"Is this the second week in a row you feature Adele in your Weekly List of Loves?" What if. What so. What evs. The interview Adele has given to i-D magazine is just all you want from an interview. It feels honest, close to heart and gives you a smile around your face (and a tear around your eye). I always need to think fast when I see i-D magazine lying in the kiosk at Central Station, because their restock is very fluctuant (this time there were only three lying there). So in a hurry -because apparently trains don't wait for you buying magazines- I grabbed myself a copy AND I'M SO GLAD I DID. In general I'm quite a fan of i-D magazine and this interview... boy, this interview... yes. Just yes.

I came across Miranda Makaroff by 'mistake' on Instagram and I... well... I'm in love. Most of the time I've got absolutely no idea what she's talking about on her blog (Spanish ain't part of my curriculum), but GOALS, man, GOALS all the way. She apparently is already a big face in the scene (but again Spanish ain't part of my curriculum) and has been featured in Vogue, has deejayed for Marc Jacobs and has acted in some Spanish movies. A non-stop girl, thus!

If there's one brand you should keep an eye on, it's The Whitepepper. I absolutely adore every piece they make and just wish with all my wishes of a day I walk around in one of them. To summarize The Whitepepper in three words: fun, edgy and I WANT IT ALL NOW!!!! Take for instance this Fluffy Faced Bag in black. Isn't it adorable yet cool. And just to prove to y'all how cool they are: at the moment they're doing Secret Santa! All you need to do is go to their website, select a price category (varying from 5 to 40 pounds), select your size and they will choose something for you! You can never go wrong with that! *glances sideways to mother-dear* However you'll be needing to get a move on it before today 1 pm. No pressure.

As some of you might remember, at the moment I'm doing research to a fossilised -or to be more specific: calcified- bird's nest (how exciting my life must be). And while being all over Google, sometimes you'll need to get out of your comfort zone, maybe even leave the house (ew, I know) and get out and about doing research like a proper detective. Just imagine this bird's nest being the victim of a crime and you're there to caught the killer! Set your inner Jessica B. Fletcher free and grab yourself your Sherlock Holmes magnifying glass, we've got a murder to solve! Anyway... I got myself a subscription to the National Library of the Netherlands. Books, books and more books! I've never seen so many books at once in my life... And yes, it required me to leave the house, but it was totally worth it! We're on the bridge of catching the murderer.... dumdumdumdummmmmmmm....

What's on your list of loves this week?

Love,
Dominique

I know, I know, blogging ain't a priority at the moment, which leaves this space here anxiously quiet (although, admittedly, it's been quieter. However I've just written another Weekly List of Loves for tomorrow and just can't stand the thought of it to be right next to the other one I did last week. So why not throw in an odd Sunday Summary to break up the pattern. Before you know it it's the only thing you'll ever see on here... *sigh* I want to be cool, I want to be edgy, I want to be cute, I want to be smart and I want to be good at time management, is that so much to ask for, Santa?).

It's a matter of juggling at the moment. And I'm very very bad at juggling (my hand-eye coordination literally sucks). My time is either being devoted to school OR to sobbingly singing along to Adele (told you so). AND -blogwise- I'm being quite busy preparing for something special... (yeah, yeah, it's almost bloody Christmas, we get it). Which leaves little to no time to actually prepare something for the here and now. Well, it would be possible if I was better at time management (Santa's working on it, right?) and, ya know, if I had some sort of structure or organisation to the things I do. Hell! Last time I updated my planner was about two months ago. Although I find myself being a queen in making listst. And also a queen in not following that list and making another list to also not follow. Pro tip: Write things down you've already done, makes it seem as if you're very good at keeping yourself together. 'Waking up? Check! Breakfast? Check!' What's more to it??

Love,
Dominique

Brightly coloured faux fur is on top of my list this season. Or any season really. Even when it's 30 degrees outside, just hook me up! I know it's become quite the same as flowers for spring (aka 'groundbraking'), but yeah... individualism is a myth anyway... I've got a most amazing green faux fur coat laying pridely in the backlog of my sewing pile (preferably with a matching hat if I can squeeze it out of there).

Never have I ever felt as excited about coloured pictures as I did when finding this Tumblr. Painters in Color is true to its name and gives you -who might've guessed it- pictures of painters in colour. Think of all the great French like Gauguin, Renoir, Bonnard etc. But also some surprising, and I must say almost unrecognizable, Pablo Picasso (together with Amedeo Modigliani) is in store.

It's finally here! Adele's new album 25 is one to put under the Christmas tree (or rather: one to put on repeat while you sobbingly sing along to it). I love Adele and I must say that I love this album. It gives you the stuff you'd expect from her (aka songs you can sobbingly sing along to), but simultaneously shows you a 'new' side of herself sound-wise (the second track on the album for instance isn't your classic Adele song and that's what makes it very strong and fresh).

I've been obsessed this week with Gene Kelly. I mean, just type his name into Youtube and you'll find the most amazing, uplifting and energetic performances. I'm especially addicted to his dance scenes, as they are just phenomenal (and to think that he wasn't that keen on dancing when he was younger). He was so much more than just a song and dance man. Have you seen 'The Pirate Ballet' from the 1948 film The Pirate? Or in total contrast to that -from the same film- 'Be a Clown' with Judy Garland? It's pure genius! The things he could do with his body are just amazing! So talented! So wishing I hadn't two left feet!

What's on your list of loves this week?

Love,
Dominique

One of them, one of them, one of them, one of them... Yes, I'm one of them. Maybe a little bit late, but fashionably late I'd say. Since this June/July we Dutchies are finally able to buy Urban Decay in stores. Well, just the one store in Amsterdam (and online, to fact check). So when in Amsterdam...

It's very hard to type words about something when most of the words are already typed by others. But I'll do my very best to produce something remotely 'fresh'. Although, according to Frederic Jameson, everything's a copy of a copy of a copy. As someone has eloquently put it: any text is a new issue of past citations aka intertextuality. With intertextuality you (always) refer to something that's been said sometime somewhere and something that's already been done/made sometime somewhere, in between all this -however- there arises a new narrative (although, a little reminder, everything is a copy of a copy of a copy).

Side note: there are many ways to explain this intertextuality. you could say that this is always applicable on EVERYTHING (because for instance all words have been written in a particular order which we do not depart from. Better known as grammar). Or you could argue that intertextuality only takes place when it's been done on purpose (par exemple: Madonna's Material Girl vs Gentlemen prefer Blondes, where Material Girl clearly mimics the film and plays with this knowledge and image everyone already has of it -the film naturally being iconic and featuring Marilyn Monroe, which brings a whole new dimension onto the table of how people experience the Material Girl video).


To tell the truth, I was expecting the most amazing eyeshadow palette that's ever been created in this universe. Or at least on this earth. But when I finally laid my eyes on the descendants of alien magic, I was a bit... well... disappointed is the right word, I guess. "Is this it?", I said while gazing at Naked 2 and 3. "They are so... shimmery". Shimmery isn't OBVIOUSLY a bad thing, but maybe it was the lighting or the expectations or... idk.... stuff. Long story short: I was about to leave the store, when my mother spotted the Naked palette. The holy grail, the first, the best, the... it looked alright-eyeshadow palette (I know, hold yourself, I've gone wild). As you might've guessed, the thing came home with me. Although I wouldn't have bought it for the full price (I had a cheeky 70% discount. Aha. Cheeky).

YES. Yes, I think this product has been overhyped. However it isn't a bad product. Far from it! It's a good decent product with beautiful neutral every day colours. Basically: You can't go wrong with it.


The packaging reminds me of the bookcovers of The Worst Witch series by Jill Murphy (INTERTEXTUALITY!!), which was my younger versions favourite books to read. So that kept the hopes high for cynical-me while peeling off layer by layer to get to the actual product (Fun fact: I like to get things wrapped as if it being a present. Just to cheer me up, really. Not very environmentally friendly, I know. But, like, I deserve a present or two once in a while, right? Right?! It wasn't wrapped that good anyway. I've seen better. Although it didn't help that the bow was crushed in my dad's backpack... maybe I should start a series of judging wrapping skills of stores. An idea I'll surely write down on my 'crazy fun future posts list', if you're interested).


The packaging -thus- is very pretty and nostalgic (for me), however it isn't greasy-foundation hands friendly. Which is a shame because it scores very high on the 'Is it soft to stroke?' question. Yes it is soft to stroke, but you'll regret it shortly when looking at the result of your greasy-foundation hands imprinted on it. Makes me even wonder if I should pick up the ol' foundation brush again... (fact: who's got time for the foundation brush? Just use your fingers and you'll be A-OK!).

Yes, the eyeshadows are very well pigmented and can be easily blended. You can create a smokey-eye within seconds (which is, like, the only thing I can do with eyeshadow. Or at least that's what I tell myself. It's more like creative painting with an acceptable outcome.... we can't all be makeup artists, right?). Also the names of the eyeshadows are quite cool ('What you're wearing on your lids?' Well a combination of Sidecar, Gunmetal and a bit of Virgin on the outer edges. 'Okay...'). It's pretty. It's soft. I like it.

So, are you naked yet?

Love,
Dominique

The EP Collection of The Zombies is currently on repeat in the Fashioned by Pluche-household. The song She's Not There is naturally being used by Chanel to promote the Coco Mademoiselle perfume. However I got my reminder from the good ol' internet (oh Tumblr, what's one to do without you). After pressing the play button I immediately got grabbed by both arms, holding me tightly, and it hasn't let me go since. Especially the melancholly sound of for instance Summertime -while it's pouring outside- gets me going.

My oh my! Isabel Barense is a girl everyone should know about. She's absolutely fabulous and I'm in total awe of her Instagram. To be honest, I'm super jealous of her pout. Her pout is like none other I've seen before. It's out of this world! Magical, really. Also she makes me want to get dressed up like a true 30's/40's gal and float through the house on tiptoes. *sigh*

I love how a film you've watched a billionth times before still can surprise you in ways you can never foresee. I had this baffling moment when watching 102 Dalmatians (for the billionth and one time) that I laughed about jokes I previously didn't understand as jokes (although I'd like to think that the Dalmatians franchise is ageless- they do take care of the adults). Also, mostly the main thing, is that you notice an actor being that actor. Famously in 101 Dalmations the puppies gets to be kidnapped by Dr House and Arthur Weasley (or as I like to think Father Brown). In 102 it's Prince Percy Percy lugging along all those puppies. Who'd thought?

Next year I'm going to do my minor in Fashion Theories: Thinking Design, Culture & Marketing. Yay! It took some effort to get there, but after all that hard labour I finally received the 'you've been accepted' email. However it was addressed to one Danielle. Who the f is Danielle? A cold sweat came over my body. Do I want to know if this email is really meant for me or not (and take the risk of them replying back with 'ugh no we don't want you, we want Danielle'). Decisions, decisions. I ultimately chose to play it safe and ask if the email was meant for me and it was. Again: Yay!

Fun side story:
I'd never heard of the school I'm going to follow this course before, but apparently it's en route the same metro I take daily. However I can't remember seeing feathers on the train (I like to imagine that every to be fashion student is wearing a feather headdress, like in Vegas. I would if I was a to be fashion student. And maybe for that fact alone I'm not a suitable candidate. Those headaches must be killing). Anyway, before this I'd never heard of them, never seen one of them etc. The other day I missed my train and stood rather helplessly staring at my phone to see when the next one was coming. Suddenly a girl walks up to me. 'Hi, I'm from that school you've never heard of and seen anyone of (she didn't exactly use those words) and for a school subject I'll be needing to take pictures of people I think look cool. I think you look cool, may I take a picture of you?'. I was absolutely flabbergasted. Any moment from there I thought she was going to burst out singing, other people joining her in and starting to dance a routine (ya know, musical-style). She didn't, unfortunately. She took my picture and disappeared in the crowd. If I'd known the occasion I would've made a bit more effort. Oh well...

What's on your list of loves this week?

Love,
Dominique

Well... what's there to say. The world is a weird place. One moment you're caught up in everyday life with it's mundain tasks and just, ya know, life. And it'll take only a second before mundain turns into tragedy. Before mundain gets to be swept away from under your feet. Basically it's unfair. It's all unfair and unnecessary. It's just a big surreal blob of unfair, unnecessary and scary shit.

As it goes, for most of us who are an outsider within this situation, you -eventually- will carry on with your day. Not because you want to, but just because life goes on. And that, again, is scary shit. Why doesn't time stop? Why do we not all freeze and stand still forever and ever? (with naturally the obliged toilet and tea break every hour or so). Why not? (besides the fact that thereby you can say that 'they' have won).

So after the goosebumps and tears have faded away and you're sort of glad you won't be needing to go to Amsterdam this Monday. Which is, I admit, a weird immediate thought I had after hearing the news. But it's part of the list, ya know. You've got Paris, London, Berlin, Amsterdam... And I know, as many have pointed out, these kind of situations aren't as rare as it seems to be. That these kind of situations happen elsewhere in the world and no one seems to be as bothered (bothered obviously being the wrong word to describe it with). But -and this may sound very naive and heartbreaking and unfair- this is very close to home. It's very shocking and upsetting to hear such news elsewhere in the world, but you can't visualize it as much when you see the images on your screen in comparison to seeing the images of somewhere you've once walked. Which, just to be clear, doesn't take away the importance of one situation over another. In fact it goes to show how we're all connected and battle with the same fears.

So instead of watching the news all day (and seeing those terrible images over and over again) I kept myself occupied by doing research to a fossilised bird's nest, as you do. I sometimes wonder if all the bad things will cease to be visible and therefore eventually will disappear if we're all occupied by doing research to -for instance- fossilesed bird's nests. If only it worked that way! The world, I honestly think, would be a better place. Or at least a little bit different.

Love,
Dominique

Normally I'm more of a 'at the end of the exhibition' kind of girl. I mostly avoid the big hype of a new instalment and patiently wait until the big crowd has gone (pro tip: don't leave it for too long, otherwise you'll be caught in the hysteria of last minute exhibition goers. Not always a friendly bunch of people). But this time, due to school bound regulations, I for once went quite early to an exhibition (Ode aan de Nederlandse Mode (Ode to Dutch Fashion) at Gemeentemuseum Den Haag). School is indeed a good stimulant for going regularly to museums. Well, my school is a good stimulant for going regularly to museums. I don't think that the more technical courses are that keen on taking trips to the museum (although, that being said, there are some wonderful museums with exhibitions dedicated to technical subjects. Just saying).



Lets immediately go straight to the point:
Some time ago I went to another exhibition at the Gemeentemuseum, namely Romantic Fashions: mr Darcy meets Eline Vere (which you can read about [here]). Coincidentally this exhibition is held in the exact same part of the museum AND -now it's getting freaky- the same Art Director, Maarten Spruyt, has been responsible for creating this exhibition. My oh my! Maarten, as I've already stated in the other blogpost, has a very unique and on his own perspective on how to put objects together. You can immediately recognize his work, but he'll always stay true to the nature of the subject that he's handling. It just seems to be that these subjects are very 'me'. I mostly do my research on the exhibitions after I've gone (because I first want to experience it by my own eyes and mind before ruining it all with the blablabla from others), but somehow I always end up with dear Maarten's work. Interesting....


Naturally there were some interfaces to be found between Romantic Fashions and Ode to Dutch Fashion (besides the fact it was all embraced by the same bricks and made by the same hands). But I think that the two are substentially totally different from one another. Although I must say I got taken by flashbacks when seeing an 18th century dress that was also featured in Romantic Fashions. However the way Ode to Dutch Fashion has been organized is completely different and felt -in a way- quite 'fresh' and new. Naturally the subject of this exhibition is far more singular or focused and in some way very limited. We're talking solidly Dutch couturiers with designs from 1885 to 2015. I really liked how they step away from a chronological approach (as to be seen in Romantic Fashions) to a thematic categorization. This way it visually made a very strong statement (my mum absolutely loved the second room about Dutch Blue, which looked very much like a Cabinet of Curiosities which also is a very cheeky nod to the history of museums self and the way 'we' (people) used to present and divide or classify the objects we collected). This way of presenting a collection also underlines the fact how some designs are literally timeless. You couldn't easily pick out the 200 year old dress or the 2015 -fresh from the catwalk- dress because both neatly blended into the theme of the room. It once more proved how there is so much now and new to be found in history.



As with most fashion exhibitions goes, the given information was very on the surface. No in depth information was given at any point of the exhibition and it often repeated itself (and at some point you'll start thinking ArtEZ (an art school in Arnhem where for instance Viktor&Rolf have graduated from) were main sponsors of the exhibition). I always find it so disapointing in that aspect. Especially when you buy the book accompanying the exhibition and it's filled with very interesting essays proving that they do know a thing or two about the subject. I understand that you want to keep the exhibition approachable for everyone that happens to walk into it, but why directly deny the knowledge you own to your visitors? There are many ways to work it into the exhibition while still being approachable for everyone that happens to walk into it. By not giving this information -in anyway possible- during the exhibition you lose a very big bite from the context of the couturiers, their designs and the main subject as to why they can be distinguished from the rest of the world due to the influence of the Netherlands as a society (and thereby answering questions as to why for instance the dance-scene is so vibrant here and in what way this gets to be reflected into the designs of certain couturiers. Instead of offering just a dark room filled with dresses with paillettes and headphones hanging on the wall playing very loud music (it had to 'reproduce' a silent disco, but it was anything but silent. You could hear the music three rooms further) without giving any context as to who/what/where/when/why).



Ode to Dutch Fashion -ultimately- is a very well visually presented exhibition covering 200 years of fashion and proving how time is limitless regarding good designs. The pictures in this post just represent a very very small part of all the things you'll be able to see. So I'll definitely recommend -if you can- to go and see it all for yourself (just make sure to buy the book if you want more then just a memory of pretty clothes).

Love,
Dominique

Romance is in the air when wearing this wrap around your neck. You don't need yourself a loverboy to get you going! Some pink fake fur can replace every smelly subject of desire.  
Take lesson from me! 

You're only 6 steps away to get yourself a Valentino, just for you. I'm not quite certain if it can dim the lights and sing you songs full of sad things, do the tango or serenade and play on your heart strings. But surely it will keep you warm with love heat!



1. Fold the fabric with the good sides (the hairy bits) on top of each other.
2. Sew the long sides -thus the 90 cm- together.
3. Turn everything inside out.
4. Put the ends (so the smaller 50 cm sides) of the -future- wrap together (this way the good sides are yet again reunited).
5. Sew the ends together. Leave a gap of give or take 5 cm.
6. Turn everything inside out through the gap and stitch it up with thread and needle.  
That's it.


Light some candles, throw some rose petals into the air and snuggle up!

Love,
Dominique