spruced by marlene

Sunday was one of those days I normally would’ve stayed in bed all day: rain, rain, nothing but rain. Heavens, when will it ever stop? Except, I had signed up for the Journelles x Voo Store flea market, so I had to go out. It ended up being more than worth it. Stephanie, who I shared a sale rack with, and our friends had as much fun as can be had selling old treasured clothes to new owners. Good people, good atmosphere, really good music (old school hiphop on repeat – and I was 17 again), served with waffles, ice-cream and sweets. Let’s do that again, please, Journelles and Voo Store.

Of course, I immediately re-invested some of my earnings – into a pyjama shirt from Liebig, a label rightfully loved for gorgeous dresses. Typically, I only discovered that I wanted one of those shirts when they were no longer available. So when I spotted it at the flea market, my buying arm shot out faster than you can say Cool Hand Luke. This silk pyjama top is not for wearing to bed on Sunday. My inspiration for how I’ll wear it: Amanda Brooks. That picture is two years old, her look is still delightful.

I can think of only one better way to wear a pyjama top: with a matching bottom. Just look. And then again here. Sofia Coppola – tsk. That woman can do anything.

You know what goes really well with white jeans and a grey sweatshirt? Neon yellow.

I’m obviously biased because of the name, but I’m still giddy with excitement that „The Marlene” is available again in neon yellow. When James made the original, so many of you wrote and asked about it. And now it’s back! The shade is a little softer than the colour of the original, but it still packs a punch, especially under evening light. I’d most definitely take this bag out for a cocktail. Cheers, James!

„The Marlene” clutch is made to order via the James Castle online shop.

Here’s another one of my favourite basics. Although I should say, my ONLY basic at the moment. I’ve been wearing this grey sweatshirt almost non-stop in the past few weeks, as summer has decided to go on holiday, presumably somewhere far far away. I’m fairly certain that I actually wore a scarf – a scarf! – the day I bought this sweater. It’s from the Closed men’s line, the latest addition to an already pretty good selection of grey sweatshirts. What can I say? It’s one of those pieces I’m reliably drawn to in any shop, a sure thing, that I buy, bring home – only to discover: I already own one, two, three of that already.

Or five.

I have a few lighter versions of the classic grey crewneck, too, because it works so well with a lot of things – jeans, slim trousers, pencil skirts – but there’s something cool about a proper sweatshirt, with a triangle at the neckline, ribbed cuffs and in melange grey. It’s relaxed. It’s comfy. It’s what I wear on days when I feel like I need a bit of protection. I prefer to wear my sweatshirts a bit bigger, so I usually look for them on the menswear floor. I’ll be wearing this one a lot in the next few months with white denim, shorts and, once summer comes back, even over a bikini at the beach.

Here are a few others I like.

J. Crew mens cotton sweatshirt in heather slate | BLK DNM womens sweatshirt in light grey melange | Petersen unisex sweatshirt „Williamsburg” in dark grey melange | Cheap Monday mens sweatshirt „Dean” in grey melange | Han Kjøbenhavn mens crewneck in dark grey melange

While you look at those, I’ll continue my resarch into another great basic, the cashmere v-neck. The „Nacelle” pullover from Dries Van Noten is perfection – and seems to be sold out everywhere. Which is just as well. Because, considering the price, I’d be a very bankrupt lady in a cashmere v-neck.

Okka asked me to share my favourite pieces of jewellery with her and you can read about all of them, and hers too, here (in German). This is the most recent piece I bought, the „50/50” ring from I Need More Rings, which they designed especially to be sold at Wald, and which got its name because it’s silver on one side, gold on the other. I love how delicate it is, a perfect companion to the heavier „My own summer” ring.

For two days, the box with my new scent from Byredo stood unopened on my desk. I just couldn’t bring myself to break the beautiful seal on the packaging. Coincidentally it was my birthday on Saturday, otherwise the perfume bottle would probably still be wrapped. The box alone is a present. Today I saw that Garance Doré did a whole series of pictures about the ceremony of unwrapping. Rightly so. Beautiful things only become more so in beautiful wrapping. I will surely keep its box until long after I’ve used the last drop of this perfume. Ah yes, the perfume. Difficult to describe what it smells like. Except instantly familiar. Different every time I smell it. Is it powdery? No, sweet. Mhm, or spicy? More like fruity. Which sounds like a mix that should make you dizzy, but is simply delicious. Bal D’Afrique wears less like a perfume than a precious fabric. I bought mine at Anita Hass. Without the wonderful Yvonne, who stood by as I sniffed my way through the Byredo selection and eventually said: ‘Try this one, it’s my favourite’, I’d have never found it.