Something for nothing...the InStyle fashion hunt!

Now, i'm going to start this post with a disclaimer: I have never read a copy of InStyle magazine. Not because i've heard good or bad things about it, it's just never been on my fashion magazine radar. Interested to hear your thoughts? Here's a preview of the latest issue if you haven't seen it either!

Anyway, all that could change this week, because InStyle are hosting a fashion hunt, social media stylee. And all you need to win are a copy of the latest issue of InStyle, a twitter account, and a generous portion of good luck!

Sorry to all you guys in the regions, but the event is London-based. All you have to do is find the location of the InStyler, who will have a hamper of goodies to give out to the first person to find them and show them their InStyle July copy. There will be obvious clues on their website, twitter page and facebook page. (They're going social media crazy!) For example, if the InStyler was in Selfridges, they would tweet a picture of a yellow selfridges bag etc. Each day of the 5 days will be themed. Here is the list of themes from the press release:

Day1: Monday 7th June: Fashion Selfridge’s day: Oxford Street's most iconic store is kicking off our InStyle Fashion hunt by offering £500 to spend on the contemporary Fashion floor on the 3rd floor. You can win £500 to spend on designer brands on that floor including Alexandra Wang, Marc by Marc Jacobs, MCQ, Markus Lupfer and many more.

Day 2: Tuesday 8th June: Jewellery day: we have fabulous jewellery pieces to be won including an Alex Monroe peacock feather necklace, Erickson Beamon crystal embellished earrings, Zoe & Morgan tiger necklace and Monica Vinader black onyx nugget cuff.

Day 3: Wednesday 9th June: Handbag day: We are giving away designer handbags from Missoni, DKNY, Armani Exchange and GUESS, so get ready to win these fantastic summer fashion gems.

Day 4: Thursday 10th June: Beauty Day: Pamper yourself by winning beauty product hampers from Givenchy, Benefit, Versace, Burberry, Ruby& Mille, Topshop Make up, Nails Inc, Neil’s Yard, Cowshed, Leighton Denny, Charles Worthington, Fake bake, Field of Flowers and many many more.

Day 5: Friday 11th June: Fashion & Fashion Voucher day: win a luxurious fashion shopping spree of £500 to spend at my-wardrobe.com in addition on this day we are also giving away fashion items from J brand, Converse, Agent Provocateur and Mover Aderdeen.

Day 6: Monday 14th June: Fashion & Fashion Voucher day: £500 to spend at Jaeger.co.uk, in addition you also have the chance to win an Ovale Poncho and a Matthew Williamson studded python print belt from the Matthew Williamson Spring Summer 10 collection.

Day 7: Tuesday 15th June: Watch day: the final and last day of our Fashion Hunt we have three fantastic watches from Zadig & Voltaire for you to win.

So if you're going to be around central London next week, why not shove a copy of InStyle in your handbag, follow InStyle on twitter, and give it a go? I will be working on location about 10 yards from Selfridges on Monday, so I think I might buy a copy of the magazine and try my luck: I want to give it a read any way, now it's on the radar. It makes me feel dirty to think there's a fashion magazine I haven't at least tried!

Love, Tor xx

Weeny-tiny New Year Vogue

Hello friends,

Eva Green came through my letter-box this morning. It was a cheering thing, her all decked in new season Prada and whatnot. Trouble is, she was looking a bit slim for my liking though of course I don't blame her. Movie stars are beyond reproach in all matters - the US court system has proved this time and again. Nah, it ain't Eva Green's fault her issue is so slender - this wussy New Years edition of Vogue comes in at 201 pages and a featherweight 500g/1lb 40z.

This is disastrous news in a world where a successful fashion magazine needs enough advert-stuffed heft to make it uncomfortable to read in the bath and robust enough to kill an average rodent at close-range. As is always the case, Conde Nast shot its editorial wad on the Christmas issue (Sienna Miller - super sparkly) and all that's left for new years is the leftovers from the "Glamourous One-Name Models and their Glamourous Lives" photoseries (Dec was Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Lily Cole and Sasha Pivovarova and for Jan we get Agyness Deyn, Lily Donaldson and Lily Cole *again*). No real articles of note - "Can you Buy Sleep?" *that's* your cover line, Vogue? Well, yeah. Apparently I can buy sleep for £3.70 at all good newsagents and a bog standard year's round-up.

Still, at least we get some Gallic pouting. Look at that lovely sulky gothy French face. Eva Green is one of my favourite event dressers. She is invariably styled like a haute couture crazy cat lady and I love her tenderly for that.

-- at the BAFTAs in Dior with awesome witch hair.

Still, this cover is a little disappointment. I super dig the Prada floral action but the pose is so Hollywood generic and she looks, frankly, a little uncomfortable. I think this shot from her photoshot is easily the one in which she looks most at ease and it's also a genuine departure from the glam-goth thing that magazine stylists usually do for her.

She's got a naughty 50s farm girl thing going on that everyone can enjoy. That is, until I get the cease and desist order from the publishers. Like pixellated scans could even come close to a magazine copy. I'm not ashamed to admit that I get a little Proustian rush when my copy galumphs on the doormat, whether it's a vintage issue or not. Today, my copy smells of faded Flowerbomb, expensive paper and spilt tea. Surely surely surely February will reward our ongoing special relationship.

Also, can I have this?

Louise Gray, my snotty tissues and small change would never be so stylishly held but for a garment such as this. Plus, pink - am I right?

I'm right.

Your pal,
Becky.