Vogue's Fashion Night Out Moves to Manchester

Hi guys,
I have been attending Vogue's Fashion Night Out for years: hitting the shops of Bond Street and fingering clothes I couldn't afford whilst dancing to trendy DJs. Eating candyfloss in River Island. Drinking endless delicious free cocktails: it's a great night out for fashion addicts, and a great time to go shopping if you're looking to make some new purchases and want to bag some decent discounts. But until this year it was an event that always held it's UK night out in London: not this year though. This year Vogue's Fashion Night Out is moving to Manchester!

So what's happening in Manchester on Fashion Night Out this year? Well, more than 160 city centre shops, bars, galleries and restaurants have signed-up and will be open late into the night, offering exclusive trend parties, designer personal appearances, customisations, fashion shows, celebrity appearances and much more. I would've liked to head up and check it out myself, but I am going to be on holiday.
So if you're heading up and looking for bargains/freebies what will you find? Cath Kidston is hosting a 20th birthday cocktail tea party with a free tea leaf reading with every purchase, while Whistles will be offering clutch bag monogramming. Guests can enjoy exfoliating hand and arm massages at Molton Brown. ‘Wreck My Dress’ will also be positioned at Molton Brown’s St. Ann’s store to take snapshots of guests at a mini photo shoot.

There will be a live pop-up photo shoot in store at H&M, as well as a high street A/W fashion show and super-sized digital tweet wall within Manchester Arndale. Keep a look out around the city for a Selfridges host giving out gift cards loaded with a mystery amount from £5-£50. Oh, and my favourite standard London event will be making the move, as M&S offer their free proscecco bar. Yummy!

Will you be at Vogue's Fashion Night Out this year? And what do you think about the move 'up north'?

Love Tor x

Get Involved in London Fashion Week, and Enjoy a Great Film!

Hi guys,
London Fashion Week is fast sneaking up on us, and soon the sunny days will be over and we'll be descending on the cobbles to find out what trends we'll all be wearing this time next year. It's like fashion ground hog day: I feel like I keep doing the same things over and over! I always get very excited about London Fashion Week events everyone can get involved in though: I think fashion should be accessible for everyone, and rather than hang out at Somerset House being sneared at by fashion editors, why not go to a fun event that's free and open to all London fashionistas instead?

During London Fashion Week a Fashion Film festival has been launched in association with Silent Cinema. For 3 nights during LFW, there will be a pop-up, full-sized cinema screen in St Martin’s Courtyard showcasing the following films:
Sunday 15 Sept - Zoolander
Monday 16 Sept - Grey Gardens
Tuesday 17 Sept - The September Issue The St Martin’s Courtyard Fashion Film Festival will open on Sunday 15 September with a salon fashion show in the courtyard followed by the first screening, and will run until Tuesday 17 September.Silent Cinema is beautifully simple: you wear wireless headphones to watch great films on a full size cinema screen. 100 free tickets are available for each screening through a prize draw. If you’re not one of the lucky ones to win a pair of tickets, be one of the first to arrive on the night and there will be a number of tickets available for each screening on a first come first served basis.

For a chance to get hold of a pair of tickets, visit www.stmartinscourtyard.co.uk/fashionfilmfestival and enter your details. Winners will be contacted one week prior to the screening. There will also be tickets available on the night.

I'm going to be there on the Sunday night to watch Zoolander (one of my favourite films of all time!) Will I see any of you guys there too?

Love Tor xx

Daily Wear: One night in Paris

Hi guys,
This is my last Sarenza post (I promise!) but I had such a good time in Paris, I have so much to write about! After much twitter chatter with Jen and Reena about what we should wear to the Sarenza "What's Hot!" party, I opted to overdress rather than underdress: my motto is any excuse to put on a pretty frock! And given the theme of the party was "hot shoes" how could I resist the chance to take my D&G wedges out for a date?! Here's what I wore:



Dress and belt: H&M, Cardigan: Topshop, Bag: Marc B, Shoes: D&G.

I love this dress, and was excited to have a chance to wear it: it was only £14.99 from H&M, but I think it looks so much more expensive. It matched perfectly with my D&G shoes, then I scruffed it up (because thats what I do!) with the lace cardigan and the tan and gold belt. Also: underneath the dress I am wearing the Panache strapless superbra: it comes in sizes D-H, and is genuinely the best strapless bra I have ever owned. My boobs stayed in place all night, and they had a good shape too! Overall, I was pretty happy with this outfit!

Love, Tor xx

The Sarenza trip to Paris

Hi guys,
As I mentioned on Tuesday, on Wednesday afternoon I headed to Paris with Reena from Fashion Daydreams and Jen from A little bird told me, to meet the lovely Sarenza team and go to a party to celebrate the launch of the new "What's Hot!" section of their French site (which will be coming to the UK site soon!) The Whats Hot section basically showcases some of the best shoes they have on the site: there is a Jeffrey Campbell tapestry pair on there right now that i'm totally in love with ! We had such a wonderful time, that i'm going to give you a blow-by-blow account of the trip. This is going to be a pretty image heavy post: we just couldn't stop taking photos!

By Night:
We arrived in Paris and headed to our hotel to change, then it was straight to the party! Several French bloggers had been out taking street style photos, and we had to choose who's style we liked best: all the guests voted, and the winner gets a massive 5000 euros worth of shoes! Once the serious business of choosing our favourite street style was over, we got on with enjoying ourselves. Yummy cocktails, great canapes, hotdogs, and gorgeous shoes: what more do you need from a night out?!








By Day:
Following our party night, we had a leisurely day planned for the rest of our time in Paris. We met the Sarenza team for a delicious brunch, then headed to several vintage shops for a good rummage: I had no idea vintage was so cheap in Paris! I picked up a full skirted dress and a sequinned top for just 15 euros. The rest of our time was spent meandering through tiny streets, and sitting outside cafes in the sun. It was a wonderful day!






Whenever i'm in Paris admiring the little things (like the graffiti or the shape of a tree!) it makes me want to come home and look at London with fresh eyes too: I think it's easy to miss all that stuff in the city you live in, but admire it when you're away. Nonetheless, Paris is beautiful, and I have such fun everytime i'm there. It was such a wonderful break, so big thanks again to Sarenza for organising such a great trip!
Love, Tor x

Boux Avenue: Great lingerie, Amazing party!

Hi guys,
Earlier this week I had the opportunity to go to the launch of Theo Paphitis' (yes, he of The Dragon's Den fame) new lingerie brand: Boux Avenue. The Boux Avenue website launched today, and the company are also launching several stand alone stores across the country: the one in Glasgow opened today, and the company are opening several more stores in the coming weeks.

Aside from the fact that the lingerie was gorgeous (and fits all the way from an A-G cup, so it a range that almost everyone can wear!) I also have to say, this was honestly one of the best events I have ever been to!




The event started with champagne and a cream tea whilst looking at the lingerie from the garden party collection: lots of girly feminine blush pinks. Whilst we were nibbling (read: scoffing) cakes, a silhouette artist cut out our silhouettes! Then we moved on to the next room (Boux Avenue had hired the whole of Sketch, which is a beautiful venue with some of my favourite toilets in London) where there was more beautiful lingerie clad models, fortune tellers and magicians, and yummy cocktails. There was also the bloggers favourite: a photobooth!

The main event was spectacular: ballet dancers, tap dancers, jazz dancers and a trapeze artist had us standing in awe at the talents, as well as there ability to perform wearing such skimpy outfits (all of which, Theo told us, are available to buy at Boux Avenue) We had such a wonderful evening, and I left feeling so inspired I heading straight onto their website at 12.30 this afternoon (which is when it launched)

As an aside: look! It's me with Nick Knowles! I look super excited because he's something of a childhood crush of mine!

Thanks to both Jenny of The Style PA, and Reena at Fashion Daydreams, both for being awesomely good fun to hang out with, and for the pictures above: my camera ran out of battery, just as the fun was starting!

Love, Tor xxx

Bonfire night on the London Eye with Aussie

Hi guys,

Sorry for my absence- i've been at wedding planning HQ (aka my mum's house in Skegness) to organise wedding things, and check out all the exciting crafty stuff mum's been working on for the wedding: it was an amazing few days!

But now it's time to get back to business! I know bonfire night seems like ages ago, and we're all officially thinking about Christmas (the Coke advert has been on the telly, so that must be true!) but nonetheless, here's a recap of the amazingness that I got up to on the night:

Aussie had invited us to the London Eye to celebrate bonfire night with them, combined with the launch of their new take the heat range. I had never been on the London Eye before, so it was especially amazing for me: London looked beautiful, and I kept saying over and over how awe inspiring it was that this city is where I live! I just wished my camera was better, because every time I tried to take pictures the flash bounced back off the thick glass! The only bad thing about the evening was that I couldn't stay longer and hang out more with the other Aussie Angels: we had to head to Norwich at 6am the next morning to make a 9am appointment, which meant no late nights or drinking for me because of the early drive. Boo!!

Here's what I wore for the occassion:

Cardigan: Miss Selfridge, Dress: Topshop, Belt: Primark, Shoes: Topshop. I fancied this up (very slightly) from a work outfit to an evening one by piling on masses of jewellery!

As I mentioned before, we were challenged to wear our very best hair, but the rainy day meant that mine had fallen flat before I arrived at the event. Still at least I liked my outfit. Head to toe in black might not be the most flattering colour combo, but it will always be my favourite!

Love, Tor xx

Events: Get your fashion on, and get involved!

Hi guys,
As always when Fashion Week approaches, a whole bustling host of fashion activity emerges, as brands clamber to get involved and reach out to potential fashionistas whilst fashion is at the forefront of their minds. And I say, who are we not to take advantage?! I will be exhausting myself and turning September into fashion month! Here are some of the great events happening throughout the month (i'm sure there will be more to add as the month progresses) Unleash your inner fashion addict; you know you want to!


- If you really want your own piece of London Fashion Week action, then off schedule catwalk event A La Mode sells a limited number of tickets to their shows to the general public, for £20 each. There are still a few tickets available, so visit their website to find out more. (I took the picture above at last years A La Mode show)

- Bigwardrobe.com are hosting a National clothes swapping week. You're invited to be the master of your own fashion destiny and host your own swishing party with your friends/collegues. I'm a big fan of swishing: it's a great way to refresh your wardrobe absolutely free of charge! Visit the website to download the National Clothes Swapping Week party bag and poster and to receive a 25% reduction on membership.

- Speaking of swishing, The Big Swish and stylist Lupe Castro invites you to the Big Swish on the 30th September at Amika, in Kensington. There'll be a big swishing event for clothing and accessories, and a separate event for designer goodies, plus complementary make-overs and beauty trial offers from premium Swiss botanical beauty brand Arbonne. Tickets cost £5, or you can get VIP tickets which include a goody bag and early entry to the swish for £20; visit the website for more information.


- Westfield shopping centre are holding a car boot sale (but the fashionista version!) From 21st to 26th September over 20 Hyundai i20 cars will be hijacked by big highstreet brands, including Topshop, Oasis, Whistles, House of Fraser, and loads more (too many to list!) Here you can share experiences with other car booters, try and buy the new collections from your favourite retailers, enjoy personal styling and beauty sessions and have a bite to eat. You may even pick up some amazing bargains if you get in and rummage through! Plus on the closing weekend of the event (Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th September) they will be holding exclusive fashion shows. Four shows flaunting the very best of autumn winter fashion will be showcased four times on each day over the weekend!

- Because, as you've probably worked out by now, I manage to get the word wedding into everything, My Sugarland are hosting a vintage wedding evening on the 15th September. An evening of ideas, inspiration and pampering for budding brides-to-be, engaged couples and wedding guests alike, to help prepare for the big day. Spaces are £10 and need to be booked in advance.

- Finally, my StyleCompare competition is now running until the 20th September, so if you still want to get involved in some fashion fun, but don't want to leave your computer, why don't you put together an entry for that!?

I'm sure there will be lots of other events too - I'll update this list as more things come in! It's going to be a fun September!

Love, Tor xxx

TKMaxx store opening: Charing Cross Road

Last night I was invited to the opening of the new TKMaxx store on Charing Cross Road: just a two minute walk from Tottenham Court Road station, this makes TKMaxx alot more convenient for anyone based in central London, as usually their stores are on retail parks, or out in the suburbs. We were treated to champagne, themed dancers, and super-stylist Kate of Make Do Style was on hand for styling tips and advice.

The "gold label" stand was the stand I was most interested in, which is where they keep the designer labels: they had the Stella McCartney boat shirt dress reduced to £169 (and in my size!) It felt like fate, but I showed some self control and left the dress on the rail; the wedding fund remains intact! Other dresses of note were the Liberty print dress with the beautiful birds on, and the Pucci dress covered in drop sequins (both shown below) The most impressive section for me though was the shoes: there were 3 very covetable pairs of irregular choice shoes that had my name on them, and for just £29.99.

The store opening was also used as an opportunity to introduce us to ModBox, which is TKMaxx's new department. It is very much a "young trends" collection, and I would say aimed at a teen market. Lots of short dresses, logo tees, and embellishment. Even looking at it made me feel old, but I think my younger self would've picked up a piece or two. Decide for yourselves:

Overall it was a fun evening, and if I didn't know it last night I know it this morning: The store is obviously going to be a massive success. I walk past it on my way to work in the morning, and they were queueing around the block to get in!

Love, Tor xxx

The big bloggers night out!

I'm a bit late to the table with this, and others have written it up much better than I can, but Friday evening saw a big fashion bloggers dinner: other twenty bloggers gathered round to gossip, drink cocktails, and eat too much dim sum. It all happened thanks to Fiona of Save our Shoes. And it was lovely! One of the best things about blogging is the sense of community it brings to what could be a lonely hobby, and it's nice to put faces to names, and meet people you talk to virtually.

Dunce that I am, I left my camera at home, but here are some pictures taken from my iphone:

Pictured are Fiona, Reena of Fashion Daydreams and Kristabel of I Want You to Know, and all the other bloggers enjoying their cocktails! As always it was lovely to catch up with Jenny from The Style PA, whom I sat with during dinner. And I met and learnt about a whole host of other blogs including: Frankie of Swell Vintage, and Alex of Alex Loves. There were so many other blogs and bloggers that it was overwhelming: hopefully next time i'll get to say hello to more lovely ladies!

I think it's fair to say though, that a great night was had by all. I can't wait to do it again!

Love, Tor xx

Fashion maketh woman competition winner is....

The winner of the fashion maketh woman competition is.....Claire! Congratulations to Claire- if you drop me an email with your address/contact details asap I can send these to the event organiser who can get your tickets to you ahead of Thursday's event. Congratulations again, and maybe i'll see you there!

If you missed out then don't worry - I have another exciting competition from delightful muddle vintage coming up shortly.

Love, Tor xx

Show and tell: ASOS goodies and Skinny Cow picks

Hi Guys,

So last week I was lucky enough to go to a couple of great events that really bolstered my wardrobe. The ASOS access all areas event was a great night out and a chance to view their spring collections. I was also lucky enough to be given a gift card to spend on those collections too! The Skinny Cow Swap Shop was a super fun swishing event where I traded some of my (still very lovely!) old clothes I no longer wear for yummy things I can't wait to put on. Here's what I got from each event:

ASOS Access All Areas

Wedges- £45, Bed jacket - £35, Little White Lie tee - £16, Pony necklace - £6.

I mentioned in an earlier post that I had been looking for the perfect summer wedges, and these are them! They look great, chunky but not at all masculine, and they were comfy from the first time I put them on (I'm on my third wear with no problems!) The bed jacket is my take on the underwear as outerwear trend: i'm too heavy busted to put a bra over a tshirt! I love this and think it will be the perfect light coverup over vests and tees on balmy summer nights.

Skinny Cow Swap Shop

The sequinned dress is from Sophie Hulme, the lovely big cardigan is from Selected Femme,and the sequinned top is from Reiss.

I'm like a magpie, and I went straight for the sparkles! It's very unusual for me not to have gotten more black but my desire for sequins seemed to overwhelm my need for darkness. I love the Sophie Hulme dress: it was the first thing I saw when I entered the swap and I was so lucky to pick it up - I beelined straight to it! It looks a bit funnyand pulled in the picture because I have my hand in my pocket, but it's really love in "real life"! The cardigan is also a hidden gem: it looks wonderful on and will be a perfect between-season throw-on. It's so soft!

Whilst i'm talking about my great finds I want to say that I do know how lucky I am to be invited to these events, and don't want you guys to ever think I take it for granted. I hate it when you read other bloggers complaining about being sent press releases or free samples: yes, sometimes the products aren't to your taste but in that instance i'd rather write nothing at all. I'm very aware that I am an outsider to the fashion industry and am very lucky that certain companies want to reach out to you guys through me. Having said that I want you to know I only write about thing I think you'll be interested in, and all my reviews are honest: I always cover the good and the bad bits!

The good bits of course include lovely free and/or traded clothes! It's been my best shopping weekend for a long time and it didn't cost me a penny!

Love, Tor xx

Blogger event: ASOS access all areas

Last night I went to the hotly anticipated ASOS access all areas event. I'm really excited that so many great brands are reaching out to bloggers and giving us the chance to explore their collections close up: I think this is especially important for an online brand such as ASOS. We were given the opportunity to mingle with other bloggers whilst supping champagne and nibbling canapes and then there were rails full of new season clothes to rifle through and try on: heaven!

There were hair stylists and make up artists from Illamasqua (a brand I have to try again, the make up lasts and lasts) and then, once we were all dressed up we were ready to strike a pose first for the photographer, and then on the catwalk. Strutting on the famous ASOS catwalk was a must, although it was one of the most embarrassing things i've ever done: it's a good job I wasn't built like a beanpole, as i'm far too shy to be a model! And it gives you a new respect for the ASOS models I watch walking up and down it every lunchtime: it's not easy!

Star of the show however was Butters, the fashion dog, who had everybody cooing and clucking like mother hens. She is adorable, and a better walker than most of the bloggers too! Here she is posing with gorgeous bloggers Scarlett and Emily in her ASOS paisley scarf.

The range of clothes to try was excellent and I was especially impressed with the accessories (hence why I took so many photos of them!) The buttery soft mustard leather bag below was a favourite: I couldn't stop stroking it!

Every trend you could fancy for spring/summer was covered including some lovely nude and lace tops and some bold tribal prints. There were also some great dresses with structural details including a really special black bodycon dress with caged shoulders. I tried on two gorgeous evening dresses perfect for balmy summer nights: pictures of those to follow. There was an incredible grey marl sweater with a sheer peachy chiffon panelled back which I fell in love with but didn't take a photo of (it's on the site here) I would love to experiment with this over floral patterned body con dresses. And we all know i'm a shoe addict so this is predictable but: sigh! There were stack heels, platforms, wedges. And some peep toe summer booties in tan or black that I loved: peep toe booties (summer boots, if you will) are the next item on my "must have" list.

All in all I found myself longing for the weather to perk up and looking for an excuse to spend some time online shopping for my new summer wardrobe: It was a fantastic night.

Love, Tor x

PS - In the spirit of disclosure, we were also given a wonderful goodie bag containing a Illamasqua lipgloss, gorgeous necklace (I'm wearing mine now) and a gift voucher, which I just spent: can't wait to show you what I chose!

I'm an Angel once more!

Hi guys,

Saturday was the second in a trilogy of Aussie Angel events (I wrote about the first one last month) and it was a really good one! Myself and two guests (I took my two younger sisters Amie and Lucy) were invited, along with a group of other Angels and their guests to have our hair washed and blowdried at Adee Phelan's very fancy salon in Covent Garden, all with yummy sugar-smelling Aussie hair products, of course! Adee was the best hairdresser from The Salon; did anyone else love watching that show (it was on channel 4!)? Anyway, back to the event. We truly were pampered, and had our hair washed and massaged (that was the best bit) then blow styled however we wanted it to. I looked bloated and rather pasty (the result of not being able to exercise or leave the house) but my sisters looked gorgeous:


Lucy had a high volume Rachel-from-friends 'do and Amie looked sleek and glam with her rock-chick headband.

Sneaking a glass of champagne on top of my tablets wasn't smart or clever. I just couldn't say no.
After the blowdrys and champagne and nibbles, the rest of the angels went on for cocktails and gossip and fun. But I had exhausted myself so much with getting to the salon, avoiding being bumped into on route and generally leaving the house that my sisters took me straight home. Still, definitely not a bad way to spend my first afternoon out of the house since my operation. And its always nice to meet the other Angels and their guests; Kristabel brought her lovely mum; don't they look alike?!


Everyone's hair looked great, and more importantly (for me at least!) smelled truly fantastic and it was a great evening - thanks Aussie!

Love, Tor xx



PS -Here is a gratuitous pic of the hairdresser that did Amie's hair. He certainly wasn't hard on the eye, and I believe my sister was seriously contemplating asking him to marry her! An added bonus of the evening!

If only: Fashion Thursday at Dorothy Perkins

Morning guys,

If only I were feeling better you wouldn't be able to stop me from getting down to Fashion thursday at Dorothy Perkins, in association with Look magazine.

If you spend more than £40 (which will be easy given the 20% discount!) then you receive a goodie bag containing make up, chocolate, and an exclusive Daniel Merriweather CD. There will also be hair and beauty advice and make overs courtesy of Benefit and Toni and Guy. And if that's not enough, there will also be a chance to win a years worth of shoes and free drinks flowing all night. And for once, this isn't just happening in London, but in 10 stores across the UK, so everyone has the chance to get involved:

Sadly I expect it will be far too crowded for me incase my arm gets bashed. But it's not often you get something for nothing, and the chance for a girly fun night out. So if I could be there then I would!


Love, Tor xx

Another summer day out idea: I feel like Blue Peter!

Cast your mind back to the shadowy world of December 2007, when I wrote about the importance of textile recycling AKA why I loved shopping in TRAID, A segment of which I noticed during the course of my research for this piece actually appears on the TRAID website!

Now roll yourselves forward to today (hello, welcome back!) because i'm going to do it again!

This year is TRAID's tenth year (happy birthday!) and continuing with this weeks theme of things to do throughout the summer, TRAID is running free remaking and reuse workshops in London throughout 2009.
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Simply bring a garment that you no longer wear and the TRAID team will help you to transform that damaged jacket, dated skirt or unspeakable fashion mistake into a gorgeous and completely unique piece of clothing. As well as learning easy clothes remaking skills and basking in the glow of having made something yourself, you will also make your clothing last longer - reducing waste and diverting textiles from landfill.
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I think this is a genuinely ruddy marvellous idea! Although I keep making pathetic attempts at DIY at home, it will be great to have a TRAID expert show me how to do it better - and all for free!! I have a battered denim jacket that I will be taking down - I tried to do the jemstone epillettes make and do in UK Vogue on it this month , but it just looks like Dolly Parton threw up on my shoulders!
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So, as the Loreal advert always says, here is the science bit:
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When:
2009 // 11am - 3pm // 30 May, 27 June, 25 July, 22 August, 26 Sept, 31 Oct, 29 Nov
Where:
All workshops take place at TRAID Shepherds Bush shop 154 Uxbridge Road, W12,
Contact:
Lyla Patel at TRAID on 020 8733 2591 or email her to register your interest. You can also just turn up on the day!!
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I've got the 27 June and the 25 July ones pencilled into my diary (so I can definitely go to one!) Hopefully I'll see you there!
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Love, Tor x

Prepare to bling: London Jewellery Week is coming!

8-14 June 2009 is London Jewellery Week. I know so because I saw a poster telling me all about it on the tube this morning. Maybe it's because I skim quickly over the ads in my plethora of magazines, but I find it odd that I hadn't heard of it before. Maybe i'm losing my touch!

The poster promised jewellery making classes, fashion shows, exhibitions and "much more". And so as soon as i'd dealt with the obligatory Friday morning emails, I hot footed over to the website to see how I could get involved. And find out what "much more" actually entails.

First I downloaded the printed guide. (Is this a contradiction in terms given that you're actually downloading it online and all? Who knows!) And do you know, when they said "much more" they were actually right! That almost never happens! In fact, they were a 52 page booklet full of activities worth of right.

Here is a summary of the events I think I will try to attend. These ones might not be the ones that float your boat (does anyone else simultaneously love and hate that phrase!?) But I think whatever your interests (as long as they're jewellery based of course!) you'll find at least one that your desperate to attend!

Holts Academy of Jewellery
Saturday 13 June 10 - 11am
Langdales, 5 St Cross Street EC1N 8UA
Seminar
Jewellery Through the Ages.

Hatton Garden Festival
Family Day
Saturday 13 June 11.30am - 6pm
Hatton Garden EC1N
Festival
Street festival with jewellery-making demonstrations in the street, children’s workshops, costumed actors, musicians, a fine-food market and a host of jewellery themed walks, talks and workshops – fun for the whole family!

Cockpit Arts
12 June 7 - 9pm
13 - 14 June 11am - 6pm
Holborn Incubator, Cockpit Arts, Cockpit
Yard, Northington Street WC1N 2NP
Open Studios
Make a Difference by supporting talented jewellers and designers making work in London. Find exciting new jewellery pieces and more from £5 - £5,000. See behind the scenes and enjoy fabulous free attractions Star Buys trail, Quick Collect tours, Makers Makes activities, Design Shorts screenings, Love Your Stuff evolving gallery, Meet the Team sessions and Pop-Up cafés.

And if you have a flexible job/don't work for a living (damn you all to hell!!) this seminar on the Friday (12 June) sounds really great:

The Goldsmiths’ Company
9.30am - 7.30pm
Goldsmiths’ Hall, Foster Lane EC2 6BN
Seminar
Day of Knowledge: A series of illustrated presentations by jewellers featured in The Goldsmiths’ Company’s summer exhibition, CREATION II: An Insight into the Mind of the Modern Artist-Jeweller. Guests will have the opportunity to meet the speakers directly. Tickets £10 (includes catalogue and refreshments). For tickets email promotion@thegoldsmiths.co.uk or call 0207 3675 907

And why should we all love jewellery? Well I don't need any persuading (my collection of rings and bangles is out of control, and the bigger the better) but for all the doubting thomas's amongst you, here is the blurb from the back of the guide: Jewellery is a symbol. Whether it is a fashion statement or a work of art, it is often the focus of, rather than the accessory to, an outfit. With wedding bands and anniversary jewels such as rubies or pearls, jewellery has come to symbolise eternal love – and as such, its sentimental value far exceeds the initial cost.

So there you have it; beautiful sparkly beautiful jewels and the implicit promise of a true and eternal love. You'd be crazy not to get involved!!

Love Tor x