I've never really been a girly girly girl, and I've certainly never been the kind of girl that wants to own everything in pink. But this season's pink trend has really grown on me, and I really do love this coat.

Have you got a new winter coat this year? And what colour did you choose?

Love Tor x

Daily Wear: Stealing styling tips from my dad

Hi guys,
I know we're supposed to call it masculine tailoring or something, but whenever I see someone wearing a button up shirt with a knitted jumper over it I think of my dad: It's his trademark look! Today I'm stealing his style and wearing that exact same outfit for myself: These are Leigh jeans from Topshop, teamed with a heart print blouse from Asda (aren't you surprised I didn't say Burberry? Ha!) and my jumper is from Asda too. The big leather bag was a bargain in the River Island sale back in January. And I'm disproportionately pleased that I managed to paint my nails last night; it's the first time I've been able to do them for ages!
Instead of wearing boots, which was my first instinct, I opted for my Minna Parikka bunny shoes, and put rolls in my jeans instead. When I first found out that Sarenza would be stocking Minna Parikka shoes I wrote a lengthy post here about why I loved the brand so much. All of those reasons still stand: it is by far one of my favourite shoe brands both because of the quality, comfort, and the quirkiness. Since I got them I've worn these shoes to death!

What are you wearing today? And are you wearing your coat yet? I'm going without mine today: I hope I don't regret it!

Love Tor xx

Daily Wear: Va-va-voluminous layers for a day at the zoo!

Hi guys,
Well I think the title probably explains where I've been today: we took a family trip to the zoo! In typical British fashion, excuse me for a minute whilst I talk about the weather! Although it's sunny the day started really coldly, which goes some way to explaining all my layers: I decided it was the best way to keep warm in the zoo during the early morning, without having to carry a jacket or bulky cardigan around with me all day. All that volume doesn't make for the sleekest or most streamlined look but nonetheless, here's how I wore it:
 Although they're only from George at Asda these are my new favourite jeans: I love the dark indigo colour and they have enough stretch to be insanely comfortable whilst still holding their shape. On top I am wearing a chiffon embroidered blouse with a peplum from Zara, a cotton kimono jacket from Primark and my new favourite scarf from Topshop: it has an incredible insect pattern all over it.  Finally, these Georgia Rose metallic sandals from Sarenza have been on my feet nearly constantly this summer. They're stupidly comfortable, and their bronzy metallic shade goes with absolutely everything.

This is the perfect jacket for this transitional weather, as when the temperature heated up a little I just removed the kimono and the scarf, and they both folded neatly into my bag: Simple!

What have you been doing with your Saturday? And what are you wearing today? Any tips for transitioning smoothly from your summer to your autumn wardrobe? I'd love to hear them!

Love Tor x

Daily Wear: The Perfect Stripey Dress From Joules

Hi guys,
I have written before that on a day to day basis I have a very specific mummy uniform that I tend to wear: simple blouses, pumps, and skinny jeans. I still wear fashion-focused clothes a lot too (mostly at weekends or when I'm going out without the baby) but for running errands, crawling around on the play mat and going to baby groups it's the mummy uniform all the way: I suppose that's one of the bonuses (and downsides) of working from home. However occasionally, I find a compromise dress like this one. It's simple and preppy so it fits in perfectly with my mummy uniform, but it's a little more dressed up and smarter too:
The dress is from Joules (It's the Thurwell heavyweight dress and it costs £49.95). I've teamed it really simply with my new Minna Parrika bunny pumps, black suede tassle bag from Hotter, Missoni sunglasses and black leggings. No fuss, no jewellery. Just an easy to wear outfit that I know is quickly going to be a go-to look for busy weekdays.

The dress is made from a lovely and soft, but really heavy sweatshirt material. The thicker fabric means the dress hangs really well and looks super flattering. It also comes with the added bonus of not needing to be ironed which is a massive plus for me: and there aren't many dresses you can say that about! And I just love my new bunny shoes: I've had them on almost constantly since they arrived. They make every outfit look a little bit happier!

I'm not the only one that's been wearing lovely Joules products this week: you can read Wilbur's review of his new little nipper short suit over on the Fabfrocks and Family blog.

Love Tor x

*I was sent this dress from Joules for the purpose of this review

Daily Wear: Like a preppy bumble bee!

Hi guys,
The title of this post is what my husband said when I asked him how I looked today! I'm pretty sure it wasn't intended as a complement. Nonetheless I'm quite happy with this simple but sunshiney outfit, which is just perfect for looking stylish, but not like I've made too much effort when I pop to the shops this afternoon:
The jumper is from Gap (Just £13.99 in the sale: total bargain!), the jeans are Topshop, and the blouse is H&M. The dainty flower necklace is from Cath Kidston. The heels are Steve Madden via Sarenza and the bag is via Hotter.

I usually shy away from bright colours because I'm not sure how to wear them and, truth be told, I don't really like drawing attention to myself which you're bound to if you wear a jumper like this. But this vibrant yellow looks great with my trademark black and new love of denim. And wearing heels helps too: it forces you to carry yourself tall and adds outfit confidence!

How to you wear bright colours? What's your comfort zone, and how do you force yourself to step outside of it sometimes? I'd love to hear your tips!

Love Tor xx

Latest on Fabfrocks at Home: My dream bedroom created by Laura Ashley

Daily Wear: Just a walk in the park!

Hi guys,
Isn't it amazing how much the weather can change your mood? After a miserable week stuck in the house with Wilbur last week (mostly wearing jeans and baggy tees) I woke up this morning to find the sun shining and the birds singing, and my immediately reaction was Hurrah! It's the perfect day to throw on a dress and go for a walk around the park!

So that's exactly what we're going to do today, complete with rides on the swings and sandwiches under a shady tree. And here's what I'm wearing to do it:
The dress is years old (like, I got it when I was at university old!) and is from Topshop. The vintage bag is just as old (I was 19 when I got this bag and I'm 29 now. That's some serious wardrobe longevity!). The necklace is the Black Lily one I showed off last week. And the shoes are from Mellow Yellow via Sarenza. I actually ordered these months ago in anticipation of Spring, but today is the first time I've worn them. I'm seriously excited to take them for a spin, as they're so cute, with their little heart cut out details!

Oh by the way - you may have noticed the new background to my last couple of outfit posts: our new garden! We spent much of this weekend mowing the lawn and weeding the patio: my next job is to paint the fences. It's so much nicer to take photos here without passers by on the street gawking. I feel much happier and comfortable posing too: cue lots more outfit posts to come this summer!

What did you get up to this weekend? Did you do anything nice, to make the most of the sunshine? And do you find the change of weather affects your mood too?

Love Tor x

Dailywear: A nice day for a white Christening!

Hi guys,
Yesterday was Wilbur's Christening. Which of course meant that I had spent weeks choosing an outfit to wear for the occasion. I wanted to look smart (but not too smart). Conservative (but not too conservative). Feel fashionable, and be comfortable. Here's what I went for: The dress is from French Connection. I managed to get it in the sale for just £30. The shoes are Steve Madden via Sarenza. And although they're high, they were surprisingly comfortable (unfortunately, because it's been so long since I wore heels though, I did have a little wobble!) The suede handbag is from Hotter. I have no idea where I got the belt from! And believe it all not (because I don't think you can tell!) the jacket is from Primark: We were lucky with the weather, and it was so warm I took it off as soon as we left the Church.

And as for the white Christening mentioned in the header? Well here is my little man (now officially Wilbur George) wearing the Christening gown that I also wore to my Christening 29 years ago. And he wears it adorably!
What have you been doing with your bank holiday? Have you been up to anything exciting? After all the running around yesterday, we're planning on spending today on the beach with a picnic, doing very little!

Love Tor x

Daily Wear: Spring wedding style from Matalan

Hi guys,
Last month Matalan got in touch and asked if I wanted to take part in a style challenge: to create an outfit for a Spring Wedding from their new collections for just £50. Obviously I said yes, and armed with my gift voucher I hit the store looking for the perfect outfit.

It was much harder than I thought: not because there wasn't a great selection (there was!) but because the budget was so tight: I had to forgo something to get a dress, shoes, and accessories: in the end I opted for a necklace and shawl and left the clutch and headpiece in the shop! Here's the outfit I put together:

Blue lace dress, £20. Gold peep toe heels, £14. Gold necklace, £12. Cream shawl, £5. Total - £51. See, even missing out some vital wedding kit I had to cheat and go slightly over budget!

Breastfeeding means that realistically I'm far too top heavy to be wearing dresses right now. But it seems like such a social faux pas to wear trousers to a wedding: or at least, if you do it has to be a trouser suit which can look so aging! Unless you're Bianca Jagger. Which I am not.

My favourite piece from the outfit is the necklace, which I will definitely be wearing again and again. And the classic peep toe shoes have a very low heel making them super-comfortable: I have a couple of weddings coming up this summer, and these will definitely be making an appearance!

This outfit is part of a style challenge created for Matalan. You can see my outfit, and that of the other bloggers taking part in the challenge, over on the Matalan blog: why not head over and check them all out?

Love Tor x

Happy Birthday Zalando!

Hi guys,
I'm a big fan of Zalando: the shopping site, and I've worked with them several times since they launched two years ago. I was a particular fan during my pregnancy, because cool maternity clothes are so hard to come by. And now that I'm a busy mum, it's my special occasion saviour. The nature of the site, pulling together all the best items from the best brands and stores, means that it's so much easier to find what you're looking for. Perfect speedy and easy shopping when you want something fast.

This week Zalando are celebrating their second birthday. And in honour of that, I am showcasing some of my favourite purchases from the site:
Warehouse monochrome dress from Zalando.
Mamalicious zebra patterned maternity top from Zalando
Full circle blouse from Zalando

Warehouse isn't a shop I normally go into when I'm shopping in the city, but I just can't get enough of this Warehouse dress. It looks great for casual wear with leggings and boots but can be dressed up with heels too: winner! And the Mamalicious and Full Circle blouses were regulars in my maternity armoury: I wore them both at least once a week!

If you want to celebrate Zalando's birthday too then create your own birthday image for the brand and tweet it using the hashtag #zalandoturns2 - there's a £300 voucher to win if you do! Find out more here.

Love Tor x

Daily wear: How to wear a sweatshirt

Hi guys,
Like most trends, the rise of the humble sweatshirt took a while to grow on me. It seemed too casual, too understated, too damn young! But having bought one I've done a 360 on the sweatshirt trend, and will definitely be giving it a go this spring. Here's how I made it work for me:
Sweatshirt- Gap. Necklace- Warehouse. Jeans- Topshop. Shoes- Jeffrey Campbell c/o Sarenza. Handbag- River Island.

- Add a chunky necklace. I'm a huge fan of oversized necklaces anyway, but they're almost essential partners to the sweatshirt. They stop it looking too casual and give a grown up, fashion-forward feel.

- Keep everything else streamlined- you need to balance the volume of the sweat. I've seen several other bloggers really make theirs look amazing with pencil skirts and even sequinned minis. But for my lifestyle, a fitted vest and skinny boyfriend jeans were the order of the day.

- If you're sweat is plain, add a little interest somewhere. I tried this outfit with my black boots and gold pumps first. But the best fit was when I added some pattern via my feet: these slipper shoes from Jeffrey Campbell.(Available here with 30% off)  Heels would have looked even better, but I can't really go to little mans messy play class in heels!

This neon orange sweatshirt was a bargain from the Gap half price sale (I paid just £14.99 for it) and their sale is still on instore and online now if you want to pick up one of your own. I chose this one because it nods to two trends at once- neon and sweats- with mininal effort. But I'm actually thinking of going back for the grey and lilac ones too- outfits for this awkward seasonal transition period, done!

Do you own a sweatshirt? And how do you style yours?

Love Tor x

Daily Wear: Wearing sequins in the daytime!

Hi guys,
I'm not really much of a sequin wearer. For eveningwear I tend to stick to classic matt black. But I do love sequins: I'm a glitzy pink Barbie girl at heart, even if that isn't ever externalised by my clothes!

I am currently making a sequin- exception though: This sequin sleeve khaki jacket from OwnTheRunway.com. And believe it or not, it's sequins for the daytime rather than the evening. I saw a couple of other bloggers wearing this, and I just knew I had to have it:
Sequin sleeve jacket: OwnTheRunway*. Jeans: Miss Selfridge. Shell Top: Matalan. Boots: Topshop. Bucket bag: River Island.

Because the jacket is such a statement piece (the sequins are so bright that when the sun's shining this baby could blind someone!) I decided to keep everything else as simple as possible: plenty of black and then a nice fresh denim. Of course, because I can't resist a little matching I wore my gold topped boots, a gold necklace and my gold watch to go with the sleeves.

The lipstick is the Dainty Doll red shade I showed you earlier in the week: I really do love it, and a splash of red lipstick is perfect for making me feel put together no matter what I'm wearing!

I wore this outfit for shopping and lunch with Mike and Wilbur today. It was so easy to throw on (effectively it's just jeans and a tee) but I must admit I was pleased with how it looked.

Have you tried wearing sequins during the daytime, and how do you manage to dress them down? What are you wearing today?

Love Tor x

* Gifted item

Daily Wear: Mad about Monochrome

Hi guys,
Monochrome is everywhere at the minute. It's a key trend for this Spring/Summer, and the perfect one to try when the weather is as cold as it is today too. Never one to miss out on a trend, my outfit today is all about monochrome. I wore this to brunch with Mike and Wilbur this morning (I threw my big leopard print coat over the top to keep me warm) and was very excited to be wearing a dress and not a blouse and jeans for a change!
Dress: Warehouse c/o Zalando. Boots: Topshop. Bag: From a market in Turkey. Bracelets: Accessorize/Topshop.

I love this Warehouse dress, which has a super-soft jersey lining and is made from a lovely chiffon, and which I got from Zalando. I really like big shopping sites like Zalando, and Sarenza (for shoes). They're great for comparing lots of big brands at the same time, all in one place with no fuss.

Unfortunately this outfit didn't get much wear, because it was so cold and miserable outside that as soon as we'd had our brunch we scurried straight back home to snuggle under a blanket and watch films: definitely a pyjama affair!

What have you done with your weekend? Have you done any shopping (if so, do tell!) or just been hibernating away from the weather, like me?

Love Tor x