chanel the making of
By On In Style407 Comments

I love to get a glimpse of what goes on behind the scenes of a large fashion brand. Especially when it concerns one of the most iconic fashion houses in the world. I’m currently spending my day in bed sick and have been re-watching the making of several Chanel Haute-Couture collections. Even though I don’t consider myself a Chanel woman (not a fan of the flashy logos on their bags and I could never pull off a classic Chanel look), I do find the process of creating a new collection incredibly fascinating. The amount of time and energy that goes into each garment is absolutely mind-blowing. Each piece of clothing is made with the utmost precision and care.

You can watch the short videos here:
Fall/Winter 2013-2014, Fall/Winter 2014-2015, Fall/Winter 2015-2016, Fall/Winter 2016-2017

If you have a little more time to spare, I also recommend the behind the scenes documentary ‘Signé Chanel’ from 2005 which shows the design process from sketch to finished product. While the Chanel Haute-Couture making of videos mostly focus on the intricate details of different garments, Signé Chanel also focusses on the designer but most of all on the people who turn his sketches into real clothes; his atelier. My favourite and, without a doubt, most interesting character is Madame Pouzieux, a then 75 year old farmer who is also responsible for the signature Chanel braids which she creates on an antique loom in her farm house. You can watch the episodes here.

planning a fall winter wardrobe
By On In Wardrobe1,225 Comments

While I have my fall / winter wardrobe pretty much sorted, it never hurts to asses your current wardrobe and see if there are any gaps that need to be filled. I probably don’t need to tell you that these colder seasons are my favourites of the four. Cozy knits, thick coats and layering are the things I look forward to the most. As with my summer wardrobe I created a Pinterest board for inspiration. Both outfits in the images above are simple but chic nonetheless. While some might consider flared jeans trendy, I find them elegant and flattering and most of all, timeless when the combination is right, such as above. But as I’m extremely picky about the many different washes blue jeans come in, I consider my chances of finding the perfect pair of blue flared jeans very slim. And to be honest, I don’t really need them.

Material-wise I’m going with wool, cashmere and cotton. One thing I simply cannot live without when it’s cold, is a simple cotton camisole that I can wear underneath my knits and can tuck into my trousers. I will never forgot those days in high school when I needed to cycle to school and I could feel the wind on my lower back underneath my sweater and coat. That’s also the reason why I prefer longer coats by the way.

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My colour palette is as safe and subdued as it can possibly get but I’m okay with that. I’m not looking to experiment in any way. It’s funny how I used to think that nobody would notice my clothes because of how simple and monochrome they usually are. However, throughout the years I have learned that it’s all about the fit and cut of an item that may actually set your outfit apart. There’s no need for bold colours or prints and a hefty price tag is definitely no guarantee for a well-fitting garment. My old, very basic, black blazer from H&M Trend that I’ve owned for at least five years is beautifully cut and still receives many compliments.

But back to wardrobe planning, here’s a short list of things I wish to acquire this fall and/or winter:

  1. A grey merino wool cardigan. As much as I love cashmere, it’s too warm for the office.
  2. A pair of straight fitting jeans.
  3. Isabel Marant Igor blazer. I’ve had my eyes on it for quite some time now but I honestly think it’s tremendously overpriced. So hopefully I will get my hands on it during the sales.

All three items would easily fit into my existing wardrobe and the cardigan and blazer would make the transition from summer to fall to winter a lot easier. Additionally, ever since I lost a fair amount of weight, I’ve been in dire need of some new jeans. Below you’ll find two collages to see how I would style them with things I already own. Don’t expect anything too exciting though.

Please note, some of the links below are affiliate links.

fall-winter-outfit-daarboven


From left to right, top to bottom: Uniqlo merino wool cardigan (€40), Topshop straight jeans (€55), A.P.C. half moon bag (€345), Adidas Stan Smith (€85), Filippa K Dean coat (old)
fall-winter-outfit-daarboven3
From left to right, top to bottom: Isabel Marant Igor blazer (€380), Topshop Jamie jeans (€55), Balenciaga city bag (€1395), Isabel Marant Dicker boots (€385), Isabel Marant Kenton t-shirt (€110)

cold weather essentials
By On In Wardrobe351 Comments

An anonymous person asked me on Tumblr what my 5 cold weather essentials are, so I figured why not answer the question in a blogpost. I know, I’m cheating a little here but candles improve any bad weather situation so they’re not necessarily a cold weather essential.

1. Double-breasted wool peacoat from Isabel Marant (similar here)
2. Ambre candle from Diptyque
3. Cashmere cardigan from Uniqlo
4. Lambswool scarf from Acne Studios
5. Black chelsea boots from Massimo Dutti (similar here)
6. Lip balm from Kiehls or Nuxe

Now tell me yours!

the new garconne
By On In Style411 Comments

I spent a large part of my youth reading whatever I could get my hands on. I used to visit the library every single week, borrowing several books at a time. Unfortunately the pressure of reading many, many books in high school and university somewhat killed the pleasure of reading for me. Along with this fast paced world we are currently living in, I can hardly find the time to rediscover my love for books. However, occasionally I’ll pick up a style related book for some light reading such as The New Garconne – How to be a Modern Gentlewoman.

The book by Navaz Batliwalla celebrates fashion’s gentlewomen. Inspiring, independent and relatable women with a penchant for classic styles and a more reflective way of shopping such a La Garçonne founder Kris Kim and perfumer Lyn Harris. A nice change from the usual well-known fashion suspects. Apart from the interviews you’ll also come across an enjoyable essay on the evolution of the gentlewoman, a section on the classic items that every Gentlewoman most likely has in her closet and a shopping guide which not only focusses on designer brands but also more attainable high street brands such as COS.

I definitely don’t consider this the ‘perfect’ style-guide but is there really such a thing? What I like about it is that it’s not another book that dictates you what to buy. Instead, the profiles of these fairly unknown, modern women leave you inspired and make you rethink your own wardrobe. The imagery is lovely and the design is very reminiscent of the Gentlewoman magazine. The only negative thing I can think of is that I got through it rather quickly and would have loved to read more on the subject. This book would make a great gift for the upcoming holiday season or just as a gift to yourself.

On an entirely different note, I’ll be in London the next three days for work and tomorrow (Monday) I’ll be exploring the city on my own before my colleague joins me on Tuesday. I don’t know if this blog has any visitors from London but if someone would like to meet up for drinks, a wine and an Oddbins wine quiz after, send me a message or leave a comment!