Opening Soiree AIFW

Yesterday was Amsterdam’s Fashion Week Opening Soiree. It marked the kick off of a week full of fabulous fashion, intriguing outfits and amazing moments. Fellow Fashiolista Maddie and I were invited to pull a fancy dress out of our closets (so much to wear, and so little time to choose!) and watch the opening shows. Keep on checking the blog daily, as I will report on many shows of fashion week!

Are you... READYTOFISH_?

Those of you living in Amsterdam have probably already noticed the city is taken over by, well, football supporters, but that’s not whom I pointing at right now. I’m talking about the buzzing vibe that the Amsterdam International Fashion Week (AIFW) has brought along! Because as from today it’s the official start of a week full of opening soirees, special pop-up stores, fashion events and… fashion shows!

This past monday however, one of Hollands greatest designers Ilja Visser, already showed her SS 11 READYTOFISH_ collection at the Brouwersgracht, in an old hidden church. I was working as their personal twitter and facebook girl to give you live updates on backstage’s preparation, and watching the show. (Backstage photo's can be found on the facebook and twitter page of READYTOFISH_, as well as on www.blog.fashiolista.com)  

The show started at 20.00 hrs, and it was filled with important members of the Dutch fashion world. The collection was a mix of coral tones, dark blues, shades of brown and beige, and silk printed blazers and dresses. The print looked as if someone had been playing with watercolour paint and the colours beautifully swirled from one into the other. Indigo jumpsuits, ink blue pleated skirts and white leather shoppers. LUSH!

The models were pale, with redish eye make up. They looked a bit sick, but in scruffy beautiful way. Curly redheads and blondes and one amazingly stunning dark girl all marched down the incredible catwalk: they came out from the upper left corner, onto a sort of boardwalk, down some steps, onto the actual catwalk, posed for the photographers and back on the boardwalk through another staircase. The background was a geometrical pattern of silver boards and enlightened white squares. A little tetris looking – super 2010 though.

Check out my blog regularly this week, as fashion week continues with more updates on shiny shows and much more!

Video: Emilie Sobels
Pictures: Peter Stigter

Fashion superficial? Anything but.

Being a fashion freak and fashion journalist-to-be, I often find myself surrounded by boys and girls that look as if they just rolled out of bed - or just rolled out of the gutter, without seeing their bed at all, going from party to after to after-after and back to party again. However, being the well-raised girl that I am, I try to never leave the house without my hairs combed and my teeth brushed. And the more I surround myself with these 'I don't care how I look, but I do look fucking fabulous' - types, the more aware I feel of myself. Perhaps I should also not comb my hair? Just leave the grass on my tee after a chill day in the park? I suppose I am just not one of those girls that has that natural flow. I look like a drenched cat that's anything but cute and sexy when I've been dancing in the rain and I leave the ropes that used to be strings of shiny hair hang next to my face. I need mascara, and a little lipgloss to feel happy and smiley. And a fresh washed little dress helps out too.

I've always been a fan of old-and-dirty looking Converse's, but this goes way beyond that point. Just go to any random festival, and you'll see the most stylish and inspiring people wandering around, dancing, chilling, popping pills, and having fun. Did this all start with miss Moss? Who partied like a rockstar, and didn't care about how she looked, which made it even more appealing. Obviously she must've cared a little, because stylish outfits don't fall out of the blue blue sky. But she is definitely one of those girls that looks even 'fucking fabulous' when she's been out and about. Respect for these natural beauties, for sure.

So did Kate teach us twenty-somethings this life lesson? This lesson of 'look as if you don't give a care in the world how you look, whether it's drugged, drunk, beaten up, washed away, like a homeless junkstar, and you'll be untouchable, intangible'? Please note that this is no judgement whatsoever on the lifestyles of the above described folks, just my mere amazement!

I don't know if we can consider Kate to be the mother of this. All I know is that I love to elevate in both worlds, just like Kate does. Because, yes, my dear readers, there is a fashion scene that moves happily next to this one. They walk hand-in-hand, these two worlds. They look at each others lives, and think: well, this might not be the life I would opt for, but that jeans [tuinpak!] jumpsuit combined with those biker boots is actually quite cool. And then integrate it in their own world.

Yesterday I was working backstage at Ilja Visser's READYTOFISH_ SS11 show. How I love the adrenaline that starts taking over when chaos, hectic stress sessions, and ultimate drama arrives. My official job was to provide those that love this feeling too, with backstage's updates. Twittering like a tweeting bird gone hysterical, and updating our facebook friends, I gave them a peek into the backstage life of a fashion show. Meanwhile offering a helping hand when needed. The guests arrived at 19.30 hrs. The show went smooth and it resulted in my infamous Chesire Cat (Alice in Wonderland) smile. Last season I was dressing the models backstage, this season I reported live from the show.

After the show the Fabulous Shakerboys truly lived up to their name, that Fizz-something drink was fabulously shaken. Chatting the night away with this completely other fashion scene (think: cocktail dresses, heels without mud and neatly make upped faces) made me realize that it's quite exceptional how these two worlds accept and live in peace next to each other. Isn't there a huge life lesson for the rest of the world in this? Two completely different lifestyles, that share one main interest - interpreted in different ways though - and don't feel a pinch of threat by the other.

Who says fashion is superficial, better rethink. They'll learn soon enough that it's anything but.

READYTOFISH_

Make sure to check out READYTOFISH_ on twitter today for a live report on today's SS11 show from backstage! I'll be providing you with lush gossip, urgent updates, models looks, chaotic drama and lots of entertainment. And don't forget to become a fan on our facebook page either!

Magnifico Milano

A luscious insiders tip is Moschino's fairytale hotel in Milan, with red velvet dresses floating over the headboards of beds; a very literal interpretation of the word 'coffee table', and a room complete with an enchanting forest and a chandelier full of cookies. 

I'd say: who's coming with to magnifico Milano?!

Orange madness.

As I twittered yesterday, today a post dedicated to our men in South Africa. Being in the finals may be one achievement, dressing up in orange and still look fashionable is another. Therefore I've composed a couple stylish looks, which enable you  Dutchies to keep your fashion spirit up and also keep die orange madness alive. And if even Viktor and Rolf can pull this bright colour off, you sure can too.







Look #1: A day cheering; drinking gross beers and screaming on the top of your lungs.

Obviously, the hearts on this blazer symbolise your love for the Dutch team.

Mix this oversized boyfriend blazer with Levi's vintage bleached shorts.

Some orange vans will finish it.

Look #2: In honor of the exciting match on Sunday, you've decided to throw a cocktail slash 'let's all dress up in fancy dresses and drink champagne and tequila sunrises' - party and you need an elegant - but also orange - outfit. As the touristshops nearly explode with orange tees and other 'funky' (?) accessories; it's not too easy to find something sophistically orange. Some examples:

And... it's a wrap! This dress can be combined in several ways, enabling you to update your look without spending too much cash on different outfits.

Another stylish example of how orange can work in your advantage.

Now I only have one major advice: please don't overdo it with the selftanning lotion. Because we love orange and our men a lot, but I doubt we love them THAT much.

Jean Paul Gaultier's carte blanche leads to LSD trip

Christian Lacroix and Martin Margiela have gone before him, and in 2010 it's Jean Paul Gaultiers noble task as the third designer to decorate the 250m² of Palais de Chaillot, the apartment in Trocadéro, to his tastes and likes. His nautique theme comes alive in one of the rooms where he seems to have 'dressed' every piece of furniture in blue and white sweaters. Located in front of La Tour Eiffel, the designer has gotten carte blanche by Elle Décoration magazine and Cité de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine to revive this former abode of Jacque Carlu, the architect of le Palais in the '30s. La Suite Elle is open from May 8th 2010 to 2011, which gives you exactly one year to visit the almost LSD tripping stripey spaces. 

Shopping at the supermarket just got a whole new dimension

Today I found a great store on the web. Pixie Market claims to be the fashion supermarket of NYC and has the most lush dresses, the highest platform wedges (check out the blue denim tassled ones...) and perfect summery outfits. Their styling is done in neutral and earth tones, but with a lot of ethnic influences combined with geometric shapes. Take a good look and you'll instantly start feeling a little restless. That's the inspiration flowing through your veins, guys... Don't you love it?

Earthy olive tonesTotally and utterly in love with this silver shark teeth pendant necklace by Noemi Klein

Blue Denim tassled platform wedges. Oh summer, how I love thee.Ethnic slash tribal meets geometric in this colorful Tigerlily swimsuit

Stylish Sabrina from afterdrk.com

A couple days ago I interviewed the ever stylish looking Sabrina from afterdrk.com. This 22 year old Dutchie blogs nearly every day and has the entire Dutch fashion world watching her every move. Make sure to check out the interview at blog.fashiolista.com!

Summer has finally arrived, and with nearly two months without any deadlines for school, I'll make your summer full of funny fashion adventures, so keep on checking my blog.

Bye for now, but an update on my wonderful world of fashion will arrive soon.

My wonderful world of Fashion

I am so sorry for not have written any sooner. I have been ill and although you might think that then would be the perfect time to grab your beloved Mac and give your readers another peek into your amazing life (sarcastically rolling my eyes now. Ouch, kinda hurts, try it), it wasn't. I am so so so very busy with school (which is probably the main reason I'm looking like a total crackhead that hasn't seen her bed in a week) that I just couldn't find a spare hour to enjoy you with funny fashion failures, or anything related.

Anyway, yesterday I handed in three assignments, and right now I am working on my brandpresentation that's due on thursday. After that only one more week of depression, frantic moments out of stress hormones, total anger against the entire world, break-down sessions and hysterically crying over my designs. Yup, life ain't easy for a fashiolista (another sarcastic roll. Or, visualize this: me sitting behind my screen with a hysterical smile that looks a bit like the chesire cat of Alice in Wonderland)

To cheer myself up I do have some pretty images to share with you...