For most of my adult life I've always been between a size 10 and 12. But after having two babies only 18 months apart in age (the oldest being 1 and a half), my size these days is between a 14 and a 16. This is a really strange size to be. Technically you are definitely in plus size range, but you can still shop at "normal" stores. Things often don't fit right. Forget about button up blouses (at least any with a feminine cut) or anything a-line or tight around the hips. This summer I want to loose some weight. It will definitely be a challenge because I just don't diet; I'd rather be pleasantly plump then give up butter and chocolate. I also don't really like sport, or at least any that requires you to actually sweat. However, I am starting to eat more in moderation and have discovered how much I love yoga, so there is definitely hope. If I do loose the weight I'm definitely going to treat myself to some fabulous vintage shopping. Here are a few things I would buy in a flash if I were 25 pounds lighter:
Vintage 1970s Mini Black Wrap Dress (I love, love, love this one!) from bO Mode
Vintage 1970s Pleated Dress and Vintage 1950s Magenta Silk Dress, both from Nod to Mod Vintage.
Vintage 1950s Lace Skirt and Vintage 1950s Dress, both from 13 Bees. Actually, I'd have to loose a lot more than 25 pounds to fit into the dress as it is a size xs/s, but it looks a lot like a black, less swanky version of this dress worn by Peggy Lee as she sings Why Don't You Do Right? How cool is that!
Any guidebook to Berlin is going to mention the flea markets that happen all around the city, mainly on the weekends and also sometimes during the week (here is a link to a list of each and every market, where they are run and their exact hours of operation. God bless German efficiency!) What are maybe less known to people from outside the city are the Troedellaeden (junk shops) that are scattered throughout each neighborhood. Though you can get vintage housewares, home decor and occasionally also jewelry, I personally think what they are best for is furniture.
My favorite Troedellaeden are the six or so lining Flughafenstrasse in Neukölln (U-7 Rathhaus Neukölln, between Karl Marx Strasse and Hermannstrasse). Basically each of these shops is a two to four bedroom ground floor apartment that is literally stacked floor to ceiling with tables, chairs, sofas, desks, you name it. Of course, a lot of it is pretty banged up, but their is still plenty of goodies to be found for an ever patient thrifting huntress. Most of the shop owners are likely to be male (German, Turkish or Arab), in their early 60s, reek of cigar smoke and probably speak little to no English but then it wouldn't be a true junk shop if anyone else were to run it.
Flughafenstrasse is far off the Kreuzkölln path (the area of Neukölln that has since become hip, though when I lived there five years ago it was basically a rat hole...) and is definitely not gentrified so you are also more likely to make a bargain. One of the shops, Trödel Klaus, even has a website which you can visit by clicking here.
I'm sure I'm not the only woman who thinks pink is grossly underrated. Perhaps it has been ruined for some many women by the legions of little girls between the ages of 2 and 10 who have pink dresses, pink bicycles, pink hair ribbons, pink pencils.... Once you reach a certain age, you can no longer even stand the idea of it. But maybe April is the month to re-think pink. What greater way to feel fresh and feminine this spring. Here are some lovely vintage goodies I recently found in this most delicate of colors.
Vintage 1950s Cardigan in Blushing Rose (XL), $56. Available at the ever-fabulous Small Earth Vintage Eros Pink Cut Out Dress (S), $55. Available at Capricious Traveler
Vintage 1980s Pink Leather Pumps, (Size 8.5/German 39), $34. Available at Dear Golden Vintage
Vintage 1960s Bubblegum Pink Dress (L XL), $29. Available at Curious Knopf
etween a 14 and a 16. This is a really strange size to be. Technically you are definitely in plus size range, but you can still shop at "normal" stores. Things often don't fit right. Forget about button up blouses (at least any with a feminine cut) or anything a-line or tight around the hips. This summer I want to loose some weight. It will definitely be a challenge because I just don't diet; I'd rather be pleasantly plump then give up butter and chocolate. I also don't really like sport, or at least any that requires you to actually sweat. However, I am starting to eat more in moderation and have discovered how much I love yoga, so there is definitely hope. If I do loose the weight I'm definitely going to treat myself to some fabulous vintage shopping. Here are a few things I would buy in a flash if I were 25 pounds lighter:
