it was very nice, it was paradise

Guten tag dollies! I am back from a whirlwind trip to Berlin that took me away from my beloved London from Thursday until late last night. Three friends and I dined at great restaurants such as Noto and clubbed at celeb haunts like Felix. As lame as it is to say - but I truly felt like a celeb myself this weekend!

I took so many photos but hardly any of myself - mostly of fascinating buildings and yummy food. Hope you enjoy them as much as I do (oh take me back to those truffles!) 

Just around the corner from where we were staying in East Berlin were such sights as the Dome Français - there was so much beautiful architecture surrounding us, it was unreal!

We visited a great little market Friday morning complete with fresh fruits, beautiful flowers and - for my meat-lovin' friends - tons of sausages

On Friday, I had a wonderful lunch at the restaurant on the top level of the KaDeWe, which overlooks the entire city, complete with tons of fruit and even more potatoes

Seriously, artichokes - get at me

Of course I couldn't resist the truffles just a floor below where we had lunch at the KaDeWe - the Kir Royal truffle (a gorgeous dark pink) and the jasmine truffle were my favorites

Next we headed Quartier 206, a department store, to check out some of Berlin's fashions

The bright neons in the window of Moschino really caught my attention - as did that incredible leather jacket

I couldn't resist snapping a pic of Berlin's selection of Ladurée candles and perfumes 

These gorgeous pink booties are from Stephanel - where my friend Anna got a pair of gorgeous hot pink heels for our first night out on the town in Berlin. Ugh, I wish I picked up a pair of these while I was there!

I was really fascinated by the graffiti throughout Berlin - it was so beautiful and certainly a form of art in itself

Probably my favorite place in all of Berlin was the East Side Gallery, a collection of 105 paintings on a stretch of the Berlin Wall 

This was my favorite painting from the East Side Gallery for its vivid color and detail

Why yes of course I took a photo in front of one of these exquisite pieces! 

Another sight close to us was this incredible tribute to murdered Jews of Europe near Potsdamer Platz

We also made our way out to see the Berlin Wall Memorial - another overwhelming and enlightening experience. I am the only one who forgot sunglasses that day so I am literally blinded by the light ... unfortunately, this is the only photo of the four of us together 

  

Two of my London flatmates Elaine and Anna (notice her hot pink shoes!) pose with me before we head off to Felix for a night of dancing on elevated surfaces until the wee hours of the morning 

Title: from "Berlin" (Lou Reed)

be sure to wear some flowers in your hair

I am having a lot of fun in Photo Booth these days. Here is a look at my outfit today, well my outfit from the neck up. The ivory lace high-neck blouse is a recent purchase from Zara. The garland is a chiffon flower headband by Jane Tran. The details are kind of hard to see in the pictures, but it's a stunning piece. Not visible are a pair of blue skinny jeans, a silver feather wraparound cuff from Free People, and classic brown Frye boots. 

In the background you can see my stunning (sarcasm) cork board of recent magazine clippings to brighten up my room. It was much needed - those bare white walls made me feel like I was going mad!

Dolls Play

Who came in style at the Brits

Who won a Brit Award

The Lovin' Linkful

I haven't done one of these in centuries, but I was recently inspired to become a better blogger so I am trying my hand at consistency for once in my bloggy life. Hope you enjoy the links!

A fascinating look at the life of the reclusive Miss Brigitte Bardot. (Vanity Fair)

For those not lucky enough (like I) to stalk the events firsthand, keep up with the goings-on of London Fashion Week. (Glam)

I love this video of Kate Moss and Babyshambles performing one of my favorite tunes "La belle et la bête." (Youtube)

Teeny tiny ways to be a lot more fabulous. (The Frisky)

I am obsessed with this "Fucking Beautiful" ring by Kiki de Montparnasse. (Kiki de Montparnasse)

Who better to advise you on how to be a single girl than Helen Gurley Brown, author of Sex and the Single Girl, and Cosmo magazine? (Cosmopolitan)

I am a vegetarian so I obviously would never eat a panda ... but there's some moral fuzziness surrounding bread that looks like a panda. (FUNZ)

Things I need to learn: how to tie a scarf. (Wikifashion)

... also I need to learn how to walk in high heels. Literally fell on my face Saturday night. In the mud. Yeah. (Beauty Fool)

Think you're a gypsy at heart? Find out for sure with this quiz. (Care 2)

a real bang up job

I've long had an obsession with bangs, or 'fringe' as they say here in the UK. Last year I took the plunge and gave myself bangs - a decision born out of the stress of exams week at university. I immediately regretted the decision (the decision to use eyebrow scissors and Fiskars as my hairstyling instruments wasn't my finest choice) and pushed the bangs off of my face for the ensuing weeks until my hair grew out enough to push behind my ears in embarrassment.
I have been feeling an itch in recent weeks to do something different - I am contemplating Debbie Harry levels of blondeness or going back to my tried and true ombre look. It was Friday morning when I was scrolling through pictures of Taylor Swift in a recent issue of Vogue that I decided what my change would be: I would get good and proper fringe.
I went to the Rush Salon on Oxford Street after begging to come in for a lunchtime appointment. Upon arrival, I sat down in a comfy swivel chair while my stylist Georgia and I discussed what I wanted. I desired something thick but not heavy across my forehead - something that could be worn messy and wavy as well as stick straight. I told her about my Taylor Swift revelation and showed her pictures of Emma Stone, Kate Moss, Felicity Jones and Zooey Deschanel that I pulled up on my iPhone.
After twenty minutes and inches and inches of hair had fallen to the floor, I had myself a new pair of bangs. I had mixed feelings - on the one hand I loved them because they were fun and edgy, on the other hand I didn't know how to style them nor did I think I had the confidence to pull them off. I am still struggling with styling them - I am trying to do sideswept bangs, braids, and the full-on blunt fringe look, but I still get a little nervous going out into public with the full-on bang look. I'm sure it will come with time - everything takes some time to get used to, at least for me. But hey, I'm having fun taking modeling pics of myself on Photo Booth.

The inspiration: 

The result:

I am kind of obsessed with my fringe at the moment, especially when I am by myself in the bathroom primping, but I lack the confidence to really own them when I go out in public. Does anyone with fringe have any tips or suggestions for a newly banged person such as myself? 

Weekly Twitpics

@sophiedollyrock

@danieledollyrok

@luciedollyrock

Amazing Alert

Quote of the day

We Heart Valentines!

Happy Valentines day

Love,

The Dolly  Rockers

Dolly Love

don't let another day go by my love, it'll be just like starting over

This is my first outfit post in quite a while, but I think I am turning over a new leaf ... yet again. It seems like every time I do an outfit post, it's accompanied by a promise to do more of them. Well, now seems as good a time as any to try the whole personal style section thing again. With the help of my trust friend / newly-annointed fashion photog Meg (she made a cameo on the site two posts ago), I am vowing to feature more personal style on the site. 

I look a bit grubby, so please ignore my face and hair. The ivory chiffon top is a beautiful piece by Lily. J that I picked up on Saturday when I visited Camden Market. I really love Lily J. - it's all tremendously girlish and lovely, in soft pinks and whites. The pieces remind me of The Virgin Suicides meets Picnic at Hanging Rock. 

The cream top underneath is actually a nightgown that I purchased from Urban Outfitters a few years ago - I love the delicate details around the neck and hem. The blue jeggings are by Hue and the brown boots are by Frye. The earrings are White House Black Market (I purchased them when I was in the eighth grade), the silver bracelet is Tiffanys, the rings are vintage and my class ring, and the silver star necklace is by Dogeared. 

Title: from "Just Like Starting Over" (John Lennon)

the game of elevens

I was tagged by Julie of the girl with kaleidoscope eyes to complete something called The Game of Elevens. Thankfully, eleven is one of the few odd numbers that I like, so I decided to participate.

Here are the rules:
1) You must re-post these rules
2) Round One: post eleven random things about yourself
3) Round Two: answer the questions the tagger posed to you in their post
4) Round Three: create eleven new questions for the people you tag to answer
5) Tag people and go to their blog and tell them that they've been tagged for the game

Round One

1) I have six piercings, all in my ears.
2) My favorite war is World War II.
3) I have an obsession with lingerie and retro undergarments. Today I found the website What Katie Did and I am obsessed with the idea of getting a pair of high-waisted knickers and a bullet bra.
4) A dream of mine would be to develop, produce, and star in a biopic on Jean Seberg.
5) I believe in black magic and the occult.
6) Much of my 2011 was focused on finding the perfect kimono bed jacket.
7) In my mind, I am best friends with Kanye West.
8) Because I can't access The Daily Show on Hulu in the UK, I know considerably (and ashamedly) less about current events.
9) I am tragically uncool in most walks of life.
10) Try as I might, I can't whistle for the life of me.
11) I am contemplating dyeing my hair peroxide Debbie Harry blonde and darkening my eyebrows dark brown, because I've decided that I need a change.

Round Two

1) What do you want to major in when you go to college? 
Well, I am a junior in college and I am a Creative Writing major with a minor in Film and Media Studies.
2) What exactly is in your purse right now? 
An umbrella from the MoMA for that unpredictable London weather, my wallet, my passport (in its obnoxious hot pink leather case), loose pounds and bills, tissues, Dolce Vita lipstick by NARS, Boscia oil-absorbing sheets, a journal for all my thoughts and recollections, and my bright yellow Kate Spade 'Taxi' mittens.
3) What is your favorite movie, book, band, and song? 
I don't really have a favorite movie - I love films too much to choose just one. Though, that being said, Hitchcock's Notorious is a pretty perfect film. I have two favorite books - Faithfull by Marianne Faithfull and Virginia Woolf's Mrs Dalloway. Favorite band would - obviously - be a tie between the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. I don't really have a favorite song, but I have a weirdly strong connection to George's moody "Long, Long, Long."
4) What is your least favorite movie, book, band, and song?
I love films of all sorts, so I don't really hate any of them - I guess closest to hate would be not understanding them. I don't understand a lot of avant garde films - they're so confusing to me. Same goes for books, bands, and songs - I tend not to hate them, I just don't 'get' them.
5) What are you wearing right now? 
A vintage ivory slip dress paired with an ivory lace bed jacket from Lily. J and ivory satin ballet flats from Topshop
6) You have five million dollars and three hours to spend it. How do you do it and what do you spend it on? 
I would love to donate a large portion of it and spend the rest paying my parents back for everything they've given me in life, as well as treat them to a few nice things for themselves. I'd keep about $2000 so that I could buy myself a classic Balenciaga bag.
7) What is the last thing you heard? What are the exact words or lyrics? 
"The carrots have kind of mashed themselves."
8) What is your guilty pleasure TV show? Movie? Band / artist? 
Guilty pleasure TV show would have to be really anything that they play on E!, any of the Law and Orders, or Glee. Actually, all of the above. Guilty pleasure movie would have to be something unabashedly girly and probably starring Amanda Seyfried. Guilty pleasure band / artist would have to be Taylor Swift - I lived with girls freshman year of school who adored her, so as a result I know most all of her songs.
9) What is your favorite perfume? 
I own way too much perfume to have a favorite. But currently I am using Tocca's Stella and Boss Orange Sunset. I am eager to pick up a bottle of Penhaligon's Bluebell and I am about to order Child perfume to try out.
10) If you could only do one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be? 
I would write - I always feel so much more productive and better about myself after I write, even if it's about nothing. If not that, I would get massages and eat ice cream for the rest of my life.
11) What is your favorite thing to look at? 
My face. Obviously. (Just kidding)

Round Three

1) If you could eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be and who makes it (be it your mother or your favorite little diner)? 

2) What is your favorite piece of clothing in your wardrobe? Favorite piece of jewelry? 

3) What is your go-to karaoke song? 

4) What is your can't-live-without-it beauty product? 

5) Which foreign accent is your favorite? 

6) What song is the soundtrack to your life? 

7) What's the last law that you've broken? 

8) What's the one piece of advice that you can't live without and where did you get it from? 

9) What's your favorite word? Favorite curse word? 

10) What are your thoughts on Ryan Gosling? 

11) Which fellow blogger do you wish you were best friends with in real life?

Tagged Dollies

Being Blinge

Born Late

Lost Muse

Lovely Bohemia

musings & inspiration

Who the Fuck is Mick Jagger

You've got the silver

winning london

There are so many things about London that I am obsessed with: the culture, the architecture, the shopping, the food - it's all sensational! As I try to wrap my mind around all the wonderful things I've seen, I am offering you all some of my favorite pictures from my adventures so far. Tomorrow I am taking a boat trip to Greenwich after class, and then I am venturing off to Chelsea to see where Mick, Keith, Brian, Marianne and Anita all lived during the sixties in Cheyne Walk. It's sure to be a psychedelic experience. 

I am still in my tourist phase, so of course I had to hit up Big Ben. Besides, any building with gold accents on it has my name written all over it 

How can you not fall in love with a view like that? I swear - every photo that I've taken here looks like a postcard 

I am obsessed with every single building that I see here - there is so much history, so much style with each one

 

Here in the front row wearing the Wayfarers (and awkwardly kneeling in a puddle, as it turned out) is yours truly, with the rest of my study group outside of the Tower of London

I got hit on by the yeoman giving our tour at the Tower of London - he called me Anne Boleyn and proposed marriage to me. Being socially awkward, as I am, I try not to laugh uncomfortably in his face

Here I am with my flatmate and one of my best friends Meg. We're at a bar called 'Rockets' that we somehow ended up at after we decided to go out for a casual drink at a pub (hence our laid-back outfits) - let's just say that we sort of stuck out a bit in the crowd.

Mainly I'm showing this because I love Meg and I am really obsessed with that fur vest right now. It's BB Dakota and it's fabulous