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

Shoes: It's all gone a little bit tribal!

Firstly, happy new year! Sorry for starting the year in such a slack way post-wise (definitely not the way I plan to continue!) but we moved house on Thursday and my weekend has been spent unpacking boxes and persuading BT to connect my broadband - this hasn't happened yet. Grrr!!

Yesterday we took my younger sister out for a mini engagement lunch (she was proposed to on new years eve) and our lunch finished with a walk into Edgeware (to walk off the food!) where I inevitably ended up in the Topshop outlet. I really can't write enough good things about that shop! My star purchase was a pair of leather and suede zebra print tribal shoes: £15 and for the "one free" I got a black tuxedo jacket: that's just £7.50 an item! I can't get enough of these shoes:

The rrp on these was £75. On the jacket: £60. They are very much shoes of last Spring/Summers tribal trend, but it was love at first sight. I was also able to justify them as the move meant I had a massive wardrobe clearout and discovered I have no summer heels. And I decided that the "tribal" trend is just a slightly fancier version of the safari one, which, like nautical, is a trend that comes back in fashion every Spring/Summer anyway. With a wardrobe staple little black dress and some chunky wooden jewellery these will be perfect. Even if \i do say so myself!
.

Love Tor xx

.

PS-If you visit or plan on visiting the Topshop outlet then here is a heads up on a new policy change they have recently enforced. If you are buying more than 2 things, they no longer match up the relevant prices. Previously if you were buying two things for £20 and two things for £5 you would pay £25. However now you would pay £40, as the two £5 things would be free with the two£20 things, which you would have to pay for. I get around this buy either having someone else pay for the 2 cheaper items or by paying in separate transactions, a couple of minutes apart.
.
PPS - I know I said I would announce the winner of my Christmas giveaway on the 31st, but because of the above mentioned internet nightmares, I will be announcing the winner later today. Good luck everyone!!