The Bobbys

Aaaah, I really did it! I've been a proud and ecstatic owner of a pair of Isabel Marant Bobbys for approximately seven hours now. If you hadn't noticed already, this is kind of a big deal to me. Like, I even have a hard time acting all cool and relaxed while I type this. I generally do not keep my cool. No, I'm the obsessive fangirl kind of person. I freak out. I own a pair of Bobbys, damn it! Jeah, as Ryan Lochte would say.

I have always loved the Bobbys/Bettys/whichever name it is this season but I had never actually considered buying them until last week. I pondered over it for a while in agony, went to try them out not once but twice but it wasn't until today that I mustered up the courage to actually buy them. Jeah. Seriously, I felt like I was tripping when I handed over my money to the saleslady. So far it has not been a bad trip. I probably look down at my feet every 20 seconds to admire my snazzy kicks - x

P.S. I edited these in the most abysmal way, my apologies for that. Purple and taupe are obviously not a good match.

Pink Moment

(Zara pastel pink dress, Nike running shoes and Lacoste tennis dress)

I was on the look-out for some bare essentials when I went sales shopping on Wednesday: a pair of jeans, a new marinière and perhaps even a silk blouse of some sorts. Obviously, I ended up with none of the above. The marinière at Petit Bateau that I had lusted over for months, turned out to be rather ill-fitting in person. It got even worse as just about every pair of jeans I came across seemed to have some kind of ill-fated wash that did not flatter my butt at all. And all of the sudden Zara apparently only carries linen blouses. Hence, no basics for me.

Everything I did buy was pink. Except for a sports bra but I'm fairly sure you don't care about that. Aside from a matching pink coat and skirt, my closet isn't overflowing with pink but I simply couldn't resist these two dresses. And I sincerely believe that hot pink running will motivate me to work out more than once every two years. Naturally, a celebratory outfit post of both dresses is in order soon. - x

Sunday Company

First off, thanks for all the fun comments these last couple of days. They make study breaks so much more enjoyable. I went to Antwerp on Friday and did some shopping. In fact, I was actually hoping to still score an issue of The Gentlewoman somwhere there but Frankie and Lula make for a good alternative, don't they? I didn't even know Frankie was sold in Belgium! 

Frankie reminds me of the time I still read N.E.E.T. magazine, back when I was first discovering all things fun and fashion on the interwebs. Does N.E.E.T. even still exist nowadays? Anyways, it's all cute and crafty and it features so many young and talented people. It's less cutesy than I had expected but I think I like it better this way. 

Lula is still out of this world. Picking up an issue and flicking through it always makes me giddy. I stumbled upon the last two issues by chance (Stockholm, I miss you) and Friday was no different. The photoshoots have lost some of their magic (or maybe I have grown up a little) but the interviews are still the best. For this issue Tavi Gevinson talked with Iris Apfel and Tennessee Williams with Lesley Gore. Lesley fricking Gore! I love how the interviewers are not just journalists looking for some ridiculous tagline but old friends or great admirers having a cosy chat with their interviewee. With a cup of tea and macarons, obviously. At least that's how a Lula interview takes place in my mind. I'd like to keep that image.

Now if only I could get my hands on the next issue of The Gentlewoman. 

(Acne dress with open back and Dries Van Noten silk sweater)

I also bought actual clothes on Friday. Result! Now I don't want you to get the impression that I'm all of the sudden rolling in dough. I got my designer fix (lol) at Rosier 41, this amazing outlet store. They have a really excellent stock of designer vintage. For example, they had two clothing racks with nothing but Dries Van Noten. Seriously?!

 I'd say I mostly shop at Zara here in Ghent and whenever I can, COS in Antwerp but every few months I buy a thing or two that is a bit more special, like those Essentiel trousers. I like the fact that I am slowly (very slowly) but surely building up a wardrobe with a few very beautiful and timeless pieces. I'll show you more of my dress and sweater in an outfit post when I finish my exams i.e. an eternity away from now! - x

My New Bestest Friend

Good morning! First off I'd like to thank you for the lovely comments on my last post. I have a slight knack for self-deprecation but nothing boosts your ego more than reading such kind words. Really, thanks a lot! As you can tell from the above picture, I've been doing some good shopping lately.  Instead of doing the whole 'What's in the bag...dramatic pause' thing I'm just going to go ahead and show some of it to you.

(Sandro 'Safran' cotton sweater and tapered trousers by Essentiel and not so no new pair of ballet flats by Massimo Dutti)

On Saturday I went shopping in Antwerp with my mom (mommy's kid, I know). I don't know what happened but somehow we overspent a little (a lot) and I ended up with some of the most incredible things I've ever bought. I've already come up with at least 7 ways to wear these trousers and I bet they're the kind of gift that keeps on giving. And the sweater, don"t get me started on the sweater. These pictures don't do justice to its incredible detailing. Please remind me to never edit my pictures in Photobucket (really, Photobucket!) again. - x

New in

ASOS embellished dress and chunky Zara knit

Yes, it's mine. I blogged about this stunning dress in November and after it went on sale in December, I finally racked up the courage to order it. I cannot describe how beautiful it is in person. It flickers, 'nuff said! And the knitted sweater might even be a better purchase right now. I've already worn it with a very hoochy leopard skirt and cuffed black skinny jean with ankle boots since I bought it on Monday and I'll probably be living in it until February.

Jeffrey Eugenides - The Marriage Plot

I read a lot  of great works this semester, from Balzac to Shakespeare and back. While I thoroughly enjoyed most of it (The Faerie Queene = no me gusta, at all), I haven't been able to read a book on my own for months now. My mom and I picked up 'The Marriage Plot' on Monday and I couldn't be happier about it. It almost trumps my new clothes. First off, I love Jeffrey Eugenides. It's about an English major at Brown in the 80s. I'm an English student!? How more perfect can things get? 'The Marriage Plot' will be my best friend during breaks of what will be non-stop revision from Saturday onwards until February. - x

IKEA Days

I started my job as a dishwasher (sounds like lots of fun and it is, aight?) at the IKEA food court here in Ghent on Thursday. It's not that bad. I mean, you have to work really hard for eight hours a day but most of my coworkers are nice (we're one big IKEA Family, okay?) and when you're on break, you can stuff your face with all the food you like. You know what I'm talking about. Svenska köttbullar, all day long. As a bonus, you're reminded why you enrolled at university on a daily basis. No, it genuinely is a nice place to work and I have immense respect for the people who do this throughout the entire year for I couldn't do that.

In my days off and even before then, I've been wearing nothing but this dress. It's quite true to the wishlist in my last post and true to how I feel like dressing as of late. Simple and sweet. From age six to twelve, I was basically covered in H&M all the time. In the last couple of years I hardly bought anything there but in the last few months alone I've picked up four items that I'm absolutely fond of. I don't know whether it's H&M stepping up its game or me being more of a thrifter/selective person but I'm thrilled!

Their pre-fall collection has all the kinds of mustard sixties frocksto woo any girl's heart but I'm content with one dress from this collection as I've still got my wishlist (minus a few changes) on my mind. I've never been so focused to stick to it as I am now. It might have helped that I saw one particular fruity A.P.C. sweatshirt in person, but, hey, what gives? - x

Stockholm syndrome

Hejhej! I returned home from Stockholm on Friday. The four days I spent there were some of the most brilliant in my admittedly very short life as a young adult. As the Zita Swoon song goes, I feel alive in the city. Stockholm was burning, burning bright and I felt so good there. It was just me and my Mum and we had such a lovely time together. She is my supreme shopping buddy and we get along so well.

I'm no trained big city girl but the nature and peacefulness in Stockholm really caught me off guard. I could live there, really. There's just one thing that puzzled me: every Swedish girl seems to own the same pair of white Converse. Here are some of the things I brought home with me:

- a cotton candy pair of Swedish Hasbeens, shoes I've been longing for for so long now. I don't think the name's a self-fulfilling prophecy but only time can tell.
- Lula issue 12 which I read every night in Stockholm before falling asleep.
- Beyond Retro tote bag (and now I should probably go hide in shame because I have to admit I bought it only for the sake of owning it - yes, I am like that) and this amazing necklace which you can hardly see with my crazy vignette-effect that I bought at Beyond Retro a.k.a. the perfect excuse to justify buying the tote bag.

This paragraph makes no sense at all.

xoxo

Sunnies, sequel

Over a month ago, I said I'd post a photo of my glorious pair of sunglasses from ASOS. Next to me is my friend Chloé, behind us you can see the gorgeous view from Nafplio, Greece. It was taken during our senior trip with school, an epic, glorious time. I'll probably have Danza Kuduro on repeat for the rest of the year. When's that reunion coming up?! 

It's Mother's Day today! I have to run out and pick up some flowers for that wonderful mom of mine. Have a lovely Sunday!

Sun = sunnies

After what seems like an shipping odyssey and a delivery of the wrong sunglasses, the kind people over at ASOS have shipped this precious pair my way. I've been wearing the same green oversized sunglasses since I was thirteen, time for a change. Fingers crossed.

P.S. Still no new layout. Plenty of ideas but no time to execute them.
P.P.S. Spring, don't ever leave me again. xoxo

Greta

I ordered these babies yesterday and am currently anxiously awaiting their arrival. Let's hope they arrive before I leave for London on Monday. You're probably contemplating the use of ordering them online when you could have waited a week to actually try them on at the store. I just had one of these moments. Just had to press the 'Add to basket' button. 

Peace out and à bientôt!

A gift from and to me

On Saturday and today I splurged a little on stuff I didn't need. No, I did not get an A.P.C. bag but it came with the dress that I'll show you later this week. I tried on the Madras one I showed you a couple of weeks ago but they no longer had it in my size and it didn't give me the luxurious feel you expect when you're spending money that you shouldn't be spending. So I bought a straight plaid cotton dress instead.

Then I hit the M.A.C. store today and left with a gorgeous red lipstick and a concealer. I used to be all make-up free but that's changing at a rapid pace. I've never worn lipstick and it makes me feel all awkward when I move my mouth but I love it, the texture is really creamy and it doesn't wear off too quickly. Although, I could probably use a new layer, since I just drank about a gallon of Nesquik...

A bientôt,

Lies

New order

A turquoise ring and a star connector ring by Jutka & Riska and initial earrings by Urban Outfitters.

You might have seen the connector ring on the fabulous Lore of Lore's Fashion. The jewellery stand is a gift for a friend lol, but I thought it would come in handy for these pictures.

This amazing clownesque shirt by COS. 

Deena & Ozzy suede ankle boots. I have been looking for a pair like this for a while now and these

are just utterly perfect (although you can't really tell by the crappy lighting).

After being in shoe limbo for what seemed like forever, I have already bought three new pairs in less than three weeks. Strange. Now I have to go mend my failed cheesecake. First time trying out a new recipe is always stressful, but today it was just fatal. No dessert for tonight's dinner party, I guess. Well, better luck nex time....talk to you soon xo

Fragments

This last week I got a pair of loafers as a gift from my mom, I - or, if I'm honest, my stepdad - finally finished my diy birdcage and I stocked up on some magazines. Alexa is looking all glum and pale because I used her as a mouse pad and discovered too late that you shouldn't use magazines as mouse pads. And so a ongtime mystery was solved as I had noticed the same thing on several of my books, coincidentally also used as temporary mouse pads. Listen carefully, kids, books are not to be used as mouse pads!

I also went swimming at the lake with my little sister, went to see Inception with friends (and I want - no, have - to see it again), ate a lot of cheese cake, reread Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close and did many other little insignificant things.

As for today, I went shopping in Antwerp with my friend Sofie and we both went on a little spending spree. I'll dwell on all my purchases and the lovely time I had tomorrow, I'm rather tired now. xoxo

Born free

Say hello to my first new pair of shoes since March (!) from Zara.

I saw the phenomenal M.I.A. live in concert last night. What a woman!

Hearts attack

My ASOS order, these supercool heart suspender tights, arrived on Monday and today I put them on for the first time. I love them but even though they make me feel very inappropriate. Still, with the right dress, a cute winter coat and some Mary Jane flats, I think these tights will look fantastic.

Olivia

Today I bought this amazing ivory lace jacket by the Swedish label Rules by Mary after eyeing it for the last three months or so. It even has a name, how much more perfect can a piece of clothing get?

It seems that I can't stop buying pretty dresses, leading to the point that I'm buying things with the money that I'll earn in September, mommy gets to play Visa card, much to her dismay. Yes, I got the job I applied for before I left. I'll be cleaning offices and toilets for a couple of weeks. Not the most glamorous job but I wanted work (read: money) and I wasn't in any position to be picky.

Italy was dream. We went camping in Le Marche and stayed at Podere Sei Poorte, which is basically a Dutch enclave. The only people there were from Holland. You can imagine the mood when Holland lost the World Cup final, I mean, even I was teary-eyed. Still, you got to give credit where credit is due, the Dutch do it best when it comes to campings. I also sort of had a major crush on a very pretty Dutch boy who was my age but due to my shyness I never progressed much further than "Hey, how are you?". I'm still a little blue about all of it, but alas, it's my own damn fault. And why do I think that any one wants to read about this stuff? Okay, topic closed. I'm excited to do some outfit posts with all my new things. Talk to you soon xo

Seventeen

I went shopping in Antwerp today and returned with these babies. I'm sorry for the crappy quality but my mother took the camera to Italy, so PhotoBooth was the best I could do. I actually had a pretty hard time trying to get them into the picture, whilst trying to keep my MacBook in balance. Anyways, I'm totally in love. I had wanted the tba dress since February and that sequined dress is the one I was all mopey about just a little while ago. Both were reduced to a rather nice price and I just couldn't resist.

I didn't buy anything else. I tried out these insane Zara wedges but they were just too high. Not in an age appropriate-way, they were just too high. I wouldn't get enough wear out of them, meaning I wouldn't wear them at school. I don't want to spend money on shoes that are to die for (and they were, in fact, to die for) but that are soon collecting dust in my improvised shoe closet, also known as my ladder.

If you'll excuse me, I'm going to Mad Men Myself for a moment. I'll see you back somewhere mid July, I scheduled some posts but not many (read: two) Enjoy your summer!

You're young until you're not

(Thrifted  blouse and necklace, Zara purse and sandals, H&M jeans) - photos by Louisa Derycke

Yesterday I thrifted this amazing blouse and today I picked up the most amazing cropped winter coat, both at Think Twice. This store is quickly becoming my favourite secondhand shop. Not only is it a part of Humana, meaning that all the proceeds go entirely to charity, but there are also many branches all over Europe. This allows them to completely change up their stock every six weeks. How many vintage shops can say that! And when they do, they hold the most crazy sales. In the end, everything gets sold at 1 euro. You should definitely go check them out when you're in Ghent or more likely, in Antwerp.

I got both the necklace and the way too oversized pseudo-cluth in Portugal two years ago. Beautiful boys, beautiful country and beautiful language, what else can I say. I wish that this purse were a clutch, it normally has straps attached to it. But after carrying it around for a while in this manner, I don't get why anyone would ever buy a clutch. Sure, it's pretty and elegant and yada yada, but it's highly unpractical.
I want to expand my ring collection but the secondhand offer in Ghent is quite meager. I want Forever 21's, full of cross connector rings and I wish that Old Gold Boutique didn't have the most insane shipping rates. Or I could stop whining, hey, that's a thought.

I've been listening to Regina Spektor all day. On The Radio is such a cute song but nothing will ever beat her rendition of John Lennon's 'Real Love'.



That's it for today. In the spirit of yet another amazing song, I send you all my love.

Pastels

Sweets For My Sweets/ Sold Out Forever/ I Scream Peach!

During my short spell of insomnia last night I discovered (rather late) that Catrice released a nail polish with an uncanny resemblance to Chanel's Le Vernis Jade. With that price, I just couldn't not go look for it. Sold Out Forever is quite a befitting name. I had to check out several stores before I found a bottle. I even bought two, just to be sure. I Scream Peach! is quite obviously again almost an except copy of Chanel's Orange Fizz. Blatant rip off or not, I'm very relieved to change up my nails from the usual red and bright pink. xo