A weekend at home...

...is the best one can have in order to get a rest from the big city life. Not that Cologne would be that small but compared to London ... no, there's just no comparison. Although I love the hectic life back here, I enjoyed some calm times at home with a cleaned up room, plenty of space, good, healthy (!) food and above all: my parents and friends. 

Besides from treating myself with excellent meals and other things you just can feel and have at home, I also decided to do myself a favour and give my beloved Remy Hall coat a little break. 

Therefore I pulled my newly bought between-seasons coat by D&G since it was not that cold and I thought it just perfectly contrasted the leather trousers by Ted Baker (which I just can't put off at the moment) and my bikerboots by Zara. I really started loving it the moment I put it on at Rainbow store - so classy yet very young and elegant. I recognised that I have another piece of this collection by D&G just as a dress and with lace elements. I'm definitely going to wear this together one day. 

...and just to underline my happiness... Collier de Chien finally arrived on my wrist. And I truly love it. Believe me. :)

Coat: D&G by Dolce & Gabbana
 Trousers: Ted Baker
Shoes: Zara
Bracelet: Hermès

Rubik Rocks!

picturecredit: fashiongonerouge.com

"Fall's high-glam, stage-ready looks define statement-dressing" ("Transformer", V Magazine, #72)
Although Anja Rubik is definitely not one of my favourite models, V Magazine caught me (again) with one of their editorials of their 72th issue, the Transformation Issue.
"Transformer" by Hedi Slimane is mostly defined by a glamorous rock chic atmosphere that still keeps some authentic attitude (while other editorials with a similar theme often fail when trying to transform the message), which made me falling in love. I'm craving for some more leather pieces and combining them to my fur jackets - in my head it's autumn/winter again and with all of those looks one can just barely wait them to begin. Inspired by Louis Vuitton, Balmain and Gucci, Anja looks absolutely sexy and Giambattista Valli's coat finally kills it all.
Glamour meets grunge and the whole editorial feels just so right to my current mood. Love it.

"Furs, Fringe and leather say it louder than ever"
...and I totally agree.

W(ildfox)TF?

picturecredit of original pictures: fashionising.com

When I got to see Wildfox White Label's lookbook of this year's fall/winter, I literally clicked myself in rage. Each new picture made me ask myself if they were kidding or triggered a feeling of pure revulsion.

I always predicted Wildfox to be one of those labels I love to look at (when it comes to lookbooks, editorials etc.) but never dare to purchase (please, there are ...more exciting... things to invest in rather than shopping a shirt saying some nonsense like "wildfox no.9").

Nevertheless, their lookbooks always happened to be exciting enough. Not this time. This time, Wildfox has created such a (excuse me) bullshit that it couldn't even be covered with a pretty model, lovely make up and some ok-shirts. It seems as if they wanted to celebrate the 60s/70s again, which normally wouldn't be that bad (although I confess that those atlernative-styled "fashion"people are pretty much pissing me off) but then look at the way they put their stuff in scene. Are you seriously supposed to spend some 100 dollars on an absolute bad manufactured pullover that got ripped off half the way it got shipped over to you and all you can find in your post-box is that floorcloth with a lousy sequins-mushroom & some "used" details!?

Also, I find nothing wrong with fringes and average peace-prints (so reminds me of my time when I was 16) but why producing in such an uncreative overload? Furthermore all of that mushroom, smiley, flowerpower-stuff reminds me more of Fiorucci, that Italian label I used to love in the age of 10, than of an established, independent and cool label. 

Beside the fact that I was never (nor I doubt I will ever be) the type of girl that loves running around with something being badly produced to some "used"-look, I also confess that all of that overloaded hippie-chic was never my thing... at least not when something is more hippie than chic.

However, this is exactly what Wildfox was aiming for and therefore I decided to officially kick this brand out of my "nice to look at" list and wait until they start being creative again.

All you need is money & creativity.

Not love & peace.

(because they won't prevent you from a cheap looking, boring lookbook).

Accessories F/W 11 ... THE SHOES!

picturecredit: style.com

Thank God, style.com has released another Accessories Index, which helps me getting through the shopping dilemmas I just recently came across. I amazingly start getting disgusted by those midi/maxi/whatever-looks-alternative skirts mostly bought at Topshop or American Apparel hanging on every second waist of the female blogger-community. Plus (and sadly) I have a little downhill-go with colourblocking. Just really outstanding stuff can still impress while the average turned things existing at Zara (beside one blasting, orange jacket and my newly purchased green dress) get me frustrated when flitting through this shop.

Nevertheless, there are those aforementioned accessories released via style.com, which appear to be in style  for the colder season and although temperatures just start to go up, I can barely wait it to be fall/winter/my birthday (third one = most decisive one) again.

Being one of the most important parts to me, shoes must come first on my personal list.

Surprisingly names like Burak Uyan (never got into touch with that label before) and Brian Atwood (!) show up and therefore replace lovely Loubou a little. I got to confess that Louboutin turns into a label that does not appeal to my interest any longer (at least at the moment). Too many models that don't represent the creative head we are used to - rather a fatal mixtureof former designs being punged together in one shoe.

Leaving this aside, I discovered that Scandinavian shoe-princess Camilla Skovgaard, who transformed her amsuing creativity into her shoes' soles. Not red painted but appearing like a bunch of sticked together rubbers, she shows a little difference from similar shoe-designer Jeffrey Campbell (just to mention here that I additionally can't see the Lita model any longer).

Another remarkable but rather simple and very elegant heel-version is the one by Gianvito Rossi. .The Italians once again - how could it be different! Simplicity and elegenace - two things, that never go out of fashion. Then, I've picked some flats either by Brian Atwood or some hot slippers by Aperlai.

And last but not least we have Diego Dolcini, whose creativity in relation to the result must have been inspired by something between a normal black heel and some beautiful dead bird. Lovely.

From Above to Below: Brian Atwood, Brian Atwood, Camilla Skovgaard, Aperlai, Burak Uyan, Brian Atwood (critical model, I admit), Christian Dior, Gianvito Rossi, Christian Dior, Raphael Young (how cool are those).

...and the Louboutin to tolerate.

Giambattista Valli FW11 .. the collection that made me falling in love!

photocredit: style.com

I couldn't choose any other title although I doubt that it is catchy enough for many readers to actually read through these lines. But to put the brilliance of Valli in one headline is not yet formed and thus I 

rather thought about bringing out my love in more words than just some catchers.

Where to begin when talking about Valli's FW for 2011? It's hard to choose a favourite piece, it's hard to express what exactly caught me beside the fact that I found it finally interesting to wear goat fur(-like) details on coats, dresses and jackets. (ergh, I should have taken one of these fake goat-fur jackets Zara sold last winter but it always reminded me of some killed Yeti or cookiemonster being transformed into something wearable).

Statement necklines on simple cut dresses and tops bring out themselves more than ever and heavy shoulderpads lying on flower prints underline the game between simplicity and excitement.

Furthermore, I guess this time it's all about sumptuous and volume when we talk about outstanding cuts and silhouettes while Valli additionally sets contrasts with putting in some simple, very clean chic-like pantsuits (again the symbiosis of simplicity in form of a clean chic and speciality was brought to a collection).

The wonderful colourblocking-issue (yes, I can't hear myself any longer as well) was repeated and transformed into more winter-terms as it implies the shiny gold of the silky skirt and red, black as well as different shades of grey play major roles for the whole collection.

Moschino Cheap&Chic FW11

photocredit: style.com

I absolutely fell in love with Rossella Jardini's collection for Moschino Cheap & Chic of this year's fall/winter. The known lightness and youth with which this label is characterised was once again transformed into a wonderful, fresh and young collection.

It could have been called "the come-together of fashion capitals" since emblems from Paris over London to Milan and New York were all printed on shirts/dresses and perfectly combined to elegant details such as , leather jackets, fur hoodies and breathtaking coats. How I love such casual-meets-elegance combinations! Furthermore I can feel that too cool for school look with the classic burlington-design combined to elegant fury gloves and that midi skirt in flowerprint. Well, as I'm too small to wear midiskirts and because I think they are not that figure-coaxing I guess that this is not going to be one of my favourites.

Another hot detail for the upcoming fall shows itself in checked patterns and again the duffle-jacket as we have already spotted it at Burberry appears again. Capes and modern costumes in a Chanel-like material are additionally reinforcing the classiness Moschino C&C wants to keep while playing with all these details.

I guess this is why I love this line so much: It is that young spirit meeting classiness and still remaining elegance while playing with modern materials.

Balmain FW11 ...I get the impression he's not joking.

picturecredit: style.com

First thing to start off this Wednesday may be the fact that I need to share my disappointment with the rest of my readers about Balmain's FW. Faithful followers of my blog may have already recognized my deep love I feel while talking about Balmain. However, this time it seems like Anna dello Russo and I are just sharing our names while talking about this label and its previous (let's say from last year to now) collections. Normally, I would agree with Anna when you would ask me what my favourite designer label is. "I LOOVE BALMAIN, THEY'RE GREAT". It somehow feels like I'm not willing to say that any longer about such a punk-rock-whatever-show Decarnin just recently presented at Paris Fashionweek. I already started grumbling about his temporary outrage, but I was always optimistic about his recovery of the "just give me a leather jacket and I will rape it with my scissors"-trip. Now I decided that enough is actually enough. To his defence  I have to say that he actually recovered from that punk-trip but now I guess he's currently celebrating the 70s. Alternatively, I could describe it as the pretence to transform mirror balls into clothes and therefore finally make them wearable for real partygirls. But is it necessary to wear an overall being completely glittery,shiny à la bling-bling-style to be "in fashion" for this winter? Is the risk of being mistaken with la Gaga increasing?(and if so, is this a desirable thing?) Plus,what I almost forgot: Is it necessary to put on these by far more than completely cheap looking white booties? Maybe this is just a phenomenon in german-speaking countries (to be precise Germany, Austria and Switzerland) that girls with white shoes are mostly considered to be blooded bitches with all their hearts. Unfortunately this has been captured in my little head since this trend appeared to show up. Yes, stereotyping is always a mean, dumb and lame thing but in every stereotype there is a little truth and therefore I can tell that white bootees in this design are not acceptable at all for me. ...Another point that really hits my until now with love for Balmain filled heart. Sounds like the manuscript of a bad soap with the antagonist "white bootee" and the protagonist ....well....unknown until now (maybe someone could tell me one day who or what might be the good character of this bad play).

Getting serious again, I also can't see the reason behind asymmetric frazzles. Not even the shiniest top being such asymmetric and purely randomly cut could make its cheap looking appearance even better. And the silk-glittery college styled jacket Natasha Poly is wearing may be nice for Carnival but still ... silk & college jacket and bling bling? There is something too much and if I could choose the wrong thing then let me tell you that college jackets in silk will most probably never ever make it further than a halfhearted try-on on me. Additionally, I'm wondering whether Abbey Lee Kershaw was supposed to work in some Casino in Las Vegas when she was put in that gold trouser suit. Who is supposed to wear this except from Anna dello Russo? Nobody, I guess.

Having listed all these mean and probably dumb points written in my rage of disappointment, I still found some pieces, which caught me positively and therefore should be mentioned as well. The hairy cape Freja Beha Erichsen is wearing is absolutely hot and makes the simple black to black outfit wild but still elegant. An alternative would be the same model of cape just in white with which Arizona Muse was dressed. Furthermore, I fell in love with the shiny shoulderpads on that simple black tanktop Aline Weber was put in (the white trousers, however, doesn't reach me). Although these few things still leave some hope of recovery, I'm not convinced that this will happen soon.

Oh Jesus..it seems as if Balmain and I should change our relationship status to "It's complicated" on Facebook. Repetitive (we've already seen the astronautic silver and gold coloured skinny trousers), raffish and disappointing.

The only likes of this collection: