A Dress for £3.68? Meet the very latest acronym dress!

Hi guys,
First came the LBD (Little Black Dress). The came to LWD (Little White Dress). And now I've just received a press release introducing the world to the MWD: anyone know what it stands for? Well, I couldn't work it out at first. But it's actually the Minimum Wage Dress!

The Minimum Wage Dress (MWD) costs the same as an hour’s pay on the lowest minimum wage –  £3.68 – which is the minimum wage for someone aged under 18 in the UK. I don't know what I was more surprised about: that you could buy a dress online for less than £4, or that the minimum working wage in this country is so damn low: not much incentive to get off your bum at 16 and get a job, is it?!
Nick Puri, director at SheLikes.com, said: “Thousands of women, who are struggling to make ends meet, are constantly on the lookout for gorgeous outfits that make them look and feel a million dollars, without costing them that at the checkout! We wanted to offer all of those women an on-trend summer dress that they could buy, guilt-free, as we understand the pressures on women’s wallets, as well as their wardrobes.”

I haven't seen or felt the dress, so I can't vouch for its fabric or its quality: but you really can't knock its price! The dress is available from SheLikes.com from tomorrow, and comes in three colours: neon yellow, pink, and black. Given that this gimmick is likely to be all over the tabloid websites tomorrow, the dress is expected to sell out fast, so if you want one it's time to go go go!

Love Tor x

To everything there is a Seasons (Turn! Turn! Turn!)

Hi guys,
Sometimes I hear something that puts a song lyric into my head and I just can't get it out: hence the title of today's post. Because it's all about my latest online shopping discovery: seasonsclothing.co.uk. Which immediately made me start singing The Byrds 'To everything there is a season'. Over and over again in my head. In fact, I'm doing it now! Anyway, I digress.... 

Like most websites, its name doesn't actually give anything away about it, so let me explain. Seasons is a designer clothes site featuring a myriad of amazing designers, including Acne, Alice Temperley, Marc by Marc Jacobs, See by Chloe and many many more. Before I started writing this post I spent over an hour creating a virtual shopping list on the site: I didn't intend to, but there were just so many things I wanted, and once I start creating wishlists I just can't stop! Check out all the great pieces I'll be wearing this season (see what I did there?) when that lottery win finally comes in:

Marc by Marc Jacobs tote bag, £143.50
Acne burgandy knit cardigan, £260
Barbour chunky knit, £195
Aamaya-by-Priyanka ring, £175
Acne short boots, £360
See by Chloe oversized jacket, £570
Equipment snakeskin shirt, £280

This whole moodboard is pretty much how I envisage my new mummy wardrobe will look. Of course realistically it's likely to be more pajama heavy, and covered in more baby sick than this, but a girl can dream! I really love the snakeskin shirt, which would look amazing teamed with either leather leggings or waxed jeans.

Live t'up North? Then your in luck! As well as exploring the website, you can visit an actual Seasons store! The brand have two stores: one in the Devonshire Quarter in Sheffield and one in the Victoria Quarter in Leeds.

Love Tor xx

*This is a sponsored post 

Reader discount: £10 off at Motel

Hi guys,
You know how I love a good discount, and picking up a bargain! So when Motel got in touch offering a discount code for you guys, how could I say no?!

Motel are offering readers of Fabfrocks (and some of their other favourite blogs) £10 off when they spend £40 or more. That equates to up to a whopping 25% discount!! All you have to do to get this discount is enter the code TOPBLOGTREAT at the checkout! 

Here are my picks from the newest arrivals on the site: 



ZeeZee 50s cap sleeved dress, £65 
Missy metallic bustier dress, £58
Razzle dazzle sequin shorts, £25 

Is anything tempting you? Visit the website and start shopping now. And don't forget to enter that discount code!

Love Tor xx

The small print: The discount is available on Motel Rocks/Full priced items only/Excludes sale or promo stock. Customers must enter the code at the check out to receive the £10 off. 

My picks from the Sarenza summer sale

Hi guys,
Exciting news: not only has the Sarenza summer sale started (and who doesn't get excited about a shoe sale?!) Starting today, Sarenza are having a "Crazy Days" sale, which means an extra 20% off on all of the following brand (including items currently on sale):

Mellow Yellow, Carvela, JB Martin, Jonak, Schmoove, Florsheim, Buffalo, Paul & Joe Sister, Stéphane Kélian, Chie Mihara, Pura Lopez, UME Un Matin d’Eté, Chocolate Schubar, Vagabond, Latinas, Muratti, Emma Go, Tatoosh, Janet & Janet, Pour La Victoire, Kelsi Dagger, C. Petula, Kesslord, Pare Gabia, Spot On, Georgia Rose, I Love Shoes, Marvin & co, Rose & Martin, Valensi, Addict Initial

As many of the sale items were already 50% off, there is some serious bargain-hunting potential to be had! To celebrate this, I've created a wishlist of all of my favourite picks from the sale:

I had to include a pair of Valensi pumps (I have four pairs and they are the most comfortable every day shoes I have ever owned) and the Emma Go green and silver flats are seriously lust-worthy, but mostly I went fantasy shopping for heels I can't wear. I especially love the slightly 80s-looking Georgia Rose courts with the gold toe. 


Want to win your favourite pair of shoes from my selection? Well then you can! All you have to do is 'like' my wishlist (or one of the other Sarenza brand ambassador's wishlists) on the Sarenza Facebook page, and someone will be chosen at random to win their choice of any pair of shoes. 


Love Tor xx

Spiky shoes: What colour to choose?!

Hi guys,
I've always had an unhealthy obsession with shoes, but lately my inbox seems to be bombarded with new styles that I know I just need: my lustometer is in overdrive!! The latest culprits that I can't seem to get out of my head are these super spiky loafers from nelly.com.
And because this pesky pregnancy has scuppered any interest I have in wearing heels, I think I might have to indulge (erm, I mean invest) in a pair! The problem? They come in four different colours (Cobalt Blue, Mocha Cream, Sunny Day Orange or Ice White) and I just can't choose which one I want. I'm torn between the blue and the orange.

At £51.95 they're definitely affordable, but not so affordable I can buy two pairs! So I want to know what you think! Which spiky shoe has caught your eye? If you could choose one colour which would it be? And more importantly, do you think these essentially comfortable pumps are really as dangerous as they look? (I'll have plasters at the ready, just in case!)

Love Tor xx

PS - I'm hosting a twitter party on the 14th June! I'd really love it if you could put the date in your diary and join me!

Bargain hunting on TKMaxx.com

Hi guys,

As you all probably know already, I love TKMaxx. I just can't resist a bargain, and when it's too cold for car boot sales, and I don't want to trawl through charity shops, TKMaxx is my next logical shopping stop! So imagine my delight when I discovered that on days where I'm feeling too lazy to even visit my local TKMaxx store, I can still shop their fine bargains by visiting their website.

No rummaging, no having to trawl through rails looking for the right size, and no other shoppers elbowing you out of the way to get to the good stuff. Because let's face it, the shoppers in TKMaxx always seem a little more agressive about their haul than in other stores. Just lovely yummy bargains, with the discounts clearly marked, and even the savings percentages worked out for you!

The TKMaxx website is a new discovery for me (Behind the times as always) and I'm going to admit that on a cold indoorsy day last week I may have gone a little crazy and done some shopping:


All Saints necklace. RRP £65. I paid £14.99.

Rock & Republic Sunglasses. RRP £210. I paid £29.99.

Ashwood leather jacket. RRP ££189. I paid £49.99.

I mentioned back in January that I was looking for the perfect leather jacket, and this is it! I wasn't expecting it to be, because I hadn't tried it on, but I took the chance and I'm glad I did. It looks amazing and the leather is so soft: prepare to see it in future posts. A lot. The necklace is much chunkier than it looks in the photograph, and it will look fab teamed with simple tops and fine knit sweaters. And as for the sunglasses? Yes, I know I already have half a dozen pairs, but who can resist bargain prices like that? I know I can't.....

Love Tor xx

Question: How do you like to shop?

Hi guys,
How do you do your shopping? Are you a "I have to touch it before I can buy it" type shopper (i'm afraid that's the category I fall into - I just love physically going shopping) Do you prefer to do your shopping online? I meet so many women that are online shopping addicts - and I admit there's something appealing and convenient about having everything you want to try on delivered to your door. Or are you a catalogue shopper? Catalogue shopping seems so old fashioned to me (it's something women used to do a lot in the 60s and 70s, and a lot of my research for my fashion/fiction of the 60s Masters degree focused on the catalogue phenomenon) but the Womens clothing catalogue is making a comeback. Every time I turn the TV on I see another new catelogue launching, and women are raving about them.

All this got me thinking: what are the pros of catalogue shopping?

1. It still feels physical. I prefer to read tangible magazines rather than look at their websites for exactly this reason. You can curl up on the sofa with a catalogue and read it in the bath or even on the tube: this would make shopping feel like more of a relaxing leisure time activity (especially if you spend your whole day online, like me!)

2. Delivery is almost always free: so are returns. You rarely get that with online shopping, but you still get to beat the queues of physically going instore. Marisota offer next day delivery as standard: and it costs just £3.99 (compare to the ASOS next day delivery charge) making it perfect if you need a new frock in a hurry.

3. You get more variety of sizes and colours in a catalogue than you would ever get in a store: that's because catalogues have their whole warehouse as their stock room!! Also (and this might not be a pro for everyone) you can do it in your pajamas! I'm a massive fan of any activity that you can do without having to change out of your PJs.

What do you guys think? Have you ever shopped from a catalogue? How did you find the experience? Would you recommend it?

Love Tor xx

*In association with Marisota

Discover Cocosa - And get £10 off!

Hi guys,

I'm probably behind the times with these great new sites as usual (Net a porter had been running for months before I checked it out!) but I have just discovered and registered for Cocosa: The newest fashion destination from Bauer Media

Cocosa is an invitation-only online-only discount fashion store, offering its members exclusive access to an array of private sales on brands like Vivienne Westwood,Tom Ford Sunglasses, Alexander McQueen, Matthew Williamson, and many many more. It's like designer heaven for anyone on a tight budget! Each sale event runs for a limited time only so you have to be quick!



There are currently eight sales on the site, including one for Manoush, which i'm particularly excited about as I have an obsession with their knitwear (yes, i'm talking about knitwear when the weather is like this!) I've got my eye on a wide collared knitted jumper, and an ethnic-looking beaded tunic.

If you like the sound of this then click this link to register on Cocosa for a Cocosa account. If you do, you can get an exclusive £10 off your first order over £50 when you enter the code 'luxurystyle' at check out.

This week has been a deal fest, hasn't it?! Between this and the amazing sales on the high street at the minute, i'd be surprised if any of you had any money left!

Love, Tor xx

Sponsored Post
Viral video by ebuzzing

If you love it should you put it on your credit card?

Hi guys,
Question: If you like it then should you put a ring on it? Answer: Yes. Question: If you love it should you put in on your credit card? Answer: It depends. My credit cards have never been used so much since I got engaged. My wedding dress, deposits for our wedding venue, deposits for our photographer…the list of things I have put on my credit card is endless. And for good reason: you’re better protected if your vendor cancels on you when you pay with your credit card than you are when you pay by cash, and with something as important as a wedding this security is essential. The credit cards make the payment, then the cash in the savings account cleared the bill at the end of the month.

So far, so sensible. But what about if you’re out shopping and you see a dress you really really love? Is it OK to whip your credit card out and have a treat? My immediate answer to this question is yes (I am, after all a shopaholic!) but only if you can afford to pay it back. And when I say pay it back, I mean at the end of the month, not in 50p instalments! Shopaholic isn’t a byword for reckless! If I see a dress I just have to have, and it’s in my size, and I love it and it feels like fate (we’ve all had that feeling)……but its 3 days before pay day then I announce “Its credit card time!” but only because I know I can pay it back when I pay my next statement, as soon as I’ve been paid. I have even been known to treat myself to something a little more expensive and pay it back in two instalments, by using my ‘treat money’(am I the only one that has treat money?) from the following month.

Credit cards can be wonderful things, but only if they’re used sensibly. There isn’t a shoe in the world that’s worth getting into a lifetime of debt for (No. Not even those Jimmy Choos. Although you can see some pics from my fantasy credit card shopping list above) So my credit card advice (if you want it!) is to only ever buy what you can afford to pay off. And don’t forget that owning a credit card can help improve your credit rating, even if you rarely use it: just don’t fall into the trap of using it to pay for everything. It isn’t free money!

Love, Tor

*This is a sponsored post

25% off everything at Dorothy Perkins!

Hi guys,
I'm a big fan of Dorothy Perkins: It's not as fashion forward as Topshop but the fit is better and more figure flattering (if you have boobs at least) and the price points are lower too. And this week they're offering 25% off everything on their website!

When there are discounts to be had, I always think it is the perfect time to stock up on things you need that you know you won't get in the sales anywhere else (until January at least) but that you need right now. Given the weather at the minute, that means warm coats and winter accessories! 25% is a good discount to get off your winter coat at this time of year, especially if last years is reaching the end of it's life. Sadly mine isn't, which is a shame as I really fancy a new winter coat! Here are my four faves from the DP website:

Stone coat, £75 (£56.25 with discount) Buckle front cape, £65 (£48.75 with discount) Cream patch fur coat, £85 (£63.75 with dicount) and camel cape, £65 (£48.75 with discount)

I've added a couple of capes because just about everyone I know is going crazy for them at the minute! Personally, I have a massive heart-quickening lust for that patchy fur coat. The pattern is beautiful and I love its grown up and simple shape.

To get your hands on 25% off everything use this link and code: DPVIPE at the checkout! This offer ends on 14th November, so get in quick!

Love, Tor xx

River Island sale: Maximum ten items

The problem with online shopping is that you can't be 100% sure what you're buying until it arrives. Will it fit, will the quality be nice, how much am I going to lose on postage charges if I have to send it back? All considerations of the average online shopping experience.

This is made much easier if you can try things on it store and then buy them online, but why would you bother? If you're already in the shop and you have the garment in you're hand, why not buy it there and then and leave the shop with it! So, despite the fact the River Island sale started online two days ago, I waited until it hit stores today before I went bargain hunting!

You can only take a maximum of ten items into the changing rooms at River Island; it's important to remember this, because you will want to take in about thirty. Stock was going fast, and you had to queue round the room to get to the tills, but i'm giving the River Island sale two thumbs up. I wanted nearly everything I tried on.

The casual T shirts and vests selection was great and started at £6, with lots of Parisian influence (speaking of which, please remember to vote for me and send me to Paris) I love the middle, Parisian themed top, which would be a lovely transitional piece to take you through to Autumn. They also had a big selection of rock and punk inspired logo tops, as well as stripes and polka dots: anything a T shirt loving soul could desire, really.

As well as the clothes, there is also a massive shoes and accessories sale: leather heels starting at £20, flats and sandals starting at £8. I'm a big fan of River Island accessories and I think, quality wise, that they are some of the best on the high street. There were two handbags I loved but at £75 each they were still a little rich for me; a big discount from the original £150 price tag though! They also had hundreds of pairs of very cool Spitfire sunglasses reduced to just £5: I couldn't resist, and picked a pair up!

I've written several times about my love of all things River Island, and if you're a River Island fan too, I definitely recommend you check out the sale. If you're not a River Island fan, it's worth a peek for the shoes: some of them are incredible, and I had a five minute "shoe heaven" moment!

Love, Tor x

Note; please excuse my 'I really need a hair cut' hair do, and the hurried lunchtime photos; this post is for illustration purposes only!

Reader discount: Delightful Muddle Vintage

I love vintage shopping (in fact i'm wearing one of my favourite vintage coats today) I love wearing something that you can be sure noone else is wearing (not something that happens when you pull on your favourite Topshop dress). So you can imagine how pleased I was to discover Delightful Muddle Vintage: well organised good quality vintage at affordable prices from the comfort of your living room.

Delightful Muddle Vintage is about to celebrate its first birthday. The company was originally set up by the current owners grandmother in the 1940s, but has now been operating online for 12 months. There is no focus on designer items but wonderful wearable pieces that are as relivent now as they were when they were made; some of the dresses are beautiful, and because they aren't recognised designer-vintage labels, they're really affordable too.

Unusually, the store also offers menswear, so you can glam up your boyfriend at the same time as shopping for yourself! And the site has a bargain corner where all items are £10 or less: perfect for a little treat when you're not feeling flush!

Delightful Muddle Vintage are offering FabFrocks readers a MASSIVE 25% off. You simply need to enter the code delightfulfrocks at the checkout. How exciting is that?? I bet you can guess what i'll be doing this afternoon! (hint: it involves online shopping!)

Love, Tor xx

PS - The photos are by Ruth Allen and Zoe Escritt

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

Mid season sales: Warehouse picks!

I didn't even realise the mid-season sales had started, because i've been so busy over the past couple of weeks (too busy to scour the shops, can you imagine!?) However on Saturday, after the Skinny Cow swap shop my sister and I popped into Debenhams for a stroll and a cup of tea (I realise that makes me sound like Bridget Jones mum!) and I noticed that a lot of the concessions were sporting sale signs, with the biggest selection coming from Warehouse. My need for tea and cake was too great for a proper look, but when I got home I went straight to my computer to see if it was worth a re-visit. The verdict? Definitely worth checking out!

On the website there are 87 items in the £10 or under section, including some basic cotton tops, lovely denim skirts, and a massive selection of belts, scarves, and jewellery. I always worry with mid-season sales that you'll only be wasting your money on clothes that it will quickly get too warm to wear, however there are some really versitile pieces that could carry you all the way through to Spring/Summer.

I can't wait to hit the highstreet and try some stuff on, but in the meantime here are my picks of the sale from the website:

Everything pictured comes in at under £30. I love the pleat fronted city shorts (which also come in black) they would be great with tights for now and with sandals for in the summer. I love the belt which on the surface is very simple but which reminds me of an aeroplane belt: utility cool. The jewellery is pretty cool too (and each piece is reduced to £4 - bargainalicious!)

Are there any other mid-season sales you guys have been checking out? Whilst i've been rushed off my feet and neglecting the shops (sob!) what have I been missing?!

Love, Tor xx

Online sales.... it begins!

Without meaning to sound like an octogenarian, the sales seem to start earlier and earlier each year, don't they? The truly savvy (and with nerves of steel!) could save a fortune if they waited until a couple of days before Christmas to do their shopping - I think it would give me a nervous break down though!

If you haven't done your Christmas shopping, and you don't feel like fighting the masses you could do your shopping online, and there's a massive selection of online pre-Christmas sales to choose from:

• The official my wardrobe sale starts on 23rd December. All products currently marked with a Snowflake will go into sale with a 30% off and then the discounts will escalate as time goes by.

• The style compare sale starts on Boxing day (so not quite in time for Christmas!) allowing you to browse the sales from dozen of stores all in one place.

• New Look currently has a fashion sale on with half price party wear; I particularly like the sequinned blazer which is now half price at £20 and would be perfect for Christmas day.

• Starting yesterday, Evans has a half price sale on shoes, lingerie and accessories: this includes their boots, so perfect for those with a slightly larger calf.

I already have all my Christmas shopping, and all my outfits planned for over the festive season, so I don't need to do any shopping until January (when I will be finishing perfecting my capsule wardrobe) but i'm sure there are some great deals to be had if you're still looking!

Love, Tor xx

Waiting for the ASOS man!

The ASOS sale is still going strong, with discounts of up to 80%, and yesterday afternoon my resolve crumbled. Here is what I ordered:

The shoe boots are from the ASOS premium leather range and were reduced from £65 to £19, the coat from £55 to £15 and the belt from £10 to £3.

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I could've ordered so much more but I was very good and restrained myself! The shoe is the thing I am most excited about seeing: It is constructed from leather with mesh panels at either side, and I am hoping the mesh is thin enough that i will be able to wear different colour socks and tights and see it coming through.

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I got next day delivery so the package should be arriving at the office anytime before 7pm; I hope sooner rather than later as we are driving back to my parents tonight! There is nothing more exciting than waiting for a package - I hope what's inside is worthy of the frenzy with which I will open it!

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It has been a long time since I ordered something online - although I love online browsing I always like to feel the quality of something before I purchase. The last time I ordered something from ASOS was about 3 years ago; the shoes were made of pleather and very tight and uncomfortable and the top was sized very very small! But I am assured that the quality has increased dramatically in recent years and can't wait to find out: hurry up mister ASOS delivery man!!

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Love Tor x

PS- I had another little package arrive in the post this morning. All will be revealed shortly!

Shop my wardrobe!

Apparently "swine flu" has its benefits: it means I can't leave my bed and have the time in front of my computer to do jobs i've been meaning to do for ages! I have far too many clothes. Lovely, lovely beautiful clothes. Some of which I am yet to remove the tags from. I have shoes too tough for my delicate feet. Clothes I meant to take back but forgot all about and left in bags at the bottom of my wardrobe. I have clothes I have loved for years. And clothes I only loved when I was trying them on in the shop.

Topshop clothes and Primark clothes. H&M and matalan clothes. Clothes from the topshop outlet. Vintage clothes and boot sales clothes. Casual clothes and evening clothes. And a healthy dollop of sequins. And they could all be yours.

Due to my constantly fluctuating weight, there are clothes ranging from a size 12-size 16.

I've been meaning to add some more stuff to this for weeks, and I had a massive clear out last weekend. So check out the fabfrocks shop and shop my wardrobe: you're bound to find something you like! I've added about ten new things today, and hope to add another ten tomorrow - and I will keep adding stuff all week; I think I have around 40-50 things to put up in total! (until the next shopping binge and clear out of course!)
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Everything will be washed and ironed before being carefully packaged and sent to you with love. So if you see anything you like just drop me a line, and i'll get it sent straight over!


Love Tor

NB - P&P is not included in any of the list prices and is £5 per item unless otherwise stated. (£7 for International)

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

To Illustrate = Super Great

Hello blogosphere,

One of the lovely things about becoming enmeshed in the world of blogging is that you get in contact with a million people across the globe who are literally so talented it makes you (in the words of Zadie Smith) "want to pee yourself a bit in jealousy". There are the beautiful idiosyncratic stylists (Susie of Style Bubble, LiebeMarlene, Fabi, the Queens), the busty and hilarious 1930s wisecrackers (Winona of Daddy Likey, Wendy Brandes) and the artists.

Today class, we're looking at art. This is mostly because yesterday I received the link to my very own illustrated self.

From this:

Snapshot of me on the train going to see the Barenaked Ladies in Cambridge, dressed in my H&M chiffon cape top and vintage coat.

To this:

Yes friends, I have bears in my hair. Bears are the only accessory I'll accept now. I do so love Susie's head-bird but for me, tiny living ursidae crawling on my head, kickin' back and catchin' salmon, this is where I'm at, fashion-wise.

This is all the work of illustrator Damien Weighill and his awesome blog "Your Face". The premise is this: if you are a real live person, send him your face and he will draw you a real live picture. Damien is a fine fellow- I like his simple lines and scary animals. He also writes very nice e-mails. To thie end, I encourage you to check out his attractive merchandise:

Queen with a moustache. Can't say fairer then that for £22.
Buy buy buy here

You (yes you) can even appear on homeware items if you so choose.

The poor Queen. She shaves her moustache and gets mauled by a lion. Makes you think.
Screenprint (signed): £25 here

Awesome. I think this is the only time I've been even remotely muse-like. And I think it's the only time I ever will. My muse for the day? Miss Moneypenny's 80s blouses in the irredeemably shitty "Never Say Never Again" which was showing this afternoon on ITV1.

From this:

To this:

Bow Blouse and Starsky&Hutch cardigan from Oxfam. Wide leg trousers from Topshop.

Yuh. I don't think David Downton's gonna be calling anytime soon. Nor Sean Connery for that matter. Still, I don't mind. I have my tea, I have my bears. I'm pretty happy.

I hope you are too.

Your pal,
Becky.

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.