Style in a New York minute!

Hi guys,
Style-wise, I think I'll always be a London girl. I love the eclectic, undone, mismatched style of the London girl. I love the anything-goes attitude. But as I get older I appreciate the stereotypical New York style more and more. Nails are never chipped, hair is always blow dried, outfits are simple, chic, and perfectly coordinated. It's a grown up style I'd love to emulate, but I'm just too untidy to even try.

As New York Fashion Week has just started (and in just over a week London Fashion Week will start, when I will be singing the praises of all things London again) I thought now would be the perfect time to sing the praises of New York style. Starting with my three favourite New York designers:
Left to right: Alexander Wang, Diane Von Furstenberg, Marc Jacobs. Even on the catwalk styles are simple and chic: no animal headdresses or dresses made from human hair here!

The good news is, thanks to some of my favourite discount websites, these designers (and more of their New York friends) are more accessible than ever. Here are some of my favourite and affordable pieces that you can buy right now:
Diane von Furstenberg printed silk dress, £189, The Outnet
Calvin Klein red silk dress, £129, TKMaxx
Marc Jacobs pom pom dress, £174, The Outnet

I'm a sucker for a well fitting dress, and that DvF one is really calling out to me: it's such a gorgeous pattern! I think that's the key to getting this look right: pick one key stylish dress, add simple coordinating accessories, slick hair and make up, and you're ready to go!

What do you think of New York style? Do you love the coordination of it? Or are you just a scruffy London girl at heart?

Love Tor xx

Latest on Fabfrocks and Family: Limited edition Peter Rabbit collection at babyGap
Latest on Fabfrocks at Home: Emma Bridgewater at TKMaxx for Comic Relief

What I learnt from New York fashion week....

...Is that I want to dress myself head to toe in the new Marc by Marc Jacobs collection.


You can see this collage bigger here.

I used to love clashing fuschia with orange in my late teens and once said those would be the colours my wedding dress would be (I also toyed with orange and lime green, remember when that was all the rage? Those are also the colours of my parents bathroom.)
.
The African inspired fabrics are reminiscent of the Gadofka collection I fell in love with months ago, only, well, the only way I can think to put it is more marc; Africa in downtown New York and nowhere near a Savannha (unless that's a bar in New York that I don't know about - how great it would be to be making a witty cultural reference like a "cool person" and not even knowing!) The clashing patterns and the 5 million trends all at once feel of the collection is perfect for me: I can never make my mind up and often throw all the trends I like all together. (today i'm wearing a peasant dress with DMs and a tan belt!) The collection is perfect. Sigh! I am also a big fan of the bunny bow, and will be attempting to replicate this look using my giant yellow Johnny loves Rosie bow. If only i'd gotten the fuscia one too! I have a lovely thick length of black fabric and I can see some bunny-bow experimentation happening in a living room near here (ie mine!) soon! I can see aspiring Etsy millionaires doing exactly the same thing, and I bet we will see an abundance of these things on the highstreet in Spring - you heard it here first!
.
Other things I learned from New York fashion week: That lady gaga is almost certainly certifiably insane, that Dazed and Confused seem to throw the best parties, and that we all have to talk about Rodarte. As much as we possibly can. You can all start now...

Later aligators (I really do have that Christopher Kane @topshop aligator dress on my mind don't I?)
Love Tor x

Whats that? A dress. Who says? Calvin Klein.

Well actually Preen does, but you really do feel a bit like Cher from Clueless' dad when you see all these panelled mini dresses, don't you?


Brace yourself everyone, because here it comes! My first show review from New York fashion week (well, it's better late then never!) I've decided to start with Preen because I always love them, and despite my major aversion to hounds tooth, particularly oversized houds tooth, I love them again this season too. Its flirty and naughty and most importantly furry. And I really do love fur!

However enough of my rambling. As they speak a thousand words, lets start with the pictures and six thousand 'words' that are coming your way:

Do you remember that series of Project Runway where the rotund fellow Chris uses monkey fur in his final catwalk show? That's the first thing I thought of when I saw this collection. Its like the monkeys from the planet of the apes breed with a lambretta sporting crew of Mods and then they all became millionaires. And there's nothing more exciting than a dress where one false move could reveal an unexpected nipple.

.

Despite the tearing and the sheer panels and the fur, the lines on all of the dresses are suprisingly clean. It makes what could be a vintage inspired collection seem fresh and modern. Monochrome always makes me think of the sixties; I remember wearing white boots that my mum hated with black trousers in 1996 when there was a major 60's revival and Mike Flowers Pop was covering Oasis' Wonderwall, and feeling like Twiggy. I think those sixties 'cool cats' I was inspired by in '96 would be impressed with this collection.
.

The candy coloured dresses came as a bit of a shock after the harsh monochrome of the majority of the collection, but it provides a welcome relief to the eyes which (if your eyes work like mine) are immediately drawn to the shiny candy pink trousers.

Who wears candy pink plastic trousers? Well, not me, but looking at them was a wonder to behold! However despite my love of the rainbow acid brights, it is this final dress that is my favourite of the whole collection and immediately makes it onto the "when i'm thin and rich and famous and have to go to movie premieres..." list:
Although I rarely wear them (the curse of my hips) I love full skirts and I always get irrationally excited when I see them swish down the catwalk. There's something about the way they move and the glamour of it. I especially love the layering of this one, which makes it look like it has wings. Wings! Team that with a sheer blouse which seems to have ribs circling its either side and nipple covering pockets (which of course barely cover the nipples at all) and you're onto a winner. Preen: My heart is won!
.

Love Tor x

Betsey Johnson loves me.....

I love Betsey Johnson. In fact, last time I was in the States I blew my entire holiday budget on a rodeo style oversized tan and cream leather handbag. (And borrowed money from my parents for everything else for the rest of the week: when there's fashion there need not be sense)

And it seems that Betsey Johnson loves me back: Or at the very least, designed her A/W08 ready-to-wear collection with me in mind. (yes, I am that self obsessed and the whole world does revolve around me) Almost every single piece in the collection incorporates one of my own personal favourite things; leopard print (my biggest obsession, cheesy or not) floral, geek chic, and sailors.

These pictures excite me so much; I can imagine myself wearing every single outfit, and quite frankly I think I could make them all rock!

There's nothing nicer than seeing a whole new season range and knowing you can recreate it for free from the content of your own wardrobe: except of course maybe being able to afford to buy the full range.

Quantum Physics and Fashion = Super fun!

Friends,

Any religion that gets you to pony up thirteen quid for string is going to attract celebrities. They love ancient spirituality and they love accessories. Rabbi Solomon ibn Gabirol (1021 - 1058) knew it was win-win and so do Zac Posen, Jill Stuart and Calvin Klein. Y'see, Scientology has tired of Lohan, Spears and their ilk and they're coming for our children. To this end, Posen, Stuart and Klien have authorised their creations to be worn in "Seven," an awesome neato-keen Scientologist comic! You know - for kids!

New York Magazine reports that "headband wearing socialite" Denise Wohl (jeepers, there's a epithet to treasure, huh?) noticed “There’s nothing [in the Kabbalah book market]for the most important age group of all: 7-to-17-year-olds,” A onetime letterer at Marvel Comics, Wohl enlisted former Marvel editor-in-chief Jim Shooter to create a series about seven characters, one from each continent, who are mysteriously brought together in Manhattan because they share a higher consciousness—“They use more brainpower than the rest of us,” Wohl explains—and have mastered quantum physics, astrophysics and fashion.

Ah, to be young, multi-ethnic and with Kabbalistic superpowers. The girl in the peachy dress is reportedly based on Leelee Sobieski. Her power is to give all the other girls in the team porno breasts and lesbian haircuts.

Take note: Our Lord Madonna decrees that this spring we'll be saving the world in earth tones!
Jumping Jehozafat!

Calvin Klein (S/S 08)

Zac Posen (S/S 08)

Jill Stuart (S/S 08)

Wow, I feel dirty. Perez Hilton dirty.

It feels good.

Your pal,
Becky.