Souvenirs

Who doesn't know this feeling: After coming back from your holidays you open the suitcase and suddenly the printed Capri T-Shirt doesn't seem so chic and trendy as it did in the idyllic island souvenir shop. What to do with Eiffel tower earrings or sea shells from your last summer holiday? We asked Ashley from Chasing Heartbeats L – Expat blogger and photographer from California – to test five souvenir outfits in her chosen home Berlin. Photographer Katharina Rose joined her and documented the fashionable experiences.

Thanks to Victoria Kau, Cris Santos, Wonderpots Berlin & all shops and booths we were allowed to take pictures from.

THE SOUVENIR

The so-called Fes is a widely worn headgear in the Orient and the Balkans. Its form is one of a truncated cone made from felt with a flat top.

ORIGIN

From the town of Fès / Marocco. Brought along by Evi.

IN EVERYDAY LIFE

You will need a little courage to wear such a hat in your everyday life: The headgear stands out, but it is very cute and a real eyecatcher! During a stroll over the farmer's market in Berlin Friedrichshain Ashley looked her best! TIP: Choose a very simple silhouette for the dress but in an extraordinary colour!

OUR OUTFIT

Simple blue dress from a 60s pattern – Purchase this pattern online at our sisterMAG Shop | Blue Plastic Pumps from Vivienne Westwood

Farmer's Market Boxhagener Platz

Every Saturday (8am-1pm) you can purchase fruits and vegetables, oriental specialties, filled waffles or dried fruit. So pretty: Flower booth from "Je länger, je lieber" (jelieber.de)

THE SOUVENIRS

Vintage table cloth from a flea market and Eiffel Tower earrings.

ORIGIN

Foraged for at a French flea market in Provence. The earrings were sent by blogger Lindsey (Lost in Cheeseland l) – Blogger from Paris!

IN EVERYDAY LIFE

Back home you noticed that the tablecloth doesn't fit your table? Just convert it in an elegant, long circular skirt with an elastic band. The earrings were disassembled and used as embellishment for our little summer tuque (see tutorial for the tuque on our blog l) TIP: If you choose a white outfit you'll need a little colour splash: Ashley focuses on her lips with red lipstick!

OUR OUTFIT

Long white circular skirt – handmade (tutorial on the blog from 14th August onwards) | White shirt with lace details – GUESS l | Bronze coloured pumps – Bronx

Wonderpots Frozen Yogurt (Georgenstraβe)

We meet up with some sisterMAG friends wearing the French outfit at a lovely Frozen Yogurt place in Berlin: Wonderpots. Delicious and with only 1.5% fat relishable without guilt. Even better: the café in Georgenstraβe is full of details, really cozy and friendly.

THE SOUVENIR

Indian Bridal Jewellery – necklace and earrings!

ORIGIN

After Tanja l finished her studies, she went to work in Pune / India. She sent us a little parcel full of jewellery!

IN EVERYDAY LIFE

If you wear such statement pieces, you'll need to go low-key with clothes. The black dress "Goddess of Luck" (via nelou.de) does not only flatter your figure but is the perfect counterpart to the tassles and pendants. If you want to style this outfit, but haven't got a holiday in India lined up: you can get great Bridal Jewellery on ebay as well!

OUR OUTFIT

Belisama dress – Göttin des Glücks via .de

TOAST & JAM – Berlin Vintage Fashion Fair

A must go during Berlin Fashion Week is the Vintage Fair "Toast & Jam" in Kreuzberg's Umspannwerk. In this lovely Belisama dress and Indian Bridal Jewellery we rummaged through the products from "Brillenschatz" or "MANKii Vintage".

THE SOUVENIR

Long sea shells

ORIGIN

Collected ourselves (Toni and Thea) at the Dutch beaches of the North Sea at Egmond.

IN EVERYDAY LIFE

Who doesn't want their shells to dust as decoration, should quickly get out their craft kit. The shells should be thoroughly washed, then coated with nail polish. With a little drill put holes in the top part of each shell. Thread onto a nice cord or string.

OUR OUTFIT

Jumper with lace décolleté – SIOK via nelou.de

THE SOUVENIR

Umbrella and clutch from London.

ORIGIN

sisterMAG founder Toni used to work in London and brought these from the British capital.

IN EVERYDAY LIFE

If Union Jack, go for it! The umbrella can also really be useful in Berlin with its rather mixed summer. The dress is made of four pieces of striped fabric, put together in a diamond shape.

OUR OUTFIT

Striped etui dress – handmade from a 60s Burda pattern | Blue Pumps – Acne Jeans

We visited the museums of Berlin's Museum Island in the afternoon. Because: dressed in an elegant shift dress you'll be able to enjoy art and culture even more! If you need tips for bizarre museums, turn the page for our 10 most whimsical museums in the world!

STYLING: Eva-Maria Neubauer | PHOTOS: Katharina Rose | MODEL: Ashley Ludäscher Kindly supported by