It started to get really cold and nasty outside in Munich. Time to stay in and spend the evenings cooking with friends and having long conversations over a delicious dinner rather than going out. That’s the time of the year when I turn into Martha Stewart and actually enjoy putting more effort and time into cooking or decorating the table for a dinner party. The inspiration I get from nature at this time of the year makes the table setting an easy task: leafs, nuts, pumpkins and berries are inexpensive and easy decoration pieces. Just combine them with solid fall colours or plaids and checked patterns and set elegant accents with gold or silver. So, ready for the next dinner party or maybe a Thanksgiving invitation?
1. Berries & Plaids
All you need:
– a bunch of berries
– checked ribbon
– plaid napkins
– self-made paper place cards (just draw them on solid paper and cut them out)
2. Pumpkins
All you need:
– small pumpkins (different types make the look a bit more rustic)
– ribbon in another fall colour
– matching place cards (you can do them easily with “word” and a fancy font)
Choosing an outfit from a cramped closet early in the morning before coffee can be a very frustrating task. I’ve been there. This morning. And the morning before that. To avoid the next morning style crisis I decided to do some style stalking and prepare myself. That’s when I came across this perfect fall outfit from one of my favourite fashion bloggers, Mary of Happily Grey. She combines perfectly all of my fall fashion favourite trends: plaid, chunky knits, berry tones and pointy flats. A chic but yet cosy and effortless outfit consisting of basics most of us already have in their closets. The plaid scarf and the berry toned bag add a bit of colour and create a timeless look while staying fashion-forward.
Inspired? Get a similar outfit!
1. Ray-Ban Aviators via MyTheresa
2. ZARA cashmere sweater
3. ZARA navy blue skinny pants
4 Codello plaid scarf via Zalando
5. Elisabeth and James Aly flats via The Dreslyn
Image source: Happily Grey
Elegant emerald, sparkling sapphire, ruby red, alluring amethyst – not only our closets shine in jewel tones this season but also our homes are turning into a pirate’s treasure cave. The season, with Christmas already around the corner, is perfect for the mysterious, opulent and glamourous look of gem-inspired colours, wether you just experiment with pops of intense color, or opt for lots of saturated hues to create a feeling of intimacy by enveloping you in color. Get inspired by the following pictures and the tips and tricks on how to make the look work best!
Get your own jewel-inspired pieces or check out the emerald pieces from last year’s post:
1. Jewel-toned pillows from Designer’s Guild
2. Big glass bubbles by Olsson & Jensen
3. Jade tray via shopten25
4. Pink glass lamp via shopten25
5. Purple and gold agate coasters from Jonathan Adler
6. Mrs. Godfrey settee from Jonathan Adler
Image sources: 1. Design Sponge//2. Style by Emily Henderson//3. Bolig Magasinet//4. My Flights of Whimsy//5. Ellegee 88//6. ELLE//7. Decoist//8. Mondo Blogo//9. Paul Raeside
Indulge in one of the most tasteful combinations ever – caramel sauce and sea salt. This simple and delicious dessert side goes on anything you can think of, from ice cream to cupcakes or cereal. The sea salt adds a surprising taste and gives the traditional caramel sauce a modern twist. Enjoy!
You’ll need:
- 1 cup sugar
- 6 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
1. Put the sugar in a saucepan set over medium-high heat. Stir the sugar until it begins to melt and darken in color, about 5 minutes. When it bubbles vigorously, stop stirring and let the sugar cook, undisturbed, until it turns amber in color, about 2 minutes. Just watch the shade closely, so it doesn’t get too dark and burn. Immediately add butter and whisk until butter has melted then immediately remove from heat. Carefully pour in cream and whisk to combine until mixture is smooth. Stir in sea salt. Pour caramel into a glass jar to cool.
… seems to be the fashion designers’ answer to the quote. Although summer is almost over the fruity prints seem to stay. While Prada has been ‘going bananas’ since 2011, labels like Stella McCartney, Mother of Pearl, Isolda (more about these cool Brazilian ladies later on) and Stella Jean have been catching up and turn our closet into fruit salad.
Like a just-squeezed glass of juice, the fruit prints we’ve spotted as of late feel especially refreshing. Whether it’s a citrus-stamped dress, a quirky pineapple clutch, or a chunky lemon charm necklace, fruit prints are the cutest way to celebrate the last days of summer. I’ll definitely have a glass of Limoncello in Italy in one of these dresses during the next weeks!
1. Lemon charm necklace from Kate Spade
2. Isolda cotton print skirt
3. Mother of Pearl Franklin fruit shift dress
4. Dolce & Gabbana print scarf
5. Dolce & Gabbana Sicilian lemon print dress
Image sources: what’s inside you//Isolda FW 14//Stella Jean SS 14//Mother of Pearl SS 14
There is no denying it – these are definitely the last days of summer. Out of my reminiscent mood I decided to pay homage to summer by cooking something with light, summerly ingredients. I found this recipe for the best nectarine salad I’ve ever had and just have to share it with you. It’s a fantastic mix of summer’s treasures, it tastes like summer on a plate. Above all it’s very simple, I just recommend to take the best and freshest ingredients you can find, like ripe tomatoes and nectarines. Enjoy!
Ingredients (serves 4):
- 3-4 nectarines
- 3 tomatoes
- 1 ball of mozzarella di bufala
- 1 small bundle of basil
- 6-8 slices of prosciutto
- 1 head of lettuce
- 1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup of balsamic vinegar (take white balsamic vinegar if you can find one)
- Sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
1. Rinse and dry the lettuce and rip larger leaves in half. Then slice the nectarines and tomatoes into wedges and scatter both over the lettuce. Tear the mozzarella, the prosciutto and the basil leaves over the salad.
2. To make the dressing, whisk together the balsamic vinegar with the olive oil and season the salad with salt and pepper.
Behind the scenes, Prabal SS 2012 by Jamie Beck & Kevin Burg
The beautiful cinemagraphs of Jamie Beck and Kevin Burg immediately caught my eye. I felt like a new way to experience the moment. The slight movement brings the image to life while it’s still and moving at the same time, very quiet, subtle and thought-provoking.
Cinemagraphs were first created by photographer Jamie Beck and digital artist Kevin Burg in their New York based creative studio, Ann Street Studio in 2011. Cinemagraphs were born out of a need to tell a story in a fast digital age, with the visual world at its levels of saturation. They tell a story similar to the way a video or presentation would, but in much simpler terms while being consumed quickly.
Unsurprisingly, the moving images of the creative duo generated huge engagement on the internet and on social media channels, showing the attention-grabbing power of cinemagraphs. The industry immediately embraced the pair including brands like Oscar de la Renta, Ralph Lauren, Donna Karan, Tiffany and Co., and many others. I collected my favourites here and hope for more to come.
Coco Rocha in Oscar de la Renta by Jamie Beck & Kevin Burg
Christian Louboutin shoes by Jamie Beck & Kevin Burg
Katie Ermilio, Fall 2011 by Jamie Beck & Kevin Burg
New York in fall by Jamie Beck & Kevin Burg
Saks Fifth Avenue by Jamie Beck & Kevin Burg
Tiffany & Co. by Jamie Beck & Kevin Burg
Juicy Couture, Fall 2011 by Jamie Beck & Kevin Burg
All images via Ann Street Studio
Flamingos are everywhere and on everything right now. We can blame Alexa Chung and her Vero Moda flamingo campaign for this fun trend. Even though I associated the flamingo with outdated 80s Floridian style the bird seems to make its come back in a much more chic way this time. So I did a bit of bird-watching and brought you my best flamingo finds for the summer.
1. Sugarhill Boutique striped flamingo sweater
2. Tory Burch Brigitte cosmetic case flamingo via Neiman Marcus
3. Flamingo pillow from etsy
4. Betsey Johnson sea jewels layered necklace
5. Flamingo towel from etsy
6. Monserat de Lucca flamingo brass earrings
7. Ted Baker flamingo print blouse
8. Flamingo Matches
9. Flamingo stationary set from etsy
Image via Pinterest
