Question: How do you like to shop?

Hi guys,
How do you do your shopping? Are you a "I have to touch it before I can buy it" type shopper (i'm afraid that's the category I fall into - I just love physically going shopping) Do you prefer to do your shopping online? I meet so many women that are online shopping addicts - and I admit there's something appealing and convenient about having everything you want to try on delivered to your door. Or are you a catalogue shopper? Catalogue shopping seems so old fashioned to me (it's something women used to do a lot in the 60s and 70s, and a lot of my research for my fashion/fiction of the 60s Masters degree focused on the catalogue phenomenon) but the Womens clothing catalogue is making a comeback. Every time I turn the TV on I see another new catelogue launching, and women are raving about them.

All this got me thinking: what are the pros of catalogue shopping?

1. It still feels physical. I prefer to read tangible magazines rather than look at their websites for exactly this reason. You can curl up on the sofa with a catalogue and read it in the bath or even on the tube: this would make shopping feel like more of a relaxing leisure time activity (especially if you spend your whole day online, like me!)

2. Delivery is almost always free: so are returns. You rarely get that with online shopping, but you still get to beat the queues of physically going instore. Marisota offer next day delivery as standard: and it costs just £3.99 (compare to the ASOS next day delivery charge) making it perfect if you need a new frock in a hurry.

3. You get more variety of sizes and colours in a catalogue than you would ever get in a store: that's because catalogues have their whole warehouse as their stock room!! Also (and this might not be a pro for everyone) you can do it in your pajamas! I'm a massive fan of any activity that you can do without having to change out of your PJs.

What do you guys think? Have you ever shopped from a catalogue? How did you find the experience? Would you recommend it?

Love Tor xx

*In association with Marisota

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