spring so soon

I must admit, I kind of like it, when all the stores sell out their winter clothes after christmas! Not only because of the great bargains, but also because this makes room for the first pieces of their spring collections.

Getting in the mood for springtime was really easy yesterday evening, when I found the new H&M catalogue in my mailbox! Here are some of the pieces I really loved:

all pictures from H&M, collage by me

thankful

I've been getting so many wonderful presents this year! For example my new sewing machine from my parents, and this awesome Current/Elliott Jeans Vest from A! Thank you everyone!
Inspiration on how to wear the vest from http://www.polyvore.com/:

Happy Holidays

Merry Christmas and happy holidays to you and your families!
picture by me

gift wrapping

Why does gift wrapping always take so much longer than planned?picture by me

christmas spirit

I finally had the time to decorate a little bit and get into christmas spirit. This year I chose icy colours (silver and white) and simple decoration.

My Mom on the other hand got crazy over mushrooms this year. Very cute!

freedom of mind

Finally! Completed one ot the toughest exams today successfully! No more cracking my brain over the neuroanatomy of brain structures, neuropsychological disorders etc. More time for delicious cinnamon hot cocoa at the park! Yay!

the 30ies

A few impressions from A's 30ies party last weekend

welcome to the family

Two new members to the ever-growing family in my closet: the studded clutch from primark and chunky platform pumps from graceland. Love!

Happy Birthday A

Inspired by a beautiful necklace from modcloth I made a white blossom necklace myself as a birthday gift for A.

Here's how you make it:

You'll need:
- about 30cm x 50 cm of satin fabric
- 3 different sizes of pearls (1 big, 2 medium, 2 small)
- chain necklace
- needles and thread
- scissors
- paper

- pencil
- sewing machine (I guess you can do without, but it will be very time-consuming)
- some sewing experience (this is not for beginners)

Step 1:

- cut 3 petal shapes from paper: 1 big, 1 medium, 1 small. The size should be a bit bigger than the size, you want the petal to be. Attention: 5 petals make 1 blossom, so the diameter of the flower will be about twice the size of one petal.

Step 2:

- fold fabric (right side on right) to a strip slightly wider than the petal and pin down.

- cut strip (you don't have to, but for me, all the excess fabric gets in my way)

Step 3:
- trace the petal shape and draw onto the fabric

- you will need 10 of the small shape, 10 of the medium shape, and 5 of the big shape

Step 4:

- using the sewing machine, sew along the shape, leaving one part (the pointy part) open

- repeat for all petals

- careful, this can be a bit delicate to sew

Step 5:

- once you're done you can remove the pins and cut out the petals just outside the sewn outlines

Step 6:

- turn all petals inside out
- using needle and thread handsew the pointy part of the petal together

Step 7:

- step by step handsew 5 equally sized petals together to make a blossom

- repeat until you have 5 blossoms (1 big, 2 medium, 2 small)

Step 8:

- handsew the matching pearls (big on big etc.) in the middle of the blossom, repeat for all blossoms

- sew the blossoms on the chain of the necklace: the big one in the middle, then a medium one on either side, and then the small ones

All done! :)

future DIY

I'm so going to make this! Studded collar is genious!

But first:back to studying!

Picture via The Sartorialist

in german

Da es für alle Anderen wahrscheinlich eher uninteressant sein dürfte, hier mal ein Post auf Deutsch: das Überseemuseum in Bremen zeigt noch bis zum 28.03.2010 die Ausstellung "Schuhtick - von kalten Füßen und heißen Sohlen"
"Wir tragen sie täglich. Sie schützen und schmücken uns. Und sie zeigen, wo und wie wir leben und wer wir sind: Schuhe! Doch wann hat der Mensch die Schuhe erfunden und wie hat er sie über Tausende von Jahren weiterentwickelt? Was haben mittelalterliche Schnabelschuhe mit der Manneskraft ihres Trägers zu tun? Und warum sang Elvis Presley über blaue Wildlederschuhe?

Diese und viele andere spannende Fragen beantwortet die internationale Sonderausstellung „schuhtick. Von kalten Füßen und heißen Sohlen." Vom ersten Fußschutz der Menschen über römische Militärsandalen bis zum Designerschuh erzählt die Ausstellung von Schuhgeschichte(n) durch alle Zeiten und über die Kontinente hinweg. Die Ausstellung präsentiert über 400 Exponate, die zum Teil erstmals öffentlich zu sehen sind. Dabei können Sie aber nicht nur Schuhe anschauen, sondern sie auch „am eigenen Leib" erfahren: Probieren Sie auf dem Laufsteg doch selbst einmal aus, wie man in mittelalterlichen Trippen oder High Heels läuft, und hören Sie an der „Schuhbar" Schuhsongs quer durch die Rock- und Popgeschichte!"
Quelle

Eine ganze Ausstellung nur über Schuhe - das musste ich mir natürlich anschauen! Mit viel Liebe zum Detail und sehr viel Engagement wurde eine interessante, informative und inspirierende Ausstellung zusammengestellt. Auch den Umfang fand ich genau richtig: nicht zu viel, nicht zu wenig. Besonders spannend fand ich die Ballerinas von Audrey Hepburn, sowie eine ganze Reihe von Ferragamo-Kunstwerken. Da hätte man fast kriminell werden können, und die kurzerhand aus den Vitrinen entwenden. Leider hätten sie mir aber sowieso nicht gepasst - die sahen wirklich wahnsinnig klein aus - Größe 37 oder so.
Ballerinas von Audrey Hepburn

Zum Abschluss probierten A. und ich uns dann auch noch auf den Chinesischen Stelzschuhen. Während die anderen Besucher auch völlig begeistert in den diversen High-Heels durch die Gegend stöckelten, war das für uns eher uninteressant - das übertraf nichts aus unseren Schuhschränken.Chinesische Stelzschuhe - das nennt man mal Plateauschuhe!
Eine Auswahl der Schuhe, die ausprobiert werden können
Bei weiterem Informationsbedarf, zum genauen Aufbau der Ausstellung, usw.: Die Seite der Ausstellung Alle Fotos stammen von dieser Seite.

What to wear: 30ies Party

Recently I've been wondering a lot what to wear for my friends 30ies Party in a few weeks! Not too easy, since all my fashion books start in the 40ies only! But from what I've found out you can wear glamourous dresses and headpieces (think old Hollywood Divas!). Don't forget gloves! OR you go with the Marlene Dietrich and Katherine Hepburn style. This means Marlene pants (obviously!), silk blouse, hat and blazer. Don't forget red lips and wavey hair to make it feminine (and nice underwear to feel sexy!).

1: Headpiece with feathers and tulle: H&M

2: long dress: one vintage (via netaporter.com)

3: stay-ups: H&M

4: strappy sandals: H&M

5: short dress with lace details: temperley london (via netaporter.com)

6: gloves with bow detail: H&M

1: hat: H&M
2: mesh and lace body: La Perla (via netaporter.com)
3: blazer jacket: Vivienne Westwood Anglomania (via netaporter.com)
4: satin blouse: H&M
5: grey Marlene pants: H&M

6: ring: H&M

Paris je t'aime

My favourite DIY ever: super-easy, super-quick, super-chic! ;)

All you'll need: Eiffel-Tower (mine ist from an old keychain my dad got me in the early 90ies) and a matching necklace (mine is abdomen-length).

Simply detatch the Eiffel-Tower from the keychain and put it on the necklace!

All done and dummy-proof! :)

the little vampire

I love how Alix has this sweet, innocent look, even when she's dressed up as a Vampire for Halloween!

purple royalty

I love my new ring! It would also suit a vampire costume if I was to dress up for halloween. I'm not, but I'll still wear it for roasted Maroni, hot drinks and candy at the local fair. How did it get so freezing cold over night?

she works hard for the money

My friend V. is awesome! Quote: "Of course I started way too late with my magister thesis so I'm really scared I won't get it done [...]. However I started to take on another job because I thought one can never have enough money. Well, unfortunately I don't have time for the job."

I kow how you feel!

Picture credit: http://www.fashionista.com

coco

If you haven't by now seen it: go see Coco avant Chanel! Loved it! Audrey Tautou is so graceful!

Picture credit: http://www.moviereporter.net

octopus garden

I'm currently totally jealus of my friend Anna's awesome octopus necklace by lua. Sadly too expensive for me! It looks like the one below, except the stone is clear instead onyx.
http://www.mohrmann-market.de/halskette-5.html

Safety Pin "Chanel" Bag

So, are safety pins the new studs? Inspired by this picture I saw on http://thesartorialist.blogspot.com/, I decided to do a few diy's myself.

First I tried a peace-sign on a plain black T, and really liked the outcome:

So I decided to make myself a "Chanel" Bag, and I absolutely love it!

Heres how you do it (very easy!) for shirts, bags, whatever you want to decorate.

- First decide on a symbol or shape, it just should not be too detailed (although I have seen an amazing safety-pin-bird on an blazer somewhere).

- Then draw the shape on the fabric with a pencil (or white crayon for dark fabrics). Just make sure, you use something that will wash out.

- Start pulling the safety pins throught the fabric. I found it to be easier to first just put a few, and then fill in the spaces in between as you see in the following pics

Et voilá - after about 2 hours of work I was done with my one-of-a-kind bag :)