Queen Máxima X Jan Taminiau

It was the Royal Event of a generation: King Willem-Alexander was inaugurated in Amsterdam today as our new King, succeeding his mother Princess Beatrix. Of course all of the Dutch have been waiting to see his wife Queen Máxima and the dress she would be wearing. Queen Máxima didn't disappoint wearing a custom royal blue Jan Taminiau gown and cape. Her choice for Jan Taminau wasn't exactly a surprise, but she looked every inch the Queen. And a beautiful one for that matter.

Doesn't she look beautiful? It reminded me a little of Gwyneth Paltrow 2012 Oscar gown, but more beautiful and worn by an actual Queen. On the second photo you see Jan Taminiau himself with the gown. During Fashion's Night Out last September I got the chance to see some of his designs and himself in person in De Bijenkorf, Amsterdam.

PUUR PR Press Day

Last monday, unaware of the fact that actually I had to do an exam (stupid me), I was in the showroom of Amsterdam based PR company PUUR PR for their FW13 press day. I was invited to go through a variety of pieces from the fall collections of brands PUUR represents.

After the Fred de la Bretonière presentation I went to two weeks ago, it was so nice to see also other FW13 collections. Some of them of brands I did not know yet. I especially liked collections of Suit Supply, Furansu and Anecdote and was very pleasantly surprised by Amatør and Eindhoven based Jannissima. 

Since I can't let go of burgundy just yet, I was very happy to see quite a few burgundy items in the new collections, but I think the beautiful greens and (cobalt) blues they featured too, might even be better. And if you are not a fan of big knits yet, which I doubt is even possible, you may have to reconsider that.

Catching Fire X Teaser Trailer

The first installment of The Hunger Games has been on my to-watch-list basically from the moment it first came out, but yet I still haven't seen it. This self proclaimed Jennifer Lawrence fan should be ashamed. I know. Though I thought the first book was by far the best, I think the second one could just work really well on screen. If at least this trailer is a good representation of the film.



PS If it works in my defense, I saw both Winter's Bone and Silver Linings Playbook.

Erin Wasson X Vogue Nederland

Last year editor-in-chief Karin Swerink gave me Lara Stone on a beautiful cover of Dutch Vogue, this year she presented me with Erin Wasson. I can get used to 'getting' the most beautiful covers of the year for my birthday month!

Photo: Petrovsky & Ramone for Vogue Nederland

Fred de la Bretonière FW13 Presentation

Last tuesday I was invited to take an early look on Fred de la Bretonière's FW13 lines in one of Amsterdam's finest hotels, The College Hotel. Just a few weeks ago I wrote about the Fretons sneakers, of which I am a huge fan, so you understand I was very eager to take a look on what will be in stores later this year. Besides the Fred de la Bretonière main line and the Fretons line I have also taken a look at the Shabbies line.

I myself am particularly a fan of the Fretons sneakers. The materials are all very beautiful, the fun details like the leather shoelaces and the red lock (which also works like a lottery ticket to win a very cool customized Fretons bike like you see on picture 5) are very nice and obviously these are very comfy. The two other lines feature some very nice shoes and boots too. I especially liked a pair of just below the knee black boots and a variety of heeled ankle booties.

Roman Holiday

Within a few hours I will go to the airport for a week in what's most certainly one of the most beautiful cities in Europe - and probably the world -  Rome! I'm so lucky to go to Italy for the third time in less than a year. I have been to Rome before, but I am really excited to see it all again.

See you next week, with tons of pictures I hope. Ciao tutti!

Pull & Bear SS2013

After all of the big designer labels started making campaign videos in addition to the traditional campaigns, now more and more big chains are doing the same. I love the new H&M Conscious collection video starring Vanessa Paradis and I think Zara has made some very fashionable videos the past couple of seasons. Pull & Bear has made a very nice video on their SS2013 collection too.



You know what the best thing about these videos from big chains is? You can now drool over items you can actually afford. At least I am sure I'm buying some of the pieces shown in the video. Like that floral sweater and denim jacket. Have you seen some items you'd buy in this video?

Video: Pull & Bear 

In Need Of Fretons

I'm still in need of a nice pair of sneakers. Since I first wrote about that two months ago, I did buy some new shoes. But those were desert boots, so nothing has really changed. I still need sneakers. Especially since in less than two weeks I'll leave for a week of sightseeing in Rome. As you may understand, that will involve quite some walking, so sneakers are very much welcome.

That's where Fretons come in. Fretons is a younger line of well-known Dutch shoe and bag brand Fred de la Bretonière. You know what I like so much about those Fretons sneakers? They are made of beautiful leathers, seem to be a mix between shoe classics and the classic sneaker and have very nice details. Just what I like and just what I need right now.

€209,95 - €199,95
I'm especially in love with these high-top sneakers! I like how they refer to the classic boat shoe, while still being very young and modern. I totally see my self wearing these with a pair of vintage light wash Abercrombie jeans and a simple white tee.

These shoes and many others, for men as well as for women, are available in the recently opened Fretons store (Jacob Obrechtstraat, Amsterdam NL) as well as in Dutch department store De Bijenkorf and various (online) stores.

Photos via Puur PR

Maartje Verhoef X MFW

Remember I wrote about Maartje Verhoef a few months ago? It seems like she really is the promising new model I thought she was. A few weeks back, during Milan Fashion Week she walked eight major shows while the rest of her schoolmates were sitting through less exciting classes at the exact same school I went to myself. I know, I should stop saying that! But although Maartje surely is very beautiful, it's hard to believe that a girl from my very own old school is now doing some serious modeling. It's just so cool!

Verhoef walked shows for Dolce & Gabbana, Marni, Jil Sander, Moschino, Prada, Bottega Veneta, Dsquared2 and Alberta Ferretti. I especially liked her in Bottega Veneta's show, with the beautiful curly hair and extravagant dress.

Photos via style.com

Jennifer Hudson x Smash

The ratings keep getting worse and worse, but I think NBC's Smash deserves some more attention and recognition. I absolutely love it, but I'm afraid this second season will also be its last one. Just to make sure you are all going to tune in from now on, here's guest star Jennifer Hudson's rendition of this original song from Smash, 'I Can't Let Go'. She blew me away and I haven't stopped listening ever since I saw this on last week's episode. It's bombastic and Broadway, but it's very, very nice for a change.



Are you already watching this show? If not, are you promising to give it a try, haha? I promise it's worth it! Even if it's just a new guilty pleasure.

Video: NBC

Haider Ackermann FW2013

Ackermann proved once more he is one of the most talented and innovative designers of today. His new collection was very much Haider Ackermann, although he is obviously growing and growing and growing, and showed he is quite the genius. The combination of different textures and materials is so smart, unique and just very beautiful! I was particularly intrigued by a pair of alligator pants and the black-and-white-graphic-printed pieces.

Photos via style.com

Christian Dior FW2013

There's nothing much like Dior. Especially not under Raf Simons' great, great direction. As you could have seen in my latest post, I've been drooling over my celebrity crush Jennifer Lawrence in her amazing Dior couture gown (winning her first Academy Award). She also happens to be the face of Dior's Lady Dior bag line, which basically proves my my firm believe Dior can do no wrong. This latest womens prêt-à-porter line from Christian Dior strongly suggests this once more. Dior can do no wrong! I loved how Simons used 'art' as a theme throughout this show. He used early drawings of Andy Warhol on some pieces.

If only I had actually attended this show myself.

Photos via style.com

Academy Awards: Best Dressed

#AcademyAwards
It's cliché, but so much fun: an Academy Awards best dressed list. As always there were quite a few beautiful gowns and good tuxedos on the red carpet. I tried to predict what all of my favourite nominees were wearing just a few days ago, but did I do a good job?

Clockwise: Naomi Watts in custom Giorgio Armani - Jennifer Lawrence in Christian Dior Haute Couture - Jessica Chastain in custom Giorgio Armani - Amy Adams in Oscar de la Renta

I predicted Jennifer Lawrence would wear custom Christian Dior Haute Couture and Jessica Chastain would wear Elie Saab Haute Couture. I was wrong. Well, almost good for Jennifer. But does it matter? No, both ladies looked beautiful! As for fellow Oscar nominees Naomi Watts (love the asymmetrical top half) and  Amy Adams. FYI, Anne Hathaway didn't wear Valentino but opted for Prada and disappointed me. Adele did wear black and did wear a British designer, but it wasn't the Temperley London gown I had chosen for her.

Charlize Theron in Christian Dior Haute Couture - Samantha Barks in Valentino - Sandra Bullock in Elie Saab Haute Couture - Alicia Vikander in Elie Saab Haute Couture

Not just the nominees looked absolutely stunning, these four women looked stunning too. Sandra Bullock and Alicia Vikander understood that you can never go wrong with Elie Saab Haute Couture for the Academy Awards. I'm in love with Charlize's gown, but I hate her short hair. And Samantha Barks? Stunning! Almost as minimalistic and sexy as Jennifer Lawrence's Calvin Klein gown she wore to the 2011 Academy Awards.

Eddie Redmayne in Alexander McQueen - Bradley Cooper in Tom Ford - Joseph Gordon-Levitt in Gucci - Daniel Day-Lewis in Domenico Vacca

Men wear tuxedos to the Oscars. That's it. But still there's differences. The right colour, fit, shoes or vest can make a man stand out. What would I wear? I know I said on twitter I would totally wear Bradley's Tom Ford outfit, but actually I think Eddie looks even better.

Photos via style.com

Academy Award Predictions

#AcademyAwards
Of course I could present you my thoughts on who will and who won't win a golden statue coming Sunday, but that's something others are so much better at. Well, I do think Jennifer Lawrence will win best actress, Anne Hathaway will win best supporting actress and Paperman will win best short animated feature, but that's pretty much it. No, I'm predicting what some of the nominees will wear.

She wore Chanel to the Globes, Giambattista Valli to the SAG Awards and Burberry Prorsum to the Bafta's, but for the Academy Awards I put my money on Valentino. She wore Valentino before to the Oscars in 2011 and she wore Valentino on her wedding day. I think she might just go with this red gown from Valentino's latest haute couture collection coming sunday. It wouldn't surprise me though, if she'll wear a custom gown. She is after all an absolute frontrunner for the best supporting actress award.

She's not an actress, but she is nominated too: Adele. After all that's said about Adele's Valentino adventure to the Grammy's, I think she'll stick to her beloved signature black gowns for the Academy Awards. I believe Adele will wear a British designer, to support British fashion. Maybe this dress from Temperley London's latest collection, shown just a few days ago during London Fashion Week. I do think however there will be some changes: a little less cleavage and not such a high split.

Jessica Chastain has kept it quite simple this award season, but I think she's kept the best for last. In fact I think she'll wear something that reminds me of the Alexander McQueen gown she wore last year. This year I expect her to wear what's arguably the most beautiful gown from Elie Saab's latest Haute Couture collection.

Jennifer Lawrence has been a loyal Christian Dior wearer this season. Logical because she's one of the faces of Dior. I think it's easy to say she'll wear Christian Dior to the Oscars too. As one of the frontrunners for the best actress award, I think Raf Simons will reward Jennifer Lawrence loyalty (even though it's probably in her contract) with a beautiful custom Dior Couture gown. Maybe it's something like this showstopper from the SS13 show, but actually I think it will be more like the red FW12 couture gown she wore to the Globes.

What/who do you think these four ladies will wear?

Photos via style.com, and justjared.com

Marc Jacobs FW13 x Google Plus

Due to snow and madness at the airports earlier during NYFW, Marc Jacobs had to postpone his show to thursday. It was totally worth the wait if you ask me though! I loved it! Many of the coats were gorgeous and I really liked the nightwearish floatiness and lightness many of the beautiful gowns, dresses and pantsuits had. Especially in contrast with the heavy furry items also featured in this show.



Above you can see the full Marc Jacobs show (which is totally worth the watch!) and afterwards really nice and insightful commentary by some fashion and beauty editors and bloggers. I like this collab between Marc Jacobs and Google!

video: Marc Jacobs youtube channel