INTERIOR INSPIRATION | White desk

ph / Hitta Hem

In the run-up to a new home and the consequences that a certain coloured wall can make, I try to find as much interior inspiration as possible to be well prepared. It is really hard to decide upon paint and accessories when we don't even have a space yet! I will become twenty in a few days, and I plan to receive another load of vacuum cleaners, porcelain and lampshades. But who knows, this desk could be in there too... I love the showcase-function of this workspace and the serene, white surrounding. Unfortunately, this IKEA edition isn't available in white anymore. But a complete black desk could be interesting too... Choices, choices.

 How would your ideal working area look like?

OUTFIT | 11012012

ph / boyfriend

So, thanks to my education for these photo's! First things first: hereby I claim my non-existing modeling talent. I had a really hard time to take a pose and smile in front of staring people mowing their yards. An assignment for school forced me to take a closer look at my outfit. So here it is.

My coat has become my best buddy during crispy cold winter days. The multiple layers make me turn into walking origami-art. I combined the soft wool with an oversized favourite of mine and spiced it up with neoprene, a coated jeans and sneakers.

grey coat: COS
white leather waiscoat: H&M against aids men's collection
white oversized jacket: Zara
neoprene t-shirt: H&M Trend
burgundy beanie: H&M
sneakers: New Balance

CITYTRIP | a small guide to antwerp

Eating, dining, wining, I won't dare to call myself an expert on Antwerp, but I did have a nice stroll along the Schelde this weekend.

Food
Our not-so-good experience with a sushiplace made us stay-in the other night and enjoy some tapas from the nearby supermarket. I asked around for some nice restaurants and the following names came up multiple times... 't Lastig Portret (Blindestraat 1) houses art students and serves fresh, simple food for fine prices. Café Berlin (Kleine Markt 1) is perfectly located in the Southern Area, across the psychedelic and youthful Kavka (Oudaan 14) venue and a two-minutes walk from the Fashion Museum.

Coffee
I can strongly recommend Norma (Minderbroersrui 30) for your daily sip of coffee. Barista Jens burns his own coffee while surrounded by mohawks, grannies and housewifes. Broer Bretel (Nassaustraat 7) is a homebase in the far North area, best accessible by (rented) bike (try the Central Station). Enjoy an espresso and take a stroll along the docks to spot some of the old sailor tattoos.

Shopping
The Meir is the easiest way to fulfill your needs. All the big chainstores are located around this broad path, which leads you into the old city centre. Much more interesting are the stores in the Nationalestraat with CLOSED, Renaissance, Labels inc. and (my personal favourite) AllSaints. Copyright (Nationalestraat 28a) is full of books and magazines of the local fashion institute, great for wandering. The small China Town (Van Wesenbekestraat) is brilliant for horrible statues of cats and the weirdest snacks in town. And also don't miss out on the recordstores which are all centered around the Lange Koepoortstraat.

Sleeping
We stayed over in designhotel Sir Plantin (Plantin en Moretuslei 136-140) were the breakfast is expensive (€15 per person) but the beds incredible. It is a nice experience to wake up under the argus-eyed portrait of a historical Belgian painter. The hotel is just a five-minute walk away from the Central Station, though, there are probably hotels that are closer to the city centre and have a nicer staff.

Non-sleeping
Antwerp has so many opportunities to enjoy your night! We booked tickets for a New Years Eve in Café d'Anvers (Verversrui 15), not knowing it was in the heart of the prostitute district... The old church with its industrial outside and minimal music does guarantee some sore feet after a night of dancing. SCHELD'APEN (d'Herbouvillekaai 36) is a mixture of crazy art and brilliant musicians, but quite off centre and best when its summer. De Muze (Melkmarkt 10) has hippie hair and free jazz music every day. You'll find more live music in Crossroads (Paardenmarkt 115) and Kid's Rhythm 'n' Blues Kaffee (Grote Markt 50).

Now it's time for the real experts to give me some golden tips for my next visit. What do you enjoy most in Antwerp?

ph / Martha Stewart, afterdrk, Café d'Anvers

2013 | to new adventures

ph / original Carol Christian Poel

Here is to new adventures. Bigger dreams. Creating desire. Appreciating the smallest smiles. Learn. Wish. Enjoy.

I've stopped making New Year's resolutions, simply because they never will be life-changing. I believe in bigger ideas that become ideals. Not to lose that twelve pounds, but to aim for a healthy vision on food. Not to graduate, but to absorb as much knowledge and inspiration as possible.

2013 will hopefully be a year full of self-knowledge and development in every field and every discipline and a sharper eye for aesthetics. I'm up for a new adventure. How about you?

EDITORIAL | oneindig schier

ph / Annemarieke van Drimmelen for Vogue Netherlands, November 2012

Flashback to the nineties, when logo's couldn't be bold enough and the underground venues were filled with uncovered bellies and Palazzo pants. This attempt of modernism in the deserted wasteland of the (not so tropical) islands of Holland is mesmerizing. Makes me want to book a one-way ticket to endless beaches under heavy clouds. And now the main question: To crop or not to crop? I have to answer with no. Don't want to miss out on all the good things of December (FOOD).

BLOGROLL | spare time virtuosity

Camilleovertherainbow | Camille, Paris
Oh yes. She is definitely a 'blogger-blogger'. She owns a pair of the classic Nike Free Runs, was one of the first to rock the baggy leather pants and has ongoing legs that are on everybody's wishlist. The half-French, half-British Camille also has 'it', the unknown chromosome that adds a little bit of extra nowness to every outfit. She is my latest find in the blogosphere, and certainly a source of inspiration.

LizaChloe | Liza Chloe, Paris/Amsterdam
With her easy sense of style and typical Dutch sense of functionality, Liza Chloe is living the dream in Paris. Her always surprising face-expressions mismatch her sober outfits in a fun way. And what's not to love when dark lips, high buns and Margiela's garments are spread over the pages? Liza's blog is worth a stop-by for anyone who needs dynamism and energy in greyscale.

The Haute Pursuit | Vanessa Hong, Beijing/HongKong/New York
Since my new hair length is completely based on some pictures of The Haute Pursuit I showed my hairdresser, Vanessa couldn't be left out in this top five. I adore her effortless basics, the simple and natural posing and did I already mention her hair? I dare to say that The Haute Pursuit has an even amount of the 'Cool Kid'-factor as A. Wang. Bang!

WeHaveNoStyle | Iris and Daniel, San Diego, California
Iris and her 'spouse in style' Daniel have the refreshening perspective and in-deep analyses that everybody should take a sip off now and then. Their blog is radical different from the well-known lay-outs and combines old with new, eclecticism and optical illusions with innovative techniques. It contains all the miracles of Photoshop you never thought you would ever be using...

WeThePeople | Jessie Bush, Sydney
I prefer the honest and personal take that Jessie has been taking lately. I want more of her cropped hair, mesmerizing travels to Paris and Asia, more of her short trousers and heels mix. She has the talent to capture the most unusual mixtures of people, clothing and accessories. Always under the burning Aussie sun.

MY PICKS | resort collections pre-fall 2013

ph / style.com, collage by me

Imagine me behind a sowing machine. Had a good laugh?This will be my (nearby) future, so I'd better absorb some inspiration from the latest Resort collections for Pre-Fall 2013. God, 2013 is almost here, and it keeps getting better! My picks are obviously on the greyscale, even though the collections contain loads of the darkest burgundies and blacks, hitting the gothic side of the colour spectrum.

I went for the other end, full of camels (the colour, not the animal), faded whites, washed out pinks and a good old jersey knit. I could write poems on the lovebaby of camel and grey. The masculine and oversized shapes are here to stay (did they ever leave?), but adjusted with lower, feminine necklines. Interesting to wear when negotiating about higher wages without losing yourself on the tacky side (leopard and push-up bra's, rawrr). I kept pasting pictures in the collage, but it looked like some kind of Paint-art. So I left the best ones out... See Philip Lim, Calvin Klein and Diesel Black Gold for yourself here.

From left to right: Narcisco Rodriguez, Bottega Veneta, Alexander Wang, Reed Krakoff, Proenza Schouler