A Wonderful Winter From Primark

Hi guys,
Primark really do define the concept of 'fast fashion': it seems like they have a new season drop every week! Here are the latest images from their winter collection, and they clearly have cosy Christmas days in mind (offically the first mention of the 'C' word: sorry!) I love the combination of knitted sweaters with matching knitted skirts, which would love perfect teamed with thick tights and ankle boots for eating turkey (think how stretchy those knitted skirts will be), festive walks to the pub and, well, just about anything else really!

Image 1: Dress £17, Tights £3, Shoes £14, Snood £6, Cuff £4, Bag, £12
Image 2:Jumper £12, Skirt £8, Snood £6, Bag £12/

Image 3:Jumper £12, Skirt £10, Necklace £4, Ears stylists own
Image 4:Jumper £16, Hat £7

Image 5: Jumper £12, Skirt £10
Image 6:Coat £35, Top £8, Legging £6, Shoes £14

The subtle Minnie Mouse theme through the new drop was always going to appeal to me too; I'm always looking for cute but not to tacky Disney attire to save for my next trip! The pieces that are immediately on my must-have list though are the vintage style faux fur jacket (which at £35 is a complete bargain) and the checked knitted skirt and jumper combination. I love a bold check and I love the colour combination too: definitely something I would wear for smarter-than-casual cold winter days.

Are you still in love with Primark (it's an adddiction that's hard to give up) or have you lost interest in their cheap disposable wears?

Love Tor x

Shoes: Give me metallic detailed boots!

Hi guys,
If you're looking for winter boots that will really make a statement then I have found the statement boots for you: especially if you're a fan of anything gold and shiny like me! These Antik Batik knee high boots are quite the show stoppers. I really like Antik Batik: their collections always have a really ethnic and bohemian feel, and these boots are no exception. 
I just love these shoes: because they're so detailed you wouldn't have to do too much with the rest of your outfit to stand out: jeans and a simple fine knit sweater, or tights and a classic tea dress. And because they're flat you could wear them all day without any problems too. I don't currently own any knee high boots (I tend to be more of an ankle boots fan) but I think I would definitely be prepared to make an exception for these!

Want a pair of these beauties of your own? You can add them to your shoe collection for £255.99. And they are available here.

Love Tor x

  *Post written as part of a partnership with Spartoo shoes

Primark AW13: Another peek (Because it's all so good!)

Hi guys,
As you're reading this I am at The Crazy Bear in Stadhampton celebrating my 2nd wedding anniversary. But I thought I'd leave you guys with some yummy scrummy Primark fun! I get back tomorrow, and I'll share all the details of my trip!

After last week's peek at some of the campaign images from Primark's autumn/winter offerings, I thought we should have a look at some more of the product we've got to look forward to. I said it last week, and I'll say it again, I'm so excited for all of this stuff to land in store! It's a range that really appeals to me because it's lady-like, grown-up, massively wearable and would fit in so nicely with my existing wardrobe.
Image 1: Sweatshirt, £10. Trousers, £8. Shoes, £18.
Image 2: Jacket, £25. T shirt, £12. Trousers, £16. Shoes, £14. Necklace, £8.
Image 3: Jumper, £10. Shirt, £10. Jeans, £13. Shoes, £14. Earrings, £5.
Image 4: Dress, £13. Boots, £20. Tights, £3.50.
Image 5: Sweatshirt, £12. Skirt, £6. Shoes, £18. Necklace, £8.
Image 6: Coat, £25. Sweatshirt, £10. Trousers, £8. Shoes, £14. Earrings, £5.

The peep toe ankle boots are gorgeous: I tried on a similar pair in Topshop last week, and they were £75. They'd look great with coloured tights or skinny jeans! I also really like the cobalt blue coat, which has an awesome, retro 1980s feel. My final pick? That chunky knit dusty pink jumper is a piece you would buy and wear again and again. It's so versatile, and could be dressed up or down.

Want to see more? Check out last week's post showing the first peek at Primark's new season campaign images.

Is there anything that's caught your eye this time? And what do you think about the new Primark autumn/winter collection - are you tempted to start shopping?

Love Tor x

Primark AW13: The first campaign images are here!

Hi guys,
We're finally having our first heat wave of the year, so it seems natural that now would be the perfect time for me to start talking about autumn/winter. Because what everyone wants right now is a new winter coat! Seriously though, the first campaign images from Primark for autumn have been released, and I knew I had to share them as soon as I saw them!

The unwearable crop tops and youth-focus of the spring/summer collection has gone. Instead it's been replaced with a grown up, lady like range that is really wearable and very covetable. There are so many pieces I'm lusting after that it's hard to know where to begin:
Image 1:Leopard print sweater, £10. Ring sets from £3.
Image 2: Nude coat, £32. Nude cropped jumper, £10. Nude trousers, £12.
Image 3: Black and white jumper, £14. Black skirt, £14. Black heels, £16.
Image 4: Leather sleeve coat, £28. Shirt, £12. Trousers, £12. Bag, £10. Trainers, £12.
Image 5: Grey and black dress, £17. Bag, £4.
Image 6: Pink coat, £25.

Where do I even start with my list of items I'm coveting? Obviously, because I'm a coat addict, I'd like the leather sleeved cream coat. The full faux leather skirt is just made for teaming with a vintage-style tee and heeled ankle boots. And that leopard print sweater has my name written all over it!

I really do like this collection. It feels like it's aimed at 20-somethings, rather than the teens and pre-teens of the past couple of seasons. What do you think? Is there anything you really like from Primark autumn/winter so far? Or is it just too early to start thinking about your winter wardrobe?

Love Tor x

The shoes every girl needs Part Four: Winter Wellies

Hi guys,
Here's part four of my series of shoes you need to have a perfectly rounded shoe wardrobe! I believe that with just 6 carefully selected pairs of shoes, you can have a shoe for every possible occasion.

This month's shoe that every girl needs couldn't have come at a better time, given all the snow we've had: it's the winter wellie. Much more versatile than a snow boot (only worth buying if you go skiing) but won't get damaged in the snow and rain like your leather boots. Perfect for adding a flash of colour on a dreary day. And just as useful for April showers as they are for January snowstorms. If you don't have a pair of wellies, I suspect this week is the week you'll be asking yourself why not!

Gold Hunter wellies, were £109 now £43.60 (60% discount)
Missoni print boots, were £148.90 now £74.50 (50% discount)
Moschino Cheap & Chic leopard print wellies, were £156 now £109.20 (30% discount)
Haviaianas summer print boots, were £48.90 now £29.30 (40% discount)
Guess pink wellies, were £72 now £42.30 (40% discount)
Giesswein carnival boots, were £68 now £34 (50% discount)

The Sarenza sale is in full swing, so now is the perfect time to pick up a pair of designer wellies: I've never seen Hunter wellies so cheap! The pairs that have really caught my eye though are the patterned Missoni ones and the leopard print Moschino boots. I'm definitely going to be picking up one of them, I just can't choose which ones!! With a pair of these on my feet, dressing for the snow will have never looked so good.

Wondering what other shoes every girl needs in her wardrobe? Check out part one (black heels) here,  part two (leather pumps) here, and part three (comfy flat boots) here.

Love Tor x

Winter styling ideas from Next

Hi guys,
Winter is here. It's cozy up warm time, which means knitwear, party dresses, snuggly winter boots and of course the perfect winter coat. Yes, I'm talking about that again!

Finding the perfect winter coat is something of a life mission for me: I'm obsessed with coats and own more than twenty: Nope, that's not including jackets! But realistically, most people (quite rightly!) only have one in their wardrobe: understandable too. Those things are expensive! So using the latest collections from Next,  I'm going to show you how to take one perfect winter coat, and style it in three very different ways. I've opted for a fitted faux fur coat because they suit everyone, regardless of age and body type. And because I have one from Next which fits like a dream:


For a shopping spree and girly lunch

Leopard print faux fur coat, £65 - Black leather trousers, £110 - Pussy bow blouse, £28 - Black stud slippers, £30 - Black leather bag, £75 - Silver crystal watch, £28


For a walk in the park

Leopard print faux fur coat, £65 - grey bakerboy hat, £10 - Relaxed skinny jeans, £26 - Star jumper, £28 - Feather necklace, £10 - Ankle Boots, £70

For a night on the town

Leopard print faux fur coat, £65 - Black sequin dress, £65 - Hidden platform shoes, £38 - Gold stud clutch, £25 - Black and gold bangle, £12

I hope this proves that if you choose the right, versatile coat, you can wear it for every occasion and it will look great! Although I'm not sure it means I'll be taking my own advice and getting rid of my beloved coat collection...

Lovely blogger Amy Antoinette is collaborating with Next to giveaway a £500 voucher to the blogger who best styles three versatile looks from the new season Next collection. The above is my entry to the competition - wish me luck!! 

Love Tor x

Daily wear: The way I wore a Winter Christening

Hi guys,
Whenever you tell someone you're going to a winter event, they immediately wince and then ask you what you're going to wear. That's because winter occasion dressing is one of the most fraught outfit experiences for anyone. When I wrote my post on what to wear for a winter graduation, I didn't expect even half the response I got from you guys! It seems everyone knows that in the summer most occasions can be sorted with a floral frock and sandals, but in the colder months things get much more hazy.

This isn't a post full of lots of ideas for dressing for winter events, but a snap shot of what I wore to a winter Christening this weekend. My nephew Bertie was Christened, and Mike and I were one set of the Godparents. So naturally, I decided that an occasion such as this required a hat!


The felt hat is from Clothing at Tesco. I wore it with a Topshop blazer, and H&M dress. The ankle boots are from Marks and Spencer (wore for comfort, as we were walking to and from the church) The necklace is from All Saints, and the belt is actually one of Mikes, stolen at the last minute because I forgot the pack mine.

The whole outfit was a little dull (black and grey are my two favourite colours, but probably aren't lively enough for a Christening). So I added a pop of red lipstick, and a tan, black and orange oversized clutch bag from Zara. I felt really good, but more importantly I felt comfortable for a whole day of cuddles with my little nephew, and chasing around my toddling niece!

Do you have any hints and tips for winter event dressing? And what would you have worn to a winter Christening? Share your ideas and outfit inspiration!

Love Tor xx

Daily Wear: Wrapping up warm

Hi guys,

Last night the temperature hit -18 oC. So I probably didn't pick the best day to rebel against my coat! But at around this time every year I just get fed up of covering everything in a big old jacket, and want to wear something different. Which is why I left the house today without my coat, and instead wore a thermal vest, thinsulate top, chunky knit cardigan, and very questionable hat to keep warm:

The blouse is Clothing at Tesco. The jeans are Topshop. The cardigan, the Rock and Republic sunglasses and the All Saints necklace are all from TKMaxx. The hat is from Matalan, the boots are M&S. And the big bag is vintage.

It wasn't my wisest decision: despite all the layers, I was still freezing! Next week is London Fashion Week, and if the temperature stays like this I have no idea what I'll be wearing: but I do know it will be less about fashion, and more about wrapping up to stay warm!

Oh and by the way - This is the second post I've written which featured my new hair colour, but I keep forgetting to mention it! It's still pretty blonde, but I've added some frosty overtones to it: removing the warmth of the previous blonde colour and introducing a light ashy brown to give it some texture too. What do you think?!

Love Tor xx

Inject some colour into your winter wardrobe: buy new tights!

Hi guys,
I never thought i'd say this, but I am getting seriously bored of wearing head to toe black. Black is my favourite colour to wear, but during the winter generally the only colours I break it up with are charcoal grey, or if i'm feeling really adventurous, brown. I can't wait for spring to arrive so that I can start wearing my lovely floral dresses again!

I'm on a pre-wedding shopping ban, so I can't go out and buy new winter dresses in jewel shades (my dream way to dress at this time of year) which means i'm stuck with the black dresses: classic and flattering but not always that exciting. But I did think of a cheap and cheerful way to brighten up the black and inject some colour into my wardrobe: tights.

Jonathan Aston: Yellow opaque tights. Jonathan Aston: Pink sheer tights.

A pair of tights in a vibrant colour can make an outfit look completely different. I have a wide pink leather belt which I love, but never wear: I could throw it over my favourite black dress and add these pink tights for a coordinated work wear look that would look much more exciting that my usual drab offerings! I love the amazing colour of these yellow tights, but I just don't think I have the legs to pull off yellow however they'd look great poking out of the bottom of my ankle length hareem pants teamed with brogues, and they'd keep my legs warm too: result!

Miss Oroblu: celebrity tights. Miss Oroblu: floral print tights.

I love patterned tights: they're like works of leg art! Sadly, my legs just aren't a good enough canvas for the beautiful art and patterned tights stretch out and make me look much wider. It has to be plain block coloured tights for me!

If I go out and buy 4 pairs of tights in lovely jewel colours then I can jazz up my wardrobe all the way until Spring (is it too early to think about Spring? I'm so ready for it to arrive!) and all for less than the cost of a new top I probably won't ever wear from Topshop! Now that's shopping I can justify! (Just don't tell the fiance: I promised not to shop until after the wedding. Shhhhh!)

Love, Tor x

This is a sponsored post on behalf of mytights.com

Daily wear: Snow day slobbery

Hi guys,
I haven't written a daily wear post for ages, which is largely due to the fact that the cold weather means I have spent my days slobbing around in layers and very large cardigans. Not much has changed but I wanted to share my outfits with you, so here is what I wore when the snow came down yet again: and yes, it involves layers and cardigans!

Skull vest: Topshop, Chunky knit cardigan: TKMaxx, Cowboy boots: TKMaxx, Fut hat: Urban outfitters sample sale, Scarf: H&M, Bag: Joy.

Although i'm not wearing my coat, thats because i'm about to jump in the car and pop to an indoor shopping centre (not because i'm crazy!) and underneath my layers i'm wearing tights, leggings, a long sleeved thinsulate top, and a long line vest. How have you been protecting yourself from the chill? Are you still glamming up for your Christmas parties or have you taken to wearing nothing but super-warm cardigans like me?

Love, Tor x

A/W10 at ASOS: Or things my heart desires

I know everyone is raving over the ASOS sale, and there are some great bargains to be had, but as the seasons have changed, all I care about right now is wrapping up warm in glorious winter layers. And when scanning through ASOS today pretending to look for sensible flat winter boots, I couldn't resist looking at some of their snuggly winter clothes. And I was amazed by how great some of their accessories looked: I want to buy them all!

(Knit headband £16, Fur snood £35, Rabbit ear hat £26)
Who could resist a fur trapper hat, complete with bunny ears!? I love faux fur accessories, which means i'm very lucky as they're everywhere this season! The contrast between the fur and the knit in the headband is great for the heritage trend, and is incredibly versitile: perfect for dressing up or down.

(Bright patterned snood £20, Fur cape £50, Knit snood £16)
The bold aztec pattern on the snood looks lovely, and would be a great focal point for a plain outfit or jacket. I love snoods both because of their modern style and their practicality; they're great for keeping out a draft and can be used to cover your head and your neck if you have a lack-of-hat emergency!

Sadly I don't need anymore winter accessories: in fact, i'm prepared to admit that my hats and scarves box is so overloaded I probably need to cull some so that it'll fit in my wardrobe. But it's such an easy way to update your winter look without having to buy an expensive new coat! My Isabella Oliver winter coat from last year is still in really good condition, so i'll be adding a snood and furry hat to it, and noone (except all of you, of course!) will ever know....

Love, Tor xx

AW10: Primark's coats and boots

Hi guys,

Looking through my stats and site traffic yesterday, I couldn't believe how many people were finding the blog by searching for new season Primark boots or coats. But actually, my Primark winter posts are from last winter, so those poor souls won't be able to buy whatever they find! So being the selfless lovely person that I am (ha!) I popped down to Primark armed with my camera to seek out the best of this seasons winter wears: what the people want, the people get!

Primark still don't allow you to take photos in store, and the staff are getting particularly vigilant about enforcing the rules, so apologies if the picture quality isn't great but I had to take these on my iphone:

The camel coat on the top right is the most expensive thing I have ever seen in primark: this cashmere mix coat is £49. I can testament that it feels beautiful though, and it looks great on! The black coat on the top right is exactly the same except that it is a wool mix, and is therefore cheaper at £29. There were lots of military details on coats too, and if you still need protecting from the Autumn showers, they still had all their rain macs and lighter weight coats in store too.

Ahh, the ubiquitous faux Mulberry Alexa, as seen in nearly every store on the high street this winter! The Primark one costs just £9, and they also comes with a matching purse. It's actually a good sized bag, and not bad quality, given the price.

If there's a trend on the high street then you can guarantee that Primark have come up with their own cheaper version of it! The boots instore today were replicas of so many other boots i've seen: cowboy boots, heeled clog boots, biker boots, and traditional knee high boots. There was also the best pair of Gareth Pugh replica-style chunky black wedge boots that I fell absolutely in love with, but sadly I couldn't take a picture!

Another thing worth mentioning is the pajamas! I'm a self confessed pajama addict, and I had a field day in the pajama section of the store where all the winter PJs are out in force, and you can even buy an adult onesy, complete with built-in feet! You can guess what i'll be wearing when the cold nights draw in!

Love, Tor x

In the Changing room: At Debenhams

Hi guys,
More winter wears, this time from Debenhams, where my coat obsession went into overdrive! I let myself try on my two favourite coats, then I tried on a couple of winter wardrobe staples, all from Red Herring (Debenhams has so many departments that I had to limit myself to one at a time!) Here are my picks:

Oh coats, how I love thee! The military green coat with the fur trim had lots of Russian influence, and was a great fit, although the double breasted style doesn't really suit my shape, and this was further emphasised by how many buttons it has! My love of all things sailor meant I had to try on the second coat! It looked great from the front, but the swing shape meant it was massively oversized at the back.

Loved this oversized blanket-cardigan, which had a great pattern, a great fit, and super-soft knit too: what more could a girl want!? The tiered hippie-style dress looked lovely, and I was obsessed with the wide sheer sleeves, but it was so short that I had to bend my knees slightly to protect my modesty, and i'm not tall! It would look great over jeggings or skinny jeans though.

I always get so excited about the Designers at Debenhams stuff when i'm in Debenhams that i'm guilty of overlooking Red Herring, but I think it's definitely worth checking out, particularly if you're in the need of new outerwear!

Love, Tor xx

Wrap up for winter at Dorothy Perkins

Hi guys,

I love this time of year, when winter is in full force in every shop. I love buying coats (I actually have a small addiction to buying coats!) and I love wearing layers and wrapping up warm. This is probably why i've gotten into the habit of taking pictures of coats in every shop I go into at the moment! Here are some of the winter displays I snapped in Dorothy Perkins:

I can't resist a red Paddington bear coat, and they are on offer for £65 in every colour! The new heritage trend, full of paisley patterns and knitted oversized jumpers and cardigans is my favourite trend of the season: so comfy and cosy and with acres of layering potential! Finally, the evening fur coats in matt black and nude look great with the trilby hats: i'm giving serious thought to getting an evening hat, such as the kind ladies wore in the "good old days"!

On their website Dorothy Perkins have 20% off a massive selection of coats, but this offer isn't in store, so if you're looking to buy a new coat, and one of these has taken your fancy, it's worth checking out!

Love, Tor xx

Take a new look at New Look

I've never paid much attention to New Look for a very silly reason: in my home town there are only 3 clothes shops, one of which is New Look. So when I was a sullen teenager, New Look was where I went for all of my jeans and angry black T shirts (not much change there then!) I never thought of it as very fashionable. So when I left my tiny hometown I didn't think I would want to set foot in a New Look for a very long time. Yesterday I changed my mind!

The colder weather has really thrown me (as i'm sure you can tell by all my winter posts!) so I went into New Look hunting for some inexpensive winter warmers. And their range of jumpers and sweatshirts (my latest obsession) shocked me with the quality of both the design and the fit:

*DISCLAIMER - please ignore my frizzy hair, as i'd just come in from a snow shower!*

My favourites were the dark grey "bonjour" one, and the slouchy plain nude. I also loved this stripey long-sleeved tee, despite its flabby tummy exposing properties: That's a whole load of untoned flesh on display! However layered upon layers I think it could really work! There were also acres of sequinned dresses and blazers, and impressive shoe display, and they already had a lot of their Spring/Summer stock in store. I would say that New Look is a lot like Topshop, only cheaper!

There are several stores I haven't looked at since I was a teenager, but this New Look experience has made me realise two things: 1) New Look is a store I should definitely visit more often an 2) perhaps I should have a more open mind about the stores I visit!

Love, Tor xx

Trousers versus dresses: the winter debate

So this post isn't so much a debate about style (although it could be if you wanted it to be!) but about warmth. As you can probably tell from my numerous "daily wear" posts, i'm not a trouser wearer. In fact the only pair of jeans I own are relagated to house moving status. But on Saturday, in anticipation of my Christmas at home with my family slobbing out (we don't even take our PJs off on Christmas day!) I purchased a cheap pair of skinny jeans from the Topshop outlet. And yesterday I tried them out.

Wow was I cold!! I always layer leggings over tights to keep warm under my dresses, but look at those in jeans and trousers with envy: how wrong was I?! I was colder in the jeans! Maybe if i'd worn tights underneath I would have kept warmer, but the jeans are so tight I dont think they'd fit. Does this mean skinny jeans are officially summer trousers? Because I dont see how anyone could wear them all day without catching hypothermia (is this something you catch!?)

This is the inverse of how I had always imagined fashion (in terms of warmth) would work: pretty dresses for the summer and warm trousers for the winter is seen as the standard. But now i'm not going to worry about wearing my dresses or lament about how cold my legs are: thinks could be worse (as I found out yesterday!) I think i'm just going to invest in some over the knee socks to wear over my leggings and tights combo: in this case, layering really is king!
(The floral and heart print knee socks above are both from Topshop for £8 - a small price for toasty legs!)

I know alot of you do wear trousers - even if the weather is as cold as today! How do you keep warm in them?

Love, Tor xx

Reasons to be cheerful....One, Two, Three!

Hello all,

Still no internet connection in Chateux de Tor, so I am squirrelling this down in my lunch hour. Mostly because I want to cheer everyone up! Winter is fast approaching, and everyone seems pretty SAD about it (see what I did there?)

When I got out of bed this morning it was still dark. It will be heading towards darkness when I finally make my way home tonight. And to top it all off I finally packed away all my pretty summer dresses last night and buried them in a suitcase under my bed, never to see light again (until next spring, anyway!) But is this making me blue? Am I sitting frantically under a sun lamp or applying fake tan in fever pitch denial? No I am not. And here are my 3 reasons why:

1. Winter is cold.

Yup, and that's a good thing. The colder it is the more clothes you have to wear to keep warm. And more clothes mean coats, glorious coats. And fashion layering potential galore.

Love the masculine oversized cut of this quadruple breasted (!) burberry coat.

Baggy, shapeless, it shouldn't work: but I love the cocoon coat!

Layer it up like a gossip girl. So preppy and cute: those pom pom ice skates will be mine!!

2. Winter is dark


The nights of sitting outside in beer gardens are over my friends. But i've got a better way for you to spend your winter evenings. Oh yes! Read books, lots of books.....books about fashion (no, not Tranny and Susannah) Here are the ones I want to get my mitts on:


Out Now: ABC of Mens Fashion, Hardy Amies

03/11/08: Fashion: Concept to catwalk-Studies in fashion, Olivier Gerval

07/11/08:Fashion victims: The catty catalogue of stylish casualties, from a-z, Micheal Roberts


3. Winter means Christmas!!

And halloween, and bonfire night, the 4 nights of advent, and lots of other reasons to get dressed up, dressed down, wrap up warm and hang out with your friends and family. This Wednesday my Mum and sister are coming down to the big smoke for a soujourn around Harrods Christmas world.

We're going to hit the shops (all wrapped up warm) escape the cold with gallons of tea and scones, and look forward to the long Christmas holidays, when we all get to be together again.


Santa, presents, and snuggling under a blanket with a good book whilst it snows. If those aren't reasons to be cheerful then I don't know what are!



Love,

Tor