On the Go: Paris and Stripes

This year’s birthday outfit. What looks like a skirt is actually a dress. Another lovely novelty print by LindyBop. The bodice is too low cut and currently too tight to put a blouse underneath.
Mein diesjähriger Geburtstagslook. Sieht zwar aus wie ein Rock, ist aber ein Kleid. Ein weiterer toller Novelty Print von LindyBop. Das Oberteil ist mir etwas zu tief ausgeschnitten und momentan etwas zu spack um noch eine Bluse drunter zu packen.

A bit Cinderella goes to Paris.
Ein bisschen Aschenputtel fährt nach Paris.

The jacket was designed by Ela from Conquore for Studio Untold as a part of the second blogger collection. I had it shortened and where the pockets were, are now slits.
Die Jacke hat Ela von Conquore für Studio Untold als Teil der zweiten Blogger Kollektion entworfen. Ich habe sie für mich kürzen lassen. Anstelle der Taschen sind jetzt Schlitze.

The headband got decorated with a vintage brooch fpr this look.
Der Fascinator wurde für diesen Look mit einer Vintagebrosche dekoriert.


Flowers for my birthday at a fab night at the beach bar a few nights later.
Blumen zum Geburtstag und ein toller Abend an der Strandbar.

Bit more kitsch to add to the mix.
Etwas mehr Kitsch um den Look abzurunden.

Think that’ll look will get quite a bit of mileage.
Ich vermute mal das Outfit werde ich öfters tragen. 


dress: Bernice in Paris Print by LindyBop, 2016
jacket: Blogger Collection by Studio Untold, 2016
blouse: BonPrix, 2017
sunglasses: Primark, 2015
shoes & clutch: Deichmann, 2016 & 2017
necklace: Claire’s, 2015
fascinator: Faux Persian Lamb Headband, vintage ca. 1950s
brooch: vintage

Modejahr2016 – Barbie Girl

This months theme for Modejahr2016 (fashion year) from Ines Meyrose is Outing – what I always wanted to show you. On Ines page is the full (German) blog parade. For the sake of it I couldn’t find an idea for an outfit until I realised I can show whatever I want. At the beginning of April I went spontaneously to Paris to see the amazing Beth Ditto and try on her lovely new collection. If you haven read my post – here is the link again.

Das Motto für diesen Monat bei Ines Meyroses Modejahr2016 ist Outing – was ich schon immer mal zeigen wollte. Auf Ines Seite kann man die Beiträge der anderen Bloggerinnen sehen. Ich habe mich mit dem Thema sehr, sehr schwer getan und wusste überhaupt nicht was für ein Outfit ich zeigen sollte. Bis mir auffiel, das es keines sein muss. Anfang April bin ich spontan nach Paris gefahren um die grossartige Beth Ditto und ihre neue Kollektion zu sehen. Hier ist nochmal der Link zu meinem Beitrag.

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So that was half my trip sorted – but there was also the wonderful Barbie exhibition at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in one of the wings of the Louvre. Some of the French curves bloggers where a bit surprised why I wanted to go there.
Damit war natürlich schon der halbe Tag rum – es war aber noch Zeit für einen Besuch der wunderbaren Barbie Ausstellung im Musée des Arts Décoratifs in einem der Seitenflügel des Louvres.

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„But Barbie is so sexist and conveys a dirstored body image.“
„Aber Barbie ist so sexistisch und trägt zu einem gestörten Körperbild bei.“

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I agree partiallty on the latter – but for me Barbie was never that. And I saw that there were all sorts of people around me of various heights, skin tones, eye colours and figures. Unlike playing with other dolls Barbie had a choice. Regular (baby) dolls have to be mothered, nursed. Barbie had a variety of jobs. A lot of them traditional female – like ballerina, nurse or beautican but she also was as astronaut, a soldier and a pilot among other things.
Teilweise stimmt das mit dem Körperbild. Allerdings habe ich Barbie nie darauf reduziert. Mir war immer bewusst das die Menschen um mich herum verschieden Körpergrössen und -formen hatten, unterschiedliche Augen- , Haar und Hautfarben. Anders als mit anderen Puppen hatte Barbie eine Wahl. Normale (Baby-) Puppen wurden bemuttert. Rollenverhalten geübt. Barbie hatte eine Auswahl an Berufen. Viele davon traditionell weiblich besetzt wie Ballerina, Krankenschwester oder Friseurin, aber sie war auch Astronautin, Soldatin und Pilotin, neben anderen Dingen.

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Barbie could be whatever she wanted to be and look glamorous.
Men (Ken) were ornamental.
Barbie war was auch immer sie sein wollte und hat trotzdem schicke Klamotten gehabt. Die Männer (Ken) waren die Deko.

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I guess that really impressed me – you could invent yourself over and over again. I grew up in the 70s, early 80s – women for most parts were still either decorative or quite often perceived as career driven spinsters. Barbie showed you can have different roles and care about fashion. She could be a scientist and still wear a knockout dress at a party. Barbie didn’t have wait for her prince, she made a living on her own. Her life was full without being reduced to finding her sole fulfillment as a mother. She was a person of her own!
Das hat mich wirklich beeindruckt und geprägt. Sich immer wieder neu erfinden zu können. Ich bin in den 70gern und frühen 80gern gross geworden. Frauen wurden da meist noch als Deko oder halt als karriereversessene Männerhasserinnen angesehen. Barbie hatte diverse Berufe und dabei noch Spass an der Mode haben. Sie konnte Wissenschaftlerin sein und immer noch abends im Cocktailkleid beeindrucken. Barbie musste nicht auf ihren Prinzen warten, sie hat ihr eigenes Leben gestaltet. Ihr Leben war prall gefüllt ohne darauf beschränkt zu werden ihr einziges Lebensglück als Mutter zu finden. Sie war ihre eigene Person!

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At least for me and many of my generation before the PR people at Matel targeted her from the very late 80s to the early 90s to a much younger audience and she became more princessy. Which also explaines the reacions of some of the much younger French bloggers. When I told them how I see Barbie, it was a new approach to them.
Zumindest war sie das für mich un viele aus oder um meine Generation herum. Bevor die PR Abteilung bei Matel in den späten 80gern und frühen 90gern beschlossen hatte sie für ein wesentlich jüngeres Publikum zu vermarkten und sie mehr und mehr zur Prinzessin wurde. Das erklärt dann auch wiederum die Reaktionen der wesentlich jüngeren Französischen Bloggerinnen. Mein Ansatz zu Barbie war ein neuer für sie.

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You can find all my pics from the barbie exhibition in this Facebook album!
Alle Bilder, die ich von der Barbie Ausstellung gemacht habe, sind in diesem Facebook Album!

 

 

So funny – the golden brocade ensemble inspired this Barbie outfit, which inspired me to mine!
Der Kreis schliesst sich – das goldene Brokatkostüm war die Inspiration für dieses Barbie Outfit, das mich wiederum zu meinem inspirierte!

http://www.vavoomvintage.net/2015/10/the-vintage-barbie-project.html

Barbie inspired and still glam https://misskittenheel.com/germancurves-nye-golden-girl/



DIY your Closet: A Day in Paris (with Barbie)

English only today – sorry!

Schnipp-Schnapp – Bündchen ab!
Crop your Own – Shortening my Denim Jacket

Today it’s about another go at DIY your closet and  – tadaaaaaa – it’s not a hat, a mini-hat and neither fascinator nor headband. I customised a denim jacket. It was a bit too long for my petticoat dresses and skirts. At the GDS shoe fair in Düsseldorf I seriously admired Miss Ella’s cropped denim jacket. Which was bought that way. When I tried the H+M one on at home and realised it wasn’t short enough. So just before I set out to Paris, well before five in the morning I took out the scissors. And cut the waist(band) off. Voila – right length and we were good to go. Don’t hesitate to make things truly your own!

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Loved Miss Ella’s Jacket a lot – and used it as an inspiration (you can actually buy a smaller version at H+M, gnahh)

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Paris – Amour Fou 
Allegedly Audrey Hepburn said „Paris is always a good idea“. Well at least for a visit it is. I have a love/ hate relationship with Paris ever since I live there for a good half year. I worked as an Au-Pair, that didn’t help. I never felt lonelier in my live in a place but I remember the other Au-Pairs and some ladies from the American Church very fondly. The latter were what can be called my age now, at least but they welcomed this atheist into their fold. However I love Paris for visits. Especially short ones. Though this one was the shortest ever.

Felt a bit like a leftover Chocolate or praline easter egg. It was windy and cold and everyone else wore winter clothes.
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I went for a day to Paris was for Beth Ditto’s trunk show (or as she put it playing dress up). Here is my blog post to that remarkable and fun event. It was great to meet a few of the French bloggers like Gaelle from The Curvy and the Curly Closet.

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Leaving the Hotel. Sigh – it wasn’t just exquitely expensive and wonderfully discreet but also most stylish. However I leaned a new word – Bibi is French for (French) beret.
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I’m a Barbie Girl….
After checking at the Trocadero if the Eiffel tower was still there (it is by the way but there was an ugly construction fence on the terrace) I went to the Louvre. Or rather to the wonderful Barbie exhibition at the Musee des Arts Decoratif in one of the wings of the Louvre. Not exactly the exhibition I solely would have gone to Paris for but still rather fitting the cliche. More on that exhibition later, in another post.

The magnificent diorama – a 1950s world with a runway show! Think Dior and Chanel!
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streetstyle – mostly vintage and wintery as it was a miserable day
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Scenes from the South
For me a trip to Paris isn’t complete without a visit to the grand Le Train Bleu in the Gare de Lyon with their magnificent painted ceiling. Yes, a bit like in a church, but they have a bar – and their Cocktail and Tapas offer isn’t cheap but worth the price for the complete package.

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Quite a contrast to the night bus home. Which I don’t care to repeat. The money spent on the train is well spent, I was a bit under the weather the next day. All about priorities – a five star day and the cheap seats back. Ach well, it was fun and I must go to Paris more often – the last time was already 8 years ago!

Au revoir Paris!
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Dress: Colette in pale blue gingham (sold out), by LindyBop, here in Pink
Demin Jacket: H+M plus, customised by moi 
Shirt: Forever21, ca. 2009 ca. 2014, sold out
Shoes: Deichmann
Weekender Bag: Primark, Summer 2015, sold out
Beret/ Hat: Kasia Girtler