BLACK IS BACK

Dresses are my all-time favourites and after our very long winter, I am wearing them as much as I can.
I have bought more colourful garments recently but I will never give up my love for black.
As a bonus, black & white is one of the major trends this season!

Last week I took my mum out for a nice shopping afternoon and when we saw this dress with its white lace prints on both sides, it was her who said "This is made for you!"
The prints on both sides of the black middle part create a nice shape which is not a disadvantage ;-)
Especially when it comes to fitted dresses, I now rather buy one size bigger for the sake of the proper length and the perfect fit which I can have adjusted by my seamstress if necessary. 

This is what I call "age appropriate" - it doesn't mean you can't wear short or fitted dresses but the perfect fit as well as the right accessories are even more important when you get older.

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Ich liebe Kleider und gerade jetzt, nach unserem viel zu langen Winter, trage ich sie so oft es geht.
In letzter Zeit habe ich mich zwar für mehr Farbe in meinem Kleiderschrank entschieden, aber meine Liebe für Schwarz bleibt bestehen.
Dass Schwarz & Weiß einer der aktuellen Frühjahrstrends ist, kommt mir nur zugute!

Kürzlich war ich mit meiner Mama shoppen und als wir dieses Kleid sahen, war sie es, die sofort sagte "Das steht Dir!"
Der Spitzendruck auf beiden Seiten des schwarzen Mittelteils formt die Figur schön, was mir besonders gut gefällt. Ich kaufe jetzt bei schmal geschnittenen Kleidern lieber eine Nummer größer, einerseits stimmt dann die Länge und andererseits kann ich es bei Bedarf immer noch von meiner Schneiderin etwas in der Taille abnähen lassen.

Das verstehe ich unter "altersgerechter Mode" - es heißt nicht, dass wir plötzlich keine kurzen oder engen Kleider mehr tragen können, sondern die perfekte Passform, Länge und die richtigen Accessoires sind wichtiger denn je!

Dress H+M
Blazer Mango | similar here | similar here
 Sandals Wallis | similar here
Clutch Accessorize | similar here | similar here
Jewellery old | similar arm cuff here

Just before I uploaded this post, I received a lovely email from Anne of Spy Girl who surprised me with this amazing artwork! She picked my floral prints look which I wore in my guest post on Whitley's The Queen City Style for her Digital Catwalk.

Anne, you really made my day, thank you so much!!

Please visit Anne's blog Spy Girl to see more of her fabulous sketches.

I am linking up with Patti over at Not Dead Yet Style for her Visible Monday series.

Please pay her blog on how to look authentic and beautiful in our middle years a visit.

FLORAL PRINTS VISIT THE QUEEN CITY STYLE

I am so excited about the collaboration with my fabulous blogger friend Whitley of The Queen City Style

Today my journey here on Lady of Style is taking me from Germany across the North Atlantic over to Charlotte, NC, also known as the Queen City. Isn't that a fantastic name also for Whitley's great blog?

Besides being a personal fashion blogger, Whitley loves great style in all things; clothing, home decor, nature, aesthetics of any kind. And if that's not enough, she has a lovely family, is a keen runner (congrats on her personal record in the half-marathon last weekend, that's amazing!) but also started her own personal styling business and very soon her new website will be online.

Now I would like to invite you over to The Queen City Style to check out my full spring floral prints outfit with lots of photos!

Ich bin stolz und freue mich so über meine Zusammenarbeit mit meiner wunderbaren Bloggerfreundin Whitley!

Meiner neuer post reist heute nämlich über den Atlantik nach Charlotte, North Carolina, auch "The Queen City" genannt. Dies ist auch der passende Name für Whitley's Blog The Queen City Style

Whitley, ebenso begeisterte Fashion Bloggerin wie ich, hat kürzlich ihr eigenes Business als persönliche Stilberaterin gestartet und in Kürze geht ihre neue Website online.
Wie sie es daneben noch schafft, gerade eben mit persönlicher Bestleistung einen Halbmarathon zu absolvieren und viel Zeit für ihre Familie aufzubringen, ist bewundernswert, aber Whitley ist einfach ein Energiebündel!

Hier geht es nonstop zu meinem neuen Frühjahrsoutfit mit noch viel mehr "floral prints" Fotos und Stylings auf The Queen City Style

Trousers H+M Lana del Rey | Blazer H+M | Lingerie Top 3Suisses
Pumps H+M | Jewellery vintage | Bag old from Thailand

BLUE BY WALLIS

Finally spring! No more tights, no more coats but bare legs (which still need some suntan!) and dresses.
I love dresses, they are so easy to wear and style.

Recently I discovered Wallis for me because they have a great selection, good quality at very reasonable prices. Many of their dresses are around knee length which is perfect for me. They also have fabulous shoes by the way...

Styling this jersey dress is so effortless. I love its silky fabric and the little silver neck bar. I have chosen my new navy peep toes which have a little bow on top plus some silver jewellery and a nude cross shoulder bag... that's it!

I am excited to guest post over at Whitley's fabulous blog The Queen City Style later this week! Make sure to come back - it will be about the floral spring trend styled my personal way!

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Endlich Frühling, ich kann es noch immer nicht glauben, obwohl ich gerade dabei bin, meine dicken Wintersachen in den Keller zu räumen um Platz für meine Frühjahrsgarderobe zu machen.
Zeit für Kleider und nackte Beine... die zwar durchaus noch etwas Sonne vertragen, aber was soll's?

Vor einiger Zeit habe ich mein Faible für Wallis entdeckt - die Auswahl, der Stil, ideale Kleider- und Rocklängen sowie tolle Schuhe zu günstigen Preisen haben mich überzeugt. Der einzige Nachteil ist, dass Rücksendungen portopflichtig sind - im Vergleich zu anderen online shops in UK sollte das schnellstens geändert werden!

Dieses Jerseykleid trägt sich so angenehm, ich habe es mit meinen neuen dunkleblauen Peeptoes, Silberschmuck und einer nudefarbenen kleinen Tasche kombiniert - fertig!

Im Laufe der Woche werdet Ihr mich auch auf Whitley's fantastischem Blog The Queen City Style finden, wo ich einen der Frühjahrstrends vorstellen werden: Floral prints.

Disclaimer: 

This post has not been sponsored by Wallis but if they wish doing so in future, I'd be more than happy!

Dress Wallis on sale | Peeptoes Wallis on sale 

Bag H+M similar | Bracelet MANGO on sale | Necklace and earrings old

Blue by Wallis von annette-ladyofstyle

I am linking up with Patti over at Not Dead Yet Style for her Visible Monday series.

Please pay her blog on how to look authentic and beautiful in our middle years a visit.

OFFICE OUTFIT

"You work in a very corporate environment so a certain standard of dressing is expected of you. Yet your outfits are not conventionally corporate. How do you go about finding the right balance? What do you think are the elements of a good work outfit?"

These are questions from the style interview I did over at Sylvia's 40+Style last week.
Read the full interview here.

I would like to take the opportunity and thank my lovely readers for all your wonderful comments on 40+Style or here on my blog. Every single reader and comment is very special for me and you really touched me. 
Thank you ever so much!
 
Today I would like to give you an example of a typical office outfit. Not especially dressed up for a high ranking visitor yet prepared for any short notice meeting.

Dark blue trousers and top paired with a soft pink blazer plus shoes and accessories in various shades of rose and pink. The silky scarf adds a little extra colour.
Very easy, isn't it?

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Letzte Woche stellte mir Sylvia von 40+Style in meinem Style Interview unter anderem Fragen zu meiner Bürokleidung. Hier könnt Ihr das ganze Interview nachlesen.

Ich möchte mich ganz herzlich für Eure wunderbaren Kommentare bedanken. Ich bin überwältigt und versichere Euch, dass jede einzelne Leserin und Nachricht etwas ganz besonderes für mich ist und ich mich unglaublich darüber gefreut habe!
Danke.

Zum Thema Bürokleidung möchte ich Euch gerne ein Beispiel geben - dies hatte ich heute genau so im Büro an. Es stand nichts besonderes an, kein hochrangiger Besuch, aber dennoch muss ich jederzeit kurzfristig für eine Besprechung oder einen internationalen Gast vorbereitet sein.

Zu einer dunkelblauen Hose mit Top trage ich einen Blazer (gehört zu einem Kostüm) in zartem rosé, dazu farblich passende Schuhe und Accessoires in rosé und pink. Der kräftige Schal setzt noch einen extra Farbtupfer.

It was cloudy when we took the photos, we waited a bit, one minute sunshine, then rain. Guess what happened after we finished the shoot...? Of course, the sun came out!
But the forecast promises sunshine all day next weekend and temperatures up to 22C!!!

Today I received a delivery from Wallis and can't wait to show you my new dress and peeptoes...

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Als wir die Fotos gemacht haben, war es bewölkt. Wir haben gewartet, Sonne raus, Sonne weg, Regentropfen... als wir fertig waren und ich mich an die Fotoauswahl setzte, kam natürlich die Sonne raus!
Aber endlich verspricht der Wetterbericht Frühling und Temperaturen bis 22C am Sonntag!

Dann kann ich Euch auch meine neuesten Errungenschaften von Wallis vorstellen, die Lieferung kam heute an...

Trousers H+M | Shirt H+M | Blazer H+M

Shoes 5th Avenue by Deichmann | Necklace and Bracelets H+M

Scarf H+M | Bag MANGO

Except some crocuses there aren't any flowers out yet in my garden. But I wanted to show you these lovely Christmas roses [helleborus niger] which even grow underneath the snow!

40+STYLE INTERVIEW

Sylvia of 40+Style invited me to answer some style questions for her community.
I felt very honoured and happily shared my opinions and personal style ideas with Sylvia and her readers. Thank you so much, Sylvia!

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Sylvia von 40+Style fragte mich kürzlich, ob ich für ihre Leserinnen Fragen zu meinem persönlichen Stil beantworten würde. Das Angebot habe ich natürlich sehr gerne angenommen. Herzlichen Dank, Sylvia!



"I only recently got introduced to Annette, which is not surprising since her blog “Lady of Style’ has only been around for 3 months. Since that time though, she has uploaded many inspring outfits which stand out because of their sophistication and elegance, yet also have a young and hip vibe. Perfect for many women over 40.

Add to that that she mainly shops in mainstream stores, which highlights that you do not need a big budget to look corporate and chic, yet modern and hip. All good reasons to have a chat with her so we can find out about all her style secrets!"

 

Please head over to the full interview here
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Hier könnt Ihr das vollständige Interview lesen:
 

"How to look sophisticated and corporate yet modern and hip:

Style lessons from Annette"

 

40+Style offers style ideas, how to dress and beauty information for women over 40. My name is Sylvia and I’m a 45 year old Dutch woman, living in Singapore and this is my fashion blog.

My mission is to show that you can look gorgeous and experiment with styles and fashion at any age. It’s all about having fun with style and fashion!

Too often we get too worried about our wrinkled face, heavier bodies or loosening skin. Having fun with hair and makeup, fashion and new styles can help to make you look better, but also feel more confident and happy.

Looking good and being stylish is not so much about money, the figure you have or how old you are. It’s about dressing to your strengths, knowing your body type, and knowing and embracing your unique style.

I hope to help you in your quest to find your own style, dress to your strengths, look fabulous and embrace your age. You can start by reading all the articles on the site, or join our style forum and ask questions. If you are in Singapore you can also use my personal shopping and personal stylist services.

I believe that if you have fun with style and fashion and feel good about yourself and the way you look, you will feel great and so much happier! 

If you like to know more then you can read this article on why I setup 40PlusStyle.com.

IN LOVE WITH LEOPARD... AGAIN

I love animal prints. And I love dresses. This is a perfect combination for me. I found this shift dress on sale and I am really impressed with its quality and fit. A jacket is a must as spring still hasn't arrived and my ZARA blazer (seen here) matches really well. Admittedly, I only took it off for the photos!

As previously mentioned, I don't like tights at all but German weather unfortunately still doesn't allow me to wear bare legs yet (really wish I could all year round!) so here they are again... hopefully for the last time! Finally the weather forcast is promising warmer temperatures for next week, I can't believe it! Sunshine on my face, sun tan on my pale legs, no more tights, trousers and boots, planting some flowers on my terrace... oh yes, please!

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Ich mag Leoprints. Und ich liebe Kleider. Also ist das hier die perfekte Kombination.
Dieses leicht stretchige Etuikleid habe ich im Sale gekauft und bin von Qualität und Schnitt wirklich überzeugt. Ohne Jacke geht es leider aufgrund der Temperaturen noch nicht, aber mein ZARA Blazer, den ich bereits hier getragen habe, passt doch perfekt dazu, oder? Nein, ich bin noch nicht ärmellos rumgelaufen, das habe ich nur für's Foto und Euch getan :-)

Wie schon früher erwähnt, kann ich Strumpfhosen nicht ausstehen, aber leider muss auch das wieder sein (ganz entgegen meiner persönlichen Regel - keine Strümpfe und Socken von April bis Oktober, das liegt in der Familie!) und heute hoffentlich zum letzten Mal.
Ich kann es noch gar nicht glauben, aber der Wetterbericht kündigt ja nun endlich wärmere Temperaturen ab Mitte nächster Woche an! Sonne, gebräunte Beine, offene Schuhe, Blumen auf die Terrasse stellen...ja! 

Thank you, danke, Jasmin, for taking my photos today!
My daughter Alena is off to London this week and her friend and photographer kindly offered to step in.

Please check out Alena's and Jasmin's blog FashionFlirt. 

Leopard dress H+M on sale here | Blazer ZARA | Pumps old

Bag present | Bracelet Bijou Brigitte | Earrings MANGO

STYLE OVER 40 SPRING TRENDS WINNERS

The gorgeous Deborah and JoJami of Fabulous after 40 hosted a contest on "Style over 40 Spring Trends".

Fabulous after 40 is a Fashion and Beauty global style hub and social media community dedicated to empowering women 40, 50 to look Stylish and feel Fabulous.
With over 80,000+ Unique visitors a month and  21,000+ members, founders Deborah Boland and JoJami Tyler have created THE place to be for women seeking shopping sources, exclusive deals, trends, beauty news, and personal connection with other like minded fashionistas.

10 winners were chosen based on the number of repins each collage garnered. The pins that were most popular with Pinterest followers were the ultimate winners.

I feel honoured and proud to have been selected a couple of times by their readers and made it 2nd, 6th, 7th and 8th place.

Thank you so much and congrats to all other winners and especially the winner of 1st place!

See the sping collages I turned in via Polyvore

I have also pinned them along my style inspirations on Pinterest

My Winning Set #2 Floral Prints

Floral prints | Lady of Style von annette-ladyofstyle

My Winning Set #6 Orange Love
 

Orange Love | Lady of Style by annette-ladyofstyle

My Winning Set #7   Nude Laces

Nude Laces | Lady of Style by annette-ladyofstyle

My Winning Set #8   Navy Stripes

Navy Stripes | Lady of Style by annette-ladyofstyle