( The Dotted Top )

“I am a collector of memories:
I remember almost everything about every piece of clothing I own. I know what I wore to my first dates, to my first and last day of school and other semi-important days of my life. This top has been a part of a few of the happy memories that I have and will make in the future.”

I grew up in a big house in the second largest city of the Netherlands. My grandparents lived next door, and after we moved in, the two buildings were connected. A double door upstairs gave access to both houses. It was an easy way for my parents and grandparents to make sure my little brother and me were always looked after. My mother also used the double door as a way to get into her mother’s wardrobe, and I loved to take pieces out of my mom’s wardrobe as well.

Although our main caretaker and role model was my grandfather, because my grandmother already was the main provider of her family, I grew up surrounded by strong, independent and stylish women. After I inherited all my mom’s clothing, I started wearing different things that used to belong to her. This was, for me, a way to feel close to her. Wearing these pieces wasn’t an effort at all: I inherited beautiful silk tops, leather skirts and the best jewelry you can imagine.

One day, when I was wearing this dotted top, my grandmother told me I looked so lovely and asked me where I got it. I told her it used to belong to my mom. She started laughing really hard. When she calmed down a bit, she told me my mom probably took it out of her wardrobe, as this top had mysteriously gone missing from there a while ago.

( Bodil )
( The Netherlands )