By On In Personal168 Comments

Just a quick note to let you know that I’m still alive and well and didn’t abandon this blog. It’s just that life is currently extremely hectic. We’re in the process of moving and I can’t believe how much stuff we own. And also how tired I am of owning so many things. So I’m going through a decluttering fase at the moment and won’t stop until I’m done. I refuse to move things to our new house that we don’t want and/or need like we did last time because we were in such a rush. We still have one week ahead of us until our actual moving date. So far so good.

Another big change in my life is that from April 1st I will be working at another museum. To be more specific, at the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, the biggest museum for modern and contemporary art in the Netherlands. I didn’t plan on leaving my current job until a former colleague pointed out a job opening to me in december and I realised that it was time for a change. To be honest, it was a very difficult decision as I absolutely love the museum that I work at right now but I didn’t see any opportunities for me to grow in the near future. So I took a chance and I’m excited to see where this job will take me.

So that’s where my life is at right now. I feel a bit (understatement of the year) stressed out with all of these upcoming changes but I’m sure that feeling will pass once we move into our new house. Well, enough about me for now. I hope you are all doing well. And for my fellow bloggers, I can’t seem to find the time to leave a comment at the moment but I’m still enjoying all of your posts!

PS. I can’t wait to get my hands on the latest edition of The Gentlewoman. Sofia Coppola looks absolutely stunning on the cover and the images that I’ve seen so far.

review comme des garcons wallet
By On In Small Luxuries1,713 Comments

A few years ago I got tired of carrying around a large bulky wallet with receipts from purchases I made months before. So I decided the splurge on the iconic Comme Des Garçons pouch to do some serious downsizing. Nothing too fancy, just one compartment for everything. It worked wonderful for a while but I ended up missing a few sloths for my cards. So I upgraded to the zip around wallet with room for change and a few cards. I’ll keep it short and simple; if you are looking a classic and durable wallet for your basic nessesities, make sure to check these out.

There’s a CDG wallet for everyone. They come in many shapes and sizes and not to mention numerous colours. Obviously my favourites are the pouch and zip around wallet. I adore the sleek look of both designs. Mind you, I also like their embossed and glossy designs but you can never beat the classics. So simple black leather it was. Do you remember that small magic bag Hermione carried with her that held like a million things? Story of my life up until a few years ago. You can imagine that scratches were hard to avoid. I was a little disheartened upon the first scuffs and marks but let’s face it: it’s just a wallet. And it turns out all those scratches blend beautifully together and really soften the leather over time.

The stitching is amazing and very durable, as are the zippers. I bought the pouch in 2011 and the zip around wallet in 2013 and both still look like new apart from the scratches I mentioned above. The pouch doesn’t look as grey and washed out as it seems in the picture by the way. It’s just bad lighting and I didn’t want to photoshop it #keepingitreal. I have to admit though, I’ve been reaching for the pouch more than the wallet at the moment as I hardly use cash anymore. Just my bankcard, public transportation card, drivers licence and Museumcard and I’m good to go. But the zip around wallet is great for travelling so no money wasted there.

Both wallets fit easily into my Céline trio bag and A.P.C. half moon bag although obviously the pouch takes less space and is therefore my preferred option when I’m carrying these bags. The pricing is a bit steep. They’re not the cheapest wallets out there but the quality is outstanding. The pouch is €70 and the zip around wallet €150. If you don’t want to spend that amount on a simple wallet, I suggest looking into Everlane. They sell similar wallets such as the square zip wallet, for a more affordable price. Unfortunately I can’t comment on the quality but I’m sure there are some reviews floating around on the internet.

review comme des garcons wallet daarboven2

Features of the pouch:
– All leather
– Zip fastening along the top
– Gold toned hardware
– Gold stamped logo on the outside
– Made in Spain
– 10 (h) x 14 (w) x 1 (d) cm

Features of the wallet:
– Alle leather
– Zip closure all around
– Four card sloths
– One bill compartment
– Separate coin pouch
– Gold toned hardware
– Gold stamped logo on the inside
– Made in Spain
– 10 (h) x 12 (w) x 2,5 (d) cm

Tell me, what kind of wallet do you own? And do you have any other recommendations for wallets?

outfit-acne-galaxy-sweater
By On In Outfit1,411 Comments

I can’t believe how cold it was the last few weeks. I know, it has been a lot colder than this before but for some reason I have been having extra trouble keeping warm. Luckily, I didn’t get rid of my Acne Studios Galaxy sweater. I received some messages on Instagram if I was willing to sell it and I contemplated it for a while as the design and fit are quite contemporary (it’s like, so 2014). But at the moment I’m glad I didn’t sell it. It has been the subject of many conversations at work (positive ones) and it is also the warmest piece of clothing I own right now.

Because of its contemporary design, I tried to keep the rest of my outfit simple. I have been wearing my Isabel Marant Atea coat non-stop. You can never go wrong with a classic pea coat. The fit is actually slightly more oversized than you see below because the sweater is so bulky. For the rest, it’s just a plain black pair of skinny jeans and black ankle boots. When I go outside, the Acne Canada scarf and A.P.C. bag are the final touches to this outfit. Oh and please excuse the awkward pose and phone glued to my hand. I honestly don’t know what to do with myself when I’m trying to shoot outfit pictures.

on style and self-possession
By On In Style241 Comments

“If you strip away the stereotypes and contradictions about her, one of the fundamental qualities associated with the French girl is her sense of self-possession. She is entirely, unequivocally self-contained. She is focused on living her full life, following her own agenda and cultivating her actual self, rather than reinventing herself or pining away to be someone she’s not. Throughout her life, she invests herself in learning and experiencing, not to change who she is, but to become more fundamentally and more fully who she truly is.”

Entre Nous: A Woman’s Guide To Finding Her Inner French Girl

To be honest, I’m completely over those French girl stereotypes but when reading the excerpt above, it reminded me of Archana’s comment on my 5 piece French wardrobe overview post and more specifically the fact that I decided to wear a black jumpsuit instead of a white dress for my wedding: “But I cant help admire the ones who do what they desire.” This has always been something I take pride in: I refuse to give in to the pressure to be someone that I am not. Not only when it comes to style but also in everyday life. From a very young age I knew that it is impossible for everyone to like you and your actions or beliefs. So you might as well just be yourself, follow your own path and surround yourself with people who like and love you for who you truly are.

Style-wise I try to stay away from trends unless they fit my own individual style which is simple and fuss-free. As much as I would like to experiment at times, in the end I usually go back to my trusted uniform; jeans, a simple t-shirt / sweater and sneakers or ankle boots. Which is fine because I aim to build a wardrobe that is functional, timeless and a reflection of my personality. I know that some people consider this blog too intense in terms of shopping, planning etc. but I don’t think there is anything wrong with wanting to dissect your personal style and preferences. The better you get to know yourself, the easier it is to get dressed in the morning and to feel put together, which leaves more time for the things that are truly important in life.

Image: Knobbly Studio x Laurie Franck