The ASOS Sale has Started: On Your Marks!

Hi guys,
Just a little post to say that the ASOS sale has started: and I've already ordered my first 'January sales' frocks! Long gone are the days when you had to wait for Christmas day to pass before the sale shopping could begin: in fact, if you're really savvy you could even wait until the last minute for the sales to start before you do your Christmas shopping! Here are a few picks of some of the things I've got my eye on from the sale (and a couple of the things I've already ordered!) After Christmas itself, shopping the January sales is one of my favourite times of the year:

Floral smock dress, was £36 now £14.
Sheer black dress, was £35 now £17.50.
Check skater dress, was £42 now £21.
Angel midi bodycon dress, was £100 now £50.
Full skirted embroidered dress, was £325 now £195.
Floral maxi dress, was £65 now £39.

If you don't have your New Year's Eve outfit organised yet, then it's definitely worth checking out: there's still time to order now for NYE delivery!

I've got just one more post to share with you (full of Wilbur in all of his Santa-y glory) before Christmas!'Tis the season and it's very nearly the big day: I'm already home at my parents and indulging in a host of festive treats!

Love Tor x

SS13:Get frock happy with the ASOS look book!

Hi guys,
I'm a self confessed dress addict (the blog title is probably a dead giveaway of this!) so whenever I see a new look book or stack of product shots, my eyes immediately make a bee line for the dresses. The glitzier the better: and nevermind the fact that I don't actually have anywhere to wear them! So when I saw the latest spring/summer press images from ASOS I did my usual 'look at the pretty frocks' trick. And I definitely wasn't disappointed!!
Green shift dress with 3D flower lace, £120
Metallic deep plunge skater dress, £45
Fluro spot shirt dress, £50
Red mini dress with laser cut flowers, £150
Denim look oversized shift dress, £35
Shift dress with cornelli trim, £85

The dresses on my "must-have immediately" list are the denim oversized shift and the pretty pink fluro shirt dress (my particular favourite!) Both would be perfect for just throwing on with sandals for a put-together, pretty summer look; and it's this ease that is my favourite thing about wearing dresses. My favourite dress from the full selection above is the green lame' and yellow lace number: I know it would be unflattering on my figure (because its so shapeless) and lets face it, when does someone wear something like that anyway (?) but nonetheless it immediately caught my attention, and I think it looks great!

Which of my selection is your favourite? What do you think of the new selection of spring/summer dresses from ASOS? As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts!!

Love Tor x

SS13: Must have Primark's newest collections

Hi guys,
I know it's snowing outside, so obviously it makes perfect sense that all I can think about is what I'm going to be wearing when Spring finally makes an appearance. Or not. Admittedly it might be a while before we get to wear any of them, but towards the end of every season I get itchy to start buying from the new season collections. And the good news is, they're starting to pop up instore soon. As the sale stock is taken out, the fresh bright colours of spring are coming in.

If you want to see which new season catwalk trends the highstreet has picked up on and will be attempting to replicate you can do a lot worse that to look towards first Topshop, and second Primark. Here are the publicity shots showcasing Primark's latest offerings:
Gilet £18, Dress £15, Stud creeper £14, Bum bag £5, Socks £1.50

Dress £20, Heels £12, Sunglasses £3.

Jumper £10, Skirt £10, Studded creeper £14, Mens cap £4.


Heels £12, Sunglasses £3, Trousers tbc

To be honest, the way they have styled this photoshoot is all a little young and urban for my personal tastes. The affect of this being that I thought I didn't like any of it. But actually, if you look at each piece in isolation, there is a lot to like: the mint green chiffon dress in the first picture, for example. And the pretty rope-style sandals in the second picture.

Does anything from the new collection take your fancy? And have you had any Primark bargains lately? I'd love to hear all about them!

Love Tor x

Create Christmas glamour with House of Fraser

Hi guys,
I don't know about you, but nothing fills me with more dread than the thought of a formal Christmas party. Especially one where you don't really know anyone well enough to ask them what they're wearing (I'm thinking of husband's/boyfriend's work Christmas parties in particular). You don't want to go too formal, and be the most overdressed person in the room. But you also don't want to just throw on a little black dress and be the most underdressed person in the room if everyone else is in floorlength gowns. Frankly, it's a sartorial minefield!!

So when I saw these images from House of Fraser I both immediately fell in love with them, and then sighed a sigh of relief. House of Fraser have gone for all-out glamour when it comes to their Christmas campaign. And if you have a formal Christmas party to go to, there's something for everyone:




It's like the heyday of the 1920s come to life again. I really like the opulence of it, and suddenly have an urge to head out and buy pearls! I particularly love the beaded dress in the top picture, and the floorlength dress in the second: it's knot detail at the waist means it will be especially flattering on not-so-perfect tummies: just what I'm looking for!

You'll find all of the House of Fraser dresses here.

How many Christmas parties do you have to go to this year? They sometimes feel never-ending, don't they! Have you decided what you're wearing yet? I'd love to know and steal some of your inspiration!!

Love Tor xx

PS - Don't forget to enter my Christmas giveaway: there is a great selection of little prizes to be won!! 

George at Asda: In which I forgot to buy any potatoes.....

Hi guys,
Yesterday I popped to Asda to buy some bits and pieces for dinner (I was planning on making a Shepherds pie- glamourous life!) when I got so distracted by all of the 'New In' George range, that I forgot to buy the potatoes: an essential Shepherds pie ingrediant! Their high summer collection has just arrived, and it's made me think about summer holidays, and the warm weather that hasn't quite arrived yet.

Although I always admire the George collection at their press days, I almost never shop there (as that isn't where I do my supermarket shop) and was interested to see if they had the same gorgeous stuff in store as they do when they showcase the collection to the press. Here are my picks of what I saw yesterday:

The verdict? George is definitely still a great place to shop, and there are some real gems in their collection. Pretty patterned bras for £8? What's not to like! And aside from Primark, perhaps, where else can you get fashionable swimwear for your summer holidays at such low prices! A lot of the fashion is really lovely too: I liked the beige and silver jumper so much that I snapped it up straight away!

The not-so-good? Maybe it's a sign of my age, but the G21 range (shown in pictures 3) which I used to admire for being so fashion-forward, now strikes me as garish and unappealing. Lots of very bright colours and obviously cheap fabrics. And why embellish everything?! I, for one, very see teenage girls covered in that many sequins: they have more taste!

Nonetheless, I will definitely be checking out George again next time I pop into Asda to forget to do my shopping!

Love Tor xx

I wish my wardrobe looked like my-wardrobe.com!

Hi guys,
Lets just start this off with a big old sigh. A sigh because when I look in my wardrobe I see a whole lot of high street (and a disproportionate amount of black!) instead of the effortless designer wardrobe I often create in my minds eye. A wardrobe that could come straight from the frock section of my-wardrobe.com.

When it comes to fantasy dress shopping I am often to be found wasting hours away pouring over Net-a-Porter mentally decimating my credit card and/or savings account. But I may have to switch my allegiences. Because a selection of  My-wardrobe Dresses are currently blowing my mind! Prepare to have your mind blown too:

Alice by Temperley Rana dress, £222
Vivienne Westwood bronze dress, £107
Carven one shoulder tribal dress, £357
Tilda black sheen pleated dress, £231 
Antik Batik aztec mini dress, £239
Elizabeth and James floral dress, £220
DKNY animal print tunic dress, £157

My favourite, predictably, is the most expensive of my picks: the Carven tribal dress. But alot of the other frocks are surprisingly affordable: £107 for gold Vivienne Westwood. Erm, how exactly can I say no?! I love it when the sales start....even these gorgeous dresses start to look affordable.....

Have you started shopping the mid season sales yet? And what are you looking for? A few designer pieces at half the prices, or lots and lots of high street at bargain prices? And you a quality or quantity shopper?

Love Tor xx 

PS - Don't forget to enter my competition to win one of TEN St Tropez tanning sprays or lotions worth £26 each!  

*Sponsored post

The Overlooked store tour: Phase Eight

Hi guys,
Today's stop on the whirlwind trip of our overlooked store tour is Phase Eight. Now I am prepared to concede that this isn't exactly an overlooked store: my mum shops there frequently and even wore one of their dress/jacket suits to my wedding. But this is an 'overlooked' store for your average mid-twenty something. Or at least, and overlooked store my me, because I never pop in and check it out. And I'm making a grave mistake!

Phase Eight has a great selection of slick and stylish separates that would be perfect for work wear. And I've spotted at least half a dozen wearable, amazing quality dresses on their website that I would love to add to my wardrobe! I think their strength definitely lies in occasion wear, such as outfits for weddings and more formal parties. But I was wrong to assume that this was only the case for an older clientele.
Floral blouse, £59. Palazzo trousers, £59.
Lace cotton shift dress, £99.
Geisha fan dress, £110. Clutch bag, £60.

I don't like the strapless dresses you find in Coast for weddings and events: anything that requires a strapless bra just doesn't work for me. Shiny satin is not the friend of anyone over 20 and under 50 unless you're being ironic. And, in my opinion at least, a friends wedding really isn't the place for a frock so short that barely covers your modesty.

So bearing all that in mind, I have officially changed my mind about Phase Eight. It's perfect for stylish women of any age: and I include myself in that category!

Would you/do you shop in Phase Eight? And what have been your experiences? I'd love to hear all about it!

Love Tor xx

PS - Don't forget to enter my competition to win a piece of handmade jewellery.

Four of the best: Dresses from the Topshop Outlet this week

Hi guys,

As I try to do at least once a month, this morning I popped down to the Topshop outlet. I didn't buy anything except jewellery, but if i'd have been in the market for a party dress, I would've been in luck! There was a great selection of partywear in store today, and in a great range of sizes too. Here are four of the best dresses they had instore today:

The strapless polka dot dress (my favourite of the four!) is £25. The sequinned dress, which is from the dress up! range, and the crochet purple dress were both £30 each. And the patterned dress, which would look great for the office with tights and a blazer, was just £15. And don't forget that everything in the store is buy one get one free, compounding the bargains even further!

Other notes from the Topshop outlet: If you're looking for winter coats or knitwear then you're out of luck. There was absolutely none in store today. On a brighter note though, there is an offer on right now where all the Freedom jewellery instore is £1.50 per piece, buy one get one free. I picked up a couple of gorgeous brooches! There is also an enormous selection of skirts, so if you love wearing separates, this is the week to pop down!

Love Tor xx

PS - The Topshop outlet is in the Broadwalk Centre, Edgware. It is on the Northern line, and in zone 5. It's only a very small store, and although there are often bargains to be had, I have hundreds of trips in where the stock isn't that great. So it's worth popping into if you're in the area, but I really wouldn't travel a long distance to visit it.

New York Fashion Week: Some Marc Jacobs love

Hi guys,

Whilst i'm busying myself with London Fashion Week, I thought i'd post a review of my favourite show from New York Fashion Week: London Fashion Week show reviews should start tomorrow!

As always, I loved the Marc Jacobs show: it's such an important one, because the man has so much influence. So many of the trends we've all been wearing for the past couple of years have been defined by him.

I loved all of the leather: the midi length leather skirts, the oversized leather tees If soft leather is going to be in vogue again next autumn/winter then count me in! I'm a polka dot addict, so I loved all the polka dot details. The soft polka dot handbag was an especial favourite: what I wouldn't give to have a collection of Marc Jacobs handbags at my disposal! How wearable this collection would be, I don't know: the leather and rubber skirts which looked so great with their high shine were so tight they would be incredibly difficult to walk in; you would be making a real fashion commitment if you decided to give it a go!

One trend I can't see taking off is the little hats that topped off the majority of the outfits. With their high gloss nubs, they made some of the browner outfits look like acorns: not a good look! These vinyl berets were made by Stephen Jones: very dominatrix, which completed the severe look of the whole show. I really loved it, but on the whole I only covet the softer more wearable pieces, like the polka dot sweater for example : the more extreme pieces looked great on the catwalk, but they're not for me!

Love, Tor xx

Photos from Style.com

The importance of being waisted!

Hi guys,
It is often joked that I am rarely seen without a belt around my waist. And it's true: the phrase I most often mutter in changing rooms is "maybe if I added a belt." I have an hourglass figure, and my body looks really wide without something to draw the eye to my waist, so that's the main thing I look for when i'm out shopping. With a constructed dress that cinches in at the waist, or even a waist belt, your whole body shape can change. Behold:

These pictures were taken in the same shop on the same day, but in different changing rooms. Yes, i'm in my beloved Topshop again. The dresses are in the same size, and so am I. I just saw these two pictures on my phone whilst looking for pictures for another post i'm putting together, and thought that side by side they emphasise this point really well. Without the waist definition my upper body looks enormous: imagine how much better the leopard print dress would look with a belt on top too, and compare this to the vast peach mass of the other dress!

I guess this shows how important it is to know how to dress your figure, and the difference that can make to how you look and feel: in this case slim and slinky versus oversized hefferlump! And yes, I did pick up the leopard print dress: but I haven't broken my shopping ban, as I had some gift vouchers left over from Saturday. Free shopping: my favourite!

Love, Tor xx

January Sales 2011: More from River Island

Hi guys,

I know this is no surprise, but I just couldn't resist popping back in to River Island for another peek at the sales. I approached them with a different attitude this time though: instead of looking for stuff I could wear now (because there definitely isn't much of that in their sale) I decided to look for summer clothes I could wear for my honeymoon, as well as for the summer when the weather finally perks up a bit.

With this new shift in attitude (driven by my new found obsession with forward planning) I found plenty more dresses I wanted to add to my (admittedly rather large) collection:

From top to bottom the dresses were: green dress (£10) Spotty dress (£10) Grey smock (£15) Cream ruffled dress (£10) Black dress (£20) Nude lace dress (£10)

I picked up the first two dresses: the green ruffled mini dress and the nude and gold polka dot dress. I loved the gentle draping from the hips of the nude dress, and have never been able to resist mint green or ruffles! Everything else, in my opinion, looked pretty terrible. The black dress was the one I was most excited to get into the changing room, but it ended up looking the worst: it's always the way!

Have you guys had any sales bargains? Are there any sales I haven't checked out yet that you think have been fantastic? Share you're secrets, I need to hit the shops!

Love, Tor x

PS - I just had a funny thought! I show the Apple iPhone more in these blog posts than they do on their own website! Free advertising or what!?

Topshop outlet: A peek inside

Hi guys,

Today I headed into Edgware to pick up my final Christmas presents and some wrapping paper, which gave me the perfect excuse to pop into the Topshop outlet for my last visit of the year. If you're looking for Christmas Party heels, the Topshop outlet is your best friend right now: on trend clogs, wedges, and metallic ruffles all jostled for space for less than £40 a pair (less than £20 a pair if you factor in the buy one get one free) I realised i've never shown you pictures of what the outlet looks like on the inside, so I took a couple of sneaky pics today:

There were loads of amazing belts to tempt me (when I am on a strict accessories ban!) but I was strong and buried myself in the dresses rail instead. Here are the four I tried one:

My favourite dress by far was the third one: I loved the wintery floral pattern, the nipped in lace-detail waist and the deep neckline. I also really loved the twist on the checked shirt of the final dress: it was this great, light chiffon fabric, although it looked a little boxy on my bust. The first two dresses weren't the best shapes on me, although I loved them in theory: the heart print pattern and the mix of cotton and lace were gorgeous. All four of the dresses were £15, buy one get one free.

I know I am absolutely obsessed with this shop, and I write about it all the time. But who can afford to shop in Topshop when they need a quick fashion fix? I know I can't, and the prices just keep going up and up. The outlet gives me my perfect Topshop fix without costing me a fortune. This week my picks to look out for in the Topshop outlet are the jersey maxi dresses (ranging from £7-£15) and the heeled clogs in tan and black (£35)

Love, Tor xx

Clothing at Tesco: Post it on!

Check out these shoulder pads!? I was very excited when Clothing at Tesco asked me to take part in Post it On (basically, bloggers tag!) and even more excited when the dress I chose to start my game of post it on arrived this morning! Post it on is celebrating the new Autumn/Winter collection currently instore/online from Tesco: it was actually hard to choose just one item, as there was so much on the site I wanted (especially from the F&F Couture range, which looks 10 times better this season than it did last!) But enough of that, lets look at the dress I picked!!

The dress is from the new A/W Florence and Fred Couture range, and these pictures really don't do it justice as they make what are in fact soft velvet details look rather shiny! It has buttons up the cuffs, and tiny Victorian style buttons all the way up one side of the dress. It has draping across the hips, an assymetric hem, and those show stopping shoulder pads: i'm nuts about this dress!

The dress is so dramatic that it speaks for itself, so I styled it pretty simply with chunky wedge boots and a skinny black studded belt, to draw in the waist of the dress a little. I was worried it would make my boobs look too big (I never wear anything with a high neck like this) but I didn't think they looked too bad to be honest!

The blogger i'm posting this on to (randomly chosen by pointing my finger at my links page!) is Harriet of Where is Harriet. In playground parlance, I believe i'm supposed to hit you and scream "Tag!" Can't wait to see what you pick!

Love, Tor x

A quick trip to Primark

Hi Guys,
Taking a quick detour from the high-fashion world of the various fashion weeks (has anyone else been glued to Style.com this week?) I decided to pop to Primark before work this morning, to have a quick look at their new season clothes without the hustle and bustle of the afterwork crowds. First thing in the morning is my favourite time to go to Primark: there was only me and four other people in the whole shop, everything is neat and tidy on the shelves and racks, and you have time to browse, and make your selections, without getting an elbow in the ribs: it's a much more civilised experience!

I was in and out in less than 30 minutes (like a shopping ninja), including the time it took me to try on six dresses! Here's what I picked up:


Deer Tshirt dress, £9
Black jersey Maxi dress, £15
Tree patterned ruffle trim dress, £15

Obviously I love all three dresses (or I wouldn't have bought them!) but for different reasons: the T shirt dress is slouchy, and a longer line at the back than it is at the front. This will look great smartened up with a boyfriend blazer and brogues. The jersy maxi dress is perfect for day to night; it has flattering sleeves and a deep decolletage which means a change of jewellery or shoes will take it to just about any event. And the ruffle trim dress? This is my favourite! It reminds me of one i've seen in topshop that looks very similar, but at a third of the price: perfect for a trend led piece like this that I probably won't want to wear again after Christmas!

I know I said no more fast-fashion, and I haven't been to primark for months, but I just couldn't resist these great winter dresses: they've just had all their new season stuff arrive, so if you too need dresses with sleeves, jackets or coats, and winter boots on a budget, it's definitely worth checking out!

Love, Tor xx

Brand Alley and the Little Black Dress

Hi guys,
My love of a good LBD is well documented (in fact, at last count, I had 13 of them) so imagine my delight to discover that Brand Alley was releasing a whole new range of the lovely classics, from up and coming designers no less, but at affordable prices.

Last month Brand Alley launched an exclusive design competition with Fashion Enter which saw a range of up and coming designers present their take on the iconic LBD. The 10 best designs have been selected by BrandAlley and a panel of industry experts and are being produced and sold exclusively via the BrandAlley website from September 15th.

Here are some of my favourite LBD's from the collection:

From left to right we have: the Batmobile dress by Alice Palmer, and the Audrey dress by Celia Fernandes. There was always going to be a classic "Audrey Hepburn-style" dress; she is the celebrity symbol of the little black dress! I love the sharp angles of the Batmobile (i've never knowlingly said no to a peplum!), and of course, its name: my dad and I were delighted to discover recently that you can hire the Batmobile for weddings and other such events! Both dresses have a classic simplicity that means you can keep them in your wardrobe and wear them forever, but enough fashion forwardness to stop them from looking dull or ubiquitous.

From left to right we have: the Charlotte by Evelyn Front and the Alia by Olga Papadopoulos.The Charlotte must have been designed with SATC's Charlotte in mind: this is my favourite dress from the whole range, I love its 50s styling, pleated details, and swingy skirt! The Alia has the kind of structure perfect for flattering curves, and although I wonder how you'd walk in the tight narrow skirt, the shoulder pleating makes it worth finding out!

I love all these dresses: I can't be trusted with my purse when there are black dresses around! The exclusive ‘10 Little Black Dresses’ collection will be produced by Fashion Enter’s UK workshop and will be on offer at www.brandalley.co.uk in an exclusive two-week sale, from 15th - 30th September on a made–to-order service. Prices from £60 - £275 with limited edition dresses up to £650, delivery times will be a maximum of 3 weeks. Get in quick and snag yours before my willpower disolves and I take them all!

Love, Tor xx

New Season: Topshop does rock chick

I fell in love with everything I saw in Topshop when I went to check out their new season collections. The Rock Chick look is so easy to incorporate into my everyday style, and it was hard to pick just 6 items to take into the changing rooms with me. Sadly, however, this seasons shapes and styles from Topshop don't love me back. I need structure, nipped waists, and angles. Anything loose and unstructured just makes me look bigger than I am. And don't even get me started on how terrible my legs (by far my worst feature) looked in leather panelled leggings. I so hoped they would work. But they clearly did not.

Here's what I tried on:

I loved the pattern on the long dress, and like a butterfly, was immediately attracted to the colours. But the loose drop waist hid rather than emphasised my figure making me look wide and shapeless.The spidery printed one-shouldered chiffon dress looked lovely, but was far too short for me (is this a sign i'm showing my age!?) The piece I really loved was the drape fronted marble-print satin jacket which was soft and plyable, and would be a great versitile piece to wear over just about everything. The deer T-shirt was another favourite and will look great, given structure: tucked into a highwaisted skirt with heels and a belt.

On the Topshop website I noticed a plethora of flippy little sixties-style dresses with flowing sleeves, similar to the ones I was lusting after on ASOS. I think on my next visit to Topshop (often referred to as the motherland) i'll be trying those, and leaving the leather trousers to the whippersnappers!

Speaking of Topshop the news broke today that the next collection Kate Moss designs for Topshop will be the last. I realise this is ironic, as i'm wearing a Kate Moss @ Topshop dress as I type this, but I for one am ambivilent about this news: the collections were always samey, overpriced for the quality received, and far too overhyped for my liking. Is anybody actually disappointed about this? Would love to hear your thoughts.

Love, Tor xx

New season picks: ASOS love

With the Very disaster just about sorted (i've been promised the money should be back in my account by next Wednesday, fingers crossed) i've turned to my trusty ASOS to look for my new Autumn dresses. The price points are better, and i've never been let down with delivery or refunds! I'm looking for lovely casual dresses with sleeves that can be dressed down with brogues and cardigans or up to look good for evenings too (think work to pub). Here are my picks of the dresses from the new ASOS Autumn collections:
White twisted knot dress, £40. Lime bell sleeved dress, £28. Pink tunic dress, £38. Do you sense a trend with my dress choices?! This is what i'm feeling for Autumn/Winter though. Short long sleeved dresses in vibrant colours perfect to be teamed with contrasting tights and an array of oversized accessories. Very Sixties, very simple, but with high impact. I'n definitely going to get the lime green one. From the evening (Is it too soon to mention Christmas parties? Eeek!) I would opt for these:
Digital print dress, £55. Slinky black dress, £38. Oversized sequin shift dress, £85. The slinky black dress would cover my arms, show off my waist and cleavage, and has perfect party dress written all over it! Another one for the list..

Of course, when looking on ASOS I couldn't just stop at looking at dresses: a little peek at the shoes was a neccessity as well! I'm a self-confessed shoe addict, and the changing season is as good an excuse as any to pick up a new pair, or two! I could use a new pair of everyday flats, and a flattering pair of black ankle boots (not as easy to find as you'd think!) What I don't need is heels, yet that's where my eyes are drawn every time i'm looking at shoes. Here are my favourites from ASOS:
Nude leather loafer, £50. Leather lace-up ankle boots, £45. Leopard print shoe boots, £80. Pink brogues, £28. Peep toed heels, £70. I know that the lace up ankle boots are the sensible options I will actually wear. And that the shoe boots or crazy high 80s looking heels will maim my feet and make me cry, and i'll never wear them. But the're still my first choice; I guess that's just how shoes get you! I am attracted to the hot pink brogues though; they're sensible shoes designed to get your pulse racing, and that doesn't happen very often!

Overall, i'm a little bit in love with ASOS (aren't I always) and can't wait for my deliver of lovely goodies to arrive!! I'll show you all what I got as soon as they get here! Yay!!

Love, Tor xxx

My favourite sale bargain...

I promise this is the last post I will write about the summer sales, but i've had so many incredible bargains in them that it's hard to resist showing off! If I had to pick the one bargain that I can't stop thinking smugly about, and can't wait to have an opportunity to wear, then it would be this:

This dress from Monsoon was originally £85, but with the 70% discount I paid just £25.50: I'm absolutely in love with it! It looks incredible on, it's really heavy because of the hand-embellished sequinning, and you can do so much with it! With my trusty high heels and chunky jewellery its perfect for a night on the town. Pare it down with pumps or sandals and a slick of lipstick and its perfect for dinner with friends and family. I love sequins for daywear, so I would even add my black gladiators and wear it out and about during the day!

And here is the obligatory self-taken picture, complete with un-brushed morning hair: don't I look yummy!? At least it gives you an idea of how the dress looks on. I am a seriously smitten kitten with this dress! Have you had any amazing bargains from the sales? Share them, and make us all jealous! (because surely that's one of the secret pleasures of bagging a bargain!)

Love, Tor xx

River Island sale: Maximum ten items

The problem with online shopping is that you can't be 100% sure what you're buying until it arrives. Will it fit, will the quality be nice, how much am I going to lose on postage charges if I have to send it back? All considerations of the average online shopping experience.

This is made much easier if you can try things on it store and then buy them online, but why would you bother? If you're already in the shop and you have the garment in you're hand, why not buy it there and then and leave the shop with it! So, despite the fact the River Island sale started online two days ago, I waited until it hit stores today before I went bargain hunting!

You can only take a maximum of ten items into the changing rooms at River Island; it's important to remember this, because you will want to take in about thirty. Stock was going fast, and you had to queue round the room to get to the tills, but i'm giving the River Island sale two thumbs up. I wanted nearly everything I tried on.

The casual T shirts and vests selection was great and started at £6, with lots of Parisian influence (speaking of which, please remember to vote for me and send me to Paris) I love the middle, Parisian themed top, which would be a lovely transitional piece to take you through to Autumn. They also had a big selection of rock and punk inspired logo tops, as well as stripes and polka dots: anything a T shirt loving soul could desire, really.

As well as the clothes, there is also a massive shoes and accessories sale: leather heels starting at £20, flats and sandals starting at £8. I'm a big fan of River Island accessories and I think, quality wise, that they are some of the best on the high street. There were two handbags I loved but at £75 each they were still a little rich for me; a big discount from the original £150 price tag though! They also had hundreds of pairs of very cool Spitfire sunglasses reduced to just £5: I couldn't resist, and picked a pair up!

I've written several times about my love of all things River Island, and if you're a River Island fan too, I definitely recommend you check out the sale. If you're not a River Island fan, it's worth a peek for the shoes: some of them are incredible, and I had a five minute "shoe heaven" moment!

Love, Tor x

Note; please excuse my 'I really need a hair cut' hair do, and the hurried lunchtime photos; this post is for illustration purposes only!

Dresses: Got your GOAT

I normally immediately delete any email that's subject starts with the sentence "Victoria Beckham wears...." Victoria Beckham might or might not have excellent taste, but this isn't a celebrity blog, and unless she's designing it, i'm not writing about it. But, accidentally, I clicked open instead of delete, and i'm glad I did: but not for Victoria Beckham.

The yellow dress VB is wearing is the one above (which looks better on the model) and it's strikingly lovely: the colour, the length, the subtle ruffles. I coveted immediately (as I often do) then googled the GOAT website looking for more dresses. Nothing is as striking as the initial yellow burst, but I loved the shape and sharp shoulders of this pillar box red dress which I immediately wanted to team with opague tights and dolly shoes. The collection has a really 1960s feel, which I felt again in this white dress with its bib/peter pan collar, and the oversized buttons on the cashmere cardigan/jacket made me instantly think of Marc Jacobs then ponder how great it would look on my mum.

GOAT is certainly aimed at someone a little older than the Topshop generation: tailoring rather than gimmicks are king. My mum would look fabulous in all of this: tailoring and great cardigans are her trademarks. But I rather like it: luxy fabrics, great cuts and flattering fits, what's not to like? When the time inevitably comes for me to smarten up and stop dressing like i've been dragged through a hedge backwards, this is how i'll be doing it.

Love, Tor xx