#GermanCurves: NYE Golden Girl

The German plus size community #GermanCurves has a challenge today: A Glamorous New Year’s Eve  – Mit Glamour in das neue Jahr!.

I will post another outfit, a safer one. But what could be more glam than a golden brocade coat? Mine is from Lane Bryant, not sure which season. I got it last spring on Ebay.com. I had the sleeves shortened to 3/4 length to give it that 60s vibe. Am very happy that it is tailored. The vintage fur cuffs used to be a scarf I got at my regular bric-a-brac place for 6 EUR! Another friendly seamstress turned them into cuffs. The dress is a cold blush pink, got that in spring, too. Once I go back to my natural blond I will ditch the pink heels with the outfit – but today I like how they match my hair.

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Brocade Coat: Lane Bryant, before spring 2014
Dress: Marks + Spencer, spring 2014
Heels: Sex and the City Collection Görtz, ca. 2009
Ring: Evans, ca. 2008
Clutch, other Jewelly + Fur Cuffs: vintage

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Adventskalender: OOTD Downtime

I love this dress. Or rather the idea of it. The pattern of the skirt reminds me of Orla Kiely or marimekko patterns. And yet it is good old Marks and Spencer who made it. It is a lovely dress. Not sure when it was in the shops. I got it on Ebay, this summer. Three quarter sleeves, jersey top and a lined kneelength polycotton skirt. Fun. Easy to wear.

So where is the catch? The waist is a bit too high for my liking. So I got myself a vest. That little trick lowers the waistline to where mine actually is. Ha! Got that on Ebay, too. The little picture on the right shows something else that should look ace with the rest. In theory. Not so chuffed with the look on on screen. Prooves, be your own editor. I much prefer it with the black scarf. Makes it less busy.

The delightful 1950s hat is from my favorite vintage place in town. Though vintage is a bit of a mouthful. They are an indoor fleamarket/ second hand/ bric-a-brac shop. A treasure trove. The real deal, not a glossy vintage boutique. Back to the half hat – my cousin and I saw it together on one of our rarehopping sprees – and though she saw it first, she let me have it. And now with the new haircut it finally looks really cute. And yes, it matches my persian lamb handwarmer/ handbag really well. Love the mixed materials – felt and fur (the latter has to be vintage though). 

2014-12-14 m+s summerdress Kopiedress: Marks and Spencer (summer, not quite sure when)
tights: as above
vest/ waistcoat: Evans (again, not quite sure which collection)
black scarf: Primark
white fake fur scarf, armwarmers; H&M (the armwarmers are 2012/2013, the scarf 2004)
shoes: Deichmann (the ballet flats, too)
hat + brooch: vintage

Some you have seen it before – but here is my handwarmer/ handbag again! Original 1950s. Mint condition when I got it. Like many other things this was kept for good. And at the end of its original owners lifetime was never worn. So next time you think something it too fancy to wear, think again.
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Adventskalender: #StyleCrush The Glambassador

We all have people who inspire us. The final straw to start blogging was The Glambassador – Musings of a chronically overdressed Dame.

Her make-up is perfect. She reminds me of Joan Crawford.

Always fab. Always dressed to the nines.

She does amazing things with her hair. Like these Victory Rolls

or „simple“ curls

I really like her style on her Blog as well as her Facebook page. My make-up will never be up to her standard. I love my red lippies and redraw my eyebrows, but this is something which I admire, but won’t live. I love to see her sparkle though. Please shine on!

Adventskalender: Beauty Time + Shower Cap GiveAway

On Saturday while shopping for some rather mundane neccessities I ended up buying one of these Christmas pamper gifts for me: a shower gel and a body lotion smelling of oranges, cloves and cinnamon by Dresdener Essenz. Plus one of their bath salts. This is a warm, lovely fragrance – something that works for winter and not just for Christmas. Feels a bit like a warm embrace – am quite smitten!

Am Samstag, während ich einige sehr profane Dinge einkaufen musste, ist mir dieses Geschenk-Set in die Hände gefallen und habe es spontan für mich selber gekauft. Es besteht aus einer Winterdusche und einer Bodylotion, die wohlig warm nach Orangen, Nelken und Zimt duften. Dazu habe ich mir noch das passende Winterbad der Dresdener Essenz gekauft. Ein toller Duft, nicht nur für Weihnachten! Ich bin ganz hin- und weg von dem Set.

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None of my give-aways are sponsored and I am still learining the ropes. Like last time when I made this rafflecopter one, (which is still open, nudge, nudge) only to find out it doesn’t work on my blog. Gnaaaaah….
Anyway  – for this one. all you need to do is leave a comment „SHOWER“ on this blog and I will pick a lucky winner for this retro showercap next Sunday, the 4th of advent. Will only ship within Europe (am counting the UK into this one).

Keins meiner Give-Aways is gesponsort und ich lerne hier immer noch verdammt viel. Wie beim letzen Mal, als ich eine Rafflecopter-Verlosung eingerichtet habe, die zwar leider nicht mit meinem Blog kompatibel ist, aber dafür immer noch läuft! Anyway – alles was ohr diesmal tun müsst: hinterlasst einen Kommentar „SHOWER“ auf dem Blog und am vierten Advent ziehe ich einen glücklichen Gewinner für die Duschhaube im Retrolook. Versand erfolgt nur innerhalb von Europa.

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Adventskalender: OOTD Tapestry Love

The last couple of days were a bit busy and I wasn’t happy with the pics I still had. But here is another outfit post. The dress arrived a couple of weeks ago (and it was back then on sale). I have a mega crush on more or less all things tapestry. Bought my first tapestry bag in 2010, but even before that I pined for one for years.

Earlier this year I bought two tapestry brooches. A tiny perfume bottle and a dinky umbrella with a matching handbag.

Vintage Tapestry Brooches

Sometime ago I came across Simply Be’s Tapestry Dress. When I ordered it I knew it would be on the short side – with a legth of 91cm. Too short for my taste. But I had an idea, how that could be helped. With the help of a capable seamstress. On the left is the dress when it arrived, on the right the photoshopped version how I thought it might look with the tweed insert to elongate the dress. Standing in front of the mirror it looks kind of ok, sitting down however wasn’t.
Before

I was pretty pleased with the result and I really, really like to wear that dress. And have worn it so far at least once a week.
Tapestry Dress with Teal
tapestry dress: Simply Be
scarf: Tie Rack (ca. 2005)
tights: H&M
heels (2011): Marks and Spencer
brooch + handbag: vintage

Die letzten Tage waren leider recht vollgepackt und ich war auch nicht glücklich mit den Bildern, die ich noch hatte. Aber hier ist endlich wieder ein Outfit. Das Gobelinkleid ist vor ein paar Wochen angekommen – und da warr es ordentlich reduziert! Ich finde Gobelin“sachen“ toll. Meine erste Gobelinhandtasche habe ich vor ca. vier Jahren gekauft und davor wollte ich schon ewige Zeiten eine haben. Früher im Jahr habe ich die zwei Gobelinbroschen auf Ebay gefunden: einen kleinen Parfümflacon und ein niedlicher Schirm mit passender Handtasche.
Vor relativ kurzer Zeit habe ich dann das Kleid bei SImply Be entdeckt, siehe Simply Be’s Tapestry Dress. Als ich das Kleid bestellt hatte, wusste ich, dass es etwas zur kurz war – mit einer Länge (oder Kürze?) von 91cm. Aber ich hatte eine Idee und mit Hilfe einer findigen Schneiderin und einem Vintage-Tweed-Stoff konnte das Kleid verlängert werden. Als ich vorm Spiegel stand, fand ich das Kleid eigentlich ok, sitzend ging es aber gar nicht. Links also die Originallänge und rechts im Bild die Photoshopversion wie ich mir das Ergebnis vorgestellt hatte.
Über das Ergebnis war ich hocherfreut und ich ziehe das Kleid sehr, sehr gerne an. Bis jetzt ziehe ich das Kleid mindestens einmal die Woche an.

Adventskalender: #OOTD Ice Princess Coat

Sometimes you fall in love with clothes beyond reason and practicality. This winter the object of desire was Hellbunny’ss Trixie Coat. Can’t decide – the look is somewhere between Russian pincess and china doll. I was quite excited that their largest size is a 22 UK./ EUR 50. And I sooo wanted lighter colourerd coat.

I quite liked this one from Dorothy perkins in blush pink – very elegant and sleek. I still wonder if I should get it, especially for the price it is currently at!


Somewhere, probably eBay, I came across Hellbunny’s Trixie Coat. Colour options in pale pink and baby blue. What a show stopper. It hit me hard and bad.

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And then came the bit which surpised family and friends – I ordered it in pale BLUE!

Finally I had something with which I could wear the lovely 1950s kid gloves I bought for a pittance in Sweden at a garage sale. They had a rust spot, so I bought a couple of embroidered flowers and stuck them on the gloves, similar to embroirdered gloves I saw on Etsy (but they were dinky, tiny small).

I know this look is quite special – and it causes stares and giggles. But I love the coat. Willl post a look with brown accessories soon. Makes it look a bit more like Russian princess. This look is like two littel girls commented in awe: „awwwww, look: ice princess.“

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coat: Trixie, by Hell Bunny
beret, gloves, handbag + brooch: vintage
silk scarf: vintage Tie Rack
leg warmers: current collection, Primark
ankle boots: 2006 (?) winter collection, Buffalo Boots

Manchmal verguckt man sich in Kleidungsstücke jenseits von Sinn und Verstand (oder Praktibilität). Diesen Winter war das Objekt der Begierde  Hellbunny’ss Trixie Coat. Was für ein Mantel! Der Stil liegt irgendwo zwischen Russischer Winterprinzessin und Porzellanpuppe. Zu meiner Überraschung gibt es den Mantel bis in Grösse EUR 50/ 22 UK. Einen hellen Mantel wollte ich sowieso für diesen Winter.
Anderer Look, wesentlich reduzierter, aufgeräumter, klassisch elegenat war der von Dorothy perkins in blush pink . Ich frage mich immer noch ob ich ihn mir nicht noch holen sollte, das er gerade reduziert ist…. 

Wie auch immer – dann entdeckte ich den Trixie Mantel von Hellbunny. Verfügbar in Hellrosa und Babyblau. Was für ein Hingucker. Es hatte mich schwer erwischt. Dann kam der Teil, der mein Umfeld wirklich überraschte: ich habe ihn in HELLBLAU bestellt! Yep! 
Endlich aber hatte ich etwas, wozu ich die 1950er Handschuhe die ich in Schweden gekauft hatte tragen konnte. Leider hatten die Handschuhe einen Rostfleck, deswegen habe ich ein paar gestickte Blümchen draufgeklebt. Ich hatte ein paar ähnlicher Handschuhe bei Etsy gesehen. Vintage und bestickt – nur leider für zarteste. sehr, sehr kleine Händchen. 
Mir ist klar das dieser Look sehr speziell ist. Damit werde ich mehr angestarrt als sonst, gekichert wird auch. Aber ich liebe diesen Mantel. Demnächst kommt ein Beitrag mit braunen Accessoires. Das sieht dann mer nach Russischer Prinzessin aus. Dieser Look, ist allerdings wie zwei kleine Mädchen ganz ehrfürchtig sagten: „Ohhhh, Eisprinzessin!“

Adventskalender: Style-Crush Solanah from Vintage Vixen

I thought I’d introduce a new series called style crush. Style crush is about inspiration. People, movies or TV shows, pictures. We all need a little input from time to time.

Guess it is almost three years or four ago that I came across Solanah’s Blog Vintage Vixen. I did a little research on how-to do pin curls and I found her. She has an awesome 1950s inspired style. And she really lives it. She is curvy, but by no means plus sized. But style isn’t about size. Though it can be a real bugger to find the things you love when you have the „wrong kind of size“.

So I thought I share some of my favorite outfits from Vintage Vixen!

awesome embroidered circle dress with a statement hat

Gorgeous in a 1950s embroidered wool dress. An ice princess in black and white. Style crush and serious dress envy!

It is her „fault“ that I own a pale blue petticoat!

Pretty in grey and mustard

I wanted a leopard bag for a very long time – but ever since that pic I am looking for the perfect one. Still looking!

Gorgeous bag – same goes for the rest of the outfit. But it is the bag I covet.

Check out her blog – it is fun and stylish – from picnics to nights in with friends. Don’t complain there are no events where you can strut your stuff – create them!

Hula Hoop

Christmas Bling

„Santa Baby, just slip a sable some bling under the tree, For me…Been an awful good girl…“
Today opens the Christmas market in town. The town centre is now full of little huts selling trinkets, artisanal stuff and lots of food – some is even pretty good! An entire alley (Glühweingasse!) is turned in to a mulled wine bar. Which is also the predominant drink you can get in town these days. You can drink in on an old school merry-go-round, in a giant Christmas pyramid and in front of dozens of huts. We even have a flying Santa Show!

About time to get some things matching the madness! Let me start with this – no matter how ironic you wear them, I am not really fond of Christmas sweaters. Even if you get a free Colin Firth with them. Especially the creepy ehm… humorous kind. However, I love a bit of Christmas Kitsch.

Novelty brooches, charm bracelets, silly earings and hats or fascinators are all fine with me. Fine enough to share a few of my finds (keep in mind shipping can take longer these days – AND don’t forget you might have to pay customs for some stuff!). So here you’ll find some vintage, some cheap high street stuff and a bit from Etsy – have fun! I am sooooo tempted to get the „Merry Christmas“ necklace. Would be my first one!

Christmas Bling

Charming Fascinator by Frollein von Sofa

Frollein von Sofa makes delightful and fun little hats. So far only admired her work from afar. Guess some point next year that’ll change!

And this here is my personal bling for the season – the little sleigh brooch is vintage (another Ebay find). Got the charm bracelet 10 years ago (time flies!) as well as the earrings – it was from the States, where a nice lady was confused why she got all these orders from abroad, until I told her she made it into a German fashion magazine…

Miss Kittenheels' X-Mas Bling

Scouting in Tweed and Mustard

Had a fun time with the boyfriend checking out the local stores if Shopping Queen comes to town (and they want me). Real life clothes shopping in this country and in my size is tedious at best. Hardly ever real fun, as I am not very happy with what I find. Dresses are rarer to find in Germany than  in the UK, especially in a size UK 22/ EUR 50/ US 20. So most of my stuff arrives by post.

Shopping queen is a popular concept on day time TV. Each week the show hits a different city. Five ladies (there is rarely a guy taking part) get a motto for the week. Each day one of them goes shopping with a friend. The others stay at her place and check it out. Emphasis on the wardrobe. Each day the shopper presents her outfit and gets rated by the rest.  At the end of the week they also get judged by a designer. The one with the most points is the new shopping queen. The designer’s comments make this show good fun.

After a few of my friends and (former) colleagues asked me, if finally sent in my application. I was quite surprised when my man asked me if he could be my shopping assistant. And this Saturday morning we had a thorough look at the local stores from a strategic point of view. Variety in my size, location and other accessories were among the key points. Fingers crossed that Shopping Queen wants me (and that they’ll soon come to town).

I love autumn and I love tweed. It quite shows: dress, blazer, handbag and even down to Miss Kittenheels favorite kitten heels are made of tweed. Now I wonder is this outfit missing a dinky (tweed) hat?

2014-11-15 mustard and greytweed dress: Marks and Spencer
blazer: EVAN Picone
pin dot shirt: Inspire from New Look
tights, scarf + armwarmers: H&M
brooch: vintage
tweed kittenheels: Evans
tweed handbag: Laura Ashley Official

Heute haben mein Freund und ich mal die Läden vor Ort auf ihr Potential für Shopping Queen angetestet. Für den Fall dass sie mal nach Bochum kommen und ich dabei bin. Kleiderkauf in Echtzeit ist in diesem Land und vor allem vor Ort bestenfalls zäh. Spass sieht für mich anders aus, da mir wenig gefällt, das in meiner Grösse angeboten wird. Kleider sind hier in Deutschland sowieso schwerer zu finden als in England, vor allem in einer EUR-Grösse 50. Deswegen kommt fast alles per Post zu mir. 

Die meisten werden das Konzept von Shopping Queen kennen, deswegen lasse ich das jetzt im Gegensatz zur englischen Variante aus. Einige Freunde und (ehemalige) Arbeitkollegen hatten mich mit der Idee bei der Einkaufs-Show mitzumachen. Letztes Wochenende hatte ich dann tatsächlich meine Bewerbung abgeschickt.  Zu meiner Überraschung hat mich mein Freund gefragt, ob er meine Shoppingbegleitung sein darf.

Diesen Samstag haben wir uns mal die Läden in Bochum nach strategischen Gesichtspunkten angesehen. Auswahl in meiner Grösse, Lage und was es an Assessoires gibt, waren wichtige Kriterien. Jetzt heisst es Daumen drücken das Shopping Queen mich will (und das sie bald in den Pott kommen).

Ich liebe den Herbst und ich liebe Tweed. Das zeigt sich dann wohl auch: Kleid, Blazer, Handtasche bis zu den Schuhen (Miss Kittenheels liebste Kittenheels!) sind aus Tweed. Jetzt frage ich mich, brauch dieses Outfit noch ein neckisches (Tweed) Hütchen?

Geekchic at the Planetarium

Yes, you have seen that dress a few weeks before. But this time with a ‪#‎geekchic‬ approach. The Planetarium Bochum was celebrating its 50th anniversary and I was invited. Since I am a big fan I thought it would be fun to wear something matching the theme – like my nebula bracelet and my galaxy scarf. The scarf just arrived a mere day before the celebration. And both accessories got their fair share of compliments.

I was tempted to get a space dress first – but delivery time was crucial and sometimes customs take a little longer than you care for. And since I have a crush (but no talent) for astronomy I thought it would be a bit over the top too.

It was a nice event, fun anecdotes of the early days were told, the good work they do now, the buffet was excellent, the new show was very enjoyable and will be quite likely a success. A grand day out all in all!

50 Years Planetarium Bochum

50 Years Planetarium Bochum – our Mayor opened the speeches (left) and the state of the art projector and some pics from the past (right)

#geekchic at the Planetarium

#geekchic at the Planetarium

dress: Marks and Spencer
hat: U modystki, Kasia Girtler – you find her on Etsy too
nebula bracelet: http://etsy.me/114A1wD
galaxy scarf: http://etsy.me/1yhqcFw
brooch: vintage
heels: from a market in Spain
tweed handbag: Laura Ashley Official

Ja,dieses Kleid gab es vor kurzem schon einmal zu sehen. Diesmal jedoch in einem anderen Look: ‪#‎geekchic‬. Das Planetarium Bochum hat sein 50-jähriges Bestehen gefeiert und ich war eingeladen. Da ich ein grosser Fan unseres Planetariums bin, dachte ich es wäre nur passend etwas passendes zu tragen. Dafür habe ich mir das Sternennebel-Armband und den Galxy-Schal gekauft. Zum Glück kam der Schal dann auch einen Tag vorher an. Beide wurden ausreichend bewundert und gelobt.

Hatte mir zuerst überlegt mir ein thematisch passendes Kleid zu kaufen – den space dress. Aber Versand aus den USA kann langwierig sein und manchmal braucht es mit dem Zoll etwas länger, als es einem lieb ist. Ausserdem finde ich zwar Atronomie toll, habe aber so gar kein Talent dafür. Das wäre dann doch etwas des Guten zuviel gewesen.

Es war eine schöne Veranstaltung mit lustigen Geschichten aus den Anfangstagen, die neue Show war gut und wird hoffentlich ein Erfolg. Kurzum ein toller Tag!