mirror, mirror

By Marlene | Published: 17. May 2012

I have a couple of go-to sunglasses, classic aviators from RayBan and this pair from Céline. But right now I quite fancy some mirrored shades. Very 80s. Very Highway Patrol Officer. Possibly very wrong, yet somehow just right.

My inspiration: Anna Laub, who’s wearing a pair from her own line Prism here. Can you imagine anything better than your own collection of sunglasses? How about if that collection includes mix-and-match swimwear?

Out of the two of us, it looks like Anna at least is going to be very well prepared for summer.

What do your perfect sunglasses look like?

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a week in fashion #68: the one with marc jacobs. i mean, MARC JACOBS

By Marlene | Published: 14. May 2012

“Marlene, there’s a panel discussion with Marc Jacobs in Berlin on May 4th. Would you like to moderate it?”

That’s what it said in the e-mail.

I thought: You’re crazy!
I thought: I’ve never moderated anything before and we’re talking about MARC JACOBS here.
I thought: I have nothing to wear!

Then I replied: “Of course I’ll do it.”

Because how many opportunities will I get to sit knee to knee with a designer whose name I think should be written in caps only? So even though I still can’t quite believe it happened, it really did: I hosted a panel discusssion with Marc Jacobs, when he came to Berlin for the Designer for Tomorrow Award. Me. Surrounded by the five finalists. In front of a good 50 online journalists and bloggers. With note cards. And a headset. Excuse me while I faint.

Sources tell me that I managed not to chew down on my microphone despite my nervousness. However, I have very little memory of what I actually said. But here are some absolutely random observations from that unbelievable morning:

*Marc Jacobs smells like a forest in springtime after a rain shower. Luckily, I had enough sense not to sniff his neck in front of 50 people.

*The man is a professional down to his bleached teeth. The way only a American can be. Question? Answer! And charming, eloquent and entertaining answers at that. No matter what he was asked, he had something amusing to say. Question: “Marc, what will you wear to the Met Ball?” Answer: “A lace dress.”

*Which wasn’t a joke.

*Although to be fair, he also said: “I love attention. People always laugh when I say that. Because it’s honest?”

*He has impressively toned calves. If my calves looked like that I’d wear skirts a lot, too. Although perhaps not that Comme des Garcons lace dress. I might be the only one. The frock is already sold out at Barneys.

*Pulled-up black socks with dress shoes look surprisingly non-ridiculous on an almost 50-year-old man.

*He really is almost 50. “But you look so young.” (Did I really say that? I guess I did). Marc: “My secret: plastic surgery.” (Did he really say that? I guess he did. Although I don’t believe him. I was close enough to see the wrinkles around his eyes)

*Damn, that’s a good manicure! Better than mine. Will anybody notice, if I sit on my hands?

Did I really check out his manicure? I guess I did:

*But why is he using his thumb and a bit of spit to clean a stain out of his skirt? Am I the only one who saw that?

*When I met him again a few hours later, he said: “Oh, it’s you again! I had such fun this morning.”

And this is where I faint again.

Thank you for the pics, Anna-Lena!

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cycle style

By James | Published: 2. May 2012

Whether I’m making clothes or bags, I always try to source as many of the materials in Berlin as possible. I really enjoy travelling around the city searching for that perfect button to finish a jacket, or whatever else it is I need. The majority of this is done by bike. There seems little point owning a car in the city and I rarely use public transport. Even in the depths of winter I cycle around, the latest suiting wool find stashed safely in my rucksack. Surely though, it is this time of year that I enjoy it most. Without gloves, hat and padded coat I need all winter, style becomes as important as function.

When I saw Horst A. Friedrichs had compiled pictures of Londoners and their bikes for “Cycle Style”, I just had to have it. Flicking through you feel their choice of bike is so closely linked to the clothes they wear. I had already planned to post about this book today. And then yesterday in the late afternoon sun my friend Schuyler took this photo of me. Perfect timing. Now I can share my own cycle style with you.

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my tan

By Marlene | Published: 30. April 2012

It’s the new style column.

In light of current weather conditions – 25 degrees, sunshine, at least in Berlin – I’d like to make a confession: I don’t tan. I get freckles instead. Which I’m not complaining about. They’re quite pretty and by the end of August I usually have so many that you could mistake them for a light tan. But at the beginning of summer I wear sunglasses constantly so that I don’t go blind looking at my own legs. Sure, roasting in the sun isn’t good for the skin. And sunbeds are silly. Still, I don’t want to wait five months to finally get a bit of colour – only in time to wrap myself up again for winter. So I use self-tanner. There’s a massive number of them available that are massively awful. The most expensive one I ever used turned my skin into oak veener, most of the rest of them smell like air freshener. But I do like the self-tanning mousse from St. Tropez (no, it’s not cheap, yes, it’s worth the money). It smells fine, dries fast and leaves a nice colour. Although now the manufacturer has changed the formula and the mousse is suddenly white, so you can’t see where you’ve already applied it anymore. The idiocy of beauty companies of fiddling with products or discontinuing them altogether deserves it’s own column (you know what I’m talking about, Clinique!). And I’m not ready to give up St. Tropez, yet. But maybe you know of something better? Which self-tanner do you use?

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a week in fashion #67

By Marlene | Published: 30. April 2012

*Another goodie from my Press Days rounds: the Rika sweater with a tiny piercing in the neck line. This is about as rock ‘n’ roll as mohair gets. Also: I wish this sweater had been around as an alternative when I got my belly button pierced back in the day.

*”She needed the latest versions delivered by 2pm on a Friday afternoon so she could evaluate them over the weekend at her horse farm in the Hamptons.” This makes the Top 10 of Jobs You Don’t Want: being Madonna’s perfumer.

*Chill the champagne! The Met Gala red carpet will be live-streamed on May 7. André Leon Talley, do your worst.

*This look back at Barbra Streisand’s style is worth seeing for the opening picture alone.

*And this look back at fashion illustrator Antonio Lopez’ photos is worth seeing for a picture of Karl Lagerfeld in a mankini alone. I repeat: KARL LAGERFELD IN A MANKINI.

*Yet more looking back. Mario Testino’s website has had some work done and his archives are looking better than ever.

*I’d like to add this to my bookshelf: Haute Couture – The Polaroids of Cathleen Naundorf.

*If you live in Berlin, go visit my new favourite store Rebecca.

Have a good week!

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suede bomber

By James | Published: 24. April 2012

I am someone who wears a lot of bomber jackets. Sometimes dressed up with a shirt and tie, sometimes dressed down with a t-shirt. Get yourself a good one and you will get a lot of use out of it. I own quite a few different types: leather ones, all manner of different cotton versions and even a couple made from wool. I feel like I know what a bomber jacket should look like.

Just because it isn’t a fitted garment it doesn’t mean the cut is unimportant. I definitely prefer slim shapes, perhaps they are actually best when they look just slightly too small. The armhole needs to be cut high and the sleeves need to be kept quite narrow.

For this jacket I used a super soft navy blue suede. I decided to keep the design very clean, it would have been such a shame to add too many details that could distract from the exquisite texture of the material. Finding the right suede really proved to be the most important factor, giving a luxurious touch to a classic ivy league look.

If you’re interested in having a garment like this one made to order, send an e-mail to mail at jamescastle dot de

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the rucksack

By Marlene | Published: 23. April 2012

New week, new style column.

The time: Last week.
The place: Berlin Mitte.
The players: Me. And Me.

Me: “Notice something? Lost of people out with rucksacks.”
Me: “You mean the tourists?”
“No, the hipster girls.”
“Oh those! Just ignore them.”
“Why? I think it looks cute. See that girl over there? With the boots, the long skirt and the leather rucksack casually flung over her shoulder? Cute.”
“If she’s carrying anything more than a pack of American Spirit and a bottle of Club Mate, she’ll have a stiff neck tonight.”
“God, you’re old sometimes.”
“I’m even old enough to remember the last time I wore a rucksack. I was 15. It was a Fjällräven model that I had drawn an A for anarchy on in biro. I’m not ready for a revival of the clothes I wore in the 90s.”
“Interesting. Then how do you explain the pair of tie-dyed jeans you just bought?”
“That’s totally different!”
“Really?”
“Yes. And, anyway, you’re changing the subject. Here’s another problem with the rucksack: the number of hideous ones is too discouraging to start looking for a pretty one. It’s so much easier and more satisfying to find a different bag that’s pretty.”
“But do you remember that girl in Paris? The one with the bag made from raffia and leather?”
“Sure, she looked good. But firstly she probably found that bag for a fiver in a vintage store and I lack the talent for vintage. Secondly, she was French and French women look inexplicably good in everything. Thirdly, she was 20.”
“Your point?”
“My point is that I’m not just too old for the backpack. I’m also not cool enough.”
“Maybe you’re right.”
“Hang on! Now that I’m thinking about it…”

Since I can’t make up my mind, what do you say: The rucksack – yes or no?

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a week in fashion #66

By Marlene | Published: 22. April 2012

*A tree in full bloom. This is why it’s my favourite time of year to take my camera out. And here a few more favourites from the week:

*Of course, anything that Stevie Dance does is going to be as awesome as her new online mag Shop Ghost.

*A year later, and I’m still thinking about these jeans from Dries van Noten. Looks like Zara have read my mind! Although I also like the idea of Erica Domesek’s DIY.

*Carine Roitfeld launches a make-up line with MAC this fall. I hope it includes a tutorial on how to do the perfect smoky eye.

*While we’re on the subject of impossibly cool French women: Net-a-porter magazine devotes an entire issue to Le Cool.

“This gives you a bit of air-conditioning in the back, which is never a bad thing”. Man, I just love Jess Cartner-Morley.

*It’s not you, it’s me – when women break up with brands. Full disclosure: I think I’ve called it quits with Diesel. What about you?

Have a good week!

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  • SHOP fashion by James Castle

    A lot of the fashion you can see on this blog was designed and custom-made by James. Did you know that you can buy these pieces from him? Well, you can!

    Maybe you like the clutch (as seen in ZEITMagazin and OK! Magazine). Or one of the other bags from his collection (as seen in InStyle). But maybe what you're really after is a tailored jacket. He makes jackets, suits and shirts for both men and women.

    Just as he can make almost any piece of clothing you would like tailored just for you. To make an appointment in his Berlin studio or to make an order send an email to
    mail at jamescastle dot de