March | 2014 | Romantique and Rebel

Posted on March 29, 2014

Karlie Kloss at Vogue Festival in London

Romantique

What a day it’s been! London was looking its best: Under blue skies and warm temperatures, the Vogue Fashion Festival commenced at London’s Southbank. At the festival, I attended the talk on Personal Style led by Alexa Chung (check back for the story on R&R soon). More fun than attending the talk was to mingle with fashionistas and fellow bloggers who strutted their stuff at the Thames river bank. Later in the afternoon, model Karlie Kloss arrived for a photo session amongst the festival goers. Her rather eye catching outfit consisted of a high-waisted, purple metallic leather pencil skirt, purple beaded varsity jacket adorned with lipsticks, kooky cute pink pom-pom shoes and a polka dotted rucksack, all from House of Holland, RTW Fall 2014! Fashion at it’s best, when it’s all about fun. Karlie will speak at the Festival about what it’s like to be a model tomorrow.

Karlie looked cute, I loved her wild hairstyle. She seemed very open and happy to talk and pose with curious bystanders.

Karlie’s crazy, loud 80s outfit is from House of Holland, RTW Fall 2014

Check out her turquoise nail varnish!

Posted on March 29, 2014

Barbour: Rock ‘n’ Roll

Blazer / Jackets/ Rebel Alexa

I really like the brand Barbour because there is no fashion show and no advertising campaign featuring Kate Moss in the pipeline. Once you’ve got a Barbour in your cupboard, it never leaves. I grew to love my Barbours jacket – it’s almost like they become part of the family, part of the royal family? Better leave the golden retriever and the shotgun at home.

The Barbour can be worn with just about anything – from a woolly jumper to a cocktail dress. As such, it fits in perfectly with this season’s layered hippydeluxe vibe and can be used to “toughen up” a ruffle skirt, for example, or dress down a chiffon maxi-dress and if you’re not wearing it, you can even sit on it. It just works really hard!

On me:Barbour Jacket, Tribeca denim, Madonna Shirt by H&M, BCBGeneration leopard flats

Posted on March 26, 2014

Brocade Skirt and Bows

Bags/ Skirts/ Wardrobe

Spring is in the air and I’m transitioning into the warmer season in Laduree colours: Fondant pink, nougat brown and baby blue.

If this pink brocade tulip skirt doesn’t scream romantic and girly, I don’t know what will. Rather than going for the ever popular blogger style of clashing girly with rough biker boots & studs, I decided to keep this look cutsy cute: A Bow white shirt is the perfect partner in crime for the embroidered tulip skirt. Delicate kitten heels in baby blue are the cherries on the top. The brown leather jacket provides a slight edge, but not too rock n’ roll! Now let summer commence!

I’m wearing:

Pink tulip skirt from Alberta Ferretti
Embroidered handbag from Dolce & Gabbana
Bow white shirt from Ralph Lauren
Pointy kitten heels from Logan
Leather jacket from Massimo Dutti
Pink Ballerina Earrings from Les Nereides

Thanks to Mummy Romantique and Rebel for lending this wonderful Dolce and Gabbana flower embossed handbag to me. It’s Romantique personified!

Posted on March 22, 2014

Fashion Sisters: Imitating our Icons BB & Jackie

Coats/ Denim/ Rebel Alexa/ Romantique/ Wardrobe

Brigitte Bardot as a Ballet dancer and Rebel practicing ballet at the Ballet School as a 15 year old in East Berlin.

As part of our Fashion Sisters series, we are channeling our favourite fashion icons this week, Brigitte Bardot and Jackie Kennedy!

Rebel: Just like me, Brigitte Bardot initially intended to pursue a career as a Ballet dancer before she was discovered as an actress. Her style is super feminine yet casual, I especially love her signature Capri pants and flat ballet slippers.

Look inspired by BB. Below I’m wearing:

Ballet pumps from Pretty Ballerina, floral jeans from Citizen of Humanity, sunglasses from Céline, headscarf from Hermés, black jumper from Tk Maxx.

Romantique: For this week’s sisters challenge, I chose to style myself like Jackie Kennedy! Rebel always says that I look like her, especially my profile. I can’t really see it myself, but I gladly take this compliment on board! After all, Jackie Kennedy personifies good taste.

My favourite fashion eras are the 50s and 60s, the most flattering time for women. Jackie Kennedy’s style repertoire included all of my favourite wardrobe items of this time: Sleek shift dresses dresses, A-line mini dresses, trench coats, midi-heeled shoes and fabulous sunglasses, all worn with an inimitable elegance.

I am wearing:

A-line black mini dress from Max & Co, bug like sunglasses from Chloé, trench coat from Max and Co, mini bag from Gianfranco Ferré.

Posted on March 20, 2014

Parisienne Hippie Chic

Accessoires/ Jumpers/ Wardrobe

From the fake Parisian Diane Kruger, whose relaxed and impeccable style continues to impress us, we move over to Bérengère, a real Parisian showing us how to do effortless Hippie Chic.

Bérengère is my lovely colleague here in London, a newly married Parisian from Versailes, living in London’s little France, South Kensington.

Known as “Berry” to the non-French speakers in the office , Bérengère’s gallic style is epitomised by her skilful mix of high-end fashion with high-street, in her tousled hair style, and in the subtleness of her make-up.

Want to know more about Berry’s style? Read an in depth-interview with her on her fashion secrets here.

Bérengère is wearing:

Aztec print poncho-esque cardigan from a shop in Notting Hill ‘Skinny Skimmer’ Jeans from GAP
Tan Chelsea Boots from Massimo Dutti
Nail varnish from Essie
Turquoise ring from Gucci
Necklace from Van Cleef

Berengere London Street style Aztec poncho

Inside Berry’s cosmetic bag:

· Pivoine Flora Handcreme from L’Occitane

· Exaggerate Eyeliner from Rimmel

· Rouge Caresse Lipstick from Loreal in “Rock ‘n mauve”

Posted on March 15, 2014

Spring Super Stripes

Dresses/ Romantique

The sunshine arrived this weekend in London and I’m more than happy to leave my thick tights and winter coats in the cupboard (yes, it was warm enough to go out without tights). My summer clothes are still in storage, so I chose to wear a fresh, stripey look for the first warm day of the year. Rather than relying on my trusted navy striped shirts, I went for a more graphic take on the Breton look. Thick bands of denim blue and beige adorn my two-toned dress with a vertical stripe running through the middle, just for the fun of it.

I am wearing:

Dress from Max and Co SS2014
Pointy snake skin flats from Dolce Vita at TK Maxx
Pink handbag from Bally
Paris Earrings from Les Nereides
Trench coat from Stefanel

Banish the Breton this summer and go for big and bold stripes this spring!

Mr Romantique and I went to Notting Hill today for a hearty Honest Burger. Sun hungry Londoners were soaking up the rays outside the bars and restaurants.

Posted on March 12, 2014

Fashion sisters: One look, two styles. The classic trench coat

Coats/ Rebel Alexa/ Romantique/ Wardrobe

The Trench coat is a non-negotiable wardrobe stable, re-interpreted and worn a million times, I’m sure you have one in your cupboard, too. Rebel and I are no different, we love wearing our trench coats every season, they never look dated.

Rebel: My trench coat is the classic Burberry trench which I bought in London back in 1998! Yes, it’s 14 years old, as good as new and it proves the theory: Buy staples in good quality. If you look after them, they’ll serve you many, many years. For me, the trench is totally fashion forward. From business to casual, from spring to fall, from Hamburg to Sydney – the trench is perfect for any time of the year.

I prefer wearing my trench with skinny jeans on the weekend for a sleek, timeless look.

Romantique: I think everyone should own two trench coats so you don’t wear one out too much. Maybe have a classic one and a trendy one. Or a light coloured one and a black / navy or khaki trench coat.

Like my whole wardrobe, I like the classic cuts with a girly twist. My timeless trench coat gets it girly factor from the playful pleats at the bottom. If you’re like me, look for coats with clean lines and girly details like flounces and ruffles at the hem / sleeves or pleats.

REBEL is wearing: Burberry trench coat, batik skinny jeans, powder pink blouse and rhinestone sandals by Steve Madden.

ROMANTIQUE is wearing: Navy trench coat from Max & Co SS2014. Soft pink bag from Bally, ballet pumps from Rouge bunny Rouge and purple tights from Falke.

Posted on March 8, 2014

My Best style for my “fat” days

Rebel Alexa/ Wardrobe

We all have those days when we feel fat and bloated. I currently have 5 kg too much on the hips. What To Wear When You Are Feeling Fat? In this case for my “fat” times I have a cheap skinny jeans from H&M in my wardorbe. For casual days, I pull on my favorite pair of skinny jeans but a larger size (31/32) than usual. Relaxed fit jeans with a little extra room in the tummy, hips and thighs and an oversized tee are just perfect.

On me: Skinny Jeans by H&M, White Shirt, Blazer by IQ Berlin, dark blue Vivien Westwood Scarf, Givenchy Cosmetic Gift Bag, Hogan Boots & Sunglasses

Posted on March 7, 2014

The fake Parisian : 5 Style Staples of Diane Krueger

Romantique

Diane in a flouncy dress, socks and oxford lace-ups

What is a fake Parisian I hear you ask. Well, a fake Parisian is a woman not indigenous to France, who is representing the chic and natural style of France even better than French women do. Diane Krueger, born and raised in Germany and living in Paris, epitomises this casual French chic. I think she’s the best dressed celebrity out there!

Her look is diverse and ranges from innocent Peter-Pan-collared 50s dresses to fierce rock chic outfits complete with distressed denim and high-heels. She is a never-ending inspiration on how to do effortless chic and one of the very few actresses who looks elegant not only on the red carpet, but off-duty.

Her look can be boiled down to 5 ever-recurring basics:

1. The Pink Skinny Jeans – Diane is a master of clashes. She loves clashing romance with Rebel, tailored with voluminous. And in this fashion, she pairs tight-fitting skinny jeans with a casual Leopard shirt, Breton shirt and grey comfy top.

2. The 50s French Coquette style – The above outfits are my favourite on Diane. The 50s style dress – fitted at the top with a flared, knee-length skirt, is so flattering and feminine on her. The cherry on the top is the beret and the Peter Pan collar on the monochrome Chanel dress. Love!

3. The Breton Shirt – also known as the shirt Mariniere, is a stripey classic. Diane makes this style look young and fresh by pairing it with used denim and high-heeled sandals. She rocks the stripes as a cropped top combined with a midi-length skirt or Ali Baba trousers. Classic with a twist done to perfection!

4. The Hermes “Constance” Bag – the cute little cross body bag is quintessential French. Diane herself said she doesn’t like splashing out lots of money for fashion and it took her 6 years to pluck up the courage to buy this iconic but pricey bag.

5. The straw hat: Rather than banning this cute accessories to the beach, Diane rocks this during the daytime in the city. Like the little straw bag, this is becoming a new summer classic fast!

“The French woman is sufficient, she dresses classically with a twist. She takes less care of herself compared to her American counterpart. American women are impeccable, the French strong point is their casual appearance. The fact she likes fashion and beautiful clothes doesn’t make her a frivolous person, they are part of her heritage and culture”.

Odile Gilbert, Studio Hairdresser. Taken from the book “Parisian Street Style –A guide to effortless Chic” by Isabelle Thomas & Frederique Veysset.

Posted on March 2, 2014

Colour Combination: Red and Pink

Accessoires/ Jumpers/ Rebel Alexa

How to dress: pink with red? Love the color pink, but not sure what you should pair it with? Red and pink combination create warmth, vibration, excitement. It doesn’t have to be Valentine’s Day or February to incorporate pink and red into your wardrobe or home. Pink with red is a Hallmark Valentine card, the kind where the roses are in bristly relief. Pink with red Yves Saint Laurent used this colour scheme in his legendary times and you know what? Red and pink it works…but

…there’s something about combining two shades that are close together on the colour wheel that makes you look quite sophisticated. The key is to make it bold and decisive, so everyone knows you are making a deliberate choice to wear red and pink together.

On me: Pink cashmere sweater by Costello, red scarf with white hearts by Moschino, Red Sunglasses by Paul Smith, black and white pattern Coat by GF Ferré, Skinny Jeans by H&M

Perhaps you’d rather start with a combination of red and pink in your living room and decorating walls, tables, pillows and flowers but the rules are the same as in fashion. A colour combination such this says: I’m courageous, happy, self-confident and have a strong feeling for colors.

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March 2014