Fabfrocks for Mamas: Summer ice lolly craft for toddlers

Hi guys,
Breaking what has been the longest blog hiatus I have ever taken, I just had to share these super-cute photos of Wilbur and I brightening up today's rainy day with some crafty time at home.

I've been itching to start blogging again for a while, but the pressures of all the freelance work I've been doing just took over, and I didn't have the time to fit in work, being a good mummy and a hobby as well. What's more, fashion isn't as important to me as it used to be: working from home and having a toddler means I tend to wear a one-size-fits all mum uniform, and whilst I still love clothes, it doesn't consume my every waking moment the way it used to. But I still want to document what I do, and what I love, and my occasional fashion thoughts and obsessions, so I thought I'd give it another shot! So here are the results of our messy, fun creativity session:

After making a mess with lots of paint and painting our hands, our next task was to make some paper ice lollies to decorate some homemade birthday cards. I cut out all of the different lolly shapes and details (striped, spots, chocolate toppings  - as you can see, the pink spots were a firm favourite in our house) and then let Wilbur mix and match to create his favourite lollies and construct them. It really was as easy as that, but the results look great (although maybe not as polished as they would have been if they were created by an older child)

If you have some lolly sticks that would look even better (mine are cut out of beige paper) and hundreds and thousands would also have looked great, rather than the glitter, but I was worried about them becoming discoloured by the glue. Overall though, this is the perfect summertime craft that can be done by kids of any age. As an added bonus, it means we've made a start on cards for all of those summer holiday birthday parties we have coming up!

Love Tor x

Love by Julien Macdonald at Matalan

Hi guys,
Could Julien Macdonald be the king of high street collaborations? Not content with having womenswear, kidswear, homeware and beauty collections at Debenhams, the dancing designer has now launched a swimwear collection with dear old Matalan. The new collection is inspired by Julien’s favourite holiday destinations with two beautiful trends ‘Tough Luxe’ and ‘Floral Fusion’, both designed with real women in mind. And the price points are incredible! Here is a behind the scenes video, and some of my favourite pieces:

The collection really does stick to Julien's signature style: lots of bold colours, leopard and zebra print, and glamorous dresses. The shoes are inspired by the ones from his mainline collection and, as standard, there is lots of shimmer, diamante, and assorted other bling! If you like the over the top Julien Macdonald style of dressing then you'll love this collection.

Prices range from £8 for a pair of bikini bottoms to £35 for a pair of embellished sandal boots. Shop the new collection here, it launched today. What do you think? Will you be getting bling-tastic in the new range for a little pool side glamour?

Love Tor x

Trends: Saying Hello to Summer With Dorothy Perkins

Hi guys,
I have a huge soft spot for Dorothy Perkins (or Dotty P's, as we call it in my neck of the woods!) Its just as trend led as some of the other Arcadia brands, but the styles are more wearable, the cuts are more forgiving. Basically, Dorothy Perkins is where the Topshop addicts turns when she has a baby: or at least, where this Topshop addict turned once she'd had her baby, and I can't get enough of it!

I love the changing seasons for so many reasons, but the main one is that it gives us the chance to hit the shops for our new season wardrobes. Here are my picks of the very best of summer from Dorothy Perkins, most of them new obsessions after seeing them in their promo video:


1. 1. Banana leaf print jumpsuit, from £35 to £24.50
2. Floral double strap dress, from £20 to £14. 
3.Pink and White Floral Maxi Dress, from £30 to £27.
4. Floral neoprene dress, £28 to £22.50

I know everything I've picked is floral. I'm having something of a floral moment this summer: from ditzy florals to big blousy blooms they're all I want to wear. Luckily, Dorothy Perkins is the perfect highstreet store to scratch that flower-covered itch this season. There are so many different floral frocks on offer you're literally spoilt for choice! In fact, Dorothy Perkins is always my go to store for florals; they just always seem to get their prints spot on. (I can't be the only one that is still wearing pieces from their 2011 Floradita range!). They're on trend but always wearable, and they always seem to use colours that are flattering to my skin tone. It's like magic!

If you're a floral addict like me then do check out the video: there is a floral swimsuit and a floral bikini in it that I am lusting over so hard: I really wish I'd seen them before my holiday earlier in the month.

Need an extra incentive to check out the new summer ranges from Dotty Ps? You can now get up to 30% Off Everything at Dorothy Perkins in their huge May event: just don't leave it too late, as the promotion ends on the 1st of June (that's this Sunday).

Love Tor x

Jewellery: Streamlining For Summer

Hi guys,
So summer has finally arrived! This week I have been out and about in jumpsuits, summer frocks, and lots of different sandals. When the weather hots up one of the first things I do is streamline the jewellery I wear. The layered jewellery style I love just doesn't work during the summer: instead I tend to wear just one necklace and a watch. If your watch is the only thing you're wearing around your wrist then you need to make sure it's a good one: bold, glamorous, and gorgeous enough to make a real statement. Enter my new watch from the new Citizen DRIVE collection - a derivative of the Eco Drive range:


I chose this watch from the range because I just love a chunky gold watch. Gold is brilliant for helping to show off a tan and it also makes any outfit your wearing look immediately more expensive. There are a couple of really gorgeous gold watches in the collection (and this watch also comes with a champagne face) but this one caught my eye because of its distinctive deep blue face. Once I'd had a link taken out this watch fit like a dream, and it's so comfortable and easy to wear. I've had a couple of compliments when I've been wearing it too, which is always a massive plus point!

The DRIVE collection only launched at the beginning of the month and i've already seen three more watches I'd like to buy from the range: You can make this stunning watch your own for £199. The other watches in the collection range from £139-£219 and if my gold watch obsession isn't for you then you'll be pleased to know the range also contains pieces in leather and in a variety of different colours and finishes. Each watch comes with a five year Citizen guarantee which is good news, because I know I'll be wearing this summer after summer for years to come.

How does your jewellery style change when summer arrives? Do you streamline the jewellery you wear, or do you wear just as much jewellery as always?

Love Tor xx

*I received a watch to review for the purpose of this post

Shopping: Cooler bags that look cool!

Hi guys,
Summer finally made an appearance this weekend. To celebrate the appearance of Mr. Sunshine, we went for a family day out and picnic. With all things vintage and retro becoming increasingly fashionable, so too is the humble picnic having a revival. I love dining al fresco, and there's nothing nicer than eating little summer treats (mini quiche, sausage rolls, homemade salads) whilst feeling grass between your toes.

In order to picnic properly you need one of two things (preferably both!) A picnic hamper filled with plates, glassware and cutlery. And a cooler bag to make sure your drinks and sandwiches aren't sticky and warm! Here's mine, which was a birthday present that my parents brought back from America for me: I'm slightly in love with it! It's Betsey Johnson, it's the most vibrant pink colour, and I love the fish bone and fish head design. Unfortunately, I can't find anywhere that you can buy mine in the UK. But here are a selection of other cool looking cooler bags that would be perfect for taking pride of place at your summer picnic: Anorak seagulls cooler bag, £37.50 (available here)
Menu grey and lime cooler bag, £44.00 (available here)
Red polka dot picnic cooler bag, £7.99 (available here)
Pelican pattern picnic cooler bag, £11.99 (available here)
Cath Kidston drinks flask, £12.00 (available here)

Do you like to picnic? And what are your favourite picnic foods? I'm currently obsessed with the new M&S picnic selection: It's expensive but it tastes so delicious, it's worth every penny!!

Love Tor x

Shoes: In praise of Georgia Rose

Hi guys,
Yesterday I went out for lunch and, wanting to add a pop of colour to my outfit, immediately added my neon panel boots by Georgia Rose. They are some of my favourite boots, and I wear them all the time. I have several pairs of Georgia Rose shoes: my favourites are eye-catching navy blue brogues covered in silver stars: they always get plenty of attention whenever I wear them. And yet, almost no one who admires them (it happens a lot!) has heard of the brand that makes them: which is why this is a post in praise of Georgia Rose!
Georgia Rose is a French brand, which is probably why Sarenza stock so many of their styles (Sarenza is a French brand too). Here comes the blurb: "The Georgia Rose woman has is dynamic, feminine, ambitious and glamorous and before anything else, she is contemporary with a passion for fashion. Because Georgia Rose knows that life is made up of a thousand moments, the brand has created shoes for every occasion. A fantastic relationship between quality and price, a fantastic range and even a bags and handbags line: Georgia Rose is going to become your new best friend!"

Because they focus on comfort as well as being fashion-forward, Georgia Rose is fast becoming one of my favourite brands: I like a shoe I can wear all day without my feet aching, and these definitely tick that box!

Here are some of my picks of the very best Georgia Rose shoes available for this Spring/Summer:
Pink polka dot loafers, £111.
Green and yellow brogues, £74.40 (Currently 40% off)
Stappy tan sandals, £60.90 (Currently 30% off)
Yellow velvet wedge sandals, £72.10 (Currently 30% off)
Brown and gold sandals, £111.
Floral platform heels, £111.

I saw the brown and gold sandals for the first time when I was putting this post together, and now I'm slightly obsessed with them! I know having that thick ankle strap will make my legs look shorter, but I like them so much I think I'm going to have to have them anyway. And those yellow wedges just scream summer: I love yellow teamed with black, so with a little black cotton dress these could be yet another summer staple. My final favourites (I have so many) are the pretty pink loafers. I have three pairs of slipper-type shoes already but I can't get enough of them: as comfy as ballet pumps but much more on trend: what's not to love?

Have you tried any shoes from Georgia Rose, and if so which ones? What do you think of the brand? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Love Tor x

* I am a Sarenza brand ambassador

Time to get your feet ready for summer!

Hi guys,
Yesterday in lovely Norwich it was 20 degrees and sunny. I spent the afternoon in the park, and even abandoned my beloved boots in favour of gold pumps. This got me thinking: it's probably time to remove that nail varnish that's been on my toes forever, give myself a pedicure, and get my feet ready for sandal season: it's nearly here! The first step was to remove my nail varnish and trim my toenails. I like mine short, slightly rounded, and neat. Then I soaked my feet in warm water for 20 minutes (very relaxing!) and scrubbed away at them like I've never scrubbed before! I use the Carnation foot scrub. Finally, I moisturised them then painted my toenails a nice vibrant red.

My advice from now until Autumn is to start moisturising your feet everyday. It will keep them soft and supple, and prevent the need for any extensive hard skin removal: after all, prevention is better than a cure! I use Soap and Glory Heel Genius foot lotion: it smells and feels fantastic.

It's also the perfect time to stock up on some preventative solutions for those blisters and sores that come with the first month in sandals. Unlike with boots, the leather straps on sandals can rub and dig in, making the first time you wear them particularly painful. I protect my feet by rubbing Carnation anti blister stick underneath the straps on new sandals - it really helps!

Are your feet ready for sandal season? If not it's time to get to work- it doesn't matter how nice you're new sandals are if you're putting them on ugly feet!

Love Tor x

Primark swimwear - What do you think?

Hi guys,
Yes I know this is my second swimwear feature this month, but it's that time of the year and, as I've already confessed, when it comes to finding the perfect bikini I'm obsessed!

This time I'm thinking about whether, when it comes to swimwear, you get what you pay for. More specifically, if your a normal sized soul and you buy a bikini from Primark which costs just £5 for the top and £3 for the bottoms will it give you the support you need? Or are this bikinis designed simply for the slender limbed teenagers who model them?

I've never bought a bikini from Primark so I can't comment on the fit, but when I was last in store I copped a feel and the fabric seemed to be of good quality. And there were some patterns and designed I really coveted too:

Bikini top £5, bikini bottoms £3, hat £4. 

Swimsuit £8, Bangle £3, Backpack £8. 

Bikini top £6, bikini bottoms £6, Visor £2.50. 

Based simply on these images, I would say this isn't swimwear for gals with boobs. But until you've tried these things out for yourself really, it's impossible to tell. So I'm throwing this over to you! Have you had a bikini from Primark? How did it fit and what did you think? Did you get value for your money, or did you wish you'd spent a little more for a bikini of better quality?
I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Love Tor xx

Feet saviour - Butterfly Twists

Hi guys,
Hurray! Summer has finally arrived! We spent this weekend eating al fresco, swimming outside in our local lido, and walking in the sunshine.

That means my Butterfly Twists couldn't have arrived at a better time; I always struggle in the first week of sandal season with rubbing heels and those funny little bits on flip flops that go between your toes. But having a pair of Butterfly Twists (that's fold up shoes to you and me) in my handbag meant that as soon as the rubbing got too much and threatened to blister I could pop off the sandals and pop them on instead.


I've had a pair of foldable shoes from Primark before, but they were so flimsy the sole quickly fell off, and I couldn't keep them on my feet. These are different though: although I've only worn them twice, they're surprisingly comfortable. They're also pretty sturdy, look funky, and come with a little carrying bag to hold the folded shoes, so you don't have to put your stinky shoes in your handbag. Its a win win situation really!

How have you spent your weekend? And have you been struggling with going back to wearing summer shoes like me? Within a week I know they'll be the comfiest things in the world again, but the first couple of days out of my winter boots are simply unbearable!

Love Tor xx

Shoes: They call me mellow yellow!

Hi guys,
Although I'm still wearing a jacket (and most days, lets face it, a scarf) in my heart it's summer, so I decided to inject a little sunshine into my feet. Yes! Yellow shoes!
These particular beauties are from a lovely little brand called Jonak (c/o Sarenza) Since I started shopping for shoes on Sarenza I've had a real soft spot for Jonak shoes, because I like what the brand represents: The brand is underpinned by the philosophy that all women should have access to high quality, contemporary products at supremely affordable prices. And that's exactly what they do: these little wooden and leather beauties were only £50!

Created by Joseph Nakam in 1964 in Paris, Jonak gradually evolved from being a multi-brand shoe distributor to becoming a fully-fledged design label in its own right. Jonak now offers urban styles for dynamic women in major international cities and they launch at least 400 new styles a season. That meant that when it came to choosing a pair I was very spoilt for choice!

But it was always going to be the yellow clogs for me. My third pair of clogs in 12 months, and I still say they're the comfiest way to wear sandals. Everything about these sunshine shoes make me happy, and they seem to make other people smile too. I teamed these with contrasting toe nails to add to the summery feel, but threw on my skinny jeans, a blouse, and a nice cozy jacket because no matter how warm I want it to be, it's still damn cold!!

Still, the yummy mellow yellow shoes are like a little promise to myself that summer will be along soon....

Love Tor xx

It's summer time in Primark!

Hi guys,
Well it may be rainy and miserable outside, but in Primark it's high summer! The majority of the high summer stock has now landed instore, and it is a riot of colour. I popped down on Thursday of last week (to find the Oxford street store surprisingly empty and with no queues) where I picked up a couple more vests (Yes - I know i'm obsessed!) and I couple of shirts for Mike. And whilst I was there, I checked out the windows:


I love the stripey dresses (which everyone is wearing - I would guesstimate I pass one every 2 minutes whilst walking down Oxford street!) I am also a big fan of their wide chiffon palazzo pants, which come in ditzy floral patterns and eye wateringly bright block colours.

Ahh I be a global traveller! It's a phrase that always makes me think of naff photoshoots and simultaneously long to be on holiday: I guess that's what they're going for!

I am no longer buying shoes from Primark (I made a personal promise that I would stop wearing cheap, non-leather shoes, and i've stuck with it!) but window displays like this definitely weaken my resolve. I love the lace up wedges, which come in blue red and green: they're perfect summer going out shoes, and would look great teamed with flirty skirts or cut offs: lust! (Sigh!) I just wish summer would arrive already!

Love, Tor x

Dresses: Got your GOAT

I normally immediately delete any email that's subject starts with the sentence "Victoria Beckham wears...." Victoria Beckham might or might not have excellent taste, but this isn't a celebrity blog, and unless she's designing it, i'm not writing about it. But, accidentally, I clicked open instead of delete, and i'm glad I did: but not for Victoria Beckham.

The yellow dress VB is wearing is the one above (which looks better on the model) and it's strikingly lovely: the colour, the length, the subtle ruffles. I coveted immediately (as I often do) then googled the GOAT website looking for more dresses. Nothing is as striking as the initial yellow burst, but I loved the shape and sharp shoulders of this pillar box red dress which I immediately wanted to team with opague tights and dolly shoes. The collection has a really 1960s feel, which I felt again in this white dress with its bib/peter pan collar, and the oversized buttons on the cashmere cardigan/jacket made me instantly think of Marc Jacobs then ponder how great it would look on my mum.

GOAT is certainly aimed at someone a little older than the Topshop generation: tailoring rather than gimmicks are king. My mum would look fabulous in all of this: tailoring and great cardigans are her trademarks. But I rather like it: luxy fabrics, great cuts and flattering fits, what's not to like? When the time inevitably comes for me to smarten up and stop dressing like i've been dragged through a hedge backwards, this is how i'll be doing it.

Love, Tor xx

Daily wears: Dresses and denim

My denim jacket has been getting a lot of wear over the past week or so. As the weather goes up and down i've found I need something to cover me up a little on the walk to work, but nothing too heavy to carry for the rest of the day when I won't want to wear it. Enter my denim jacket: the most hard-working item in my summer wardrobe. I love its light, almost white colouring, but sadly this means it needs washing all the time: I can't bear the wait whilst it's drying!

Here's how i've been wearing it over the past couple of weeks:

The left dress is from Simply Yours, the right dress is from New Look. The shoes are from faith, the belt is Topshop and my trusty jacket is last seasons Primark. The brooch on the jacket is an antique and was my decoy birthday present from Mike: I love it almost as much as I love my ring!

If we ignore my "i'm in the middle of a sentence" face, I really love this dress: It is from the New Look limited collection and was in the sale for £12. I picked it up about 6 weeks ago, and it's gotten loads of wear since. I love the panelling and zip details: i'm not wearing the best bra with it here though, my boobs look especially low and heavy.

Do you have any pieces of clothing you're wearing over and over again this summer? Maybe one you didn't expect to be wearing so often? Funnily enough I used to hate denim jackets (the time when I wore one every day in the late nineties just didn't seem far enough away) but now I can't get enough of them!

Love, Tor xx

Keeping your cool, or not feeling hot, hot, hot!

Whilst we're all in the pub 'watching' the football this afternoon (Come on you reds!....sorry, wrong game. Come on England!) the temperatures will reach a sweltering 28oC, which will feel even hotter in the city, due to the lack of wind, and smog trapping the heat. On Saturday the mercury is set to rise to 30oC. I've already started persuading Mike we need a trip to the coast this weekend, in a bid to stay cool, which gave me the idea of sharing these tips for how to stay cool in the sun.

1. More is more. Everyone always thinks when the sun comes out they need to strip down to skimpy vests and shorts. Not true. The sun on your skin will actually heat it, making you feel hotter. Opt for light loose cotton layers with sleeves if you want to protect your skin and keep your temperature down.

2. Wear light coloured clothing. Not only does white show off your tan, it will also reflect the sun, helping to keep you cool. Black absorbs the sun, so is best avoided on really hot days (Sob! This is the hardest rule to follow!)

Please note - if you wear all these white things together you will look like the Angel Gabriel. You have been warned.

3. Get ahead: get a hat. I always wanted to use that! But hats really are good for keeping you cool and protecting your head from the sun: I find when I don't drink enough water or go hat free I end up with terrible headaches from the sun. Hats also look really chic too, and can bring your outfit together. Here are my top 5 from the highstreet:

All of the hats chosen are in breathable weaves that let the air circulate. I find anything too tightly knit, such as a baseball cap, leaves you with a hot and sweaty head.

4. Protect your eyes. Sunglasses aren't just for wannabe wags (In winter, this is a whole other story!) The sun is bright, so wear sunglasses - simples!!

NB - All these tips are tried and tested. I have milky white skin which rarely tans combined with temperature sensitivity which sees me pass out when I overheat. Fabfrocks - Suffering since 1984, so you don't have to!

Love, Tor x

Etsy obsession of the week: Fables by Barrie

I missed last weeks etsy obsession, because my etsy trawls lately have mostly lead me on wedding hunts: it's amazing what you can find on that site, and even more amazing how much of it I will be attempting to make at home!

Today though I gave the wedding hunt a miss and began my hunt looking for the perfect bikini: I always generally opt for a one piece to hide my wobbly tummy, and have already written a couple of posts this year about the perfect onesy, but now i'm looking for a bikini. I want to get brown, and sadly that means revealing a little bit of flesh!

Winona of Daddy Likey has written a series of great posts about finding the perfect swim suit for bigger girls: turn to her for the funny!! For the best place on etsy to find an affordable vintage inspired bikini (vintage swimwear is most flattering on curves) stay on the page:

I love these bikinis from Fables by Barrie especially the sailor pattern and the high-waisted shorts (to keep wobble under control) It is the perfect compromise between getting bronzed and staying covered up, and I think it looks more sexy than those tiny little string things which only really suit swimwear models!

Top and bottoms from Fables by Barrie will set you back around £100, which is more than your average swimsuit, but they have a timeless classic appeal and they look like quality garments too.

I hope you all have great bank holiday Monday fun: i'm going to the Hatfield Galleria for their discount craft shop, to get the rest of the things I need to make my wedding invitations. Have a good one guys!

Love, Tor xx

Getting festival fit with a little help from Henry Holland

It seems that I have turned into a major convert to the H! by Henry Holland collection at Debenhams. Last week I was lusting over the capes and satchels from the A/W'10 collection. Next week i'm going for a sneak preview of the high summer collection. And today i'm turning to the H! range for outfits that will make me look festival fabulous!

Festivals are synonymous with summer, and despite my dislike of tents and mud, even I get involved! This year I will be rocking out whilst sporting a monochrome floral jumpsuit with oversized shades (for a touch of easy glam) and if it gets really warm, this denim dress over my swimsuit and a big straw hat:

Jumpsuit: £40

Denim dress: £28

My choices from the H! range are very much influenced by my boobs, otherwise I would want even more from the current collection: possibly because it is a youth range, many of the dresses and play suits are cupped, and these are aimed at someone with a generally smaller bust. If that's you then your possibilities from the H! range for looking festival chic are pretty much endless:

I love the first floral bustier dress and it would look perfect for a sexy festival look teamed with gladiator sandals and oversized shades. I also love alot of the retro-looking swimwear from the collection, which is why i've included the swimsuit: fingers crossed we have a summer that's hot enough that we can wear swimwear as outerwear this year!

Love, Tor x

Topshop sunglasses: I want a pair in every colour!

Hey guys,

Summer is getting closer and closer (it has to be true!) and there are certain things that you can't live without in the magic summer months: ice cream, bronzer, pims and lemonade, and sunglasses. I've needed my sunglasses twice this week (sadly only whilst driving) but I know as the weeks go on i'm going to need them more and more. In June and July a day where I don't get to wear my sunglasses is a bad day. So when I went to Topshop this morning I was like a kid in a sweetshop at their sunglasses rack: they come in every size and colour, they have great details, and even better not a single pair cost more than £20!

I love sunglasses but can't be trusted with designer pairs as much as I lust after them: I have a habit of losing them/sitting on them/breaking the arms, and i've never had a pair for more than a couple of months. Must try harder!

I like to mix and match my sunglasses to my outfits, so it's really exciting to be able to get such a great range on the high street at really affordable prices. I love the 1950s shape and colour of the peach plastic pair in the top left hand corner. I'm also obsessed with the cream imitation wayfarers on the bottom row, although sadly the colour didn't work on me: it made my skin look drained. On someone with olive tones though I think they would be perfect! There's something for everyone, and I think its a great way to update last years summer wardrobe; especially if, like me, your sunglasses from last year are long gone, and you need new ones anyway!

Hope you're having a good weekend.

Love, Tor x

Bershka press day: High summer sneak peeks

I see Bershka as Zara's younger teenage sister: all trendy and full of attitude. In my head, this is where the kids from Skins would pick up their jeans and tees, in between life-crises. Because i'm not really in their target demographic, its a shop I rarely go into. But today was their press day, so I decided to check it out.


They are really trying to push the store as a place where fashion can meet music, and I think they have the balance exactly right. Entering the newly redecorated Oxford Street store feels like entering a trendy nightclub, right down to the oversized speakers on the walls. And the clothes are the kind of clothes you can imagine being worn to gigs and festivals.

I suppose because the target audience is quite young (and so not generally cash-rich) the price point is really reasonable: tops for £14.99, jeans for £19.99. I was checking out some very cute pastel belts (my nod to the trend without abandoning black perhaps) that came in at just £6.99.

The images dotted throughout this post are previews of the high summer collection: one of the brand focuses is denim, so there are lots of cute denim rompers and cropped jeans. The pastel trend is also continuing with light polka dot denim and pastel tees. And of course florals are showing no signs of dying yet. I actually really liked the cropped raspberry coloured pleather jacket for myself. I loved the look of the zip up black wedges and they felt very light, but I like my wedges to have a little bit of weight to them, so my search for summer sandals still continues. The jeans have a little too much going on for my tastes but hey, i'm not seventeen any more, so what do I know!?

I can imagine this store will only grow in popularity with teens, especially as the link between the store and music grows. The collection is very young, but also very on trend and wearable at a great price point. I can see all the pieces slipping in really nicely with an existing summer wardrobe of basics. Sadly (and it makes me feel old saying this outloud) it's just a little too young for me!


Love, Tor xx

ASOS: Out of Africa

As the weather gets a little bit brighter and spring draws near, it's time to really focus on new season trends. Every year there are two pages you will constantly see in the trends section of any magazine: nautical and tribal. I can confidently predict these will never go away!! So what better time for ASOS to launch its Africa collection: a new collection celebrating the vibrancy of the continent.

Over the past couple of months ASOS have been working away with artisans and small producer groups in Africa to launch a capsule collection of clothing and accessories with the aim of supporting trade in Africa.

I'm in love with the scarf wedges but can't see a price for them - I hope they're part of the collection. I also really like the turbans; i'm a big fan of headwear and think it's a nice, brave way of incorporating a trend into your wardrobe without having to vear away from my standard range of blacks and grey. The prints in this collection are so bold that you wouldn't need any other jewellery of accessorise with them: they're real statement pieces!

The vast majority of the collection is handmade and each piece comes packaged in its own pouch made from Kanga fabric with a handmade coconut button fastening.

The ASOS Africa collection will be housed onsite within The Green Room, an online marketplace which brings together and highlights brands that promote people and the planet. Its a great cause and also a great range if you're looking to explore your tribal side this summer.

What do you think of the new collection? Are there any pieces that really stand out?

Love, Tor x

Daily wear

Hi Everyone,

The sun is shining and my garden is starting to bloom; I actually ate my first strawberry this morning, straight from the plant, and I grew them from seeds! To celebrate this rare blip in standard British summertime gloom, I decided to wear something bright and floral to work today:

Dress; dorothy perkins, Ring; Topshop, Headband; Accessorise, Necklace; A gift from the bf, Sunglasses; Rayban

And when I wasn't watering my sadly drooping flowers (they looked fine yesterday! I don't know what i've done wrong!) I was working hard writing some very important newsletter copy. This, of course, required shoes and a handbag:

Handbag; vintage from bootsale, Shoes; Irregular Choice

Aren't these shoes the best thing you've ever seen? They have an inverted stack heel and the softest leather fringing. It's so rare to find a pair of shoes that are comfortable to walk in for hours and hours, and these are it! I thought the unusual accessorise gave a quirky twist to the prim and proper Dorothy Perkins dress.

I felt pretty. Oh so pretty. And on that note it's time for me to go back out in my garden and enjoy the beautiful sunshine a little more.

Love, Tor xx