New Season: My Choice of A/W13 Winter Boots

Hi guys,
It's that time of the year again and one of my favourite things to hit the shops for: It's winter boot shopping time! This year I have been seriously greedy because I've decided that I want three new pairs of boots. I've already got two pairs, so there's just one pair left to find. As usual I hit my virtual shoe shop of choice, and headed to Sarenza:
I went for the Vagabond Grace heeled ankle boots (£79.99) for my slightly smarter boots that I can pair with skirts and dresses. Although they're simple, these are by far the best boots I have ever owned and I love the way they look. The fact that it's like walking on a cushion helps too! They have a great slightly grungy '90s feel that really appealed to me. I'm already dreading the day I wear these boots through: I may have to buy a spare pair just in case anything ever happens to these ones!
For my throwing on and wearing with jeans daytime boots, I went for the Melvin and Hamilton Susan boots in black (£119.90). I was attracted to these because of their rainbow elastic and because of their slightly masculine feel. These boots look incredible with skinny jeans but if I'm being realistic they don't really look good with anything else: they are definitely not dress boots! I am also on the look out for a rich tan pair of ankle boots (yes, more ankle boots. I'm nothing if not consistent) but haven't spotted my dream pair quite yet: there's still time!

Have you been shopping for your winter boots yet? And what style have you gone for? I'd love to hear all about your choices!

Love Tor x

*I am a Sarenza brand ambassador 

Vogue's Fashion Night Out Moves to Manchester

Hi guys,
I have been attending Vogue's Fashion Night Out for years: hitting the shops of Bond Street and fingering clothes I couldn't afford whilst dancing to trendy DJs. Eating candyfloss in River Island. Drinking endless delicious free cocktails: it's a great night out for fashion addicts, and a great time to go shopping if you're looking to make some new purchases and want to bag some decent discounts. But until this year it was an event that always held it's UK night out in London: not this year though. This year Vogue's Fashion Night Out is moving to Manchester!

So what's happening in Manchester on Fashion Night Out this year? Well, more than 160 city centre shops, bars, galleries and restaurants have signed-up and will be open late into the night, offering exclusive trend parties, designer personal appearances, customisations, fashion shows, celebrity appearances and much more. I would've liked to head up and check it out myself, but I am going to be on holiday.
So if you're heading up and looking for bargains/freebies what will you find? Cath Kidston is hosting a 20th birthday cocktail tea party with a free tea leaf reading with every purchase, while Whistles will be offering clutch bag monogramming. Guests can enjoy exfoliating hand and arm massages at Molton Brown. ‘Wreck My Dress’ will also be positioned at Molton Brown’s St. Ann’s store to take snapshots of guests at a mini photo shoot.

There will be a live pop-up photo shoot in store at H&M, as well as a high street A/W fashion show and super-sized digital tweet wall within Manchester Arndale. Keep a look out around the city for a Selfridges host giving out gift cards loaded with a mystery amount from £5-£50. Oh, and my favourite standard London event will be making the move, as M&S offer their free proscecco bar. Yummy!

Will you be at Vogue's Fashion Night Out this year? And what do you think about the move 'up north'?

Love Tor x

Shoes: Irregular Choice don't know the meaning of subtlety!

Hi guys,
I love Irregular Choice shoes (I have a small handful of them) but they really aren't a brand that know the definition of subtle, are they? I've definitely never heard anyone talk about getting a sensible pair of black shoes for the office from them, anyway!

These crazy brogues have got so much going on: leopard print leather, brogue detailing, pink ribbon laces and all topped off with a gold glittery heel. They could almost be too much, but because they're flats I think I'd get away with it: I imagine these worn with skinny ankle grazing jeans and a black satin vest or even a sequinned black jacket for an informal night out.

It's back to school time for University students up and down the country at the minute and Norwich is full of fresh-faced freshers. Irregular Choice shoes always make me think of university, because I got my first pair when I was a fresh-faced fresher over ten years ago, and I've been in love with the brand ever since. (Gosh, writing that down makes me feel old!) I still have that very first pair in a box in my office: they make me feel so nostalgic!

Want to start an Irregular Choice shoe collection of your own? Heading back to school and known just how you'd style these babies for that special Freshers Week event? You can pick up a pair from here for £71.99.

Love Tor x

*Post written as part of a partnership with Spartoo shoes

Luggage: My new Lulu Guinness Suitcase

Hi guys,
I actually got this suitcase when I last went to Bicester Village (which was for our wedding anniversary weekend back in July) and I even took the photos then too, but totally forgot to write it up! The bonus of that though is that I've used a suitcase several times since then, so when I tell you how brilliant it is I really and truly mean it!

So what do I like about this suitcase? Well I'm no luggage expert, but the fact it has four wheels rather than two means that it's so much easier to push: all of the wheels also spin at 360 degrees, so it will go where ever you want it to go with ease. I also love the black and cream striped lining of the case, and it comes with three black and cream matching drawstring bags which are perfect for using to contain your toiletries and your pants! I've had hard shell suitcases before and they've always felt bulky and heavy, but this one is surprisingly light: I can lift it with ease, even when it's full of my stuff. And finally I love the gorgeous lip print on the front: of course I do, it's the main reason I bought it! And it get looks of admiration whenever I take it out, which is always nice too.


My suitcase is in the black cherry colour. The range also comes in vibrant lipstick red and glossy black. As I said before, I got my suitcase (which is the medium size) from the Lulu Guinness outlet at Bicester Village (where it cost £120) but I've also seen them in John Lewis and House of Fraser stores (where the prices start at £195, depending on what size you're looking for).

The reason I'm telling you about my suitcase? Because I'm about to start packing it, ready to take Wilbur on his first holiday! More on that tomorrow.

Love Tor x

TKMaxx launch jewellery: Soon we won't need to shop anywhere else!

Hi guys,
I have a bit of an on-off relationship with TKMaxx, and that usually depends on which store I've visited most recently. Sometimes some stores tend to be a little untidy and disorganised. Other stores are a sanctuary of clutter-free discounted shopping. But the one thing I'm always impressed by is the value for money and the discounts available. I often stop by the TKMaxx website, because of their regular flash sales and the shopping ease (they had a great baby flash sale last week, and my bank account took a serious bashing!) and because their baby offering in almost all of my local stores is so good I often joke that if they started selling groceries, I wouldn't need to shop anywhere else! Now they've branched out again: as of this week, 15 TKMaxx stores are now having dedicated jewellery departments with a team of expertly trained, dedicated jewellery experts. Rope and diamante necklace, £19.99
Ribbon and diamante necklace, £14.99
Lace cuff, £24.99
Gold cuff, £9.99
Gold plated earrings, £16.99

The jewellery department will have the usual TK Maxx discounts of up to 60% off the RRP (as you can see from some of the examples above) but with the added bonus of having fully trained staff to assist you every step of the way. The staff in each jewellery department will have received a diploma in jewellery retail qualification developed by the Holts Academy.

Here are the 15 stores where you can find a TKMaxx jewellery department: Thurrock, Manchester, Nottingham Trinity, Croydon, Leeds, Lewisham, Cardiff, Hammersmith, Liverpool, Kingston, Silverburn (Glasgow), High Street Kensington, Swindon, Charring Cross, and Blanchardstown (Ireland).

Do you live near a store that is offering a dedicated TKMaxx jewellery department and have you checked it out yet? If so, what did you think? I'd love to hear your thoughts, as I haven't seen one yet, but I think the idea sounds great. Let me know!

Love Tor x