Chain Mail

Not being able to teeter on tight tootsies anymore, I traded a pretty pair of brown boots with pointy toes and stacked heels for this vintage evening bag made in Florence:

Hope you all in the US had a tasty thanksgiving, I'm having a do tonight, have prepared pie already yesterday and will be sitting by the oven most of today dousing the bird in the finest wines known to mankind!

Ask Not What the Fashion Industry Can Do For You...

Image: H&M

Der Standard, an independent Austrian newspaper, has an interesting article on fashion in its weekend edition. Klaus Mühlbauer, the GM of fashion enterprise Mühlbauer questions whether, since the emergence of stores such as H&M, Zara and Topshop, people are better dressed? While some think they are special because they have a (cheap) copy of something seen on Chloe's runway barely a week ago, we actually look more alike than ever before. The sad part is that this shopping behavior is rendering small boutiques a dying breed.

Where does the solution lie? With us consumers naturally! If you must be fashionable, why not purchase only a few items from (insert designer or celebrity)'s collection for H&M, while slowly building up a quality wardrobe from smaller, and (gulp) more expensive stores, which will last you for years and which you can mix and match with every season's trends. If you think you can't afford better pieces, think again. What costs more: buying several inexpensive items a month which have to be replaced a year later at the latest, or investing in one well-made item every few months which you can wear for the next 5 to 10 years?

Batwoman

I'm not fond of costuming for Halloween, Fasching (Austrian carnival) or any other occasion. Party pooping isn't my thing either though, so tonight I'm wearing a second hand (80s?) Lagerfeld that looks kind of batlike to me. Wish you all a creepy evening!

Versatility

Hurray to Sharon who made a great find and shared the quote below from it:

'What Makes a Great Wardrobe? Versatility is the key word, which means having clothes that cope with every situation, so you don't have to rush out to buy something new the minute an invitation drops through the letterbox. The aim is to extract the maximum of looks from the minimum of clothes with the least possible effort and expense. A clever wardrobe has limitless permutations; will accommodate all the new clothes you do buy and can be worn even when fashion changes.'

Do you purchase something new for every special occasion, or are you easy prey to salesladies ("Oh, you can't buy that without taking this belt/sweater/blouse too!)? For the longest time, I certainly was. Thanks to the rule of not buying anything unless you can think of at least three items you already own to wear it with, however, I am getting closer and closer to my sartorial goal: To build up a wardrobe of items which I love, fit properly, are flattering, timeless and can be combined endlessly! This pink cardigan (second hand DSquared) is one of those pieces. I have been wearing it almost every week since months and have not tired of matching it yet!

Look Ma, no Black!

Thrifted this sweater the other week, its slight rosiness caught my eye. It makes a nice difference to my usual cream, already I have worn it three different ways!

Linus

Come winter, and I get out my security blanket, uh, scarf again. I really should purchase an alternative, to relieve this one of the responsibility! Do you have an item of clothing that just make you feel all cozy and safe? Or perhaps one that brings you luck?!

Ranch Dressing (with Cats)

Once again, Béla tries to steal the show!

Maybe these two just need their own...

Caspian

I was granted the coolest task of photographing Caspian before their gig in Vienna last night. Unfortunately, I couldn't stay for the performance, but they were so charming and gave me their new CD "Tertia", which I have been listening to non-stop since! Check them out if you are into experimental, instrumental post-rock, seriously, they are good.

Should you want to use these images, 

please remember to credit me.

Black IS the New Black

I've been mega-lazy on the posting front lately, shame on me. Here's what I am wearing today (blouse gifted, skirt thrifted), having totally over/underdressed in this outfit to a party cum gig a few days ago. Thought I would forgo the black for once, turns out everyone was donning it and I felt like a very sore thumb indeed!

"She Cooks as Good as She Looks, Ted"

Stills from The Stepford Wives (1975)

As silly as it sounds, part of my fascination with this film has to do with Katharine Ross' slinky yet classy outfits and long beautiful hair. While pastels colors often wash out blondes, those muted yellows and dusty pinks really enhance her complexion. Makes me want to go out and get a Color me Beautiful make-over!

Eyes Like Saucers

Perhaps not the most flattering sunglasses, but I am considering purchasing this jacket. It is part of a petite designer suit - second hand of course, and therefore affordable and worth recycling the skirt.

Lately, I've been feeding clothes containers with jumbo sized portions; it feels sooo good to have more space and order in the apartment. Even good shoes (which never were totally comfortable) went in. Must be a sign of age when comfort is more important than beauty!

More Geisha

Taken during a viewing of "The Beast in the Shadow", which is more of an aesthetic experience than groundbreaking cinema. I just love the slow and studied movements of a tea ceremony, or mixing wasabi with soya sauce - they render these banal tasks so much more meaningful! And now, my yen for a kimono or two even is even greater than before!