Gender Blender

Fashion Beyond Gender

Category: Life

  • Trip to Vienna #1

    Trip to Vienna #1

    Taking advantage of the fact that the global situation with the corona virus pandemic did not add to much travel during the summer, we visited Vienna twice and once Venice to see and experience these iconic places without hordes of tourists. We have already written about a trip to Venice here, and this is an article from the first trip.

    As always, enjoy, comment, share, and if you don’t want to miss something, sign up. 📧 😘

    Breakfast at Café Central

    Because we lived in a hotel across the street, we went to the amazing Café Central for breakfast everyday. Be sure to try Klassisches Wiener Frühstück with Wiener Melange Kaffe („Viennese style coffee“, espresso infused with hot water and frothed milk), and enjoy its amazing atmosphere packed with history.

    The café was opened in 1876, and in the late 19th century it became a key meeting place of the Viennese intellectual scene. Key regulars included: Peter Altenberg, Theodor Herzl, Alfred Adler, Egon Friedell, Hugo von Hofmannsthal, Anton Kuh, Adolf Loos, Leo Perutz, Robert Musil, Stefan Zweig, Alfred Polgar, Adolf Hitler, and Leon Trotsky. In January 1913 alone, Josip Broz Tito, Sigmund Freud, and Trotsky (the latter being regular) were patrons of the establishment.

    The Secession Building

    The Secession Building is an exhibition hall in Vienna, Austria. It was completed in 1898 by Joseph Maria Olbrich as an architectural manifesto for the Vienna Secession, a group of rebel artists that seceded from the long-established fine art institution.

    Stefanplatz and surroundings

    Originally only half the size the square was expanded when a row of houses separating it from Stock-im-Eisen-Platz, today the two areas are considered one. Outside the original city walls the platz became part of the city in around 1200 but it wasn’t until 1978 with the opening of the U-Bahn station that the square became central to the city.

    The Hundertwasserhaus

    The Hundertwasserhaus in Vienna is a building designed by the artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser and located in the 3rd Viennese district. The extraordinary building was constructed between 1983 and 1985. It was architecturally realized with the collaboration of architect Josef Krawina as co-creator and the implementing architect Peter Pelikan.

    Famous LUGECK | Figlmüller Vienna schnitzel

    Unfortunately, the traditionally renowned Figlmüller restaurant was closed due to a pandemic, but its Viennese schnitzel was served in the LUGECK restaurant a few meters away. And as usual, Michaela and I had one serving in half. Be sure not to miss this experience when visiting Vienna.

    Long before opening Lugeck, brothers Hans and Thomas Figlmüller took an active interest in Viennese tavern culture. They dusted off and studied their grandmother’s old cookbooks and heavily researched the traditions of Austrian cuisine, as well as the countless taverns, which plated such dishes. With the research done came the idea—revive traditional Viennese cuisine and classic tavern culture at Lugeck.

    The Volksgarten

    The Volksgarten (English: People’s Garden) is a public park in the Innere Stadt first district of Vienna, Austria. The garden, which is part of the Hofburg Palace, was laid out by Ludwig Remy in 1821. The park was built over the city fortifications that were destroyed by Napoleon in 1809. The Volksgarten was opened to the public in 1823.

    Hofburg Palace

    The Hofburg is the official residence and workplace of the President of Austria and was formerly the principal imperial palace of the Habsburg dynasty. It is located in the center of Vienna and was built in the 13th century and expanded several times afterwards. It also served as the imperial winter residence, as Schönbrunn Palace was the summer residence.

    Gerstner K. u. K. Hofzuckerbäcker

    Pleasure on three levels is on offer at Gerstner K. u. K. Hofzuckerbäcker – the Imperial and Royal Court Confectioner – with shop, bar and café-restaurant in the magnificent Palais Todesco near the Vienna State Opera.

    We never miss the opportunity to have their walnut cake here. 🍰

    Evening walk

    And finally a few more photos from the evening walk in Vienna. We went to the LUGECK restaurant again, but this time only for a beer. 🍺

  • Vlasta’s birthday

    Vlasta’s birthday

    Just a few pictures from my birthday. We went out to dinner with the kids yesterday and during the day we walked through Prague, stopped at our favorite restaurants, had some drinks and during the time we exchanged several outfits, as you can see. Michaela baked me Pavlova’s amazing cake, and I got beautiful flowers from her. The last stop was in our favorite restaurant Tiskárna, where we had our wedding reception a year ago.

    Enjoy, comment & register to our blog.

  • Our Wedding One Year Ago

    Our Wedding One Year Ago

    On the occasion of our annual anniversary, we would like to thank to our family and friends for being with us, because without you, it wouldn’t be a D-day that has become unforgettable for us. THANK YOU once again to all who came and enjoyed our special day with us. Pictures are more than words, so enjoy over 400 pics included and feel free to comment. 🙂

    Michaela and Vlasta

    Morning preparation

    Guests Gathering at Church

    Arrival to the Church

    Wedding ceremony

    Joint photography

    Family & Friends Congratulations

    Family & Friends photo

  • Marian column as Sundial

    Marian column as Sundial

    Today was a beautiful warm sunny day in Prague, so we went for a walk to the newly built replica of the original Marian column on the Old Town Square. Column stood here for almost 370 years, and was overthrown by an enraged mob after the declaration of Czechoslovak independence in 1918.

    The Marian Column on the Old Town Square also indicated the local Prague time. Although mechanical clocks date back to the 14th century and the Old Town Astronomical Clock dates back to the early 15th century, their adjustment depended on solar time. Each village had its own time given by the meridian that passed through the village. The line that defined the Prague meridian was marked by three strips of paving stones and headed north from the center of the column.

    After a hundred years of walking around the square without the column, it was no longer clear to many of us why the meridian was marked in the pavement. But with the construction of the replica it became clear. So today we went to see how the column measures noon again. The shadow showed noon thanks to daylight saving time at 12:58 – 2 minutes ahead. 🙂

    Michaela picked for me combination of polka-dot dress with new jacket. We were surprised at how well it matched together. On the way home we stopped at the Swarovski store to look at some bracelets, and then we were glad to relax with cafe in the House of the Black Madonna.

  • Tosca at The State Opera – an opportunity for evening dress

    Tosca at The State Opera – an opportunity for evening dress

    We have seen Tosca at The State Opera yesterday. The performance was breathtaking. And we finally enjoyed the opportunity to wear evening dress. 🙂

    Due to the covid pandemic, the performance was moved from the spring term, and took place in a slightly modified mode. The individual groups of visitors were separated from each other, including separate entrances. We thought for a while if we should go at all, but in the end we were glad we did. Even though the performance was sold out, in the end one third of visitors did not arrive. So even the social distancing was artificially created.

  • New dress, amazing lunch

    New dress, amazing lunch

    Yesterday we went for a walk around Prague, but in the end we did not go very far. Along the way, we came across a shoe store with huge sale, where we spent almost the entire afternoon. This is one of the accompanying phenomena of the ongoing pandemic – almost everything is on sale, almost everything can be bought for 50% or less. The less hilarious part is that it’s almost nowhere to wear. But this is hopefully just a transitional state.

    On the way back home, we stopped at our favorite restaurant Tiskárna for a late lunch. We had a meal that all Czechs from school cafeterias know – dill sauce. One Czech proverb says: “When two do the same thing, it is not always the same”. In this case, it was more true than ever. 🙂

    We had beef in traditional creamy dill sauce, baked potatoes, cured egg yolk, and for dessert we had homemade blueberry ice lolly. The food was, as always, amazing. Pilsner beer here is probably the best beer in the whole of Prague, and the service in the restaurant is excellent, friendly and professional. Definitely worth a visit.

    And one more interesting thing. From the moment we know each other, we have one habit that helps us stay fit. In addition to walking a few kilometers every day. We share the meals in the restaurants. Usually we only have one main course, no appetizers. You wouldn’t believe how little food is enough for us, and how we as people are constantly overeating. And as every girl knows, and the men should know as well – it is not very good for your figure. 😀

  • Wonderful Venice in these extraordinary times

    Wonderful Venice in these extraordinary times

    In these extraordinary times we have decided to visit the wonderful and charming Venice. We did go there because we wanted to take advantage and see the city without tourists. We have been there before and have seen it packed with hordes of them. But this time it was different. We do understand, that for the business are these times difficult, but we think, that it was once in the lifetime opportunity.

    We don’t want to tire you out with the details of our visit, but we thought you might like the photos of our outfits we wore in Venice. Hope you would enjoy it, as we enjoyed the visit.

    Take care, be yourself and don’t waste your time with people who do not deserve it. 🙂

    Vlasta & Michaela

  • Visit to Banksy’s exhibition in Prague

    Visit to Banksy’s exhibition in Prague

    The weather in Prague has been unusually rainy lately, so we took advantage of that, and this weekend Míša, my daughter Mia and I went to an exhibition of street art by Banksy. We were lucky that we didn’t get wet on the way there or back. I wore Desigual dresses and silver Next pumps. Enjoy the pictures as much as we enjoyed the exhibition. 🙂

  • Lets have the pink dress and beer in the harbor

    Lets have the pink dress and beer in the harbor

    It’s finally here, there are open beer gardens in the Czech Republic and we can have a beer. We choose summer clothes, I ignore Vlasta’s remarks that 14 degrees is not enough for a beer outside, that it’s cold. In the end, my enthusiasm wins, we add pantyhose and we are standing in front of the house and it is… COLD. We’re taking the car, so what, a non-alcoholic beer is fine too. A little blueish, but determined. In the half-empty garden we look exotic, not only because of Vlasta’s dress, but because the people around us have winter jackets… 😀

    I capitulate soon. I order mulled wine for me, Vlasta quickly “kicks in” a non-alcoholic beer and we disappear in the car where we get warm. In the end, it’s good at home on Friday too, and we’ve been to the garden before. Hopefully it’s going to be warmer tomorrow, because we would like to go sailing.

  • Unexpected shift – I’m invisible!!!

    Unexpected shift – I’m invisible!!!

    When I’ve met Vlasta I noticed that women’s dresses on him cause a stir everywhere. I mean EVERYWHERE. People were staring at us, taking photos, commenting. And than I suddenly realized:

    I’m invisible!!! 😀 It was a whole new feeling.

    As a girls we’re used to attention. From an early age, the surroundings evaluate us (nice dresses, shoes, hair). But not for boys. They are measured by their actions. He broke it, arranged it, repaired it, invented it. And suddenly it’s different. There is a lot of attention around us, but not on me, on Vlasta! I’ve became used to it. But it’s a completely new experience.

    One story for all. It’s a February night and we’re leaving the dance ball. We’ve decided to walk because we don’t live too far. We both have dresses. It’s three o’clock in the morning, at the National Theater we pass a couple of young and handsome people (boy and girl). The boy suddenly stops and says:

    – “Excuse me, weren’t you at the National Theater at the Ballet Bridges in November?“

    We’re both a little surprised, but we answered unanimously yes. The boy smiled, looked at Vlasta and said:

    – “Blue cocktail dress and brown pumps! Am I right?“

    He was. But no one remembered what I was wearing. We all started laughing and a couple disappeared into the darkness.

    P.S.

    Once, in the morning, we went to work together. Vlasta was exceptionally wearing pants. He looked at me and conspiratorially said:

    – “Now, if they’re staring at us, they’re staring at you“. 😀

    And he was right. I had my attention again. Even though it was so little compared to him wearing dress.

  • Cycling & Beer by the river

    Cycling & Beer by the river

    We fine-tuned our outfits in the morning, so it didn’t look like one was going to the theater and the other for a picnic. The length of the skirts is also important. Finally, Vlasta found a use for his fishnet tights, which I usually smirk at. They look beautiful with a long pleated skirt. Pumps everything fine-tuned. You will definitely agree with me that it is an elegant outfit for a light ride through the city by bike. I’m wearing the same skirt, it’s just gray. We know from experience that we look like fools in exactly the same outfits. 🙂 Our skirts fluttered beautifully, people were amazed and we enjoyed a beautiful sunny day.

  • How do you meet guy like this?

    How do you meet guy like this?

    I.

    Vlasta and I met on a dating site. He was funny, prompt and he hasn’t been “too pushy”, so I wasn’t quite sure of his interest in me. I was more surprised when he invited me to breakfast. He picked my favorite chain of cafes in Prague and left on me the decision to which one I would like to go. It was nice and gallant. At the end of the invitation, he texted me “And don’t forget, I’m little crazy”. I thought it was clear from our conversation, and I was looking forward to the breakfast.

    I arrived a few minutes later, I’m really trying to get on time, but…. You know that. Vlasta was already sitting at the table. I really liked him, tall slim and ….. for God’s sake he’s GOT HIS NAILS PAINTED, neon pink… so, it was a shock. I started looking for a hidden camera in conspicuously. I was wondering if I should leave. In the end, I fell on a chairing fainting, after all, his nails will not spoil my favorite eggs Benedict. And all I was able to do, was to ask “Why?” Vlasta smiled and said to me “Because I like it. And I don’t eat kids”. I didn’t understand how it is related to children and cannibalism. Anyway, I don’t have to understand everything right away, do I? Breakfast was very good. Vlasta was attentive, (brought me glass of water when I started choking on the sandwich) unforced and funny. I think he’s had a good time all along with my “derail”. It was a very nice breakfast … Except for the nails, I’ve never seen a guy wear painted nails, liked it, and wanted to meet a woman. And even though I was in shock, it was clear to me that this guy was really “crazy” and that the nails were just the tip of the iceberg which I could see. When we said good-bye, except that I called all my girlfriends about what kind of crazy guy I met, and it was clear to me, we’re not going to meet again…. Too bad, finally a smart guy who made me laugh. But the NAILS and everything we didn’t talk about…. No, it wasn’t sexy to me.

    II.

    I’m in my car driving to the beach volleyball… late again. My iPhone rings, for me, from incomprehensible reasons I don’t see who’s calling. I was thinking that the guys from beach are nervous where I am – you know they can’t play it in threes. I picked it up and I’m trying to calm the situation down. “Oh, I’m already around the corner”. Silence. And then Vlasta “Hey, I was going to ask you if you would like to go out for a beer, but if you’re around the corner than it’s cool”. He laughed at me. And I figured it out, nails aren’t sexy, but funny guys are. We didn’t go for a beer; I had a beach.

    III.

    I was the one who wrote him. There was an exhibition of Kupka in Prague, it was the event of the year. I really wanted to see it. My kids had a weekend with their father. And somewhere in the back of my head, I felt that see it with Vlasta could be a great experience. He didn’t have time. He had a weekend with the kids. I mean, after all, just with his son, but Vlasta said if I don’t mind, all three of us can have a dinner. I decided to go. Vlasta has great taste in restaurants. I almost late again, because he kept writing what I was going to wear. I’ve never been asked by a guy before a date what I’m going to wear. 😊. Even I have no idea what I’m going to wear, and I change my mind several times. “I am decided” I wrote him “I’ve got it, I’m going to wear pants, feel free to wear a skirt”. And I had no doubt he’d wear it. He did. We went to the exhibition the next day with his son.

    We were circling around each other in next months, and I had a lot of questions and a lot of doubts. And I’m sure Vlasta too. But we never stopped laughing together since that date, and I’ve never regretted it.

    Vlasta and Michaela