Multi-Tonal

I love the idea of using one colour in different shades and tones from head to toe. I think that usually it needs just a fleck of another hue in there to bring out how beautiful the whole combination atually is.

I totally fell in love with this Peter Pilotto top and the rest kind of fell into place...

Find all the details directly at Motilo by clicking on the image!

Patterned Blazer - wear it forever?

So I've been wearing my plain blazers like the good girl that I am and even if we're talking pastel colours, they will stand the test of time and give me a fantastic cost per wear ratio.

But what about patterned blazers? I have a H&M blazer that sits in the back of my wardrobe and rarely sees the light of day and this is mainly due that its pale blue floral pattern doesn't go with much. At the same time it's a bit too dull to stand out by itself.

I think the key is in getting a pattern that gives the blazer the chance to be the statement piece. Sure, this season we will be mixing and clashing our patterns but for the item to have real staying power and for you to love it and dig it out again and again, it needs to be special enough to look great next season, when we won't be so clash-mad anymore. 

There are some fantastic pieces out there, designer as well as high-street, and whereas my plain blazer top-choice was a Topshop beauty for just £40, the selection below will see me pick that beautiful tuxedo style, paisley print blazer from Etro.At £1,095 you'd want to get quite a few wears out of it!

patterned blazers - designer vs highstreet by verystef featuring a lace jacket

Alexander McQueen collarless jacket
£3,275 - mytheresa.com

Etro printed jacket
£1,095 - mytheresa.com

River Island lace jacket
£50 - riverisland.com

H m jacket
£30 - hm.com

H m jacket
£15 - hm.com

Stella McCartney striped jacket
£1,125 - liberty.co.uk

Wardrobe Staple Blazer Goes Spring

A plain blazer has got to be one of the main staples in my wardrobe - I'd say it probably is in most girl's wardrobe. It has the ability to smarten up an outfit in an instant, even jeans look super smart with a sharp blazer worn over it. Similarly it can take the edge of a dress that's a bit too sweet: smarter than a bike jacket but more edgy than a cardigan it will toughen up that pretty dress by lending a bit of androgynous style.

I have got a few blazers that have been with me for years: tux style from Zara, double-breasted mauve from Topshop, boyfriend in charcoal, beige with black piping (very public school) from Mango to name a few.

For this season I was looking for a pastel or candycolour blazer, especially since my mauve one has seen better days. The designers have paraded them around the catwalk and the highstreet has followed suit (ahem):

Spring Blazers - plain by verystef featuring a tux jacket

H M tailored jacket
£25 - hm.com

Maison Martin Margiela blazer
£985 - net-a-porter.com

Topshop cropped jacket
£55 - topshop.com

Boyfriend jacket
£40 - topshop.com

Tux jacket
£65 - topshop.com

Acne chambray jacket
£370 - mytheresa.com

Stella McCartney twill jacket
£995 - net-a-porter.com

Vivienne Westwood Anglomania jacket
£400 - net-a-porter.com

My favourite one is definitely the Topshop blazer in coral (sorry, Topshop: watermelon). I think it's just the right length and cut to be very versatile and in a colour that will go with lots of other items in my wardrobe. Spring is here!

Golden Casual

I decided that using the title "what I wore today" is getting a bit too monotonous. I shall continue to tag the posts accordingly but now come up with descriptive and/or entertaining titles. No pressure then.

As in many offices, ours operates a "dress down Friday" policy, i.e. even the non-creative/IT/... are allowed to wear denim on said day. I am not hugely into wearing jeans, probably because I practically used to live in them and now find this option a bit... dull. 

Please don't shout at me. 

I know, there are skinnies, bellbottoms, bootcut, boyfriend, straightleg... And then there are all the different washes: used, dark indigo, black, white, coloured and (let's not forget since I am German) stonewashed. Of course I do wear jeans, I probably have about 10 pairs but as a general rule, I don't tend to enjoy outfits containing an ordinary pair of jeans as much as those containing other items of clothing.

Anyway, I thought I'd use the denim-carte-blanche as a sign to dig out my Warehouse frayed denim skirt, which I must have had in my wardrobe for about 6 years.  It's still pretty cold and windy out there, so I am wearing some trusty 40 deniers and my boots as well as a thin, longsleeved top. I paired the skirt with a top from Tesco (just love that print and a bit of a bargain at £12) and a H&M jumper made up of, what can only be described as a golden flecked knit.

Skirt, Warehouse, AW??

Top, Tesco 

Jumper, H&M

Belt, Warehouse

Boots, Dune

What I wore today

Today I wore one of my favourite dresses. It's by Hoss Intropia, a Spanish label, which I discovered a while ago and who recently (hallelujah) opened an eShop. This dress channels the "sofa print" trend and I think it has a bit of a 60s vibe going one. As it's still not even near spring-temperature-like, I wore a thin longsleeve top underneath.

Somebody was poking fun at the fact that

a) I cut off/cover my face in my photos and

b) always cross my legs in them, too.

a) Well, not only is it pretty awkward taking pictures of yourself in a mirror (which obviously also means, no flash), I am also not a big fan of being in photographs and am trying to get over that awkwardness myself.

b) dto awkwardness... or I could just pass it off as my signature thing.

As my camera is covering part of the dress, two full body shots.

 

Dress, Hoss Intropia, AW10

Boots, Dune, ??

Necklaces, ??

What I wore today

Probably not the most flattering outfit ever as it actually *does* make my bum look big.

I like the pattern of the dress with that matte silk waistcoat though and think it's a great "between-seasons" combination.

Dress, H&M, AW11

Belts, H&M (set), AW11

Waistcoat, Warehouse, ??

Boots, M&S, AW10?
Bangle, Miss Selfrige
Bracelets, Topshop

Not just a pretty dress

There is something about this dress that made me want to go pretty and a edgy. I was actually looking for a pair of DocMartens but couldn't find any.

Anyway. Amazing dress, amazing shoes and I like the different shades of pink within all other items.

Get to the details by clicking right through!

Wednesday Lunchtime Treat

Wednesday. Already? Only?! 

Seriously, this week I don't know whether I am coming or going so having a 5-minute break over lunch to hunt out some great deals are more than just a treat - they are a downright necessity to keep me sane.

Head to Dorothy Perkins for and extra 10% off their already up to 50% reduced sales lines. But hurry: the extra 10% off only apply until tomorrow!

ASOS is holding a limited-time-only-50%-off-50-key-pieces-sale.  And just like DottyP's deal, this one is running out by tomorrow. But fret not and check back regularly as they are promising us daily-deals for the whole of March.

After something a bit more... wholesome? Boden is tempting us with 25% off all women's dresses, so if you're after an easy to wear yet chique jersey number, you could do a whole lot worse! I actually love their Riviera dress but if I want to get it at the 25% off I better get my order in: the offer is only on until Monday 19th March.

And last but not least, pop by Cocosa. They have some fantastic designers on at the moment, a special weeding boutique (gowns, footwear, lingerie) and popular items are selling out fast. My current favourite is definitely Maria Grachvogel (sorry Viv). Her graphic prints are absolutely amazing. Ok, just the one to wet your appetite.

Happy shopping!

Less wear, more wish

I can't remember when exactly I came across Audrey Kawasaki and her art for the first time but I remember that I loved her pieces right form the beginning.

Art Nouveau references, oil painted on wood and images that are somewhere between weird and wonderful. 

"...both innocent and erotic... attractive yet disturbing... manga comics and Art Nouveau... sharp graphic imagery ... combined with ... natural grain of ... wood panels"

all images Audrey Kawasaki

I couldn't put it any better than the artist herself (or whoever presents her so eloquently on her website), hence me quoting.

Anyway, I have been lusting after a tangible piece of her work ever since but have always managed to miss the limited editions sale or been hopelessly outbid on ebay. The great news is that she has 

a) opened a sale on an open edition print and I really hope that she will release some of her back catalogue in that way 

and (even better) that

b) Hint Mint will be releasing a limited edition set of tins.

The tins will be releaed later this year and I can't wait. I will just have to find a way to keep using them after the mints are all gone. Maybe as a business card holder..?

New Label Lust - Andrew Gn

Every girl needs a "I'm a princess" dress.

When I was little that might have been that pink tutu that my mum sewed by hand and attached to a leotard. I am not talking a bit of dowdy voile, I am talking layers upon layers of stiff tulle with more layers of organza on top. How I cried when somebody kept pulling on it until it ripped. Sad day that was.

I am convinced the allure of the big/gorgeous/unabashedly fabulous look-at-me dress is why some of us get married. 

So if you're not getting married, you could opt for couture (funds permitting) or head to Moda Operandi's Andrew Gn trunk show. According to nymag the "Paris-based designer develops his embroideries in-house and creates his own buttons and embellishments". Just look at these two absolute amazing beauties:

 Silk Jacquard Evening Dress  £5,856

Lace Evening Dress  £5,556

And if you don't have around £6,000 lying around... Mum, do you still have that sewing machine?

Swatch vs Tiffany

No, I do not have any hot news about one of the big legal story (as reported by the Independent) surrounding the Swiss matchmaker and the place that girls dream of. I'm not so hot on my courtroom speak and actually I don't think it's that hot a story. Big money but all about a failed relationship rather than stolen designs. Well, we're not talking Louboutin vs YSL, are we?

Anyway, I just felt like a little Swatch vs. Tiffany face-off was in order. Opposite end of the budgets, but why not?!

images Swatch and Tiffany

£105 -Swatch

£105 -Swatch

£111 - Swatch

 
Tiffany -£3,890

Tiffany - £3,890

Tiffany - £7,720

I wonder whether the lovely people at Tiffany ever considered incorporating skulls into their designs...

What I wore today

I actually wore this outfit a few days ago and just forgot to publish the picture!

Dress (Warehouse, AW?? - years ago!)

Cardigan (Zero, AW??)

Boots (M&S, AW10?)

Necklace (Topshop)

Warrior Woman

Sometimes you feel like you need that extra bit of armour...

Probably a *bit* overdressed for the boardroom but surely an outfit that would make you feel very empowered.

The lovely people from Motilo commented on my post btw and informed me that they are "working on new features for the site which will be finalised this year"; I assume this was in reference to my comment re. not being able to add items to their lists.

Go on, Motilo - don't let us wait too long!

Springtime Laptop Bags

I'm a bit of a geek. Not necessarily in a sit-in-a-corner-capable-of-a-Salander-like-hacker-overtake fashion and not even in a know-lots-of-answers-at-University-Challenge way. But I do like my gadgets, have been known to enjoy playing the odd board game (and no, Monopoly & co do not count!), put my CDs in alphabetical order and probably get most excited about accessories that have a real use and aren't just pretty to look at.

There is my Smythson iPhone cover in a gorgeous minty colour. My monogrammed Smythson travel wallet, which Mr. G gave me for my last birthday (and almost made me cry) and my Mulberry wallet (currently at the Mulberry clinic). All of these were selected carefully not just on looks but mainly on function, in fact, I stopped just short of unloading my wallet's content in the Mulberry store to stuff it all into some of the goods on display.

Carrying around my company laptop in its Dell bag, was not exactly a pleasant experience. Not only was the bag ugly (black, cheap polyester), it also wasn't as practical as I would have hoped an ugly bag to be; the strap for example was so long, that I could not carry it on my shoulder comfortably.

Looking for an alternative, I soon stumbled across Knomo, stylish, yet clever and functional bags for your laptop. I have since acquired a few different bags, trolleys and laptop sleeves there and can only recommend them for their quality, well-thought-out details and easy style.

I am currently carrying my laptop in this black Carnaby model, very classic and (I like this) not obviously looking like a laptop bag.

With spring in the air, fresh colours soon to be on my feet, and the highstreet awash with even more colour, I am lusting after something a bit fresher and in keeping with my brighter mood, so these are my favourites:

£950 Mulberry

£795 Mulberry

£245 LK Bennett

£150 Knomo

£40 Asos

£245 LK Bennett

£245 LK Bennett

£150 Knomo



Now, they are not all strictly speaking laptop bags, but big enough to accommodate one (within a sleeve, so there is my practical side coming through) and buying an item that can multi-task surely is the epitome of practicality?!