Somewhere Over The Rainbow…

My appreciation for enchanting shoes began right about the same time as my obsession with Judy Garland and The Wizard of Oz.

I’m not sure what it was about those ruby red slippers that was so hypnotizing. Was it the exaggerated sparkle on the big screen, or their fanciful powers?

Whatever it was, they were an extraordinary vision. I can’t help but get the same sensation from Miu Miu’s new season glitter pumps!

There’s no place like Miu Miu

There’s no place like Miu Miu

There’s no place like Miu Miu

xx S

Très Chic

While Lora oozes us with her envious ventures through Berlin, I’ve decided to hype myself up for the three remaining weeks I have left in Melbourne.  

It began with  sounds of Edith Piaf roaring through my speakers this morning, followed by a colourful display of images from the chic boutique hotel waiting for my September arrival, in Saint Germain des Près.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you Hotel Le Belle Juliette!! Everything I envisage Paris to be and more.

xx S

Butterfly Soul Fire

I found the most beautiful and unique silk black dress for my friend Georgina to wear to a chic wedding in Istanbul at Berlin boutique label Butterfly Soul Fire.

I also me one half of the label's design duo - the lovely Designer Thoas Linder who explained to me the difference between east and west Berlin style. I loved the way he accessorised with one leather glove and layered beads and scarfe with the brown leather boots. The latest men's collection takes a view of the world where clothing is less ordinary. Based on black and white tones, the pieces are about draping, structure and deconstruction. Take a peek at Butterfly Soul Fire's latest collection - Butterflysoulfire

Thoas tells me style in the west is more head to toe designer and men dress in white shirts and chinos while women parade in italian style brands like Prada and Gucci. In the east however - people splurge on one or two key designer pieces and style them with vintage and market finds.

And a funny way to tell if you are in west or east Berlin is by the style of the green man and red man traffic signals. The chubbier green or red symbols with a hat means you are in East Berlin. The slim red or green man with no hat means you are in the west. Even the traffic symbols in this city have their own style!

Don't die before trying - Bonanza Coffee Heroes

You can take a girl out of Melbourne - all the way to Berlin in fact - but you can't take Melbourne out of the girl. At Bonanza Coffee Heroes I found coffee so good it was up there with Melbourne's St Ali's or Brother Baba Budan. Beans are roasted in house and the Barista takes coffee making very seriously - if you are in Berlin you must go here for your coffee hit. Don't die before trying! Oderberger Strasse, 35, Berlin.

Flea Market & Brad Pitt's fave Berlin restaurant

On a Sunday in Berlin - all the shops are closed so the flea markets are the place to be. A friend and I went to Flohmarkt am Mauerpark and found stunning snakeskin vintage bags from the 1950s that were in pristine condition. Pick up a vintage leather suitcase, 1950s specs, beautiful german and scandinavian style furniture and even vintage bikes for a song! The food is also to die for and there is a bar area where you can enjoy your gourmet Bratwurst with local beer and finish off with a delicious plum strudel with vanilla sauce. 

After we worked up an appetite wandering the market and the streets in Mitte - we had dinner at Bandol Sur Mer (Torstrasse 167, Berlin) - said to be Brad Pitt's favourite restaurant in Berlin - and apparently he and Angelina have an apartment here. We enjoyed four courses for $59EU and a beautiful bottle of German riesling.