Statement necklaces

Picked out a rather plain - bordering on boring - outfit and don't know how to spice it up? How about a bold necklace? You may rest assured that it will instantly update your wardrobe and simultaneously transition from work/day to night outfit.

There are many different kinds of necklaces available out there atm and fortunately most of them are affordable too. Huge are ethnik spike chains like this one from ASOS. As for me, I wanted to jump on the fringe bandwagon but boots and bags are so overdone that I was looking for something different - et voilà, I came across this fringe necklace from Babooshka Boutique when browsing through Etsy.

See how it adds a little glitz and special something to my cream sweater and black skirt combo? I really like it and will start playing around with it more for different effects. I can also see it with a white button down shirt or with a simple black tank. Options are endless.

Btw, Babooshka doesn't only carry fringe necklaces but also a nice range of clothes.

Four Ways to Wear Your Ex-boyfriend Shorts

Why are these shorts called ex-boyfriend style? I have no idea! Maybe because after you stole them out of your b/f's closet he instantly became your ex. However, I have a feeling the shorts will stick around for much longer than the guy. That's probably because of their great versatility.

Once comes spring I'll probably live in them because they are so easy to wear. I recommend buying them one size bigger than your normal size for that oversized look (they make you look slimmer too ;-) ).

Here are four ways to wear them - although there are many more, of course:

• dressy: pair with a blazer and a nice pair of shoes and you are ready for a night on the town
• maritime: a simple striped shirt gives them a kind of holiday flair
• casual/sporty: just add a simple sweater, boots and you are good to go (if you are into sneakers you can wear your converse with them too)
• rock/biker chic: a band tee, leather jacket and your favorite pair of biker boots
  

H&M Home Collection

article in German H&M magazine

Home Sweet Home

A Swedish furniture giant has launched a new home collection. Sounds familiar? It's not the famous furniture department store with the blue and yellow logo that you might think of right now. But H&M is following in IKEA's shoes. The collection comprises everything from pillow cases, towels, shower curtains, linen to furniture.
For now the range of articles will only be available in selected European countries via mail order or online store. Color wise, there will be a selection of both neutrals and bold colors to mix and match, some of which remind me of a Jackson Pollock painting.

When I walked into H&M last week I was given a promo shopping bag in the colorful splash style that they have on their pillow cases and a pack of napkins.

Little Green Dress

Green is the new black! No, I don't mean eco-friendly clothes made of organic fabric. I'm talking about bright green mini dresses as seen on Balmain's S/S 09 line. I have to admit that wearing a particularly colorful dress at an evening event when everybody else relies on the good old LBD is a bold move but it will sure make you the toast of town and earn admiring glances. I'm usually one to stick to solid colors like black, white, cream and grey myself because they are so easy to work with. But with spring approaching it might be agood idea to think outside the box for once and take a risk. Bright colors like electric blue, pink and orange are Designers' take on spring-time because they instantly update a seemingly dull fall wardrobe and add a certain freshness and unpredictability.

As for me, I'll certainly join the club but have yet to find the perfect green dress. Fortunately it's not quite spring-time yet so I still have to wrap myself in head to toe black until the new color palette finally hits the high street stores. We'll see how the hunt goes.

German Vogue - February 2009