c o u n t i n g d o w n

Loud music. Champagne. Fireworks. Dinner for one. Dancing.

Whatever your plans for New Year's Eve may look like, forget the hype and pressure about ending '09 with a bang and starting the new year off perfectly... I've heard way too many stories about people stuck on their way to the "party of the year" and forced to celebrate the beginning of the new year on a bus/train/random street. The best times are those which you spend in good company, so make sure you're surrounded by the people you love (and love to party with). Add good food and a little champagne for the obligatory toast... and let the good times roll!

For everyone who will be in Berlin tonight, I can highly recommend stopping by the legendary VILLA party (and afterhour) or the Kings & Queens masquerade at the HBC. For more information about either, check out the 'I Heart Berlin' blog.

If you're still unsure about what to wear, just remember that this may be one of the few nights of the year where anything goes. Well, almost anything. Leave your leopard leotards at home and think flashy! Sequined tops are always a good bet, although throwing on a cocktail dress and rounding off the outfit with a pair of funky stilettos will do the job as well. Once you have overcome that last (very tricky) obstacle of finding the perfect NYE outfit, you're good to go!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Think home-cooked food, heavy snowfall, good company and a festive atmosphere... can it get any better than Christmas? I wish you all happy holidays and a jolly good time with your beloved. La Berlina will be back in time for some NYE updates ;)

Until then, ho ho ho!

Last Christmas (I listened to bad music all the time)

A couple of weeks ago, one of my friends said, "I just heard 'Last Christmas' on the radio... that means it's officially holiday season!" I thought about what she said for a while, and gradually, my initial reluctance made way for accepted defeat. No wonder we're exposed to the same old song every year if there's no good alternatives around... right?

Wrong. There are plenty of contemporary artists that can take on Mariah Carey and WHAM any day. Throughout the past years, I've been compiling some of my personal favourites and burning CDs with them for my friends. At the top of the list is Ron Sexsmith's "Maybe This Christmas" - I've been hooked ever since this song came up on The O.C. a couple of years ago. If you're wondering why Lady Gaga made the cut, just listen to the song... it's hilarious. (although you should wait until your relatives have had plenty of eggnog before you start playing this!)

Who knows, one day our combined efforts may succeed in banning "Last Christmas" from TV & radio stations for good ;)

All I Want For Christmas...

Yes, it's that time of year again. Those of us who don't spend 99% of their time procrastinating and trying to avoid the inevitable will already have an assortment of neatly wrapped gifts and matching christmas cards stored away in the back of their closet. Everyone else - it's crunch time!

In case you're not only in dire need of wrapped pleasantries for the family, but also lacking creativity to come up with ideas for these, La Berlina is here to save the day. Trust me, I know what it's like to suffer under the annual 'socks & underwear' set that mothers love to give.

See below for an assortment of unique gift ideas that will make your brother's self-made carwash coupon seem extremely unoriginal... (Undoubtly the biggest advantage is that all items can be ordered online and shipped internationally = you won't have to leave the house at all!). Click on the images to enlarge them.

1. The Bubble Calendar: a poster-sized calendar with a bubble to pop every day ($20.10)
What do your little sister, Aunt Marge and Grandfather Larry have in common? There's a child deep down inside all of them! So chances are, they will still love popping the bubble-wrap more than what is actually wrapped in it. Why not treat them to the truly one-of-a-kind 2010 Bubble Wrap Calendar? You can order it from the folks at bubblecalendar.com, who will ship it to you for free! (International shipping is free for orders of 2+ calendars).

2. Miniature Chairs Jewellery Stand (€53.00)
Away with dusty cases full of tangled-up necklaces! This cast iron mini-sculpture will display all of your mother's jewellery in a visually pleasing fashion. Available via Urban Outfitters Online Shop

3. 'Math Sucks' Tshirt by Wildfox (€80.00)
Supposedly there's people out there who actually enjoy battling fractions, algorithms and puzzling equations. I'm not one of them, and maybe your cousin Trudy isn't, either? In that case, she'd probably love this tshirt. Just remind her not to wear it to her next calculus quiz. La Berlina assumes no liability for failed exams due to agitated teachers. Order online

4. Fridge Magnets 'Ransom style' (€14.00)
Ever looked into the fridge and realized that your little brother secretly ate your vanilla yoghurt - again?! By giving him this set of fridge magnets, you will be able to write anonymous notes on the refridgerator door, threatening to devour his peanut butter snacks should he commit such a felony again. Yeah, it's more a present to yourself than to him but, hey, who said that's a bad thing? Via Urban Outfitters Online Shop

5. Undercover Laptop Sleeve (€33)
Disguised as a worn, oversized envelope, this laptop sleeve will ensure that nobody steals your older sister's brand-new macbook. The case is padded for protection on the inside and sports a velcro closure. Buy now

6. 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die (€27)
Does your dad take great pleasure in bragging about what a music expert he really is? If yes, you're not alone. Do him a favour and surprise him with this 960-page collection of album reviews from over 5 decades. He'll be able to boast about having listened to at least half of these records already, and educate the rest of the family on the milestones of music industry history. Make sure to take this away from him again at one point or he won't stop rambling about how great Woodstock was... Published by Universe and sold via Urban Outfitters Online Shop.

7. Rock 'n' Roll Pen (€13)
Who said your dad was the only one with a good taste in music? Give your boyfriend this electric guitar-style ballpoint pen and he will declare his undying love for you. Also available in saxophone- and keyboard shapes.

[In case you didn't notice yet, Urban Outfitters is THE place to look for novelties and out-of-the-ordinary present ideas!]

Heaven Can Wait

climate action #2 this Saturday! (12.12.2009)

A while ago I reported back from an alternative type of demonstration here in Berlin - the Silent Climate Parade. The event turned into a huge success, international media coverage and a daily increasing amount of fans on the event's facebook page followed shortly thereafter.

(can you spot La Berlina in this shot of the Silent Climate Parade?)

Now, the boys are back. In light of the current climate summit in Copenhagen and the World Wants A Real Deal global day of action on December 12th, it is time to take a stand in the fight against climate change. While the event's organizers once again aim to combine political activism with tons of fun and a kickass soundtrack to back everything up, the concept of climate action numero dos differs slightly from that of the previous event.

After signing up, you will be sent a link to download the audio file that will be used during the demonstration. Transfer this file onto your mp3 player and bring it along on Saturday. Not only will you be listening and dancing to the same music as everyone else, you will also receive important instructions on what to do next... this may include chasing other participants who have dressed up as CO2-molecules ;)

All in all, the event promises to be another big success in raising awareness and protecting our environment. Register now and get all of your friends to join in the fun! More information can be found on the official website or on the event's facebook page.

London.4 - Dress Me Up!

"Ever wished you could borrow a dress from Kate Moss for a big night out?"

Thanks to Topshop, this dream turned into reality for a number of London-based women. Between November 26th and December 6th, customers of Britain's most popular High Street retailer had the opportunity to hire dresses that had previously been donated by selected starlets. The benefit of splurging on one of the dresses for an unforgettable night of glamour (besides the fact that all profits went towards charity) was undoubtly that all worries about other girls showing up in the same outfit could easily be eliminated! An excerpt of the Topshop holiday season catalogue explains just how easy it all was:

While I was unable to hire one of the glamourous gowns (previously owned by Scarlett Johansson, Dita von Teese and many others) myself, browsing through the robes, feeling the different textures of feathers, sequins or tulle, and imagining what kind of events these had been worn to proved to be exciting enough. Photography was strictly forbidden, but I managed to secretly capture the lovingly decorated interior of the miniature fashion temple that had been set up inside the store on Oxford Street.

London.3 - no cinderella story

Sometimes, life is unfair and we can't do anything about it. Plain and simple.

I had to learn this lesson the past weekend while shopping in London with my friends. Apart from literally scrutinizing every single article of clothing in one of the many vintage shops, we came across a tiny shoe store on Camden High Road that sells low-priced imitations of popular designer pieces. Shoe heaven, so to speak. I was enraptured until I realized that they only carried sizes 36 - 39 (EU). Too bad I'm a size 40 and the shoes tended to run small. Subsequently, I had to sit and watch while my good friend Muriel treated herself to these gems.

Perfectly suited for dancing the night away in one of Berlin's many underground clubs (and not freezing to death on the way back home in the early morning hours), these £30 dark brown faux leather boots would have been the perfect addition to my ever-growing shoe collection. Looks like I'll have to wait and hope for a miracle...

PHOENIX @ La Blogotheque (Take Away Show)

Alright, so there's some impressions of London I'd still like to share... but in the meantime I couldn't focuse on my studies until I hadn't done my share of spreading the following three videos on the web. 2009 just wouldn't have been the same without Phoenix. Now, the talented young lads have cooperated with La Blogotheque in Paris, and the result is captivating. Sit back and enjoy!

London.2 - inSpiral @ Camden Lock

Clearly a magnet for tourists and locals alike, Camden (one of London's 32 boroughs) can't be fully discovered in merely one or two hours. Along Camden High Street and around Camden Lock, you will come across a plethora of little shops and market stalls, offering everything from scented candles to black leather plateau boots to fresh fruits and vintage records. Chances are you'll find funky gifts for everyone, grandparents and flatmates alike, if you just take the time to browse a little.

When entering Camden Lock, your eyes and tastebuds will most likely be overwhelmed by the variety of foods and beverages offered at the little stalls lining the alleyways.

No insider's tip but certainly a highlight of the area is the café/bar/shop/lounge inSpiral. Situated on 250 Camden High Street right across from Camden Lock, this venue is unique in its concept and implementation thereof.

"inSpiral combines personal and planetary health with creative media to achieve positive conscious change in a fun way for all!"

Apart from offering a great array of vegetarian and vegan dishes (ever tried hemp millet fricadels or vegan tiramisu cake?), inSpiral hosts parties and events every weekend... Why not pop by the Social Sunday Open Mic session and have a couple of organic beers while you're at it?

If you're still not convinced that is place is a must-see, take into consideration that this is one of the few locations in central London that allows you to have an amazing time while simultaneously benefiting your local community and our planet earth. Idealistic? No way. 100% of the electricity consumed at inSpiral comes from renewable engery sources. All packaging is either biodegrable, recycled or otherwise ecofriendly. None of the staff members own a car - most of them cycle to work!


Captivated by the concept and low-spirited because you live nowhere near London? Do not despair. The brand-new inSpiral website not only features an online shop and radio station, but also offers its advice on how to be ecofriendly and posts news and updates via the inSpiral blog.

London.1 - an interest in fashion

While the weekend spent in London included more than enough opportunities for shopping, sightseeing and discovering the local clubbing scene, I managed to dedicate a good amount of time to something which my mother would refer to as a 'good investment for the future': touring universities. And although that implied spending a lot of time in cozy common rooms, indulging in biscuits and coffee and chatting with various members of the faculty and the administrative staff, I was also delighted to gain an insight into what real uni life boils down to.

Just for the heck of it (and because the Journalism Department wasn't giving tours that day), I travelled straight from Stansted airport to visit the Open Day for Fashion Design at the Harrow campus of the University of Westminster. What I encountered was a group of open-minded, independent-thinking and friendly students, sputtering with creativity. I also learned more about fashion, its history, and the complexity of tailoring than Vogue could ever teach me. If you get the chance to attend a similar event at the university of your choice, go for it! Trust me, it'll be worth it.

Bye-bye Berlin, hello London!

Kitsuné Maison Compilation 8 (&party)

The new compilation is out, and once again it features only the best of new releases. Not only is the cover design pretty damn cool, but seeing the list of artists featured sent me straight to amazon to order a copy for myself :)

Among my current favourites, The Drums and Le Corps Mince de Francoise, the record also features French Horn Rebellion, Slagsmalsklubben, My Tiger My Timing and many more...

For a sneak preview, either visit the Kitsuné website or check out the funny promo video:

I wish I could keep this hidden from everyone else as I myself won't be in Berlin this weekend to join the fun, but there's a Kitsuné party @ Ritter Butzke this weekend that promises to knock your socks off. Various DJs that are also represented on the new compilation will be spinning, so if all of my advertisement for the CD didn't convince you yet, go and see for yourself!

fashion forward: winter '09

Last year, it was all about funky colored tights. I bet every girl could search her closet right now and come across at least one pair of turquoise or neon pink tights. Whether you paired them up with a black dress or something a little more daring, don't deny that you, too, followed the trend (it's ok- I think we all did...).

However, right now all of that is literally Schnee von gestern as the German likes to say. Fall/winter 2009 is about a little more skin - and with that I mean net tights, lace tights and half-transparent tights with prints on them. Designs this season are clearly a little more girly and less edgy, although that depends on what you choose for the rest of your outfit.

So far, Topshop seems to sport the best selection. Among my favourites are the all over heart tights and the regal net tights for a plain look. If you're not afraid to show some color, go for the vintage lace tights in dusty pink or the forest scribble net tights. With prices ranging from £8.00 - £12.00, you'll also have plenty of cash left to splurge in the shoe department ;)

Happy shopping!

Butterflysoulfire - CLOSING SALE

Paris ou Berlin?

When talking about the modern art exhibition "Dysfashional", this question does not need to be posed. Until November 29th, magazine cut-outs, various live installations et tout le bataclan can be found in the Passage du Desir in Paris. And - voilà - come June 2010, the fashion exhibit will grace Berlin with its presence.

Rather than focusing on past designs, trends or the evolution of fashion, "Dysfashional" aims to capture the everything surrounding the actual clothing: inspiration, public opinion, press coverage and the influence of fashion on society are only some themes that the various works of art address.

“Dysfashional tackles the seemingly frivolous yet vital realm of fashion by examining the approach of designers and artists from various backgrounds, bringing us closer to a world in which the protagonists are not the objects but the creative process itself.” (Luca Marchetti, one of the show's curators// via TheMoment)

Exhibiting artists include Hussein Chalayan, Antonio Marras, Maison Martin Margiela, Gaspard Yurkievich, Sissel Tolaas, Marc Turlan, Raf Simons and many more. See the official website for more information regarding opening hours, ticket prices etc. One thing's for sure - I can't wait until June!

magazine cut-out by Marc Turlan, photo via Colette

"Mt. Blushmore", live installation featuring Lagerfeld, Versache, Wintour and Galliano

Vivienne Westwood Anglomania Wrap Coat

While temperatures are slowly but surely decreasing, it's time to invest in something that'll keep you warm AND still look fashionable. All. Winter. Long! Think about it, finding a stylish winter coat that doesn't make you look like Frosty the Snowman or a big fat penguin isn't as easy as it sounds... I myself have been struggling with this over the past couple of years. Part of that goes to the fact that, even if equipped with a Canada Goose original heli-arctic parka, I'd still be freezing my ass off.

But what happens when you go on an outdoor-date or some event that requires you to stand outside in the freezing cold for hours? Would you like to be caught wearing that skiing jacket your mom bought in the 80s, just because 'it's soo warm and cozy'? Thought so.

Thus, I present to all ladies out there, my absolute favourite as far as this season's winter coats go: The Vivienne Westwood Anglomania Wrap Coat. It's a wool blend coat in a muted gray. The neck is draped, making the coat flow smoothly to the waist, where it can be tied with a broad belt. Besides a cute pattern on the inside lining, this coat features wide arms (perfect for when you're layering sweathirts below it) and large side pockets. I'm in love! Good thing this gem only costs $1438, right?

For more details or to order an early christmas present for me, visit La Garconne.

have a seat.

Autumn in New York City
image by Naruto via flickr.com

takka takka takk.

Cafés full of people staring at their macbook screens are no longer a rarity. If you see somebody sitting in a café by themselves, that person will most likely be engrossed in a magazine or hacking away at the keys of their laptop. Stockholm, Prague, Valencia, Boston - it's all the same!

However, Berlin wouldn't be Berlin if it didn't have a funky concept to cater to everybody's needs. Feel like grabbing a cup of coffee and sewing a dress on the side? No problem. All you need to do is bring the fabric and step into "Stitch 'n' Bitch". Located on Wrangelstraße 80 in Berlin-Kreuzberg, this snug little sewing-café offers its customers access to one of ten sewing machines and a generous work space.

Founded by a Dutch lady named Linda about 3 years ago, "Stitch 'n' Bitch" is popular with all kinds of folks: whether you're letting your creativity flow on a kaftan-style gown or just need to fix a hole in your favourite jeans, everybody's welcome. The experience is currently worth 5€/hour, which seems fair considering the kind advice you will receive from employees at any point in time. Opening hours are Tuesdays through Saturdays, 13:oo - 22:ooh.

apple curry chicken (yum!)

Soup Culture
Kurfürstendamm 224
open Monday - Saturday, 12-19:30h

DIY Halloween Masquerade

It's that time of the year again! Admittedly, there's only so much you can still do in preparing the world's best Halloween costume, as October 31st is only two days away. So, unless you've got a naughty nurse costume hanging in the closet or some pretty creepy hobbies that you keep hidden from mom and dad, it's crunch time!
Do not despair, there's plenty of cool ideas one can come up with even on a short notice. An option that proves to be both low-priced and easy to make is a do-it-yourself mask. A masquerade is a glamourous way to dress up with little effort involved. What you wear with it is up to you, so feel free to either go over-the-top in a fancy cocktail dress or stay casual with a black shirt and a pair of Levi's.

What you will need:
- a plain paper/plastic mask (usually priced at around 3€ & available in all shapes/colors)
- sequins, glitter, ribbons, trimming,... anything appealing you find around the house/at the next department store
- feathers (always look nice and give the mask a more extravagant feel to it)
- glue (you'll have a hard time without this one)
- a little bit of creativity

Now... get crazy! Perhaps it would be a good idea to make some sketches on a piece of paper before you start glueing stuff onto the mask. Also, think about which color spectrum you're looking at. Gold, red, dark green (looks good with peacock-feathers!) and black usually look more glamourous than blue or pink, which are more flashy. However, sometimes sticking to just one color plus a little gold or silver can create a nicer effect than going overboard on the colorwheel. The two images below are great examples of masks that seem rather simplistic at first, but reveal intricate design and complicated handiwork at a second glance.

in retrospect: rave for the environment

I didn't go to the parade to take great photography or shoot award-winning film material. I participated because climate change is a very important issue to me, because I think taking action is always better than simply discussing a matter and its pressing importance. I took part because it sounded like a great idea to spend the day dancing through Berlin with my friends and 350 other people.

Therefore, don't get your guns out when you watch my cinematic snippets of the event.

I was temporarily traumatized after handing back my headphones and finding myself without the tunes of Dirty Doering, which explains why my imbecile self conducted the interview with Peter Esser in German, rather than in English (as I had originally planned). Apologies go out to anyone not understanding a word of what he's saying.

Enough with the rambling ... enjoy!

hey mamaa, i wanna go surfing!

make a change - have a party!

These days, raising awareness works best when firm conviction for your cause is paired with creativity and some kind of appeal for pop culture... On Ocotber 24th, people all over the world will come together and protest against the sky-rocketing amounts of CO2-emissions global industries are still producing. Here in Berlin, the protest will take place in form of a Silent Climate Parade.

The concept is simple: 350 people may pre-register online for a limited amount of headphones. These will be distributed at Potsdamer Platz (in front of the Ritz) at 14:ooh on Saturday. Come 15:ooh, the legendary Dr. Motte (Love Parade, anyone?) and DJ Dirty Doering (Bar25) will feed these babies with finest electro beats - and you will start dancing! All participants will follow an eco-powered vehicle from Potsdamer Platz all the way to Alexanderplatz. For the exact route, click here. Nobody except those wearing the headphones will be able to hear a thing, so curious and confused looks from passersbys and tourists should be expected!

Here's your chance to engage in a good cause and have tons of fun while you're at it. The 350 haven't been reached yet, so registrations are still welcome on the official website.

See you on Saturday!! ;)

SEVEN SWEATERS

When it comes to vintage fashion, you either hate it or love it. Belonging to the latter group of people, I was absolutely stoked to find out my favourite thrift store here in Berlin was having its annual fall clear-out sale. Armed with some nutribars and a 1.5L bottle of evian water, I attacked racks and boxes and scrutinized every item on display. On my way home three hours later, I had 2 gigantic bags full of garments, shoes and handbags sitting next to me in the car... and only spent about 20€!

Among the clothes were seven sweaters, 1€ each. I've finally had some time to properly combine them with the rest of my clothes to test out their 'full potential', if you will... :)

For a more detailed look, simply click on the image to enlarge it.

ein ♥ für blogger

Following a tradition that's been established throughout the past few years, I will share with you 5 of my favourite online blogs. Why? There's a good amount of great blogs out there that you'd really enjoy, if you knew about them. Someone, I don't know who, started this a couple of years ago... I love the idea!



Anyways, here's the deal: Everyone keeping an online blog may use this day to honour 5 of his personal favourites. No restrictions on content or language... just go for it!

5 of my fave sources of inspiration (and procrastination, for that matter...)

1) Le Coolcats Blog - selected DJs and artists signed by the french record label ED BANGER share their thoughts and impressions of day-to-day life.

2) GLAMCANYON - if you've never seen Katja Hentschel's amazing photography, you're either not from Berlin, lacking an internet connection (unlikely, as you're currently viewing an online blog) or have been shacked up at home for the past years. This is one of her many projects, a streetstyle blog focused mainly on people in and from Berlin.

3) Dirtyglam - written by a young swedish girl. Concentrates on fashion, lifestyle and aesthetic photography. Ellen (that's her name) makes great 'inspirational collages', as she likes to call them.

4) Emma Nygren - having gained national media attention and popularity through this blog, Emma Nygren is now featured in the online version of the swedish ELLE and a regular at events surrounding the swedish fashion and lifestyle scene.

5) LesMads - Last but not least, LesMads! Theirs was one of the first german blogs about fashion, culture, lifestyle and art. If it weren't for LesMads, I probably wouldn't be writing a blog myself right now. Hint hint: extremely girly ;)

getting ink done

Have you ever considered getting a tattoo, perhaps during your 'rebellious teenage years'? A surprisingly large amount of people actually answers that question with 'yes', while the number of people that end up pulling through with it is considerably lower.

There's numerous reasons against getting a tattoo, the most convincing ones probably being the fact that finding employment proves to be more difficult and that... well... once you've got a tattoo, you've got it for a lifetime!

Wait- not neccesarily! A new trend emerging from (guess where...) the United States is the UV tattoo. UV tattoos are done in a special flourescent ink (colors range from titanium white to hot pink) and can only be seen under blacklight. While they've been around for the past 15 years, UV tattoos seem to be becoming more and more popular these days. They're easy to conceal during daytime and a great conversation-starter for nights out clubbing.

Negative aspects include heightened risks for allergic reactions and the fact thatUV tattoos are usually about 20% more expensive than the regular job. Decide for yourself and see below for some examples.

Ps. No worries, I myself am not planning to get ink done anytime soon ;)

picture of the day: which way are we gonna go?

affirmation of taste

Admittedly, the image accompanying my post on the overknee trend wasn't mindblowing, nor a qualitative highlight. To my defense, it was taken with my webcam as I am temporarily camera-less. However, I promised a follow-up... and while I am still unable to produce valuable photography, I did recover a couple of images from the web affirming my previous prediction. See below for streetstyle snapshots from the the Dior show at Paris Fashion Week.

Oh, overknees! ;)

Images via LesMads.

Je suis tombée en amour avec...

.

you can't rush art.

Calling all lovers of contemporary art: the international art show art forum berlin is well underway here in the lovely capital of Germany. Make sure to take your time and check it out before Sunday, the 27th of September.

Now in its 14th year, the art forum berlin will once again host galleries from all over the world, presenting many works of up-and-coming international artists. Information regarding opening hours, tickets, a list of exhibiting galleries and more can be found on the official website. Don't miss it!

COOL AND BORED (0:47)

Keep 'em coming: Overknees

Already emerging in last year's fall/winter trends were overknee boots, as spotted on various runways and the american television show Gossip Girl.


A variation of this trend was made popular by the spanish fashion icon/designer Trini Gonzalez, who promoted the look through her fashion blog toutlamode. They were in coming last season, and they are definitely here now: overknee stockings! See below for a first feeble attempt and make sure to check back for more refined updates at a later point in time.

my personal highlight of Dockville '09...

Dockville '09

Had the pleasure to attend an open-air festival for music and art this summer, together with my best friend Pia. It took place in a district of the german city Hamburg which can best be compared to NYC's Williamsburg. Ironically, the german version is called Wilhelmsburg - kinda similar name as well, eh?

Anyhow, the performances ranged from alternative/indie rock to electro to experiental indietronic and beyond... highlights included swedish Miss Li, the german trash-electro group Mediengruppe Telekommander, Dan Le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip, Beat!Beat!Beat!, Marcus Carp and international acts such as Metronomy, Bonaparte, The Whitest Boy Alive, William Fitzsimmons (for those sun-filled afternoons) and MGMT!

Apart from the musical performances, one could enjoy the various contemporary art installations to be found all over the festival area (some of which you had to 'discover' first), revive your inner child while playing on the musical playground, screenprint your clothes, create DIY beats or just kick it with a bunch of lunatics and crazy people ;)

In For The Kill (La Roux)

Sommerpause

La Berlina is back from summer break, reunited with Europe's loveliest capital for yet another year. But where did I escape to while - even here in Berlin - temperatures were sky-rocking high?

Stops of the La Berlina European Surf Summer:

Moliets, France
San Sebastián, Spain

Hvide Sande, Denmark

Postcard from Paradise - my summer '09.

fashion factory

Believe it or not - Vienna actually has one of the niftiest flea markets i've ever seen. That's probably because it takes place in combination with the daily "Naschmarkt", which literally translates into "nibble-market" - a.k.a. you're being offered tiny bits of food to nibble on from all of the market stalls you pass. But that's only on a side note...

I bought a pair of incredibly hideous, leopard-print, cycling shorts for 1€ which I took home with the intent of performing a miracle. Back in Berlin, my ancient sewing machine and 15 minutes later, the ugly rag had transformed itself into a funky leopard-print stretch skirt... see for yourself :)

P-R-O-M

It's that time of year again... when spring slowly starts to fade into summer, and the end of the school year nears. Amidst final exams, college decisions and graduation, the high school Senior will have to complete one more daunting task: finding a prom date.

If you're extremely popular and have drop-dead gorgeous looks, the hardest part will be choosing from amongst the many offers you've received. Everyone else will be scurrying to find the perfect match before all the good ones are already taken... My advice: go with someone you will feel comfortable around. So what if there's that Junior chick that you've been dying to get with all year? The awkwardness of you two having dinner together or doing the waltz for three hours most likely won't be worth the pretty picture of you two hanging on the kitchen refrigerator.

Once you've found the perfect escort, round up all of your courage and creativity. Yes, you've heard me right: thinking of a funky way to ask out your chosen one will, in the case of a rejection, at least leave you with a fun memory. Scientific studies have furthermore proven that the likeliness of a rejection decreases exponentially as the creativity of your invitation increases.

Hmm, sure! So that last bit might have been bogus, but I can only recommend an out-of-the-ordinary prom invite. Check this video to see how I asked out my date:

Ps. In case you were wondering - he said yes ;)

teddy's tee

A classmate of mine is moving back to the U.S. and therefore getting rid of a lot of her stuff. She's been selling a couple of items from her wardrobe via facebook, and I managed to snatch this shirt. I'm quite happy with my pick, what do you think?

l'après-midi

New Blog, new luck :) I wanted to start this off with a song that's been running through my head all day long - and all of yesterday, too, for that matter...

The original piano piece is entitled "Comptine d'un autre été: l'après-midi" and was composed by Yann Tiersen. It's well-known due to its feature in the Amélie movie. There's been several remixes of this piece; the one found below was done by a dj called Jay Haze. It's a masterpiece in my eyes... nobody else has yet managed to add to the magic of the original without taking away from the beauty and purity of it.

Minimal toujours! Enjoy...