spruced by marlene

I don’t know about you, but getting ready for a party or just a dinner in December is a much bigger effort to me than it is in the summer months, with all those extra layers that have to be added to a little dress to keep warm and all those tissues that are necessary to clean up the smoky eyes that have turned into full-on panda in the cold. This look feels much easier to accomplish, but still up to the task: slim black trousers, white silk blouse or tux blazer, popping lipstick and bright clutch. Easy as wrapping presents.

Runway picture taken at Ann-Sofie Back.

It’s impossible to visit Laura’s shop and leave without buying something. I’ve tried and failed. Many times. But there’s nowhere I’d rather give up on my resolution not to shop than Ting. The name means „to pause“ in Chinese and in Danish it simply stands for „things“. Everything Laura finds in, of course, Scandinavia and Asia is just beautiful. I recently bought my Christmas decoration from her, although the products make the everyday look a little better all year round, cause even scissors and dish towels are pretty. Unsurprisingly, my favourite time to go to Ting is when I need a present.

And thanks to Laura I can give you a present now. Two presents actually. You can win the weekly calendar from HAY and the bag from Fnubbu from her wish list above. In Danish you’d say: Det er rigtig, rigtig flot. Tusind tak, Laura!

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So, when I had just found out that I was pregnant, I did a little research into how my body would be affected (apart from the obvious, i.e. getting very big indeed). If only I’d known what I needed to prepare myself for mentally. One of things I found out was that feet can grow up to a size during pregnancy. And stay that way. I was rather alarmed by this – I think my exact words were: Not my shoooeeees! –, but when I told James about it, he cheekily suggested that I might as well sell my shoe collection preventively to make more room in the apartment for the baby.

My response: Ahahahahahahaha!

Do I even have to tell you what happened next? My feet grew. And stayed that way.

Ha.

Not by a whole size. But by enough to not fit into quite a few of my shoes anymore. Now, I could just put them away and try never to think of them again. Instead, I decided to sell at least the ones that I only got a chance to wear once or twice. They’re now in my shop together with a whole bunch of other things that I still love looking at but don’t wear anymore, from Lala Berlin, Current/Elliott, Sandro and Victoria Beckham, as well as some fine goods from Zara and Cos. Here’s where you can shop my closet. And hopefully give my shoes another run.

When I thought about doing a Christmas giveaway with my favourite shops, Konk was at the top of my list. Not simply because it’s a store that supports Berlin designers, but also because the owner Edda is such a knowledgable, cool and fun woman. Here’s her wish list (I’m going to have a word with Santa about that Isabell de Hillerin coat…)

Edda has very generously allowed me to give away the Idamari „Setja“ earrings in rose you can see in the picture above. The studs are made from sterling silver and plated in rose-gold with a high gloss finish. You can take another look at them here. I think they’re stunning and I wish I could take part in this competition. Which I obviously can’t. But you can.

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I’ve stopped counting how many „beauty products from the kitchen cupboard“ tips I’ve collected. And then not used. Or, rather: never correctly. Starting with an avocado and egg white face mask that dried so quickly that I almost had to remove it with a hammer and chisel. Or olive oil as a deep conditioner. Fabulous idea – until I rested my oiled up hair on the couch and fell asleep. One day, I’ll have to let somebody explain to me the correct dosage of cornstarch as a dry shampoo. Somebody who it doesn’t make look like they’re getting ready for Halloween. And before I remember to save used teabags for later use against swollen eyes, I’ve gone through ten tubes of eyecream.

Coconut oil is the exception. Firstly because it needs no other ingredients. Secondly because using it is so foolproof that even I can do it. And thirdly because it smells like summer. Which is pretty great when it’s summer. In winter, it’s like medicine. There are roughly 187 uses for coconut oil (and everyone has one. Gwyneth! Gisele! Everybody!). These are my four – which I’m actually using.

| As a lip balm. I have a serious addiction to lip balm. What helps against it is putting a few drops of oil on the lips in the morning and at night, which makes them veeery soft. If you don’t lick it off immediately.

| As a make-up remover. It’s gentler than a lot of make-up removers, especially for the delicate eye area. I take a little oil and gently massage it around the eye, then take the mascara off with two cotton pads. Supposedly the oil can even make your lashes grow longer. It definitely works as a rich, overnight eyecream against dryness.

| As an anti-frizz potion. A couple of drops for smoothing down strands, good-bye radiator hair.

| As a lotion/moisturizer. I only use it pure in the evenings, because it makes my face look a little too shiny. After a bath there’s nothing better than mixing the oil with some unscented body lotion and applying generously.

And now I’d like to know what DIY beauty tricks you’ve got.