I N T E R I O R / Old CDs as Mirrored Coasters

Instead of throwing away those old CDs and DVDs, I use them as coasters. While cleaning out old and damaged discs, I didn't want to throw away these iridescent and mirrored objects. They catch the light so beautifully when they are lying on the glass table holding a glass of water and the sun shines on them through the window. It is one of those little things that I can immensely enjoy.

A C C E S S O R I E S / Elevated Birks

Adding something rarely results in something that is better. Though this elevated take on the Arizona Birkenstock might be an exception. The platform gives you just a tiny bit of extra height and literally lifts the entire sandal to a new level. Also like that the hardware is white and visually blends in with the white leather. Will not wait for better weather to wear these.

got them here
(also come in black)

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

B E A U T Y / 'Stories Cosmetics

You might have already heard that &OtherStories is opening a store in Amsterdam this fall on Heiligeweg. What might still be a little underrated about them is their cosmetics department. It is great. There is just so much effort in it; from the scents to the colors matching their clothes and don't get me started on the graphic design on their packaging, I love the simplicity of it. Another great thing is that they take some responsibility for the environment; most of the packaging is fully recyclable and if you bring back your empty make up/skincare packaging to the store, you get a 10% discount off your next beauty purchase.

When visiting them in Stockholm last October for the Co-Creatives project, I got a box filled with their skin care products. These are my three favorites, very happy about having them available closer to home soon.

/ Moiré Anti stress serum
My favorite thing about it is its fresh, unisex, clean laundry type of smell. Has a really smooth consistency and is absorbed quickly into the skin.

/ White nail polish
Applies like a dream, hardly leaves any streaks and has great coverage. Two things that are extremely rare in white nail polish. Though it chips of quite quickly, so you have to apply a good quality top coat over it to keep your nails white for a couple of days.

/ Plush Balm
Super rich, fragrance and paraben free lip balm. I've also been using it on my hands (which can get so dry in winter) a couple of times when I had no cream in my purse.

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

N O V E L T Y / Jef Montes Ritualistic First Show 'Illuminosa'

Attending the Jef Montes show at Vodafone Firsts Fashion Lab was like attending a ritual from another planet.

The image of a burning communion candle appears behind the runway. The first girl comes out, holding two blue tubes in her hands like candles and steadily walks down the runway to a slow beat. Halfway she suddenly, yet slowly turns around the tubes and blue ink starts pouring out over her chest, staining the white gauze dress and leaving a blood like trail behind on the runway (see video!). The following models step through the ink, staining the bottom of their gowns and shoes and spreading the blue fluid.

Dripping wet hair and bleached brows. The blue fiberglass pieces are so shiny and smooth in the way they move that they seem liquid. The references to traditional catholicism and this high tech futuristic outcome. Hearing Jef explain all his hard work and thoughts behind it personally (little details like; embroideries are on the left side because that's where your heart is), and seeing the finished product of his ideas right next to him was incredibly moving.

The amount of techniques, the extensive fabric researching that has gone into this collection blew my mind. Fiberglass weavings, burnt silk to create a pattern, steaming and heating synthetics to make the fabric bulge and appear wet, tiny tiny beaded details, hand painted fiberglass panels, wool binded to fiberglass just to name a few things. No matter how many backstage pictures, ultra close ups or live videos you show, there is nothing like seeing these couture pieces in real life. Kudos to Jef.

/ thanks to Vodafone
/ backstage photos by Romeo

D I Y / Two Way Minimalistic Pouch

The instagrammers among us already know that last week I've been making little paper samples of pouches and bags. Products that allow different interpretations are always my favorites, and so was this simplistic idea for a bag. You can actually wear this clutch/pouch three ways; with your hand through the slit, holding the pouch like on picture two and the third; putting your arm through it like a sleeve.

/ 1.
The pattern of this little bag is extremely simple, by looking at the images I'm sure you'll figure it out. Decide how large you want the clutch to be. Mutliply the height of the clutch times 3, this will be the length of your pattern. Add 5 cm more cm to this length to give extra space to for the overlapping flap. Add 10 cm (5cm on each side) to the width of your clutch. Then cut off 5 cm from each side for the first two thirds of this length on both sides. It should now look like image number four.
/ 2.
You'll pattern consists of two parts; the narrow longer rectangle. And the larger front flap which will also serve as a closure with its slit. The large front flap needs to be extra stiff to keep the bag in shape, and it should look the same on the inside and out. Therefor, glue a rectangular piece of the same material on the inside of the flap. Put a couple of heavy books on top so it dries in a very flat way. Cut a slit that is exactly as wide as the narrow part of the bag 10 cm from the edge of the front flap.
/ 3.
Fold over the long narrow part and sew it together on both sides, creating a little pouch. Pull the pouch through the slit and you're done!

need/
/ superglue
/ sewing machine / needle thread
/ a stiff material, eg. leather, faux leather, neoprene, thick vinyl