ANTWERP FASHION GOT ME LIKE

I just realised that I had shown a peek of my Dries Van Noten clutch on instagram a while back, but then never actually showed you the full package. Its mossy glossy leather has got me like:

Chloë knows the worth of a good clutch. So here it is, lying atop one of its cousins:

Now we're on the subject of Antwerp and fashion: I went to see Diane Pernet's A Shaded View on Fashion Film Festival last week and it was a total treat. Hours of short films by the most talented visionaries; I've been in dire need of inspiration of late so it was just what the doctor ordered! 

The cherry on top was attending (thanks to KNOTORYUS) the very first Fashion Talks conference. Guest speakers like Walter Van Beirendonck, Tim Blanks and Imran Amed talked about the importance of pairing business sense with fashion creativity, the changes in runway culture, the significance of conglomerate fashion takeovers, developing markets and much more. It's safe to say Antwerp was where the fashion buzz was at, last week. And thus, I live once again!

 (Check out the KNOTORYUS Twitter account for some great quotes of that day)

My hero, Tim Blanks, was so self-deprecating and whimsical. LOVE THAT MAN.

PACK YOUR BAG AND CARRY ON (AND DO A BIT OF MODELLING WHILE YOU'RE AT IT)

As you may have gleaned from the elated instagrams and tweets I posted last week(end), I had the honour of modelling in EASTPAK's Fall-Winter 2014 'Pack Your Bag And Carry On' campaign. Over the course of two days I got to work with some of Belgium's finest creatives as well as international heavy hitters like New York photographer Charlie Engman (so talented, I can't even) and the divine Jean-Paul Paula (whose style and presence I've loved for years). Spain's very own Pelayo Diaz of Kate Loves Me (I once made a wonky collage of his outfits for school, so it's surreal to even be in the same campaign today), Swedish muse Ebba Zingmark and the Zwillingsnaht twins from Germany completed this fabulous cast. I was so proud to represent Belgium and my blog amongst this kind of positive creative energy. I live!

The actual campaign images won't be released until late next year (FW '14, y'all!), but today I'll share some behind the scenes shots to give you an idea of what it was like on set!

First things first: A SELFIE (l.t.r. Deborah, Charlotte, me and Gina!)

You see, I'm not a professional model (giant collective gasp of bewilderment) so I didn't really know what I was stepping into. I just fashioned my model behaviour after what I've gathered from hours spent as a teen watching backstage reports on Fashion TV. I only trickled a handful of berries and oatmeal flakes into my mouth when people where looking (and scarved down Twixes when alone), gave my best Blue Steel smoulder when Charlie asked for it and tried my best not to grin like an idiot when the lovely Gina powdered my face with Chanel make-up (because OMG can someone powder my face every second of every day it is so relaxing). 

Eastpak had asked us to bring along our own clothes for the shoot, which involved me dragging around my entire closet in a giant suitcase and twisting several ankles (some of which my own). But to bring the final touches, they had called in the help of stylist Deborah who is a founder of art direction studio Uber & Kosher (their work is on another level, it'd be a mortal sin if you haven't checked it out yet). She even edited on-set photos in mere minutes, take a look at these:

Fabulous.

It was such a dream come true meeting Jean-Paul Paula. His street style images have become so iconic, so it was wonderful to find out that the person behind the online images is super kind and funny.

Tim! Looking so gleeful after I dropped him off on set in my sweet-ass ride:

Here Pelayo is seen wearing my scarf and Charlotte is just being all sorts of casual.

I just had a blast, to be honest. Much love for the entire cast and crew and big thanks to Eastpak for making me a part of it all!

(Images courtesy of Marian Venceslá, the campaign's Tumblr and my iPhone)

MOVIN' ON UP/OUT/ON

This week is going to be quite a challenging one: I'm juggling moving into my new apartment with a very exciting project. When the veil of mystery is lifted, you'll understand! Just writing about it is sending a wave of frisson through my body, to be honest.

So definitely stay tuned, I'll try to share as much as I can on here and on my instagram. Meanwhile, I'll be schlepping all my shit across the pavement and keeping it together for your sake.

This Givenchy 'moving box' makes it all a bit more fun, doesn't it?

WHAT I'M REMEMBERING AALIYAH IN

I can't believe it's been twelve years since I screeched the bejeezus out of everyone in the car as I heard the news of Aaliyah's passing on the radio. I was ten, she was as old as I am now. Still not over it, actually. She taught me the meaning of the word 'resolution' and under what circumstances a diamanté choker works with leather pants and a silver bikini top. Her music remains as brilliant as ever, so today I honour her with a special outfit for remembering/mourning/being dramatic for her in. Love you, Baby Girl!

 

 

Cap / Surface To Air

Sunglasses / Acne

Bomber / Comme des Garçons SHIRT

Jumper / Matthew Miller

Trousers / Comme des Garçons

Trainers / Raf Simons x Adidas

LDN WITH AN OBE

Last week Eurostar invited me to try out their newest Business Premier menu created by star chef and OBE, Raymond Blanc. Hesitate to accept I did not, since it involved the concepts of 'London' and 'eating'. I'm hardly a foodie - as was made painfully clear by my girl Lisha when she pointed out I cut off the best part of the asparagus - but I have been known to eat things! Avid foodstagrammers would have had some trouble making their followers drool, but the flavours were definitively on point. Hashtag veal blanquette. "Hurry up with my damn croissants!"

The ever hilarious Isabelle and Lisha provided lunch time chuckles

Upon our timely arrival I was shocked pleased to find out the sun was shining quite ardently. We had a sip in the fancy St. Pancras Hotel (who knew there was one?) and waited for monsieur Blanc to arrive/took pictures of ourselves.

 Day-time drinking with Absolutely Mrs K, Sté and Kim.

Monsieur Blanc! A truly charming fellow. You can catch him in all his French gloire on BBC Two's "How to Cook Well".

Oh, and guess who else got to tag along?

So cute. We headed towards the Institute of Contemporary Art to check out the 'Keep Your Timber Limber' exhibition. Featuring works by Tom of Finland, Cary Kwok, Antonio Lopez and Judith Bernstein; this expo shows drawings by legendary artists who strove to break through the social and sexual mores of their time through explicit works of political and erotic imagery. Quite a bit of cock, in other words. And the admission is free, so that's always a plus. 

Next up was a lightning tour of the National Gallery. I allowed ourselves half an hour to plough through the most important works, which gave the experience quite a surreal touch. I call it museum-dashing! Great fun. "Oh look it's a Cézanne. NEXT! Van Gogh? Spiffing. NEXT! Velazquez. Touching. NEXT!"). Art fiends might frown upon such insolence, but we only had four hours in the city.

FASHION INFO: I busted out my new Selected shirt and tie out for the occasion and paired it with a Matinique blazer, Acne trousers and my PRECIOUS floral Nike SB's. I still might do an outfit post with some of these clothes, since the details are too good to be missed!

Next up: Dover Street Market!

Sibling mittens! That store is everything, really. Spread my ashes over some Comme at DSM when I die plz.

We spent the remainder of the day just walking around and soaking up the fab/sun.

 All too soon it was time to return to Belgium (WHY). At least we had a nice dinner to dull the pain!

Yes that is an authentic certified Chanel bracelet. SS14 Haute Couture if I'm not mistaken.