Say Hello to Collections From eBay

Hi guys,
eBay collections have been big in the US for a while, but this month (March 2014) has seen the launch of eBay collections here in the UK too. Collections is a very clever way to visually organise all the things you love on eBay in one place.

You can also browse and shop other people's collections (find mine here) and I think they're a great way of collating beautiful things: effectively it's like Pinterest but with the added bonus that you can actually shop and own every amazing thing you see! I've been using eBay Collections as a place to collate all of the fabulous looks I hope to be sporting this spring/summer. Here are just a few of the pieces I've been coveting:

Totally Tropical - See the full collection here! 



Minty Fresh in Mint Green - See the full collection here! 

Go Hell for Leather - See the full collection here! 

My current favourite collection is Go Hell for Leather, as I'm in the market for a new leather jacket for Spring. All this choice is making it difficult to choose the perfect one though! I already had an eBay obsession, and the launch of the Collections Feature is just making it worse. Not only does it mean I can spend hours scrolling through listings (which, believe me, I do), I can also check out what other bloggers, celebrities and influencers are adding to their collections: and the temptation is definitely there to do more shopping than I should!

Check out my collections on eBay: I've create 14 so far, and I'll be adding more and updating them as time goes on. I'd love your feedback on how they look and what you think of them: and what you think of the concept in general too! Which of my collections do you like best?!

Love Tor x

*I have been working with eBay on this project and was compensated to write this post 
                             

Accessories: Well Hello Holly!

Hi guys,
One of the things you can predict every year about London Fashion Week is that so many brands jump on the fashion week bandwagon and rush to promote designers/collaborate with designers/offer fashion week related competitions to show that they're on the pulse, ahead of the curve, just still relevant. I saw a shocking example of this on the New Look Facebook page, where they had posted images in an album entitled 'London Fashion Week street style' and the images were of such poor quality it was clear they had been taken by someone with a fairly abysmal camera without the confidence to approach anyone and ask to take their picture. Sometimes it's better not to have any LFW content than it is to have content of such poor quality: really, what does that say about your brand?

One designer/retailer pairing that I am a big fan of though is the Holly Fulton for eBay capsule collection. The exclusive edit is only available for a limited period and includes a mix of great pieces either exclusively produced or drawn from AW13, including two sweaters with screen-printed motifs and art deco necklaces embellished with Swarovski crystals.The collection is fixed price, not an auction, and the pieces range from £70-£120. I really like the art deco necklaces, and I love the way they have been styled with button up shirts for the promo images:

This is a collaboration that makes sense because ebay are sponsoring the BFC's Fashion Forward initiative, so it is a London Fashion Week offering that has substance, that makes sense, and the products are actually wearable and covetable. There are only another 24 hours to shop this, so if you're interested, head over and check it out now! 

Love Tor x

Henry Holland AW13: On the catwalk yesterday, buy it now!

Hi guys,
Last night was the Henry Holland catwalk show for AW13: And according to several bloggers and tweeters, it was the best show of London Fashion Week so far. I'm a big fan of Henry Holland and love the quirky twists and juxtapositions of his collections. And this one didn't disappoint: neon teamed with fur? Uptown city girl with downtown baseball caps? What's not to like!
Part of the new AW13 collection was the 'rave wave' print: an eye wateringly bright pattern in orange and fuschia pink. Want it? Well, the signature design is available on eBay right now as part of an exclusive collaboration with House of Holland and the eBay and it's live from now until midnight on Sunday 24th February. All the proceeds will be going to Cancer Research UK: isn't it great when shopping for something you want can help a worthy cause at the same time?!
Fans of House of Holland can get their hands on the ‘rave wave’ dress long before the AW13 collection is available in-store. And you can get your hands on some other pieces too: the dress is part of a four piece capsule collection made up of the dress (£100), an oversized slogan t-shirt (£50), an iPhone cover (£25) and a pair of tights (£25).

You can find out more about the collection and shop it here now!

Did you live stream the House of Holland show? Or have you seen any photos of it yet? I'd be interested to hear what you thought!

Love Tor xx

Fabfrocks at Home: Visit the creepy circus

Hi guys,
Having moved house (and city!) less than a month ago, we are currently busying ourselves with painting, decorating, and themeing all of the rooms in our new pad. I love a themed room, as much as I love a themed wedding, outfit, or party! It's the theatre of it that appeals, as well as knowing exactly what to expect when you open a door. It means you can create some sense of order from the vintage junk yard my rooms tend to look like by the time I've finished with them.

Once of the rooms in the house (which one will be revealed later once it's finished) is going to be circus themed. That means I've been trawling all of my favourite haunts (Ebay, Etsy, Car boot sales and junk shops basically) looking for as much vintage-inspired circus paraphernalia as possible.


My first stop was eBay, where I have been picking up old repro Barnham and Bailey circus prints and postcards for less than £2 each (I got the set of six postcards for £2.50). I've put them in RIBA photoframes from IKEA in the sale, which were reduced to £7.20, from approx £14.99.  I have two more frames, and am trawling the listings daily waiting for two more perfect posters to pop up.

For the soft furnishings my mum and I are making a lot of them ourselves, but I just couldn't resist the following options from Etsy:


Barnum and Bailey cushion cover, Spooky Shades, £22.37
Victoriana Animal cushion cover, StevieBhandmade, £30

And there's more! Not on the high street is also a cavern of wonder when it comes to finding old-school circus treasure. There is literally circus stuff everywhere I turn at the moment!


These wooden blocks from Chippernelly would make great paper weights, and they're only £10.95.  And I can't work out what I want to do with these carnival/fair tickets, but for just £3 a roll I'm sure I can think of something! Use it to trim paper bunting perhaps?!


The best thing about this room theme is that it will and can work for literally every room in the house. Imagine how much more fun it would be to work in the circus themed office? Or eat in a circus themed dining room? Hell if you found the perfect red and white striped wall paper you could even make this work for a seriously cool bathroom! The possibilities are endless!

Do you theme your rooms/interior decor, either intentionally or unintentionally? And what do you think of the circus theme? Is it something you'd be tempted to try?

Love Tor xx

Mercedes Fashion Car-bootique - i'm a winner!

Hi guys,
To celebrate London Fashion Week, Mercedes Benz launched a "carbootique" on ebay: car themed products by over 60 fab UK-based designers were on sale, with all proceeds going to charity: Fashion East & to the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. There were some great products: Henry Holland made some pimped up car dice (which I loved, but the bidding went to high) and there was an Erdem sausage dog, perfect for any interiors lover!

I was the winner of three great items: the Charlotte Olympia car bumper stickers (for just £1.21) The Katie Hillier leather keyring (for just over £10) and the Holly Fulton telephone earrings (for £12) I was especially excited about the keyring and the earrings: Katie Hillier, of Marc Jacobs fame, has just started designing handbags with Victoria Beckham, so this was probably the only chance I had of affording something from her! And when I looked on the Browns website, the Holly Fulton earrings were retailing for £125, so I had an absolute bargain (although the earrings haven't arrived yet - I jump everytime I hear the postman!)

Just a little post to share my excitement about my winnings really! Watch this space, by the way, because by the end of the week I will have another exciting giveaway for all of you lovely ladies!

Love, Tor xx

Tell me something I don't need...

Do y'all remember Becky? That's her, up there! Well, back when this blog was funny and clever, Becky was the one that wrote the funny clever stuff. You see Becky is an extraordinary writer and an even more extraordinary artist (I don't understand most of it, but important people say she's magnificant!) She is also flat broke. I think its obligatory to be broke if you want to be a famous artist one day, so see this as a sign of her success! But Becky doesn't like the debt of doom very much so, genius that she is, has started a brand new blog and money making scheme all rolled into one: it's called tell me something I don't need.

Becky is selling her life on ebay (including every single edition of Vogue from the last 10 years. Yes, she kept them all!) She's selling her stuff, but keeping the memories, by telling the stories of all the things she's selling in heart warming and very funny blog posts. It's early days, but i'm quite sure that with all the stories and all the stuff, you could aquire everything you need to be happy forever from Becky alone, over the next six months.

Help my best friend be debt free by the time she turns 30, and buy her stuff. But if you're broke too then don't worry: visit the blog and share the stories and the memories: they come for free!

PS - Check back later today, when I will be announcing a new competition.

Love, Tor xx

The wardrobe clear out: watch out ebay, here I come!

Despite my very best efforts, I have never won anything on ebay. I try my hardest, watching the items, sitting at the computer religiously for the last 5 minutes of bidding, but I always get pipped to the post - I missed out on an amazing pair of Betsey Johnson sunglasses by just 50p yesterday!

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However in spite of my own lack of winning ability (and some might say skill) with the whole ebay thing, I wrote aaages ago that I would be having a clear out, and so, by golly, I am! Its good for the wardrobe, the pocket, and dare I say it, the soul, to get rid of all the stuff that's too big, too small, or that you just can't stand the sight of, every now and again.

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I have a bin liner stuffed full of things I dont want any more (the result of a very brutal wardrobe clear-out) and i've decided to give ebaying them a go! I've only listed about 8 things to start with - mostly as I had no idea putting them up would be so time consuming (!) but there are about 50 things in total that need to go!

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Here are the highlights of what's up/what I will be putting up, all with a 99p reserve. If you're very very nosey, my ebay handle is 079fashionista, so feel free to stalk me a little/see what else I am ridding my wardrobe of!

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(My boyfriend is going to be so happy when all this stuff is gone, and I finally let him have a drawer for his things!)

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Kate Moss @ Topshop white one shouldered dress

Topshop ruffly top

H&M Hello Kitty cardiganGeorge @ Asda cat dress
Primark trapeze top
I will photograph and put up another load of 10-15 things this weekend; who knew trying to clear out your wardrobe would be such hard work??

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Anything that doesn't sell will find its way to the Cancer research shop on Mill Hill broadway; Apart from the fact that it's a very good cause, it has a lovely atmosphere in there (and doesnt have that funny charity shop smell!) I think my things would be very very happy!

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Love Tor

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PS - I know I said I would be selling my Tommy Hilfiger skirt, but Becky read those very words and asked if she could have it instead- of course I said yes! It will look so lovely on her!

Roll up, roll up...it's wardrobe clearout time!!

Like the lovely queens on Kingdom of style, I have decided, or at least my boyfriend has decided, its time I have a serious wardrobe clear out.

We have 3 wardrobes and 2 chest of drawers and they are all full of my clothes (Mikes live in a suitcase under the bed due to the lack of space!) and they are busting at the seams. We've even had to buy stackable storage boxes to cope with the overflow; it isn't a spare room i'm told. It's a floor-drobe!

At Easter I will be going home to visit my parents and I will be bringing back with me the 2 suitcases full of summer clothes I abandoned there 6 months ago. I am a natural born hoader and I hate to let things go. But with these new arrivals in mind I am prepared to concede that something has got to give!

I'm not sure exactly how I will do it; although i've never used it before i'm thinking I will put everything up on ebay and then post all the best stuff here so that you guys get the heads up on the best stuff.

It will be mostly clothes (this is my vice) but also some shoes, bags and jewellry. And it will be the usual array of things you would expect from my wardrobe; lots of highstreet, especially lots of topshop and primark, vintage shop finds and lots of sparkles. I am getting rid of the Tommy Hilfiger gold lame' skirt so many of you admired, because I just don't think the shape suits me! Everything will be very very cheap,as the main priority is clearing some stuff out, and i'd rather it went to a good home than in bin bags on the street. (As keeps being threatened!!)

I'll get started on sorting this over the weekend and let you know when the shopping can begin on Monday!

Have a great weekend everyone,

Tor

Aye chihuahua!

Ever fall completely head over heels in love with someone, even though you knew it was wrong?

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Well that's how I feel about this truly perfect purse bought for me by my sister this Christmas:

It is a hard cased leather purse by 'Fluff' and on the vibrant baby pink front, a cartoon chihuahua, complete with bang on trend studded collar. On the back pink hearts sit nestled in shiny shiny gold.

It's everything a teenage girl or Paris Hilton could dream of, and probably not what a 20 year old "young professional" should be storing her debt cards in. But I think it's wonderful, and every time I look at it, it makes me happy. The fossil purse my parents gifted me in Florida is still in amazing condition, and I still love carrying it, but there's a bit part of me just waiting for the leather to die enough that I can put it in the drawer and start bringing a smile to people's faces with my money protecting puppy.

Apparently Los Angeles artist Claudette Barjoud is the brains behind the Fluff designs (And never has a name for a company been more apt for its products!) but I can't find an online store to explore more of the cartoony kitsch goodness. However, if the puppies are floating your boat the whole set is available to buy on ebay:

And for a buy it now price of $68, I think its a bargain. After all, what price for leather induced happiness?

Love and puppy licks,

Tor xx

Shoes I can never wear.....

OK, bear with me a moment whilst I drag myself into the twentieth century, but how good is eBay!?

I've never brought anything from eBay before. I know, I know, this is shocking news! But it's been a quiet week at work, so I started playing on there and now I think i'm addicted! So far, despite placing about 20 bids, I am yet to win anything, but I am starting to get pretty excited that I might win these:

Marc Jacobs SIGNED (big for emphasis) pink crystal shoes. According to the blurb they were designed for Swarowski. They are are a limited edition (only 200 pairs have ever been made!!!!) and have sold previously for $1,800. They are in original shoe bag and box, and soon they will be mine!!

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OK so realistically, someones probably going to swoop in at the end and pay a million pounds for them, but still, a girl can dream! They are in a size 41, and despite my size 39 feet, I. want. them.

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I think this is what ebay does to you. Makes you competitively, agressively want things you probably never would've thought you wanted until you see that little thumbnail picture. Becky once went into a bid frenzy over some false teeth, which I believe she wanted to turn into a necklace. However worrying this is, because it means my obsession can only get worse, it does make me feel better about the fact i'm hoping to spend a weeks salary on a pair of shoes i'll never wear........

Love tor x

Ebay's Garden of Lost Dreams....

Hello blogosphere,

In many ways, Tor (my beloved co-blogger) and I are very different. I have been a proud and obsessive member of ebay for nine years and owing to my infinite patience and mild OCD, I have a wardrobe full of oddities, dirt-cheap designer items and vintage dresses. Tor on the other hand, despite her blackbird eye for bargains has yet to win an item no matter how often I shove her in the direction of hammersnipe. My ebay addiction became especially bad in my first year of university: being 19 years old, lonely and in possession of all that beautiful loan money - it was a disaster waiting to happen. With a few clicks I was the owner of purple Gina heels, blue floral vintage dresses and raw silk coats from the 1920s with the name 'Ethel' written in pencil on the label.

Everything but the jumper is from ebay.co.uk
Norfolk really is beautiful, isn't it?

Ebay was my way of reinventing myself as a shiny new adult. Someone who was glamorous and brave. I didn't have any friends but by god I would walk into seminars in high heels and a giant purple dress with a pony emblazoned on the skirt. Ebay supplied was my armour and an advertisement for the like-minded. Look at my awesome shoes! Let's go to the movies!

Apparently though you have to have a personality as well. Philistines. Eventually I grew vocal chords and then, wonderfully, friends. Friends, incidentally, who don't really care for fashion one way or the other. Still, obsessions don't just die and I briefly financed my terrifying penchant for vintage and obscure fiction by becoming an ebay seller myself.

Here are some of my hilarious inept advertising photos:

I kept this dress in the end. Laura Ashley and way too awesome. Check out my Bette Davis death ray eyes



Bizarrely, nobody wanted this goddess dress. Fools. It sits happily in my closet now.



This went for £5. I gnash teeth and regret it still.



Ah, the Doctor Who assistant dress from Topshop my boyfriend despised so thoroughly. Still, any excuse to model with K-9, right?

Ah, those crazy days. I was armed with nothing but a generic photo editor and a dream. Still, it got me out of a few financial holes whilst still being way too exhausting for little Miss M.E. to even consider as a full-time money earner. Good times. Sleepy times.

Anyway, I thought I'd finish off my ode to ebay by showing you my collage of lost opportunity. These are items that for reasons of escalating price or forgetfulness, I just missed out on owning. At least I can comfort myself with their jpeg'd beauty.

I fell in love with this Missoni mens sweatervest and wanted desperately to buy and make my boyfriend wear it constantly. I posted this on my Livejournal and some lovely soul even went to the trouble of Photoshopping him into the garment:

Gold, right? He wasn't impressed. Plus the bidding went up to £80 and I had to let my dream of a multicoloured Tristan die.


An amazing Balenciaga crepe shirtdress from ferryvintage. She has the most outstanding vintage designer pieces. They invariably hop skip and jump right out of my price range. This one went for £130.


Peter Jensen shoes from kimmie82blue
£18.99. How cool? How comfy-looking? Gah!


Totall amah-zing beaded 70s panda bag from viva-vintage
Totally impractical. Totally broke my balls when I missed it.


Glittering vintage Roger Heim bowler hat from one of my favourites -pepacielo.
The glorious love affair between me and this hat was thwarted by my massive non-vintage head.


50 dental tooth samples. I dunno. I thought they were neat. Also, can you imagine the accessorising possibilities? The pendants you could make? The earrings? Maybe I'd just leave them in the drinks of people I didn't like. There are many possibilities. From the wonderful tedandbunny

I have had many crushing ebay disappointments. These are just a few and I have many pictures and anecdotes saved for another writer's blocked day. I just hope that this post has encouraged you to Never Give Up on Your Dreams, friends.There will always be prey. I'm currently stalking some Jean Paul Gaultier. He'll never know what's hit him.

Love,
Becky.

I wanna be a rock chick, but I don't have a guitar!

Has anyone else noticed that it doesn't just rain anymore? It floods.

This weekend is another one of those cold miserable drizzly weekends (standard January in England weather, really) and i've decided i'm not leaving the house. I'm not going shopping, i'm not going to the pub, I can't even be tempted by getting dressed up and going to a restaurant. I'd much rather stay in and play guitar hero whilst eating pizza.

I am a Guitar hero Addict: I needed a fully thought out 12 point plan to wean me off the machine so I could sit down and write this post. There's nothing quite like standing in the middle of your living room with a plastic guitar, the volume of your tv pumped up, your body swaying, feeling like a genuine Goddess of Rock. Which leads me neatly to today's post, and is also my reason for writing it: Rock Chick styling.

The Rock Chick look is so popular it's almost like a cliche. Even GMTV did a 10 minute segment on how to 'get the look'But i'm not talking about wearing red plastic shoes, tearing up your denim mini and sticking skulls onto everything. I could be wrong (I often am) but I think the rock chick look is a trend you have to really like, and commit to with some not neccessarily bankrupting, but certainly better than Primark key investment pieces to avoid looking like a cheap wannabe popstar/Big brother contestant (which isn't a bad think, but definitely not for me)

I turn to style icons Karen O (from the Yeah yeah yeahs) and original queen of rock-chick-cool, Debbie Harry.

Debbie Harry is on my top 5 list of women i don't just admire, I actually want to be (and last weekend someone told me I looked a bit like her- they were lying, but yay!) My attention is imediately drawn from Debbies shock of hair and sultry eyes to her leather jacket: If your looking for a key Rock chick piece then a tight fitting leather jacket is a good place to start. This Alexander McQueen leather biker jacket (£1805,00) is an even better one.

Alternately, in the real world where money doesn't grow on trees and my bank balance doesn't have that many zeros in it this zip detail leather jacket from Topshop (£45) is nice:

And if you're blessed with time rather than money, and have the patience, shopping second hand is a great way to find a gorgeous genuine leather piece for the change in your pocket. Charity shops, vintage fairs, and thift stores always house some treasures, as does our old favourite: ebay.

This genuine leather original 80s style biker jacket was selling for just £10 : a bargain that can be just about stretched to from any budget (even mine if I squint a bit!)

A perfect leather jacket won't just make you look like a genuine rock chick, it will make you feel like one too. In fact, I think i'm going to slip mine over my pajamas and get back to the Guitar Hero........