Paris Fashion Week Runway Roundup

The fashion zoo of has come to a close, of course their is still Los Angeles, Athens and a few other non-fashion capitals, but once Paris is over, it feels over. I know I certainly am over all these runway shots! 

So here's what I thought and of course my top ten. I loved seeing Sarah Burton step up to the plate, and fulfill those incredible McQueen shoes so perfectly. I couldn't even imagine...Of course the only way I could ever wear any of the line is if I was some überhip celebrity attending some out of this world event — but if I was some überhip celebrity attending some out of this world event I would certainly rock a gown made of feathers or butterflies

As for what I would wear not being the latter: give me the cutouts blouses at Miu Miu, the midcalf skirts at Chanel, the satin at Rochas, Valentino's polka dots, Lanvin's long button-up dress, Celine's slacks, Sonia Rykiel's funky patterns and everything Yves Saint Laurent any day...my fave candids to come as well.
1) Alexander McQueen 

2) Celine

3) Chanel

4) Lanvin

5) Miu Miu

6) Nina Ricci

7) Sonia Rykiel

8) Rochas

9) Valentino

10) Yves Saint Laurent

Poor Little Wall

This is the wall in my room adorned with a painting my grandfather did when he was just a young man, antlers from the Baltic Sea, a Bob Dylan photo and my ever growing collection of old lady flower prints and empty frames that I had to begin once again when I left New York. It's way smaller than what I used to have, but it's a start. The beginning of something that will grow and grow, or at least that is what I thought. But it turns out the antique German weather station (that is permanetly stuck on schön [lovely] weather just for freezing me) will be the last thing added here.


I was recently informed that I will have to move out of my apt. on Nov 1. What did you say? Didn't you just move in there a month ago you ask? Yes. In fact I did, but apparently my landlord doesn't seem to care and even after paying rent on time and giving all the necessary paperwork he is kicking us to the streets. It is quite a disappointment after finally feeling settled in the place, and in turn Berlin. Not to mention, having to do that whole move and now house search again is beyond frustrating. But it is what it is, and there will be other walls....hopefully bigger and cheaper ones at that.

Berlin's First...Vietnamese Sandwich

First it was the taco, now another one of my favorite street food delights has finally hit Berlin. I mean a girl can only have so many kebaps, right Berliners? This city has plenty of Vietnamese restaurants — one that I go to all too often being right next to my boyfriend's house — but the Vietnamese sandwich is a whole other story.

It brings me back to the summer I first moved to New York City: waking up sticky with humidity after a long night out on Rivington Street, nothing was better than dragging myself to 1st and A to devourer a Vietnamese sando and slurp down a Vietnamese coffee from my favorite little hole in the wall. The intense spiciness and ultrasweet caffeine was a cure to rival the best of them (a jump in the ocean). Oh the good old days...


But now Sugarhigh has informed me about Babanbè at Oranienplatz, yes, Berlin's first Vietnamese sandwich shop. I can't wait to try it out and isn't it nice to talk about food now that all this fashion mumbo jumbo is over? I even have a recipe to share with you in the works...

Front Row at Chanel

These stylish ladies popped up at Chanel yesterday dressed in the requisite tweed and stripes. Who do you will show their face at Miu Miu today? I am hoping for and Olsen.

Williamsburg Walk

I just can't get over this photo Charlie Ruben took of Siri from Ringo Have a Banana walking around East Williamsburg last week. Maybe it's because I used to live in that Brooklyn neighborhood and am missing the city, maybe it's because she is wearing shorts while I am freezing in Brrrrlin, maybe it's because she looks so wee next to that big garage, or maybe it's just because it is a really cool photo. What do you think?  

Paris, Monet and Me

Yeah his prints may be to dentist offices, what Bob Marley posters are to college dorm rooms. But he is still Monet and I bet any one of you can close your eyes and see his water lilies before picturing real ones. Randomly I was talking to my dad about the impressionist painter when he was in Berlin, and how one of the highlights of his last holiday in Paris was taking a day trip to his home in the village Giverny outside the city. 

As a traveller, a foodie, a hopeless romantic and a fashion addict, Paris (cliche like Monet) has always been a magical city that I have only dreamt of visiting. But guess what! That dream will finally come true in just under a month! I am so excited, it is somewhat unbelievable. 

I will only be there for a long weekend, so a trip to Monet's home is not in the cards, but quite possibly I will attend the Monet exhibit at the Grand Palais which the NY Times is calling "the biggest art spectacle in Europe this fall." They had a few more interesting points regarding the artist and the exhibit in the interesting article "Paris Rediscovers Monet's Magic at Grand Palias."


Proust wrote that his pictures “make us adore a field, a sky, a beach, a river as though these were shrines which we long to visit, shrines we lose faith in when we see.” Reality, with its mess and noise, fails to live up to what Monet painted.

Berlin Weekend Roundup: Botanischer Garten

I had a very full weekend, one of the first in awhile where I didn't have any down time to read, relax and eat junk food and watch True Blood. Boo hoo. But no, it was certainly a good time and I did partake in a bunch of other American pleasures (I miss home!). I had some nighttime fun, as well as a long day selling clothes outside the Mauerpark flea market with my roommate (that place is such a scene! Berlin's place-to-see-and-be-seen-and-not-be-seen-buying-my-vintage-dresses. Boo hoo again!). 

But the highlight of the weekend was definitely going to the Berlin Botanischer Garten (yes, the botanical gardens) on Saturday afternoon and wandering through the green houses and outside paths, inspecting plant life, taking silly pictures and my favorite close-ups, seeing how far we could throw things and just scurrying around. Though I will say that next time I go, I will try to get my day started a little earlier so we have more than a couple hours to explore (that place is huge). But with a night like we had on Friday, what can you do?

It all went something like this: Karsten Kottbusser Tor meetup, Turkish veggie dinner, wine at Luzia on Oranienstrasse, wine at favorite little nameless Neukölln bar, Nani and friends meetup at big nameless Neukölln bar opening, photo fun, nightcap, sleeping in, american style turkey, cheddar, avo sandwiches, botanical garden adventure, milk and American chocolate chip cookies (they even say that on the package!) with roommie, American Vogue, early rise, trek to the flea market, clothes sale/people watching, tail end of Arsenal v. Chelsea, lovely dinner  at Gorki Park in Mitte, late night phone calls to, yes, America!

Jean overall dress (Atlantis Attic Vintage, NYC), gray v-neck (American Apparel), chunky knit sweater (second hand shop off of Bergmannstrasse, Berlin) brown booties (used Beacon's Closet, NYC), gray socks and tights (H&M).

Random Sunday

NEW YORK CITY—Pebbles, JoJo, and Carol on the A train, 1978.

Lover, Lovers

Don't you just love this perfect khaki cape by the Australian label Lover? I would wear it this fall while listening to Lovers, an all girl synth pop group I just discovered from Portland. Both are feminine in a way that I, uh, love, errrrrrr. Two songs below...What do you think?

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Photo by Vanessa Jackman.

Milan Fashion Week Roundup

A wee bit after the fact, but here are my picks from Milan. Usually I am not so into the designers that show in Italy — modern, logo centric, old-money, white sunglasses, tanned skinned, business suit kind of looks that are just so not me. But this season I did come across a bunch of pieces that I certainly wouldn´t mind getting my hands on or at least their thrift store look-alikes. It seems I am either loving something really feminine (hello floor-sweeping florals) or completely masculine (ahem pleated slacks and blazers). Oh and of course I will forever and always love a jumpsuit and I can´t get enough beige, camel, tan, whatever-you-call-it. What are you loving so far this fashion season? 

Bottega Veneta

Etro

D&G

Iceberg

Alberta Ferretti

Fendi