The matching/clashing accessory conundrum!

Hi guys,
It's a question I often ask myself: is it better to match your accessories or clash them?! Personally I'm a big fan of matching (I rarely leave the house if the colour of my shoes doesn't match the colour of my bag) but I also appreciate that a little clashing (especially in the summer) is probably much much cooler!

Matching

I love my new tan saddle bag (thank you very much, TKMaxx!) so I knew I had to get the perfect pair of summer shoes to match it. Enter these amazing peep toe T-bar sandals from Bertie (c/o Sarenza) They have a sturdy platform at the front which balances out the height of the heel, meaning you can wear them all day with no discomfort: tried and tested! I was delighted by how exact the colour-match was too. It's very rare when the colour on the screen is the same as what arrives on your doorstep!

Clashing

This is my third pair of Valensi pumps from Sarenza (I also have a gold pair and a black pair) and I plan on adding a couple of other, brighter and more summery shades, to my collection. They are the most comfortable pumps I have ever owned: they have a supportive back and sit slightly higher up the foot than normal pumps leaving you feeling snug and supported. It would be a little twee to then add a powder pink handbag though, so this is where I turn to the clash-side! So instead I went for a turquoise studded clutch. Just add jeans and a white tee and I'm ready to go!

Do you tend to match your accessories? Or do you mix and match colours? I'd love to hear your shoe and handbag co-ordination thoughts!

Love Tor xx

Shopping: My Sarenza sale picks

Hi guys,

Long after the January sales are over and everyone is starting to talk about their new season wardrobe I have good news: The Sarenza sale is still going strong! And frankly, there's something for everyone. It's not just the left over winter boots or sparkly heels that are on offer either. There are perfect spring-like pumps and sandals to get your hands on too!

I can't resist a good sale (especially when it comes to shoes and accessories) so was delighted. Here are the amazing bargains I picked up from the Sarenza sale this month:

The 'wear now' ankle boots

I got these clog-style ankle boots to replace my tan clog ankle boots from Topshop: The heel has fallen off them! I am a huge convert to clogs. They are the most comfortable heels I've ever worn because they have such a high platform at the front (in relation to the height of the heel).

These will look amazing teamed with skinny jeans and my favourite leather panel leggings to ride out the rest of the winter months.

Studio TMLS boots, reduced from £109.70 to £43.90

The snake skin pumps

Apparently snake print is the new 'in' skin! I love animal prints in their many different forms, so I just couldn't resist these. They'll be perfect for livening up my majoratively black work outfits, or clashing with pretty floral dresses when spring arrives.

Eden Kawi pumps, reduced from £72.50 to £29

The classic-with-a-twist heels

Another Sarenza Ambassador Jen actually picked these up last month, and as soon as I saw them I knew I had to have them! These heels are timeless and seasonless and they really could be worn almost anywhere but the stud detailling on the heels stops them from being boring. I got these to team with a simple tea dress for my nephew's Christening next month.

Ravel Heidi heels, reduced from £75 to £52.50

What do you think of my picks? And what shoe trends will you be looking out for this spring/summer?

Love Tor xx

Shoe love: the perfect brogues

Hi guys,
I may not be dancing around my living room like a far-too-chirpy penguin, but I have definitely got Happy Feet! My new Love Moschino brogues with the heart stud details from Sarenza have just arrived, and I am completely in love with them!

They were reduced by 30% in the sale, making them £160 rather than £229. And I don't think it would be an exageration to say they are my dream shoes. Although I love them, the fact is that I rarely wear heels during the day anymore: I just can't stand the discomfort when my day is already too busy and full of other things to think about. I tend to slip into my black pumps that match everything, but aren't exactly fashion-forward. So these comfortable brogues covered in attention grabbing gold heart-shaped studs (perfect for matching to all my jewellery and my two favourite handbags) are guarenteed to fit into my wardrobe perfectly, and make my everyday feet look a little more fashionable.

One of the best things about getting new shoes is mentally shopping your wardrobe for things you can team with them to create the perfect outfit and show them off!

I for one, will be very disappointed when the trend for masculine footwear disappears. Why should boys get all the comfy feet fun?! It's lovely to be able to run for the bus or spend hours scooting around the shops without having to worry about my ankles aching, or worse still, breaking them!

The Sarenza sale is still on, with up to 60% off and loads of great styles still available, so why not pop over and check it out? You never know, you might find your dream pair of shoes too!

Love, Tor xxx

The shoes of Christmas joy and wonder

Hi guys,
Behold my beautiful new Christmas shoes! They're gorgeous, they're wonderful, they're covered in tiny little silver stars, and I love them:

I have alot of Christmas parties, events, and gatherings to go to this year and I just don't have the tolerance to wear heels for several evenings in a row (I just love my feet too much to torture them too frequently) so I picked these Georgia Rose brogues as my flat party shoe alternative. I love their silver satin laces, the soft blue suede, and did I mention the tiny metal stars? As you can probably tell, I'm one seriously smitten kitten!

Do you love my yummy shoes? Or have your eyes on another pair from the Sarenza site perhaps? Then you might be interested in their latest twitter competition! Here's what you need to do:
1) Follow SarenzaUK on Twitter

2) Choose the shoes you’d love to get from your wish list this Christmas on and post them @SarenzaUK with the hashtag #AllIWantForChristmasIsShoes
3) And that’s it! The winner will be chosen from a prize draw on 14th December so all entries are valid up until then.

Love Tor xx

Primark A/W shoe and boot lust!

Hi guys,
Yesterday, for the first time in months, I popped down to Primark. They have some amazing things instore: all of their Christmas dresses, presents, and even decorations...Somehow I managed to spend £70 without even thinking about it! I picked up a gorgeous gold party dress (post to follow), 2 blouses, 3 necklaces, a cushion for my living room, and an oversized travel bag for my trip to Berlin next month.

But as always, the thing that left me most besotted were the shoes:




I love the tan boots with the reindeer lining: perfect for cozy winter walks. I actually almost got these for Berlin too, but resisted because I've ordered a gorgeous pair of boots from Sarenza instead, and I'm just waiting for them to arrive. For-sensible wear the rainbow coloured brogues were also fabulous: great for livening up the black opaque tights we'll all be wearing from now until next May!

Alot of the party heels were covered in too much cheap glitter for my liking, but I really liked the wall full of rich berry shade seude-like heels in the last picture. Refreshly, they looked comfortable too given their relatively low heels.

Sorry for my long absence last week, but it was for a very good reason: my little sister gave birth to a very handsome little boy (named Bertie Gerard) and as I was her birthing partner, I abandoned the blog to be with her every step of the way. It was worth every minute!

Love Tor xx

Topshop Outlet bargain of the week: £5 shoes!

Hi guys,
...Well technically, they're actually £2.50 shoes, as they were £5, buy one get one free. So as well as the shoes, I also picked up an embroidered T shirt for a fiver. Then for £7 I got two simple silk shell tops: one in vibrant red and one in teal blue. Perfect for smartening up jeans and knitwear. But it was the shoes that were the biggest bargain, especially as they're leather, and bang on trend:

I really love this: they're a slightly more feminine take on the classic brogue, but the lack of laces means they look less chunky and more stremlined, making for slender calves (unlike the bulky leg look I often get with traditional brogues). The colour is a lovely milk chocolate brown, and they were just made to be teamed with tea dresses and tights (which is actually how I'm wearing them today!) I still can't believe how cheap they were!

This week in the Topshop outlet (I went in on Saturday) there were lots of shoes and trousers, but not a massive supply of dresses. The jewellery stand had been newly refreshed though (all the jewellery is £1.50 bogof) The girl behind the checkout told me that they are expecting alot of new stock in over the next fortnight though, as they will be getting everything that is in the current Topshop sale (exciting!)

If you'd like to check out the Topshop outlet for yourself, it is in The Broadwalk Centre in Edgware. Be warned though: it is a very small shop, and there often isn't a great deal of stock, so it probably isn't worth travelling too far to visit (I live just a 10 minute drive away, and it is next door to my local Sainsburys, hence my constant visits!)

Love, Tor xx

PS - If you haven't already, I would love it if you could take just two minutes out of your day to vote for me in the Westfield Bloggers Competition. I'm currently in third place so I need your help (and probably a miracle!) to win!

The Bank press day and an age crisis!

Hi guys,
Have you ever walked into a shop and thought "I'm just too old to shop here"? Well that's how I felt at the bank press day yesterday. A mix of cool urban tops and tees designed to be teamed with jeans (and combat pants) hung alongside tiny dresses with sequins and cut out detailing: perfect for hitting your favourite club!

This isn't a critisism of the collections, by the way: 5 years ago I was hitting the clubs wearing tiny dresses and killer heels myself. But now I can't remember the last time I went clubbing: a couple of cocktails then running for the last tube is my idea of a fun Saturday night out!

The one dress I did really love is the gold sequinned ones shown below. It has a really great shape, and the low V and structured shoulders would give a really great shape. Here it is, as well as some of the other things I liked:





The shoes, I loved. You're never too old for cool shoes, thank God! There was a pair of ankle boots I had my eye on, and obviously I definitely couldn't resist the (admittedly slightly tacky but) very cool leopard print and red sandals with the bow detail.

Are there any shops you feel too old to shop in? Or to young for, for that matter?
Love Tor xx

My new favourite shoes: Jeffrey Campbell wedges

Hi guys,
I have fallen in love. Not with a man, but more predictably, with a pair of shoes. As soon as I saw these Jeffrey Campbell wedges on the Sarenza website I knew that I would have to make them mine!

Sure, they're slightly ridiculous. And I think they repell men: the husband observed them with bewilderment and a bemused smile, whilst insisting i'd never wear them. Yes, they are very high. But they're just so pretty, and fashion-forward, and statement making that I'm prepared to take a little bit of mild shoe pain to wear them!

Behold! And note that even the box (in the top picture) is pretty:



Sarenza were showing off the brown and black zebra print version at their A/W event last week, but I much prefer the pattern and colour of these. The dalmation print is slightly more subtle, and they would look great teamed with jeans and a blouse for a night of cocktails with the girls. Because they're monochrome, you could literally wear them with anything!

So will I be wearing these shoes? Well I won't be wearing them for a hard days shopping or dancing all night: I don't think my feet could take it! But for dinner or drinks I will definitely be reaching for these to give my little black dress some impact. I already can't wait for our work Christmas party, where I will be showing them off all night! And in the meantime? I'm going to display them on top of the dresser in my bedroom, because they're just too beautiful not to see everyday!

Love them as much as I do? You can buy these beauties here.

Love Tor xx

Shoe Lust: Sarenza's A/W Collection Preview

Hi guys,
It seems like I'm destined to spend my days in accessories heaven: and who am I to complain?! First I lusted over the M&S accessories range, and now I've had the chance to view some of the newest arrivals in Sarenza's A/W collection, and I'm already mentally preparing a whole new wardrobe based on them!

In the months I have been a Sarenza brand ambassador, I have genuinely fallen in love with the website, and the massive variety of brands they represent. And I think my obsession is only going to increase, if this new collection is anything to go on:

These leopard print and red patent leather shoes from Georgia Rose (£157) look, if possible, even better in the flesh than they do in this photograph. The leather of the leopard print panels was so soft, and these would be perfect teamed with cigarette trousers for a quirky take on this season's androgynous trend.

Sparkle is my newest obsession, and I know I won't get anywhere near the holiday season without investing in some! My favourites are the front pair with the patent toe, also from Georgia Rose (£127), but I also have a slight obsession with the Jeffrey Campbell Lita boots.

Speaking of Jeffrey Campbell, both of these shoes are from the brand, although the leopard print ones don't land on the site for another couple of months. I actually just ordered the wedges (they should arrive tomorrow!) but in the dalmatian print with the black heel. They look gorgeous, and I can't wait to team them with leggings and flippy little frocks.

Finally, not many people know that as well as selling shoes, Sarenza also has a massive collection of handbags. I love my Friis & Co satchel from the site, which I have been using exclusively since it arrives. But I could be tempted to upgrade it for this patent Lollipops version: the colours are lovely!

I think my bank balance could be in jeopardy this month! There are so many shoes and boots that I want, that it's going to take serious willpower to resist buying them all!

Love Tor xxx

Marks and Spencer Accessories: Not what you'd expect!

Hi guys,

This evening I was invited to a Mad Hatters Tea Party to check out the new ranges of accessories from Marks and Spencer. And I have to say I completely fell in love: it wasn't what I was expecting at all. But in a good way! I think I have a slight prejudice against Marks and Spencer because it was one of only 5 clothing stores on our high street growing up, and was the place my Nan got her nighties, and my mum got my sensible school knickers.

But I take it back! I withdraw my old-fashioned prejudice: because judging by these accessories, M&S is a cool place to shop! The collections were divided into four distinct trend zones: Nordic Narnia, Wilderness, Global Traveller, and Boy Meets Girl:

The pieces in the Boy Meets Girl zone were my favourites: I especially loved the oversized black leather handbags (which felt as soft as butter) and the chunky black watch in the picture above.

I also loved all the glitter and sequins in the global traveler zone: can you believe the black and taupe sequinned and heeled Mary Janes were only £30? That's considerably cheaper than some of the more popular high street stores, and I completely loved them. They'd be perfect for Christmas parties, and I would team them with leggings for girls nights out.

I was also surprised at how many of the pretty shoes came in with built in insolia technology: I only have one pair of insolia shoes, but I swear by it! They're the only heels I can dance in all night long and not go home with my feet in shreds. Shoes that feel comfy but look all fashion: how can you lose!?

The overall verdict? For quality and affordable pieces that are fashion-forward, and are built to last, head to Marks and Spencer. I definitely will be!

Love Tor x

What's your clothing confession?

Hi guys,
It's that time of the year again: time to put all of your summer clothes to the back of your wardrobe, pull out your tights and jumpers, and have a complete wardrobe overhaul! Two weekends ago, Mike and I even went to Ikea to buy a new chest of drawers so I could turn my floordrobe into something almost resembling order. Sadly I haven't actually filled it yet!

Ahead of London Fashion Week, and because it's wardrobe clearout time, Weight Watchers are raising money for Tommy’s charity with a ‘Clothing Amnesty Initiative’, whereby supporters can donate unwanted clothes via the clothesforcash scheme – and raise £10 per bag!

They're also asking the public to get behind the amnesty by telling them their Clothes Confession - that item that you’ve bought but have only worn once - via their new Facebook app. And in return for this Clothes Confession, Weight Watchers will donate 10p directly to the charity.

And because I can't ask you to do something I wouldn't do myself, here's mine:

Shoes are my weakness: especially shoes with high heels! However sadly, I also have really sensitive feet. Which means I am the proud owner of an army of shoes I love to look at, but can never wear (unless I'm prepared to suffer blisters and bleeding which, let's face it, just isn't sexy!)

I'll never throw them away (they're just too pretty!) but my clothing confession is that all three of these pairs of shoes still have the labels on, because I've never actually worn them and got out of my front door! Am I a tad ashamed? Yes! Does this mean I'll stop buying my beloved heels? Definitely not!

Love, Tor xx

Primark A/W 11 boots and shoes

Hi guys,

I don't often venture into Primark any more (not because I don't still love Primark, just because i'm trying to do some saving, and have put my shopping addiction on hold.) But this week lil sis and I took a jaunt to the Oxford Circus branch for a sneak peak at their new A/W wares.



I actually came out empty-handed, which is very unlike me when it comes to Primark! However, as usual, I did find myself lingering a little too long over their shoe department:









Shearling was a very popular Primark boot trend (And the first set were only £15, which is amazingly purse friendly, if you're on a budget) but it was the boxy colour popping wedge ankle boots that set my heart racing.



I know they're entirely impractical, but I loved the turquoise ones! I have no idea what i'd wear with them but when did that stop me loving shoes?! The heart wants what it wants. Mine also wants those orange brogues. And I can see heel lovers falling head over heels for the burgandy brogues with the stacked heels. Personally, I prefer my brogues flat, so that I can walk around the shops in them all day!



Have you had any Primark bargains lately? If so, what did you get? I must admit I wasn't very impressed with the Oxford Street store this week. I went in planning to buy myself an Autumn dress or two, and couldn't find anything I liked enough to part with my cash for!



Love, Tor xx

The Topshop outlet revisited

Hi guys,

Well I had to start my reintroduction to shopping somewhere, and I decided to throw myself in at the deep end: with a trip to the rummaging chaos of the Topshop outlet! Here's what's hot in there this week:







1 Dress Up! Back in April, Topshop launched Dress Up! which was a brand new premium collection of statement dresses. And now those original dresses from the collection have all made their way to the Topshop outlet store! There are literally hundreds of dresses from this range in almost every size. I know it's a little soon, but my immediate thought when I saw them was that they'd be perfect for the party season. And that's the point about the outlet: the seasons of the stock in store is almost always wrong, so you have to think ahead a little!

The sequinned floral dress was £30 (bogof) and the layered flapper dress was £20 (bogof).





2. Shoes. The shoe selection is never really brilliant in store, but this week they have a wall full of shoes, ranging from heeled boots to brogues and pumps to heels and summer sandals. The pairs that really attracted my attention were the pink buckle up brogues (£20 bogof) and the cream heeled cowboy boots (£25 bogof). Both would be perfect for wearing this Autumn!



NB - Apologies for the fuzzy picture. You're *technically* not allowed to take photos in store, so I was being a little sneaky!





3 Winter. If you're looking for a knitted poncho, then this is the place to go! I counted four full rails full, all at £10 (bogof) each! There was also a wide selection of cardigans and chunky knit jumpers, knitted dresses (knitted dress above: £10 bogof) and woolen tees, but there wasn't a single coat in store: they had hundreds when I was last in there about a month ago, so I think their coat season has past!



Finally, there were loads of hats, scarves, and gloves at ludicrous prices, many of them making up matching sets. I picked up a lovely fairtrade cotton black hat with a snow flake print on with matching gloves Each item was £1 bogof, making them technically 50p each. Crazy! I went back and picked up several more sets: they'll make great stocking fillers this Christmas!





4. Marios. There was loads of the Marios Schwab collection in store at massive reductions: these trousers retailed at £180, but were just £30 bogof this weekend. I had a love hate relationship with these trousers, fluctuating from thinking they were either cool or ridiculous. I ended up putting them back, but now i'm sorely regretting it!

Love, Tor xxx

Sarenza shoes mega sale!

Hi guys,
There's no better way to fight the post-wedding/honeymoon blues than coming home to find a parcel full of lovely shoes. Which is exactly what I did yesterday afternoon! I ordered my Sarenza shoes before I left then promptly forgot all about it, making them a lovely surprise to come home to.

This month I managed to get not one but three pairs of shoes with my beloved Sarenza voucher: I took full advantage of their sale, which is still running on the site until the 24th August, so get in there quick! There are further mark downs on the sale section of the site, with up to 60% off on some lines.

Mustang cowboy boots (£24, reduced from £60)

I wore my short cowboy boots nearly every day last winter: they're the perfect casual, slouchy winter shoe. The problem is, I wore them so often that the soles wore down and now the hobnail punctures my foot whenever I put them on: ouch! These are the perfect replacement. They look almost black but they are actually denim blue, meaning they will look wonderful with black tights and black jeans, without blending into my outfit. And check out that discount: these boots were a serious steal!

Melissa by Vivienne Westwood pumps (£79.20, reduced from £99)

I have wanted a pair of the Vivienne Westwood Melissa pumps since the first time I saw them: I actually ordered a pair from another site, only to be emailed and told they were out of stock. Now I have them, I couldn't be more delighted. They feel amazing, they look beautiful and (bizarre but true) they smell great: like a mix of flowers, fruit, and teenage perfume! Worn with tights and little frocks these will be the perfect autumn pumps.

Sevilla clog sandals (£45, reduced from £50)

Yes, I know, another pair of clogs! I have become addicted to my clog sandals this summer: they're so comfy, they go with everything, and they can be dressed up or down: what's not to love? This black pair is very similar to my tan Moheda pair, but black goes with everything, meaning these will look great with summer dresses when I just want to grab a black bag and go (because heaven forbid my shoes don't match my bag - i'm just not that kind of girl!)

Love, Tor x

Viva la comfort: Viva la Diva!!

Hi guys,

As I mentioned in my last Sarenza post, my shoes swell up like baloons in the hot weather. You should've seen me on the honeymoon in the 44 degree heat: I only had one pair of sandals I could actually wear! It's not pretty or glamorous, but it's a sad fact of summer life for hundreds of poor women like me. Which is why I am newly addicted to the wide fit shoes at Viva la Diva.

Please don't click away yet! I know wide fit shoes have a reputation for being frumpy and ugly - but these shoes surprised me by not being ugly at all: actually they're pretty, feminine....and just like normal shoes! I don't wear wide fit shoes every day, I don't really need them: I just wear them on the really hot days (about 5 a year in the UK!) when my feet need comfort, and a little extra wriggle room to grow beyond all control!

But if you do need a wider fit, I would definitely recommend checking out Viva la Diva: their shoes come in four different foot widths, and you can even request a free foot measuring kit of their site. And noone would ever know you're wearing a wide fit shoe: there's none of the tell tale orthopedic-looking soles, or excessively chunky heels. These are just normal, beautiful shoes for normal beautiful gals!

In fact, having just started my annual perfect winter boots hunt, there are actually several pairs to covet! I know the warm weather makes it feel like now is a terrible time to think about boots but believe me, if you don't start sooner rather than later you'll end up with the generic ugly boots that most high street stores make at the beginning of winter and run and run....you have been warned!

Love, Tor

*In association with Viva La Diva

Slightly obsessed with heels (No surprise!)

Hi guys,

Well so much for my talk of lovely weather on Saturday: it looks like the rain in back with avengance, and set to stay, which might well make today's post obselite. I've been looking for a pair of shoes for summer that are fancy enough to wear with dresses for evening events, but comfy enough that I can wear them to work all day first, without having aching feet! (my sarenza clogs are perfect, and so comfy, but a bit too chunky to wear for evening events)

I decided what I needed was a low heel with a peep toe (for comfort) with some embellishment and detailing (for style). A harder shoe to find than you'd think! My search led me to Zalando. Here are my shortlisted shoes:

Gianni di Firenze red shoes: £114.95, Paco Gil tan shoes: £179.95, Vagabond wedges: £59.95, BF leopard peep toes: £110.

And why am I so keen to find these magical glamourous-looking low but comfortable heels, I hear you ask? Because my hen 'do is less than a month away (We're going to see Pricilla Queen of the desert, then food, then a night of dancing and drinking in my favourite cocktail bar) and because it is a day to evening affair (culminating in dancing the night away) I want to shun my usual killer stilettos in favour of cute summer shoes that won't leave my crying half way through the event (and ruin my night/feet). It all sounds perfect, and idealistic. And I really hope I find the low heels of my dreams. But knowing me, i'll end up throwing on those killer heels that look so good and dancing around my hand bag in them anyway: using the well-known anaesthetic of cocktails to ease the pain!

Love, Tor x

*This is a sponsored post

Debenhams A/W press day

Hi guys,
Yesterday was the Debenhams press day, and the biggest press day I have been to so far. It was a literal maze of new season fashions, just waiting to be explored! It took me far longer than I expected to walk around, because I wanted to look at (and touch!) just about everything. Here are some of the pieces I loved most:

Evening frocks



I never get invited anywhere that requires wearing an evening dress, but if I did then Debenhams would be my first stop for buying one! I loved the retro, seventies-style mustard satin, and the beautiful silver ruffled gown. My favourite though was the leopard print wrap maxi from Star by Julian MacDonald. This dress would look so flattering, and is just screaming to be paired with killer red shoes! Speaking of shoes...

Sparkly Shoes


I know it's far to early to mention the 'C' word, but these sparkly super-high heels would be perfect for teaming with your favourite little black dress and dancing the festive night away! I love the comfort of wedges, but don't think they're smart enough for a more formal evening occasion...that is, until I saw the second pair! I am now lusting after sparkly shoes like Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz.

H! by Henry Holland


Finally, I could've worn every single piece from the H! range. It was my massive win of the press day. When the H! range was first launched I found it too young but now I really love it: the retro shapes of the dresses are really flattering, and the prints are distinctively lovely! My most wanted piece is the red jacket in the first picture: in fact, it would go really well with the red H! dress i'm wearing today! See, I told you I was an addict...

Love, Tor xx