River Island

Summer Whites!

Summer Whites!

Read more...

I stocked the shrunken jacket, undusted the wooden clogs, bought the denim (all of it) and the bohemian dress to fully step out in “must have” season gear this summer. Then again - and probably blame it on all the upcoming weddings this year - I unconsciously developed an utter crush on white (not only the staple white T: everything white! Tone in tone! Bring it on).

It’s a look which is always so geniously crisp and fresh on blogs & magazines but often in real life turns into fifty shades of grey (nothing sexy about that!) almost immediately, especially if you are a biking Amsterdam citizen. White shoes, the poor fellows suffer stains and always instantly lose the battle with cobblestones and I don't know how you do it, but I seriously considered wrapping them in plastic whenever wearing those treasures.

Can’t help it though and won’t stop trying - whenever there’s a love for a look there is a way to pull it off despite all of the adverse. I guess the dry cleaners around the corner and his mate (my shoemaker) will be my best buddies this summer.

xxx

Today’s shoes are Casadei | Topshop | Balmain | Saint Laurent

Follow my heel diary on instagram or facebook!

Winter Whites

Winter Whites

Read more...

When shooting Pop of Color earlier this year I already had a hunch that I would inevitably also cherish “white” at least once this season. Thought I had covered that already though: binge watching Walter White breaking bad, bleeding myself white (and my bank account red) by (again) buying too many shoes - and the White Russians consumed... oh-lala and you don’t want to hear the details.

I know, I know, not really what you gals had in mind. So, while turning the heat up inside (brrrrrr, cold), am digging deep into my fashion closet, and VOILA: out they come. Off-white furry jackets, thick-knitted scarves, cosy turtlenecks (yes: totally wearable again), all right in time for December to officially kick off winter and start battling the crispy cold.

Although it’s fun to celebrate 50 shades of white outside, nothing beats taking that party inside too. You know, lighting some candles, pouring some tea, cuddling under thick blankets, AND: staring at the most predominant white for some time to come: your skin tone. But who cares: pale is the new black and there are still enough White Russians available to forget about overrated details.

Happy first of December!

xxx

Today’s shoes River Island | Isabel Marant | Saint Laurent

Follow me on Facebook or Instagram for more heel updates!

A Matter of Perspective

A Matter of Perspective

Read more...

A recent conversation with a friend made me wonder again why we girls always try double so hard to show off more, bigger and better. A bag is only a bag if it's from Chanel, three bedrooms would be just right to call your condo an "apartment" and twelve place settings of Christofle's silver tableware would not only complete your dinner party, but your self esteem equally.

To get there we work our asses off, sacrificing all our precious time (even time we could spend doing all stunt work ourselves) but nowadays even a French manicure is only considered to be cool if it's done by a gay guy called Shawn with glossier hair than yours.

When did bigger became an indicator for better and the attached label a substitute for glee? But then again it's obviously a matter of perspective. Ambition is never out of fashion and I use mine to be able to go heel hunting whenever I sold one of those antique silver tableware place settings on eBay. Nothing wrong with a little "the more the merrier" right? Now off to do that French manicure myself!

Today's shoes are River Island.

Got them for an apple and an egg. Totally recessionista.

zp8497586rq

Punk’d

Punk'd

Read more...

Haven't been in Berlin for six years, so am expecting to find a lot of things different. Certainly the "smell" of the city has changed from Curry Wurst to Döner Kebap, but other than that, am surprised that style-wise I find everything still stuck in 2006.

Guys (the hip and cool section)- wrap their beardy necks in scarfs every shape and form, while the intellectuals (isn't everybody in Berlin intellectual?) wear corduroy pants (brown) combined with sleevless pullovers (brown checked pattern) and headgear (brown). Kind of a camouflage look to fit the color pattern at the BIO-alternative supermarkets which popped up at every corner. The ladies therefor still fancy to sport slouchy boots and full lenght skirts (am kind of jealous of the effortless chic) and a messy bun.

But blame it on all the Punks who still can be spotted everywhere, that I believed a combination of studded heels and neon-printed tiger legging (Nina Hagen would be so proud of me) would totally fit the fashion doctrine of the city. That was of course before a four year old pointed out at me shouting: "Mamma, look at the funny woman. Can I have that outfit for carnival?"

Duh. Punk'd.

xxx

Today's shoes are River Island

Massive Talent

Music and Lyrics

Read more...

Don’t know if I mentioned this before, but my first career in life was actually not walking successfully in high heels (aka Lady Gaga: born this way) but being a classical piano player. Therefore, I couldn’t be more supportive about a young generation finding their keys (aka entry) to music delight.

It’s quite a different story though when you wake up after a long night out (after all, you are on vacation) - having re-met eldest friend (we go all the way back to when Chris Rea was considered to be hot) - to some weird sound that makes your toes curl (and not fit in any kind of heel at all): my nephews practising their instruments. Bearing in mind that they are getting tired of playing a flute, the acoustic guitar and the humble piano, and now demanding to get a drum kit and an e-guitar soon (a plus though: they totally get what chick’s dig), don’t see myself visiting for the next ergh... ten years.

Will show up at first concert though, dancing front row and telling everybody who wants to hear that I always knew they had talent. They will have to be so patient. I so suck at singing along....

xxx

Today’s shoes are River Island
Today’s picture was taken by my eldest and most lovely friend Eva Reintsch

Bought an Island

Bought an Island

Read more...

Richard Branson did it. Leonardo di Caprio tried it (but ran out of booze after 12 hours and sold almost immediately). The glossies are full of it, apparently it’s the new thing to do. So why not give it a try… buy yourself an island and live happily ever after? Or buy two islands, whatever. Hopping is the new staying.

Somewhere warm, cosy, colourful and where you can wear a bikini. Totally makes sense to me when in the Netherlands everyone is busy building Noah’s ark (well, tried that one too, but couldn’t fit the Guccis next to the penguins and the zebras felt insulted by my Jimmies (fair enough: they look alike).

So my own island seemed like the perfect solution to all recent problems. No rain or weather related problems whatsoever, decent people around asking if they can be of any help, joyful moments when your only concern is which nail polish will match your outfit….and what outfit to wear anyway… So many options, and gosh, just wearing heels would do the job, right? I see tremendous pictures coming up. Me, the sunset, the heels, palm trees. A cocktail in one hand, a shrimp in the other (not talking body parts)….oh life is beautiful!

About the island. Well it’s just this little French place…Île de la Rivière….
You know….
xxx

Today’s shoes are River Island

How the hell does she do it?

How the hell does she do it?

Read more...

One of my best friends arrived in Amsterdam earlier this week.

Writing for a life-style magazine, she and her photographer are doing a city report with a hot Caribbean singer. After the obvious 2 hour flight they rent a car and dash to a spring ball in Vlissingen (another two and a half hour drive), only to find that it’s actually a disaster.

From that moment on everything goes wrong: hot Caribbean singer vomits all night and it looks like the “City report” is literally going down the drain, bed in the apartment is broken, hair blower and shaver (ladies essentials) appear to have been forgotten at home.
And to top it all off, I totally forget to tell her that parking in Amsterdam (being a nightmare in general) is definitely NOT a good idea without paying at ANY time.

Shoes, shopping and alcohol (in no particular order) are definitely the only things that will help to ease this drama! In the end my sweet friend has not only managed to get her report, but meanwhile scored hot heels, arranged a new interview with Chopard and looked drop-dead marvelous at our favorite fashion-pit stop YDU.

Bewitching the bar crew on our gals night out later (one twinkle of her eye does the job), we soon find ourselves more or less behind the bar, drinking on the house, and end up (seriously) being carried out in their arms.

I can only ask myself: how the hell does she do it?

xxx

P.S.: Today’s shoes are River Island
P.P.S.: Today’s photo was taken by the lovely Nadine Poncioni