spruced by marlene

Do the iPhoria cases remind you of something? Mhm? Exactly. A certain brand of nail polish. How fabulously silly and pretty at the same time. The one in red is what my new iPhone is wearing now after I finally decided to say good-bye to my beloved iPhone 3. A good idea. Although I wonder whether it’s also a good idea that my phone now looks better than my nails?

Cheers, Prag PR!

Didn’t I just say that the search for the perfect jeans is never-ending? I met Nicole only a day later and, damnit, now I need a pair of jeans like hers, with a loose fit, light-blue wash and long enough to turn up at the ankles. Although finding jeans that are too long shouldn’t be a problem, since they usually are on me. Normally I either sew them up, roll them up or tuck them under (the solution of making jeans for less-than-gazelle-legged women seems… too obvious?). Leaving a raw edge and turning them over once like Nicole did looks just right for summer. Something else I’ll keep in mind for warm weather: tying a shirt with a little knot. Charming, just like her whole look.

Nicole’s jeans are from MiH.

The perfect jeans? That was Okka’s question to me.

Oh my. There are days when my answer would be: They don’t exist! Because I’ve just tried nine different fits in three stores and you know what? None of them made my legs and bum look like I imagine they should look. But there are also days when I do a little jig in the changing room because I found them: the perfect jeans. Isn’t it silly that a piece of fabric can make you so happy that you’d like to kiss the shop assistant? On the other hand: Jeans are my uniform, a reliable constant and, when in doubt, the answer to the question: What will I wear today? You spend as much time with them as qith a partner. So why shouldn’t you dance down the street with glee when you’ve found the right one? Or even a few right ones. These are my five favourites.

| Skinny from Cos in dark grey. What I like about skinny jeans from Cos: they widen at the ankle instead of tightening around your calf like an inflatable cuff. After getting it wrong once, I now also know this about Cos jeans: I still have to buy them so tight that I’ll almost faint in the changing room. Then they’ll fit perfectly after an hour.

| Skinny from Rag & Bone in coal. These jeans are the winning lottery ticket. Perfect length. Perfect fit. The fabric so soft that you feel like you’re wearing pyjamas even though they sit very snugly. And the fastest denim buy of my life: Stepped into the Rag & Bone store in New York, was approached by Patrick, who brought me two different black jeans to try on, both of them two sizes too small. Me: „Patrick, you are very kind, but if you’d like me to buy jeans here, we’ll have to go up a couple of sizes.” Patrick: „Just wait and see.” Ten minutes later I paid for a pair of jeans that are two sizes smaller than what I normally wear and that fit me just perfectly. It’s possible that Rag & Bone have simply figured out how women’s minds work and vanity-size their jeans. Who cares. I danced down the street with my shopping bag. Rag & Bone offer international shipping and because jeans are so much cheaper in the US than here in Germany, it’s probably worth the higher shipping cost.

| Casey from All Saints in a blue wash. Similarly to the Cos jeans, the Casey is a slim cut without being skintight. Unlike the Cos jeans, these sit on the hip. I was looking for an everyday pair with a classic wash that looked worn in already. And that’s exactly what these are.

| Boyfriend from Current/Elliott in white. It took me a while to get round to white jeans (white denim = Liz Hurley was my thinking), but in the relaxed fit they’ve become a constant companion in the summer. Seeing the price, I’ve just remembered why I waited to buy them on The Outnet at 50 per cent off. The Outnet is great anyway for finding denim brands that would otherwise set you back a couple of hundred, for instance Mother, my friend Sandra’s favourite label. I tried her pair once and had to be forced to give them back.

| Relaxed fit from Cos in a medium blue wash. I love these jeans. They look like you stole them from your man’s wardrobe, hanging-around-jeans and paired with heels and a tee pretty unbeatable as a going out outfit. Every season, I’m waiting for Cos to bring back the same wash. No luck so far. Why is it that brands always discontinue their best pieces? Grrrr. At least they do the jeans in a nice light-blue wash at the moment. For a darker wash with a pretty phenomenal fit, I like the Sexy Boyfriend from Gap.

And since the search for yet another perfect pair never stops, I’ll pass Okka’s question on to you: What are your favourites?

first pic: James Castle

My handwriting could be more beautiful. The ballpoint pens from Caran D’Ache couldn’t be. My friend Julia discovered these a while ago and now I’m a fan, too. Especially of the pens in neon colours. Even writing to-do lists suddenly becomes a little more fun. You can find them here.

And now… happy weekend!

It’s funny. I wear my glasses almost every day, but I don’t really think about what they look like most of the time. A matter of habit I guess. My glasses are a utility item, not just practical but necessary. After five years with the same frames, I’ve decided I need new ones. I’ve been wearing a RayBan Wayfarer until now and I’m looking for something similar again. Not particularly the same shape, but something classic nonetheless. Distinctive, but not costumey. And since I’ll be wearing these glasses not just sitting at my desk but out at night, they should be somewhat adaptable. Glasses that will be a good „look”. Oh, and, they should suit me. That’s a lot of demands. But when I see Tiany here – it’s possible! Her glasses fit her and her look perfectly.

So far I’ve found these for me:

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