Coats: A new, old obsession

Hi guys,
As you probably all know, I love coats, but this week everything that could go wrong with my collection has gone wrong! Firstly, I got a bit drunk and tore the lining of my Isabella Oliver coat to shreds. Then I wore my red military coat with an across-body bag over it, and the movement of the bag has ripped half the buttons off (half of them never to be seen again!) My leopard print coat has 1/2 length sleeves, so half of me is toasty warm and half of me is freezing. And my mohair coat from Warehouse is malting so badly that i'm leaving a trail of hair behind me where ever I walk: it's like all my coats decided to give up at the same time!

I can't really afford to replace my coat right now (I hadn't budgeted for needing a new one!) but in fantasy-shopping-land that doesn't matter: in fantasyland, all these designer coats could be mine!

Oh yes, orange Oscar de la Renta with fur trim. Yes! I love this coat with its vintage feel and heritage styling: it's more ladylike than I usually look for, but it could be so versatile. The shaggy Fendi fur is more obviously me, and has a real rock chick edge. I love the green/orange colour combo of the Kinder Aggugini cape/coat and the military detailing: will military coats ever stop being cool!?

In the real world for my replacement coat I will probably turn to trusty ASOS or Topshop. Here are my ASOS picks:

The military and fur trends seem especially easy to replicate on the highstreet: there are lots of great brass button details in almost every store. The fur and wool mix, especially with the vibrant colour too, is much harder to come by. my faves from above are the rich brown shaggy fur and the navy blue double breasted coat with the brown belt detail: I like a coat that draws into my waist.

I'm going to Bicester Village on Friday, to finish my Christmas shopping. I'm hoping that I might stumble across the perfect coat whilst i'm there!
Love, Tor xx

Vivienne Westwood Anglomania: Paris, Spring 2010/11

I have a massive soft spot for Vivienne Westwood: her draping and penchant for a nipped in waist is a dream for a girl with a body like mine. Her Spring/Summer 2011 Anglomania collection, which was shown in Paris today, certainly didn't disappoint! As is my tradition, here is a montage - review to follow!

The punky double denim looks great and nods to the wild Westwood past. (insert a wild west-wood joke here!) The return of waspies as outerwear (surely the next step in the underwear as outerwear affair we're having) Oh my! I love the femininity of it, the curves it creates, the dramatic effect and contrast when teamed with the full skirts. Elbow length gloves, normally reserved for weddings and teenage proms, are given a dramatically more rock-chick edge.

I'm a massive gingham fan, and I couldn't be more delighted to see it back on the catwalk. The second paisley dress, complete with straw hat, is a modern version of the 80s: think Julia Roberts at the races in Pretty Woman!

The prints in this collection are fabulous and simultaneously very wearable. The colours are bold and bright and everything has a touch of country and western: denim, waist coats, and check out those peep-toe cowboy boots! I only with this collection could hit the shops tomorrow: it's almost worth breaking into the wedding fund for!

Love, Tor xx

London Fashion Week SS10: Belle Sauvage

Hi again,
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As you would expect, the prints at Belle Sauvage were bold, bright and brash. But in a good way! As well as their signature graphic prints and lipstick prints (which look even better in the flesh when you see them move in fluid silk) the collection also featured bold block coloured dresses in strong geometric shapes. It was also the first collection I had seen this week that featured swimwear and I was very impressed with the high waisted patterned bikini bottoms.









I was also really impressed with the futuristic spikey plastic jewellery that formed a part of the collection: the oversized cuff in the third picture was one of my favourite pieces. The collection also nodded heavily to the 90s with subtle conical breasts featuring on some of the dresses and sharp exagerated shoulders continuing to be in Vogue next season both in this collection and lots of others i've seen: that shoulder isn't going anywhere!
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I'm heading into town now to go to today's shows and parties, so the rest of this weekends shows will have to be written up tomorrow alongside the shows and parties i'm going to this afternoon and tonight: I haven't decided what to wear yet, but it's now day 4 and i'm so tired i've kind of stopped caring. I have also more than given up on heels- i'm not exagerating when I say there is a massive gash on my right foot that hurts every time I move. Beauty really is pain!!
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Love, Tor x

Bernard Chandran SS10: A taste of the orient

I really liked the Bernard Chandran collection last season, so I had great expectations for his efforts for SS10. Although there were none of the coats and heavy sleeve details that I had fallen for last season (I guess this stands to reason given it's a spring/summer show) I wasn't disappointed. This is the perfect grown up collection; every piece could be tweaked into a sophisticated outfit. Except the facemasks and hats of course- not sure what you'd do with those!
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The first dresses to come out were fabulous fluid silk with an amazing bamboo print. The structure of the pieces was emphasised by the direction of the printed grain:

The headwear was beautiful, and at one point received a mid-show ripple of applause from the audience (for the fishes below)
Sadly, moments later this headpiece made a bit for freedom; the model kept her cool and just kept walking, holding it instead. This was the first of 3 blunders; a model stumble (I also saw one of those at Ashley Isham in the morning) and runaway boobies (nipple alert! nipple alert!) The model was a real trooper, and just kept walking!

The collection jumped from being very fluid to being very structural: on the one hand flowing silk and on the other stiff structured lantern skirts.
The colour pallette was very muted with lots of black and dove grey. This was broken up by the bamboo print and the occassional flash of orange.
Overall I really liked this collection; definitely worth the sweaty panting gross run to make it to the show on time!

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I have one more post to write and then it's time to get ready for today's shows: bring it on!!

Love, Tor xxx

Finally (Phew!) the launch and collection review!

Ok, So after all this build up, it's time to show you my pictures of the Fearne Cotton @ very collection. The event started with a catwalk show of all the outfits, but I was too far back (and far too short) due to arriving slightly late to be able to take any photos of that i'm afraid. However the clever very folks had handily set up the collection all the way around the room so that late comers such as myself could see everything up close and more importantly, check out the quality and the fabrics: The close up is of one of the sketches Fearne created, which became the basis of the collection. They actually look very accurate to the pieces that were finally made; I would like to know how much involvement Fearne had in the rest of the creative process beyond that original drawing.
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There are some pieces that I really liked such as the electric blue puff ball skirt and the leopard print coat (that leopard print coat with the red buttons is even nicer in the flesh, as it were, than it is in photos. And I liked the way it looked in the photos! It's so soft!) I wonder if the styling in some of the photos put me off a lot of the pieces before I had seen them, because a lot of the pieces that looked cheap on the website looked and felt a lot more impressive than I was expecting. There were also some pieces that were fairly non descript; since that white tee from Kate Moss's first collection, I have never understood why these designer diffusion ranges include plain standard tees. They don't take any designing, or look any different from the brands usual line!
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After the serious business of analysing the clothes was over there was a small party where some delicious apple martini's were served, and some of Fearne's celebrity friends were in attendance:

Given the overall atmosphere in the room, I think the collection was fairly well received. But I want to finish this by saying this because it was one of the first things I noticed about the collection on the website, and I dont think it has been written anywhere else; there was a massive focus on the Beth Ditto range because it was the first celebrity-high street collaboration that bigger girls could feel involved in and was made specifically for them. I for one thought this was an important change in direction for highstreet fashion for fuller figured ladies. Well even better is a collection that doesn't exclude anyone because they are "too fat" or "too thin".I think Fearnes collection covers this ground: although Fearne herself is a skinny minnie, her collection is available in sizes 6-20, meaning it is equally accessible to women of all shapes and sizes. And, despite finding some of the pieces in the collection a little flat, i'm all for fashion that can make everyone feel good, whatever their body shape. Definitely worth checking out!

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Love Tor

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PS - Click here to read part one of the Fearne Cotton at Very launch saga, 3 questions with Fearne

Daily wear: Fearne Cotton for Very.co.uk

This afternoon was the official launch of Fearne Cotton's collection for very.co.uk. The event started with a catwalk show (which I was too far back to see properly because I arrived 10 minutes late) followed by a change to view the collections close up and then a chance for mingling and meeting Fearne (!)

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My full review of the event and the collection is coming tomorrow, but this is a sneak peek via a daily wear post. Here is what I wore to the event:

Topshop trophy jacket (also known as the blogger jacket), Topshop union jack T shirt, Max C bag from JoY, titi madam deer necklace, Vera Moda belt, and Peacocks shoe-boots. (these really need replacing!)

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I can't believe that all last week it was freezing cold and I had to drag my coat out for airing, but the day I want to wear my new jacket it's 30oC. I was sweating to death, but at least it looked good!

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Love, Tor xx

Don't worry, it will be all white!

Now, I know this is a comparison that only means something to me, but as soon as I saw the S/S09 collection by Chanel in Paris yesterday (not in person of course, alas I don't have a jet set lifestyle) I immediately thought about how the bf and I decided last weekend we are going to decorate the new bedroom.

Everything in shades of white, simple and elegant yet not at all plain. Fabulous lines, prints, and patterns to keep it interesting. And lace. I cannot wait to put my new lace canopy over my bed. Chanel have reflected this perfectly in their collection for S/S09, (they can only have been ispired by me!) so obviously I love it:

The collection had a 60's inspired feel; i'm thinking twiggy style ladies with assymetric haircuts wearing white mini skirts and white leather boots, crossed with the early sixties women (who wore replicas of their mothers couture, before the new teen uniform and sepatration was even invented) in neat jackets and matching skirts.

The dresses over the white trousers is the only touch i'm a little unsure about, but the headpieces are truly truly stunning. Half of me thought the collection was a little bit safe, targeted more at my mum than me, but all of me found something inspirational that I will apply to my look for SS09 (obviously not the white trousers on my thighs, but something) and isn't that what the catwalk shows are for?

Oh yeah, and netting the designers some moolah, but that doesn't really affect me!

Lots of love,

Tor

Feathers from the Future!!

Today's post is just a brief snippet: a post-ette, if you will, as I am very very busy at work.

I stumbled across this picture of Manjit Deu, the winner of the collection of the year prize at the London College of Fashion this morning. Well, more importantly, I stumbled across this picture of his collection. And I was immediately transfixed by, what I like to refer to as, the robot feathers. Here is a close up of that dress:

Isn't is stunning?! The uber talent Manjit is only 24 years old (thats the same age as me, dammit!) He hails from West London, and completed his BA (hons) at Winchester. There were sequins everywhere; long ones that looked like ice trailing across the outfits, which was partically effective on the little sky blue number. And we all know how I feel about dramatic shoulders...and in pink!? Love it!

Now I don't know enough about fashion to say this with any amount of certainty, but I'm pretty sure Manjit Deu is a name we should all be looking out for in the future...Ahh, to be so talented!!

Lots of love,

Tor x

Credit: All but the first photo were stolen with love (but no permission) from here.

Genius. Pure genius.

I heart catwalkgenius.com. In fact, I HEART catwalkgenius.com. Caplocks for emphasis.

This morning I was looking for the perfect T shirt dress. Inspired by my pvc leggings that I still haven't worn, but am determined to, I thought that what I probably needed was something casual (to counteract the killer heels) that was short enough to show off my leggings in all their glory, but long enough to cover most of the horror show that is my thighs. Enter then the T shirt dress. Answer to all my ills. All the usual suspects were attacked, and I found nothing that would make my boat float. In a bid of desperation I typed in my desire to google and they came up trumps.

Enter catwalk genius. Hundreds of beautiful covertable items at seriously affordable prices but made from wool and cashmere and luxurious cotton, rather than the cheap polyester of topshop for practically the same price (well, if you squint a bit and you cant really count!)

Here then are the things I covet:

Owl tshirt, Otswald Helgason, 177 euros.
Wow dress by JoJo and Malou, 94 Euros

Handcuff sequin jumper, Markus Lupfer, 227 Euros
Shark attack dress, Jojo and Malou 116 Euros

Dodecahedron necklace, Fred Butler, 383 Euros (First I saw Fred on Channel 4 making pin wheels, then I saw Susie Bubble wearing her necklace and fell in love. Oh how I covert one of my very own!)

These are my five favourite things, but there's so much more! And the real "genius" of the project (who am I to miss such an obvious pun?) is that the site enables young and new designers to sell there stuff at no risk, as well as giving users the opportunity to support them; you can buy shares in their next collection, and the site encourages you to spread the word about the designers you like (which I realise is exactly what i'm doing now!)

I still haven't found that T shirt dress of my dreams, but do you know, just for a moment, I think i've stopped caring.

Lots of love,

Tor x

Goodbyee goodbyee goodbyee

Hello blogosphere,

Don't you hate Real Life? At present, I am not a fan: it's all council tax, limited space and pain. For reasons hardly compelling to the internet, my heart is broken. Real Life and its capitalisation can f the h off.

However, Fab Frocks isn't at home to Mr Emo so let's all join hands and indulge in a little fashion-themed therapy. It's a little (and very appropos) feature I like to call:

The Quality Goodbye

Friends, I have a little fetish. I love seeing what the designers wear when they come out to greet the adoring crowd at the end of fashion shows. Then I love judging it. Now, I know the internet has been veritably abuzz with analysis of Marc Jacobs and his bold skort choices. Myself, I'm not impressed. I'm wearing a skirt right now. Frankly, if you tone your calves with the crazed gym-bunny rigour employed by MJ, it'd be a crime not to show off the gams. Incidentally - the white shirt, the sandals, the bossy side pleating. Does this look read assertive lesbian P.E. teacher to anyone else?

Let's look at some of the less celebrated looks....

NEW YORK

New York Fashion Week is a strange animal. It's very sleek, respectable and, usually, very safe. There are two ways designer farewells can go: you can be Brand-You (which is to say identical in dress/tone no matter what season it is) like Duchess Michael Kors and Tor's beloved Betsey Johnson or, you can be Downtown (six hours away from hobo). Both looks have their advantages....

Look: King of Brand-You. Project Runway has made the Michael Kors uniform (black jacket and t-shirt, dark jeans) a celebrity in its own right. It's as least as famous as "That crotch is insaaane" though of course not nearly as fun to say.
Embodiment of collection Dude, he did classic Americana. Just like, um, every other season ever ever ever. In these terrible times, though isn't the Duchess and his sartorial sameness a comfort? Repetitiveness is next to godliness when the world's going to hell. Plus, I like his shiny head. All of this applies to the Betsey Johnson institution too. Just switch up conservative for quirk, et voila.

Betsey Johnson's reliably sparkly mutton puts a genuine song in my heart.

Costello Tagliapietra

Look: Old fashioned Bears - plaid, beards and big black boots. This is a whole other fetish of mine and one that will have to be dealt with in a different post in a vastly different blog. Sufficed to say that they be lumberjacks and they're o-kaay.
Embodiment of collection:

Agyness Deane opened the show as a Satin-based Leather Daddy. That's a big ol' check next to brand perpetuation, right?

The Pretty Boys
Oh Zack! Oh Matthew! I just wish my computer had smell-0-vision because I bet the two of you just emanate some glorious (yet manly!) concoction of gardenias and purity.

Zac Posen and his pocket square.


Matthew Williamson and his golden belt.

LONDON
Despite London Fashion Week's relative marginalisation, I have no compunction in stating: friends, we have the best looking designers in the world. Seriously. Hot hot boxes right here. It's just a shame that female designers are so shy. I'm trawling the web and am I finding finale pictures of Luella, Ann-Sofie Back or Danielle Schutt? Nosir, I am not. The ladies aren't stepping out. Perhaps it's quite easy to marginalise yourself when you're a woman surrounded by flawless models in an industry that runs on aesthetic. Still, this is unacceptable. I demand that come A/W 2009, the ladies take their place in the sun.

Still, look at Marios Schwab. Look at his face.

Oh Marios. You have laser-cut your way into my heart.

Embodiment of collection: Not so much. But it was my least favourite of his collections so far anyway, so I'm just enjoying the grey-marl hoodie with its thoughtful white shirt cuffs. Love him. Love him tenderly.

Abdul Koroma and Andrew Jones of Modernist

Look: Unimpeachable. A buddy-cop combo waiting to happen. Cardigans and cravats.

Embodiment of collection: Well, the collection was equally unimpeachable and one of my favourites this season. I think there's a strangeness and a refinement to both the designers and their designs, don't you? Am I reaching? I don't care. This is the best fencing outfit I've ever seen.

Erdem Moralioglu. Also the cutest, don't you think? He and Peter Jensen would make the most adorable myopic babies. I can never say no to a side parting on a man. Nor can many others - ask Germany.

Embodiment of collection: You would not credit such a litany of softness coming from such a man, but there it is. The contrast is part of the pleasure in this case, at least.

Yes, model. Lower your eyes and sigh.

Ahh. This kind of beauty is the way to end a post. I'll be back tomorrow with Milan and Paris. The women show their faces there. I'm looking forward to it.

Love,
Becky