Primark picks of the week: More, more, more!!

Hi guys,
Just when I think I've exhausted the subject of Primark's newest Autumn/Winter collection, they go and release some more gorgeous images that I just have to share with you guys! All of the items shown below are either in store right now, or arriving in store this month. So as always with Primark, if you see something you love you'll have to be quick!

Burgandy stud shoulder jumper, £14
Multi-coloured bobble hat, £2 
Beige biker jacket, £27
Pleather/tan mix biker jacket, £27
Jewel print T-shirt, £10
Stud and lace detail blouse, £14

Velvet flocked bodysuit, £12
Star print jumper, £12
Robin print snood, £4
Belted polka dot dress, £13
Purple and blue snood, £6
Moustache print jumper,£14

The knitwear looks so cozy, and just perfect for snuggling up in now that the weather has turned decidedly chilly! I am definitely reconverted to Primark: not as a disposable fashion source I will shop every week and wear only once (which used to be how I shopped Primark!) but as a great place to dip my toe into new trends, or buy seasonal items with short lifespans; Christmas items, for example.

Are you a Primark shopper? If yes, how often do you tend to pop instore?

Love Tor x

What's new in TK Maxx this Autumn/Winter?

Hi guys,
Last week I was invited along to TK Maxx's bloggers dinner, where they showcased all the trends and key pieces we'll all be able to find instore for Autumn/Winter this year.

You guys know I have a lot of love for TK Maxx. My inner bargain hunter just can't resist a rummage through their rails, and the Gold Label section is like a designer treasure trove! But I think a lot of people are mistaken and think that TK Maxx is nothing but last season's designer clobber: Actually, they also have a mountain of on-trend new season fashions, and their buyers always cherry pick the best pieces available. Yup. I'm not afraid to admit that I love TK Maxx! Which is why it really wasn't hard to pick out my favourite pieces from their Autumn/Winter collections:

Blue coat with fur collar and cuffs, £69.99. RRP £195
Green tweed coat with fur collar and cuffs, £99. RRP £450.
Glitter heels, £19.99
Tan and leopard print bag, £69.99
Sequin jacket with bow tie, £49.99. RRP £149.99
Sunglasses, £49.99

The key trends TK Maxx are championing for this season are: Folklore, English Heritage, Pastels, Modernist, Bourgeois, Empress, and Military. It's the heritage-style tweed coats that I'm most in love with: my coat obsession is well-documented. And there is a checked Moschino coat on their website that I have my eyes firmly planted on! Looking at all of the gorgeous TK Maxx campaign images (full of wonderful coats) only makes me wish that I could wrap up warm and see my breath when I walk through crisp fresh snow. Bring on the cold and frosty mornings:




By the way - Have you seen the new TK Maxx advert on TV yet? I love it, I think it's great! Apparently TKMaxx didn't cast models for the ad; everyone that appears is a 'real person'. And the super-cool woman in the green coat and turban? (AKA the woman I want to be when I reach my dotage) is 76 years old!

What do you think of TK Maxx? Is it a place you shop? And have you picked up any amazing bargains instore recently?

Love Tor xx

ASOS Curve A/W12 Look book: Ahead of the curve...

Hi guys,
Another day, another look book to lust after! Just as soon as Autumn was starting to sneak up on us, and I was preparing to really embark on my Autumn/Winter shopping spree, the weather has taken a typically atypical turn for the better: this weekend has been hotter than summer! Not that I'm complaining. And that doesn't mean we can't still lust after some seriously gorgeous new season shots.

I'm a big fan of ASOS Curve. For those that don't know, Curve is ASOS's plus sized range, and is available in sizes 18-26 (It's designed for sizes 20-26 though, because ASOS have now extended their mainline range to include size 18 too) And, quite rightly, their new Autumn/Winter collection is just as fashion-forward and covetable as their mainline collection:

Looking at the look book you can literally tick off this season's trends one by one! Androgynous coats and tailored trousers? Tick! Oversized boyfriend knits? Tick! Velvet, tweed, jewelled details? Tick, tick, and tick! Well, you get the idea!

Prices range from £20 - £120, and the collection will start landing in store this month! I particularly like the look of the black leather skirt, the black lace body con dress, and the red and blue striped hounds tooth dress too.

What do you think of ASOS Curve? Are there any other plus sized collections you would really recommend?

Love Tor xx

More from Primark's A/W Campaign: The party edition!

Hi guys,
You guys couldn't get enough of Primark's A/W casual campaign images, and if you loved those, you're going to love what Primark have coming up for the party season!

I never spend a great deal of money on my party dresses: if I'm going to buy something designer or high end I want it to be something I can get a lot of wear out of. And as party frocks are something I tend to only wear once or twice, Primark is the perfect place to buy them from.

They have gone overboard with the sequins and the glitter (my favourite things, when it comes to getting ready for a night out) and it still amazes me that you can buy a whole outfit, including jewellery and shoes, for less than £50. And you'd look phenomenal!  God bless Primark, and their truly reasonable prices. Here are some of my picks from what they've got coming up:




Picture 1: Sequin skater dress £20 beg Oct.
Picture 2: Sequin mini £12 mid Sep, Stud shirt £13 end Oct, Gem bow black £20 beg Sep.
Picture 3: Sequin short £16 beg Oct, Sequin jacket £25 beg Oct, Gem bow platform nude beg Sept.
Picture 4: Lace dress £17 beg Oct. 

I need that sequinned flapper-style skirt and the metallic sequinned blazer in my life immediately. And if I had the legs to pull off shorts, those matching sequinned shorts would be joining them!

What do you think? Would you buy an occasion frock from Primark? If not, where do you shop when you need something new for a party?

Love Tor xx

Matalan A/W Look book:New season trends

Hi guys,
I always get excited when new season look books arrive through my front door. I love planning my new season wardrobe, and seeing what trends are going to be everywhere as soon as the weather turns a little cooler.

The Matalan look book is divided into six sections: what Matalan considers to be the key trends for this season. They are: Gothic Glam, Masculine, CyberJam (You can see my take on the CyberJam trend here) Heritage, 60s Gamine, and Wild Craft.

My two favourite trends from this look book are Gothic Glam and 60s Gamine. I want to look like an off duty 60s model during the day, and a Studio 54-loving groupie at night....well, a girl can dream! Here are some of my favourite looks from the book:

Don't you think Matalan have upped their game?! I'm really impressed both with the look book, and the stuff I saw instore when I popped in last week. Really trend led, well cut, wonderfully affordable! What's not to like?!

Do you remember the style challenge I took part in for Matalan last week? Well, this is now live on their site, along with takes on the same trends from other bloggers. Check it out here! I'd love to know what you think of all the looks!

Love Tor xx

Warehouse A/W 2012 campaign: Perfect classic coats

Hi guys,
My coat addiction is a well-documented fact. As soon as the A/W stock starts landing in store my new coat(s) are the first thing I go looking for! My theory for lazy winter dressing is that it doesn't really matter what you're wearing underneath as long as the coat you're wearing on top looks fabulous.

But if, unlike me, you don't have or want a coat in every colour and style to go with every outfit and prefer instead to opt for something a little more classic that will go with everything then I heartily recommend you check out the new season coat drop from Warehouse:




Beige coat, £95, Warehouse
Stud detail coat, £120, Warehouse
Belted military coat, £90, Warehouse 
Faux fur cocoon coat, £90, Warehouse 

I particularly like the faux fur cocoon coat and the black masculine style coat with the stud embellishment on the shoulders: both nod perfectly to this season's coat trends whilst being versatile enough that you could wear them everyday, and with everything. The beige coat is also simple but statement-making, though I dislike the zip up front (It's just a personal preference!)

I will admit that Warehouse isn't a store I've ever thought to go coat shopping before: truth be told, I don't normally rate their style. But these classic coats  are gorgeous, and definitely worth popping in for!

Love Tor xx

Get excited: New season news from Sarenza!

Hi guys,
The seasons, they're a-changing. And that can only mean one thing: autumn clothes and shoes, my favourite season of all, are starting to land in store! My excitement about this was cemented when the Sarenza A/W lookbook arrived in my inbox, and I got to see all of the amazing goodies they have instore for us over the coming months: including a host of brand new designers! Here are some of my highlights:


Snakeskin heels, Ted Baker, £160
Bright shoes, Kate Maconie, £215 and £230
Fur boots, Chie Mihara, £489
Heart heels, Moschino Cheap and Chic, £379

And here's all the hot news:

-Betsey Johnson is coming to Sarenza! I think I have mentioned before that Betsey is one of my favourite designers: the first designer item I ever bought for myself was a cowboy-style leather Betsey Johnson hobo bag, and my parents tend to buy me a new addition to my collection every christmas. I can't resist her, and can't wait to get my hands on those shoes!

- Adjustable shoes from Tanya Heath! Tanya Heath has designed the first multi-height shoe with an adjustable heel. These clever (and gorgeous) little beauties can go from a glamorous stiletto to a smart and practical low heel in one click. The best idea in shoes I've seen since the folding pump!

-In more gasp and squee about designers news, Vivienne Westwood is also coming to Sarenza for the next season. Another one to look forward to.

- Finally, what trends are Sarenza predicting will be hot next season? Well, look out for patchwork suede, structured heels, snakeskin, and ankle straps. Last year's Chelsea boots and loafers aren't go anywhere either, so if you bought a pair, hang on to them!

Sigh! I just can't wait for all of these goodies to land on the site, so that I can start planning my winter wardrobe. Have you starting thinking about your Autumn/Winter looks yet? Or is it a little too soon?

Love Tor x

Today I wish I looked like Sophie Dahl

Hi guys,
OK so her cookery programme was irritating. And I'm not a big fan of her diminutive husband.But today, the celebrity I most wish I looked like is Sophie Dahl. That's because she's just been unveiled as the face of classic British brand Aubin & Wills. And she is looking fresh faced and frankly, amazing!

How gorgeous are these shots? They make me wish I could perfect this understated and laid back cool look!



I confess that I never shop in Aubin & Wills (nor have I ever visited the younger sister store, Jack Wills) but I do think they have a knack for choosing amazing celebs to front their campaigns: previous stars have included Rosie Huntington-Whitely and my imaginary-husband, Carl Barat.

The collection launched in store and online last week (19th July). I have been looking for the perfect Camel coat to add to my growing collection of classic-pieces-to-last-forever for an age. I think I might have to pop in and try on the one being modelled by Sophie here: it looks great!

Where do you stand on the classics versus trends debate? Do you tend to buy classic pieces, or do you prefer your wardrobe to be more trend-led?


Love Tor xx 

Primark's A/W Campaign: I'm stocking up!

Hi guys,
I know August hasn't even arrived yet, and the height of summer is yet to come (if the hype is to be believed) but after falling in love with the Autumn/Winter collection from River Island last week, I just couldn't resist a peak at what Primark has in store for us.

No matter how much I try to focus on buying high quality items which will have longevity in my wardrobe, I just can't resist a rummage in Primark! They always manage to pick up on the hottest seasons trends but at the cheapest prices possible. If I want to experiment with something different I always look in Primark before I look in Topshop because I want to make sure I'm going to like a new look before I invest in it: new looks on a budget! What's not to like?!

Here are the outfits I'm coveting right now. And as soon as they hit the stores, I'll be stocking up:

The trend I am most loving from Primark from A/W is the boyish, casual 1960s trend. The sixties are by far my favourite style decade - and although I don't have the coltish figure of Eddie Segwick or Twiggy, I love nothing more than teaming flats with minis and oversized boyish coats. This is the drop I am most looking forward to in Primark, and I imagine I will spend a small fortune!

I also really want to get my hands on that khaki parka jacket with the leather sleeves. It's just £25, and apparently it should land in-store at the end of July. 

Do you shop in Primark? And what do you think of the new season collection?

Love Tor xx

River Island's A/W 2012 campaign: Lust worthy!

Hi guys,
I really do have a soft spot in my heart for River Island. It's one of my favourite shops on the high street for all of the reasons I know that sometimes other people don't like it: the excessive embellishment, the flamboyant patterns, the general 'lariness' of it all!

But it's also bang on trend and, along with Topshop, is one of the high street shops I look to to find out which catwalk trends will trickle down (although gush down is probaby more appropriate, given the speed it happens at now) to the high street:

Things I have to get my hands on? The metallic embellished top (oh chunky hardwear, how I need you!) and the multicoloured faux fur stole are definitely on my 'must have' list. The 80s gold embroidery is not to my taste, but is definitely going to be bang on trend for next season.

I always get excited to see the new season collections: I blame my attention span, and the fact that because I saw all the clothes on the high street now last Christmas, they're starting to feel very very old. I've already started spotted frocks that I know will be perfect for Christmas but don't worry, I won't start ruining your summer holidays by talking about the 'C' word just yet.....

Love Tor xx