“It’s totally off, not beautifully fitted and much too fluffy. But still, I can’t help wearing my tinhorn tiger coat often. It puts a big smile on my face, because of all the magical memories it carries. We went on ‘a life-changing, spiritual adventure’ together, the coat and me: Burning Man 2011 – a weeklong festival of art and radical self-expression in the Black Rock Desert, Nevada.”
At daytime it’s around 35 degrees, but the temperature drops to freezing point at night, forcing me to cover up my corsets and tutus with this warm coat. With this years’ theme being ‘Rites of Passage’, my coat gave me my very own small Rite of Passage each sundown; finding back my own camp, to pick up the coat; changing the hot days in magical nights, the lighter in the darker sides. It gave me a warm and safe feeling, while biking around and exploring the ‘Playa’, filled with thousands of people on bikes, art cars, music, lights, fires and weird experiences (for a great impression, search for “Burning Man 2011 Home” on You Tube).
It felt like the tiger (coat) encouraged me to explore life, fearing nothing! Today I am still thankful that Alternative Costume Rent in Amsterdam allowed me to buy it for only 5 euros, as it would be impossible to return it properly with the desert dust storms. Now, biking around Amsterdam, it is my wearable Note-To-Self: to express myself and be fearless. To always look for more creative and durable ways of clothing and living. And to live by the words I wrote down on the Burning Man Temple: “LIVE LOVE, LOVE LIFE”.
( The Fruitleather Jacket ) “Although I am born and raised in the city of Rotterdam, I feel closely connected to the windy dunes, horizon and salty seas of the Dutch coast. While exploring the rich history of Zeeland, I encountered
( The Fruitleather Jacket ) “Although I am born and raised in the city of Rotterdam, I feel closely connected to the windy dunes, horizon and salty seas of the Dutch coast. While exploring the rich history of Zeeland, I encountered
( The Serious Shoes ) “There’s not much in my wardrobe that I’ve owned as long as these shoes. We crossed paths in 2004, when I received them as a present after finishing my studies. I was starting my first job
( The Serious Shoes ) “There’s not much in my wardrobe that I’ve owned as long as these shoes. We crossed paths in 2004, when I received them as a present after finishing my studies. I was starting my first job
( The Dapper Coat ) “The love of my life is named Alfred. Alfred is a dog I rescued about 4 years ago. He’s an old little bugger, who easily gives into the cold. He always wants to snuggle up under
( The Dapper Coat ) “The love of my life is named Alfred. Alfred is a dog I rescued about 4 years ago. He’s an old little bugger, who easily gives into the cold. He always wants to snuggle up under
( The Cozy Jumper ) “Everyone has a jumper like this. Well, not exactly the same, but you catch my drift. That jumper you always put on when you’re getting a little cold. Or after a long night out when you have
( The Cozy Jumper ) “Everyone has a jumper like this. Well, not exactly the same, but you catch my drift. That jumper you always put on when you’re getting a little cold. Or after a long night out when you have
( The Thrift Top ) “Last year I threw a big birthday party with my very best friend. My friend and I not only happen to be compatible as best friends, we also have our birthday on the same day. We
( The Thrift Top ) “Last year I threw a big birthday party with my very best friend. My friend and I not only happen to be compatible as best friends, we also have our birthday on the same day. We
( The Timeless Scarf ) “You won’t believe it, but this scarf is 42 years old! It was a present from my boyfriend at the time. The present was quite a success: I still wear it today, and the boy who
( The Timeless Scarf ) “You won’t believe it, but this scarf is 42 years old! It was a present from my boyfriend at the time. The present was quite a success: I still wear it today, and the boy who
( The Bombay Blouse ) “This blouse is a very special memory of my childhood, that I partly spent in India. But even more so, this blouse is a memory of my mother, who is its original owner. I can still
( The Bombay Blouse ) “This blouse is a very special memory of my childhood, that I partly spent in India. But even more so, this blouse is a memory of my mother, who is its original owner. I can still
( The Luscious for Life Shirt ) “Let me explain why do I love this plain little T-shirt. In order to do so, I have to start at the beginning: I have always been fond of traveling. This is something which comes from my heart. There is a
( The Luscious for Life Shirt ) “Let me explain why do I love this plain little T-shirt. In order to do so, I have to start at the beginning: I have always been fond of traveling. This is something which comes from my heart. There is a
( The MalcolmX Shirt ) “Ever since my teenage years I’ve been a big fan of saxophone player Steve Coleman and his exciting jazz style M-Base. He represented a world that wasn’t mine, but that I nevertheless felt tremendously attracted to:
( The MalcolmX Shirt ) “Ever since my teenage years I’ve been a big fan of saxophone player Steve Coleman and his exciting jazz style M-Base. He represented a world that wasn’t mine, but that I nevertheless felt tremendously attracted to:
( The Kahoko Sweater ) “The Kahoko sweater’s story starts with a long cherished dream of going to Kenya to work with a group of hand knitters. When this dream became reality in January 2013, I travelled to Njoro,
( The Kahoko Sweater ) “The Kahoko sweater’s story starts with a long cherished dream of going to Kenya to work with a group of hand knitters. When this dream became reality in January 2013, I travelled to Njoro,