Rihanna for River Island launches tomorrow

Hi guys,
If you've been waiting to get your hands on the Rihanna for River Island collection then its time to set your alarm clock: the collection launches online at 1am tomorrow morning. It's been a while since there has been such a fuss about a high street collaborative collection: you know something's going to be big when Rihanna turning up late for the launch makes the national news!
The collection is very much Rihanna's style, and perfect for the average River Island shopper. The styling and the catwalk show was a little too flesh-baring for my personal prudish tastes (but it was very Rihanna) however actually there are several pieces in the collection that I like and that I would wear: I'd just team them with more clothes! The vibrant yellow is perfect for summer and the floral pattern is modern and very wearable.
As a general rule, I worry when a non-designer celebrity puts their name to a collection. I'm always interested to know exactly how much involvement the celebrity has in designing the collection: do they pick the fabrics, draw the designs? Think about how the designs will suit the average customer in the store?

I know some celebs have more involvement than others, but I just struggle picturing Rihanna slaving over a drawing board somehow.... So is the collection a credit to the design team that created it? Well it's nice, this kind of urban styling is very on-trend at the moment. But it's not exactly innovative. And there's certainly nothing that will invoke me to set my alarm to go shopping in the middle of the night: I just don't like any of it enough, although I will say I don't dislike it either!

Have you been waiting for the Rihanna for River Island collection? Will you be awake and clicking frantically to get the collection at 1am, or are you letting this one pass you by?

Love Tor x

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley's new Lingerie collection for M&S

Hi guys,
Sometimes I get invited to things that I'm just gutted I can't make it along to. I still attend as many events as possible, but early mornings and late nights just aren't easy for me anymore: Such is reality when you waddle when you walk! This week the event I was most sad to miss was the breakfast to launch Rosie for Autograph: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley's new lingerie collection for M&S.

The colour palette for the collection was inspired by the rich colours of different types of roses. From the muted tones of dusky pink and green through to dramatic scarlet blooms, Rosie wanted the palette to evoke the beauty of a gorgeous British garden in Summer. (Must not say Roses for Rosie. Must not say....oh hell...)

Here's how it looks: 


The whole range has an opulent 1920s feel. Rosie says, “To find inspiration for the collection, I trawled my favourite vintage shops and flea markets in London, LA and Paris where I found a treasure trove of gorgeous clothes and ornate pieces of jewellery, as well as pictures and patterns found in old design books and fashion magazines....I was particularly drawn to the opulent elegance of the 20s era which really shows in my designs from the sumptuous silks I chose to the intricate deco inspired embroidery detailing on the garments.”

When I think of decadent and luxurious lingerie, with no real purpose other than looking and making you feel completely gorgeous, this is the kind of collection I think of. Which makes the price points and the fact the collection is accessible to just about everyone all the more surprising: Prices start at £12.50 for knickers, through to £22.50 for bras and £65 for the silk kimono. Bra sizes range from 30-40, with cup-sizes from A to E with selected styles available up to G. Knickers range from size 8 to 20.

I, for one, can't wait to get my hands on it. Good news, as the collection is instore now!

Love Tor xx