Sun, are you still around?

 

Yes, I just HAD to wear the new THU THU shorts on monday, right after I got it. I've combined it with a Forever 21 shirt, a bikini bandeau, my Vintage Coach bag and my Zara sandals from last season. The ring is from COS and the bracelets are from some street vendors in NYC.

Right now I'm wondering if summer is still on because it's getting a bit chilly here in Berlin. Hopefully the sun will come back and I can wear my lovely shorts more often! :) I really do love them, the colour kind of reminds me of a mixture of gold and green and I cannot wait for more outfit options!

M #4

New In: Thu Thu Shorts, H&M Blazer & Shorts, Vintage Shirt

Last saturday I went shopping with some friends, it was the first time since I've been here working and living. What happened? All my friends ended up buying NOTHING =D I was the only one splurging on some new clothes, oh my! How will I survive in Berlin with this huge summer sale?

First thing I've got myself was the lovely shorts of the ThuThu Sample Sale! I've tried on some jackets as well, but just couldn't afford it. When I wore the shorts, which has a very extraordinary cut because at first sight it looks like a skirt, but really is a shorts. I also love the colour, I think it fits me very well and the imprint with the Sapa-made details makes it even more special. Thanks, ThuThu!

Food Friday: Stir-fry tofu x Bok Choy x Soy curry

What is it called? Yeah, improvisation with ME! Last night, I had some friends over and we were like: What to cook? What to eat? No idea! The only thing I knew was: I was longing for tofu and curry. We bought chinese bok choy, wanted to steam it and then dip it into fish sauce. A simple dish. Instead I did something totally different. Have a look.

Image and what's actually behind

You should definitely watch this video: Cameron Russell talks about her life as a model and answers questions most people want to know. She gives a really honest insight of how it is to be a model and that models are probably the most insecure women on earth.

 

Image is powerful, yet superficial. 
Whenever you get to know people, try to get to the core of them and don't judge them by their outer appearance.

This moment right now, I choose to be happy

The Habits of Happiness

‘Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.’ ~Dalai Lama

By Leo Babauta

I’m not one who believes you can be happy all the time, but I have learned you can be happy much of the time. And that’s not something that depends on how your day is going or how others treat you — it depends on what you do on a regular basis. I remember being unhappy most days, at one point in my life. It wasn’t because I hated the people in my life — I had a lovely wife, great kids, other wonderful family members and friends. It was because I was unhappy with myself, and that caused growing debt problems, unhappiness with my job, health problems and more. I felt like I couldn’t change any of that.
Then one day I sat down and made a list. I make a lot of lists — it’s one of my favorite habits — but this list seemed to have a magical power. It was a list of the things I was grateful for. Amazingly, there were a lot of things on the list, from things about my wife, kids, relatives, and friends, to things about my job, about nature around me, about my life.

LesMads Fashion Week party at Cookies

I don't have to say more right?! =D Oh my, it was so much fun! Although I was super tired and super exhausted of the week I just had to attend the LesMads party. Before we came, we took a nap and were like: Okay, we're super tired, let's just go there for an hour and then leave. The 90's motto wasn't our thing anways.

Vietnamese weekend in B.

Fam. Dang, Torstraße 125, 10119 Berlin

Since my friend Tina from Munich is here and we were longing for some Vietnamese food, we wanted to try out some restaurants in Berlin. I have to say, there are so many Vietnamese places here, you won't know where to go. She told me that we should check out Fam.Dang because one of her friends recommended it. Friday night we went for Lime Juice, a Goi Mien-Salad with glass noodles, Ga Xau Rau-chicken breast with mixed vegetables and Vietnamese herbs and the same thing with beef: Bo Xau Rau. Everything was really good and super delicious, the waiters were friendly as well. Whenever you're in Berlin and you want some authentic Vietnamese food, check this out!

Berlin Fashion Week S/S '14 Résumé

Franziska Michael S/S '14 © Mercedes-Benz Fashion

During the fashion week I went to some shows and events, this is supposed to be a small résumé of were I've been and which shows I liked. Of course there were more and other events, but these are my top ones and favorite collections. Enjoy strolling through the pictures and videos. 

*On Tuesday night I've been to the UdK-Fashion Design graduation. They've showed their collections and I was pretty amazed of what the graduates were able to create. The designs were full of energy and curiosity. I liked the ideas and their fearlessness. People should always stay creative and follow their dreams! The last presentation of graduate Nan Li 'Call of Beauty' was really eye-catching since the designer combined the bad-ass attitude with the conservative role of a woman. A lot of white fabrics as well!edit: For German readers, read my article at OK COOL-LesMads.

 

*On Wednesday I've attended the Franziska Michael stage presentation of her new collection in the Mercedes Benz tent. It was really sports and tennis-inspired which I find fascinating because she does have the courage to do something different. She works with contrasts and I think the composition of sports and glamour great! 

 

Designer for Tomorrow Award 2013

*That day the Designer for Tomorrow Award 2013 hosted by Stella McCartney was given to the winner. Just two days before, on Monday I had the opportunity to be at the fitting session with the models. All five finalists had great drafts. But Ioana Ciolacu Miron, the Rumanian designer won the talent award with her collection 'Paradox'. Once again contrasts are in great demand, her clothes are tender, yet structured and strong, yet feminine.

Schumacher S/S '14 © Mercedes-Benz Fashion

*On Thursday I couldn't attend the runway show of Dorothee Schumacher, but fans could sign up for the live stream. You should watch it here. It's pretty funny because on the soundtrack there were quotes from e.g. Diana Vreeland. One of the quotes I really liked was something like A new dress doesn't get you anywhere, it's the life you're living in the dress. The pictures above are my favorite outfits. Really like the white long vest and the golden coat. Other than that she incorporated a lot of summer colours like rose, orange and apricot, but did a section of  royal blue as well. Her aim was to create strong feminine power. I really love the small details on the white collections with cut-outs, zips and mesh. 



                 

*In the afternoon Katja and I went to the offsite show of Perret Schaad. I was excited to see this collection since Tutia Schaad is also Vietnamese. So we went to the New National Gallery and were surprised when we had to stay outside. The runway was inside the building. The models walked in a square and we were watching the show from outside through glass walls. This idea was pretty funny, yet strange. There were museum visitors who were able to stroll inside and seeing what was actually happening. It was totally quite and there was no music. Still, the collection was nice and at the end the models walked outside for at least one run. Watch the end of the show above.

LALA Berlin S/S '14 © Mercedes-Benz Fashion

*LALA Berlin had her show offsite at an Opera building. Her designs were dominated by colours like red, powder, white and black. The redish outfits will remind you of flamingos and the patterns will transfer you to a beach full of palms. Sharp cut meets summer breeze or in the blogger world: Elin Kling meets That's Chic! ♥

 

*Oh my gosh! I've just found this out: VEGAN FASHION from Berlin at the fashion week! They had a runway show on Friday afternoon. UMASAN is a brand which only uses plant-based fabrics and recycled polyester. One of the designer-twins has worked for Yohji Yamamoto and therefore the minimalistic cuts are inspired by Japanese martial arts. There are just black and white outfits which are really beautiful, but when I've found out that they are also vegan, I was totally hooked. Check out the whole show! Green fashion is going high fashion! Eco without prejudices because they made it into the MBFW :)

Black x White at Brandenburg Gate

It was the last day of the fashion week. My dear friend Tina visited to volunteer for IMG and I was happy to spend some time with her. Two Vietnamese exploring Berlin during the fashion week: a lot of fun, a week full of Vietnamese input and some non-sense talking: love it! ♥ 

Click for outfit informations.

THU THU Sample Sale

The Berlin fashion week just went by super fast and I have to say I am suuuper exhausted! Do you know how it is to be tired all week because you're lacking of sleep? It's like you haven't slept for one whole night and then you're just permanently tired all day and night. You won't be able to catch up on some sleep later on.

Anyways, this saturday, I still wanted to spend some time outside with my dear girls. We wanted to check out THU THU's sample sale since she is a London-based designer and she was only here for the fashion week. There's a funny background story to it: On thursday night we went out to the LesMads party at Cookies which was a lot of fun! When we were sitting in that cinema room, the designer of ThuThu and her friends came in, joined us and we've had a really nice chat.

Food Friday: Whole grain bread x dried tomatoes

So, apart from all the fashion week shows and events, I've just needed a little break to calm down. What to do? Grab your longboard, even if it's just to the supermarket, take a little ride and enjoy the wind and fresh air! What's next? Get some healthy ingredients and start cooking! :) And no worries, in the next few days I'll post something about what I was up to this week!

As you can see in the pictures above I'm having an affair with bread!!! With hearty-whole-grain-delicious bread! It is called: Breadlove. I think I should ask for a new word in the dictionary. Do you think I could do that? The love for making bread?! :) Whenever I make it, it's so easy and super fast! This time I'll present you my signature one, everyone loves it and I cannot stop eating it. I always use this Whole-grain bread recipe as my base and then I'd change the add-ons. 

MALAIKARAISS Spring/Summer '14

Cathleen Wolf for MALAIKARAISS

I've actually intended to write just about the shows/events I've been to this week, but when I saw these big earrings from Sabrina Dehoff for Malaika Raiss' Spring/Summer 2014 runway show, I had to watch it on youtube. Anyways I'll show you my favorite outfits from her collection here.

Berlin Fashion Week S/S '14: Opening Show of Hien Le

Today was the first day of the Berlin Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2014 and through work I had the chance to be there for the opening show of Hien Le. So, I was really excited to sit close to the runway to take some nice shots! It was the second time that he received the honor to open the fashion week. I have to admit I have to be some kind of patriotic here, he is also Vietnamese and I encourage Asians a lot! Don't get me wrong, but I do love Asians doing fashion! I mean: Vera Wang, Alexander Wang, Jason Wu, Perret Schaad and Hien Le, just to name a few :-P 

Le is a Berlin based designer and his collections are dominated by his accurate workmanship and his minimalistic cuts. This season he found inspiration in nature by using a dragonfly-print for his signature pieces. Hien Le transformed the print and created an abstract appearance.

On my read list: The Litte Book of Contentment

Speaking of Zen Habits, I think I've started reading Leo Babauta's blog in late December, January '13. After reading the first post, I was totally hooked up! I kept reading and clicking on his blog every single day and then I was like: Ok, wait, he'll need time to write these terrific articles about every day life, its obstacles and how to become truly content. Furthermore I like how he does not have pictures at all, it is really about his writings and his stories he's sharing with us.

Why Zen Habits? Leo likes the philosophy of Zen Buddhism a lot but he is not a Zen monk or Zen practitioner. It just reminds him of being present and to live simply. If you have time, read his story here and see how amazing he is. You can be it, too! 

Breathe.

If you feel overwhelmed, breathe. It will calm you and release the tensions.

If you are worried about something coming up, or caught up in something that already happened, breathe. 
It will bring you back to the present.

If you are moving too fast, breathe. It will remind you to slow down, and enjoy life more.

Breathe, and enjoy each moment of this life. They're too fleeting and few to waste.

By Leo Babauta.

Where I am right now: BERLIN!

As you've noticed: YES I AM IN BIG BERLIN, the capital of Germany!

Doing what? Working as an intern at the well-known fashion blog: LesMads.

How come? Well, you apply for jobs and see what's out there right? Getting out of your comfort zone, hey! Studying close to home makes me want to travel a lot, so I've decided to spend at least my off-college time outside of my little hometown in south-west Germany.

What do I do there? Blogging all day I'd say, writing articles, doing research on the newest fashion trends and dealing with PR agencies, haha. No, it seems easy but it's not! I'm having a LOT of respect for full-time bloggers! So hats off! What I can say is: my passion for fashion is back and I enjoy this little job a lot! :) Want to have a look of what I'm writing? Check: Ok Cool-LesMads. It belongs to LesMads and is about anything new and trending, from small designers to new collaborations in the fashion industry. And yes, you can tell, it is a bit New York-influenced ;-)

My workplace.

No blogging without a camera!

How is it so far? Working with Katja is great! She is really professional and you can learn a lot. It's a very nice experience and I'm very much looking forward to the upcoming fashion week in Berlin and the next few months. Although it is exhausting sitting in the office all day and writing, I really do like it. Shooting outfits, street styles, doing research and being able to create posts is a lot of fun!

Just a little update of what I'm spending my summer with ;-) So, most of the time I'm in the office dealing with fashion :) Oh and when I'm off, I'm trying to experience Berlin to the fullest: food, markets, longboarding and  staying healthily happy :-)

Stay tuned! xx

M

edit: Read my introduction post on LesMads here!

Cat eyes x Indian tailor

I met up with one of my friends from high school and we went to the Nowkoelln Flowmarkt. It was really really nice seeing her especially when you just get to see each other once or twice a year. So this is Samira and I've always liked her style. She wears a lot of black but still owns several special pieces in her wardrobe. Like she'd say: I cannot imagine living without black clothes! =D I also love how she mixes up her outfits with vintage and second hand.

Samira told me that the blazer is from India and is actually made for men. Men are smaller and thinner there, so she got a male one which fits perfectly to her statue. I really like the mixture of chic-cool by pairing the blazer with sneakers and the bike ;-) It looks independent and sporty. Looking at this composition, I've noticed that I've never worn a blazer before when taking my bike out, maybe I should try out. 

Once again: Yes, you can go all black without looking like going to a funeral. Black can be fun, yet elegant and cool at the same time. Pair it with nice shoes, accessories and more ;-)
Go for a golden necklace and a vintage bike!

Samira #1: Weekday sweater, Indian tailor-made blazer, COS black leggings, Nike Air Vortex sneakers, Cheap Monday sunglasses, Casio watch, golden necklace from grandma's and second hand backpack.

edit: See what's inspiring Samira on her tumblr: sur Madame Lugosi.

Whole-grain-bread-Quiche

This weekend I really felt like making a quiche, so this sunday was the day. The first time I've ever made a quiche was this year's mother day, so today was the second time. When I got up this morning I realized that I forgot to buy whole-grain flour. Shoot! So, what do you do then? 
Like the quote 'Necessity is the mother of invention' I've used whole-grain bread and oats instead. As you can see in the first picture it worked out pretty well. I've used up four slices of bread (cut them up into breadcrumbs) and maybe one small bowl of oats, mixed that up with one egg and some butter and put it on the tin. 

The recipe is actually from the German cooking site: Chefkoch but I didn't follow it and totally transformed it. I mean, this is the way I cook. I cook by instict and always see how it works.
And you'll realize that this is definitely not a tomatoe-quiche =D

So, the recipe to THIS quiche:

My once-in-a-year-haircut

Yes! Today I've got my once-in-a-year-haircut because I'm always afraid of cutting my long hair. I have to admit that my last time was in the U.S.: August 27th '12! I'd just let them grow and grow. They belong to me and I definitely cannot imagine myself with like.. short hair. My friends from college kept telling me that I should go let my hair cut because they were just toooo long. And I'd always answer: Naahh, I love my hair, I don't want to!!! 

Green Tea at Mamecha's

What do you guys do on a saturday when it's rainy outside? Right, you meet friends for coffee and have some cake. Although I always meet friends for 'coffee', I'd always get tea. This morning we've decided to go to a tea place instead of a coffee place. Google helped us and we've found MAMECHA!