Romantique and Rebel

Posted on August 8, 2018

When Fashion meets Art – Toile de Jouy

The legendary French Toile de Jouy fabric is the star print of this season!

Toile stands for fabric and Jouy stands for Jouy-en-Josas, a village just south of Versailles, where the fabric was first manufactured.

Usually printed with typically domestic scenes hailing from 17th-century France, its the ultimate elegant, summery and romantic summer fabric! Featured in the 2019 resort collections of Oscar de la Renta, Dior and Max Mara and rocked by Meghan Markle and Selena Gomez, this trend has only just begun…

Leading the pack with the first collection of the year is Weekend Max Mara who collaborated with American artist Richard Saja on their “Trophy Day” Summer 2018 capsule collection. The richly embroidered pieces are inspired by the historic Ascot races.

Richard Saja is known for delicately embellishing historic prints. His art has been exhibited in New York, Paris, London, Berlin and the National Museum of Embroidery in South Korea.

Below I’m wearing a cream and red Toile de Jouy dress by Weekend Max Mara. I’m utterly in love with this gorgeous frock I snapped up whilst vacaying in Palermo with my Mum and hubby. To make this look more modern, I paired it with Superga sneakers and a brown, wide crocodile printed belt for a casual-cool yet elegant style.

The perfect accessory to go with my dress of the same collection is my Sicilian straw basket Sicily Bag, handmade and embroidered, each piece is unique. I’m wearing the “Gigi” model in size medio.

Amelia Windsor wore a Cruise 19 Dior red and white cotton dress with Toile de Jouy print.

Toile de Jouy figures prominently in Dior’s 2019 resort collection: As a print, a jacquard, appliqué, embroiderred, in, satin, silk, lace, even on a trench coat.

Meghan Markle wearing a Toile de Jouy dress by Oscar de la Renta, Resort Collection 2019.

Aanais Demoustier attends the Christian Dior Haute Couture Fall Winter 2018/2019 show. She wore the gorgeous Toile de Jouy pattern on a fitted blazer and trousers.

Posted on August 5, 2018

The Shirt Dress: Throw and go

Dresses/ Featured/ Romantique

What a summer it’s been in Europe! Since April, we’ve enjoyed months on end of wall-to-wall sunshine. This can be challenging when faced with the daily morning wardrobe dilemma: What to wear?

Meet the shirt dress, the sartorial all rounder to see you from spring, through summer and right into the golden rays of autumn. Dress it down with sneakers and a jean jacket or up with pumps and a blazer.

If you think this hardworking wardrobe staple is too much of a safe (boring?) option, then check out the fashion houses’ 2018 interpretations. You can breath new life into the classic piece by adding whimsical elements.

I’m wearing a Peanuts printed shirt dress by French Fashion House Paul and Joe sister (the heroines of romantic yet elegant fashion) in my favourite cut, nipped in waist and skater dress for that retro vibe.

Embroidered pom pom bag by Sicily Bag. White leather espadrilles by Marina Rinaldi.

More shirt dress inspiration:

Love this Parisian street style version: Peter Pan collared, sky blue 50s dress.

Who wore it better? Alexa Chung wearing a relaxed fitted shirt dress and a straw bag to beat the heat in New York.

Posted on September 12, 2017

Transitional staple: The jumpsuit

Featured/ Jumpers/ Romantique/ Trousers

Rocking that romper by Max and Co. Straw bag by Sicily Bag.

Phew, summer has flown by and now it’s time for the falling leaves, shorter days and chillier nights. It’s been super busy for me, settling into my new job at Amazon as well as finding my feet in Berlin. The move from London last year still feels so fresh and raw and being a foreigner in my home town has had its challenges!

When life gets busy like this, I’d like to grab comfortable yet stylish wardrobe staples. Taa da, meet the jumpsuit. It’s modern and looks pulled together without trying too hard. In summer, just wear it solo, in autumn, just throw on a blazer, a cardi, a denim jacket, a bomber jacket, a tuxedo, a leather jacket, I could go on and on. Dress it up or down, in sneakers or high heels. See, the options are endless!

I love my jumpsuits to be made of comfy jersey material that doesn’t cling to the body but drapes around it in a flattering way. I prefer dark colours as they are slimming and make the jumpsuit look elegant and dressy from desk to Happy Hour!

I’m wearing a two toned jumpsuit by Max and Co, sandals by Minelli and Sicilian straw bag by Sicily Bag.

Lace coffa straw bag by Sicily Bag.

Posted on June 22, 2017

Meow! Favourite summer trend Cat prints

Featured/ Romantique/ Shirts

I’m wearing: Cat blouse by Max Mara weekend. Denim by AG Jeans. Straw basket by Sicily Bag.

I’m overjoyed to see cat prints everywhere this season to add to my growing feline centric fashion collection ;-).

A maritime and breezy blue-white striped shirt topped up with a Peter Pan collar and embroidered cat prints? I’m in! Max Mara Weekend’s latest capsule cat print collection “Chatmise” epitomises all my dreams come true!

Pair your stylish cat eye sunglasses with the playful print. If you’re unsure if you can pull this off, start with just a cat embroidered collar to ease into the trend.

Cat embroidered collar blouse. Another delectable piece by Max Mara Weekend.

Cat print blouse by Max Mara Weekend. Polka dot shorts by J Crew.

Fellow cat lady Alexa Chung wearing a cat print dress by Louis Vuitton.

Posted on May 1, 2017

The Holy Grail of Fashion: The Trenchcoat

Coats/ Featured/ Rebel Alexa

The same applies to the classic trench coat. A permanent resident in your wardrobe and the ideal staple to stroll in the city when the autumnal wind is whistling or the spring rain is pouring down on you.

The best trench coats come in all shapes and sizes, from neutral shades in classic shapes to stand-out voluminous, textured and colourful styles guaranteed to liven-up your wardrobe. It’s a timeless classic I believe every girl should own.

What I wore: Trenchcoat by Jaeger, jeans by Max Mara Weekend, Shoes by Graceland

Posted on May 1, 2017

The Comeback of the Polo Shirt

Featured/ Rebel Alexa

The Polo Shirt comes out of the closet and back into Fashion. Now that the temperatures have officially started to rise, it’s time to start sporting our warm weather must-haves. One such staple for me is the polo shirt. See the coolest non-preppy ways to wear the revamped the polo shirt this spring and summer.

A polo shirt with modern denim shapes? Absolutely.

A polo shirt with a silk skirt? Definitely.

Thanks to a few modern styling tricks!

So go ahead, give the polo shirt a whirl this summer season!

Posted on April 17, 2017

Spring coats: Of Kitten and Waffles

Coats/ Featured/ Romantique

Yay! What seemed liked an endless, cold winter in Berlin is finally over! Now we play the typical April game of bouncing between sparkling summery weather and cloudy grey gloom!

It’s time to hang up my snuggly arctic parka and opt for something lighter: My current key pieces are a cutesy kitten print coat and a waffle coatigan!

Admittedly, you have to look closely to spot the kitten heads within the floral pattern of my jacquard coat by Paul and Joe Sister (The French designer known for Parisian chic with a twist and a dollop of kitten sweetness on top). Thanks to Rebel for snapping this up for me at TK Maxx!

My other favourite spring coat is a Chanel-esque coatigan by Max & Co. A few years back I photographed a stylish Londoner wearing a similar quilted waffle coat in baby blue at Fashion Week. While she totally pulled this off, the colored pattern dangerously bordered bathroom robe chic. What I love about my coat is the easy wearability with dresses or denim, plus its black colour gives it a grown-up, elegant feel reminiscent of a black quilted chanel bag.

I am wearing: Quilted knitted coat by Max & Co. Cropped Jeans by AG Jeans. Straw Bag by Sicily Bag. Pink satin sneakers by Superga. Banana earrings by N2 Les Nereides.

Spring feeling at Prenzlauer Berg

Meow! Who can spot the kitten heads within the florals? Coat by Paul and Joe sister. Boucle bag by Zara.

Flashback to 2014 London Fashion Week and this fabulous waffle coat!

Posted on February 12, 2017

Why the shearling coat is worth investing in

Coats/ Featured/ London/ Romantique/ Wardrobe

Just a few weeks left of this longest winter in history, or at least it feels that way! Winter is still keeping us in it’s freezing grip as if to prove it still has a few weeks hold over us!

It’s hard to find a coat that keeps you warm as well as looking decently stylish. The shearling coat is one of those and went through a renaissance last year thanks to Acne’s biker style shearling coat, worn by many celebs including our favourite style icon Alexa Chung.

Formerly knows as sheepskin coat, the toasty jacket looks modern in urban shapes like a parka or a biker jacket. Its versatility is the biggest plus: Wear it up or down, pairing it with your cocktail dress or your jeans and breton shirt like Parisians do!

I’m giving my shearling parka (Stefanel) a French makeover, paired with red beret, casual jeans (Boss Orange) and chelsea boots (AGL). Sicilian embroidered basket by Sicily Bag.

Street style London in Soho

Alexa Chung going all British on us with her Burberry scarf and Acne velocite shearling jacket.

Karli Kloss prooves that the shearling jacket can also be rocked over an romantique plaid skirt and boots.

Red beret by Seeberger.

At home with Romantique and Rebel – Interior Pastel Chic

Decor/ Featured/ Rebel Alexa/ Romantique

Rebel’s living room

Over the years we’ve shared with you our favourite outfits, our favourite food, our favourite places and pastimes. Now it’s time to open the doors to our homes! Both Rebel and I recently revamped our homes: Rebel completely overhauled her house in Hamburg she shares with Mr Rebel. I moved from London to Berlin just a few months ago.

Rebel:

My style is simple and minimal. The most important accents are colours and black and white photos, framed in Ikea’s Ribba. Iconic fashionistas of their time, Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe are strong women I love looking at every day!

Pops of colour:

Colour is one of the best ways to make a place homely and stylish. On my wall, I combined white, grey and lavender to create a graphic, light accent wall.

A mint chair by Kartell provides some colour and a contemporary retro feel.

Wooden floors and white carpets provide a calm canvas for the colours and graphic photos.

Decor: I love setting accents with cushions and throws which I swap every 6 months to fit the seasons. In spring, I love tulips to decorate the flat and banana leaf plants. I work out on the “Concept 2” rowing machine, the same the German football national team sweats on!

Romantique:

One of the best things about moving to Berlin was to rent a flat twice the size of our previous Wimbledon condo and to furnish it with my own pieces. Goodbye to the days of having to live with landlord’s furniture (think black leather sofas…) and wardrobes in the living room due to lack of space.

In Germany, rental flats are completely unfurnished, some even without kitchen, as people tend to stay many decades in the same flat. So for the first time in years, I could let my imagination run free and create my dream home!

Pastel colours

I love my interior design to be like my wardrobe: Classic, with a playful romantic twist and burst of colours! I always dreamed about a pink accent wall! This statement wall colour in the living room is called “Wolken in rose” (clouds in pink), a grown-up grey-ish pink, pretty but not too sweet.

A quilted white leather sofa (Landskrona by Ikea) emphasizes the dreamy look. The rug repeats the pastel theme with pink and turquoise geometric pattern.

Mix cheap and expensive

Just like with outfits, I like mixing and matching iconic interior design classics with low budget furniture like Ikea. The standing lamp shade “Constanza” by Luceplan fits with every style and mood, revamping any lounge just like a statement handbag would do!

Romantique’s dining area

Combine old and new

I love iconic mid-century pieces as they can easily be mixed with antique architecture. The colourful Eames chairs (psssst, they are not authentic) give the country style eating table a modern look.

The bedroom has an airy feel and is very bright, reminding me of a breezy Hotel room by the beach. The turquoise wardrobe (Pax, Ikea) and matching chestof drawers complete the maritime look.

Balcony with Italian mosaic table. Our gorgeous “Altbau” flat is located in Berlin’s trendy Prenzlauer Berg.

Posted on December 11, 2016

Berlin Cold Weather Style

Coats/ Featured/ Rebel Alexa/ Romantique

Winter style doesn’t have to be boring! Sub zero temperatures mean you can experiment with lots of knitted accessories, layering and toasty cocoon coats and throws.

On a recent trip to the opening of the Christmas markets in Berlin, Rebel and I wrapped up warmly in our favourite winter staples to combat the cold.

Rebel winter style:

“Never without my converse chucks” is Rebel’s motto in winter too. Pop a lambskin insole into your Converse and you’re good to go in the colder season. Complete the look with laid back, perennial French basics such as the beret and the nautical pea coat. A red checkered scarf provides a pop of colour in the bleaker season.

Rebel winter pea coat berlin streetstyle

Rebel is wearing: Pea coat by Calvin Klein. Beret by Seeberger. Culotte denim by Jbrand. Red checkered scarf by Gant. Personlised converse chucks.

Romantique winter style:

After moving from London to Berlin a few months ago, I decided I need an arctic parka to keep me warm in Berlin’s notoriously cold winter. I’ve been pampered by the ever so grey and wet but mild marine climate in the UK. After all, there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing! After plenty of research I invested in a classic green down parka with an over-sized, straight cut. It goes with virtually everything from my beloved round collar dresses to denim or skirts. I can even walk 4 km to work in this baby in -4 degrees and not feel the cold.