MOMU: Foot Print + Game Changers

A few days ago, the new exhibition at the MoMu of Antwerp (the fashion museum) opened her doors: "Game Changers: Reinventing the 20th century silhouette". Until the middle of August you have the chance to visit this exposition that has as a main focus the work of Christóbal Balenciaga, who changed the fashion spectrum in the middle of the twentieth century by creating wide and huge silhouettes which led to a totally different architectural volume in fashion that was never seen before! From then on, fashion was looked at from a totally different perspective, which put an end to the area of the hourglass effect (hurray!). A lot of other designers followed this trend, and some of their designs are also exhibited in Antwerp: Gabrielle Chanel, Issey Miyake, Comme des Garçons , Ann Demeulemeester... 

The fashion museum always creates a beautiful setting that leads to a unique experience. Below you can find some pictures of their previous exhibition "Foot Print: the tracks of shoes in fashion" to give you an idea what to expect. If you are a fashion lover, and sincerely interested in the history of fashion, the MoMu is definitely a place you should visit. Just make a day trip out of it and combine it with an afternoon of shopping... I'm sure I will do it that way! ;) 

Opening LN Knits flagshipstore

Ellen Kegels is the founder of LN Knits and sells fair-trade and handmade knits. She is known for her cardigans, scarfs and beanies made from 100% baby alpaca wool, that she gets from the Peruvian Andes. Baby alpaca wool is super soft - it is one of the most delicate fibers in the world - what makes it an amazing fabric to wear. Funfact to know about the alpacas is that they graze at an altitude of 3500 m to 5000 m above sea level. But that's not all: not only is the quality super duper, on top of that you can buy the clothes without feeling guilty because they're made in the best human conditions. With LN Knits, Ellen is providing a lot of jobs in Peru: more than 180 Peruvian ladies earn a steady income thanks to her. One of the quotes of Ellen is that 'beauty is in the simplicity'. And I totally agree with that statement: actually the garments are so simple that they become sophisticated. And that is the kind of fashion that I like…  

Miss Kegels is having one hell of a booming business, so the end of August was the perfect moment to open the first LN Knits flagshipstore, located in the Leopoldstraat in Antwerp. I went with some fashion buddies to the opening night and it was so much fun: a nice beat, little snacks, cointreau fizz and beautiful clothes… What better way to end the day… Congrats Ellen! 

           

Crushing on & Other Stories

Until a few weeks ago, not a lot of people in Belgium knew that H&M and Cos also had a cool sister, named & Other Stories. But now I think this shop is highly ranked on the must visit list of every fashion lover, since they've landed in Brussels and Antwerp. I discovered this brand thanks to my twin nieces (who had the chance to go to the grand opening of the shop in Antwerp... LUCKY BASTARDS!). As you scroll back over previous blogposts, you already saw my favorite bracelet passing by a couple of times, and yes, it's an & Other Stories creation! 

When I heard that the brand was finally coming to Belgium, I must honestly say that I almost bumped my head to the ceiling while jumping in the air -> finally an ending to my online ordering addiction at the & Other Stories site. So a week after the opening, one morning, I went from Leuven to Antwerp just to visit the shop. It was thus a one way and back kinda trip. Cray, you could say, but totally worth it! The shop is exactly how I'd expected it to be: light colors, a lot of space (reaaaaaaally a lot of space as the shop is gigantic with its two floors), lively atmosphere... Perfect for exposing all their beautiful clothes and products. 

But why do I love this brand so much? Well, I have always been a big fan of the Scandinavian style, and for me, & Other Stories really does bring this kind of fashion. The cuts in the dresses, skirts and blouses really reflect that. Also their minimalistic jewelry are to die for. As the brand says it itself: & Other Stories really wants to offer a wide range of ready-to-wear so that women can create their own story. Mission accomplished, I would say! 

There was really one piece that I really wanted to have: the blue-white dress from the host collection designed by Vika Gazinskaya. Unfortunately, there was only one left and it wasn't my size (sad face)... But instead I bought something else from this absolutely fab & Other Stories cooperation, but that's material for one of the next blogposts! 

Color up your day

Colors can really brighten up your day, and the brand Essentiel absolutely knows how to do that! I'm a big fan of Inge Onsea her creations as they give me instant happiness! When shopping an afternoon with my dear mom in fashion walhalla Brussels, I thought it was time for a new Essentiel outfit in my wardrobe. In Leuven, I already did some little prospections (as a little pause during study-time), and I immediately fell in love with this skirt. The fabric where it's made of is just so fun! I combined it with a cool top, decorated with the well-known Essentiel sequins. The handbag that I'm wearing on the pictures is also from Essentiel, but from 2 seasons ago: I'm still so fond of this Mulberry Alexa look-a-like...

Outfit: top Essentiel - skirt Essentiel - handbag Essentiel - bracelet Delvaux - mocassins Scapa 

TIGER

First of all, I want to say sorry for not making a new post in 10 days. It's just that the past few weeks a lot has happened... So please forgive me! I will make up for it by bringing you new - fresh of the runway - fashion news & outfit posts! 

As you all have read my previous post - I'm sure you have ;) - you know that I went to Sofie Valkiers ladies night. And besides the book launch there was also another advantage about this evening: shopping at Princess with a 10 percent reduction! This was my chance to finally purchase the beautiful Kenzo tiger ring that I have been craving over the past year. From the moment it came out, I loved it, but I wasn't sure that the love would last. So I waited, and waited, and waited... And I just didn't get it out of my mind! 

What do you guys think of this statement piece? 

Pinko Trunk Show

It seems like Pinko and I are becoming good friends! A few weeks ago I had the chance to go to their Antwerp shop for an exclusive fashion show. There were just 30 of us, oh so cosy. We had a presentation of the whole winter collection, with some special advice during the show about how to combine the specific pieces to create a perfect Pinko look. 

Pinko has a lot of styles: the über girly woman - the party woman - the more sturdy woman... You just have to choose what fits you best and Pinko will fix it for you ;) With some bubbles and sushi a super cool event. Afterwards we went for a Burger at Ellis: su-per-de-li-cious! 

Outfit: cardigan Eleven Paris - pants Zara - shoes Zara - coat Topshop - bag Essentiel - bracelet Delvaux 

Tommy Hilfiger NY Line X Feeling

Yesterday, Feeling hosted an exclusive shopping night at the Tommy Hilfiger store in Antwerp. It was their way to introduce the New York line. Tommy is known for its preppy, college-inspired kind of clothes. Since I was a little kid, I've been a fan of this brand. Also because it never abjures were it stands for. At Tommy, you always know what to expect and they stay true to their initial ideas (and that seems to work every season, over and over again). 

We also had the chance to shop with a 20 percent reduction... How awesome is that? Marie and I fitted a lot of stuff, followed by the decision-making part. I fell in love with the green bomber jacket. Especially the leather sleeves, that gave the jacket that edgy touch. Eventually Marie bought a cute beanie and scarf, so adorable! But what did I buy? That will be a surprise until the next blogpost...