The Summer Sales: Starting with River Island!

Hi guys,
The summer sales are well and truly in full swing! I popped into the city for a mini shopping trip yesterday, and struggled to find a single store that didn't have a huge sale sign in the window! As has become tradition, the first sale I want to talk about is River Island. Usually I come out with bagfuls of stuff, but this time I only picked up two vests: one of which, I have to say, is the most flattering vest I have ever owned!
I could have spent a small fortune on bags and shoes, which are always the highlight of the River Island sale for me, but I showed some rare restraint, and actually put the two bags I was carrying back! So if you do pop to the River Island sale what can you expect to find in store? And what do I think are the biggest bargains available? Here are my picks:
Red oversized slouchy jacket, Was £35 now £20
Black and white drop hem dress, Was £28 now £15
Black and white 3D flower Tshirt, Was £15 now £7
Orange skull studded slipper shoes, Was £28 now £12
Red one shoulder pencil dress, Was £45 now £15
Pink fluro 'famous' belt, Was £10 now £3
Pink stone ring, Was £8 now £2
Cream studded clutch bag, Was £50 now £25

I chose these pieces because you'll still be able to wear them through the autumn too, and given we aren't expected to have much of a summer, if you pick up any high summer bargains then you're unlikely to get a lot of wear out of them!

The sale is available in store and online at RiverIsland.com, and is well worth checking out! Have you shopped the River Island sale so far this sales season? And have you had any amazing bargains?

Love Tor x

Bag a Bargain in the River Island sale

Hi guys,
The River Island sale started yesterday, so of course I immediately popped (read: ran!) down to my local store to check it out. I tried on seven dresses but eventually left with a classic Breton striped jumper (£12) and a huge black leather bucket bag (£40): Both timeless investment pieces, rather than the frivolous sale purchases I usually impulse buy and never wear!

However there was much more on their website than I found in my local store: there weren't any of the goodies I had been lusting after in the Norwich branch! So rather than show you pictures of everything I bought like I usually do (because a picture of a bag and a jumper isn't much of a post!) I thought I would create my picks of the best stock left online. There are some amazing bargains to be had if you're quick, much of it from the River Island new S/S13 lines: Lime tweed oversized biker jacket: was £70 now £30
Cat moustache T shirt: was £18 now £7
Black Aztec print skater skirt: was £20 now £10
Blue tribal waterfall cardigan: was £48 now £25
Navy and cream knit jumper: was £22 now £12
Space invaders jumper dress: was £45 now £15
Tres over it jumper: was £38 now £15
Brown leopard print dress: was £35 now £15
Red ditzy print blazer: was £45 now £20

The stripey jumper is the jumper I picked up! It looks great on and has a really great fit, so it comes heartily recommended. I also really love the lime green biker jacket, and can't resist the moustached cat T shirt: I'm half glad they didn't have it in my local branch though. That's exactly the kind of thing I would impulse buy without thinking and then never wear because, let's face it, I'm way too old for cat clothes!

Have you checked out the River Island sale yet? Had any bargains? I'd love to hear all about them!

Love Tor x

Top picks from the clearance at River Island...

Hi guys,
Chaos. Disorganised, untidy, uncohesive chaos: That's the only way I can think to describe the River Island sale on the last occasions I've popped in to check it out. And I can prove it too! Check out how my local store looked the last time I popped in:

This isn't a criticism of River island: almost all sales look like this, and it's not exactly inspiring. But that doesn't mean that you shouldn't still check out the amazing bargains in the River Island sale (they've made their final reductions and some items have more than 70% off) it just means that it probably makes more sense to do it online. Online is my new favourite way to shop: it's so easy and convenient on days when I can't get out of the house. And here are my picks of the best bargains still available on the River Island website right now:

Green floral peplum dress, was £45 now £10
Checked boyfriend coat, was £70 now £20
Purple floral Tshirt dress, was £35 now £7
Leather look studded gilet, was £60 now £20
Floral cut out prom dress, was £55 now £15
Silver zebra print dim hem skirt, was £35 now £7

Black stud front slipper shoes, was £30 now £10
Leopard print brothel creepers, was £28 now £10
Gold block heel ballet pumps, was £45 now £20
Dogtooth wedges, was £90 now £20
Beige wedge ankle boots, was £80 now £20
Stud back ankle boots, was £60 now £30
Black embellished sandals, was £70 now £20
Yellow peep toe heels, was £65 now £20
Lace wedges, was £60 now £30

I'm always amazed by how much winter coats and accessories are reduced by: this is the time of year when my coat addiction reaches its peek, and I am very tempted by that checked one. There are loads of other options over on their website too, but I picked the pieces with the biggest and best discounts.

I know the sales are nearly over and in some cases that means the best of the stock has been sold, but there are still some great bargains to be had and now, when almost all stores are reducing their sale prices yet again, is the best time to shop. Other stores making final reductions are French Connection (stock up to 75% off) and Accessories (all sale now 70% off)

I still want to hear about your sale bargains! What have you picked up? And which shops do you think have had the best sales this sales season?

Love Tor xx

Daily wear: Shiny Jackets and Ballgowns

Hi guys,
Yesterday I met with up with my buds Reena and Amy to check out the ballgown exhibition at the V&A. There were plenty of sighs and lust-induced moments as we made our way round, choosing the dresses we would imaginarily wear for a variety of different events. I'm going to make it a new resolution that I have to be invited to at least one event in the next 12 months where I get to wear a ballgown: life is just way too short not to float around in a sea of couture tulle!!

Sadly it was jeans for me, not full skirts. But nonetheless, here's what I wore for the occasion:



This is the River Island jacket I got from their sale on Thursday for £25: sadly it's sold out on their website, but it's still available in the Norwich store, so you might find it in your local store too! The rest of the outfit is all stuff you've seen before: My BCBG Max Azria bag from TKMaxx, Red Herring @ Debenhams maternity jeans, H by Hudson boots, Topshop necklace and bracelet, Swavoski ring, Marc Jacobs watch and Alice Temperley Somerset scarf.

As I get bigger I find that I am wearing jeans and jersey tops more and more: they'e just by far the most comfortable things in the world! Thank heavens for my (admittedly extensive) collection of jackets and scarves to jazz everything up!

What did you do this weekend? And what are you wearing whilst you're doing it?

Love Tor xx

River Island sale shoes: Check them out now!

Hi guys,
The summer sales are starting to wind down. When I went to check out the notorious Next sale today there was almost nothing left! But one department of my favourite sale, the sale I always make a beeline for, is definitely going strong. I have never seen so many pairs of amazing shoes as there are currently in the River Island sale!

There were leather sandals and flip flops for £10-£15. An amazing selection of heels and wedges for around £20. And three pairs of the most stunning flatforms I have ever seen: River Island have the best high summer shoes I've seen on the high street this year, and they're a damn bargain!





The bottom pair are beyond and above my favourites: and they're just £15! How can you possibly argue with a price like that?

If you don't live near a River Island store there is still a pretty good selection available on the website too. Check them out now: believe me, they're definitely worth a look!

PS - River Island also has a great selection of winter accessories in their sale at the moment too: I think it's left over stock from last year. But if you're looking for fur or knit hats or scarves then you can pick them up for under £5 in their sale right now: a bargain if you like to plan ahead!

Love Tor x