Watching Fashion Week From Afar or: How to Deal With Blogger Envy

Hi guys,
For the second season in a row, I made the decision not to attend London Fashion Week. Reminders to request tickets and show invites trickled in, but I decided that this year it wasn't going to be for me. I justified this to myself in several different ways. Firstly, my life has changed so much since my last fashion week and so have my priorities. This Saturday I took Wilbur to the Dinosaur Park to see the animatronic T Rex with his little friend and then out for burgers. That's the place of my life I'm at right now, and I really do love it.

Secondly, the way fashion week works has changed so much since I first started attending all of those years ago. Live Streaming has been both hugely popular and wildly successful. I still managed to catch both the Topshop Unique and the Burberry shows, but from the comfort of my sofa without having to make a huge impact on my everyday life. I've also been trawling my favourite fashion sites checking out the backstage gossip, the details, the trends, the hair. Of course it's different from actually being there. The atmosphere, the electricity that ripples across the room, the details, the chance to see everything up close and with your naked eye. You really can't beat it, and I really don't think fashion week will ever become extinct with models walking in empty rooms whilst every watches from their desks at home or in their offices. I know (or at least I hope) that my time for returning to fashion week will come. But right now I'm happy with my place right here. Does that mean I don't feel a twinge of jealousy when I see all my blogging friends and colleagues strutting their stuff on the cobbles of Somerset House? Of course I do!!

Photo taken from the Ashley Isham show back in Feb 2012

Blogger envy is a very real thing: I've experienced it myself, and also experienced it from the other side. Fashion week brings it out more than any other time of the year. Who has a ticket to the hottest show? Who's been invited to that party, worked with that new brand, been 'gifted' something fabulous to wear? It is a short but intense period that is a hotbed of competitiveness and the most ambitious of bloggers definitely use it as an opportunity to promote themselves as hard as they can. Good for them: I used to do exactly the same thing! I actually think a little healthy competition is a good thing. It's what makes you strive to be better and to work harder. Each blog is different and each blogger is different. That's what makes the bloggosphere such a unique and valuable place, so you can never compare your blog to others like for like, nor would it be healthy to. But you can see what others are achieving and wish to emulate their success in your own way and with your own distinct brand.

I am certainly envious of those bloggers at fashion week right now. I am jealous of their fabulous coverage and the unique perspective on the shows they have attended that is purely their own, informed by their experiences of being right there. I don't think there's any shame in admitting it. So as I sit here in my pajamas having just put my baby to bed on this, the final day of London Fashion Week, I am thinking of all the bloggers currently having the time of their lives. I wouldn't change the decision I made. But I will be back there again soon....

Love Tor x

Marks and Spencer at London Fashion Week

Hi guys,
Following in the footsteps of Topshop, Marks and Spencer are the latest British high street store to show at London Fashion Week: there very first LFW catwalk show was today. Don't worry though, there were no sensible vests and well fitting granny bras making their way down the catwalk (two of my favourite things to buy from M&S!). Instead the brand gave their new Best of British collection a show of its own: and I thought it looked amazing!



There are plenty of things to love about the Best of British collection but one of the best is its commitment to home grown talent and to the British textile industry. The knitwear for the range comes from Scotland, the outerwear from Manchester and the footwear from Northamptonshire: all areas of traditional industry in these sectors, and areas where the textile trade has traditionally struggled in recent years. I've toured some of the footwear manufacturers of Northamptonshire and know that the loss of industry there hit the workforce (and their families) hard, leading to pockets where whole villages or streets were suffering from unemployment. That a stalwart British brand like Marks and Spencer are doing their bit to bring manufacturing home can only be a good thing!

The next thing to love about the collection are the clothes themselves. I love the retro 1960s feel of the range: one of my favourite eras for style. The maculine tailoring, the bold commitment to colour, the effortless style. I also love the return of the brogue (did it ever really go anywhere) as a sensible and comfortable alternative to the dreaded heel. These white ones have a clinical minimalist feel to them that gels with the collection perfectly. Oh, and that ice blue cocoon-style duffel coat? That is destined to be my winter coat for next year, even if I have to queue outside for hours to get my hands on it!

The Spring/Summer Best of British collection from Marks and Spencer lands instore and online tomorrow (18 February) and you can shop the range here. 

Love Tor x

Picture credit: Marks and Spencer

All the Celebs at Topshop Unique

Hi guys,
London Fashion Week in in full swing.  Meanwhile, I am safely ensconced in my living room watching occasional shows live streaming but mostly helping with the renovations on our house (my dad and hubby stripped our staircase this weekend - I can't wait to get it painted!)

I feel like LFW has moved on a lot, from a bloggers point of view, since I first started attending shows six years ago. Live streaming has exploded and the public's interest in seeing the shows as they happen has been recognised. I genuinely think I can get the same perspective on the shows by watching them at home: Well, what's what I'm telling myself whilst Wilbur is small and needs me here, at least!

Meanwhile what I got really excited about was seeing all the celebs wearing Topshop at the Topshop Unique show. I love Topshop, and the Topshop Unique show is one of my faves: mostly because I can actually afford to buy all of the pieces I fall in love with! So seeing celebs wearing Topshop (including some of the pieces I actually have in my wardrobe) is pretty inspirational and a great way to get new styling ideas:



For any dedicated celeb spotters, here is a full list of the celebs that attended the show: Kate Moss, Lottie Moss, Kendall Jenner, Ashley Madekwe, MIA, Daisy Lowe, Poppy Delevingne, FOXES, Leigh Lezark, Sophie McShera, Maisie Williams, Harley Viera-Newton, Chelsea Leyland, Jessica Gomes, Atlanta de Cadenet, Sibel Kekilli, MØ, Tallulah Harlech, Tao Okomoto, Chloe Norgaard, Portia Freeman and Mary Charteris

I am not loving Kate Moss's sexy-commando jumpsuit (although like everything, she manages to pull it off) but I do love the way Maisie Williams has styled that voluminous powder pink skirt: something I fell in love with and bought immediately, but realistically have no ideas how to wear! (You can buy that skirt for yourself right here!) One of the best things about Topshop, for me, is that it covers so many wearable and covetable trends at a price everyone can afford. From the multi-millionaire Oligarch to the skinny super model to the trendy shop girl to the (ahem) slightly podgy mum!

What has your favourite London Fashion Week show been so far? And are you watching any of the shows life stream at home?

Love Tor x

LFW AW13: Belle Sauvage

Hi guys,
There was a decidedly East meets West feel to the AW13 Bell Sauvage collection. As always, the outstanding digital prints were the focal point of the collection: this time in rich burgundy, plum, and black and silver tones.
The first thing you noticed were the striking hair styles: oriental style pigtails - long and poker straight, behind blunt two-tone fringes. But that was just frosting to what was actually a show-stopping catwalk collection. I loved the use of faux fur, which was used liberally for capes, collars, and full coats. The peter pan style faux fur collars over cocoon-style dresses in particular got me excited.
Just like at Henry Holland, this very feminine collection had a grungy urban edge. Hooded coats, beanie hats and sweaters were teamed with the same printed jewel patterned silk that was also utilised for the more sophisticated shirt and A-line dresses. This was yet another show that made liberal use of the peplum: that's three, which means this will officially be an AW13 trend!

The turn out was amazing for this show - it was standing room only and none dared breathe out! Despite the fact I had a seated ticket, I still ended up standing at the back. But it was worth a little discomfort to see what was a wonderful show. Belle Sauvage is a brand I always look forward to seeing, and this season they didn't disappoint.

Love Tor xx

LFW AW13: Ultra Feminine at Timur Kim

Hi guys,  
I really loved the Timur Kim collection for AW13, which was so feminine that it only featured two pairs of trousers: the focus was very much on skirts and dresses. In fact, it felt like a Spring Summer collection, with it's strapless prom dresses, light and airy colours, and lack of anything discernibly warm: like a coat or a jacket! To me the collection had a very vintage, prairie-like feel to it. This was emphasised by the models eschewing heels in favour of gold and tan brogues: lending them the look of a farm girl in the war years! The shoes were a contrast to the feminine silhouettes of the dresses, but it worked really well.

This collection was a curvy girls dream, as most of the dresses had full skirts and were accentuated at the waist by soft belts in the same fabric as the dresses: so easy to wear and they looked fantastic! In beauty terms, make-up was understated and minimal. And I fell head over heels in love with the tousled deconstructed curls created by the hair stylists: I know this was an Autumn Winter collection, but it would be a perfect look for this summer, and is definitely going on my inspiration board!
I can understand why there is such a buzz around Timur Kim: I was almost sad when this catwalk show was over. My prediction is that it would be long until this designer leaves Vauxhall Fashion Scouts and progresses to the mains shows at Somerset House: onwards and upwards to bigger and better things!

Love Tor x

Daily wear: London Fashion Week AW13

Hi guys,
Getting ready for day one of London Fashion Week was something of a harried affair for me - not only did I have to get up and leave Norwich at the crack of dawn, I also had to dress, feed, and settle the baby at the same time. Nightmare! However I did manage to throw some semblance of an outfit together, and I actually think I looked alright. Even if we did take the photos at the back on an NCP car park, because we were running so late!
Coat, Stella McCartney. Trousers and boots, Topshop. Blouse, H&M. Necklace, All Saints. Sunglasses, Rock and Replublic via TK Maxx. Bag, BCBGMaxAzria via TKMaxx.

The patterned trousers were a big move for me, as I'm so self conscious of my thunder-thighs, I never wear anything other than black tights/leggings or jeans on my legs. But I loved these when I saw them in the Topshop sale, and at £10, how could I resist?!

I was planning on wearing my studded leather jacket (which looked great with this outfit, even if I do say so myself!) but when I got to London it was so cold that I threw on my Stella McCartney mac, which was luckily on the back seat of the car. Not as on-trend as I would have liked, perhaps, but at least it's a style classic and I was definitely glad to have it when the wind started biting whilst I was queuing for the shows! And this was another bargain - I got this last year from the Stella McCartney sample sale for £90!

Did you stream or see any shows at London Fashion Week yesterday? Or are you avoiding the LFW circus altogether this weekend? And if so, what are you doing instead? I'd love to hear all about it!

Love Tor x

London Fashion Week SS13: Tahir Sultan

Hi guys,
The Tahir Sultan show was hands down my personal favourite show that I saw on Saturday. By that I mean that of everything I saw it was the show that most appealed to my own sense of style: I could imagine wearing every single piece. Think stud embellishment, feathers, sharp shoulders and relaxed tailoring: it was like looking inside my dream wardrobe.

I'd never heard of Tahir Sultan until I was invited to his show: that's one of the best things about fashion week though, isn't it? Discovering and then falling in love with new talent! Tahir is a Kuwait based designer who described his collection as being "dedicated to the secret few who know that there is nothing more fashionable than just being yourself". A philosophy I'd like to thing this whole blog is all about!

Here are some of those all-important details:

The collection was very feminine and wearable, and it felt really modern. I loved the dramatic tailored jackets that drew attention to, and emphasised, tiny waists, and the grecian inspired evening dresses with their perfect draping would be my first port-of-call for all of those imaginary red carpet events I go to! The key colours from the collection were greys, black and white whilst hints of fluro pink and orange lifted everything and gave a more summery, sun-shiney feel.

What do you think of the Tahir Sultan collection? And have any other new or upcoming designers caught your eye during London Fashion Week this season?

Love Tor xx

London Fashion Week SS13: Spijkers en Spijkers hair inspiration

Hi guys,
The Spijkers en Spijkers collection this season was very 1920s inspired, with a mix of simple geometric prints and intricate screen printing. But what really caught my attention was the hair.

Most of the models had natural-looking blonde hair which had been simply styled in twisted plaits. The hair was then lifted at the crown to give a half chignon feel, and then a strand of soft gold string was tied around the forehead to give a relaxed, hippie, bohemian feel. It caught my attention because of its undone look, and the fact that it would be so easy and effective to replicate at home. I know these are the Spring/Summer collections, but wouldn't this be perfect Christmas party hair?




The make-up was also understatedly lovely: Think healthy-looking dewy skin and pink tinged lips. The only really 'done' part of the look, designed to compliment the 1920s feel of the collection, were the heavily black kohled eyes. The Body Shop were the official make-up sponsor of Vauxhall Fashion Scout this season, so it's nice to know that you can get everything you need to replicate this look at affordable prices from the high street too.

What do you think of the undone hair at Spijkers en Spijkers? And have you got any new hair or make-up inspiration from the London Fashion Week shows you've seen so far?

Love Tor x

London Fashion Week SS13: The Ones to Watch

Hi guys,

Let the write-ups from my first day at London Fashion Week begin! My first show of the day was the Vauxhall Fashion Scout Ones to Watch. I always enjoy this show and the chance to check out the new and upcoming talent. This year the Ones to Watch were: Helen Van Rees, Hana Cha, Charlotte Simpson, and Ming Pin Tien.

My two favourites were Helen Van Rees and Ming Pin Tien:



Helen Van Rees won my unofficial award for best use of cereal boxes during London Fashion Week! I can imagine constructing some of her headpieces at home with weetabix packets! In all seriousness though, I really loved her collection. It was inspired by Chanel tweeds but for the modern age:three-dimensional weaved cubes were added to more traditional tailored pieces. And what would a fashion show be without a mental hat, eh?! I'm a sucker for old fashioned tweed, so this really had me sold. An added bonus? The pieces were made from 100% recycled materials.

I was also sold on Ming Pin Tien's collection the moment I saw the leather cage armour-type bodices and oversized jacket. The whole collection was both feminine and wearable, and architectural and extreme at the same time. I would have worn several pieces from this collection, and felt like a warrior-woman whilst I was doing it - I predict big things for this designer! Sadly not a single one of my photos for this show came out, but you can see and read more about Ming Pin Tien's collection on the Vauxhall Fashion Scout website.

I would love to know what you guys have thought about London Fashion Week so far: are there any trends that have got you excited? Any pieces or designers you particuarly love? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Love Tor xx

LFW AW12: The exhibition

Hi guys,
For fashion buyers, the London Fashion Week exhibition is the place to go to choose the pieces that will fill your stores, and pick the trends that you think will sell. Fashion press use it as a chance to view collections up close, checking out the details and choosing which pieces they will shoot and feature.

For me, the exhibition is a place to go virtual shopping, and I always find myself subconsciously drawn to pieces that I would wear myself. When I got home from visiting the exhibition yesterday, I realised that I had only photographed the pieces I wanted to buy! So here is my virtual shopping list from the LFW exhibition:

Check out that riot of colour! The sage coat with the fringing is by Prose, the rail of brightly coloured fun is by Nova Chiu as are the jewelled shoes, and I wish I knew who designed the white necklace, because it was by far my favourite piece of the day! I also loved the paper dresses are by Morana Kranjec: not necessarily wearable, of course, but beautifully innovative.

Have you been watching any of the live steamed LFW shows this weekend? And what have been your highlights? I caught the Mulberry show yesterday morning, and thought it was amazing!

Love Tor xx

LFW AW12 Day Two: The highlights

Hi guys,
It could just be me, but I think there are more people than ever at Fashion Week this year! The courtyard at Somerset House is full most of the day, and buzzing with creative fashionable people who want to be seen: some of the outfits are as outrageous as ever!

Also at Somerset House were Topshop, selling the 'New Gen 10' T shirt collection from the back of a van. Topshop are always ahead of the curve when it comes to utilizing the buzz from LFW to market their products: the season the Christopher Kane collaboration launched I missed my first show to get my hands on that gorrilla tee. And the Mary Katrantzou collection which launched on Friday has sold out already. Nevermind showcasing trends and collections for next winter: fashion week is fast becoming the place to go to pick up key pieces right now!

My schedule for the day involved four shows: Spijkers en Spijkers, Bernard Chandran, Shao Yen and Ashley Isham. The day wear at Bernard Chandran didn't leave me particularly inspired, but this was more than made up for by the outstanding eveningwear. The rich blue lace gown (above) was the stand out piece from the collection. The collars on each frock was high; the design feature that held the collection together. Colour-wise, monochromatic black, white and grey was the order of the day The only highlight of colour was the electric blue, and those pieces really popped! Overall the collection had all of the sculptural simplicity I love most about Chandran's work.

My photos from Spjikers en Spjikers just aren't good enough to share, but the collection is definitely worth looking up. The colour palette was rich and bold (perfect for long cold winter days) and the collection was inspired by eccentric society girl Edie Bovier Beale. I especially loved the utilitarian 1920s-style hair.

If I didn't already have a slight obsession with knitwear, the Shao Yen presentation would have made me want to start my love affair all over again! The room was packed for the presentation, but it was definitely worth the pushing and shoving to see the collection up close. It was inspired by a quintessentially British style, and I liked it alot. That white dress is definitely on my "when I win the lottery" list....

Finally, I always love Ashley Isham: the dresses are just begging to be worn on the red carpet, and this year was no exception. The collection was inspired by "the city girl with a passion for clean lines, contemporary statement dresses and tailoring". I loved the colour scheme, which was the perfect mix of cool and rich tones. Think patriot blue, emerald, fig, black iris, smoked pearl and antique gold.

Spotted on the front row were Jameela Jamil, Jodie Harsh, and Michelle Keegan of Coronation Street fame, looking surprisingly fantastic in a graphic printed Andrew Majtenyi frock. I do admit I'm the world's worst celebrity spotter though, so I could have seen lots more celebs and just not noticed....

Love Tor xx

LFW AW12: What I wore for day one

Hi guys,

London Fashion Week kicked off this morning, and I started what is going to be a fairly hectic weekend. I always love Fashion Week, even if I don't attend a single show or party: it's just exciting to be surrounded by so many creative and fashionable people.

This year I won't be bringing you coverage from every single show I attend, but I will be writing a couple of posts a day covering trends, key pieces I've fallen in love with, a little bit of street style (because lets face it, the outfits of the fashion crowd are just as exciting as the shows) and my outfit choices.

To get the ball rolling, here's the outfit I wore for day one:



I went for comfort with my shoes, and wore my flat Jeffrey Campbell dalmatian print pumps (c/o Sarenza.) Expect to see lots of comfortable flats over the next few days: life's too short to walk over cobbles in heels!

I teamed the shoes with my Topshop skinny jeans, a striped blouse from Primark, All Saints necklace, Kenneth Jay Lane ring, and a studded bag I picked up on holiday in Egypt. Sadly, I had to wear a coat (my leather sleeved jacket from Miss Selfridge) which made the outfit look bulkier and more top heavy than I had planned. Make up wise, I went for a punchy red lipstick and statement nails.....

....Yes, I did match my nails to my shirt! I used Nail Rock nail wraps. It's the first I've used them, and they looked great and were really easy to apply. However they started to peel off really quickly: maybe I applied them wrong! Overall though, my verdict is they look great for a couple of hours (night out, special event) but aren't good for everyday wear.

What are you doing this weekend? Will you be watching any of the live steamed fashion shows? Hitting the shops? I'd love to hear your plans!

Love Tor xx

LFW SS12: Fearne Cotton for very.co.uk

Hi guys,
Last night saw the unveiling of Fearne Cotton's SS collection for very.co.uk, and I toddled along to check it out, along with lots of other lovely bloggers.

There were also plenty of celebrity guests in attendance, including Holly Wiiloughby, Whitney Port (adding fuel to the rumours that she'll be doing her own collection with Very next year) Myleene Klass, and the boys from McFly; including my mega girlhood crush, Dougie!

After a couple of cocktails we found out seats and the show began:




Am I the only one slightly creeped out by how all the models look slightly like Fearne?! Anyway, I digress! The collection was heavily seventies-inspired with pussy bow blouses and spray-on denim (both jeans and shorts). Feminine, but still with the tough, rock chick edge you'd expect from a Fearne collection. Key pieces were kept deliberately minimal: soft jersey cotton dresses and tops in simple block colours, often layered with chiffon panels. Great for layering, but a little too flimsy for wearing alone? The one piece I really liked was the mustard covered mini dress with the slightly bell-shaped skirt.

The black maxi skirt and slouchy trousers were equally covetable, and would be great for teaming with almost anything: wardrobe staples you could wear over and over!

Whilst not always to my taste, I can see this being a big seller for Fearne and Very next summer. What do you think of the new collection?

Love Tor xx

PS - I have uploaded some more photos from the show to the Fabfrocks facebook page (Including some of the celebs in attendence), if you want to check them out.