STATEMENT: 9 reasons to write more letter mail.

[en] The way we communicate has changed and has literally become 'instant'. It's comparable to other areas of todays fast moving throwaway society.

Breaking up via Whatsapp seems completely normal and the news keep on revealing different Social Media scandals including the NSA reading private messages of irreproachable citizens and the manipulation of the latest US election through the deceptive business practice of Cambridge Analytica with the aid of data of a millionfold Facebook users.

Well then I have to ask this: why not start to write letters again? Why not send greetings via postcards or confess your true feelings with a handwritten love letter? Nothing can express your emotions better than thoughts transferred on paper.

This post is a statement to write more and text less.

TRAVEL: paris undiscovered - my top ten places to visit in the city.

[en] paris ranges among my most beloved places on earth and it definitely has much more to offer than the eiffel tower. today i want to show you my top ten places in paris not every tourist might be aware of. good food and drinks included!

et voilà – here they are!

TRAVEL: hiking at a height of 800 metres in liguria, italy.

[en] hi peeps! standing on one of the highest mountains in liguria, admiring the golden light of a setting sun which left any photo filter unnecessary – this was one of the most extraordinary (and most beautiful) moments of this years roadtrip to italy.

it can also be regarded as a boundary experience.

as long as i can remember i have been suffering from an extreme form of vertigo. thus it wasn't a given that i'd join my girls on this trip, because, after all, it was the goal to hike up to a height of more than 800 metres above sea level – exposure therapy, literally.

of course i didn't want to join my travel mates at first. but they persuaded me, nevertheless, and told me that i might regret my decision at a later time ('the 3 big D's have to stick together – and we're also in need of one last moneglia-selfie!')

i'm glad the girls were able to change my mind.

it was a life-changing experience – and that's in no way exaggerated.

it was a very sponatenous decision to join my travel mates and thus i wasn't very properly dressed for an evening on a mountain top (which can get quite cold, even in summer). i can tell you that my tunic, shorts and leather jacket weren't sufficient and because of that i spent the rest of the night sneezing.

the climb was exhausting, of course, but the sight of the mountains covered in the golden evening sun, accompanied by italian rosé wine and omelettes with parmigano reggiano made up for all preceding exertions.

the bestsellinggerman author hermann scherer says that 'risky' situations unlock a bigger potential for feelings of happiness than so called 'soft targets' or, in other words, targets which you can reach effortlessly.

the experience standing on a mountain varies whether you climbed there yourself or were flown on top by a chooper or the like.

experiences which take a lot of effort offer a greater potential for happiness.

this roadtrip was full of confronting encounters, coping with anxieties of different kinds and deep conversations accompanied by italian wine. you definitely couldn't call this a journey of relaxation, but i don't care.

when i came back i felt more free, open and bold than before.

when I stepped through my front door i realized that i had changed. i realized that i could achieve anything if i only believed in me. i realized that it's worth stepping out of my beloved comfort zone to dare something new (even if some kind of initial help is necessary).

no beach vacation would have had the same effect onto my personality and onto my personal views upon life – but i would enjoy one nevertheless.

the day of our departure i also chose to quit smoking – after 10 very long years. i have tried to quit this bad habit several times before but never succeeded.

and now i can say that i did it, finally!

i'm very proud that i was able to achieve that because it cannot be taken for granted, if you look upon other spheres of my life which bring me to my knees, time and time again.

and now it's your turn: do you remember any occasion which caused you some effort but which also made you very happy in the end?

i'd love to read of your own experiences!

TRAVEL + OUTFIT: a picture perfect outfit location - villa rosetta in moneglia, italy.

[en] hi peeps! the past few days were blessed with much sun but that fotunately has changed since yesterday. if you're afflicted with rain and cloudy skies i want to send you some rays of sun in todays post! i have captured them when i stayed in italy some weeks ago. we spent most of our time in moneglia in the italian area of liguria, a really divine spot on earth. every town is so picture perfect, so typically italian and so wonderfully worthwhile for excursions of any time. our residence also was located near a national park where we amazing hiking tours were possible and of course we also made use of this! because of all this i felt a bit sad when we had to depart … and that's why i will return to italy in this years autumn!

todays outfit impressions emerged at the bed & breakfast we stayed at during our visit to italy. it's called villa rosetta and is located in moneglia. it really has been a picture perfect location for outfit photos. paola, the the owner of this lovely bed & breakfast, has taken very good care of us during our stay, made delicious italian breakfasts and offered us the possibility of amazing excursions i will definitely never forget. a beautiful and absolutely recommendable place to stay at during your visit in moneglia, sestri levante or cinqueterre. the only shortcoming could be the arrival which definitely isn't for people with a fear of heights (like me, for example! #exposuretherapy XD)

by the way this was my first time i had the possibility to experience the 'real italy'. when i was 12 years old i have stayed in italy for the very first time. we stayed in vals in south tyrol, which is best known as a skiing area.

now finally a wonderful time under the bright sun, the amazing blue sea, scenic towns only accessible by train, excellent olive oil, fried fish, pizza and pasta in manifold variations! … but i skipped the ice cream and i really could kick myself but, well, i wanted to follow my diet no matter what, and i guess that counts as a good reason – nevertheless i can tell you that i definitely ate much more carbs during these few days than during the past 3 months XD

have you already got the possibility to experience the 'real italy'? where have you stayed and which places would you still want to visit there?

model & styling: dahi k.
location: villa rosetta, liguria, italy.

IMPRESSIONS: the geisha - my first beauty shoot.

[en] hi peeps! i have always wanted to be a part of an extravagant beauty shoot (and this wish also became a part of my current list of 101 things in 1001 days). this year my dream finally came true!

photographer simon dundee once had the idea to realize a geisha shooting. his friend sebastian ritter who runs a photographic studio in hagenbach was also fond of the idea and was able to contribute a kimono he bought on his latest trip to japan. make-up artist kate created my geisha make-up with white airbrush colour, black eyeliner, pink eyeshadow and red lipstick. i have taken some photos of the formation process and out of cam shots. of course we also haven't forgot to take some fun shots and selfies.

kate had planned to go to a mardi gras party afterwards and thus also dressed and made herself up to be party-ready and she looked quite stunning, what do you think ?!

what do you think about our realization of the geisha theme?

© Sebastian Ritter - Fotostudio Ritter

IMPRESSIONS: le dîner en blanc, baden-baden '17.

[en] milano, paris, new york, berlin, tokyo. people dressed up all in white meet at a location not announced until shortly before the actual event takes place to celebrate life and indulge in good food and wine. a hedonistic enjoyment with a beautiful community feeling: this would be the perfect characterization of this all white spectacle.

the first dîner en blanc took place in paris, where the host of a totally overcrowded garden party spontaneously decided to relocate his party and of course all of his guests into the nearest public park.

it's a worldwide phenomenon and since 2015 it also takes place in baden-baden.


all the guests who want to attend have to bring their own food and drinks, but it's definitely no casual BBQ but a spontaneous and elegant dinner party, and that's why you should also keep this in mind while planning your menu. it should have three courses, all containing cold dishes. you could serve oysters, carpaccio, gazpacho, maybe saté en brochette, quiche, cake and layered desserts served in glasses.
attending guests bring their own tables and chairs and a white table cloth. fresh flowers and candlesticks create an aesthetic overall image.

it was my first time to ever attend this all white event, and it was such a beautiful experience. i still felt a bit tired from my last trip to paris and didn't have loads of time for preparing the dishes and presentation of our table but despite that i totally looked forward to eventually be a part of it.

i dedided on preparing mediterranean puff pastries filled with zuccini and tomato slices, quiche lorraine and apricot dumplings with red berry compote. our three courses were accompanied by local red wine and brut d'argent.

i have worn my beloved white mango dress, a white blazer with a glistening lapel, saint laurent earrings and white sneakers from adidas for a nice break of style.

by wearing the same colour and by sharing an exquisite experience with good food and drinks a beautiful community spirit emerged.
lighting sparklers in the mild summer air perfectly rounded out this wonderful event.
this definitely won't have been my last dinner in white!

if you want to be a part of the next dinner in white, stay tuned by following the official website of the dîner en blanc.

have you ever attended a dîner en blanc yourselves?

SHOOTING: rosengarten baden-baden feat. sandro ferrone.

[en] hi peeps! today the sun deserts us but that's okay because the last two months i had loads of quality time with friends and had the opportunity to visit many old and new beautiful places. in the course of the next days and weeks i will show you my impressions of strasbourg, paris, milano, pisa, liguria and many others. also stay tuned to see some more impressions of london!

this year i also finally found the time to visit the picturesque and odorous rose society garden in baden-baden and take some outfit photos with my favourite photographer florian gehrmann. it is such a beautiful place and definitely a must-visit in baden-baden during summer time. don't miss your chance to visit it. it counts as one of the most prestigious and beautiful rose gardens in the whole of europe.

i have worn a lilac cocktail dress from sandro ferrone and an occasional hat which would be perfect for the next horse racing season in baden-baden/iffezheim starting at the end of august 2017 - a social event you shouldn't miss if you like people watching and dressing up!

have you ever visited the rose society garden in baden-baden or a horse racing?

photography: gehrmann portrait-fotografie.

model & styling: dahi k.

location:

Rosenneuheitengarten

Moltkestraße 3

76530 Baden-Baden

SHOOTING: an orange jumpsuit and black leather jacket for a casino visit in baden-baden.

[en] Advertisement - hi folks! today i've got a new outfit post for you. some of you might already have seen some impressions on my insta profile. we have shot some photos of my orange TOPSHOP jumpsuit and my new leather jacket from MANGO at the glamorous bernstein club, located in the casino of baden-baden, one of my favourite places to be in this beautiful town that i can call my home for two years already.

mostly i don't play roulette or blackjack but send my time at the bernstein club. i really love the eclectic and luxurious interieur with it's complementary shades of purple and gold. i also believe it to be one of the best places in BB for high quality cocktails (my favourite is the mai tai deluxe - you should try it when in town) and they play some really great tunes - every week you can listen to international star DJ's showing their repertoire. it's just a pity that every time i went there, nobody was eager to rock the dance floor ... would be time for a change!

if you want to visit it yourselves, here's the full address:

Bernstein Club

Kaiserallee 1

76530 Baden-Baden

GERMANY

have you guys ever visited a casino? did you play roulette and gained (or lost) a fortune?

photography: gehrmann portrait-fotografie.

model & styling: dahi k.

location: bernstein club/casino baden-baden.

IMPRESSIONS: my daily facial cleaning ritual.

[en] Advertisement - hi peeps! today i want to show you the products of my daily facial cleaning routine. i have never really been a beauty junkie or someone who would spend hours and hours in drugstores and such - on that score i'm quite narrow-minded but that's due to my very sensitive facial skin and that thus it's quite difficult for me to find the perfect products compatible with it. 
for a long time i was in search for the best products which don't cause allergic reactions and it really seemed like a never-ending journey. i also had problems with natural cosmetics because they often contain cotton and well ... it seems that my skin doesn't like such ingredients. 
well but some years ago i have found the items which are perfect for my skin (and i hope that they'll never be pulled from the stores XD).

for cleaning my skin and to remove makeup i use the 3 in 1 pureté thermale cleansing milk from vichy, which is only available in pharmacies but i often tend to buy them online because it's cheaper and more comfortable because i'm also often too lazy to go into the city to buy it there.

if i put on a more intense eye make-up (with chanel inimitable waterproof and zoeva black to earth) i start with micelles cleansing water with argan oil, which is perfect for waterproof make-up and use the vichy cleansing milk afterwards.

sometimes, if i think that my skin is too dry, i put on my weleda almond face cream which is perfect for my sensible and dry skin. it has a very smooth texture and not greasy. other creams for sensitive skin were way too greasy and caused me spots and well and i can't be expected to put up with that!

what are your essentials for your daily facial cleaning ritual and which products do you favour?

EVENT: FESTIVE SEASON - grand prix ball baden-baden 2016.

[en] hi peeps! within my festive season series today i want to show you some impressions of my first ball i have ever attended in baden-baden. i have visited the grand prix ball which took part in the time-honoured bénazet hall at the kurhaus casino within the baden-racing festival week on the 3rd of september.

it was a glamorous evening with a wonderful framework program, an amazing 4 course dinner, many of well-dressed people and a live swing band, which attracted the guests to the dancefloor.

furthermore all the guests got free entrance to the casino which was located in the same building. the guests were also given a red carpet welcome and it was an amazing feeling to walk across it with all the numerous spectators.

all female guests were gifted with an escada goody bag which included a voucher worth 200€ and a dusty blue wallet.

in my floor-length red lace dress i felt more than appropriately dressed.
yes, i definitely should have taken more pictures but my senses and synapses were too busy but also more than satisfied.

the next ball in baden-baden will take place on new years eve. prices range between 140€ - 180€. please click here for more details.
don't let the chance slip, it's worth it!

floor-length red lace dress: cndirect (similar here) / earrings: chanel (similar here) / bag: gamiss (DIRECT LINK)

IMPRESSIONS: spring lets her blue ribbon flutter in the breeze again.

spring lets her blue ribbon

flutter in the breeze again;
sweet, familiar scents
drift with promise o'er the land.
violets lie dreaming already,

soon to be awakened.

listen, the sound of a harp,

so faint from so far!

spring, it is you!

i can hear you coming!

IMPRESSIONS: new years eve 2015 at the kurhaus casino in baden-baden.

[en] hi peeps! happy new year! this year we celebrated new years eve for the first time in baden-baden. we feasted at the happy new years eve party at the kurhaus casino. the admission charge for this evening included a glass of sparkling wine, fireworks, live music and 10€ worth of chips (which we gambled away completely) and of course loads of fun. we played roulette and danced all night, until there wasn't a single person left on the dancefloor. but that didn't stop us from playing air guitar accompanied by ACDC - a perfect start into the new year.

i have worn an emerald green fringed dress i have bought with a very good friend a short time before at the H&M store in baden-baden, statement cross earrings, my hermès armcuff, one of my new handmade larimar necklaces, which you can also find at my online store Tamako Design (click here) and my louis vuitton bag.

how have you celebrated new years eve 2015?

EVENT: impressions from the shoe step of the year 2015.

[en] hi peeps! today i want to show some impressions of the first event i have ever attended, the shoe step of the year 2015. it took place at the beautiful premises of the hotel atlantic kempinski in hamburg - also known as the permanent residence of german singer udo lindenberg. at the event one could spot different VIP's like catherine hummels, marcel remus or sabine lisicki and of course frauke ludowig, who presented the show. as in the previous years.
the shoe step of the year is a fashion journalist award dedicated to each years best fashion contributions focused on shoes.

i have participated with a blog post featuring impressions of a colourful outfit and red high heels and a statement about clothing and fitting shoes and how both in symbiosis can emphasize your individual character.

i could barely believe it when i checked my mails and saw that i really received an invitation to this years' shoe step of the year. i was so proud and happy and couldn't await it.
sadly i wasn't one of the nominees this year but the award winners have truly deserved it and i was honoured enough with the invitation and enjoyed a spectacular evening and the possibility to attend my first event. the award winners included the magazine women's health and blogs such as fashionlunch.de and zukkermaedchen.de.

i decided onto a grey wrap dress from paul costelloe with a low-cut neckline, a white mango blazer, two delicate golden necklaces, statement earrings, red lipstick and matching red bootees with metal details in gold.

SHOOTING/IMPRESSIONS: be like a tree and let the dead leaves drop.

[en] hello my dears! today i want to show you some impressions from my latest outfit shoot with le boy at schloss ebersteinburg near baden-baden. it was a perfect, sunny and colourful autumn day with a beautiful view over gernsbach and the river murg which are located in the northern black forest. during the shoot we also took some making-of shots and afterwards we enjoyed a nice glass of white wine at the homonymous restaurant schloss ebersteinburg.

photography: myron kingsbury

model & styling: dahi k.

ROOM TOUR: home is where the heart is.

IMPRESSIONS: baden-baden is so nice, that you have to name it twice (bill clinton).

[en] hello my dears! today i want to introduce you my new home town, baden-baden. the post title is a quote by former president bill clinton, who is a huge fan of baden-baden. in my opinion he is definitely right. i love the whole city, its architecture and its atmosphere, the black forest all around & the mindset of its inhabitants. if you visit baden-baden, you definitely have to take a stroll at the lichtentaler alley, eat a mango ice cream at the ice-cream shop capri, have a coffee or afternoon tea at café könig and play roulette at the casino.

IMPRESSIONS: your love is rain - my heart the flower.

'my very life is your power

will i wither and fade 

or bloom to the sky'

IMPRESSIONS: making of - shooting, schwetzingen castle garden / schlossgarten.

[en] hello my dears! as already promised today i want to show you the making of photos of my latest fashion shooting in the castle gardens of schwetzingen. the shooting posts 'mirror, mirror, on the wall ...', 'i dreamt i dwelt in marble halls.', 'thy black hair, like the raven-face of night. thy neck is like sculpture-made.' & 'you need chaos in your soul to give birth to a dancing star.' were shot here. the photos should make it possible for you to see behind the curtain of my work. the next shootings are already planned and i can't wait! by the way the pictures were taken from le boy who accompanied me on this day ... ♥

IMPRESSIONS: castle garden schwetzingen / schlossgarten schwetzingen.

[en] hello my dears! today i want to show you some impressions of the location of my latest fashion shooting in the beautiful castle gardens in schwetzingen. you might recognize some of the places from my shooting posts which i have posted earlier. i have linked the photos with the shooting posts matching the locations shown. making of photos will follow! have a wonderful and sunny rest of the week!

strangeness and charms' 2014 insta year review.

this year was amazing. full of change, full of new experiences, full of love. there was the wedding of my mum, my house moving and all the stuff necessary and great all at once, for example buying new furniture, decoration, making myself at home and experiencing my very first blisters when finally finishing the wall painting XD
for the very first time ever i have visited a club, i have visited the opera, pop concerts, the ballet, beautiful cities and others, slowly transforming into home, because of the special people living there.

i have been successful in terms of work ... and had the chance to work with the team of 'schloss einstein' for the final episode of season 17, which i have watched together with lovely friends who also organized a whole party for me.
i was working together with susan matheson for the film 'welcome to me' which finally started in the US cinemas this year.
because of the success i have been able to buy the red D&G lace dress i was craving for since 2013.

i was travelling to places filled up with memories, to come to terms with things that happened in my life, the good and the bad ones, and to finally notice that all was good, the way they went, because i have finally found myself, and not only me ... but special persons. friends. a family which will always stay by your side, no matter what happens ... and love.

in the course of this year my style also became much more colourful and much more courageous. my clothings always mirror my mood and i can truly see that when looking through the year. in march i have finally found my new flat and so much relieve made itself at home in my heart and that's very much visible. i have found my home, not only the home i'm living in. but also a home within myself. a home within friendship. a home within love. places where i want to stay forever.

... i hope that your new year will be amazing and that all your dreams and wishes will come true. i have promised myself that i will, much more than already, stop procrastinating, and live life to the fullest. i am wishing you the same thought, and motivation, and courage.

january

winter walks / wedding of my mum / new projects for work / birthday girl / dancing in the club / going out