A Style Evolution!

Hi guys,
Style is one of those things that's constantly evolving. One day your hair is long, the next it's short. One day your a little girl who wants to wear everything pink, the next you're a surly teenage in a Nirvana tee. But I think my biggest style evolution has happened recently, when I became a mummy.

Before Wilbur I had all the time in the world to paint my nails, shop for exactly the right dress and visit the hairdressers. How I looked every day was an important part of determining how I felt. After Wilbur, I give my hair a quick brush and throw on my jeans, ready for a day of playing and running around after my energetic little man. My appearance comes secondary to his happiness and well being. Style is still really important to me, and I love any opportunity to get dressed up, but it isn't an important part of my day to day life any more.

So here it is. The evolution of my style. We start with a little girl in white socks and T bar shoes who loved costume parties, travel through the questionable hair of my university years, make a stop via the curls and beads I sported seven years ago (has it been that long?) at my first ever blogging event, travelling through some of the happiest years of my life, living in London, and ending up here. In my own little corner of the world. As a mum that stills loves fashion, but that wears jeans more than frocks. And things have never been better. I wonder what my next style evolution will be!

This post has been written to celebrate Zalando's 3rd Birthday, and the evolution of their style in the three years since the site launched, and the three years I've been a regular Zalando shopper. How has your style evolved over time? And how do you feel when you look back at pictures of yourself from yesteryear?

Love Tor x

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
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When your life style changes, so does your style!

Hi guys,
Over the past couple of months, my life has gone through some pretty monumental changes. Firstly I no longer work full time in the city: I freelance from home instead. Which is keeping me busy! But means I've gone from wanting to look fashionable every single day, to having days where there seems to be little point taking off my pajamas. After all, blogging and writing from your sofa in your PJs is living the dream, right?

Secondly is the more obvious physical change: I'm now over 6 months pregnant and look like I'm smuggling a space hopper under my jumper. Which makes wanting to throw on a pretty dress and heels to flit around town seem like a distant memory.

But I still LOVE fashion. It's my passion. Hell, it's my job! I'm just having to navigate a new style that suits my current lifestyle. But when you've worked for years to develop a sense of personal style that you love, that's not as easy as it sounds. I don't have any tips to share on this yet, but here's a round up of the personal progress I've made so far:

-My extensive jacket collection isn't going anywhere. Oh how I love a well fitted blazer! Always have, always will. On days when I'm lounging around the house wearing just jeans and a tee, I know that I can throw on one of my beloved blazers and effortlessly leave the house looking a little more put together. Blazers also have the added bonus of making you look leaner: perfect for those often-occurring fat days!

- Ponytails and buns are now part of my life. When I commuted to work I would set my alarm early so that I could straighten my hair, every single day. Now? Well I still don't like to wear my hair loose unless it's been straightened (It just looks frizzy) and still straighten it a couple of times a week. But on those days in between I'm learning to appreciate the look of a sleek ponytail or messy topknot. It's not lazy, it's just a new style!

- I'm finally embracing jeans. This blog isn't called Fabfrocks for nothing: I love a good dress! But dresses just aren't that practical for everyday wear when you're spending those days in the house. So jeans have entered my life: and because of that I have a new-found appreciation for stylish tops, blouses, and embellished sweaters. Just because I'm wearing jeans doesn't mean I'll ever team them with hooded tops!

- Thank God for pumps and slipper shoes. Now is the time to embrace flat shoes it seems: they've never been more on trend, and there are loads of options available! So whilst I'm temporarily pushing my heels to one side I'm still making sure that my comfortable alternative footwear is as stylish and fashion forward as possible.

Have you gone through any recent lifestyle changes? And how did that affect your sense of style? I'd love to hear how you dealt with it, and any quick styling tricks you came up with! And work-from-homers: tell me, what do you wear when you're working from home?! 

Love Tor x