LOVE AESTHETICS | by Ivania Carpio

ACCESSORIES | Hair-on Leather Purse

2012-02-09T17:22:00.001+01:00

hair on clutch/shoulderbag : courtesy of Shampalove
patent wallet: Comme des Garçons

Had to share a picture of the purses I use every day, they look so good together. I love all the black on black different textures; matte, patent and hair-on leather. I´ve had these two for less than a month, but they have already made it to my favorites list.

LIFE | Stylist For Two Days At Modefabriek

2012-02-08T19:53:00.001+01:00

Photography Mirjam Tonnaer, hair & make-up Anita Bok, models Aline van Schoonhoven, Lyanne Tonk and styling by me

Those who like Love Aesthetics on Facebook have already seen some backstage shots of this. Last month at fashion tradeshow Mode fabriek I styled a live photoshoot in the Trash and Treasures area; a space where visitors of the fair could shop for vintage and items of small independant designers. I ran around all day looking for the treasures among the trash and styled a photoshoot which could be watched by all the visitors of Modefabriek. These are three images from the 'lookbook' we put together. And allthough it was fun to be a stylist for two days, I'd rather be a blogger and a reporter.

VIDEO | DIY Cracked Denim

2012-02-07T18:34:00.001+01:00

jeans: courtesy of THVM Atelier
top: COS
heels: Weekday
chair: Hema

My black jeans had a make over yesterday, they now look like they have been dipped in white concrete. I love the bursted and imperfect surface of the denim. They have become a delicate piece of clothing that will only get better with time. Flakes of paint will fall off on places where the fabric folds and a white wash will be left on the denim. Stains can be easily brushed off the dusty surface.

What you will need to make a pair of your own is some old jeans, a brush and acrylic paint. All you have to do is apply a thick layer of paint on the denim. After an hour or two your jeans should be dry and stiff. Now you can literally break them in. The paint will burst and the first half hour you´ll be losing a lot of paint flakes and dust. (A walk outside is recomended!) But after giving them a chance to shape to your body you can wear them without leaving a dust trail. I can't wait to incorporate these into a few outfits!

NOVELTY | Ann Sophie Back aw12 13

2012-02-06T09:47:00.000+01:00

images: Metro

This could have gone so wrong, all the ingredients for a cheap disaster were there; Ann Sophie Back's autumn/winter collection featured transparent plastic bra straps, net fabric of the kind that stripper pantyhose are made of and bright turqoise trousers. But of course, as we are used to from Ann Sophie, the looks that she sent down the runway last week in Stockholm were utterly stylish. And the footwear in clear plastic(the material of my dreams) with the visible thick wool socks inside... yes, go ahead, save that picture to your computer.

LIFE | Dressing For Comfort

2012-02-04T18:00:00.000+01:00

jacket: vintage
skirt: selfmade
backpack: vintage
necklace: Nelly
shoes: 1990s Chanel

The Dutch are known for their sober attitude, no sillyness, no frillyness. When dressing, practicality always comes first. But what I've always disliked is the common thought that practicality and aesthetics don't mix. Like ignoring how ugly Uggs are because of their comfort. As if there aren't any comfortable shoes in the world that don't make your feet look 5 sizes bigger. As a protest against this practicality I stopped wearing jeans for years, looking back it was an unnecessary masochistic thing to do.

For a day in the city I wore something as decadent as a high slit floorlength skirt in the most casual of fabrics; heather grey jersey, sheer pantyhose with flat shoes, a leather backpack and some gold metal jewelry.

ACCESSORIES | Black Ear Cuff

2012-02-01T16:50:00.000+01:00

This adorable black mini cuff for your ear is from Asos and comes in a 3 pack together with a gold and a silver sibling. And just now, when I was browsing through their jewelry section, I discovered that they also have a three pack that includes a rosegold one instead of black.

BEAUTY | Graphic Eyeliner

2012-01-30T19:52:00.000+01:00

First got the idea to buy a set of adhesive eyeliner patches from Dior, ´Velvet Eyes´. But after visiting a few local make up stores that didn't carry this product my impatience took over and grabbed a kohl pencil, liquid eyeliner and a q-tip. I started out with my regular makeup; a bit of mascara and a little line close to the lashes. Then I made two dots as references before applying eyeliner. One right above the point where the iris starts. The other in the middle of the imaginary line between the corner of the eye and the end of the eyebrow. After that it's just a matter of connecting the dots, making the corners sharper with liquid eyeliner and fixing small mistakes with a q-tip.

OUTFITS | If It Were Spring

2012-01-27T18:46:00.000+01:00

If it miracoulously would be spring already I would wear this:
cut off leggings
ripped oversized denim jacket from 2 by Giuliano Bolivar
hair-on clutch courtesy of Shampalove
heels from Acne
turtleneck from H&M

NOVELTY | Josh Goot aw09

2012-01-26T17:01:00.000+01:00

This morning I found an old memory stick on which I had saved all the images of my diceased computer just before it crashed. It was so much fun discover a little archive that I had built of runway pictures, among it were these from Josh Goot autumn winter 2009 show. How relevant are these subtle color blocks?

ACCESSORIES | Berlin Buys

2012-01-24T17:52:00.000+01:00

I entered almost every shop, went through hundreds of clothing racks, tried on a dozen dresses and countless shoes but only bought two small items. It were the kind of buys of which you don´t have to justify or ask yourself any questions about. The kind of buys that you already unwrap ~~on your trainride home~~ around the corner from the shop where you just got them. A thin delicate rosegold necklace from Weekday and a little pattent black pouch from Comme des Garcons.

here's a little post about my favorite Berlin shops from last year

OUTFITS | Berlin Fashion Week, Made In My Hotel Room

2012-01-20T09:52:00.001+01:00

jacket: vintage
sweatshirt: H&M men's
skirt: self made
heels: Acne
necklace: Nelly

This is what I wore to Berlin Fashion Week on Wednesday. (Sorry if I'm boring you with my high slit skirts and metal necklaces but this is just what really love wearing atm.) It was a real last minute outfit, I made the skirt in my hotel room the night before and cut off a men's sweatshirt from H&M. Added the neck cuff, pair of good heels and voila!

OPINION | LaLa Berlin

2012-01-19T23:50:00.001+01:00

Light blue boxy leather motorcycle jackets just arrived in Acne stores, similar monochromatic light pink ensembles have been in American Apparel window displays for years, the flowy long skirts with a dove print are a downright Ann Demeulemeester rip off and the metal cuffs have already been exploited by H&M and ASOS ever since they appeared on a Damir Doma runway a year ago. Lala Berlin isn't really what you would call a pioneer in fashion.

The collection was very aimed at the now, it was a cohesive mixture of today's trends. Trends that will get bigger and will be fully accepted by the mainstream by the time that these pieces hit stores. Not trying anything new and sticking with what's already popular is a safe and smart thing to do in this economy if you want to make money. But is it necessary and relevant to build a fashion show around these already available styles?

My first answer to that question was NO. But after giving it a second thought I realized that this style of dressing has been around
for a few seasons. Perhaps this age will be remembered for it like the 80's were remembered for their shoulder pads. Perhaps fashion is finally slowing down a bit.

Vanessa Friedman from the Financial Times came with some facts in a recent column that support these thoughts: "Indeed, the last major aesthetic change I can think of was more than a year ago, when Phoebe Philo’s rigorous minimalism at Céline sent her audience gasping and running to fill their wardrobes with men’s trousers and tailored cloth coats. As a colleague said the other day, “Indeed, the last major aesthetic change I can think of was more than a year ago, when Phoebe Philo’s rigorous minimalism at Céline sent her audience gasping and running to fill their wardrobes with men’s trousers and tailored cloth coats. As a colleague said the other day, “There’s nothing I feel like I need to buy in order to feel current, no ankle boot will fix all my problems.” Put another way: Polyvore, the do-it-yourself “fashion inspiration” website wherein members create and widely share their own collages built around specific items, just released its Year in Review report, which analyses user behaviour over the past 12 months, and the top five trends were: “prints, minimalism, monochrome, florals, men’s wear-inspired.” The sixth was ... trousers."

Conclusion: A collection that I would be happy to wear today, but which didn't contain much originality. It gave some food for thought and discussion about more long term trends. It was beautiful, styled impeccably, nonetheless for an independent designer to present Ann Demeulemeester skirts with another name on it is just not done.(sorry had to be said)

LIFE | Berlin Day One: Architecture

2012-01-17T19:13:00.000+01:00

at an almost deserted Berliner Dom

A quick update from my hotel room. Arrived in Berlin this morning before the sun was up, the city was grey and the wet asphalt glistened in the street lights. The rain also kept the tourists away. We walked through a relatively quiet Berlin and had the chance to enjoy all it's amazing architecture which today looked so dark and awecommanding.

Now it's time to get rid of the coupe-du-rain, get dressed and head over to the opening parties of Berlin Fashion Week. Stay tuned!

NOVELTY | Maurie and Eve Winter Looks

2012-01-16T11:04:00.000+01:00

Actually the lookbook and the rest of the Maurie and Eve collection looked nothing like that first picture; There were flower printed dresses and pink sandals. But this suit consisting of a baseball jacket and a pair of suit pants in a thick white on white printed fabric (granny, better watch your curtains) is divine. What also can't go unmentioned is two 1900s styling details: the nose ring and those sporty sunglasses.

ACCESSORIES | Neon, Plastic, Folded Clutch

2012-01-14T14:22:00.000+01:00

The simplest design you can imagine. This clutch is nothing more than a cross shaped piece of vinyl. Because of the adhesive qualities of the material it just sticks together as you fold it. No zippers, no stitches, no clasps, no handles, no fuss; genius. An easy DIY you´d think, but sometimes I think great ideas deserve to be bought. Specially if the item is affordable you should support great design. This clutch and I-pad case by Dutch designer Samira Boon was on sale for only 18 euros.

INTERIOR | My Side Of The Bed

2012-01-11T11:25:00.000+01:00

All the stuff in this picture: Lamp was a gift from a long time ago, vanilla scented candle Ikea, alarm clock Ikea, shoes Weekday, notebook, book My Dear Bomb by Yohji Yamamoto, silver ring Cos, gold ring hardware store, shoeboxes from Filippa K, Acne, Alexander Wang and Givenchy

I love giving stuff double functions. There used to be a pile of magazines on my side of the bed which served as literature and nightstand. But yesterday that dusty pile of pages had to make way for this new construction which serves as shoe storage and nightstand.

OUTFITS | Thickest Knit

2012-01-09T18:00:00.002+01:00

knit : second hand
boots : Acne
necklace : Nelly
lipstick: Lime Crime

This gigantic cosy wool knit ~~I found~~ my boyfriend found on the 'Noordermarkt', a secondhand market every Monday morning at the end of Westerstraat in Amsterdam. It's so huge that I can wear a million things underneath and so warm that I don't even need a coat on a dry winter day.

SHOES | Acne Resort 2012

2012-01-07T10:12:00.000+01:00

Now that changing your wardrobe completely each fashion season is becoming out of fashion and outdated, giving more attention to resort collections would seem like a logical thing to do. Resort or cruise collections that were initially designed for the wealthy customer who fled to warm resorts during the cold season, have now become more of a year-round-prêt à porter. Designers are showing collections that resemble their state of mind and overall aesthetic with previews of their next seasons instead of just making vacation clothes with anchor prints and aloha shirts. So this is my first piece from a resort collection, a pair of not so basic heels from Acne.

BEAUTY | Neon Lipstick

2012-01-04T15:02:00.000+01:00

Lipsticks: Lime Crime.

My favorite piece of clothing is a white, plain, square, crew neck tee. I usually add one chunky metal piece of jewelry to it and if it's still boring, a pair of black or bright lips will take care of that. I´ve been a fan of the lipsticks from Lime Crime for a long time as they are perfectly opaque and matte. I ordered two new colors; 'airborne unicorn' and 'my beautiful rocket', brighter shades as last time.

NOVELTY | CO|TE ss12, The Accessories

2012-01-02T14:39:00.000+01:00

Besides their clothing line, Co-Te also produces a series of stunning accessories each season:
Get the gold studded belt here
and the clutch with a handle here

Though CO-TE doesn't fit within the usual Italian aesthetic, it does follow the craftmanship tradition and quality of made in Italy. Co-Te comes from cote an old English word meaning shelter or protection, a returning theme within the brand. While this is only the third collection of design duo Francesco Ferrari and Tomaso Anfonssi, they have already gained recognition from journalists from WWD, Vogue and L'Officiel just to name a few. But it's not only about beautiful images in magazines, Co-Te makes clothes that women want to wear (I neeed nude leather for spring!!). Follow this young brand on Facebook.

OUTFITS | Denim and Acne

2012-01-01T17:34:00.000+01:00

silk stone washed shirt: vintage
jeans: vintage Levi's
heels: Acne

Firts post of 2012. Hope everyone had an amazing time last night and that everyone's dreams will come true this year! (One of mine just did: Acne's pre spring heels, Alice, are on my feet)

DIY | Transparent Neck Cuff

2011-12-30T19:00:00.002+01:00

The transparent obsession continues. After making these DIY cuffs with perspex and finding out how easy it was, a million ideas for making more things with this material effortlessly came to mind. One of them was the neck cuff which is now a reality! Choosing between gold or silver metal details was too hard so I made one of each. Instructions below, and if something isn't clear, leave me a comment, I'll answer all questions!

Take measurements: The length of your clasp should be how wide the gap between the plexiglass parts is. Measurements that I used were: outline of necklace 36cm, width 4cm, gap between two transparent parts 4 cm.
Cut the plexiglass: Making an incision with a stanley knife by letting the knife glide along a ruler. Then lay the plate of plexiglass on a table with the slit just over the edge. By pressing down you´ll be able to break it off with a nice and clean cut. Now you should have a rectangle which you can again break into smaller pieces until you have two rectangles that are 16cm long and 4cm wide. Using any kind of drilling machine (It is recommended to use a drill for metal. As I didn´t own that I used one for wood and it worked just fine.) make a hole in each rectangle.
Bending it into shape: Heat your oven to 150 °C and put your rectangles inside one at a time on an oven plate. After 3 to 4 minutes take it out with oven mittens and bend it into shape by laying it over a round object with an outline of apx 36cm (sauce pan? plant pot?).
Finishing: Now you can add the hardware. I used a tiny metal hinge and a clasp to connect the transparent parts. The hinge is attached with epoxy glue but if you have more time on your hands you could also use small screws. Good luck!

ACCESSORIES | Alexander Wang Shades

2011-12-28T16:00:00.000+01:00

Got these black sunglasses from Alexander Wang for Christmas. They are very basic yet shaped a bit differently than the usual black wayfarer. I love that they have nose pads which I think makes them a bit less sleek and a bit more 1990s. A great addition to my wardrobe, thank you ~~mommy~~ Santa!

NOVELTY | CO - TE, Nude leather details

2011-12-27T10:54:00.001+01:00

My three favorite looks from CO-TE´s lookbook where they have combined nude colored leather with crispy white garments. My heart stopped. Will be posting more info about this brand soon soon soon!

LIFE | Many Blessings

2011-12-24T15:28:00.001+01:00

1990s Calvin Klein sweatshirt

I hope that Santa checked off everyone's Christmas list(Carine will sell alot of books this month), that you will stuff yourselves with delicious food at all the family dinners, that you won't spill any of it on your fantastic outfit, that there's a layer of snow outside your door, that there will be good champagne at all the parties but foremost that you spend the coming days with the people you love. I wish everyone many more blessings, have a Merry Christmas!

OUTFITS | Limited Colors

2011-12-23T16:38:00.001+01:00

jacket: vintage
shirt: COS
jeans: H&M
heels: Zara
bag: Gifted by Furla

DIY | Not Too Late To Find The Perfect Gift

2011-12-21T14:17:00.001+01:00

Leather Envelope / Two Tone Shirt / Jewelry from the hardware store

A piece of leather and a bit of glue is all it takes to make a leather envelope. You could also give your bestie the other half of your shirt. Or you could run down to the hardware store to find a jewelry gift that is actually unexpected.

REPORT | A Black-White story called TWO

2011-12-21T01:09:00.002+01:00

Giuliano Bolivar; mastermind behind 2 , Elisabeth Schaduw; cutest DJ you'll ever meet, Malou Tan; Talented photographer and employee at Sketch

I bet you too have had an overdose of words like 'selected' or 'handpicked' -vintage. I know I have. It's usually just the regular old secondhand clothes but on fancier hangers and with expensive tags. With Giuliano Bolivar's project '2' (yep, it's called Two) which is built up from secondhand clothes it was an entire different story.

Three racks of Giuliano's carefully curated used clothes awaited the visitors of the small luxury department store Sketch in Den Haag last Saturday. Accompanied by classic 1990s songs played by a long haired beauty on platforms, people were going through the black and white used garments.

TWO is a project that came together with things that already existed, clothes that were already there. Small alterations and adjustments are made to them and they are curated and arranged so well that these old and forgotten garments look fresh and valuable again.(Though the prices are still what you'd expect when buying second hand; tops under 35 Euro, jackets under 100 Euro) A long wide shirt suddenly looks much more valuable and modern without its pointy 1970s collar and hung next to a leather quilted sleeveless jacket.

Giuliano Bolivar is not afraid to say that it is all about branding and the way you present a product. 'These are just secondhand clothes. But arranged and styled in a way that they make sense with each other. The clothes weren't made by me. I just altered them and I chose them.' Yes he did, he created an entire vibe of which every customer wanted a piece and which was quickly referred to as a collection instead of a selection. The boy has style.

note: See that white ripped denim jacket hanging on the right side of the rack? I took that baby home! Already looking forward to the next TWO event! For more info about TWO and to see the look book click HERE

OUTFIT | Winter Accessories

2011-12-19T15:57:00.001+01:00

clutch: thrifted
gloves: COS
beanie: H&M
sweater: no idea
skirt: self made
leather jacket: vintage

Dear design team at Maison Martin Margiela,
The sweatshirts you made with attached long leather gloves are divine. Covering your lower arms in what I'm sure is the softest leather out there really ads a lot of decadence to a sweater in a simple way. Though it has left me wondering, what should one do when the need comes around to dial a phone number? And what about snacks on the train station? Are we supposed to keep our gloves on?

As much as I wished I lived in a Margiela world where all that were possible while keeping our gloves on and where girls like me can afford to buy sweatshirts for 600 euros(and risk getting mayonese on them), I don't. So instead I picked up a pair of leather wide long gloves at COS and paired them with an old heather grey sweatshirt.

Update: Silly me didn't notice the hidden zippers on the Margiela glove-sweatshirt. Off course you can make phone calls with the margiela gloves!

LIFE | Tiny Button Up Shirt

2011-12-18T12:38:00.001+01:00

The girls sections are stuffed with sugary sweet dresses, tulle, gold, silver and lots of glitters for the hollidays. Of course I can´t deny my kid from some of that (gold glitter socks are in the bag) but I also couldn´t deny myself from stopping by the boys section. Which is now filled with tiny button up shirts and little tuxedos.

OUTFITS | Plastic and Python

2011-12-15T16:13:00.000+01:00

jeans: Vintage Levi's
turtleneck: H&M
clear hair accessory: DIY
bag: special edition Candy bag, gifted by Furla

Took these pictures last Tuesday on what might have been the last sunny day of 2011. When I send them over to my new Italian friends from Furla to show them how I wore the new bag they had sent me I got the funniest, most unexpected response; 'There is something Bowiesque – The man who fell to Earth - about these pictures.' You can understand that being compared with a fantastic space movie filled with modern late 70s interior, futuristic white and silver suits, starring a young David Bowie puts a smile on my face that will probably stay there all week.

LIFE | Time For Change

2011-12-14T18:07:00.001+01:00

Yes, the visuals have changed!
It felt like it was time to pour more time and thought into Love Aesthetics. I´ve disliked my header for a long time but wanted to come up with something good and more permanent before changing it. I finally came up with a concept that is less digital; inspired on forms and product manuals. So instead of running to the usual Photoshop and trying out a million fonts I pulled out my scissors, copying machine and a pen instead. There will be a few more adjustments during the time coming.

I once started this blog to be a part of the online rebels that were democratizing fashion, I had no readers, was embarrassed to tell my friends about what I was up to online and had little idea of what I was doing. But in three years this online space called Love Aesthetics has evolved into something that reflects my view on fashion better and of which I can even say I´m a bit proud of.

Over the past years the character of the blogosphere has also gone through some big changes. Shortly said it went from bloggers taking pictures of themselves with tiny digital cameras in a mirror and reporting about
the local vintage boutique to making Vogue-worthy images and reporting about the Paris shows from front row seats.

Seeing what a valuable addition all the collective voices of blogs have become to the fashion industry is inspiring to pour more time and thought into what one throws online. Not only have I put a bit more effort into the visual aspects of Love Aesthetics but also plan to place blogging higher on my priority list and take more time to produce content.

Though the appearance, the execution and quality have changed and developed over the years, my blog is still the same in spirit. I blog because of my hyper enthusiasm and obsession with fashion. Love Aesthetics is about my love for aesthetics and my interest in what lies beneath the appearance of things. Thank you all for staying tuned, it has been the best reward and motivation to keep the updates coming!

* Small note to those who share my aversion towards commerce. Yes I've decided to take advertisements. But have no fear, no content will be compromised. If you want to know more about my approach to sponsors read the 'ethics' section.

ACCESSORIES | Disposable to Nondisposable

2011-12-13T15:02:00.000+01:00

Though the idea might not be very original anymore, I still find these disposable made into nondisposable designs very charming, simple and effective.
This ´Flat bag´ by Cheap Monday comes in both grey and black. I haven´t found it online but is available at Weekday.

LIFE | Goedemorgen

2011-12-09T10:18:00.001+01:00

Coffee, Headphones
Pages of I-D; Photography by Karim Sadli, styling Erika Kurihara, Model Jessica Miller

Goodmorning!
One of my favorite things to do is to get up ridiculously early and read the current (online)fashion magazines without any time pressure. Unfortunately I rarely do. So this is going to be my first new year´s resolution; to be more disciplined, to get up a couple of hours earlyer, take a few hours for myself before my kid wakes up and work on making myself a walking fashion encyclopedia.

DIY | Duct Tape Christmas Tree

2011-12-07T16:47:00.004+01:00

All you will need for this no-fuss DIY Christmas tree is a roll of narrow black duckt tape, some Christmas lights and 15 minutes.
I was going to write a couple of words with instrutions, how great this is for those who don't have time, for students... but it's so simple that there isn't that much to say. Good luck taping lights to your wall!

NOVELTY | Yang Li ss12

2011-12-06T17:45:00.000+01:00

images and words via WWD

After training as a men’s designer at Central Saint Martins and doing a stint at Raf Simons, this London-based Chinese designer unveiled his first solo designs in Paris. Minimalist, with the rigor of military uniforms, his wardrobe essentials include T-shirts, long dress, large pants and safari jackets precisely tailored in double-face fabric with hand finishing.

OUTFITS | High Slit Skirt

2011-12-05T22:34:00.001+01:00

tee: Hema
skirt: Self made
boots: Acne
cuff: DIY

Another slit. Noticed I'm a bit obsessed by them? I love how a floorlength skirt with high slit ads a bit of decadence to my day. I wore this exact outfit with a pair of derby shoes and it felt a bit like being on my way to some posh party and still needing to change shoes in an alley around the corner. Which I did not. I love combining pieces in which one would be typically overdressed with ones that are extremely informal in which one would be underdressed like sweatshirts, tshirts and flat shoes.

LIFE | Coffee With Cocorosa, hand-me-downs from Dries and Ann

2011-12-03T14:49:00.000+01:00

Yesterday I took a long train trip to the cosy city of Arnhem for a lecture and met with the lovely blogger Chantal from CocoRosa afterwards. We had a cappuccino, chatted about blogs and media, about New York and about fabulous shoes. Chantal showed me around her home town and brought me to one of her favorite spots; a fabrics-store with an amazing concept.

It is a project of the Arnhem Academy of Art and Design called 'Trickle Down' which refers to the handing down of left overs from established designers 'dripping down' to the not yet so established. It is basically a store filled with scraps, left over rolls of the most delicate and rare fabrics that come from Dutch and Belgian designers. Pieces of pink and turqoise metallic leather that were fetched from the Dries van Noten ateliers were hanging in the racks, extremely long messing zippers and a lovely, helpful lady from the academy who also used to teach Victor and Rolf among others.

I bought a couple of Riri zippers yesterday. But regretted not getting more of the unique pieces they offer. This morning my boyfriend and I decided to hop on the train and came back with more zippers, a piece of leather that looks like elephant skin and I found an amazing black metal clasp from Ann Demeulemeester. Now it's time to think about what to do with all these fantastic materials.

Trickle Down Fabrics
Kortestraat 26, Arnhem
Click to find them online

OUTFITS | Thrifted Slit Dress

2011-11-29T15:46:00.000+01:00

Dress with two slits: Thrifted
Portfolio: Thrifted
Heels: Zara

Sometimes I come home with bags filled with new finds after visisting my favorite market De Noordermarkt in Amsterdam. And sometimes I come home with only a few pieces, which doesn't mean that the thrifting session is less of a success. Yesterday I found only two pieces; a floorlength wool dress in which I cut two slits and a large leather portfolio.

ACCESORIES | Triple Rings

2011-11-28T20:38:00.001+01:00

My most recent purchase from Asos, these three Margiela look alike rings.

OUTFITS | Japanese

2011-11-24T17:42:00.001+01:00

Coat: Zara
Tee: American Apparel
Jeans: Acne (get them here)
heels: thrifted - DIY

Adding up the slightly oversized black coat, odd platform heels, winged eyeliner and the 90´s high ponytail this outfit turned out to feel somewhat Japanese. If only my coat would have been a bit larger, I would really make Junya and Yohji proud. The next black mens coat that I come across in a thriftstore is mine!

INTERIOR | Clear Containers

2011-11-22T17:13:00.000+01:00

All containers are from Iittala. I use these thick Ice cube lookalikes for all the tiny things that always used to get lost; a key, an earring, bobby pins, cash money.

And speaking about interior... yesterday my boyfriend and I spent all day and all night painting our house, the floors in light grey and the walls got a new layer of white (all the chocolate finger prints of Lois are gone). It's that time of the year again when you spend most of your time indoors and get the urge to also conform your surroundings to your own aesthetic. Oh, and now I won't have to photoshop the disgusting stains from the wall anymore before publishing an outfit picture. #timesaver

OUTFITS | Head To Toe In (Almost) Whites

2011-11-20T16:47:00.000+01:00

While cleaning my closet today I almost threw out this pair of H&M jeans because the washing just seemed too wrong; a fake kind of acid wash and a light blue hue. But before I did, I decided to try them on one last time. Turns out that I quite like this almost trashy acid wash and I forgot how well they fit. I wore them with this vintage Cacharel silk shirt and Weekday python heels.

OPINION | White And Rose Gold, Skipping A Season

2011-11-17T16:20:00.001+01:00

shirt-dress with transparent sleeves Simone Rocha for Topshop / Knit sweater T by Alexander Wang / Rose gold eagle claw earrings Pamela Love / Rose gold metallic loafer pumps Alexander Wang / Tailored wool pants Calvin Klein

Skipping a season
The real cold hasn't even started but I'm already focussed on getting my wardrobe ready for spring. Fashion has become so fast and access is so easy that we're already bored of the collections before we can even try them on in a store. (Acne's spring/summer collection will hit stores in December, isn't that insane?)

Images from the runways are hyped on every website and in every magazine 6 months before we can even buy them. Bloggers and press have already had the chance to see, touch and try on the summer garments two weeks ago during the press days. Right now is when these pieces are still coveted, by the time that we can actually purchase them they will be old news. Smart move from Acne to strike while the iron is still hot and start selling their white leather jackets and thin pastel jumpers next month.

It's going way too fast for me, the clothes hanging in stores right now seem outdated, so I've decided to skip a season and will look for items that I can wear both in winter and spring. Like this loosely knitted T by Alexander Wang jumper, a perfect winter staple but I'd also wear it with a pair of cycling shorts, bare legs and high heels.

BEAUTY | Winter Hair Care

2011-11-16T10:00:00.005+01:00

For the last couple of months my poor hair has been mistreated, abused by the blowdryer and nearly bleached to death. But since it´s impossible in winter to have a good hairday anyway, I am going to try to make it up with my hair. Give it a break for a couple of months and give it some time to recuperate so that it will be nice and healthy in spring.

Measures I´ll be taking:
Braiding it or putting it in a (doughnut)bun will avoid the hair from blowing all over the place and getting tangled up. This will reduce chances to getting new split ends and there is also no heat required for these hairdo's. Keeping it extra moisturized is also important as indoor heating dries out hair causing more split ends. I do this with a tiny bit of regular olive oil after washing my hair, which is only twice a week. On a daily basis I spray a bit of oil nutritive wonder serum spray by Schwarzkopf. And lastly I'm going to lay off the peroxide, this will give the new hair a chance to grow and give my scalp a break. I do not mind the dark growth at the root at all, I actually like a bit of a neglected look.

NOVELTY | Lucas Nascimento A/W11

2011-11-15T12:55:00.000+01:00

Huge sculpted knit sweaters that look like cocoons, high splits in the back that reveil the entire leg, silhouettes that give the female body a sculptural form. The fall-winter collection of Lucas Nascimento is beyond modern but still very wearable. Nascimento graduated from London College of Fashion only 3 years ago but has already established himself as one of the most promising upcoming designers with his sophisticated and innnovative collections.

ACCESSORIES | Gold Ear Cuff

2011-11-10T17:03:00.001+01:00

Nails covered with golden nail foil from Sephora

This ear cuff always gets lots of compliments on and off my blog. I found it last year in the second hand section of my local jewelry shop. If you're also looking for one; the internet is packed with similar pieces. On Ebay and Etsy there there are literally hundreds of ear cuffs decorated with chains, feathers and stones but I prefer them simple and without any attachments. Like this one in gold or this one in silver.

SHOES | Won Hundred Flatforms

2011-11-09T21:25:00.002+01:00

Next season Won hundred will bring us a new version of their infamous flatforms. Ones that will leave an alien-like trail! From the side they look somewhat like traditional Japanese shoes but underneath hides a surprise; the shoe rests on three separate platforms. Shaped like... footprint of a hooved animal? something extraterrestrial? dance shoes that have a seperate front and back sole? the anatomy of our feet?

LIFE | Snapshot

2011-11-08T20:07:00.001+01:00

Got snapped by the lovely Felicia from the Amsterdam streetsyle blog Dam Style.

SHOES | En Pointe at Monki

2011-11-07T09:39:00.001+01:00

Just look at this quirky take on ballet flats by Monki for next spring. The sight of these pointe shoes on the grey showroom floor just took me right back to my ballet days. I remember it always looked quite akward when the girls would walk on flat feet with the elongated hard pointe shoes on. But as soon as they would stand on the tip of their toes the akwardness instantly dissapeared and their movements became elegant. On these Monki shoes we won't be walking on the tip of our toes though. But I do look forward to adding a bit of odness and akwardness to my outfits with these pointe-ballet flats.

DIY | Last Minute Cut Out Skirt

2011-11-05T15:00:00.002+01:00

heels Topshop Unique (old)

I can only perform under pressure of a deadline and the same goes for getting dressed. When a certain event is only days away I realize that the beautiful piece I saw online will never reach me on time. This is when you have to make the most of what you already own. I always end up pulling out the scissors to make the needed adjustments.

Yesterday night were the Dutch Fashion Awards, three prizes that are yearly given to Dutch design talent. What I wore was this skirt from which I cut out a rectangle paired with a simple white tee and slicked back hair. I was afraid that the cutout would make the skirt less versatile but on the contrary I found more ways to wear it in it's renewed form; cutout on the front, cutout on the side or even knotted.

OUTFITS | Transparent Skirt

2011-11-03T12:45:00.000+01:00

this American Apparel dress worn as a skirt (sleeves are tied around waist)
Hema tee
H&M men's beanie
American Apparel cycling shorts

NOVELTY | Tassled Little Acne Bag

2011-11-02T09:58:00.002+01:00

Yesterday afternoon was the resort and spring/summer collection presentation of Acne in Amsterdam. I won´t bore you guys with the entire collection, which images are all over the internet and probably already saved in your image folder. But what I must show you is this tassled little bag. I hung it around the neck of a crisp white shirt because this is how I would wear it. Isn´t it adorable?

NOVELTY | 3 Inspiring Non-Fashion Blogs

2011-11-01T12:57:00.002+01:00

Because inspiration is a hard thing to find and always comes unexpected and from unexpected places.
Here are three must-see blogs outside the fashion realm that will change your perspective a bit and trigger your imagination.

1. Things organised neatly
The name already says it; it´s a blog filled with pictures of things that are organized, classified and arranged in a freakishly neat way. From deconstructed bycicles, to the ingedients of a cake to chanel perfume bottles.

2. Minimaliste
This picture is actually the background of my desktop, I found it on Minimaliste. This tumblr blog is all about modern minimalistic images, from landscapes, interior design, architecture to furniture pieces. All in a pale palette of whites, icy blues and greys.

3.Lookbook Cookbook
At first sight this might look like a fashionblog. Don't be fooled, as the name suggests it´s a cookbook ánd a lookbook. It´s Basically delicious recipes and pretty girls. And as if that isn´t enough, those chocolate peppermint fudges, pumpkin pancakes and cookie dough icecream are all made without any animal products; it's all vegan!

BEAUTY | Halloween Nails

2011-10-29T18:23:00.001+02:00

A manicure for all the zombies tonight.
Very easy to do with a thin nail art brush.

NOVELTY | COS spring summer 2012

2011-10-29T11:52:00.001+02:00

Behold my favorites ensembles from COS ss12 lookbook. I can´t wait to see the pieces in real life and hear the story behind the collection at the press days that are coming up. Perhaps it has something to do with the ocean; the placement of the cutouts of the white dress remind me of the gill slits of a shark, the dark midnight garments of wetsuits and the light blues of clear water. But I could be wrong.

I see sharks, divers and water but that's could just be my state of mind at the moment.
What story do you see behind this collection?

OUTFITS | One Coat, Two Ways

2011-10-28T14:04:00.001+02:00

Coat: Zara
silk turtleneck: thrifted
neck cuff: Nelly
heels: Alexander Wang
shorts: American Apparel

I´ve never owned a coat that felt like a bathrobe. It´s from Zara, I got it two sizes too big so that it would feel even and more oversized and slouchy. I started to play around with all that fabric and found that it can also be tied on the hips and be worn as a short jacket.

Those who follow me on Twitter already know why there have been so little updates over the past two weeks. It's that time of the year again when deadlines come closer and exames must be made. But as of today those busy times for me are over. I'm back!

INTERIOR | Art

2011-10-22T18:50:00.003+02:00

To some this might be boring but to me this is a collection of silly, pretty, interesting and funny things on display. It seems very minimalistic in this picture, but in reality I have too many of these kinds of scraps. I still need to learn how to curate my junk and to choose what to display and what to put away.

No 1.A small black and white image of insanely long Japanese hair that has been moved around the house, it has hung on the toilet door, above my desk, on a mirror and has now ended up on a glass picture frame. It's a miracle that the disgusting old tape still sticks.

No 3. A brilliant portrait of Gaga in one of her spikey attires drawn by my daughter Lois in less than two minutes. Take a look at those fierce fierce eyebrows!

No 2. Aren't cats supposed to be agile hunters, who can easily and elegantly walk on high narrow surfaces? Our cat defenitely is not one of those. The clumsy animal dropped this what used to be a glass frame, and turned it into one of those interpret-it-in-your-own-way art works.

OUTFITS | Cut-Out Turtleneck

2011-10-20T15:01:00.002+02:00

sleeveless turtleneck: DIY cut
satin baseball jacket: American Apparel
Transparent cuffs: DIY

These backstage images from the fall-winter show from Hakaan featuring geometrical cutouts and sleeveless turtlenecks inspired me to pull my own sleeveless turtleneck out of the closet today. A couple of months ago I cut off the sleeves, but coming across these pictures on DazedDigital I feel like putting the scissors into another turtleneck, this time cutting it in a square instead of diagonal way.

VIDEO | Slicked Back Hair

2011-10-17T10:26:00.003+02:00

This I-just-stepped-out-of-a-swimming pool-hairdo isn't anything new. Every season there is at least one designer that chooses slicked back hair for his models, we've seen it any other editorial, on the red carpet and on a 14 year old Kate Moss in the 1990s. Though it seems that it has never made it to the streets. I've never seen anyone wear a ton of gel in their hair like this on their way to work. The reason might be that if you do it too often your hair will probably start to fall out at the front and you'll end up with a mullet. But disregarding all that I thought I'd give it a try; it involved lots of combing and lots, lots of gel but the result was well worth it. I will defenitely be doing this slick coif more often.

SHOES | Back Zip, Chunky Heel

2011-10-16T21:05:00.002+02:00

Dina boots, courtesy of Miista footwear

The lovely Laura Villasenin send me one of her designs, these boots with a back zipper, chunky heels and a massive hidden platform at the front. Laura is the founder of the shoe brand Miista which is based in London. What I really like about this pair are the details like the leather that overlaps the platform, the little cut out of the back of the heel but also their comfort; I could run a marathon in them.

OUTFITS | Blue Hues

2011-10-13T16:53:00.001+02:00

Angora sweater: thrifted
Silky slacks: Filippa K
Heels: Thrifted
Neck cuff: Nelly

NOVELTY | Tailored Track Pants

2011-10-12T16:02:00.000+02:00

T by Alexander Wang, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Nowhere

Tailored for a slim silhouette, gorgeous blended fabrics, a zipper here, a thin drawstring there or slit pockets. Much better than the ones I wear on the couch on Sunday mornings... but seemingly not less comfortable. One of my next investments will surely be a tailored track pant to wear over a pair of delicate heels or with mens shoes like Phillip Lim intended for this season's menswear collection as seen in in this video.

VIDEO | Workplace interviews

2011-10-11T09:34:00.000+02:00

Remember this post about the lovely photographer Valentina Vos and her book? That day I interviewed her for a series of interviews I do for Dutch website fashionscene.nl. The video series is called Werkplek (Workplace) and is about the desks, kitchentables, design areas where inspiring people in fashion work.

Looking at ones workplace you can tell what inspires them, what kind of person they are, what their aesthetic is. Is the workplace clinically clean or cluttered with ripped out pages of Vogue? In this particular episode photographer Valentina Vos shows us her workplace and bits of her appartment.

*The rest of the interviews ánd English translations will follow shortly.

As we speak I'm running out the door (with too much equipment in my bags) to do the next interview with a fashion editor of an online magazine. Stay tuned!

OUTFITS | Wetsuit

2011-10-10T19:43:00.002+02:00

top and trousers: Monki
heels: Weekday

100% synthetic but weft in a way that the fabric becomes thick, structured and a little sci-fi instead of the thin, sticky reputation that polyester has. I thought it would be cool (and so Balenciaga) to get an entire suit in this material. The seams, shape and the fact that it's slightly shiny reminds me of a wetsuit.

ACCESSORIES | Zana Bayne Petite Harness

2011-10-09T19:28:00.001+02:00

Zana Bayne

shirt: Filippa
jeans: Acne
Harness: Zana Bayne

Wearing the petite harness today backwards ánd upside down.
Visit Zana Bayne leather online shop and check out the amazing new collection she has put together for this season.

BEAUTY | MAC Longwear Lipcreme

2011-10-05T17:31:00.000+02:00

This lipstick has all the qualities I missed in other lipsticks. (No I´m not getting payed to write this) Mac's longwear lipcreme is matte, doesn't bleed, it lasts through a lunch and it comes in this amazing purple tone. If I must say something negative to make this review still appear somewhat journalistic then I'd say that the first half hour after applying it feels like glue on your lips. It is so sticky that it gave me some flashbacks to my lipgloss days.

NOVELTY | Givenchy ss12

2011-10-05T10:00:00.001+02:00

Riccardo Tisci´s vision for spring was inspired by surfers and mermaids, hence the sharkstooth pouch, pants as tight as wetsuits and eel skin trimmings. But it isn´t this subtle ocean theme that stands out in this collection, it is the tailoring that is attention grabbing; sharply cut jackets, proper button ups and structured layers. These monochromatic looks in a wonderful creamy color is something that I would like to wear right now.

OUTFITS | Odd Length

2011-10-04T11:45:00.000+02:00

over the knee pencil skirt worn backwards + thrifted knit and vintage chanel brogues

DIY | Transparent Cuffs

2011-10-01T19:49:00.007+02:00

Transparent jewelry, accessories and heels seen at la Maison MM, Simone Rocha and pretty much every where else. Perspex is such an easy material to work with, it bends with heat and hardens in regular temperatures. If you own an oven, you can make these! You can be sure that I'll be experimenting more with this material(sensing a neck cuff?), but for now I'm estatic about today's project and can not wait to wear my cuffs over a thin knit or silk longsleeve, they literally go with everything.

What you will need:
A piece of perspex (available at any hardware store)
A figure saw for metal
An oven
file

Measure how long you want to cuffs to be, the measurements I used were
11cm(length) by 14cm(round). A small leftover piece was used for the hair cuff. With the saw cut a square out of the persplex plate.

Heat your oven to 200°C and place your square of perspex inside on a flat oven tray. In less than 5 minutes the perspex should be soft and bendable. If you leave it in the oven for too long, tiny bubbles will start to form inside the plastic. This can also happen if the heat in your oven isnt distributed evenly(like in mine).

Take out your square with oven mittens and immediately start to bend it into shape while wearing oven mitts. Don´t worry, the plastic is very bendable but isn´t sticky. The persplex will harden within 30 seconds so be quick! If the edges of your cuffs are too sharp you can smooth them with a file.

*For everyone who decides to make them, e-mail me a picture! I love to hear from my readers. love-aesthetics@hotmail.com

OUTFITS | Wearing Pajama Pants

2011-09-29T11:27:00.003+02:00

The shorts that I'm wearing are actually a pair of jersey pajama pants that I've had since I was 14. I rolled them all the way up to transform them into a pair of shorts a la Alexander Wang resort 2012. The sweater from Uniqlo is also one of my favorite and most comfortable pieces. In contrast with all this comfyness, lazyness and practicality I added some chunky golden jewelry; necklace from Nelly, bracelets are thrifted.

NOVELTY | Swimwear Inspired, Anthony Vaccarello ss12

2011-09-28T15:29:00.004+02:00

Photos by Quentin De Wispelaere and Words by Susanna Lau for Dazed Digital

Tell us a bit about the mood for this collection and what you referenced?
Anthony Vaccarello: The idea was that I was very inspired by the old pictures by Herb Ritts in the 90s. It's more about the girl rather than about a conceptual it is about concept. It's about that girl taking a swimsuit and taking a swim. The moonlight is on her and that's why you can't tell the difference between black and blue. The light catches all of these reflective surfaces and so I chose fabrics where it looked like there was a slick of oil. I didn't want it to be only a sensual and sexy collection. I like the idea of a dress hanging out of a skirt, elements of a military trouser without it being one - buttons, pockets etc. I really wanted to hint at casual clothes and make them very luxurious.

LIFE | Today´s Fantastic Read

2011-09-27T11:02:00.004+02:00

I´m on the tram as I write this with today's read on my lap; Fantastic Man. One of the best Dutch export products if you ask me. I'm keeping this post short because I can't wait to dive into this magazine and read the 16-page feature on Raf Simons!

OUTFITS | Burgundy Trousers

2011-09-26T16:16:00.005+02:00

Went vintage shopping on today´s sunny Monday morning and I wore a Cos top, a trifted pair of burgundy trousers and Weekday heels.

ACCESSORIES | Zoé Hermsen Handbag

2011-09-24T18:39:00.008+02:00

The lovely Zoé Hermsen gifted me one of her wonderful handmade bags today. Even the gigantic envelope she packed it in was made by her and had my name on it in her unique handwriting. The handbag is basically a 60 cm long rectangle which looks unusually large yet not oversized. The smart details like the long loose zipper and removable handle make it even more special. I can already see this will become one of those pieces you wear all the time, I will roll it up, fold it like a clutch and stuff it to the top on (school)days when I have more baggage.
You can order one of her bags HERE.
___________________________________________

Q&A with
Zoé Hermsen

Can you describe your aesthetic in five words?
Monochromatic. Simplistic. Sleek. Unusual. Craftsmanship.

What is the idea behind your handbags?
They originated out of necessity because I could never find cool bags in stores or online (if I did they were too expensive for me). During the design process I realized how important simplicity is for me, I didn't like too much futilities but was after a strong and unexpected image. Also I think it's important that my products are produced in an honest way. It has been offered to me to produce my bags on a larger scale in China but that didn't seem like a good plan. My parents taught me to be aware of fair trade and I want to stick to those values; keeping my product authentic from beginning to end of the production process, the fact that they are handmade fits within that idea.

What is are the future plans for your brand?
I want to start out with adding 3 more bags to the collections. I want to continue producing bags and accessories for now.

BEAUTY | Subtle Noir French Manicure & Chain Ring

2011-09-23T14:09:00.003+02:00

A subtle version of a french manicure in black. Instead of the usual nude and white, I used black nailpolish from Rimmel and a matte topcoat from Essie. ´A delicate silver chain necklace is wrapped around my finger and is worn as a ring.

OUTFITS | Straight, Long, Powder Grey Skirt

2011-09-22T11:44:00.006+02:00

sweater: Uniqlo
skirt: courtesy of stylesofia.com
jacket: vintage
heels: Alexander Wang
lipstick: YSL rouge volupté

NOVELTY | Simone Rocha

2011-09-21T10:03:00.006+02:00

image credits: SimoneRocha.com , Colette

Graduated just last year from CSM, Simone Rocha(1986) presented her third collection in London. Visual illusions that she created with cutouts and transparent materials have become signature to her work as they were again present in her vision for next year's spring. Her genius elevated brogues were also again incorporated in the collection, this time in transparent and colored versions. “I love the tradition and masculinity of a classic brogue, but elevating this into a high heel makes it fresh.”

Rocha's elevated brogues with perplex wedges from last season have already been available at OAK and Colette since August. And in collaboration with Topshop, Simone Rocha also designed a capsule wardrobe that is available now online and in stores.

Like Love Aesthetics on facebook for more runway favorites

OPINION | 20 Euro Leather Jacket

2011-09-20T10:04:00.002+02:00

On the wall: The two Violettas by Helmut Newton, Look from Land Lookbook, YSL lipstick packaging folded open

Just above the hip, boxy shape, no additional zippers or frills, thick leather. And only 20 Euros. I found it at a seconhand market last weekend. Besides the fantastic bargains here's another reason(this is me being moralistic) to get vintage or secondhand clothes; I came accross an astonishing bit of data the other day; in the UK an average person disposes 55 kilo's of clothing and textiles each year. 1 kilo of cotton textile requires 11000 litres of water. Can you do the math? (source: imf)

OUTFITS | Wide Trousers

2011-09-19T15:50:00.006+02:00

trousers: vintage
turtleneck: H&M
cape jacket: The Scarletroom
cuff: Asos
heels: Alexander Wang

Wearing really really really wide trousers, I can fit both my legs into one of the leg of the trouser. So incredibly comfortable though I still have to get used to this silhouette.

OUTFITS | 1990´s Calvin Klein Sweater

2011-09-16T13:24:00.006+02:00

Late 90's Calvin Klein sweater: Ebay
maxi skirt: Self made

My new old sweater I got from Ebay! To me it is much more than a white sweater with a logo on it, I think it is an icon for the minimalistic fashion from the 1990's in which Calvin Klein played a huge role.

INTERIOR | Floating Clothing Rack

2011-09-15T17:35:00.005+02:00

Perhaps you've seen our coat rack in previous posts. It's made with the same principle as the DIY branche clothing rack. Making this one is even easyer. You'll need a tube, two hooks and a metal cable. Put the cable through the tube and hang it onto the ceiling and you're done.

We have this one hanging in our hallway, it's perfect for tiny Dutch homes where every space needs to be used as efficiently as possible; underneath we can put shoes, umbrellas and bags. I like to put different kinds of hangers on it, a couple of leather studded hangers from the 1980's, a few metal ones from IKEA and a couple of very thin ones from metal thread.

SHOES | Pointed

2011-09-15T10:48:00.004+02:00

Acne, Alexander Wang, Theyskens' Theory

A surreal shape with a benden heel, a shoe with a rabbit fur tail, 10cm wedges in ombre burgundy suede that fades into patent leather. Are you serious? Yes they are seriously breathtaking pieces of craftmanship.

I love the story behind the design of the Acne heels. They are inspired by 1980's kitten heels. Imagine stretching out an image, like when you're enlarging an image in photoshop and it goes wrong, you get an elongated misshaped figure. Imagine stretching out a 1980's kitten heeled pump, this is what you'll get.

ACCESSORIES | Square Bangle

2011-09-13T20:07:00.003+02:00

Angled bangle: Monki, 10 Euro

I've been obsessing about golden squared Stella McCartney cuffs. I've found a replacement, it is not as thick, it does not open and close, it has scratches, it is not golden. But for 0.2% of the price of Stella's cuff, I'll settle.

OUTFITS | Sweater Skirt

2011-09-11T19:14:00.003+02:00

longsleeve: Monki
knit sweater ties as skirt: Vintage
snake heels: Weekday

Buttoned shirts, longsleeves and Tshirts have a double duty in my wardrobe.(Check out my video on how to tie a skirt out of a T shirt). I started wearing tops as bottoms because of practical reasons; I wanted to wear a monochromatic heather grey outfit but only owned tops in that color so I tied a lonsleeve into a skirt. Same goes for today; a closet filled with knitted sweaters but no knitted skirts. I loved wearing it tied or with the sleeves hanging loose it reminds me of Comme des Garcons.

OUTFITS | Asymmetric

2011-09-11T11:03:00.003+02:00

asymmetric drape shirt: Weekday
shorts: American Apparel
heels: Alexander Wang

OUTFITS | Turtleneck

2011-09-08T14:46:00.002+02:00

turtleneck: Hans Ubbink
baseball jacket: American Apparel
necklace: Nelly
shoes: Acne

Found this gorgeous creme turtleneck from Hans Ubbink in my boyfriend's closet this morning. He has never worn it, the tags were still on. It's large enough to be worn as a dress and its made out of a heavy rib knit and has random stitches here and there that look like they are loose. I am in love with it.

NOVELTY | The Structured A/W collection of COS

2011-09-07T11:19:00.004+02:00

I love how modest and subtle yet how bold these structured pieces from the COS Autumn/Winter collection are.

BEAUTY | The Metal Nails

2011-09-07T09:43:00.005+02:00

I've gotten a massive amount of questions on my nails of the previous post. It is not a nail polish but a nail foil. Kind of like stickers for your nails. It was invented by a company named Minx who put in on the market back in 2007. Now you can get your nails foiled at lots of nail salons and buy nail foil at every other make up store if you want to do it yourself. I recommend the ones from Sephora, which I always use for my toenails. Unlike nailpolish it doesn't chip off, if no air get's underneath the sticky foil you can wear them as long as you want to. Foiling the nails on your hands is trickyer, a friend of mine -thanks Michelle!- who is a nail stylist and recently started working with nail Minx did mine.

LIFE | Sunday Kittens

2011-09-05T16:53:00.002+02:00

Off topic: Yesterday our cat delivered four gorgeous black kittens!

DIY | Burgundy Cut Out Shirt

2011-09-03T19:51:00.005+02:00

Cut out shirt seen at Maison Martin Margiela amongst many other labels.
Burgundy seen at Acne, also amongt many others.
I just hopped on the burgundy bandwagon.

Today I found a large silk mens shirt at a vintage shop and decided to cut in it a bit. Though because the shirt was too big the cutouts didn't stay in place and I had to make a few adjustments so they would actually look like two squares. Therefor I wouldn't advise using an oversized shirt for this DIY.

OUTFITS | Acid Wash Shorts

2011-09-01T16:34:00.004+02:00

A bit of a 90's inspired ensemble is what I'm wearing today together with a thrifted leather backpack from circa 1995. Acid wash jeans cut off to an odd length, triblend tee from American Apparel, thrifted bracelets, Nelly necklace and heels from Zara.

NOVELTY | A Book About Girls by Valentina Vos

2011-08-30T14:02:00.003+02:00

Today the second episode of a series of interviews I'm making for Fashionscene.nl will be online. It is a video series about the workingspaces of people who work in fashion. The picture is a screenshot of the interview with photographer Valentina Vos . Probably the sweetest girl on the planet. She is telling me about her book, One Seventy Four. When she opened the book to the first page it said; voor Ivania liefs Valentina, to Ivania love Valentina. A sweet surprise and an amazing addition to my book collection.

One Seventy Four
Two paragraphs from the introduction that say it all

The images show an unpretentious atmosphere, due to the fact that Valentina used no make up, merely the lipstick some of the models were already wearing. She is also a very talented stylist, using her own fashion collection combined with personal items of the models. from Mickey Mouse sweaters and cute panties to lumberjack shirts and tight dresses. Posing as little cats and bunnies and pulling funny faces. The chosen locations are not glamorous at all, the girls are photographed in front of a white background, everyday surroundings like the park, Valentina's appartment or even their own home.

None of the models is were retouched in Photoshop: forget the longer legs, adjusted hips and flawless skin. Every birthmark, bruise or spot is visible and makes them even more vulnerable. Valentina is showing you the real girls.

Order One Seventy Four by Valentina Vos here

LIFE | Lois, The Coolest Of Them All

2011-08-27T15:36:00.005+02:00

Mommy was proud when Lois picked her own clothes this morning and went for a pair of ripped acid wash jeans and a simple white tee. We went to buy her a pair of new Vans, I opted to replace the black ones she already has. But on our way there Lois spotted a girl in the bus with a pair of bright red ones on her feet. After that there was no way I could talk her into that black pair anymore.

ACCESSORIES | Stacked Rings

2011-08-25T19:05:00.004+02:00

Very Random post about:
Our retro couch that is falling apart but which we love anyway
Biker shorts=Cut off leggings
Shoes, Givenchy
Ravenclaw rings, Ebay
Upper finger ring,Hardware Store
Black half moons have been my favorite manicure, first seen on Charlie a few months ago.

LIFE | School & Writing For The Fashion Business

2011-08-23T21:31:00.006+02:00

Briefcase: Vintage
Notebooks, Agenda: Bijenkorf
Book: Writing for the fashion business by Kristen K. Swanson and Judith C. Everett

Today was a day of shopping, not for the new fall arrivals but for school supplies. Summer has ended and it is time to get back into those school benches. I study journalism but have aspired to specialize in fashion journalism long before I even started studying. I've been trying to built an archive of fashion magazines and books that will serve me as references. A book that gets picked up so often that I do not even bother to put it back on the shelf is; Writing for the fashion business by Kristen K. Swanson and Judith C. Everett.

For everyone who has ambitions like mine I recommend you to buy this book. Whether you want to work in public relations, become a magazine editor, write critical pieces for newspapers or make scripts for videos. This is a guide full of all the basics that you will need to know. The content of the journalistic chapters is very much like the book we use at school(Basisboek Journalistiek) Basic book for journalistic writing. It provides writing techniques that are tuned to the fashion industry. The PR and marketing chapters provide a good insight on how the opposite side of fashion works. How advertisers work to get brands out there and what their strategies are to manipulate the media.

The book explaines practical things like how to do an interview, how to review a fashion show and even has a few pages on how to avoid sexist writing. It also shows how to write letters if you want to borrow clothes from a brand or get seats at fashionweek. It is an immensly handy book to have on the bookshelf in case you are in doubt about anything during your writing process. The content on these 604 pages is too diverse to give a proper review on. But I can almost assure you that whatever question about fashion and media that pops into your mind right now; Yes the answer is in this book.

OUTFITS | Cut Tees

2011-08-22T11:01:00.005+02:00

cardigan: thrifted longsleeve cut open
cropped tee: random XL tee assymetrically cut
shorts: American Apparel
shoes: Weekday
necklace: Nelly

VIDEO | Land Dress

2011-08-19T09:24:00.003+02:00

music : Phantogram - You are the ocean

My friend Linda Erkens, founder and head designer of the label Land gifted me this fantastic dress. Being the perfectionist that she is, she wanted to take in a cm here and there. On the footage that was taped almost a month ago we were having a conversation about fits. I said that as a consumer I would have bought this dress anyway, you go into a store, you find your size, it fits more or less and you buy it. But she as the designer sees that half a cm could be taken in here and there. My thought would just be 'Yes! they still have my size!' Linda's partner at Land Guido Rijkse then added that that is the essence of a good designer; the garment should be so well designed that is always fits.
And at Land it does.

Soon the Land online shop will open its digital doors. It will be a place where you will find more garments like these which are all about fit and basic constructions and are not bounded to time.

OUTFITS | Collar Detail

2011-08-18T18:44:00.004+02:00

Detail of what I was wearing today; one of my boyfriend's shirt as a dress and an old black metal necklace from River Island underneath the collar.

NOVELTY | Playing With Proportions

2011-08-17T15:44:00.002+02:00

For this fall, Helmut Lang presented a few similar looks that consisted of a white long dress and a black jacket. By altering the lengths of the jackets and the skirts the same basic principle can be applied to different occasions. The longest dress drapes onto the floor and has the most luxurious and decadent feel to it, the shorter versions could be better classified as casual daywear. But the second look is my absolute favorite with the odd and unusual lengths while everything is still in perfect proportion.