Styleseeking Zurich

Tuesday's Detail: Hot Pink & Gold & Khaki

2012-02-06T16:22:00.003+01:00

Lip Tint - Astor, Perfect Stay, Transferproof Lip Tint & Care, 153 Berry Nude

Summer, Fall, Winter or Spring? Four different types - do you know which category you belong to?

Head over to thetwist and read about why I chose hot pink, gold and khaki!

Tuesday's Beauty Post: Sephora Express Nail Polish Remover

2012-01-31T14:06:00.004+01:00

A dear friend gave me this Sephora Nail Polish Remover and I'm so thankful that I got introduced to it! This product is beyond amazing: It is formulated without acetone or parabens and it works so good. You just have to dip your fingers into the foam for a few seconds and everything's off your nails - even long wearing nail polish traces.

This is serious magic in a bottle!

Lac Léman

2012-01-30T19:44:00.000+01:00

As MiJi mentioned in her previous post we had the pleasure of visiting Geneva a couple of days ago. We rarely get the chance to spend an entire day together and therefore thoroughly enjoyed our day trip. After an interesting and lovely meeting we had a couple of hours left to explore the city, and as can be explected we hit some shops we don't have in the German speaking part of Switzerland.

These pictures were taken near the lake of Geneva which was even beautiful and calm on this cold day...

Coat: Asos
Jacket: Zara
Silk top: thrifted
Trousers: H&M
Wedges: Tchibo
Bag: Maison Mollerus

Currently wearing two watches due to the fact that my other half is many time zones away...

Watches: both Tissot

Ring: H&M
Nail Polish: Chanel 475 Dragon

Laugh till your stomach hurts

2012-01-29T17:38:00.007+01:00

Blazer & Scarf - local shop in Seoul, Bag - vintage, Denim shirt & Boots - H&M

Neslihan and I took a short trip to Geneva last week! Geneva is a beautiful city and luckily I'll be there next week again! Yay! I hope I can take lots of photos to give you an impression!

Thursday's Beauty Post: Les Roses et le Noir de Guerlain

2012-01-26T07:00:00.002+01:00

Probably just like every other girl I'm drawn to beautiful packaging. With Guerlain, you know that you won't only get collector-worthy design but also quality products that deliver. That's why I was more than excited to receive* the spring 2012 collection, which hit stores in Zurich last week.

Météorites Cruel Gardénia - Illuminating iridescent powder limited edition

I'm not a fan of glitter on my face but I love subtle shimmer that has been strategically placed to highlight the face. This beautiful highlighting powder is almost too pretty to ruin the rosette but I have been using it for weeks just above my cheekbones, sometimes also down the center of my nose or my cupids bow and love the iridescent, cool-toned shimmer.

Ecrin 4 couleurs in 11 Les Roses - Long-lasting eyeshadows

The spring 2012 line offers two two eyeshadow palettes with 4 colors each and one with 6 colors. I received the one with the pink tones in different finishes: there is an iridescent frosted pink, an intense pink with a matte effect, a raspberry pink with a velvety finish and a metallic violet. I'm not used to wearing pinks on my eyelids but I'm very fond of the ALCATAR'EYES violet so far...

Noir G de Guerlain mascara - exceptional complete mascara

One of the products that has been created for this spring line is the Noir G mascara with its integrated mirror for perfect, meticulous application. Even though I never apply my mascara outside of my own bathroom (unlike lipstick for instance) I don't really need a mirror but what I love most about this new toy is the fact that it's refillable. Needless to say this is the most luxurious and extravagant mascara I own. I really like the application of the intense glossy black color that curls and lengthens my lashes beatifully but sadly doesn't give much volume in my opinion. The mascara smells unexpectedly nice. In fact the House of Guerlain has created a signature fragrance with delicate notes of flowery peach, rose and jasmine for Noir G, which really makes this mascara extraordinary...

*these products were provided to me by the manufacturer or their PR company for consideration on Styleseeking Zurich

Wednesday's Interior Decoration Inspiration: light and airy

2012-01-25T01:25:00.007+01:00

As we all entered a new year and I personally also a new chapter in my life, one of my most urgent resolutions was to declutter the space around me. The first month of the year is almost over and I'm still not done with putting away stuff I don't need and want to see around me anymore, which mostly concerns my work place. This rather minimalistic flat inspires me to go for light and airy, keeping only things that are functional and pretty.

Source: Residence via From The Right Bank

Don't strive to make your presence noticed, just make your absence felt

2012-01-23T20:44:00.008+01:00

Although it's only the last week of January, I'm already fed up with winter dressing. The printed top which peeks through is actually sleeveless with a cut-out at the back. Can't wait until it's time to unbutton the shirts and wear some more interesting looks.

Necklace: New Yorker
Top, Cardigan, Trousers: H&M
Coat: Asos
Bag: Maison Mollerus

Sunday's Detail: Tucked in shirt

2012-01-15T16:43:00.004+01:00

Today's Detail: Belt - Buckles&Belts, Printed shirt - thrifted, Denim shirt - H&M, Pants - Zara

Multiple layers

2012-01-14T13:48:00.007+01:00

As none of my coats keep me really warm I often wear lots of layers like in this outfit. You can't see it from the photos but there's also a cardigan and an undershirt involved which unfortunately sometimes can add up and look a little too bulky. I hope this isn't the case here, though. I really like the sparkly top which adds some interest to this rather monochromatic outfit.

Wishing you all a lovely weekend!

Necklace: thrifted Ring: from a shop in Istanbul
Top: Zara Nail polish: Estée Lauder Perfect Storm

Coat: C&A Scarf: Zara Bag: FREDsBRUDER

New in

2012-01-13T20:09:00.007+01:00

My first H&M nail polish! I can't believe that I've hesitated to buy it!
It's so good - the covering, color and the stability! I was looking for a dark red one for a long time and I was thinking about getting Chanel. I'm so glad that I gave the H&M nail polish a try first!

Black has so many different shades such as the one with the zipper detail that I got from Zara - it's neither black nor grey! The other one's from Tally Weijl and really deep black. It goes with everything and that's why I stick to them so much.

Have a fun friday night everyone!

Thursday's Beauty Post: Christian Dior Crème Abricot

2012-01-12T07:00:00.003+01:00

Well-maintained nails are a must for me and as I do my manicures myself I'm always on the lookout for amazing products. I've heard such great things about this cuticle cream that I thought I'd splurge and give it a try. It's fast becoming a luxurious part of my nighttime ritual to pamper myself with... All the better that I can actually see results: the condition of my cuticles has never been better!

What's your favorite cuticle cream (if you use any)?

All bundled up

2012-01-07T15:10:00.006+01:00

I know it's been ages since I posted an outfit of mine but the truth is, I was either totally out of inspiration or the weather was so miserable that I didn't want to step outside to have pictures taken. We didn't really have much snow so far but instead some pretty heavy wind storms...
Here's what I wore Saturday to run errands:

Beanie: handmade by my mom
Scarf: C&A

Rings: Rhomberg
Leather Gloves: H&M
Nail polish: Estée Lauder Blue Dahlia

Coat: Asos
Sweater: Zara
Trousers: H&M
Wedges: Tchibo
Bag: Liebeskind

A new year is unfolding

2011-12-31T11:00:00.006+01:00

We sincerely want to thank every single reader out there for your support! Wa can't wait to see what 2012 has to offer..

Here's a chronological recap of 2011:

♥ Cheers to a new year and new chances ♥

Current favorite beauty products and a giveaway

2011-12-26T15:58:00.005+01:00

In stressful times most people tend to neglect their beauty needs, but I on the other hand put in some extra effort. Why? Because everything else is nerve-racking as it is, I wouldn’t want to be upset over bad skin or hair as well. So during my exams, which are finally over, I didn’t skimp on my current favorite beauty products and want to share them with you. We’re also giving away one of these products (and also a whole set of the range) to one lucky reader, so read on…

The rather new Lash Architect 4D black lacquer mascara* by L’Oréal is truly wonderful, if you’re into the false lash effect, that is. Which I totally am, especially for stronger and more dramatic looks.

Oh how I love the Awapuhi Wild Ginger series by Paul Mitchell! I got to get to know the brand at an intimate Paul Mitchell event some time ago, when the hairdresser who styled my hair recommended this range to me as I have rather dry hair. I’ve been using every single product of the range for a bit over a month and am absolutely thrilled, especially with this styling treatment oil I use after blow drying or styling my hair with a curling iron to smooth the ends and give it an overall silky shine. Mi-Ji and I are giving away the Awapuhi Wild Ginger set with generously sized products** so you can try the range as well. If you’re interested in winning this set, hop over to our Facebook Fan Page to find out how you can enter the giveaway.

I love reading Into the Gloss, which is my favorite beauty blog. There are some products which are featured a lot on there and the Embryolisse lait-crème concentré is one of these cult products beauty gurus recommend all the time. I’ve been using it for a couple of months and came to the conclusion that my skin loves it most in winter because it is quite rich, and during the other seasons I only use it at night.

*this product was provided to me by L'Oréal Switzerland for consideration on Styleseeking Zurich

** the set we're giving away in cooperation with Paul Mitchell Switzerland includes the following products: Keratin Intensive Treatment, Moisturizing Lather Shampoo, Keratin Cream Rinse, Texturizing Sea Spray, Styling Treatment Oil and a Finishing Spray.

Because when I shop, the world gets better

2011-12-18T11:14:00.007+01:00

Source: gold&gray

Christmas shopping is a stressful process for many people. But let's anticipate how our loved ones will rejoice at our gifts! So, enjoy it! And the best part of holiday shopping: sneak in a present for yourself ; )

The eyeliner - our BFF

2011-12-14T09:31:00.006+01:00

Gel eyeliner or eyeshadow eyeliner? Eyebrow pencil or eyebrow powder?

What would you choose?

Esp. Asian girls and women love the effects of the eyeliner - the eyeliner is our BFF.

Head over to thetwist and read about my makeup routine!

Tuesday's Detail: Red & Gold

2011-12-13T10:22:00.000+01:00

Earclips - vintage

Getting into Christmas mood by mixing gold and red!

Abichi Patent Satchel

2011-12-11T22:19:00.006+01:00

This Phillip Lim bag isn't particularly beautiful but insanely cool! I just spotted it a few minutes ago and had to post it! This bag is too fly to leave it in my inspiration folder.

Have a good start into the week everyone!

December

2011-12-10T23:49:00.006+01:00

Source: kleinedivainparis

Tuesday's Inspiration

2011-12-06T09:30:00.002+01:00

Source: streetfsn

♥ Isabel Marant Pants ♥

Thursday's Detail: Shirt & Sweater

2011-12-01T22:30:00.006+01:00

Some of you might already know that I love detail shots. So I decided to post more close ups hoping to become a more active blogger!

Today's detail: Shirt and Earclips - thrifted, Sweater - H&M

H&M SS12

2011-11-28T16:09:00.004+01:00

Here are some items of the H&M SS12 collection for those who are already sick of colder days and fantasizing about spring/summer must-haves!

Result: Schild Styling

2011-11-23T11:11:00.006+01:00

By referring to this post - the two outfits above are my absolute favorite looks I styled for Schild! It was a challenge to create a look within a certain pool of items and I'm glad it came out exactly the way I wanted!

Here are some details of the outfits:

For more looks and information click here!

We've still got time, let's make the most of it.

2011-11-20T12:12:00.006+01:00

I am aware that this look pretty much resembles my last outfit posted on here that's why I'm keeping it short. I'm all about comfy sweaters and basic colors these days (well almost always actually) but as you can notice the lightweight trench was replaced by a wool coat and there is no way I'm stepping outside without a scarf or a snood trying to minimize the risk of getting ill right before very important exams. Pyjama like soft sweaters are also great for days spent studying at the library...

Coat: Vero Moda Sweater: Zara Necklace: COS Rings: Rhomberg
Trousers: H&M Boots: Globus

Cantuccini Toscani

2011-11-20T11:12:00.006+01:00

Of course I've eaten Cantuccini before my trip to Italy last summer but these crunchy biscuits usually only accompanied my coffee. In Tuscany I found out that traditionally they were served with a glass of Vin Santo, an Italian dessert wine. The cantuccini may be dunked into the wine to make them less dry.

I was lucky enough to take home some almonds from Tuscany and decided to make something typical with them. Below is the recipe I followed to bake the cantuccini:

Ingredients:

175 g almonds, whole
250 g flour
180 g sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 packets vanilla sugar
½ little bottle of bitter almond oil
1 pinch of salt
25 g butter, room temperature
2 eggs

How to:

Roast the dry whole almonds in a pan. For the batter combine flour, sugar, baking powder, vanilla sugar, bitter almond oil and salt stir well in a bowl. Add the eggs and butter until the ingredients stay together in a ball of dough and mix in the roasted, cooled almonds. The dough is going to be very sticky. With the help of a little bit of flour form the dough into a ball and put it into a cold place for 30 minutes. Divide the dough into 4 to 6 pieces (depending on the width you wish) and form a log, elongating them to a length of 25 cm. Press down gently with the palm of your hand to flatten the logs.

Preheat your oven to 200°C. Put parchment paper onto the baking tray. Put the logs onto the parchment paper, making sure there is enough space between them (about 8 cm, they spread and rise).

Bake the rolls for about 15 minutes until they are lightly toasted. Transfer the rolls onto a wire rack to cool slightly and then cut diagonally in 1cm thick slices. Arrange the cantuccini on the prepared tray, cut side down. It isn't necessary to leave space between them anymore. Bake them for an additional 10 minutes until the cantuccini are golden brown. Let the biscuits cool completely and keep in a container with a tight-fitting cover.

Buon appetito!

Friends

2011-11-18T10:20:00.002+01:00

♥

Sneak peek: Schild Styling

2011-11-15T22:09:00.005+01:00

Announcement made by Stilblog

Last week I had the pleasure of styling 5 looks for the online shop Schild. It was a new experience to look behind the scenes and be part of a creative process. I had such a cozy time together with the whole crew and especially with Larissa from Stilblog, who got me into this fun feature!

Here's a sneak peek of the shooting we did! Can't wait for the result!

♥

Charles Vögele Fashion Days 2011: Swiss Fashion Night and annabelle award

2011-11-11T15:17:00.009+01:00

Since 2010 Zurich is also having its own fashion days and the city is full on fashion mode this week. I cleared my schedule to attend the Swiss Fashion Night yesterday which also included the annabelle award.

The Swiss Magazine annabelle organizes each year a competition for young Swiss designers with the chance to win an internship at a renowned designer's atelier. The designer in question for the 8th annual annabelle award was Roberto Cavalli, who also showed his Just Cavalli S/S 2012 collection and chose a winner amongst the five finalists.

But first, have a look at the collections of established Swiss designers.

LBD Little Black Dress S/S 2012

Eliane Diethelm and Joanna Skoczylas dedicated their label to the iconic little black dress but their spring/summer 2012 collection is very colorful and classy like the name suggests.

Aziza Zina S/S 2012

Morena Gonzales and Moritz Stoll of Aziza Zina were inspired by the Roaring Twenties era for their spring/summer 2012 collection called Calle della Damas.

Javier Reyes S/S 2012

Javier Reyes' spring/summer 2012 collection carries the colors that remind him of his birthland Mexico: the beige beaches, blue seas and green landscape. His swissness shows itself in the craftsmanship, namely the St. Gallen embroidery.

annabelle award 2011 winner Maxime Rappaz' design

Roberto Cavalli chose Maxime Rappaz to be his intern. Above is one of his two designs with which he entered the competition.

Roberto Cavalli, after his Just Cavalli show

Versace for H&M: accessories and shoes

2011-11-11T13:54:00.006+01:00

As most of you probably already have seen pictures of the entire Versace for H&M collection we decided to only show some close up pictures of the shoes and accessories we were able to preview yesterday. For the very first time the designer collaboration will also include a home collection.

Fans of the iconic and bold Versace designs with lots of color, prints and leather should mark November 17th in their calendars, when the collection will be available in stores.

Wednesday's Interior Decoration Inspiration: living room

2011-11-09T07:00:00.001+01:00

There are so many details that make me swoon in these two pictures: first of all I love the dark hardwood floors and the hammered drum table. The seating area in general looks extremely cosy with all those pillows and the one with the skull is a welcoming break from the muted colors...

Photos:
Suzani Interior via Desire to Inspire

Destiny or fate or purpose or whatever

2011-11-04T11:18:00.004+01:00

Quote via

Bag, Shoes, Blazer - local shop in Seoul, Top - Flea market, Beanie - H&M, Pants - Vila Clothes

Just a few outfit shots with my crappy digicam before heading to the gym, that's why I'm wearing almost no jewelry. I didn't feel naked though!

Currently craving: FREITAG Reference limited edition bags

2011-11-02T15:00:00.004+01:00

For people who don't know about Freitag (by now you should all know, go read our post here) these bags might not seem that special. But considering all bags are made out of old truck tarpaulins, this is a big deal! When you think about it, how many logistics companies are running pink trucks? Yeah, that's how rare they are...

These panic pink bags would surely brighten up the dull winter months ahead of us, don't you agree?

How to get your hands on them:

Launch in-store will happen on November 10, or you might get lucky on November 22 when they'll be available at the online store. Other color options include blunt black, striking silver, brute brown and absolute anthracite.

Click here to see the video for this limited edition collection.

Sunday's Recipe: fig pizza with goat cheese and caramelized onions

2011-10-30T07:00:00.000+01:00

My experimenting with fruity pizza toppings continues...
I've made this pizza countless times during October to savor the fresh figs of the season but I guess it could also be made with dried figs. Can't decide which recipe I like better, the one with peaches or this one with figs, they're both so delicious!

If you have any recipe recommendations with a bit unusal toppings please let me know in the comments, I'd love to try new ones!

The recipe for the fig pizza with goat cheese and caramelized onions can be found here.

Have a good Sunday!

Not too cool for school

2011-10-28T17:30:00.006+02:00

Mi-Ji and I met at university back in 2006 and decided some time after to start a blog together. Most of our outfit pictures from these years were taken in or around the university and are sort of documenting our friendship and daily life as students. There is for instance a picture of me with crazy hair and even crazier outfit in March 2009 in front of the main entrance of the University of Zurich, or the one in May 2009 right after our last German literature class together or the one in 2008 titled “Too cool for school”. Well in hindsight I doubt that. ^^

Why the sentimentality you wonder? Today I handed in my Master thesis on which I’ve worked for several months and I’m getting closer and closer to graduating and whilst this is all very exciting and stuff I also had the need to look through our archives… Because even though the last 5.5 years weren't easy, the friendships I've built in university made them so much more bearable...

What I wore today:

Trench and Jeans: H&M Sweater: Zara
Bag: Liebeskind

Tuesday's Inspiration

2011-10-24T21:21:00.006+02:00

Mixing patterns that doesn't seem to match at first sight = ♥

Source: olsensanonymous

Mom's nagging

2011-10-17T19:21:00.010+02:00

A dear friend surprised me with a cute gift the other day! Look at the name!

♥

Learning how to untangle the threads

2011-10-16T21:07:00.008+02:00

Blazer: Emporio Armani Sweater: H&M
Skirt: Sisley Belt: Zara
Bag: Maison Mollerus Boots: Globus

Wishing you all a good start to the week...

Quote source: Seensucht

Sunday's Recipe: Zeytinyagli taze fasulye (Turkish fresh green beans in olive oil)

2011-10-16T18:08:00.005+02:00

As most of you know by now, I am of Turkish origin and cherish my heritage very much. If you asked me about the Turkish cuisine my answer would be totally biased so I'll ask you instead: Have you ever tried Turkish specialities? Which is your favorite dish?

One of the dishes I love is Zeytinyagli taze fasulye, fresh green beans in olive oil. Yes, not with but rather in olive oil. There is a plethora of olive oil dishes that are served as cold starters or side dishes and this is a very popular one.

I did this at the end of summer with beans plucked straight from the garden. Had I only written this post earlier so that Iconjane, who had a sudden craving for Zeytinyagli fasulye the other day, could have used the recipe I'm about to share.

At this point I'd like to redirect you to a blog I think is very interesting and also where I found the recipe: almost turkish recipes. It has provided me with lots of ideas and and I love it when Banu writes a bit more about the origins of a certain dish...

Even though mine didn't taste like my mom's, which is in my opinion the worlds most delicious Zeytinyagli taze fasulye, it was still pretty good!

Afiyet olsun (bon appetit)!

Just somebody

2011-10-15T13:36:00.007+02:00

Blazer & Bag - local shop in Seoul, Silken blouse & Boots - H&M, Jewelry - Flea Market

I promised to let you know the content of the packet - it's a black blazer like I assumed! Mom, you're the best! I wasn't actually brave enough to wear all black, although I stated "black is such a happy color" a few days ago. So I combined the blazer with the H&M Kimono I recently found at half-price!

I didn't really realize that dressing ALL black needs a certain amount of courage since you appear very strong and severe..

♥

Equinox

2011-10-14T23:17:00.010+02:00

Remeber when we mentioned the Renaissance Zurich Tower Hotel?
We were invited to enjoy a lovely dinner and to explore the cuisine of the Equinox Restaurant, which is part of the new Renaissance Hotel complex. Since multistory buildings aren't common in Switzerland, the Hotel Tower is kind of an attraction itself.

The dinner was more than delicious as you can guess from the photos. Unfortunately we couldn't capture every single menu course since we were too busy with eating, drinking and chatting ;)

To grant an additional point: The main course we had is listed as "Pimp my Steak" in the menu.
Nothing more appealing than a chic restaurant matching the pulse of our time.

Location:
Turbinenstrasse 20
8005 Zurich

Click here for more information!

Wednesday's Interior Decoration Inspiration:

2011-10-12T09:30:00.001+02:00

Designer Lisa Sherry's house

It's been a long while I did interior inspiration posts! I missed posting interior pictures I like and hope you enjoyed them in the past, too. These have been in my folder for a couple of weeks and I thought I'd bring back this series by posting from time to time what I thought was beautiful and interesting. Here you can have a look at my previous posts in this category.

When it comes to interior decoration I'm so torn between dark and light colors. I love the dramatic touch of black but also the sereneness of white...

Taking MiJi's last post into consideration, what would you say: black or white?

Photos:
Lonny Mag Sept/Oct 2011

Black is such a happy color

2011-10-10T21:23:00.005+02:00

Collage by me

photos via we heart it, lauren woodward, everyone loves fashion, blue is in fashion this year, angelica blick

These days I feel like wearing black more than ever. My mom told me that she's sent a package and I assume that it could be a black blazer - yay! I told her that I was looking for a simple black one at an affordable price some time ago. I'll let you know the content of the packet...

Toffee colored

2011-10-06T07:00:00.000+02:00

These wedges transitioned well from summer to early fall when the sun was shining, so I wore them together with this toffee colored jacket when I went to the boutiques I wrote about in my last post.

I like to wear my hair in a high pony tail to show off the slightly defined shoulders of this jacket.

Jacket & Top: Zara Jeans: H&M Necklace: from a shop in Australia Wedge sandals: Asos Bike: Jopo c/o Urban Bike Store

Boutiques in Zurich visited with my Jopo

2011-09-30T22:20:00.011+02:00

Remember when I introduced you to some cafés in Zurich in August? It was part of a collaboration with the Urban Bike Store, the only place in Switzerland that sells the oh so pretty Jopo bikes. Last week I grabbed my Jopo and rode to two exceptional boutiques in Zurich I would like to introduce to you. They are gems to locals as well as to out of towners, both with a very distinct flair.

When I’ve heard about the opening of Myracle I was really excited to finally have the chance to visit this fairly new boutique, mostly because I’ve always loved the shopping experience in Istanbul and couldn’t wait to see how the owner Meryem Yalcinöz managed to put the unique feeling this eclectic and stylish city evokes into her boutique.

In my fantasy, the customers would also be served a cup of Turkish coffee… In reality, the coffee had to wait but I was oohing and aahing over every little detail I found in there. Istanbul themed magazines, coffee trays and Turkish brands you couldn’t find anywhere else in Zurich (or dare I say in Switzerland): Machka, Ipekyol, Koton and many more.

Chatting with Meryem about how she runs her boutique and chooses the items she deems worthy to be sold in her boutique was just as interesting and fun as trying on clothes from the summer and fall selections. This boutique definitely offers a variety that was missing in Zurich and I can totally recommend it to you.

address:

Myracle - The Boutique
Istanbul Fashion Wonders
Freyastrasse 21
8004 Zurich

The second shop I would like to talk about is one I’ve passed a couple of times and the many mannequins lined up next to each other on a wall, all in black bikinis, always caught my attention. That day I finally gave in and went in to see what it was all about.

Noelie & Loulou is a concept store with a focus on handmade design. The pristine all white interior is above all the perfect canvas for the treasures that are waiting to be found. Interior accessories such as patchwork blankets, cushions and scented candles as well as hand-knitted scarfes and baby shoes are amongst the things that can be found at Noelie & Loulou. The bikinis on the wall? The lovely owner explained to me that you can personally choose the design of a bikini, mix and match the tops and bottoms and choose from a variety of colors, not just black as displayed on the big wall. They will then be handmade in Costa Rica and available 3 weeks after an order. I know where I will get my bikini for next summer... and in the meantime I'm burning the exquisite Quince & Heliotrope Petals candle from Joya, of course entirely hand-crafted and available at Noelie & Loulou.

address:

Noelie & Loulou
Bauhallengasse 7
8004 Zurich

It's always there

2011-09-28T23:28:00.009+02:00

Mint silken blouse - Mango, Blazer - Zara, Boots - H&M, Bag & Scarf - from South Korea, Earclip - fleamarket

Neslihan took these pictures right before heading to the Renaissance Zurich Tower Hotel to have a special dinner. More on that later...

♥

Date night on vacation

2011-09-26T23:29:00.010+02:00

I'm not sure if I should call it even "date night" because on vacation, every night is date night and I fully took advantage of it and wore some dresses that otherwise rarely get out of my closet. There could have been so many more outfit posts but blame the Italian-style dining... meaning very late! When the sun sets and the stars come out you don't want to bother with a camera* but just go out and enjoy yourself...

This is an outfit from the last couple of days of our vacation at the seaside. After 5 exhilarating days in Rome it was the perfect ending, including lazy days at the beach, cocktails on the roof top of our hotel and fresh fish for dinner.

Dress: Asos Belt: Zara Slingbacks: Bata

* of course besides the mandatory twitpic ^^

That was all from my summer vacation... Hope you enjoyed reading about it!

"Last day of summer" recipes

2011-09-22T00:06:00.007+02:00

I'd celebrate the 21st of June even if it wasn't my birthday because the beginning of summer is almost more exciting than getting a year older. So I thought, why not celebrate the last day of it as well? That's why I'm sharing these two recipes I recently tested and absolutely love not on a Sunday as my usual "kitchen heals soul" posts but on this very last day of summer, at least at the northern hemisphere.

Fig salad, recipe adapted by Jamie Oliver

He calls it the sexiest salad in the world and who am I to argue with him? This salad is full of unexpected taste sensations like the hint of lemon zests and fresh peppermint leaves hiding between the rocket. And not to mention the buffalo mozzarella and the honey dressing drizzled over!

Summer peach and balsamic pizza, recipe found on Love and Olive Oil, adapted from Two Peas & Their Pod

Peaches are my favorite summer fruit but I would never have thought to use them on a pizza (or flatbread, whatever you want to call it). But this tangy and sweet fruit goes so well with goat cheese, the result is an absolutely delicious and unusual combination.

Wishing you all a beautiful last day of summer!

Arrivederci Roma

2011-09-20T20:07:00.009+02:00

A trip to Rome wouldn’t be complete without seeing Vatican City, that’s why we scheduled a visit on our last day. I planned my outfit ahead for this day because I like to be dressed appropriate for such an occasion. After spending the whole morning there we enjoyed our last day to the fullest with the best gelato I’ve ever tasted in my life.

Let's hope the coin I threw into the Trevi fountain wasn't for nothing and I will return to Rome one day...

The outfit pictures were taken on St. Peter’s Square. I wore this skirt previously in this post almost a year ago.

Top: Zara

Skirt: thrifted Belt: vintage Bag: Asos

Ring: from a shop in Istanbul

But it never seemed like you missed me

2011-09-18T20:23:00.002+02:00

New in: Thrifted ear clips and bracelets

Hope you all had a nice weekend!

"The beating heart of Rome is not the marble of the Senate, it's the sand of the Colosseum."

2011-09-13T10:27:00.010+02:00

It wouldn't be us if we didn't think about all the movies we've watched that were set at the colosseum as we were there. But I didn't think we would be so fascinated that we planned on visiting it twice in a row (which unfortunately didn't happen because us Ancient Rome freaks spent soo much time at the Forum Romanum). It's great I found this film list so we have many more to watch than Gladiator for the nth time... I'm especially tempted by Spartacus but don't know if it's any good. Have you guys watched it?

Dress: Zara Belt: H&M Bag: vintage Sandals: Vögele Ring: from a shop in Istanbul Earrings: Sportsgirl

Roman Holiday

2011-09-12T10:16:00.012+02:00

Just a little excerpt from the movie Roman Holiday with Audrey Hepburn to give you an idea in what kind of a mood I was in and what I felt like doing in Rome...

Princess Ann: I could do some of the things I've always wanted to.

Joe Bradley: Like what?

Princess Ann: Oh, you can't imagine. I'd do just whatever I liked all day long.

Joe Bradley: Tell you what. Why don't we do all those things, together?

Princess Ann: But don't you have to work?

Joe Bradley: Work? No. Today's gonna be a holiday.

Princess Ann: But you want to do a lot of silly things?

Joe Bradley: [He takes her hand] ... First wish? One sidewalk cafe, comin' right up. I know just the place. Rocca's.

Top: Mango Lace skirt: Massimo Dutti Belt: vintage Bag: Asos Sandals: Vögele Sunglasses: Yves Saint Laurent

The last picture is a hint where the next outfit pictures were taken...

Grunge boots

2011-09-10T00:35:00.008+02:00

1. Dolce Vita Dolcetta buckle boots 2. Vagabond 3. Topshop 4. Monki

The mix of all these 4 models would make the perfect grunge boot! Don't you think so? I love solid heels such as the ones above that doesn't sound too loudly since I don't like the pitch of dainty heels! Heels has to be toneless (!) or make kind of a deep and heavy sound. In my opinion it's not really sexy if heels make so much noise - women appear more aggressive somehow..

My fave idea: Take the Dolcetta boots, remove the buckles and the handle things on the top, replace the shoe heels with the Vagabond ones and replace the shoe material with the Topshop or Monki leather! I wonder if such boots exist somewhere...?!

Have a good weekend dear readers!

PS: The make-up Giveaway ends in five days! So, Join in!

How can such pain exist without physical harm

2011-09-05T23:27:00.009+02:00

Source: Observando, Dreamfactory

Tuscan Sun

2011-09-03T07:00:00.002+02:00

A piece of advice I've gotten this summer that stuck with me is so simple but its effect should not be underestimated.

Every night think of five things you're grateful for or that made you happy that day.

What better way to start a new regimen during a vacation when you have so much more time on your hands than usual? It was actually difficult to narrow those things down to five but hey, the more the better!

Dress: Topshop Belt: vintage Bag: Asos Cork wedges: DV by Dolce Vita

The next post will take us to Rome...

Until then, have a good weekend everyone and don't forget to enter the giveaway!

Florentine memories

2011-09-02T07:00:00.001+02:00

Firenze...

I've been thinking for the past half hour what to write about this beautiful city we only had one day to visit. Fact is we didn't even bother to be one of those tourists who have their sightseeing itinerary and stick to it but rather decided to just take it all in and completely enjoy this day. I think many of the pictures below wouldn't have been taken if we were in such a rush and I'm glad we did it this way.

Sometimes it's not about how much you saw of a place but how you felt when you were there...right?

Shorts: Lefties Bag: Asos Sandals: Bershka

We should have attached a love padlock on the Ponte Vecchio, too...

Thursday's Beauty Post: makeup giveaway!

2011-09-01T10:06:00.008+02:00

Let’s have a little break from the vacation posts and do an awesome giveaway! We love all of the products included ourselves and want to give you a chance to try them as well.

The big makeup package one lucky reader will get includes:

L’Oréal Paris Glam Shine Fresh 6h lip gloss in # 118 Fresh Cassis
L’Oréal Paris Glam Shine Fresh 6h lip gloss in # 507 Fresh Grenadine
L’Oréal Paris Glam Shine Fresh 6h lip gloss in # 208 Unlimited Fuchsia
MNY Maybelline nail polish in # 126A
MNY Maybelline nail polish in # 125A
MNY Maybelline water proof mascara
MNY Maybelline eye shadow in # 123A
MNY Maybelline eye shadow in # 120A
MNY Maybelline eye shadow in # 122A
Maybelline eye studio duo in # 435 Purple Silver
Maybelline eye studio in # 42 Blue Earth
L’Oréal Paris Color Infaillible eye shadow in # 005 in Purple Obsession

To enter the giveaway, do the following:

Become a fan of the Styleseeking Zurich Facebook fan page and like the giveaway link posted on the wall. Then leave a comment below the link on Facebook telling us how long you have been a reader of Styleseeking Zurich and what you love most about our blog.

We’re looking forward to your responses!

The giveaway is open worldwide and ends September 15th, 2011 at 6 pm CEST.
A winner will be chosen via random.org and contacted on Facebook.

Good luck!

*Products courtesy of L’Oréal Switzerland

A day in Siena

2011-08-30T00:40:00.010+02:00

One day in Siena was just enough to take in the medieval ambiance as the city was preparing for the Palio, a horse race held twice each year. Apart from walking the city and admiring the architecture in general we visited two major sights: the cathedral of Siena and the Piazza del Campo.

I was really comfortable on this hot day wearing an outfit which was simple but also polished...

Silk top: thrifted Sunglasses: YSL Skirt: Etam Bag: Maison Mollerus Sandals: Vögele

Siena's cathedral

Ring: from a shop in Istanbul Belt: Zara

Piazza del Campo

seats for the spectators of the Palio

Next up: Florence

Day trip to Montalcino

2011-08-25T11:18:00.011+02:00

One cannot think of Tuscany without thinking of the beautiful landscape with the symbolic cypress trees. On our way to Montalcino we admired the beautiful Tuscan landscape once again and were mesmerized by the streets lined with cypress trees and hay bales.

Montalcino is a hilltown in Tuscany known for its red wine, the Brunello di Montalcino. Before we indulged in the wine tasting we went to see the main sights there. One of them is the Fortezza, a fortress built in 1361 with a gorgeous view over the town.

What I was wearing:

Dress: Oysho Belt: vintage Bag: Asos

view from the fortress

The narrow streets in the historical center are full of little shops selling leather goods and local delicacies.

Next up: my impressions of Siena

Ring: Massimo Dutti Nail Polish: Essie Geranium

Biking the Tuscan hills

2011-08-23T10:39:00.007+02:00

Those who follow me on Twitter know that I’ve spent the last two weeks in Italy. Now that I’m back with an immense amount of pictures I would like to show my daily outfits sprinkled with some sights of the places I visited.

We spent the first couple of days pretty much isolated from the outside world near various little villages in Tuscany. On our first day we decided the explore the surroundings by bike and I realized very soon that what I hoped was an easy breezy tour through the picturesque landscape turned out to be very exhausting for my unathletic self, hence the slighty sweaty pictures once we arrived to Trequanda.

I haven't seen a village in Tuscany I didn't like and Trequanda was no exception. The streets are almost always deserted, especially around noon. The next day we biked to Trequanda again to fetch fresh bread from an artisan bakery and the narrow streets were filled with the delicious smell of baking bread...

Crochet top: ebay Shorts: H&M Satchel: Asos

Stay tuned for more posts from bella Italia....

♥

got2be

2011-08-22T15:19:00.006+02:00

I tested got2be's Collagen Big Volume Hairspray and made a short list of pros & cons. I was really curious about the product since I have very straight and thick hair. One of the factors that I really appreciate is the fact that the hairspray does not leave any residues. It's perfect to style my pony and when I wear my hair in a bun, it fixes the look for the whole day. got2be is especially useful if you wear your hair open and wish to volumize it. In my case it helped to make my hair look fuller but I couldn't achieve a very voluminous look though because of my thick hair. I guess it will work best for fine hair. Nevertheless I'm really fond of this product - the light mist and the fruity scent reminds me of a refreshing body spray!

Are you curious about this hairspray? Click here and win got2be products!

Monday's Inspiration

2011-08-15T22:52:00.004+02:00

Summer look by Planet Blue

♥♥♥

Cafés in Zurich visited with my Jopo

2011-08-02T23:54:00.019+02:00

I've already announced in June that I will be posting a series about my favorite places in Zurich in cooporation with the Urban Bike Store, which kindly provided me with the awesome Jopo bike. We'll start off with two cafés I really like and can wholeheartedly recommend to you.

Les Gourmandises de Miyuko, café, pâtisserie, confiserie

At the sight of just a handful of chairs and tables outside, which are decorated with crochet seat cushions and tablecloths, you can tell this café has to be small but full of love for detail. Once you enter the charming interior with a homey feel you find yourself in pâtisserie heaven! I went for a big macaron with a chocolate filling and coffee to accompany this sweet treat. Definitely a café I'd like to frequent more often, also because of the very friendly service which is unfortunately kind of rare.

You can see more impressions on My Kugelhopf, whose post intrigued me to visit this charming café in the first place.

Adress:

Les Gourmandises de Miyuko
Beckenhofstrasse 7/9
8006 Zurich

Maison Blunt, tea room/restaurant

I already wrote about Maison Blunt two years ago and it's still one of my favorite places to brunch. Everything on the oriental/morrocan menu sounds so delicious and the mezzes are a great way to taste the dishes and share them with your friends. It's a very relaxed, no-fuss place (which used to be a garage back in the day) with yummy fresh food.

above: tea with freh mint leaves
below: Blunt's breakfast

Adress:

Maison Blunt
Gasometerstrasse 5
8005 Zurich

Styleseeking Zurich on Facebook

Urban Bike Store on Facebook

Les Gourmandises de Miyuko on Facebook

Maison Blunt on Facebook

Because sometimes, the people you can't live without can live without you

2011-07-31T01:40:00.010+02:00

Currently loving: Mixing patterns!

Top & Earrings - local shop in Seoul, Scarf - Zara, Bag - flea market
I wish you all a wonderful weekend!

♥

Current craving: nail ring

2011-07-26T19:03:00.004+02:00

I absolutely love this show-stopping nail ring by Bijules I just discovered on the Cult of Pretty blog. It's unlike anything I have seen so far, so I thought it was worth sharing.

What do you think of it, would you wear something like this?

Image: Cult of Pretty

Make up routine

2011-07-24T21:20:00.009+02:00

Foundation: Clinique anti-blemish solutions / Powder: UNE mineral powder / Eyebrow: Skin Food Choco Eyebrow / Eyeshadow: Étude Choco Brown, Maybelline Cosmic Black / Eyeliner: Missha waterproof Gel Eyeliner / Mascara: UNE Casual Volume / Blush: MAC Melba Matte / Lips: Yves Rocher Baume Lipbalm, Skin Food Candy Lipstick

♥

Thursday's Beauty Post: ethereal and fairylike

2011-07-21T10:02:00.004+02:00

Source:

1: We Heart It

2/3: Solange by Daniel Gurton for Vs. Magazine July 2011 via Fashion Gone Rogue

You say that you love rain, but you open your umbrella when it rains. You say that you love the sun, but you find a shadow spot when the sun shines.

2011-07-20T11:26:00.006+02:00

The last couple of days were not really summery in Zurich but I don’t really mind wearing trousers and jackets already (mainly because I know I will escape to the sunny south soon). I'm planning to do some posts featuring my favorite places in Zurich (cafés, shops etc.) because we always get inquieries from out-of-towners so expect that soon.

I jazzed up this quite simple outfit with my newest accessories, some of them like the watch and bracelet I received as birthday gifts. The set of three silver rings, which can be either worn stacked like in the picture below or separately on three fingers like in the fourth picture were a courtesy of Rhomberg. I just love the simple design and the fact that two of the rings are matte and of them has a slighly shinier finish, which makes them more interesting.

Rings: Rhomberg Watch: Tissot Bracelet: Swatch

Slingbacks: Bata

Denim jacket: Mango Belt: Avant Première

Trousers: H&M White top: secondhand, altered

Latest favorites

2011-07-17T20:37:00.005+02:00

I want to share with you some latest favorites of mine:

Silken mint blouse - Mango: Perfect for summer days!

Colored bangles - flea market: Always useful to complete an outfit!

New Gent - Swatch: This is my summery watch from the Swiss brand called Swatch. I just love the rubbery material since it is so light and you don't need to be constantly on guard to prevent scratches!

Maybelline Eyeshadow Cosmic Black - I always thought that shiny eyeshadows might be too much for a daily make-up routine, but I was totally wrong. This palette from Maybelline now belongs to my favorite make-up products. I love to apply the black eyeshadow along my lower lashline and the outer corner of my eye. The pearlescent pigments let the black color appear very soft! I will try to take some pictures of my make-up soon!

L'Oréal Color Riche Serum Radiant Rose: Hot pink for hot days!

Have a good start into the week everyone!

Wednesday's Inspiration: bright and nude combinations

2011-07-13T07:00:00.001+02:00

I can't wait to go on my well deserved summer vacation where I hopefully will be able to get lots of pictures for outfit posts but in the meantime inspirational pictures from others will have to do. I just love the combination of neutrals & brights and how good it looks with a kissed-by-the-sun tan. Countless combinations that could be created with my own closet are running through my head right now and I'm counting the days for my trip to Italy...

Source:
2/3: Bisous Chic

Winner of the Dring Dring cupcake bell

2011-07-11T21:08:00.004+02:00

Thank you everyone who showed interest in winnig the Dring Dring cupcake bell kindly offered by the Urban Bike Store. Via random.org I picked the winner and it’s commenter no 26, chouchou’s little world. Unfortunately she didn’t leave an email address or has an open blogger profile, so if the winner doesn’t get in touch with me in a couple of days I’ll have to pick someone else.

We will have a new, big giveaway soon exclusively for our facebook fans so if you don’t want to miss out on the news, hop over and “like” our fan page! :)

Have a good week!

Chocolate Strawberry Layer Cake

2011-07-10T18:47:00.005+02:00

My 25th birthday, which was a couple of weeks ago, called for a special torte so I decided to create a three layer chocolate cake topped with strawberries. Unfortunately the génoise didn’t rise enough so it was really difficult to cut it into three layers but with a little help I manged somehow. I filled the layers with a thin layer of strawberry jam and chocolate frosting, which I also used all around to frost the cake. The ganache drizzled over the top made this cake look so chocolatey delicious but the frosting was way too sweet for my taste. The next time I’m going to change it up a bit.

If someones’s interested in the recipe (which is just too long to translate and type right now) I’ll edit this post later. Just let me know by leaving a comment.

On an other note, the giveaway for the cupcake bell kindly offered by the Urban Bike Store is now closed to further entries. I’ll announce the winner tomorrow!

Edit: upon request here's the recipe!

Génoise (sponge cake):

140 g dark chocolate
75 g butter
6 eggs
180 g sugar
100 g flour
50 g corn starch
2 teaspoons baking powder

Note: the recipe for the sponge cake is from this one. I can only recommend baking the Foret Noire cake as well, it’s delicious and not that difficult to make.

How to:

Melt the chocolate with the butter in a glass bowl set over a pot of boiling water. Separate the eggs. Beat egg whites until stiff. Stir in the egg yolks with the sugar until it’s fluffy. Stir in the melted chocolate into the egg yolk and sugar mixture. Sift in the flour, corn starch and baking powder over the egg whites and combine delicately. Fill the batter into baking sheet-lined springform pan. Bake the cake in the preheated oven at 175 ° C. Bake for 40-45 minutes. Let the cake cool on a wire rack. After the cake is completely cooled down, divide it into three layers. This can be done either by a sharp knife or by marking the spot with a knife and putting a piece of string or yarn around the bottom and pulling it diagonally. I do the second method but as I said, you could also do it with a knife.

Frosting:

125 g butter, softened
450 g cream cheese
230 g dark chocolate
half cup of brewed coffee
4 teaspoons vanilla extract
750 g powdered sugar

How to:

Brew coffee and set aside to cool. In a large bowl combine butter and cream cheese. Mix until light and fluffy. Add the melted chocolate and vanilla extract. Mix well. Slowly add in powdered sugar and coffee, beating well after each addition.

Note: I found this frosting way too sweet for my taste so you might want to tweak the recipe a bit or try a completely different recipe.

Ganache:

115 g dark chocolate
Half cup of heavy whipping cream

To make ganache, pour the hot cream over chopped bittersweet chocolate and stir the mixture until smooth.

Garnish:

60 gr dark chocolate
Strawberries

Pipe or spoon melted chocolate onto waxed paper in decorative designs, let stand until set. Arrange strawberries on top of cake.

I assembled the cake by spreading a thin layer of strawberry jam and then a thin layer of frosting onto the first layer and repeated this with the second, being sure not to spread to the edges of the cake. Using a spatula I spread a thin layer of frosting over the sides and top of the cake and put it into the fridge for half an hour to set the frosting. Then I spread another, thicker coat of frosting. A couple of hours before serving I made the ganache and drizzled it over the cake and garnished it.

Let me know if you make this cake and how it turned out!

New bike in town!

2011-06-26T23:01:00.010+02:00

I'm very excited to share with you that I've teamed up with Urban Bike Store to introduce to you a Finnish design icon that only recently arrived to Switzerland: Jopo. There'll be a giveaway for you in this post and more surprise posts to come all summer!

The name Jopo comes from “jokaisen polkupyörä”, which translates into “everyman’s bicycle”, meaning that a Jopo bike can be adjusted to all shapes and sizes. The shiny white Jopo has been love at first sight to me and unlike any other one I owned before, it has foot brakes and no gear! I thought it would take some time to get used to this and was a little concered to go downhill but the foot brake is actually very easy once you get the hang of it.

The Carrie basket from Design House Stockholm is the perfect addition to the Jopo. Its designer Marie-Louise Gustafsson selected the ornate material as it reminded her of the Swedish crochet tablecloths on which her grandmother used to serve afternoon tea.

The original hand-painted cupcake bell by Annie Legroulx of DringDring is definitely the icing on the cake! Want to have one for your bike? I'm giving away one cupcake bell. All you have to do is leave a comment with your name and email address so I can contact you in case you win.

The giveaway is open worldwide and ends on Sunday, July 10.

I'd also appreciate it if you liked our new Styleseeking Zurich fan page on Facebook and Urban Bike Store's fan page for being so kind and giving away this pretty bike bell!

Saturday's Inspiration: Take me out for a spin

2011-06-25T01:48:00.005+02:00

These two photos remind me of my vintage skirt that's been hidden in the back of my closet for far too long. I could try to come up with another combination than this one I wore a year ago but I like the powdery colors so much I would probably end up repeating this look or just adding a pop of color with a bright bag like this girl below.

And speaking of ankle lenght skirts... I could really slap myself when I saw this picture of fellow blogger friend Nil on the Sartorialist rocking a long white pleated skirt. I used to have almost the exact same one (which would be perfect to wear now) but in a hasty decision last winter (e.g. a brief moment I've gone crazy) I was convinced that I had to dye it black. Having bought a dye for the wrong fabric my formerly white skirt turned out an uneven greyish purple and landed in the trash bin...

Source: 1. Mr.Newton, 2. Stockholm Streetstyle

Shopper Bag

2011-06-14T22:51:00.004+02:00

Source: fashiongirl

Steve Mono, Merci and YSL

Clean and simple bags for a change. I love the YSL bags, especially the black one!

Stainless Steel

2011-06-12T16:54:00.004+02:00

A cool bracelet made of stainless steel.

This beauty is from Rhomberg - a Swiss Jewelry Company that used to be specialized in silver jewelry. Today, Rhomberg covers a wide range of materials such as platinum, titanium and pearls. Rhomberg was so kind to provide us with several pieces. We will show you more of their products in future posts. The bracelet I chose is from their XVision collection!

Check out more collections here!

Still

2011-06-12T01:31:00.006+02:00

Source: seensucht

Thursday's Beauty Post: Hamam

2011-06-09T13:10:00.002+02:00

MiJi and I have both a cultural background where bathing rituals are a very important heritage. Even though public bath houses are not very often frequented anymore and have gone out of fashion in their respective countries, there seems to be a growing interest in Switzerland.

One of our favorite spa's in Zurich, Asia Spa, has recently invited us to relax in their newly built Hamam.

We joined the Hamam Premium Program, which includes a steam bath, peeling, relaxation time in the pool, a mud treatment and of course some delicate tea. The whole program takes about 90 minutes and the best thing, that truly does justice to the word relaxation, is the guided program provided by the staff. You don't need to worry about the program sequence or timetable. The staff will direct you through the 90 minutes of ease. Another positive aspect is that there won't be any other visitors in the area you stand.

We attended the Hamam Premium Program during exam time. We were really stressed and needed some moments of peace and calm, which we got during our stay.

Have a look at Asia Spa's wide range of offerings and find a program that fits your mood and condition!

At night my thoughts wander and find you

2011-06-06T23:31:00.002+02:00

Just some details. I love close ups.

Sunday's recipe: strawberry and asparagus salad

2011-06-05T19:20:00.007+02:00

Today’s recipe is a salad I recently got to like very much because it’s an unexpected way to eat strawberries. I love any version of asparagus but the combination with the sweet strawberries and slightly bitter taste of the rocket is surprisingly good.
All in all a lovely and delicious spring/summer salad!

ingredients (serves two):

700 g asparagus (if you like, you can use white and/or green ones)
125 g strawberries
50 g sugar
50 ml balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp olive oil
75 g rocket leaves
1 tbsp pine nuts, roasted
½ tsp dried basil
salt and pepper

How to:

Trim the woody ends of the asparagus, blanch in salted boiling water for about 7 minutes. Slice the strawberries in halves. When the asparagus are crisp-tender, drain them and plunge in iced water, then set aside. In a small saucepan, caramelize the sugar, then deglaze with water and balsamic vinegar and let simmer for 5 minutes. Then add the olive oil and dried basil and season with salt and pepper. Arrange the rocket leaves on a serving plate, top with asparagus and strawberries, add the roasted pine nuts and pour the dressing all over.

Enjoy!

I like the night sky in June

2011-06-04T13:00:00.004+02:00

1. New pouch from Cachet. Someday I will own a carpet in this pattern and color. 2. Source: Observando 3. New eau de toilette from Yves Rocher. Smell of summer and Indian mimosa! Love it!

Thursday's beauty post: organizing makeup

2011-06-02T07:00:00.002+02:00

When I moved into our new apartment I realised that especially the bathroom had very little storage space and we were also very limited on what we could build in ourselves. I like my makeup more or less organized and accessible that's why we had to improvise a little bit. I'll show you the CD tower we use for a girlier purpose in another post but today I wanted to show you how I organize my nail polishes. I think Ikea discontinued these wooden drawer boxes I've had for a couple of years now and didn't want to throw away.

Right now I'm trying to find all the nail polishes that used to be randomly scattered around the house and put them in the designated drawers.

How do you organize your makeup?

The Freitag GESSNER Bag

2011-05-30T21:24:00.008+02:00

We already introduced you to the iconic Swiss brand FREITAG in this post. I'm lucky enough to call this modern Freitag GESSNER Bag mine. The bag is named after the founder of the renowned Swiss quality newspaper 'Neue Zürcher Zeitung'.

The bag itself is very boyish and it helps to dress down an outfit. But since the texture, shape and color are very unique, it upgrades your look without covering up the whole outfit. Another big plus is its robust nature. It doesn't matter where you place down the bag or if you're on the road when it rains. The Freitag GESSNER Bag really enriches my wardrobe!

Check out the different blue nuances here! The GESSNER bag is also available in white/grey shades!

Monday's Inspiration

2011-05-30T07:00:00.000+02:00

Wishing everyone a good start into the new week!

photo source: weheartit

Sunday's Recipe: eggplant and avocado sandwich

2011-05-29T11:00:00.000+02:00

Sandwiches are a guilty pleasure of mine, especially when they are made with my favorite veggie: eggplant! If you don't have time to cook dinner but still want to use up some vegetables you have in your fridge, then this recipe might do the trick:

Ingredients (makes 4 sandwiches):

bread (you could also use burger buns)
salad leaves
2 tomatoes
1 eggplant
1 avocado
100 g yogurt
3 tbsp mayonnaise
1 clove of garlic
dash of green Tabasco
salt and pepper
olive oil

How to:

Wash the eggplant and slice lenghtwise, then shallow fry in a little bit of hot olive oil until golden brown. Meanwhile prepare the bread, slice the tomatoes and the avocado and lightly salt. Crush the clove of garlic and mix with the yogurt, mayonnaise, tabasco and season with salt and pepper. Spread the sauce on the bread and garnish with the salad, eggplant, avocado and tomato slices.

P.S: Of course you could also make a low calorie version of this by using whole wheat bread, skipping the mayo or replacing it with a low-fat one and preparing the eggplant in the oven.

Enjoy!

Lace & Color

2011-05-28T11:35:00.007+02:00

White lace top: Dorothy Perkins
Shorts: 3.1 Phillip Lim
Three-tone sandal: Zara
Nail Polish: YSL
Fragrance: Estée Lauder
Lip Balm: Clinique
Ring: Katie Rowland

source 1:
Stone Cold Fox 11 look book via ru_glamour

Wednesday's Interior Decoration Inspiration: my bedroom reveal

2011-05-25T07:00:00.001+02:00

As promised long ago, here’s a little insight into my bedroom. I think you can definitely see the influence this bedroom post had on how I decorated my own. Some of the ideas like the branch clothing rack could not be implemented due to limited space (even though my sister found the perfect branch and painted it white). Other wishes such as having differenty minty blue hues (I painted four canvases in color gradient from palest mint to Tiffany blue) and crates as bedside tables came true.

The crates are on both sides of my bed with the same lamp on top. Unfortunately for me, Lilly seems to think it's ok to scratch the crates. It kind of is... better those than the brand new couch!

What is not ok is to chew/bite my Vogues. Poor Vogue Germany August 2004 issue...

The cover below was only framed because I loved how Daria's dress went so well with my lamp and vice versa. ^^ Plus it was another pop of easy breezy blue.

The mirror below was originally gold and the Eiffel Tower figurine used to be gold as well.
Small changes...

Sunday's Recipe: Mediterranean pasta salad

2011-05-22T01:35:00.000+02:00

Whenever I’m invited to a BBQ I bring this pasta salad over and it’s always one of the first things gone on the buffet. I could never take credit for this since you can’t possibly do wrong with these delicious ingredients. But I believe what makes this one stand out is the dressing which is sweet and sour and goes so well with the other ingredients...

Ingredients (serves 4):

250 gr pasta (I always use Orecchiette for this salad)
200 gr Mozzarrella
150 gr dried tomatoes
150 gr rocket
50 gr pine nuts

Dressing:

5 tbsp olive oil
3 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tsp basil pesto
1 tsp french mustard
1 tsp honey
1 clove garlic, peeled and crushed
salt and pepper, to taste
freshly grated Parmesan

How to:

Cook pasta al dente as label directs. Meanwhile lightly roast the pine nuts in a saucepan and wash the rocket. Dice the Mozzarrella and dried tomatoes. Mix everything in a large bowl. For the dressing whisk the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, pesto, mustard and honey and season with salt and pepper. Before serving, add some freshly grated Parmesan on top.

Enjoy!

Sweet-cakes and milkshakes

2011-05-19T12:08:00.005+02:00

There haven't been many posts by me lately but I think after yesterday's little post you know why. I still try to juggle work, Master thesis, and blogging but this week I allowed myself a couple of days off to celebrate my sister's birthday and meet-up with my girls. And to change out of my boring library or work-at-home attire I trusted in bright colors to keep me energized and I can assure you, it works!

really fun lemony yellow nails and pink lips

Blazer and top: Zara
Bag: Maison Mollerus

Studienteilnehmer für meine Masterarbeit gesucht

2011-05-18T16:25:00.005+02:00

Wie wird unser Modegeschmack von den Medien beeinflusst?

Welche Medien ziehen wir zum Beispiel heran, wenn wir uns über die neuesten Trends informieren wollen?

Während einer Online-Untersuchung, an der du bequem von zuhause aus teilnehmen kannst, wirst du in einem Online-Magazin blättern und einen Ausschnitt vom Sex and the City 1 Film schauen. Damit dabei auch was herauskommt, wirst du anschliessend einige Fragen dazu beantworten.

Selbstverständlich werden deine Daten streng vertraulich und anonym behandelt und können nicht mit deiner Person in Verbindung gebracht werden.

Die Umfrage dauert etwa 40 Minuten und unter allen Teilnehmern wird ein 100 CHF Einkaufsgutschein von Zara verlost.

Klick hier, um die Studie zu starten.

Herzlichen Dank für deine Unterstützung!

Neslihan

Explanation: This post is written in German only because I'm looking for participants to take part in an online survey I'm conducting for my Master thesis.

picture source: Jak&Jil

Wednesday's Inspiration

2011-05-18T00:03:00.000+02:00

Who doesn't love Alexander Wang?

I am actually not a big fan of his clothing lines but I do love his sense for unique bags and shoes. These Dakota Lace Up Booties are divine.

I'd go for the black ones! What about you?

Source: 1, 2

I still remember all the sweet things you said, they keep me up at night

2011-05-17T00:19:00.005+02:00

I don't know why but I stick to fragrances that aren't up to date.. Light blue is something I recently became aware of although it has been on the market for a long time. I love all creamy thingy fragrances! I am not a fresh-scented-girl at all! My favorites so far are Laura by Laura Biagiotti, Femme by Hugo Boss and Light Blue by D&G. Please let me know if other fragrances in this style spring to your minds!

H&M Autumn/Winter 2011 Preview

2011-05-13T18:52:00.011+02:00

Here’s a sneak peek of the coming H&M Fall/Winter 2011 collection. It awaits you not only burgundy, camel, cognac and nude but also more glaring colors. I really like the small enamel purse and the idea of how it adds the right amount of color to your outfits in fall and winter.
If you have an affection for bold jewelry pieces, the fall/winter collection won’t disappoint you. The accessories are either decent or really chunky and richly colored.
The coming fall/winter will be anything than dreary.

FREITAG iPhone Sleeve Giveaway: Winner

2011-05-08T18:53:00.005+02:00

The winner is number 27! Congratulations to hyunkyung ♥

Please send us an email with your name and address!

Thank you everyone so much for participating in the giveaways!

Let's hope there'll be another one anytime soon..

Surrounded by flowers

2011-05-06T16:42:00.004+02:00

flowers picked from the side of the road

flowers on antique china

Kate Moss in "jardin d'églantines" by Valentino haute couture in Vogue Paris May 2011 issue

little things that make me happy

Have a nice weekend, everyone!

photos: private

Thursday's Beauty Post: body scrub by Sabon

2011-05-05T07:00:00.000+02:00

I love the fresh and smooth feeling a good body scrub evokes and use mine once or twice a week to enjoy baby-soft skin. Apart from my homemade coffee scrub (might give you the recipe if you don't think it's too gross ^^) this is currently my favorite: Sabon's Fig Coco body scrub.

I came across this brand during my trip to Amsterdam and immediately loved the store and their product range. What I love most about this scrub is - apart from the heavenly smell - that the deep sea salt grains exfoliate amazingly well without being too harsh to your skin. The mixture of macadamia, almond, and soya bean oils leaves your skin moisturized and supple.

What is your favorite body scrub?

Korean Azalea Blossoms

2011-05-04T21:50:00.005+02:00

My parents just sent me these beautiful photos from Wonmi mountain! The azaleas are so hypnotic!

I really wish I could stroll around the area now...

Wednesday's Interior Decoration Inspiration: white kitchen

2011-05-04T07:00:00.000+02:00

White is the epitome of brightness and cleanliness and is definitely the color my dream kitchen would be! Add a nice chalkboard to write down my menus and flowers to decorate my place and I'm a happy girl.

Source:

1: unknown
2: Desire to Inspire
3/4: Salincakta Iki Kisi

P.S: Lilly was featured on Desire to Inspire's weekly pets on furniture post. Click here to see my beauty and also a tiny peak into my bedroom!

Chic simplicity

2011-05-03T07:00:00.001+02:00

Stackable Gold Rings: Sku

Sometimes I think it pays off not to jump on a trend that you know won't be around for too long. These items can be considered safe, but I'd rather add intriguing details with delicate stackable rings and just the right amount of color in this glossy two-toned satchel!

Leather satchel: NW3 via ASOS

Monday's Inspiration: la vie en rose

2011-05-02T07:00:00.000+02:00

Why not listen to this song to have a good start into the week?

Source: private photo

FREITAG Giveaway

2011-05-01T09:55:00.020+02:00

If you've been to Switzerland and especially to Zurich, you might have noticed all those flashy colored bags made of rubbery looking materials.

Almost everyone here in Switzerland heard about this brand: FREITAG

Graphic designer brothers Markus and Daniel Freitag were working on a handy and water-tight messenger bag design. Looking out the window of their flat they noticed all those multicolored trucks passing the cross-Zurich highway. Inspired by those lorries they made a messenger bag out of an old truck tarpaulin.

The success story started with the finding of the tarpaulin's value.

All materials are used and therefore marked by their service on the road.

Since every single bag is made of unique tarpaulins, none of the products have the same color, texture or graphic.

Photo 1,2,3: Freitag materials

Photo 4-9: Private

This is the inimitable entrance of the flagship store in Zurich.

Address:
Geroldstrasse 17
8005 Zürich

The unique building really makes you want to go inside and have a look at the products and the architecture.

Popular iPhone Sleeves

Displayed Assortment

Money Purses

Latest line: REFERENCE

This collection refers to urban brainworkers, male and female.
The new line includes not only laptop or messenger bags, but also chic clutches. All items are available in three main colors: Blue, White and Light-Blue. There are countless nuances lying inbetween tough, which challanges the choice since every nuance has its own gloss and finer points.

Did you spot Nesli's HUTCHINS bag?

Which one might have been MiJi's pick? ^^

FREITAG GIVEAWAY

To our advantage FREITAG was kind enough to provide us with this beautiful iPhone 4 GS Sleeve for the giveaway!

Please note that the case is not compatible with the 3 GS Model.

To enter the giveaway, please leave a comment with your first name and email address.

A winner will be picked randomly next Sunday!

Good luck everyone!

♥

Check out FREITAG's online shop to discover their range of designs! Click here!