Here's what I'd buy if I had an extra 10.538,99 Euros right now

I'm in a mood this week and it's not demure

Aug 28, 2024

Dear all!!! Starting today’s issue I sprinted up the stairs, slammed the door and grabbed this device, to tell you about a really really good summer look I just witnessed while walking a big pack of pampers home. My eyes tried to take in all the good details – she was moving fast and her silhouette was flowing. I would usually not consider myself a Cecilie Bahnen advocate, it’s tad too romantic, but this person made it work: Probably in her early 20s, the dress all volume, feather light, maybe walking towards a friend’s hangout or a gallery visit. As she casually nibbled away on her falafel wrap, she seemed care-free. You just gotta love a person who’s embracing their soggy food while wearing all-white. Maybe that’s the secret to success here anyway? Her accessories were sparse but on point, the inevitable ballerinas (not mesh!! I literally turned my head twice to double-check), some chunky silver hooks, a 2000ish bag and a black mullet. It was cute, it was effortless, it was woke up like this instead of I’m wrapped in bed linen. She didn’t take her pretty situation too serious and therefore looked cool as a cucumber. I wanted to be her for the day.

Collage: TIDBTW, images via Vestiaire and Google search “falafel wrap)

If you wanna follow above recipe too, you might have to consider including that mullet as a contrast too, otherwise I can feel rose petals surrounding this look already. I chose:

Cecilie Bahnsen dress in Size L via Vestaire 440,00€

Chloé Ballerinas velour leather (and a demure hint of mesh) via Vestaire 192,60€

Little Prada Nylon Cargo Bag via Vestaire 332,20€

Bruá Simple Earrings, 230$ - beautiful Ukrainian jewelry brand that I collaborated with for a charity pop up last year <3

You might even be able to incorporate those nasty Vibram toe-shoes y’all love so much right now. If you have to.. I just can’t unhear them screaming let’s go bouldering on a high pitch note, but maybe that is your vibe for the day. No judgment, just precaution here. I get how you can end up with them and it all kinda makes sense, nicely, looking at you

Georgia Graham

). But this time I will not come around!!

And on that moody note, welcome to a week of absolute cravings, lost inspiration and tiredness. I did not buy the following things, but I absolutely would!!

Reality bites

I never find it difficult to have a child, my child, but sometimes it’s hard to be a parent. Doing all the emotional and financial heavy lifting, trying to protect them from all the bad news out there. It can be a scary place, I’m beginning to understand. Now my decisions effect us both, it might be buying something vintage for myself instead of investing in the future of us (although a good look can, as I always preach, serve you forever :-) ). If I’m contemplating how this challenge is going for me, maybe if I was in a different personal position, being in my usual work machine mode, we’d already be somewhere else. Maybe, instead of 302 Euro, I would have spent 3200 Euros by now.

My actual shopping list, copied from my notes app

Most days I’m simply thriving on two T’s, trousers and t-shirt:

Typical weekend outfit, I swear preggo light was nicer in here. Photo by TIDBTW

And then sometimes, me and my anxiety miss the warm embrace of an absolutely stupid (read: expensive) new possession. Because when you can’t afford to lose your mind, being a parent and all, it’s what you crave the most. So let’s just play a game and pretend everything is possible and I’m that woman today who spends the €€€€ on a whim, the only real way to do it.

1. The (sexy) shoes

I do wish to come around as this sleek, clean, nicely manicured person. But in reality I care less and less if my t-shirt is stained and my hair just will not learn to neither frizz nor grease. It’s like, I can not spend any energy on giving myself a hard time about these visual effects. But!!! We have to keep it together sometimes and I still believe in a wardrobe of GOOD basic items that you wear for years and that will help you feel nice. Here’s what I strongly felt I’m lacking this week and all summer: This perfect little flip flops from AEYDE, making pretty much every foot look friendly.

Love and need the square toe, which I think is exactly what makes it dinner-party-date-ready. Now you just got to decide whether you go low (225,00€) or high (295,00€) heel. I take both.

Also, ever since Paris Fashion Week in summer 2022 I am OBSESSED with these cut-off cowboy boots by Gabriela Coll Garments, us getting together is just a matter of time:

Arthur and I both tried them on in their showroom (they were the sweetest!) and to this day I don’t understand why we didn’t immediately proceed to pre-order. They hug your soles with the softest touch, boosting your step and your confidence. Back then and today I think they are 690,00 €. I can’t find a direct link for some reason, but will keep my eyes open for you.

The next infectious look hit me via my friend and

Kinga Katharina

’s

DAERE

co-host Janina Waschkowski:

Photo by Janina Waschkowski, @janinawaschkowski

Had she only posted this 8 mins ago? Yes. Screenshotting my friends’ looks is my ultimate love language. I feel like the riding boot territory is dangerous for me, I’m not sure if I can slick my hair back strong enough to make it work, BUT Janina doesn’t even need to worry about that: Her legs in elegant black bermudas and the hint of a blazer already sell this to me. Vagabond EIDA boots here you go, 220,00€

And then there is Lil Bulgac again, testing me with her mesh ballet flats. I’m just really into this woman and her stylings!

See? Yep. Arket mesh flats still around, for anyone else tempted, 139,00€.

2. Coat (!!!!!)

Oh yessss!! my favorite season is coat season! I can’t wait to wear this one strong item, which luckily is needed in Berlin 7 out of 12 months. These next few weeks naturally serve the new AW24/25 looks, finally bringing relief to my watery mouth since mid February: THE coat by BOBKOVA is available (heart-eye-emoji):

I’ve seen it, I’ve touched it, I can wholeheartedly say this is worth our money. Go (run) here: BOBKOVA maxi coat with a straight cut (to my wallet), 972,00€

3. Bags.

Ok because this is mostly fictional I’ll give you the one I want very very much: The PHOEBE PHILO Small Kit Cabas:

phoebephilo

A post shared by @phoebephilo

Is this one pictured here the smaller or bigger version? Don’t know, don’t care, because we can not get too attached, as this shiny lady costs 3,400 €. As I’m opening their website, my bag friend is look right back at me from the landing page. Thanks Phoebe.

On a monochromatic path to burn my money

My reasons for this impossibly extravagant wish: Elegance beyond comprehension, I love the silver hardware and did I mention the form? I love that it can be worn in one hand in this lazy attitude when really you can’t be lazy affording this bag. I should totally buy her for my 40th birthday (I won’t).

In a similarly disastrous way, this ALAÏA Le Teckle bag is one of those things I’ve been exposed to often enough to really really wanting them:

jidatoon

A post shared by @jidatoon

It’s another unnecessary shape with no special function or premise, other than reminding us of very cute and very long dogs. But then again, this has never been the logic I’ve been operating on. She is drop dead gorgeous, that’s what she is. Just as I had almost given up on this 2.100,00 € vision, Pauline came to my semi-rescue in this outfit and with this bag (non-ALAÏA)!!

pauluschkaa

A post shared by @pauluschkaa

Not to hurt OSOI’s feelings, but these designs do look kinda alike? And we love that! Thank you holy mother of bags and now you can thank me (ok Pauline, really): OSOI Boat wide in black, 355,00€, which is maybe more 40s appropriate as in more grown up, calm, rational. Also comes in red and white! C-u-t-e.

4. Jewelry

So this annoying thing keeps happening to me, where I just lose stuff, maybe due to my baby brain. One dear item I really really really miss is this necklace by Johanna Gauder, last seen in Oxford, circa Christmas 2023. I’ve been wearing it to nights out or whenever my day needed a little lift or just because it’s so pretty. It works solo but I also love the combination with a fine, longer necklace. I still hope I find it, until then, we can all glance at it with admiration, Johanna Gauder necklace no. 14, made of recycled silver, 340,00 €

Source JOHANNAGAUDER.com, TIDBTW, last year, when I loved layering all my jewerly to balance my belly <3

So nothing of this really happened, but in my head it played out many times. While it took me all week to write this down, the content of this wishlist has been saved in split seconds. That’s the kind of animal I am, usually pre-baby buying on pure adrenaline.

A Sunday rest

But we don’t do this this year! And so, instead of going towards big splendour, we went to Brandenburg. Into nature, enjoying a perfect little lunch at a garden restaurant. I wore what I always wear when my inner style compass gets irritated and it’s below 25 degrees: A blazer, no matter what the occasion. And then some leggings, socks (optional)

This is an actual Kristina Sunday look, for better or for worse. Image Sources: ebay, JOHANNA GAUDER, PHOEBE PHILO

Ok this time I tried to put this together via ebay:

Anthracite men’s blazer, a 48: 27,99 €

Nike Dri fit 7/8 leggings 29,99 € (or start bidding)

Vintage Tee, 19,99 €

Vagabond Mules 67,65 € (similar to mine, slightly higher)

Hand-knitted socks (only the best for you) 10,95 €

JOHANNA GAUDER earrings, 220,00 € I’ve had them since 2019 and I truly wear them every day.

PHOEBE PHILO Sunnies, 380,00 € (hey, this could actually totally be real)

Playground bucket might be the most important asset here, this one by Liewood is as chic as it gets (not the one pictured), 27,00 € here

My favourite moment though was when we sat down for an espresso at the nearby Korean ceramics café afterwards and chatted to the owner. I loved that she just wanted to hang out with us, as if we were friends walking in. She quickly noticed my Vagabond mules, flattering their roughed up appearance by mistaking them for Miista.

Back from the countryside where no looks matter, except that as always, all looks matter, I cuddled up in my leggings and washed out tee and enjoyed Brittany Bathgate’s latest post:

brittanybathgate

A post shared by @brittanybathgate

Alright okay, that’s how you do that summer-fall transition thing! And of course she has the red The Row flip flops, a jealous little voice inside me noted, simultaneously pleased that I too had identified them as worth the drag (of the thong that is). But would you even tag The Row? Would they like that?? A few envious clicks later I found myself on the page of Ancient Greek Sandals, where, to be honest, these ones are still expensive for a shoe that squeaks, but 125,00 € seem not out of reach. Especially if you still wanna invest in this summer and early fall with a red (which is not burgundy, my trendy friends!)* accessory.

Blow dryer for fall

And then what about her hair? This was something not to far away from my own, I was hoping. I made an effort to stand in front of the bathroom mirror: Similar length, but maybe she actually blow dries hers? This is what fall will bring for me, the guidance of hot air, establishing a neat base for my new (repetitive) looks. With a final burst of energy I zoomed into her lashes. Was she actually wearing mascara? Out of everything in this post I found this the most intriguing. Someone who seemingly says, “yes, makeup does something for me and I can take it”. Whereas I’ve seen myself involved in a new wave that is moving away from mascara all together. Wrong timing, girl (talking to myself)!!! While my friends look like ethereal fairies, I, for most parts just look tired. While I’m confident – maybe it’s even self defense? – to rock that I-just-had-a-baby-look, both that and the actual baby are getting kinda old. A little bit of juice can’t hurt. Acceptance. I don’t have to be a part of every trend, neither fashion (see above) nor face. This is an ongoing investigation for as long as we live, I guess, dear TIDBTW readers. Let’s see where I’m standing with this, let’s say, next week. Until then, bisous.