MOVING / Hello New Love Aesthetics

It has been exactly 6 years since I wrote my first post on Love Aesthetics and my digital brainchild was born. It is the project I've been involved in for the longest amount of time in my life. My blog has lasted longer than high school. Though Love Aesthetics has slowly been growing into a thing on its own and has outgrown the format of just a blog.

Thank you all for reading and being with me all these years. The best thing about running this blog has been meeting so many of you talented readers and making a lot of new friends. There is a Dutch expression 'stok achter de deur' which literally translates into 'stick behind the door', which means a threat in the most positive sense of the word, an extra motivation for doing something. So thank you all for stopping by each time (and leaving all the lovely comments, I've read each single one of them), you have been my 'stick behind the door' to update Love Aesthetics, to keep the ideas coming and to push myself to deliver better quality each time. I can honestly say that I love you!

Please do come and take a look at our new digital place! There are a lot of new updates waiting!
I've been working hard on it the last month together with Fleur Glansbeek and can not be more excited to finally invite you over!








/ NEW WEBSITE !
http://LOVE-AESTHETICS.nl

W E A R I N G / Hiding In Big Bombers, Reading Mykromag

You might have seen some of these images last week on Vogue.nl already, but this mag and this gigantic bomber are too good to not share here too.

I can comfortably live in big bombers, like this enormous silk one. They are like a counterweight to ladylike tailored trousers and high heels and make the best little tents to hide in on airports. Where I spend quite a few hours last week.

Luckily the day before, Sonny Groo just handed me the newest issue of his fantastic Mykromag. It is bundle of interviews and every time the Myrkomag team manages to talk to the most interesting people from the industry. So don't expect standard Q&A's; If you read this magazine it feels like you're listening in on personal conversations. (Available at Athenaeum Amsterdam and Colette Paris)

sweater: Uniqlo
trousers: COS
Silk bomber: vintage
bag: c/o backstage
pouch: Jil Sander
notebook: Moleskine
Magazine: Mykromag

W E A R I N G / Under Construction Dress

I've been working on perfecting the cut of this dress, it's getting pretty close but it's not there yet. It's a bit of a 2.0 version of a dress I made for Paris last summer. Although it still needs some work I couldn't resist wearing this little sample yesterday. Testing it out for a couple of hours even gave me some more new insights on how to improve it even more.

dress: Ivania Carpio
trainers: Nike Cortez
bag: &OtherStories

W E A R I N G / Athletic

The little pile of athletic wear is a full member of my wardrobe. The clothes on that pile get picked just as often as any other pile. Besides being worn for their intended purpose, my running tights are worn for everyday. If you have seen me out dancing, big chance that I was wearing my running gear. I love the actual sports elements (not sports inspired) in these tights and there is just something about them that makes you want to move.

tee: COS
coat: made by me
leggings: Nike
sandals: Topshop
pouch: Jil Sander

W E A R I N G / Spring Means No Pants

Spring is here! Which means no pants.
My legs got to see daylight for the first time in 2014 much earlier than expected. And even though I utterly enjoy waking up to the sound of birds, seeing blossoms on the trees and enjoying a 15°C sunny day, a worrying feeling that there is something very wrong overshadows it all, there hasn't been a winter, it's full on spring in February; we're witnessing climate change.

jacket: Muji
sweatshirt: Uniqlo
slit skirt: &OtherStories (similar)
bag: &OtherStories
shoes: Weekday
glasses: Sunbuddies

W E A R I N G / Logomania + Joining Dutch Vogue

/ As of today, I am officially a member of team Dutch Vogue! It was an absolute honor to be asked to join their digital team and contribute to the site every week with some snapshots of what I'm wearing. These images are from my first post, and here's my introduction interview. Thank you for the warm welcome Vogue!

I don't really pay attention to sizes; in my wardrobe you'll find enormous grandpa coats, shirts from the kids department and also these trousers in size 44(literally ten sizes too big). I found them at COS and saw the possibilities; with two small adjustments it has become an oversized, asymmetric pair of wrap trousers. Wore it them with my vintage Calvin Klein tee, which makes it all look so nineties-logomania and loud that the outfit didn't need much else of anything.

tee: vintage Calvin Klein
trousers: altered COS
sandals: Topshop

W E A R I N G / Short Hair and Long Coat

Chopped off quite some centimeters off my hair, it has been hovering around shoulder length for years and this is the first time it reaches a bit above the shoulder. Main reason was to keep it healthy so I was sad to see a bit of length go, but now I like it more than expected (and luckily it is still just long enough to be tucked into my coats and jackets).

Making this turtleneck box top is what kept me up two nights ago. I found a really nice mesh which is more like a fine square gauze than it is a fabric which was perfect for these boxy stiff garments.

coat: COS(old, similar)
mesh turtleneck: made by me
trousers: thrifted
trainers:Nike Air Max 1 glow in the dark
bag: DIY

W E A R I N G / Last Year In London

A time when everyone just happens to be in the same place at the same time. And everyone tries to cram in as many meetings, appointments, shows and events as possible in only a few days. That's fashion week. The schedules of the shows have just been released and the planning has begun. I'm planning to keep it calm, I've never been a fan of the madness and always only go to the events of the people and brands that I love. Nonetheless, it still takes quite some emailing, calling to make it all work.

While I'll spend my day puzzling away with the agenda, here's are some pictures from last year, February 2013 at London Fashion week taken by Claudiu Berechet for an interview with Stylefan.

bomber: Filippa K
trousers: H&M
nose piece: Maison Margiela
dress worn as top: American Apparel

W E A R I N G / Cut-Off Trousers = New Opportunities

Quite a chunk has been chopped off my recently thrifted trousers (before). The fact that a pair of perfectly fitting trousers is such a rare thing, had me doubting to work them with my scissors. Yesterday I finally trimmed off about about 20cm. Their new length creates a completely different silhouette and a lot of footwear-sock-layering opportunities. In all honesty, I was wearing my air max with these socks instead of these sandals. But you can count on it, when spring comes I'll be flip-flopping all over the place.

trousers: thrifted
sweatshirt: T by Alexander Wang (on sale here)
socks: Asos
sandals: DIY

W E A R I N G / Lazy Weekend Attire

One of those stay at home Saturdays, when it doesn't really matter what you wear, heating is on and there are no weather-related wardrobe requirements. Might as well wear that impossible dress that never gets to see any daylight.

Made this piece for NYE, but can't think of another occasion to wear it again before summer yet I love it so much. It is exactly the dress that I always hope to find when thrifting; one that might have a history of 1995 cocktail parties. Unfortunately I haven't found that fantasy yet, so I had to make it myself. Though it looks like the simplest design it must have been the most confusing dress that I've ever made; Folded the thin white fabric twice horizontally and vertically, making some cutouts and stitches, folding it back the other way around to finally make it come together by adding a leather string.

Dressed it down with an oversized hoodie and a pair of trainers and no mascara, though coincidentally these are all elements of the the typical lazy-weekend dress code, this time I also deliberately chose them to underdress this dress.

x ivania carpio

dress: self made
hoodie: boyfriend's

W E A R I N G / Miniature

What the kid was wearing yesterday was way more interesting than my comfy Sunday attire. Lois' new monochromatic Air Max trainers looked fantastic with her silk column dress I made for her earlier.

Dress: made by mama
Trainers: Nike Air Max 90 (your size)

W E A R I N G / Quick Christmas update / hope no one is reading this

Hope that everyone got what they wanted for Christmas, is surrounded by friends and family and is eating lots of delicious food instead of reading this blog post. But for the ones who are working, for some reason can't be with their friends, that is totally fine as well. Tradition says we all MUST be have a fantastic time, look great, be perfect, have the perfect gifts on the 25th and 26th of December. If all those things aren't happening on these exact dates, who cares? There is no reason for it not to come together on any other random day of the year.

A reduced wardrobe is finally starting to pay off, in time. I got dressed in under 15 minutes, and have a spare half our for this quick update. Now off to a get myself into a food coma. Merry-whatever everyone!

dress: Cheap Monday (old) (similar)
necklace: &Other Stories (old)
bracelet: thrifted

W E A R I N G / See Through Coat

Have been eyeing this long, matte, plastic coat for -literally- years. But for some reason, every time I go into a Muji I become completely obsessed by all the stationary and forget about the rain coat. While visiting my mom in Germany last week, I made a special stop at their Dusseldorf store to finally pick it up. The rainy weather made sure I didn't forget about it this time.

Though I'm not only wearing it specifically for the weather it was made for as you can see, I like how the futuristic frosted plastic adds a bit of high tech to a simple jeans and sweatshirt and creates so much visual depth. One honest little negative point on it though; after using it a couple of times the plastic becomes scratched and wrinkled and doesn't stay as smooth as when it was fresh out of the package.

An entirely different subject; the rare winter sun. So lucky to have caught a glimpse of it. The light at this time of year is so different because of the low position of the sun; magical colorful sunsets, warm light and elongated shadows.

rain coat: Muji
jeans: Acne
mock neck sweatshirt: Uniqlo
heels: Tibi
bag: 3.1 Phillip Lim

W E A R I N G / Shades Of White

One of those thrift finds that doesn't need any adjustments, is not missing any buttons, is not stained and don't even have a funny secondhand smell. I asked myself if anyone has ever worn these trousers at all or if they have just been lying forgotten in the back of someone's closet since the late 80's. I got them for only € 3 at Think Twice, a vintage shop in Antwerp.

bomber: Weekday
trousers: vintage (similar)
iPhone case: Pantone
pouch: Jil Sander
trainers: glow in the dark Air Max 1 (also comes in Thea)

W E A R I N G / Everyday

Like being wrapped in a cozy thick blanket, is what wearing this coat feels like. I wore it to Antwerp earlier this week, where the backpack I designed for Eastpak Artist studio was launched(more on that soon). This outfit isn't more more than a compilation of basics; jeans, tee, sneakers. But so incredibly comfortable for going about the city that it's the second time I wear this exact combination in one week.

Coat: Vintage (similar, similar)
Jeans: Cheap Monday
Shoes: Glow in the dark Nike Air Max 1 (also comes in Air Max Thea)
Necklace: &OtherStories

W E A R I N G / Underdressing

Underdressing/dressing down this feminine and somewhat exposing high slit skirt with a loose sweatshirt, a saggy ponytail and my new cortez trainers.

/ Just found out that Love Aesthetics was nominated for the Vixen award of best international blog, what an honor! If you have 30 spare seconds you can vote for my blog here. ♥

sweatshirt: courtesy of Shalowww
shoes: Nike Cortez
skirt: Asos (similar)
bag: &OtherStories

L I F E / 'Beach Walk'

A ‘Beach Walk’ along the concrete docks of the Amsterdam harbor. We find the docklands most enchanting during the gloomy autumn and winter months, when the sea looks almost black and the skies are grey. The air here is salty, fresh, clean and cold, yet sometimes there is a vague industrial smell of gasoline and iron that passes you by.

Our friends at Margiela asked Romeo and me to send in an image of our favorite memories corresponding to one of the fragrances in the Replica line. These scents instantly evoke images and impressions and force lingering memories of touch, taste and smell, taking you back to a certain time and place. With contributions of artists from all over the world they will be creating a database of memories, a collective work art that is now on display at Galerie Philppe Jousse in Paris and the Replica tumblr.

W E A R I N G / In Between Buildings

When I talk about clothes it sometimes sounds like I'm talking about buildings; the technicalities, the structural elements are very alike to me. I love large oversized pieces as long as they have a clear shape; like these culottes (Navy! I was feeling quite colorful), which are really comfortable and loose but still fall into a beautiful straight, square column-shape.

bomber:Weekday (similar,similar)
top: American Apparel
trousers: Asos
sandals: courtesy of Unif

W E A R I N G / Pebbled Leather Skirt

A-line silhouettes usually aren't really my thing, they make me feel uncomfortable girly. Though this skirt is an exception; it is boxy, stiff and doesn't flow around. It is made out of a really nice elephant-pebbled material that reminds me of Alexander Wang bags, and it happens to just match the leather that I used on making the slide sandals.

COS magazine is looking better than ever. Last season I was too late and did not manage to get an issue, for the first time in probably 4 years. It is so disappointing to have a gap in my collection! Job van Bennekom and Gert Jonkers are the very best magazine creators around if you ask me. Fantastic Man and The Gentlewoman are the only magazines I look forward to buying.

crop longsleeve: hema (similar)
faux leather skirt: Asos
slide sandals: DIY
COS magazine

W E A R I N G / Contrast

Last week I took out my old dark purple and black lipsticks. Really liked that such a small detail can add so much contrast. Though it was fun for a little while, I'm back to my trusty pale pinks and nudes again.

coat: made by me
tee: COS
sandals: DIY
jeans: Cheap Monday bag: Danielle Foster x Charlie May