I'm loving it is a well known phrase printed in the minds of almost every consumer on this round thing we call earth. And from now on it's the name for my outlet of favourite things of the month. Because it's frankly just fun to think about the things you've been loving. And then give them some more love (as they rightfully deserve). So lets start this list of love, love, love... and some more love especially for you (... a bit cheesy, innit).

I've just started reading this book with the most amazing title The Man Who Loved Books Too Much by Allison Hoover Bartlett. I've initially picked it up mainly because of the title and had no idea what it was about. However it turned out to be a good choice and I'm absolutely loving it! I'm mostly very declined in reading (or watching) anything that's real or based upon a true story. But The Man Who Loved Books Too Much isn't just a description of a true story (about this guy John Gilkey who went to prison because he kept steeling precious books), it's a story that gives you an insight into the world of collecting. It shows you how many layers theft or even graving has within the complexity of one soul. There's so much more to it than just "I want something that isn't mine, but I'll take it with me anyways". By trying to understand the world of books and to become known with "their" world, Allison Hoover Bartlett takes you on a journey that withholds many different layers. "Compelling with elegant suspense", as may be rightfully said by Erik Larson (whoever that is).

I absolutely adore Paloma Faith ever since she peeked into my rear mirror. I can't wait to get my hands on her new album A Perfect Contradiction (released on the 10th of March). Like she said "It's disco, it's fun, it's like if everything has gone to shit, lets have a dance". And that's exactly what I'm planning to do! Can't Rely On You stays on repeat while I'm bouncing my head back and forth learning for my upcoming exams. It's a perfect mixture of anger combined with some rythme and blues. Another track on the album Only Love Can Hurt Like This is so bittersweet and perfect and magical and... amazing! I very much love the performance she did for Burberry. You just feel the heartpain slowly dripping from your computerscreen. Not in a gross way. ALSO you should check out Trouble With My Baby.

 Paloma ain't afraid for a good tune. Or a good tartan.

Picture taken from my Instagram. Wearing my French hat and La Raffinée lipstick by Chanel. Ain't it all lovely?!

A new discovery I've made, thanks to a big sale (I mean 40% off on everything? Hallelujah!), are the Allure Velvet lipsticks by Chanel. They stay on very long and just look amazing on the lips. The matt finish is brilliant and can give a look just that touch up it needs. I've bought two colours. One in a sort of dark red burgundy (La Fascinante #38) and one in a bit of nude but with this squawk of a reddish/pinkish undertone (La Raffinée #34).

My hands are always very dry and I've found it very hard to find a good hand lotion. However, my mum came up to me with this really nice hand lotion by Riverdale from the Days Collection and it's absolutely amazing! It's thickly textured which I find really nice. It makes my hands moisturized without getting slippery. You know when you put hand lotion on and for about five minutes you can't do anything because everything will slip out of your hands. Yeah? Well luckily this stuff doesn't do that. I'm a busy woman and I need to get things done, so I don't have time to sit and wait before I can drink my tea, thank you very much! Besides, it smells A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! I've got it in the scent Lovely Lily and I can't stop sniffing my hands after I've put it on. It's just very lovely and my hands are really soft now, which is always a good thing.

TARTAN! I see tartan everywhere and I want tartan everywhere. I love tartan. Always have. Tartan is just the perfect mixture between sophisticated, punk, cool, fun, romance, rock 'n' roll, tradition, groundbreaking... tartan is just the opposite of itself and that's perfect because at the end of the day everyone has multiple identities (or plays a different part in their live) and who knows who's the real you from all those perspectives and maybe you are all those you's... is there even a thing such as you or I? Do we even have split-identities? That's why I've changed my lay-out of my Twitter-account, because I'm in a love-hate relationship with social media, into a nice tartan. And maybe it's just because I've seen Can't Rely On You (Live from the kitchen) just a bit too much -as if that's even possible!- or my brains are just slowly melting because of all the things I need to do... So yeah. Tartan. I like.

I really love this picture I've taken from Jack just seconds before he licked the camera and you couldn't see anything anymore (except for some drool dripping down the lens). He just looks a bit alienated. And cute. As always.


Also something that happened this month was my school trip to Paris. That was, admittedly, quite fun. I've made some new memories that will stay with me forever. And a lovely hat. Funnily enough from Forever21. You know, like "it will stay with me forever" and the only thing I bought in Paris is this hat from FOREVER21... you see... funny, innit. Alright. I'll stop now.
The highlight of the trip for me still is Musée d'Orsay and I've been loving some paintings all over again.When seeing the paintings in real life gives you this sort of buzz. Hereby not talking about the newborn Buzz, but about this energy that gives you the giggles and makes you want to jump up and down into the air and scream really loudly while also craving for silence (which is, I imagine, quite like having a baby. Maybe I was talking about Buzz after all...).

I <3 Todd

Last but not least on this list of love, love, love, must be that what happened to me yesterday. "Happened to you yesterday?", I hear you say with some curiosity. Yes, that what happened to me yeterday. Because yesterday was the day I met Todd Selby. Oh yes ladies and gentleman, I've met Todd Selby. Todd. Selby. The one and only! He was briefly in Amsterdam for his new book Fashionable Selby and I was there too *suspenseful music*. So yeah, more about that later this week *music abruptly stops and final credits roll*. So there's a cliffhanger. If that won't bring you back, nothing will.

Let me know what you've been loving this month, because I'm curious and nosy. ;)

Love,
Dominique

"You know you've made it when you've been moulded into miniature plastic. But you know what children do with Barbie dolls- it's a bit scary actually".
Cate Blanchett

My grandma was the best knitter this world has ever known. Not bragging, just saying the truth. She not only had eyes for the big projects, but also the patience for the small ones (which for my mum and me is too much hassle). She kept herself occupied by for instance making garments for Barbie dolls (which is, as it may already sound, quite some hassle indeed). One of the dolls she's clothed is this original Barbie from 1966. I personally have a great compassion towards greens and knits. Preferably green knits. So I got inspired by this little ensemble and kept myself occupied.


WHAT I'M WEARING
Skirt + Bolero = Fashioned by Pluche 
Blouse = Object
Shoes = Primark
Hat = H&M
Sunglasses = No idea... sorry.

I've just watched this video on Youtube by John Green form the Vlogbrothers (and also worldwide read bestselling author of The Fault in Our Stars and such, so no biggie). And I totally agree on how he says that art or inspiration is a fusion of everything one gets exposed to. May this happen conscious or not. Together we create this big ball of wool and it's up to each and everyone of us to knit their own jumper out of it. Hereby originality, I think, doesn't necessarily lays in the product one  produces but in the one who produces it. Every knitter has another way of knitting (how she holds her needles or how tight she knits her thread). So if a million people knitted the same jumper with the same wool, every jumper would still be unique and a product on its own because it's (slightly) different than all the other 999999 jumpers. In some ways this is quite reassuring, because I often think about originality and inspiration and how I can turn something into something of "my own". However, if it doesn't frankly matter what I do because in some way it will always be original, well, what's the fuss about then?! (she said in despair).

Today I've had my bangs cut at the hairdressers (not to be seen in the pictures shown above. Just to be clear) and the hairdresser was talking to me and my mum (who also got her hair done) about how one of her colleagues always dresses in the same clothes as her daughter (not in a twin-way, but in a I borrow that coat from you today thank you very much-way). She thought it was quite weird to wear the same clothes as your daughter or your daughter the same as yours. Whereupon my mother started laughing because I always borrow (aka steal) her clothes. I practically have got two wardrobes to choose from. And still nothing to wear, what a shame... So my mum went on about that everyone adds something different to the clothes they wear or even the manner of wearing it. Again -sort of- if a million people had exactly the same kind of jumper (which we stated before was impossible, I know), all those people will wear it differently. Even if the rest of the outfit is also exactly the same because we are not. Everybody is different, even identical twins aren't 100% identical. *mind blown* We all are different and process things differently and express ourselves differently and yeah, as said, basically we're all different. Therefore the same ain't the same because if everything (hereby not only talking about people but also the stuff they create... maybe even nature) is unique nothing can be the same. It may look alike, but alike isn't the same. Even if you knitted twice the same woolly jumper it wouldn't be the same because it's a "creature" of its own... 

There. There's where I'm going to leave this (I've typed the words "different" and "same" so many times in that last paragraph that it might be too many times). So yeah, now you've got something to think about for the rest of the day. I hope you enjoy it. The day. Maybe also the thinking. Who knows. Get crazy. Combine the two.

Love,
Dominique

For those who don't know, Fashioned by Pluche is the name my mum gave her handmade clothes (based upon my sisters curly hair... which now has smoothed into infinity) and has ever since been a reference to my childhood. Since the beginning I've sincerely adopted the name for my own evil purposes. Fashioned by Pluche stands for the cool, the fun and the sentiment. This all I try to effuse -not always with succes- with my walking, talking and dancing (which is just horrible). But to get me walking, talking and dancing in the first place, I need to get myself some clothes. And for some clothes one needs some fabrics. "How to do that?", I hear you cry out. Well, I'd suggest that a perfect place for finding fabrics is a fabric market (it's really in the name, you know). Fabric markets are there to get you loaded up on lots and lots of different cute/nice/chic/flabbergasting fabrics for not that lots and lots of money. Yay.

Today I've been to such a market. Surprise. Surprise. So here's the story of two fabulous ladies (and my dad) on the hunt for some fabulous fabrics so they can turn it into even more fabulous clothing. Which makes them equally fabulous (it's a visual circle)...


It's the first time this fabric market has been on this spot, so we were a bit curious of how it would turn out. The market self wasn't that big and the fabrics were still into autumn/winter mode (and we were looking for some summery things). Besides that we still managed to get some good deals done. Yeah, we had to work really really hard to find something pleasing... just ask my dad. Uhm... yeah, first stand and all... Lets just say we got what we wanted, which is 1) less than we wanted 2) not all what we wanted 3) something different than what we wanted 4) just what we wanted.

My mom and I always make a list before we go to a market. Not that we adhere to it, but it gives you a good insight of what you really want (EVERYTHING) and what for fabric, and naturally how much fabric, that specific item needs. Beside the list we buy also other sorts of fabrics that are looking appealing or just makes us drool. To make it clear: fabulous ladies doesn't always equal not-drooling ladies. It's just hard to keep it cool when you find the most amazing fabric for something most amazing (most amazing being something you don't know yet, but you absolutely gonna love in anticipation).


I'm a bit dreaded that we didn't found all the things we really wanted (EVERYTHING), but if the fabric ain't right or the price too high, it ain't coming home with me. I mean, 23 euros for a meter fabric? Absurd! Especially because it's an outlet market, so all the fabrics are sort of out of season. I mean that's something a haberdashery shop or sorts would ask without blushing, but you market? You disgust me.

We've bought way less than previous visits. But there's another market soon, so maybe they can satisfy us with the right means. However, the fabrics that we did take home with us are absolutely lovely and I can't wait until they've been transformed into something wearable. And I'll be walking, talking and dancing (maybe blogging) soon again...

Love,
Dominique

IT'S OFFICIALLY SPRING TODAY! YAY. Now I can enjoy the beautiful sight of flowers and sunshine while sneezing my nose off! I know, I know, nobody likes a sceptic, oh well... And to celebrate this wonderful day with the grandeur it deserves, and to synchronize with my fellow blogger, here's -as you've may seen- the last post of the selfclaimed series The French Files. "The last one?", I hear you say with tears in your eyes. Yes, the last one, but I promise you that it's the best one yet -which isn't really hard to do, if I may say so myself-. Besides that it's THE BEST ONE YET, it's also the longest one yet. I'd suggest to prepare thou self with chocolate chip cookies and a big cup of tea... so yeah, lets start this craziness!

I've go a confession to make, I wasn't initially that keen on going to Paris... don't look at me like that. I've got my reasons. Stop staring! However, I must admit that I've had some fun times there. I've only had two real panic attacks and cried about six times (hereby not counting everything that went through my mind during our stay. I COULD'VE DIED YOU KNOW). The whole journey was in some perspectives eye-opening and maybe groundbreaking (and sometimes frightning and lame, but you can't always have it all).

On Monday we left very very early from Amsterdam (which meant that I had to get up even earlier because it takes me about an hour to come there in the first place *sigh*). Our means of transport was the well known bus. The bus journey self was long, boring and not peculiar enough for my brain to memories anything that happened between the moment of departure and the about six hours after that (except that it smelled really bad. Like are they trying to poison us bad?). But I can assure you that after those dreadful six hours had passed, and we felt for the first time the French air through our nostrils, we all coughed and wished we hadn't taken such a deep breath. Smog ain't that good for the lungs, you know. A week long we would've get the pleasure of severe breathing problems. Nice.

Our stay was arranged with the wellknown (atleast that's what my dad told me) Ibus Budget. I must admit that Ibis was suprisingly OK for a hotel that's got budget in its name. Not mindblowning. Not horrific. It was just OK. Considering, of course.
After settling down, it was time to hit the road for our first museum experience (one of many). The first museum that had the honour of receiving us was Centre Pompidou. Now I could tell you about how the architecture was created within mind that the inside is out -corresponding to eachother- as a metaphore for not only the collection but also the management of the museum and of course the visitors. This concept has however remained unreached (even though it looks like the builders never bothered to finish the building) and is in itself outdated. However, I could also just show you some pictures of the view and such. Yes, I could do that. Nice view, innit.


After Centre Pompidou we went to this sort of Jazz Bar, Chouchou to be precize, and I've ordered a lovely cup of tea (ain't nothing can go wrong with English tea). The waiter initially thought that I was French, the magical powers of a baret I must confess, but came quickly to the conclusion that all I could say was "oui" and "merci" (thanks to six years of French lessons. My teachers would be proud). He found that very funny (aka he'd made fun of me). But he was nice and made us laugh by trying to pronounce Dutch words -which he was terrible at-. So yeah, I've forgiven him.

Inbetween museums there was some spare time, so we went with a small group to the Seine and did some extreme picknicking. Not that extreme, though. Frankly, we just picknicked.



After eating our lunch we walked to the second and last museum of the day Musée du quai Branly. This museum was formed to give the foreign people in France their own museum wherein their culture would be displayed. This is a big thing, I think, because it's sort of true that when you live as a foreigner in France you've got to give up your own culture. For instance every French person only speaks French, while in the Netherlands every Dutch person doesn't always necessarily speak Dutch. That's of course a sweeping statement, but do you get what I mean? And one could always wonder what's the best way of approaching it. Is there even a way to approach something like that and come to a neatral conclusion? BUT, back to the story, this museum ought to celebrate the not-Frenchness of the French society. Like, "hey, your traditions also matters". However, we Cultural Heritage students weren't all that happy about how it got presented. It's a good looking museum though and if you're interested in the aesthetics of ethnology you should take a look inside. But if you're looking for a good representation of different cultures without the stereotype way of approaching it, this ain't the place.

After we did our visits, we all went to seperate locations to explore it for the assignment for the next day. The assignment being "guiding your fellow students and teachers through the given area and show them the many layers it withholds". The socalled area that was given to us was Palais Royal. We already had done the main work back in Holland (I don't like to call the Netherlands Holland, don't know why), but there's a main difference between seeing something on your computerscreen and seeing something for realzz. So we did our looking around and the next day we happily provided our fellow students and teachers with the many layers that surrounds Palais Royal (which are a lot of layers I'd assure you). Concluding the morning with that, we had the whole midday for ourselves. And you know what that means... SHOPPING! However I didn't bought anything so it's more like LOOKING AT PRETTY AND EXPENSIVE STUFF THAT ARE FRENCH BUT ACTUALLY AMERICAN! 

After our little shopping spree we concluded the day with a visit to the well known Louvre. So I did the casual round. Said hi to Mona, chilled in the rooms of Napoleon III and then gracefully went back to the hotel where we yet once again picknicked next to a river. Not as nice as the Seine, though. A bit disapointing to be honest.

Hi, my name is Napoleon III and welcome in my crib...

On Thursday we had some time off in the mornings so the only thing one really could do is to pay a visit to the Chanel store. And so we did (highly requested by me). I took my trashy touristic I wish I could afford any of these garments or shoes or bags or whatever, but I can't picture. And I think (hereby my memory not being the best) that after that we went again to Centre Pompidou -the area, not the museum- and we did again a little shopping spree AND I've bought this really cute hat at Forever21 (which was the first time I've ever been into a Forever21 store. It was very spacious and the clothes looked nice). The hat will soon be featured in another blogpost (one where I show you what I'm wearing, because that's been a while) (all these promises I'm making of future blogposts... maybe I should put them on a list before I forget it and I've made y'all happy with nothing. Sorry in advance).


After doing all the important stuff, we went to Jardin des Plantes and Évolution. Both museums contain dead animals. Only Jardin des Plantes shows them without skin and Évolution, as you've may gathered, shows them with skin. Not only the on/off-skin part is a clear distinction, also the way it gets presented. Jardin des Plantes shows their collection in a very oldfashioned, scientific, almost dry way. Évolution goes for a more theatre approach and spectical and look at those dead animals looking cute and impressive. While Jardin des Plantes still got the factor of impressive, I guess mainly because you've got the feeling that they've literally tried to fill every little space with their collection (and of course they've got a dino. Lets face it, nothing can compete with a dino).


Thursday was also the day I went to Musée d'Orsay, and for me this was sort of the best thing that happened to me during our stay in Paris. 1) Because they've got some beautiful art (I say Rodin, Renoir, Monet, Manet, Degas, van Gogh and many many more. The impressionist-fangirl inside of me couldn't believe her eyes. 2) Because there were people casually walking around with real Chanel bags. I was absolutely flabbergasted. Demi told me that I just sort of needed to bump into them so I could feel the texture of the bags. But I was afraid that if I'd do that I would get arrested or something like that. And you don't want to end up in prison for miscommunication, do you? 3) Because I saw Violet E. (Ashtray girl) just casually walking around. Doing her thing. Looking good. And I really wanted to say hi to her but I firstly didn't had the courage to go up to her. She's quite intimidating. And tall. She's taller than I thouth she'd be. Which comes to point number deux, I wouldn't know what to say. "Hi. You're quite intimidating and taller than I thought you'd be" *complete awkward silence with crickets and all that*. And the third thing I had to encounter with, was that I was in the middle of a group discussion (about the appearance of the museum and how its history can be traced back in the way the collection gets to be presented and shizzle). So I couldn't just wander of and do my own thing. Now I sort of wished I'd done that... but hey, the memory will stay with me forever. Ugh.

This all brings us to Friday. And Friday, being the last day of our stay, was filled with a sort of consciousness to show us that after all the pride and showing off, there's naturally (like every country) a side that's less pretty and less something to be proud of. And this all was perfectly illustrated with Jardin Tropical. Jardin Tropical used to be a sort of zoo for people. The French imprisoned people from their colonies and put them on display for everybody to see (hereby not pointing the finger, because a lot of countries have done something human degrading stuff like this. Not even to mention the position of the Dutch towards colonization). The main thing, a fellow student pointed out to me, was that it was so human degrading (besides of course the obvious) because it wasn't something equal. "We" weren't trapped somewhere beside them, because "we" felt greater than them. Which is naturally bollocks.


The last museum we've visited before heading home (or Amsterdam. And then home) was Cité Nationale de l'histoire de l'immigration. At this point everyone had had it and just wanted to go. Besides, the outside was more impressive than the inside -which really was minimalistic and unimpressive. Especially when compared to the outside and Jardin Tropical. So, after wandering around (and buying some croissants to take home with me), we finally made the journey home. And that's where I'd like to leave this post with. Just imagine a sunset through the window of a smelly bus full of tired students.

Love,
Dominique

To understand this post, I'd suggest to read the ones before this one. Or not. See it yourself.

Now that I've got a good image of what I want to wear, it's just a matter of putting it all together. And of course putting all the excess that isn't clothing together into a big bag *sigh*.

I never really leave the country for more than several hours, so I'm not a well trained packer. However, I've read so many "How to pack" blogposts that I've started to believe that I'm qualified for the job. Thus, to make this blogserie (serie being an overstatement) a real adventurous one, I've compiled my own "How to pack" blogpost, namely this one. Yay.

The main important thing is that you don't want to forget what's important, but you also don't want to bring stuff along that isn't going to be used. As stated in the previous post (sort of), you should first get a good picture of who, what, where, when, (why), how and temperature. These are indeed the keypoints one should account with. Hereby not only talking about clothes, but also about all the other stuff (like sunglasses or umbrella or high heels or flats or whatever).

I've noticed that I'm quite an over-packer (someone who packs more than needed) so to avoid a bad back, you can list everything you use on a daily basis. This list is going to be inducted into an elimination. This elimination has 3 points you have to account with. Are the things on your list 1) able to go with you in the first place 2) needed -is it luxury/luxury or needed/luxury- 3) something you really gotta have -like medicines, toothbrush etc-. Keep in mind, you're going to live on a minimum of your own stuff and on a maximum of someonelses stuff. However, don't compromise too much on the things that you really can't do without.

PRO-TIP: Go for the smaller version of everything. It's not only cute to look at, it also saves space in your suitcase. 



Before you put everything in your suitcase, compile the stuff that you want to have together. Think for instance of the clothes you're going to wear. Check before putting everything away that you've got the maximum for a minimum (clothes you can combine with eachother). I'm the kind of girl who wears every day something different. However when on the road it's impossible to bring your whole closet with you. So you should or could make outfits that are easy to combine with everything. The look I'm going for -Alexa Chung meets Morticia Addams meets Je ne sais quoi- is based upon the basics. This makes it easier to combine everything together to one big moshpit (without looking like someone who's inducted herself into a moshpit).

I'm bringing two bags with me: a suitcase and a day-to-day bag. First you could of course devide the stuff you want to bring with you into two piles (namely the suitcase pile and the day-to-day bag pile). You naturally can swift during your stay, but I'm going with a bus and there's no way I can change during the ride. So keep this in mind when you're packing.

PRO-TIP: Don't take anything with you that's breakable or fragile. Think of an alternative (for instance my foundation comes in a glass bottle, so I've chosen to take a bb-cream with me instead -which comes in a plastic tube-.

Try to keep everything organized and do things in a specific order so you won't loose your head running around like a crazy person (first clothes than school stuff than make-up or something like that). If needed you can make a list of everything that you've got to do and stripe it off one by one. You can even bring this list with you so you can check when you're leaving if you've forgotten anything.

Now, I guess, it's just a matter of actually heading your way to Paris (or any other location you're heading to. But this is called the French Files, so it ought to be somewhere in France... preferably Paris).

Love,
Dominique

Previously on the French Files:
*80's montage*

Guess what? I'm going to Paris!
I believe that there are different types of ways one can get dressed.
I, for instance, am an Emotional dresser.
And I'd dearly like to know what kind of dresser you are... *smirks deviously*

I've typed about the ways one can get dressed, but I think the biggest part of dressing must be handed down to the actual what. It's Paris we're talking about, so the what plays a very significant role. For an Emotional dresser like me, one who dresses by emotion and can't settle down on one look or style, this is quite a tricky one. What am I supposed to wear?!

I've been thinking a lot about style lately (which I'll eleborate in another blogpost... keeps me off the streets), and for this occasion I'm going to work with a moodboard or general idea I want to carry out. You could say that I'm going for a bit more structured composition. But before we start, there are some keypoints one has to account with. These keypoints are the basic questions of who, what, where, when, (why), how and temperature. These are important things to know, because you don't want to wear a Christmas jumper when you're going to Hawaii in the midst of summer (I mean, that would just be silly).

WHO
Me, myself and loads of other students.

WHAT
Schoolweek abroad (checking out museums and analyzing about culture and whatnot).

WHERE
Paris, darling.

WHEN
From Monday to Friday (aka 5 days).

(WHY)
Because I ain't got no choice.

HOW
Through the means of a bus (and probably tram and/or RER. And walking. A lot of walking).

TEMPERATURE
Between 17 and 19 degrees celsius (with loads of sunshine and probably no rain).

After answering the keypoints, you could start thinking about what you want to provoke with the clothes you're going to wear. Oohs and aahs or comfort or maybe amazingnezzz. I'm a big fan of a good mixture between the best of both worlds. But to get an actual mental image, one could go on a quest for pictures on the internet, magazines or real life. Collect everything that tickles your nose (this by the way is also a good thing to do just for fun. I mean collecting. Not tickling your own nose. But if you do, I'm not judging you... well, maybe just a bit).

Now you ought to have a big pile of pictures that inspire you, and maybe these are -just like mine- very diverse from nature. Well, this may be one of the hardest choices you'll ever have to make in your life: You've got to organise them into different piles. Hereby you make clear decisions of what you think will be appropiate for your Parisian-look (and maybe what's already in your closet).

Example of a moodboard (all pictures to be found on Pinterest).

These pictures now should form some sort of together as a whole-feeling that can be captured within a certain terminology. I want to go for a minimalistic, but with a little bit of flair look. I've captured this within the famous and recognizable terminology: Alexa Chung meets Morticia Addams meets je ne sais quoi. This, I think, brings a nice dynamic between the local culture and my own dimensions of being *ugh*. Now it's just a matter of finding the clothes that measures up to my wanted look.

Love,
Dominique

"Paris is always a good idea".
Audrey Hapburn

Guess what? I'm in Paris! Not for fun though... School business, ain't it (for fun I'd go a week earlier. Fashion Week, why'd you have to be a week???). So instead of extensive shopping, I'll be analysing and theorizing about museums and culture and old stuff. Yay. I'll shed some tears when we walk pass the Chanel store. But I'll just keep in mind that if I actually see the prices on those beautiful garments, I'll cry even harder (the so close yet so far away-effect). However, before going to Paris I'll need to get some stuff done. School stuff naturally. But also the more fun stuff, like: what should I wear that's practical but will also make Karl flabbergasted (before you know it I'm surrounded by the goodness I desire so much *sigh*).

Au revoir.

Thus with the French Files I'll document, or file if you like, my journey. Which sounds quite cheesy and deep... like "my journey I call life", but I guess that's basically the essence of a blog. Me writing about me in my spare time (like Benjamin Cook sort of said in episode 12 of Becoming Youtube: Why are you really doing this? For me. I'm basically writing down all these words for me... which makes me think about other stuff... maybe I should write a seperate blogpost about this. Yeah. I should do that. Will I do that? Well, we'll see, we'll see...). So lets go!

I believe that there are different types of ways one can get dressed. Hereby not talking about what someone puts on, but about how someone gets to the business of putting something on in the first place. I've settled down with 5 different types of dressers without an hierarchy. This means that the type of dresser you are can change by day. However I've noticed that everyone's got their preferences.

I, for instance, am an Emotional dresser. If I put something together the night before (The one day before dresser) I absolutely hate it the next morning. So for me it's going to be a great challenge of putting something together I'll still adore when on the road. I think this is also a good excercise to define the things I truely like and maybe turn this emotion into something a bit more steady.


To define which type of dresser you are, you can question yourself a few things which ought to correlate with one of the types stated below (if not, well, I'm sorry). Hereby you should assume that the dressing takes place on a normal/day-to-day/average day. Look at how you've organized the business of dressing itself. For instance, do you pull everything together an evening in advance? A week in advance? 10 minutes in advance? 1 second in advance? Every type is provided with a commentation, which is quite self explanatory, even if I say so myself.

THE CHAOTIC DRESSER
The chaotic dresser puts on whatever lays on the ground (or what she can define as clothing). She doesn't put much thought into the outfit and is often challenged with limited time. The chaotic dresser has to make key decisions under pressure.

THE EMOTIONAL DRESSER
The emotional dresser puts her outfit together in the morning. Her dressing rate is inconsistend and decissions are based upon the mood she's in. The emotional dresser faces often frustration when she can't find what she wants and can turn into the chaotic dresser as time pressures her (the socalled f*ck it-effect).

THE ONE DAY BEFORE DRESSER
The one day before dresser is self explanatory. She coordinates her outfit the day before she's going to wear it. This often gets done the night before, so she's ready to get up and put everything on without too much hassle the next morning (hereby not talking about the night of creation).

THE PLANNER
The planner is an expansion or exaggeration of the one day before dresser. She plans her outfits a week before wearing it. This routine often gets put together on Sunday and overlaps often until the Saturday (Sunday being a lazy day). The planner knows what to wear every day, but is less adapting when faced with changes.

THE FUNCTIONAL DRESSER
The functional dresser gets dressed with a certain special purpose. She takes into account the situation she's heading into and dresses appropiately. You can for instance think of going out (dressing up) or going for a run or naturally having a lazy Sunday (I love lazy Sundays. I wish every day was a lazy Sunday).

Why, you might think, is it important to know what type of dresser you are? Maybe it isn't that important (like you know, not forgetting to pack your toothbrush and medicines), but it is something one could think about so one could get the better of it. Yes, one could do that. You've got this Dutch saying about how you can only do something if you know what that something is -quite literally: if you want to know the size of an elephant, you've got to measure him up. Because by measuring you'll know ("meten is weten"). And I'd dearly like to know what kind of dresser you are... *smirks deviously*

Love,
Dominique

As to be deducted from the title, this is part 2 of a collab between me and another blogger (the lovely Demi). As Demi will state below, you should (or could of course) visit her blog for part 1. So yeah. Have fun. 


Hiya!