happy new year
By On In Personal147 Comments

Time flies by, even when you’re not having a lot of fun… Happy New Year everyone! I hope everyone has had a few wonderful days with family and friends. Unfortunately I was not so lucky and I spent my Christmas and New Year’s Eve in my bed or on the couch with a nasty stomach flu. Story of my life, really. But I’m doing much better and look forward to start blogging again. It’s been a while due to all kinds of circumstances. Mostly because we lost some people in the second half of the year who were really important to us. So I had to push the pause button on this blog.

Thankfully, I also had some lovely experiences last year such as moving into our new house in March and starting my new job in April, in this house we were planning to add a granny house to rent, and to get the highest quality build, it was important for us to work with a designer to make our Granny Flat Designs become a reality. That was quite a stressful time but also very exciting. In the summer I met with Sovannary from Defarjenary. I realized once again how nice it is to be able to meet likeminded people through the internet (and my blog in particular).

I could have done better in the shopping department, to be honest. Let me know if you would like me to do an 2017 overview of my (favorite) purchases. My last purchase of the year was the A.P.C. striped t-shirt from my previous post that I found on sale with 30% off. I’ll be heading to London again this month and hope to try on that A.P.C. denim skirt that I also mentioned. But mostly of all, I hope to purchase Rihanna’s Fenty Stunna lipstick. I’ve heard so many good things about it. Any other products or stores that I need to check out while I’m there?

Thank you all for reading and for the lovely comments that I have received over the years. I really appreciate it. How was your holiday season?

 

a fall winter wish list
By On In Shopping206 Comments

I’m so excited that it’s fall and we’re quickly heading towards winter. I have been handwashing all of my delicate knits and I had my coats dry-cleaned months ago. So I am ready for fall and winter. As usual I compiled a short wish list mostly consisting of items that I could wear all throughout the year with some small adjustments such as a cardigan or tights. None of them are necessary but lately I do feel like I’m a bit stuck in a style rut wearing the same things over and over again. These would likely provide a nice twist on my usual uniform.

  • A lot of brands sell cashmere these days, some more affordable than others. I like to stick with Uniqlo’s cashmere as I find the quality excellent for the price. I bought a grey sweater two or three years ago but unfortunately it has become much too large for me. I’m leaning towards a v-neck in navy or camel this time.
  • I’m still not quite sure how I feel about skirts on myself but this one has been growing on me the past couple of months. I believe there are two variations on this particular skirt and I would definitely go for the longer option. For some reason I feel that it won’t work for me but we’ll see once I get the chance to try it on. If it does live up to my expectations I hope I’ll be able to find it second hand on Ebay or Vestiaire Collective. I’ve seen a few being sold as almost new.
  • My skin has been wonderful lately but I would still like some mild coverage. Just to even out my skin tone and get that dewy look. So I’m looking for a tinted moisturizer. This one from Laura Mercier seems quite nice but slightly expensive. This one from Nars is also very tempting and gets great reviews. If you guys have any experience with either, let me know what you think.
  • These boots are something I have been thinking about for over a year now (they sold them last year as well). It usually doesn’t snow a lot over here but when it does, weather appropriate footwear is definitely a problem. Every pair that I own is too slippery and I can’t recount the times I suddenly had to grab onto something while walking in a normal pace. Dr Martens crossed my mind as well but I don’t know, these have a more classic and elegant look to them. For these kind of boots anyway.
  • White t-shirts are part of my uniform. I can honestly say that I wear a white t-shirt at least four days a week. Which is fine but ultimately also a little boring. So this striped t-shirt from A.P.C. would make a nice addition to my wardrobe.
  • Not pictured above but also very much on my mind: this black coat. I should’ve known better than to try it on. But it happened and it looked great. I might cave if it goes on sale. The end.

What’s on your wish list for the upcoming season?

personal shopping guidelines daarboven
By On In Shopping1,373 Comments

While I try to maintain a high standard when it comes to clothes and accessories and I am annoyingly picky, regrettable purchases are always lurking around the corner. Over the years I have come to rely on a few rules of thumb that have proven themselves very helpful. Now, I am by no means an expert but I figured I would share them and hopefully they can be of use to you too. So here are my self-imposed guidelines for shopping part I:

Try different sizes

I own clothing ranging from size XS to XL. Size is only a number or a few letters and doesn’t matter to me as long as the garment fits perfectly. Brands aren’t reliable at all when it comes to sizing. I’m sure we are all familiar with the concept of vanity sizing, right? So please don’t let the size of a piece of clothing bring you down or dictate your purchases. No one will be able to see the label anyway.

Stay away from items that are too trendy

Once in awhile a trend comes along that I’m eager to try such as those checkered blazers or coats that are seen all over the place right now. But fortunately for my wallet, most of the time the result is not at all what I expected or I know I won’t wear it after that particular season. Nevertheless, I believe you can be on trend while still remaining true to your own aesthetic. Take flared jeans for example. Those were very trendy last year of maybe even the year before (I can’t keep track of time anymore, I’m too old). But ultimately, the design, in the right color, is a classic and can be worn at any time.

When in doubt, size up

It’s always better to size up when you’re not completely sure about a piece of clothing or shoes. Clothes can be adjusted and/or taken in by a tailor and you can place an extra insole in your shoes to get a better fit. Although to be honest, I don’t recommend buying your shoes too large either. However, when something is too small, chances are you are never going to wear it because it makes you feel uncomfortable.

Check the men’s section

You can find some really nice pieces of clothing in the men’s section, that’s exactly where I found my favorite men’s ultra soft flowy tee. And from my own experiences, the quality is sometimes even better than women’s clothing. I suspect it has something to do with the fact that men don’t buy as many clothes as women and therefore need garments that last a lot longer. I could be wrong though. Things I especially like from the men’s section are cashmere or merino wool sweaters. I’m sure for some of you the button downs can work as well but those are generally too tight on my hips.

What are your personal shopping guidelines?

selection summer shoes
By On In Wardrobe421 Comments

Even though we are almost halfway through summer and we can only hope for a few more sunny days before fall arrives, I thought I’d share my favourite summer shoes from Shoe Hero with you. The Castañer espadrilles are my latest purchase and although shown in navy in the image above, I decided to exchange them for a black pair instead. So much for being adventurous. But looking at my wardrobe they will be much easier to mix and match with the garments that I already own.

The second pair is very reminiscent of Maryam Nassir Zadeh’s Sophie sandal. I adore her shoes but I simply cannot justify the price (with additional shipping and taxes). Luckily these sandals are just as simple and chic. Both pairs of shoes have a moderate heel and are extremely comfortable. I can’t -or won’t actually- do anything higher than 5-6 cm to be honest. Design and comfort are equally important for me when it comes to purchasing shoes, that’s why the vessi waterproof shoes for women is a great option for me.

The pair that gets the most wear though are my loafers as you can probably tell from the picture. I bought them two years ago and I reach for them whenever the weather allows it and I know I will have to walk a lot. They’re also the pair of shoes that I find are the most work appropriate. I can get away with all kinds of sandals but I don’t like the idea of showing so much foot in a work environment (but maybe that’s my dislike of feet in general speaking).

With the recent addition of the Castañer espadrilles I won’t be needing any new shoes soon. I’m set for all kinds of occassions. But as we all keep a secret wish list; one shoe that has been on my mind for years is the classic Chanel two-tone ballet flat. I regret not purchasing them years ago when they were somewhat more affordable. But alas, such is life, money doesn’t grow on trees etc. I’ll just keep on dreaming!

What is your ultimate summer shoe?