Last minute Christmas gift/wish!

Nothing to wear? Just SPRAY your outfit!

Designing and creating your own outfit was never that simple! Thanks to the Spanish designer Manel Torres you don't have to search for that perfectly fitting top any more. The answer: don't pray just spray! See here how the spray works and get inspired by Torres' collection in this movie: 

Sometimes you ask yourself: Why?!

The first time it's too weird to laugh about it, the second time

you can't stop laughing

And for the other curious people who want to know why, just click

My dress is made in Bangladesh, should I feel guilty?

Does Doutzen know about the working
conditions of the people who produce the
clothes for H&M?

I just posted a tweet to @AsicsAmsterdam to ask them about the working conditions and an endurable wage for people in Colombia who make their products, like my pink running shoes? Mirjam Sterk made me do this. I saw her documentary (at Uitzendinggemist)about Sophea, who works at a garment factory in Colombia, because, since the collapse of the Rana Plaza factory in Bangladesh in April this year (which killed more than 1000 workers), I don't dare to buy anything at the H&M or ZARA anymore. 

Okay, to be honest, I bought one long grey dress for a colour festival last summer at the H&M (even when I saw it was 'made in Bangladesh', so the person who made it could be dead!). But I didn't had any 'fashionable' clothes that could get dirty, and - as you may understand - I didn't want to spend too much money on a dress I could probably only wear once (yeah right, I hear myself think right now). But, the dress came - unexpectedly  - CLEAN(!) out the washer... hmmmm, so knowing that people gave their lives while making the dress,... this sounds really ridiculous, but it's the truth... So my idea was, and still is, to make a statement (with that dress). I want to write a question on the dress like: 'This dress is made in Bangladesh, should I feel guilty?'. 

After seeing the documentary I think I should, but that docu is saying only one 'half' of the story. And although that half story is saying a lot abouth the truth, I want to hear the truth and the other half of the story from the big (fat of dirty money?) companies like H&M, Mango, ZARA, Esprit, Asics, Vero Moda etc. What do they know about the working conditions in 'their' fabrics, and do they care about it? And knowing that a country like Colombia is not comparable to a Western, prosperous country like the Netherlands, what are 'good' working conditions and an 'endurable' wage like? And what are the consequences of this improvement?

pfff okay, a lot of questions, but I think this is important to think about. And maybe you are wondering where you can buy a lovely 'Fair' dress? Well, at fairwear you can make your own shopping list with brands that are fair or at least take the necessary steps to get there. Or download the talking dress app. 

Hmmm... a lot of dresses included in this text, but this message is also for the lovely men! 

Ps. I will keep you posted about the possible answer of AsicsAmsterdam. I hope so, because I really like to keep on buying Asics running shoes...

500 Dollar Dreamhouse

Located in the mountains of West Virginia you find the most wonderful house/cabin I’ve ever seen (on screen). This one-of-a-kind glass cabin made of discarded windows is what I see as the realization of today’s tendency of romanticism, back to nature, ecologism, greenism, beardism, consciousism, having-less-is-having-moreism, slow-living and creative-with-less-moneyism.

Check the video below and visit My Modern Met for the story behind... 

Tips for your higher-than-high heels days

How beautiful they might look, the much more confidence they might give you or whatever reason you have to walk on higher-than-high-heels, I still prefer comfort (I think I’m naturally a ‘flats person’) and I only wear – the most comfortable I can find – heels at special occasions. So, especially for those moments, for high-heels-lovers and the ‘naturally heels persons’ (and everybody in between) some tips from the professionals! Like how do you get gracefully out of a car? Or when do you have to buy your shoes/heels? I’ll give you already the answer on the latter from  Sarah Rutson (fashion director at LaneCrawford): “Never buy heels in the morning, do it in the afternoon when your feet have expanded” > that’s a good one, non?!

Goooood Morning!

Did you hear about the 21 year young(!) Ásgeir from Iceland? He won several prices at the Iceland Music Awards, like Album of the Year, Best Newcomer, Public Choice Award etc. and now he is going to take over the rest of the world (I'm already hooked)

Wake up with his new single King and Cross... Hmmm I love it!

Robbie was in town!

Yesterday were the recordings of College Tour with the one and only Robbie fucking Williams  (I'm sorry for fucking, but you'll understand why I am writing that when you see College Tour tonight, 20.25u NTR, NL3) in the Dutch Pop Temple Paradiso and I was one of the 500 lucky bastards/students who could join the show(!)

If you not already do, you'll gonna love him after you have seen the show tonight. Robbie is charming, a gentleman, he has a huge bunch of humour and self-mockery and he has that very sexy little arrogance which - yet - makes him so attractive - even after 39 years and gaining weight for "30 pounds".

Before the interview started, we were told we could ask him any question (but we weren't allowed to take pictures). It seemed that mr. Williams had left his past of alcohol&drugs behind, that he got over it, and that he could speak openly about it now he came into calmer waters (married in 2010 with Ayda Field and became father of daughter Theodora Rose Williams (Teddy) – since 2012), although,  as being a sensitive person, he had to sweep a little tear away during the show.

When the alcohol&drugs topic was brought up, he told that he could not blame his fame to the addictions: “Even if I was a carpenter […] I would have become an alcoholic”. He also never regretted being famous, that’s actually what he always wanted to be, thus in a next life he would do the same. Simultaneously he's kind of afraid that he is not good at anything else, because the only thing he was good at at school were the social activities, “I hope I’m dyslexic”.

Besides the predictable alcohol&drugs topic (and a – desperate/daring? - “can I have a kiss from you”-question), the questions diverge. Williams told about and showed the Elvis Pray he does with his crew before the start of every concert and about a very awkward moment he had when he asked what the green thing was he had in his hand (namely a cucumber), he showed his new tattoo, answered the question if his image of being a sex bomb influences his family life and my question about what his ultimate dream concert would be like, the answer was surprising, but also related to his newest album. Twan Huys (the presenter) showed Robbie’s several performances at Paul de Leeuw and his guest role in Little Britain, something he definitely wants to do more in the future.

This was just a selection of the several funny, touching and honest moments of the show. Go see it tonight, or, if you can’t – for whatever reason – go to uitzendinggemist.

                       Robbie in Little Britain  

THE MUCH, MUCH @ The Dutch Embassy

There you go, a beautiful impression of the event of The Much, Much at the Dutch Embassy during the Paris Fashion Week (even Diane Pernet was there! - a Paris-based American born French international, famous and eccentric fashion blogger and critic).

Meet Robin the Dumpster Diver

Tegenlicht interviews several ‘crisis-childs’  of the eighties, which are now thirty somethings. It’s very interesting and inspiring how they talk about their vision of the ‘new economy’, the world of tomorrow, and how they embody this world. Meet Robin for example, a Dumpster Diver, he doesn’t shop at the supermarket, but he dives into Amsterdam’s garbage cans for his daily bread. He guides and teaches other people how to become a dumpster diver too(see his website for more tips and tricks for living with less money). Or Thomas, he is co-founder of Impact HUB Amsterdam who helps people realizing their ideas and initiatives for a better world.

Have alook at the next generation!

My (not feeling guilty) guilty pleasure

I think nowadays guilty pleasures are not what they used to be, namely, something to feel yourself (a little bit) guilty about. Guilty pleasures were like little secrets you only tell your best friend about. But it's like everybody has a guilty pleasure and tells about it with no guilt at all. A few weeks ago even Matthijs van Nieuwkerk told about his not-so-guilty-pleasure song in his own show. Although I'm a supporter of frankness and against taboos, I'm a bit afraid that this trend will get out of control and that in a while guilty pleasures will be the topic at my families birthday parties(!!), which will probably end up in very awkward situations...(which can be really fun too)

Okay, I will not finish this post without telling you (one of) my guilty pleasure which I am not really feeling guilty about, (why) should I? I like poo and pee jokes... and I'm not the only one, that's for sure, because Rafael Rozendaal likes them too(!), you can see here at one of his digital artworks> just draw the finger...

Don't forget to check his website too, because he also makes really interesting computer art, ENJOY!

Tease yourself!

There you go! A teaser about THE MUCH MUCH at the Paris Fashion Week SS'14

THE MUCH, MUCH rocks the Paris Fashion Week

As I told you in my last post I went to Paris with THE MUCH, MUCH (I forgot about the comma last time) to report about their guerrilla shows at the Paris Fashion Week. Let me tell you one thing firs: WOW!!! - there are a lot of WOW's going through my mind this last 48 hours - 

What I have seen and experienced there in Paris is triggering, exciting, inspiring, surprising, energizing, fresh and goosebumping. THE MUCH, MUCH is about deeds, not words, and shows that deeds can make the difference.

Okay, that was my hymn, no I will tell you what exactly triggered, excited, inspired, surprised, energized, freshed and goosebumped me so MUCH, MUCH (within just one day of experience).

THE KICK-OFF

The kick-off guerrilla show on saturday was at 13.15pm at sunny Jardin des Tuileries where the Viktor&Rolf show took place. Unfortunately the big black showbus was blocked by the security, so all the models and designers went on foot to the garden. This place was full of bloggers, press and other photographers waiting for the fashionable passer-by to shoot. The models entered the Jardin and in no time they were surrounded by camera's. Each model held a board in one hand with the name of their designer on it. Interested parties (like people form VOGUE Japan or ELLE UK) talked with the designers and they interchanged each others business cards. The first attempt to show THE MUCH, MUCH to the (fashion) world was a success.

Models showing outside Jardin des Tuileries

Model of Christina Engsig showing at Jardin des T.

Scott Schuman (the Sartorialist) at Jardin des T.

Fashionable passer-by at Jardin des Tuileries

TRAFFIC JAM AT VIVIENNE WESTWOOD

After an energizing first show and a big baguette lunch (all the models too) it was time for the show at Vivienne Westwood, Le centorial, 18 rue du 4 septembre. But this time the show was complete, because the showbus was there too. The Westwood show was located in a building, in a street, so the photographers were set on one spot and not spread all over the place like at Jardin des Tuileries. The security was keeping an eye on us, but this time there were no barriers to block the bus, because the street was open for traffic. 

The intention was to park the bus at the front of the building and to wait until the security would ask to leave the place. When that would happen, the rear cover would open and the models would walk out through the crowd to cause tumult and to attract some extra attention. 

Unforeseen there was no security who asked the bus to drive away. It was like everybody - even the security - thought this was part of the Vivienne Westwood show(!!). The photographers and the public aggregated themselves behind the bus, waiting for what will come. 

- and now the WOW!!!-moment comes - 

When the rear cover went open you could hear a pin drop, but when the first model came out the bus there was a wave of camera flashes that didn't stop for the next few minutes. WOW!!! That gave me goosebumps.

Despite the traffic jam that arised there was no security in sight. The designers and their models could undisturbed present themselves to the interested parties. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

Discussing the next guerrilla show at Vivienne Westwood 

The models in the showbus before the next guerrilla show

Traffic jam of photographers at the next guerrilla show 

There is so MUCH, MUCH more to tell you about my adventures with this amazing group (and why I think they are so special), but I leave it this way for now, I will tell you about THE MUCH, MUCH beyond soon. First I want to give you some time to enjoy them, because they will be in Paris until wednesday (they also have an event at the Dutch embassy this tuesday, tomorrow). So if you are not already doing it, I seriously recommend you to follow THE MUCH, MUCH and see more pictures and films on their Facebook, twitter and website

THE new generation of Fashion Designers

Did you hear about The MUCH MUCH? Because they are going to make some noooooice in the world of fashion (and beyond). The MUCH MUCH is 'present in being MUCH, has the ambition to be MUCH MUCH(er) and is above all never too MUCH'. 

Next saturday they will represent themselves during the Paris Fashion Week. While the fashionista's flaunt to the next show they will be confrontated with this fashion collective of individuals from Arnhem. The eighteen graduated students of the art academy ArtEZ give their own 'show' at different places outside, unexpected, that (definitely) will blow you away.
As being a collective, the designers present themselves and their work individually. They are individuals who present themselves as a group, a group with 'a variety of 'MUCH' styles and 'MUCH' ideas'. 
Actually I know these new generation of fashion designers for over four years. They were my classmates during the one year period that I studied at ArtEZ. So that´s what made me decide to go to Paris next week too! Next saturday (28th), when the Paris Fashion Week starts, until sunday (29th) I will follow The MUCH MUCH during their ´shows´. 
It´s unusual that a group (so big!) of fashion designers show their idea's and vision about fashion together. I think the last
group who did this were The Antwerp Six in 1986. At that time Walter Van Beirendonck, Dirk Bikkembergs, Marina Yee, Dirk Van Saene, Ann Demeulemeester and Dries Van Noten drove their work over to London for the British Designers Show where they catched the attention. Nowadays (most of) these designers do have a successful fashion career. 

What will become of these eighteen brave, stubborn fashion rebels only the future can tell, but let me tell you, that you will hear MUCH MUCH more from them soon and in the late future as well. 

Curious? Check The MUCH MUCH and follow Anneleen Bertels+Christina Engsig+Sarah Knuepfer+Vera Moerkens+Roderick Buijs+Korinna Van Balkom+Henriette Tilanus+Joris Suk+Pieter Eliens+Hans Hutting+Roos Mol+Aniek Zinken+Marina Sala+Liselore Frowijn+Piet Caarls+Sarah Van Ours+Cherish Brouwer+Tessa de Boer.

Just love her (chop)

If I were gay, I would definately have a crush on Garance Doré, and in fact I already have one

Accidental Chinese Hipsters

Kind of a Facebookhype, so maybe you already mentioned this one. There are two sites with the same name (Accidental Chinese Hipsters), but I like this one better. ENJOY!

PROBLEM: electronic devices are not designed to last :SOLVED?

'A phone only lasts a couple of years before it breaks or becomes obsolete. Although it's often just one part that killed it, we throw everything away because it's almost impossible to repair or upgrade'

Dave Hakkens (graduate of Design Academy Eindhoven 2013) wanted to solve this problem and invented the so called phonebloks. The bloks are like lego bricks, where you can build/costumize your own phone with. So, if you want, for example, a better camera on your phone, you can just replace the current with a better one and you don't need to buy a complete new phone. 

It seems to be soooo simple, but I think you can call this a ingenious project, something that can/will change the world and people's way of thinking. For example, what about a car that you can make longer when you are going on a family day-trip and make it easily shorter, when you are going to your work, alone? So you can spare money on the fuel and lend the rest of your car to your neighbours. 

Hakkens perfectly represents the designer as wat he/she nowadays is and does, in a nutshell: solving problems for people like you and me, and for the rest of the world. Hakkens simply describes his intention as 'trying to make the world better by making things...'

With this example (and more will be passing by) I am trying to let you understand what design and a designer are. But don't make the mistake by thinking that this is design and always will be. Because the definitions of design and a designer are continuously changing. 

Design Is The Future

Vanaf now on... I will write everything in English*. This week I start with the english master Design Cultures at the Vrije Universiteit of Amsterdam, and I really need to improve my English. 
From now on I will also tell you all my experiences regarding the Master and design itself. I think that design is the future. Design can make everybody (people like you and me) more aware of the world we live in. More aware of what we do(or don't), eat, drink, buy, use and what the concequences are of our behaviour. More aware of the beauty and vulnerability of our world, the earth were we all live, together. How? I will show you from now on. 
First I recommend you to see the rerun of yesterday's Zomergasten with pioneer, designer, entrepreneur and (communicative) artist Daan Roosegaarde. His tirelessly passion for design is not only inspiring, also his work shows that nothing is impossible and that design has no borders (see the movie below). 

* For the best I can. The plan is that my English skills will get better every post ;)

What the *ism?

Wat is jou fetisj? Bij die vraag kijken mensen nogal eens raar op, want de associaties bij een fetisj zijn (in Westerse ogen) vaak nogal seksistisch van aard en daar laat men zich niet zo graag over uit. Maarrrrrr een fetisj is veel meer dan dat! Wat dacht je van een verzamelfetisj, schoenenfetisj of een schort als ultiem fetisj-item, aldus Lidewij Edelkoort. Deze trendvoorspeller van eigen bodem is dit jaar curator van de Mode Biennale (MºBA ) in Arnhem en heeft gekozen voor het thema Fetishism in Fashion. Tot en met 21 juli zijn er velerlei modieuze activiteiten te doen in Arnhem. Denk aan een heuse fetisj-route, waar 20 winkels hun eigen 'obsessie' tentoonstellen, talloze workshops, modeshows en exposities. 'De hoofdexpositie FETISHISM IN  FASHION  wordt tentoongesteld in MºBA CENTRAAL  en bestaat uit 13 kamers waarin de fascinerende, wonderlijke en verstrekkende wereld van het fetisjisme wordt blootgelegd. De ware aard van het  fetisjisme wordt tot leven gebracht aan de hand van kleding, accessoires, fotografie, film en een mix van media'. Infantilism, absurdism, nomadism, regionalism, sadomasochism en nog vele andere -ismes komen voorbij. Kijk op de website van de MºBA en plan een lekker dagje Arnhem!

Goed voor de lachspieren!

Een opkikkertje nodig? Of gewoon zin om even te lachen? Ik denk dat je hier wel een smile on your face van krijgt, enjoy!

Met je rok op de fiets, het kan!

'Ja leuk die rok, maar daar kan ik toch niet mee fietsen?' Wij Nederlanders staan bekend om onze voornamelijk praktische kleding. En misschien is de fiets daarvan wel de grootste oorzaak/boosdoener. Voor mannen geen probleem misschien, maar voor ons vrouwen (of laat ik voor mezelf spreken) is de keuze tussen een broek en een (koker)rok daardoor snel gemaakt. Ik doe ook liever niet moeilijk als het makkelijk kan. Heb het wel eens geprobeerd hoor, zo'n rok op de fiets, en dan hang ik mijn jas semi-nonchalant over m'n stuur, zodat mijn tegenliggers niet per ongeluk worden 'afgeleid'. Maar  het blijft een hoop gedoe: knietjes bij elkaar bij het op en afstappen, rok weer omlaag trekken en tegelijkertijd proberen je evenwicht te houden terwijl je je schoudertas nog even een zwaai de goede kant op geeft. A hell of a job.

Maar, mijn gebeden zijn gehoord en nu is er de reveal skirt van Iva Jean. Je ritst simpelweg aan de achterkant je rok naar boven, waardoor deze wijder wordt. Zo spring je zonder 'poespas' op je fietsje. Aangekomen op je bestemming? Rits 'm dan weer naar benee en je hebt weer een fabuleuze kokerrok.

Nieuwsgierig? > http://ivajean.com/shop/reveal-skirt/

Trend pet

Ik zou er zooooooo graag eentje willen: een hond. Een trouwe viervoeter die je iedere keer bij thuiskomst kwispelend tegemoet komt en je bespringt met een lik op je wang. Maarja, als student zijnde is dat geen goed plan, I know. Ik blijf de gedachte koesteren totdat ik de mogelijkheid heb. Tot die tijd houd ik het maar bij kater Loewie van mijn ouders en lekkermakende kiekjes als deze > http://www.trendtablet.com/5187-trend-pet/

Ken je deze nog, nog, nog..?

Ik blijf nog even in de nostalgische hoek (zie mijn vorige bericht hieronder). Tot mijn grote vreugde kwam ik de rode doosjes met rozijnen tegen in de schappen van de Albert. Ik weet niet of ze altijd zijn blijven bestaan, maar ik kreeg spontaan een nostalgische flashback naar mijn jonge kinderjaren. Ik had ze namelijk jaren niet meer gezien. Zelfs mijn jongere neefjes en nichtjes en ander jong grut heb ik niet met dit verantwoorde snoep gezien de afgelopen tijd (trekdrop en kauwgomballen zijn natuurlijk veel cooler). Zelf twijfelde ik geen moment en stopte een sixpack in mijn blauwe mandje. 

My favorite!

We worden steeds meer ondergesneeuwd door nieuwe (A, B en C)merken. Als kritische consument blijven we daarom niet meer ons leven lang een product van hetzelfde merk gebruiken. Alhoewel, er zijn uitzondering wat mij betreft. Zo heb ik vooral in de wintermaanden steevast een (nostalgisch)blikje NIVEA creme bij me(waarom er geen accent grave op de eerste e van crème staat weet ik niet, maar dat doet er verder niet toe). Ik hoop nog lang  mijn handen te kunnen verwennen met dit vette goedje. En hoewel ik dacht dat de vormgeving van de verpakking (lees: de herkenbare blauwe 'nivea kleur' en witte letters) nauwelijks was veranderd sinds haar bestaan, zat ik er wat dat betreft enorm NAAST! Check hier het blikje door de jaren heen. 

En niet geheel onbelangrijk, de prijs lijkt wel ouderwets gebleven

Futurefood

Stiekem denkt iedereen er wel eens over na (denk ik), over hoe de toekomst eruit zal komen te zien. Op trendtablet.com doet Lidewij Edelkoort een nauwkeurige gooi. Deze trendwatcher, trend forecaster van Nederlandse bodem is wereldwijd bekend. Ik bezoek trendtablet.com sinds kort met enige regelmaat, uit nieuwsgierigheid vooral en interesse. Zo kwam ik vandaag terecht bij het onderwerp Food Future. Deze 'blog' geeft een fantastisch overzicht over de kijk op voedsel, in de toekomst natuurlijk. In de toekomst komt ons eten van de straat, uit de buurt en is het vooral puur, vers en eerlijk. Een filmpje over mobile hospitality laat een voorbeeld zien. Prachtig concept als je het mij vraagt, als beginnend toekomstige ondernemer heb je niet veel (geld) nodig. Waar ik af en toe wel de kriebels van krijg zijn die lichte foto's en filmpjes met te fris en te 'nieuw' ogende materialen en mensen met van die té eenvoudige, maar fashionabele, kleding en dito te GROTE bril en gladde, gekamde haren (waar zij de lekkere krullebollen?). Wat dat betreft, als ik de toekomst mag bepalen, zou ik dat lichtbruine IKEA-hout vervangen door ruig, gerecycled hout en komen er normale mensen in de foto's en filmpjes voor met zichtbare poriën, een drie-dagen-baardje en sproetjes. Voor de rest zeg ik: laat je inspireren, ontroeren, intimideren, overdonderen en-wat-nog-meer door de 'toekomst'... volg de toekomst

P.S. Over IKEA-hout gesproken, noordelijk Europa trekt het paard van de toekomst (wat eten betreft). Hier een video over NOMA, het beste (Deense) restaurant ter wereld op dit moment.