Maaike Mekking: Lusting after the Look Book

During fashion week there aren't enough hours in the day to attend all the shows you want to attend/are invited to. So you have to pick and choose. But sometimes, after the event, you see the images of the show you chose not to go to and feel like you made a mistake. This happened to me this morning when the Maaike Mekking look book arrived.

It feels like this collection was designed for me, or for the me I am in my head: lots of unstructured dresses dressed down with leggings and brogues. These dresses vie for attention alongside structural trousers and skirt and top seperates. The colour pallette is blacks, greys, neutrals and flashes of mustard (my favourite colour to wear when i'm not wearing black, grey, or neutrals) and in each image I find something I covet. The camel and denim dress with the cut outs is a stand out piece, and I wonder how it would look worn like a coat with pretty florals underneath, peeking through the holes.

The whole collection is very wearable with a sporty utilitarian twist. I love the long sheer dress over the nude/black tattoo-style body suit, but the piece that most makes me go gooey is the simple grey and cream dolly dress with the zip front. The sleeves and shoulders give this piece a very uniform feel, and I love clothes that on the surface appear simple, but have interesting twists.

The more I see the more I want. It's a testament to the designer that the collection can be unusual and visually inspiring but crazily wearable as well: I think I might make a piece from Maaike Mekking my next non-high street purchase!

Love, Tor xx

Dailywear: Channelling my inner Kurt Cobain

Hi guys,
You've probably picked up on the fact that for the past couple of days I havent been a very well young lady. In fact, I have been a young lady that's spent a lot of time in bed! However yesterday the need for food got too great and I had to pop to the shop for lunch. I just threw on whatever was close and comfy, and ended up actually really liking the look: so much that I had to photograph it!

I feel like an angry rebellious kid from the 90s. All I need is another jumper tied around my waist and a rucksack covered in badges and the look would be complete! (Ignoring the ill-face and unkempt hair) I am wearing my Topshop tie-dye dress with the jumper I got from the Topshop outlet last week, Morrocan leather belt, leggings and sunglasses from Primark. On my feet are slippers: as the shop is just across the road I went out in them! I'm nuts about this cropped jumper which is very masculine in fit and fabric, but covered in adorable little knitted bows! I didn't have one of these when I was locked in my room writing in my diary and listening to Nirvana tapes!

I've given the pictures an orange sepia type finish because my camera back in the day didnt have a flash, so this is what most of my photos of the 90s look like- Minus the thick layer of dust, blur because I couldnt hold my hand straight, and more often than not, a thumb in the corner of the image: where would I be without the digital camera?!

Love, Tor xx

Skinny Cow swap shop: Want to come?

On Saturday Skinny Cow (love their ice creams!) will be hosting a Swap Shop (aka a swishing party!) Coming to the rescue of fashionistas feeling the pinch of Christmas and the recession – The Skinny Cow has teamed up with Kelly Brook to host a celebrity charity Swap Shop, to raise funds for Marie Curie Cancer Care.With items donated by the likes of Holly Willoughby, Sarah Harding and Danielle Lloyd – the exclusive Swap Shops will give fashion fiends the chance to breathe new life into their wardrobes through swapping not shopping! Now I know I won't be fitting into any celebrity dresses any time soon, but there might be yummy celebrity shoes and bags (please let there be shoes and bags!) The best thing about swishing is that you never know what you might find, and because you aren't spending any money you get to be a little more wild and creative with the things you decide to try.

There's still time to get involved and attend: there are 60 places left All you have to do is email skinnycowswapshop@frankpr.it with your name and contact details and they will send you all the info you need. You need to do this by midday tomorrow, so hurry up! If you become a fan of The Skinny Cow on www.facebook.com/skinnycowuk there will also be a ‘Skinny Dip’ to let you battle it out to win more amazing fashion items and get a new look wardrobe for 2010.

The Skinny Cow, which is owned by Nestlé, will be raising funds for Marie Curie Cancer Care, Nestlé UK’s charity of choice for 2009 and 2010 by making a donation for every item ‘swapped’ by a celebrity at the two events and online. Throughout the year, Nestlé UK is aiming to raise £250,000 which will help fund 12,500 hours of Marie Curie nursing care for terminally ill people and their families in local communities. I love it when I get to shop for a good cause!

I'll be at the London event, poised and ready to swap. Sadly, I don't have the wardrobe of a celebrity so they'll be no designer gasping from me but here are the three items i'll be taking with me:

Gold leather jacket from Topshop(size 14), Fuschia sequinned dress from Godivva (size large), and blue sexy secretary-style top from H&M (size 14) I'll let you know what I swap them for on Monday: it should be a great event, I love a good swish! I hope I see some of you guys there!

Love, Tor xx