spruced by marlene

A few months ago, evening. Quick Instagram update before switching the light off for the night. James is asleep already. Lucky man. Lacking an intelligent person to talk to, I have the following conversation with myself.

„Oh, look. Another one with the Adidas Stan Smiths.“
„Another one of what?“
„Of the stylish bloggers. This time it’s Hedvig from The Northern Light. Camille from Camille Over The Rainbow wears them too.“
„And?“
„And perhaps it’s time for some new trainers. Everyone and their mother wears Nike these days.“
„Everyone – like you.“
„Precisely my point! I don’t want to look like everyone.“

A few weeks later, New York fashion week has kicked off. Quick streetstyle update in the morning.

„Everyone is wearing Stan Smiths! I need them now!“
„A few weeks ago you said you didn’t want what everyone has.“
„Spoilsport.“
„Did it ever occur to you that Adidas just handed the trainers out to all the people parading them on Instagram now?“
„Why do you always have to be so cynical? And even if that’s the case – so what?“
„So it means the hype is a marketing ploy, just like E. said the other day.“
„I don’t think they bought Phoebe Philo and she was the first to wear the shoes. Marc Jacobs has them too and I’m sure he doesn’t let anyone dictate his style.“
„Fine. But do any of them even know who Stan Smith was?“
„Stan, Schman. I didn’t know who Chuck Taylor was before I bought my first Converse. Heavens, it’s only a pair of shoes!“
„YOU are the one who won’t shut up about them!“

Last week, a text message from my friend L.

„L. writes that she loves her Stans so much, she hardly wears other shoes anymore.“
„You’re really starting to get on my nerves. Do you want the damn trainers or not?“
„Maybe I just want a pair of white leather sneakers.“
„Then how about a pair from VOR? Or from Common Projects? Eytys make nice ones that are affordable.“
„You know what? I’m just gonna go to the store and try the Stans on.“
„Finally.“
„Although… Maybe it’s all about the Superstars now?“
„Gaaaaahhhhhhhh!“

A few days later in the store. The trainers that look so laid-back and cool on other people make my feet look like they belong to a clown in gym class. Which makes the decision not to buy them very easy in the end.“

How do you react to pieces that suddenly seem to be everywhere? Does it make you want them more? Resist them completely? Or maybe you’re immune to trends?

Image via.

| The T-Rex is designer Malaika Raiss’ good luck charm. So she made it into the charming Dinolove necklace. I like wearing mine especially on Mondays. Roar!

| If you want to get lost for an afternoon, head straight over to Ida Laerke’s blog.

| You know by now that I love Sandra Semburg’s street style photography. Thanks to her shot of Clémence Poésy, I have the inspiration for my new haircut.

| Let’s pretend for a second we have Gwyneth Paltrow’s bank account and spend some money on this amazing malachite box by Rablabs for Goop.

| And while we’re at it, let’s also buy these moccasins from Newbark.

| „I think you should ­mention that I can fricking master a jalapeño.“ Jess Cartner-Morley interviews Stella McCartney.

| Zara Pictures is back. I could take everything Amanda Brooks is wearing here and put it on my shopping list.

| What I got this week from Zara is this trenchcoat. Soft like a dressing gown, perfect for spring.

| Bling, bling! Here’s a feature I wrote about costume jewelry for Harper’s Bazaar Germany.

| Spring cleaning and organizing beauty products with Into the Gloss? Yes, please.

| How did I miss that Remodelista put out a book? A Manual for the Considered Home should move in with me right away.

| So does a scented candle from Maison Louis Marie.

| Pinterest… Pinterest… Isn’t there something I’m forgetting about? Oh yes, to actually pin stuff. I’m back at it now. You can follow me here.

Have a good week!

Me: „Thanks for cleaning the bathroom, hon. Can I help with anything?“
James: „Yes. You could explain to me what all this stuff is?“
Me: „What stuff?“
James: „The stuff that’s taking up two shelves in the cupboard.“
Me: „You know, just the necessities.“
James: „Then why do I only have half a shelf?“
Me: „Because you’re a natural beauty.“
James: „Hang on, there’s more. You have three shelves. Three!“
Me: „Don’t complain. It all helps me look as beautiful as possible.“
James: „So you’re saying this is for my benefit?“
Me: „Exactly.“

I’ve also tried to explain to James that a lot of those products aren’t for me. They’re for Junior. Just like it’s Junior who wants to constantly eat ice cream, not me. James believes neither. Although the truth really is that my skin has become so dry during pregnancy that I’m going through more bottles of skin oil than a body builder at the Mister Universe contest. I won’t find out if any of these actually prevent stretch marks until baby’s born. So far, they have at least made my skin feel hydrated and soft. Not all of these are specifically for moms to be, but I’m sure you can use all of them – whether you’re pregnant or not.

100% Spa by Karmameju Hope Body Oil 01 | I’m a sucker for good packaging. Bonus: this pure essential oil with ylang ylang, rose and sandalwood will look great in your bathroom for a long time. I bought it long before my pregnancy and it’s so rich and simultaneouly absorbent that I’ve only had to use a little every time. The brand also do an oil especially for moms, which you can find here.

Weleda Pregnancy Body Oil | A classic. Smells so good that I could bathe in it.

Aesop Geranium Leaf Hydrating Body Treatment | Same goes for this oil from Aesop. Again, very little will cover a lot of skin and, like the other products on the list, it’s an organic product.

Mamma Mio The Tummy Rub Oil | A recommendation from the same friend who told me about Hatch collection, who make the most beautiful maternity wear. Apparently, Claudia Schiffer used Mama Mio. Do I really believe that? Here’s another question: Why not?

Luxsit Hydrating Serum | This is for the face only. If James ever asked me how much all of the stuff in the cupboard is worth, this is one of the products that would force me to lie. The price for this serum with raspberry seed oil is a knock-out, but you really only do need a couple of drops to make people tell you how glowing your skin looks. I bought mine at Wheadon in Berlin, who should open their online shop soon.

Less is More Rose Serum | And this one’s for your hair. My hair is very brittle at the moment and this takes good care of dry and split ends.

Ettina only sells her own label at Thone Negrón, with one exception: she stocks a small selection of dressing gowns from Ikat that perfectly mirror the down-to-earth luxury of her own label. It’s just the kind I’d been looking for. Cut in a kimono style, it’s made from Japanese cotton with a lovely circular pattern, is wonderfully light but still heavy enough to keep you warm. I’ll probably spend a lot of time wearing this come June, although it’s almost too beautiful to only wear it at home. I’m thinking about having two belt loops added to put it on as a summer cover-up. Pregnancy has revealed a whole new side of me – a side that prizes comfort in clothes. Nice to know that there are things that fulfill this requirement but are still stylish.

When I grow up, I want to wear dresses like these every day. That’s what I thought when I first discovered Thone Negrón a couple of years ago. It’s the label by Berlin designer Ettina Berrios Negrón (by the way: when I grow up, I’d like to wear that name). She originally wanted to start her own brand after she finished her fashion studies. Then she discovered that her city had so much good fashion to offer that she focused on Konk instead – still Berlin’s first stop for homegrown design talent. But the idea of filling a store with her own designs stuck and after launching in a small space on Schröderstraße, she has now moved to a bigger location on Linienstraße in Berlin-Mitte.

It’s the kind of store I’d have walked into even if I didn’t have an appointment with the designer: thick grey carpet, fine furniture, a selection of home accessories that you can buy, and of course her collection, of which there aren’t many pieces, but the presentation is all the more beautiful. Ettina designs blouses, shirt dresses, gowns and bolero jackets that would be fitting for cocktail hour in an English manor house: Romantic but not girly, elegant and strong. In fact, she does get a lot of the rich silk fabrics from England. On the other hand she’s completely dusted off the concept of evening wear. Because I probably wouldn’t wait for the right opportunity (or manor house) to get one of the dresses. No, for something as exquisite as the Skarabeus Dress, I’d invent an opportunity. The blouses and bolero jackets I’d just throw on with jeans, like Ettina, who wears her own designs most days. Her current favourites are the Bridge Blouse with a Liberty print and the Duplex Blouse in Ecru Caramel.

What I like so much about Thone Negrón is that while new collections are added every year, the old ones don’t disappear after six months. It gives you time to think about what you want to get, fall in love with a piece and then have it tailored to your measurements. I already know what dress I’m getting when I’m back in my usual shape, the Willow Summer Dress in Azure.

Thone Negrón | Linienstraße 71 | 10119 Berlin | 030/53 16 11 16

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