tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9811621293014862502024-02-20T18:05:55.982+01:00Dear FashionThe official online home of Dear Fashion Journal.Dear Fashionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04111254982431987169noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-981162129301486250.post-11757240674855911472015-12-28T16:22:00.003+01:002015-12-28T16:25:49.922+01:00Traveller’s Guide to Practical Packing: Part 1 + free download <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3d3e40; font-family: 'Droid Serif', serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 2.25em; padding: 0px; transform: translateY(0.4145em);">
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<i style="line-height: 1.5;">Written and illustrated by Emmi Ojala, originally published in <a href="http://www.square1magazine.com/travellers-guide-to-practical-packing-part-1-a-free-download/" target="_blank">Square1 Magazine</a>. Check their website to find lots of interesting articles on sustainable style (mostly in Dutch)!</i><br />
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Most of us travel, some less, some more. Most of us have also sat, jump and performed acrobatics on top of our suitcases whilst trying to zip them up. Every time we travel, we tend to drag at least a few extra kilos with us, because we are not very conscious packers or just “can’t” know in advance what we might want to wear during our travels.<br />
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If packing your whole closet with you will make you happy, go ahead and do that! However, the chances are that the heavy bag will end up causing only less than cheerful feelings. Been there, done that! I used to fill my bag with multiple outfits, accompanied by multiple options for shoes and a few garments that had never fitted me nor my style, but in my mind had potential to fit the picturesque setting of my destination.<br />
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Those days are over now, as this year I was given the ultimate lesson in practical packing, a challenge called Five Weeks, One Bag, One Wedding, One Beach Vacation And Another One In The Chilly North. Basically, I had five weeks, during which I needed to be prepared for everything except snow. Having learned a thing or two from my previous packing disasters, I decided to pack as lightly as possible, bringing only the things that I would really need. To do that, I followed these steps:<br />
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<b>1. Break your trip into parts according to locations and occasions.</b><br />
In my case, the list looked like this: a summery holiday in the South, autumny vacation in the North and a wedding.<br />
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<b>2. List the items you will definitely need for each part of your holiday.</b><br />
For example, my list for a holiday in the South looked like this: <br />
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<li>1 bikini </li>
<li>1 pair of shorts </li>
<li>3 Tshirts </li>
<li>2 casual dresses; one that can handle sand, sweat and dust, another fancier one for dinners and such. </li>
<li>flat shoes </li>
<li>1 medium bag that can fit sunscreen, water and a wallet. </li>
<li>1 big scarf for sun protection and chilly evenings </li>
<li>1 tank top </li>
<li>1 pair of jeans </li>
<li>1 pullover </li>
<li>1 cardigan </li>
<li>1 pair of sneakers </li>
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<b> 3. Read through your list. If you come across an item that has already been mentioned, cross it out. Try to spot chances to replace two similar items with a one multifunctional garment that would fit both purposes.</b><br />
I had three dresses on my list: one dress for the wedding and two casual dresses for the summery holiday (one that could handle sand, sweat and dust and another fancier one for evenings out). By choosing a dress that could be dressed up or down easily, I ended up using the same dress for the wedding and fancier occasions on the holiday.By following these steps, I survived through the whole five week journey with a bag that was two kilos lighter than my bag for a one week trip used to be. There were a few occasions when everything didn’t go according to plans and I had to face the pitfalls of travelling lightly, but I’ll tell you all about that in part 2!<br />
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<i>Do you have some tips for packing lightly?</i></div>
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<b>Download your own practical packing list <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/z4l2u7obbka9dlz/Practical%20Packing%20List-%20By%20Dear%20Fashion%20Journal%20and%20Square1%20Magazine.pdf?dl=0" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #afafaf; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">here</a>!</b></div>
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Dear Fashionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04111254982431987169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-981162129301486250.post-51948029571503821982015-04-23T21:32:00.002+02:002015-04-24T12:04:15.378+02:00Fashion RevolutionTomorrow it will be 2 exactly two years since the Rana Plaza clothing factory collapsed in Bangladesh. Although it is important, we might not think about issues related to the (un)sustainability or fairness of fashion every day nor bring the topic up with our friends or acquaintances after daily how-are-yous. But here comes the good news: tomorrow all of us will have a chance to join the global <i><a href="http://www.fashionrevolution.org/" target="_blank">Fashion Revolution</a> </i>movement and raise the question about the origins of our clothes by wearing them inside out!<br />
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Are you joining...? We sure are! Let's wink at all of our fellow revolutionaries and their visible clothing labels at bus stops, offices and on the streets. Let's not ignore the elephant in the fashion industry!</div>
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Dear Fashionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04111254982431987169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-981162129301486250.post-72812986525069557752014-11-27T10:40:00.001+01:002014-11-27T10:41:16.852+01:00LENA The Fashion Library<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCP0ONVoB3HqAG3wFUw47Gv0hgpNnE98kKqqSqfwaWpb-ivbYZtsV_sHjbEL8hbELykxD5zvUCEbZ1aGERcS9R_qgOO1_-iSKU3jnq44EqLKgeRPdrC6xNEDlXmqdn3htn0OYFvZIyOwGX/s1600/LENA.jpg" height="320" width="640" /></div>
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The fairy godmother of fashion <a href="http://www.dearfashionjournal.com/2012/09/in-case-of-cravings-part-1.html" target="_blank">must have heard us talking</a> about fashion libraries in <a href="http://www.goodlifer.com/2010/03/clothing-libraries-a-shift-from-wasteful-to-resourceful/" target="_blank">Sweden</a> and <a href="http://www.nopsatravels.com/en/nopsa-launched-a-fashion-library/" target="_blank">Finland</a><i>, </i>wishing there was something similar a bit closer to our home in the Netherlands, because - believe it or not - our wishes have come true! Let us introduce to you <a href="http://www.lena-library.com/" target="_blank">LENA The Fashion Library</a>, founded by a creative team of three sisters and their friend, all of whom are passionate about fashion, vintage and sustainability.</div>
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<a href="http://www.lena-library.com/about/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXweJ3Erxho4xL_723NIUEKtUltSOHRWeDhVqYMkvcghvOUe8tPG8cJ7sfnO0QagcY67-efzD4EUqsyuT6ZdS5pASmn0q8IF2ifIlvM89WcA0C7osN1Dly03zH_3rNWCwHVBKVe7pf_iwM/s1600/LENA+1.png" height="350" width="640" /></a></div>
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LENA has just opened its doors in the heart of Amsterdam, just around the corner from Noordermarkt. Filled with hand-picked vintage pieces in all the colours of the rainbow and items from brands such as Filippa K, the library is truly a heaven for anyone who'd like to play with their wardrobe without going bankrupt. What we also really like about LENA is their "try before you buy" policy. The policy allows you to borrow an item you fall in love with, and keep it in your closet for a while before deciding whether you would <i>really </i>like to<i> </i>own it. If it turns out your crush was just a fling and you don't really have use for the item, you can just return it back to the library. However, if you believe in a long term relationship between you two, you can easily purchase the item from LENA with a reduced price. Speaking of awesome ways to minimise mis-buys, eh?</div>
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Next to borrowing clothes with monthly subscriptions varying from € 19,95 to € 49,95, LENA also sells a number of fashion-oriented publications that fit the library's sustainable ideals. Amongst others, you can leaf through books such as <a href="http://www.talkingdress.nl/" target="_blank">Marieke Eyskoot's</a> <i><a href="http://www.ecofashionworld.com/Book-Review-/Book-Review-Talking-Dress.html" target="_blank">Talking Dress</a> (in Dutch), </i>our little sister <i><a href="http://www.dearfashionjournal.com/2013/11/dear-fashion-diary.html" target="_blank">Dear Fashion Diar</a>y…</i>and yes, and there's a stack of <i>Dear Fashion Journals</i>, too!</div>
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You can find more information about the library at <a href="http://www.lena-library.com/">www.lena-library.com</a>, or if your Dutch skills aren't enough to translate everything, just stop by at the library to find out more!<br />
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<i>Images by LENA The Fashion Library</i>Dear Fashionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04111254982431987169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-981162129301486250.post-56993852153756394612014-04-01T18:59:00.000+02:002015-12-28T16:27:03.822+01:00Pencils, skirts and pencil skirts“I’d like to wear things that are a bit more classy, a bit more mature,” I said. “Yea, me too,” my friend replied. She was wearing her boyfriend’s jogging pants, whilst I wore a sloppy T-shirt with a picture of a bunny printed on it. Both of us sighed.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJawVsm08WKJQ1w-KVOpK0GObV96q2OKptloTtqf6793kcvQ17eAC8EuPALzH4ClvCSFvwmX_EdMwmiQEiAOBfDCvWqcHmg_dNib9V-R31Zoxo2uKpxqcihsHVEZGn3ByLYD4ihTrdjSfT/s1600/Oh+Marie+-+Alice+in+Wonderland+-+illustration+-+DFJ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJawVsm08WKJQ1w-KVOpK0GObV96q2OKptloTtqf6793kcvQ17eAC8EuPALzH4ClvCSFvwmX_EdMwmiQEiAOBfDCvWqcHmg_dNib9V-R31Zoxo2uKpxqcihsHVEZGn3ByLYD4ihTrdjSfT/s1600/Oh+Marie+-+Alice+in+Wonderland+-+illustration+-+DFJ.jpg" width="345" /></a>Later on, I started wondering what I had really meant. What exactly is “classy” or “more mature”? I turned to my dear old friend, Google. ‘Classy’ brought me Audrey Hepburn in a little black dress, and ‘mature‘ threw Meryl Streep and her pencil skirt in my face. Erm….not exactly what my sartorial soul was longing for.
Classic style, as fashion knows it, is typically made of timeless basics: jeans, trench coats, A-line skirts and such. Also the colour black tends to give clothes a classy flair with its simplicity. I know this all too well - for years, I was obsessed with colourless this and that, because black was such an easy choice. However, when I hung out with my friends, who were like the fireworks of fashion in their playful outfits, my own attire made me yawn. I have also had a fling with the so-called classic smart casuals: straight pants, slipovers, white blouses and black heels. Long story short; none of it worked. I am not a serious office kind of a girl with pearls, neither am I a monotonous minimalist. In fact, just thinking about classic items or the ever so smart wardrobe essentials gives me an urge to sit up straight, cross my legs and raise my pinkie ready to grab a glass of wine. However, the truth is that I spend majority of my time sitting in less than ladylike positions, snortling at stupid jokes, tinkering on the floor and drinking tea from a chunky mug that is a far cry from any kind of elegance. Conclusion: the answer to my longing for classiness won’t be found in pencil skirts, but in something that lets me be me without having to be afraid of breaking seams or smudging fine silk.<br />
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Magazines keep on praising wardrobe essentials in their collages, but it’s better to think twice before you swallow everything they say. Fashion classics might be universal, but classics of personal style are very subjective. The rebel inside me has come to believe that you can be classy without owning a trench coat or a pair of straight pants. In fact, your classics can be anything you like as long as they make it easy for you to build the rest of your uniform around them. Pencil skirts are fine, but if you prefer keeping your pencils and skirts apart, that’s perfectly fine, too! Flourescent colours and plastic necklaces can be just as essential to you as belted coats are to Vogue.<br />
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After running these thoughts through my mind, I might say goodbye to my pyjama worthy T-shirts and pursue something more pleasing to my eye. However, I won’t ditch all my printed tees. Why? Because just as there are days when I would like to have a graceful flair, there will also be days when a bit of funny, printed sloppiness will sooth me like nothing else. Perfect classy-sloppy balance – that’s what’s essential to me! Besides, isn’t there enough of Serious Suit Mentality in the world already?<br />
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These are the thoughts I penned down on the pages of <a href="http://www.ohmarie.nl/" target="_blank">Oh Marie! magazine's</a> latest issue. <b>You can find the entire article <a href="http://issuu.com/ohmarie/docs/ohmarie7-versie5/29?e=6544187/6916727" target="_blank">here</a>.</b></div>
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What about you...? What are your personal "fashion classics"?
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<b>1. Who are you in one sentence?</b><br />
I am Manuela Ernst Minimarini, a vegan lifestyle lover who prays to unicorns and wants to make this world a fresher, healthier and more lovable one.<br />
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<b>2. How did you become interested in vegan fashion and lifestyle?</b><br />
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I have been a vegan for 2 years now after having been a vegetarian before. I have had a big heart for animals ever since I can remember. While studying fashion, I figured I need to combine those two passions of mine to not only make myself happy, but also to change the world a little bit.<br />
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<b>3. Where does the magazine's name T.O.F.U. come from?</b><br />
T.O.F.U. became the name, because I wanted to make the vegan lifestyle more accessible and people just like to approach things they are familiar with - everyone knows what tofu is. Also, it is a funny fact that lots of meat eaters think that all non-meat eaters/vegans eat lots of tofu as a replacement for meat. I like the irony in the name, but T.O.F.U. is also an acronym of The Organic Fashion Utopia, which is what I want to create with this magazine. A new organic, plant based fashion world that opens up to you through the magazine.<br />
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<b>4. In the era of apps, blogs and websites, we must ask the worn out question: why a printed magazine?</b><br />
That is a very good question, but next to being an online era, this is actually also the golden age of new titles. People like magazines that are for niches. T.O.F.U. is one of those, because it is targeted to the vegan community, which is in fact growing a lot as veganism is becoming more and more trendy. This and the fact that there is no other printed magazine like T.O.F.U. combined with my personal passion for print feels like a very good reason to make a printed magazine.<br />
<b><br />5. What inspired you whilst making T.O.F.U.?</b><br />
Might sound a bit odd...but Me, I and Myself inspired me. :) I was my own target group as well, as is everyone in the new vegan community that is growing all the time.<br />
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<b>6. Close your eyes for a minute and picture a scene with someone reading T.O.F.U. What kind of a person she is and where and how is she reading the magazine?</b><br />
I picture a fun woman, who wants to stay young at heart and always has a smile on her face. She is dressed in her own individual fashion-oriented way and is living the vegan lifestyle or aspires to live it.<br />
She would read the magazine in a café with a freshly juiced organic orange juice, at home on the couch with a cup of tea and a piece of raw chocolate. She would keep the magazine in her bag with all her fruits, ready to be read. T.O.F.U. is a magazine to enjoy over time, and each time you read it, you can discover something new.<br />
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<b>7. What are the three best and the three worst things in trying to lead a sustainable vegan lifestyle?</b><br />
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The 3 best:<br />
1. You feel wonderful with lots of energy.<br />
2. The Karma is in balance - you give and you receive.<br />
3. You lower your carbon footprint and help the environment<br />
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The 3 worst:<br />
1. You can't close your eyes in front of the sometimes brutal reality anymore.<br />
2. You might feel alone at times in the world that can be ignorant to all the pain that there is.<br />
3. You are unfortunately still the minority...but this will change: veganism is the future!<br />
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<b>8. What can T.O.F.U. give to <br />a) vegan fashionistas?</b><br />
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It will be your partner in crime and support you in your choices for cosmetics, fashion, food and animal love. Plus it gives you a way to connect with others.<br />
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<b>b) someone who is not vegan?</b></div>
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It can inspire the non-vegan by showing how easy and fun the vegan lifestyle is by presenting the things in our lives in a trendy, fashion-oriented way.<br />
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<b>9. Could you give a little sneak peek and share your favourite spread from T.O.F.U? Why is it your favourite?</b></div>
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It's difficult to choose my favourite spread, I love so many of them...in fact, I love the whole magazine!<br />
Amongst others, this one is very dear to me. It shows how easy it is to make your own fruity and plant based vegan cosmetics. I made the pictures and had a fun day with <i><a href="http://www.jeannettevanraaij.nl/">Jeannette van Raaij</a></i>, who is also a big inspiration to me.<br />
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<i>For more sneak peeks, check <a href="http://theorganicfashionutopia.com/">Theorganicfashionutopia.com</a></i></div>
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<b>10. Last but not least: could you recommend something to us?</b><br />
I of course recommend supporting T.O.F.U. at We Make It (you can find it <a href="http://wemakeit.ch/projects/t-o-f-u-magazine">here</a>)! By making a donation, you will also make sure that you will be able to read the magazine in spring. For the rest: I love the raw chocolate bars of <i><a href="http://www.consciouschocolate.co.uk/">Concious</a>,</i> mmm, and I am addicted to pink banana pudding that I eat almost every morning. Here's how to make it: put min. 5 bananas with frozen raspberries into a blender with some water, blend it and add some raw chocolate nibs, brazilian nuts and coconut flakes. It's pure heaven on the vegan earth :)! The book I read while eating this dream breakfast is <a href="http://www.hayhouse.co.uk/books/1781801142/angel-detox"><i>"Angel Detox"</i></a> by the fabulous <i>Doreen Virtue</i> and <i>Robert Reeves</i>. More secrets of mine in the hopefully 2nd issue of T.O.F.U. Magazine!<br />
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<b>Find out more about <a href="http://www.theorganicfashionutopia.com/">T.O.F.U. here</a> and <a href="http://wemakeit.ch/projects/t-o-f-u-magazine">show your support at We Make It!</a> </b><br />
<b>You can also follow the magazine on <a href="https://twitter.com/veganfashionmag">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theorganicfashionutopia">Facebook</a> and <a href="http://instagram.com/theorganicfashionutopia">Instagram</a>.</b><br />
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Dear Fashionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04111254982431987169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-981162129301486250.post-32608030345959502982014-02-13T09:32:00.000+01:002014-02-13T09:32:53.684+01:00"Sometimes good things need to end for better things to begin"<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/584338164993319/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE4oUnNkOuEO0y8tD5hJmiShv71hwZgXMc5ftQI1GeXh2xJVBpk4AKTsgS7UOlsOXM88e3ZryHap_ilkCbullVPJqWU_mxOsCWxzNugScbA9jJgqYy6IsSUFd1CIl2MArZO4sF6KyL5Brt/s1600/1532049_379924228818677_721665208_o.jpg" height="400" width="282" /></a><br />
Sad news: After growing from a small idea into Amsterdam's very own clothes swapping event, <a href="https://www.blogger.com/"><i><span id="goog_632830292"></span>Krijg De Kleren's</i><span id="goog_632830293"></span></a> story has come to an end. We feel so honoured having met the great people behind the event and <a href="http://www.dearfashionjournal.com/2013/04/the-greatest-of-great-fashion-tips.html" target="_blank">getting to be part of their venture</a>. It is always sad to see great things disappear from a city's agenda, but we've no doubt that we will get to hear from the power behind <i>Krijg De Kleren</i> again in the future! <i>Rock on!</i><br />
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However, there are also some good news: <i>Krijg De Kleren's </i>last edition will be held in Amsterdam (SSBA Salon at Leidseplein) this Sunday, the 16th of February. Join in with your clothes and swap your forgotten fashion pieces with other fashionistas! We and our ex-clothes are participating, too, so hope to see you there!<br />
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More information <a href="https://www.facebook.com/krijgdeklerenkledingruil?fref=ts" target="_blank">on Krijg De Kleren's Facebook page</a> and the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/584338164993319/" target="_blank">event's page</a>.<br />
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Dear Fashionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04111254982431987169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-981162129301486250.post-17040415346372745352014-02-12T18:18:00.000+01:002014-02-12T18:18:50.344+01:00Winter wonders<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Fashion industry has spoken and the February issues of magazines have splashed pastel colours on their pages - the long mid-winter months are almost over and spring will start to show signs of arrival soon! However, despite the light spirits and baby tones in editorials, majority of us are still wrapped in winter coats and big scarves. Some love it, whilst others loathe it.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 22px;">Now, if you have less than loving feelings towards the cold period of the year or are utterly fed up with your winter gear, here are a few nice things about winter fashions that can help you survive through a few more months:</span><br />
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<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mittens, mittens, mittens!</strong><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 22px;">Mittens keep your fingers warm, but they have other functions, too! Put your public transportation card inside your glove and ‘beeb’ yourself a trip easily without having to fiddle with your wallet. Tired of freezing in front of the door, looking for the keys that have been swallowed by your handbag? Attach a little pouch inside your mittens and keep your keys at hand – literally!</span><br />
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<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Pocket paradise</strong><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 22px;">Winter wear is every guy’s dream, as most winter coats have plenty of pockets in them. Inside, outside and in well hidden places. You will have more places to put your napkins, lipsticks and combs without overfilling your bag. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 22px;">If you want to make your life really easy, prepare your winter coats by filling their pockets with all your necessities; you will never end up in desperation after having forgotten something! You can also hide candies inside your pockets to be unwrapped in an emergency. </span><br />
<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Note: Unless you want to turn yourself into a walking jar of chocolate spread, avoid melting candies and choose gummy bears instead. </em><br />
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<a href="http://www.makeit-loveit.com/2013/03/adding-hidden-side-pockets-to-anything-skirt-pants-shorts-etc.html" style="border: 0px; color: #af3b17; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Nimbus Sans L', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Don’t have enough pockets…? Make yourself more! </a><br />
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<strong style="border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Be a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matryoshka_doll" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Matryoshka </a></span></strong><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 22px;">Here’s a different to layering: you know the elaborately painted</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 22px;"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matryoshka_doll" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Russian dolls inside a doll</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 22px;">? Although layering is praised mostly for the practicality of keeping you warm, it is also a great way to reveal a sassy mini dress under a casual pullover-jeans combo under an ice skating outfit. Layering lets you do tons of different activities without having to worry about not wearing the right things. Besides, when everyone is wearing layers, someone is bound to feel warm and willing to borrow a scarf to a compadre who is cold.</span><br />
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<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Hat trick</strong><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">This one is for those who A) like hats or B) have bad hair days or C) both. Wearing a hat is the easiest way to keep yourself warm (“You lose most heat from your head,” as the association of mothers’ states), but it is also a great way to spice up your outfit or help yourself worry less about what the wind will do to your hair. Winter is an ideal time to save a severe case of hair</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"> catastrophe with headwear, as people are going to be less likely to start wondering why you are wearing a hat indoors – trust me, it’s experience speaking here!</span></span></span><br />
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<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Everyday oddities</strong><br />
<a href="http://www.make-your-own-baby-stuff.com/teddybearbabyhatpattern.html" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Babies with fuzzy hats</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 22px;">.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 22px;"> </span><a href="http://onelmon.com/blog/2013/08/colorful-toe-socks/" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Toe socks</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 22px;">.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 22px;"> </span><a href="http://www.designsponge.com/2013/10/10-great-dog-coats-diy-projects.html" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Dogs in sweaters.</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 22px;"> </span><a href="https://www.google.nl/search?q=onesie&client=safari&rls=en&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=HPWmUq-6A4X70gWv14CABg&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1259&bih=673" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Onesies for adults</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 22px;">. Do we need to say more?</span><br />
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<i>Pssst...!</i> We have dedicated an entire column to woollen socks and winter wonders. You can read it on the blog of Oh Marie magazine <a href="http://www.ohmarie.nl/ohmarie/dear-woollen-socks-and-winter-wonders/" target="_blank">here</a>.Dear Fashionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04111254982431987169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-981162129301486250.post-49347621549821903062013-12-21T08:54:00.002+01:002013-12-21T08:55:09.848+01:00When Santa gives you lemons<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Ho ho ho, it’s that time of the year, when it is okay to have gingerbread for lunch and put up as many Christmas lights as we want without having to argue about how early is too early to bring out the decorations. It’s the time of the year, when we must again face the Mission (Almost) Impossible of making sure that our brothers, mothers, sisters, fathers, dogs, friends and cousins will all get a fair share of joy wrapped in colourful papers. The season is filled with cozy get-togethers around the Christmas tree, moments of laughter and many smiles, but also a few forced grins. “Gee, Auntie, this is...erm...awesome. Thanks.” Misfit gifts - they are the nuisance of the holidays and will be dumped to the back of people's closets never to be worn. Now, there are two things you can do:<br />
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<b>1. Don't make it worse</b><br />
Stop yourself before you drive yourself mad running around stores, trying to find something (or anything!) for your loved ones. If you don't have a faintest idea of what to give, then get your hands dirty with DIY and bake a tray of Christmas delicacies or write inside jokes on gingerbread cookies. The gift will feel much more personal than a random piece of soap bought from a random store, and cookies are sure to make anyone happy!<br />
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<b>2. Learn to cope</b><br />
When Santa gives you lemons, make lemonade. Read an article from <a href="http://issuu.com/ohmarie/docs/ohmarie-6-def-kl/17?e=6544187/5820794" target="_blank">Oh Marie-magazine written by our editor-in-chief Emmi and discover a few different ways of dealing with your misfit gifts.</a><br />
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Have a very merry Christmas y'all!</div>
Dear Fashionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04111254982431987169noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-981162129301486250.post-78634618112837148322013-11-11T15:21:00.002+01:002013-11-11T15:56:13.249+01:00Dear Fashion DiaryToday we woke up to sunshine outdoors and limelight online: Amelia's Magazine, one of our all-time favourite indie mags, published an interview about the story behind the <i>Dear Fashion Journal</i> on their website today. <a href="http://www.ameliasmagazine.com/fashion/dear-fashion-diary-an-interview-with-emmi-ojala/2013/11/11/" target="_blank">Click here to read it!</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.ameliasmagazine.com/fashion/dear-fashion-diary-an-interview-with-emmi-ojala/2013/11/11/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8n2VzpTaIl7UA8L338AJynOAp6_IkEEVOO43OomrSggW5l-RfoPy0syhg5IVyo5uIrIYAkGV1H6wjptcOePA_dqIolhQ18owQAJJl7JIld-bxPS0KMrqkgsU1aleH-QyK2uGSQ4DX2T1Y/s400/Emmi+Ojala,+Dear+Fashion+Diary,+Dear+Fashion+Journal+on+Amelias+Magazine.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
But what is that book in the picture? Why is the article is titled <i>"Dear Fashion Diary"</i>...? Well, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/dearfashiondiary" target="_blank"><i>Dear Fashion Diary</i> </a>is the latest project of <a href="http://www.emmiojala.eu/" target="_blank">Emmi</a> (our editor-in-chief) and <a href="http://about.me/lauradejong" target="_blank">Laura de Jong</a>, Emmi's friend and colleague and the founder of <a href="http://www.freefashionchallenge.com/" target="_blank"><i>Free Fashion Challenge</i></a>. Yes, it's a crime that we have not told you about the diary yet although it's been in stores world wide already since September, but before you call the police, give us a chance to tell you more about it now. (Better late than never, eh?)<br />
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Emmi and Laura met during their studies in the the Amsterdam Fashion Institute, and got to know each other during the <span id="goog_1471447457"></span><a href="http://www.freefashionchallenge.com/" target="_blank"><i>Free Fashion Challenge<span id="goog_1471447458"></span> </i></a>when they spend a year without shopping. After the challenge, the girls decided to collaborate in hopes of inspiring others to discover the creativity of fashion outside the cycle of consumption. When Emmi started working on the <i>Dear Fashion Journal</i>, the girls started meeting up for brainstorm sessions in cafes, libraries and train stations. Time passed, the journal was published and it was time for something new. When <i><a href="http://www.bispublishers.nl/" target="_blank">BIS Publishers</a> </i>offered Emmi a chance to make a creative fashion diary, there was no doubt who she would ask to collaborate with her. So the girls kicked off a hectic period of 4 months, working during the days and leading a double life as book makers at night!<br />
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Next to their nearly identical names, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/dearfashiondiary" target="_blank"><i>Dear Fashion Diary</i> </a>and <i>Journa</i>l share the same sustainable ideology: the better you know your personal taste and style, the smarter shopper you can become and the less impulsive, silly buys you will make. Whereas the journal is a magazine to read, the diary is an active DIY book that will let you document your fashion life, discover your taste and become your own style guru. It is your own personal collection of inspiration, leading you off the beaten tracks of fashion with over 50 creative assignments from making a wardrobe inventory to creating your own colour palette and analysing your signature items.<br />
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<i>Dear Fashion Diary</i> can be found in selected bookstores around the world and can also be <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dear-Fashion-Diary-Discover-Taste-Become/dp/9063693109" target="_blank">ordered through Amazon</a> or on the publisher's website <a href="http://www.bispublishers.nl/bookpage.php?id=240" target="_blank">here</a>. In the UK, you can find it at <i>Tate Modern, Podshop, Blackwells, Rizzoli Bookshop</i> and <i>Waterstones.</i><br />
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Curious to read more about the process behind the diary?</b> Check <a href="http://lines-i-drew.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Emmi's personal blog,</a> where she wrote about <a href="http://lines-i-drew.blogspot.nl/2013/03/i-have-something-to-tell-you.html" target="_blank">the diary</a> and the its <a href="http://lines-i-drew.blogspot.nl/2013/06/hello-baby-welcome-to-world.html" target="_blank">launch event</a> or follow the Diary on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/dearfashiondiary" target="_blank">Facebook</a> or <a href="http://www.twitter.com/dearfashionbook" target="_blank">Twitter!</a><br />
<br />Dear Fashionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04111254982431987169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-981162129301486250.post-75833221977645027072013-11-02T13:45:00.001+01:002013-11-02T13:48:02.223+01:00Column: Dear holes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 22px;"><b>Are you a lazy fixer of loose buttons and holes on your clothes? No worries, for you are not the only one! Read the first "Dear..."-column of <a href="http://www.emmiojala.eu/" target="_blank">Emmi</a>, our editor-in-chief, on <a href="http://www.ohmarie.nl/ohmarie/dear-holes/" target="_blank">Oh Marie! magazine</a>, get a doze of Martha Stewart's DIY energy and grab that needle! </b></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 22px;"><b>Dear holes,</b></span></span><br />
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</span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When it comes to fashion, I tend to stick to the safe side. I have made enough mistakes to have learned what I like and what looks good on me (although these two don’t always go hand in hand). I say no to white jeans, to leggings</span> and beige colours and welcome anything that is cozy, girly, dark blue or bronze with open arms! I can spend one honeymoon after another with my favourite outfits, wearing the same things in rotation for weeks until something forces me to change the routine. You know, having to do the laundry, dress according to what the weatherman says or change just for the sake of it, to prove yourself that the clothes aren’t glued on you. However, recently I have changed my personal dress code because of something else. Something very, very small that somehow ended up being an annoyingly big deal; a hole in my favourite cardigan! Combined with my utter laziness, that tiny rip has suddenly become the biggest factor in my daily choice of outfits. I don’t let trends dictate what I wear - I let holes do it instead! </span></span><br />
...<a href="http://www.ohmarie.nl/ohmarie/dear-holes/" target="_blank"><b>read the rest here (in Dutch or English): Dear holes - Oh Marie!</b></a><br />
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PS. Already noticed that tab called <a href="http://www.dearfashionjournal.com/p/downloads.html" target="_blank">"Free downloads"</a> on top of the page...? Well, that's exactly what it is: a page for you to download stuff without any cost! Click the link and get a free illustrated darning guide for dummies, print it out, share it or send it to someone who needs a subtle hint!Dear Fashionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04111254982431987169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-981162129301486250.post-22286595768980490132013-09-28T17:59:00.001+02:002013-09-28T18:06:05.599+02:00Dear Fashion joins forces with Oh Marie!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis5lRtLox6K-WaTdj8QSJ9H6zuzlpR_sCPhyphenhyphen-XJAn9J5b68c2DqQJAh-gxd79XSLDCIxy56XS_wDXgN-iPaEHG1agEEr9KcKk_QjqY_bzjtbJYVFTzxZiqORa0zVX7lHPtzedzartVEnhu/s1600/Dear+Fashion+hearts+Oh+Marie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="76" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis5lRtLox6K-WaTdj8QSJ9H6zuzlpR_sCPhyphenhyphen-XJAn9J5b68c2DqQJAh-gxd79XSLDCIxy56XS_wDXgN-iPaEHG1agEEr9KcKk_QjqY_bzjtbJYVFTzxZiqORa0zVX7lHPtzedzartVEnhu/s640/Dear+Fashion+hearts+Oh+Marie.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Dear readers, friends and cyberspace surfers,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's time for a newsflash: we are happy to announce that <i>Dear Fashion Jou</i>rnal has found a bilingual Dutch-English friend (would 'soulmate' sound too sentimental...?), an indie magazine called <i><a href="http://www.ohmarie.nl/" target="_blank">Oh Marie!</a> Oh Marie!</i> is an online publication created by <i><a href="http://planetfur.nl/about/" target="_blank">Marloes Snijder</a>,</i> a blogger and all-round creative with an incredibly sweet sense for style. Being all about the love of treasure hunting and creative exploration, <i>Oh Marie!</i> shares our passion to explore and develop one’s own creativity and style in whimsical spirits. And that, dear friends, is where the two magazines come together!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Our editor-in-chief, <i><a href="http://www.emmiojala.eu/" target="_blank">Emmi</a></i>, has joined forces with <i>Oh Marie!</i> and become the lucky new member of their team! She kicked the collaboration off with an article called <i>"Fantastic Fashion",</i> published in the brand new issue that came out fresh from the oven just today! Click <a href="http://issuu.com/ohmarie/docs/ohmarie-5-def-kl?e=6544187/5011148" target="_blank"><b>here</b> </a>to jump to <i>Oh Marie's</i> Circus issue to read it! <i>(page 16)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Next to keeping <i>Dear Fashion </i>up and running, Emmi will be contributing to <a href="http://www.ohmarie.nl/" target="_blank"><i>Oh Marie's</i> blog</a>, adding fashion to their mix of photography, art and design with a column exploring personal style and wardrobe matters. To make sure all you fashionistas can easily find the right place to read more stories written in the true '<i>Dear Fashion style</i>', we will notify you on this blog, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/dearfashionjournal" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/Dearfashion_" target="_blank">Twitter</a> and share links to the articles when they appear!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Until then, enjoy your weekend and the scarf favouring weather! Sayonara!</span>Dear Fashionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04111254982431987169noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-981162129301486250.post-65717127977626547832013-08-16T12:33:00.002+02:002013-08-16T12:44:31.335+02:00Think Boutique and letters to fashion<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiExYGJv_N1PoHGigIlVH7Idf1qXCgeJazBM2wdKOXHbvmenBNc7a7vXUMF45nrJ7RBbGkOp2VZFYlCSTfGalHhV3LdP_a-Ft-uh6QiblNOFW90FkWFgiOv4IbKGak9g2Ptd8FGzGV-eBd_/s1600/Dear+Fashion+Journal+photo+by+Victoria+McQuillan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a></div>
Just as much as we love receiving all kinds of messages and packages, we also love sending them! A while back, we shipped a Dear Fashion parcel to Scotland and it ended up landing on Victoria McQuillan's doormat. Victoria is an ethical fashion enthusiast and founder of <a href="http://www.thinkboutique.co.uk/" target="_blank"><i>Think Boutique</i></a>, a web shop that "brings together the most exciting and fashion-forward UK
ethical brands with a strong focus on stylish, high quality pieces". She aims to keep her business as green and fair as possible and does so by selling products many of which are not only Fair Trade,
organic, sustainable or up-cycled, but also proudly made in the UK.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.thinkboutique.co.uk/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_DiWjAm1TyD2qjlf_ZkgfQ6Du51rMp3_W3k_kVtuUscOQP1q_Pzzr48GesUCOviqKCLsYN25CcQsk9M0z1WrhVqI7nqOGi_qQ4w3FJPV9RbMA8urfrIvJNf4-np7O3CIayVPj0sAAPq8j/s640/Think+Boutique+collection.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thinkboutique.co.uk/" target="_blank">From Think Boutique's collection</a></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiExYGJv_N1PoHGigIlVH7Idf1qXCgeJazBM2wdKOXHbvmenBNc7a7vXUMF45nrJ7RBbGkOp2VZFYlCSTfGalHhV3LdP_a-Ft-uh6QiblNOFW90FkWFgiOv4IbKGak9g2Ptd8FGzGV-eBd_/s1600/Dear+Fashion+Journal+photo+by+Victoria+McQuillan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiExYGJv_N1PoHGigIlVH7Idf1qXCgeJazBM2wdKOXHbvmenBNc7a7vXUMF45nrJ7RBbGkOp2VZFYlCSTfGalHhV3LdP_a-Ft-uh6QiblNOFW90FkWFgiOv4IbKGak9g2Ptd8FGzGV-eBd_/s320/Dear+Fashion+Journal+photo+by+Victoria+McQuillan.jpg" width="296" /></a></div>
We were thrilled to find pictures of our package in Victoria's blog, where she wrote about <i>Dear Fashion</i> with words that couldn't better describe the reason for the journal's existence: "I don’t know about you, but sometimes I feel the focus is often on the
doom and gloom when it comes to ethical fashion and I found this <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">[Dear Fashion Journal]</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> </span>a
really refreshing approach. Different people from all corners of the globe talking about their
personal style and the items that they truly treasure in their
wardrobes. As Kate Fletcher says in her prologue<em>: Dear Fashion is an ode to what can
be, to creation, expression, caring, repairing...so much more than
consumerism’s ‘have it all’ culture.</em>"<br />
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Those of you, who might not have their own copy of Dear Fashion Journal yet might not know that we left the last page of the magazine empty, giving space for<i> you </i>to write your personal letter to fashion. Much to our delight, Victoria did so and shared her letter to fashion on her blog:</div>
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<i><i><i>Dear Fashion...</i></i></i></div>
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<i>I think I love you. Ever since the floral dungarees, colour
changing socks, waist coasts and floppy velvet hats of my childhood you
have been with me. I know its not always been an easy journey over the
faux pas and crisis of confidences in items which are better left behind
in the past. But you’ve always been there for me. A way to express
myself and an instant pick me up in times of stress and gloom.</i></div>
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<i>Discovering your darker side has shaped my business and my wardrobe and I've looked at you in a different light and learned to love you all over again. I have learned to slow my pace
and really enjoy dressing up (and down) and though sometimes the draw of
indulging in feel good items is hard to resist I know at heart your
best qualities will always prevail.</i><br />
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<i>Dear Fashion, no matter what happens, lets stay together...</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Yours Truly </i><br />
<i>Victoria</i><br />
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Click your way to the full article on Victoria's blog <a href="http://www.thinkboutique.co.uk/_blog/{_Think_}_blog/post/dear-fashion/" target="_blank">here. </a><br />
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Have <i>you</i> written a personal letter to fashion...? If yes, please share it with us! If not, then grab a pen and a piece of paper, go sit under a tree and be the Jane Austen of your thoughts (or just type it on your what-ever-pad)!</h4>
Dear Fashionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04111254982431987169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-981162129301486250.post-79841252655975119822013-07-19T13:02:00.000+02:002013-07-20T11:56:39.285+02:00Question of the week: How long is your hem?<h4>
Skirt (skərt). "A woman's outer garment fastened around the waist and hanging down around the legs." The definition of a skirt is fairly simple, however, there is more to skirts than the dictionaries tell, and economists know it as well!</h4>
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There are countless different types of skirts: pencil skirts, flared skirts, maxis, minis, knee-lenghts and so on. Whilst some let their carefree hems flow in the wind, others head to the office in tailored pieces that leave no doubts about serious business. Depending on the type of skirt you wear, you can run, dance, hobble, swagger with self-confidence or sneak around pulling your skirt down, trying to keep the hem from reaching vulgar heights.<br />
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How, when and where you choose to wear a skirt is a personal matter, but did you know that it is not always just our personal preference that determines the types
of skirts we wear? Just like fashion in general, also skirts hold more
cultural and societal references than one might think. War times, the joyful roaring twenties and emancipation of women have all been reflected on the skirt trends. There is even a theory about hemline index claiming that the changes in economy have a direct impact on the style of these garments. The hemline index is calculated by measuring hem length as a percentage of the length from floor to waistline. According to this theory, the skimpier the skirts, the higher the index, the better the economy and the fuller the wallets! Many fashionistas have confirmed the theory right, but the scientific value of the hemline index is debatable. Ken Downing, the head of women's wear at Neiman Marcus, told the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/hemline-index-2012-2?op=1" target="_blank">Business Insider</a> that he does not believe the index is accurate. After having seen the skirt trends at Fashion Weeks last year, he commented: <i>"It's interesting, as a fashion director I no longer believe hemlines are a conversation on trend because it's so particular to a designer and their point of view...We are seeing hemlines below the knee, at the knee and some that are still quite short."</i><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ih3.redbubble.net/image.11778072.2565/flat,550x550,075,f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="452" src="http://ih3.redbubble.net/image.11778072.2565/flat,550x550,075,f.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">by Stephen Wildish: <a href="http://www.stephenwildish.co.uk/">www.stephenwildish.co.uk</a></td></tr>
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<b>Now, we would like to know how long is <i>your</i> hem?</b></h3>
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Have your skirts followed the hemline index and changed into maxis during the current financial crisis or is your wardrobe rebelling against the gloom with cheerful minis? And most importantly, do you think we should start analysing the stock markets on newspapers to try to forecast the trends of next season instead of jumping straight to the comic section...? Share your thoughts below in comments or join the hemline conversation on Facebook by clicking <a href="https://www.facebook.com/dearfashionjournal/posts/389279714504904?comment_id=2019025&offset=0&total_comments=2&notif_t=share_comment" target="_blank">here</a>!<br />
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For further reading on skirts, their evolution and more, <b><a href="http://garmentmag.com/daily/" target="_blank">check out a</a><a href="http://garmentmag.com/daily/" target="_blank"> brand new magazine</a></b> called <b><a href="http://garmentmag.com/" target="_blank">Garment</a> </b>that is all about skirts, skirts and skirts! We especially recommend <b><a href="http://garmentmag.com/daily/my-skirt-day-2" target="_blank">a column by Nikita</a></b>, one of the magazine's editors, who steps out of her comfort zone, wears a different type of skirt every week and writes about her experiences. Giggles guaranteed!<b><br /></b>Dear Fashionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04111254982431987169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-981162129301486250.post-58843926284344569252013-07-03T22:48:00.000+02:002013-07-05T21:35:20.334+02:00Weatherproof summer activities for swappers, shoppers and other stylistasToo cold to go to the beach? A weather too rainy for minigolf? No worries! In the coming weeks, we will present to you a few summer activities that can take place no matter what the colour of the sky is. <br />
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Bees are buzzing around the blooming flowers, yet they are not the only busy bees in July: clothes swappers from around the world have also kept themselves active by having organized some nice happenings for this month. For the first article in the series of sustainably chic summer activities, we put together a list of a few upcoming exchange events and shared some tips for organizing one of your own!<br />
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<b>On Sunday the 7th of July in Amsterdam</b>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/krijgdeklerenkledingruil?ref=ts&fref=ts" target="_blank">Krijg de Kleren</a> will take place in <i>Roest</i>, one of the most whimsical hotspots in<b> </b>the city. Be there or be square, for the weatherman has been promising an unusually sunny weather for the day and the location next to a canal is sure to add the much wanted beach feeling to your day!</div>
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<b>In Australia</b>, you can swap your winter blues away in <b>Melbourne</b> at an <a href="http://clothingexchange.com.au/melbourne-winter-warmup-1/" target="_blank">event organized by The Clothing Exchange</a> on <b>the 8th of July</b>. Other than that, the <i>Clothing Exchange</i> team works in Sydney and Canberra as well, so all you Ozzies out there should keep an eye on their <a href="http://clothingexchange.com.au/melbourne-winter-warmup-1/" target="_blank">website</a> for future events!<br />
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<b>All the UKers</b> can check out the a<b>genda for fashion swishing events in UK <a href="http://swishing.com/events/" target="_blank">here</a>.</b> They have quite a full programme for the month, and taking part should be a fun pastime activity whilst waiting for the royal baby!<br />
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<b>Fashionistas in the United States</b> can be good, green and glamorous by swapping their clothes on the <b>17th of July in California.</b> To check out the event and to keep an eye on upcoming happenings in other states, click on their website<a href="http://www.clothingswap.com/events/clothing-swap-corte-madera-july-2012.htm" target="_blank"> here.</a><br />
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<b>If we didn't mention your local clothes swapping event, be pro-active and do the following:</b> Click yourself to Google and do a digital search for other clothes swappers in your area. If the number of your search results is a big round zero, don't let a frown turn your face upside down! Call your friends instead and invite them for a spontaneous swapping party accompanied with a picnic in a park or some serious wine sipping in doors. If you wish to organize an event that goes beyond a small get-together, don't hesitate to get in touch with fellow swappers for tips and advice: in Belgium, the local<b> <a href="http://www.swishing.be/nieuws/p/detail/zelf-een-swishing-organiseren" target="_blank">Swishers</a></b> have even promised to support and help enthusiastic swappers in organizing self-initiated neighbourhood events!<br />
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If your friends and their clothes are scattered around the country, join<b> </b><a href="http://kladbyte.se/" target="_blank"><b>Klädbyte</b>, a sweet Swedish </a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=981162129301486250" target="_blank">online service for clothes swapping</a> or the more international <a href="https://www.blogger.com/" target="_blank"><span id="goog_114797316"></span><b>Swapstyle</b></a><b><span id="goog_114797317"></span>,</b> where fashionistas can exchange their designer goods. If you are more of a DIY spirit, you can also easily create a digital platform for swapping with Facebook. All you need to do before the fun can begin is create an event, invite all the stylistas in your network to join. After that, set the guidelines for the swapping procedure (shipping etc.) and ask all the participants to snap photos of their clothes and post them online with sizes and other specifications. Voilá!<br />
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Now press the play button below to get in the mood for surfing through your closet, choose your swappables and take them on a date
to a fashion exchange party - it's partner-swapping at its best!<br />
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We don't often tackle Serious Issues, but rather write about nice things, funny happenstances and stories about people and their clothes. However, this time I would like to make an exception.<br />
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When an interviewer at the <a href="http://www.wwd.com/fashion-news/designer-luxury/wwd-ceo-summit-marc-jacobs-6579661?full=true" target="_blank">Women's Wear Daily CEO Summit</a> asked Marc Jacobs why does fashion matter, he replied:<i><br /></i></div>
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<i>"</i><i>Let’s see. It’s part of the art of living. Why does makeup matter? Why
does fragrance matter? Why does fashion matter? Why does it matter to
have beautiful furniture and nice interiors and books to read and good
wine to drink and good food to eat? These are all luxuries and it’s
human nature to want them, to desire them, to enjoy them, enjoy looking
at them, wearing them. I think it’s just human nature. We want things to
please us and make us feel good and maybe attract other people to us or
just make us feel good about ourselves."<br /> </i></div>
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I agree with Marc Jacobs; fashion is a matter that matters in many ways. However, what was not mentioned in his answer was the amount of people working in faraway countries, to whom fashion matters in a much more tangible way than to most of us. The people who go to work to sew our clothes in <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/may/23/bangladesh-factory-collapse-rana-plaza" target="_blank">unfair factories</a>, putting their health and lives under risk to make garments to us and to support their families. With documentaries about ruthless production cycles, global warming and the recent news from the factories of Bangladesh, it is no wonder that when people talk about sustainable fashion, the discussion tends to have a negative, nagging undertone that shocks and makes you feel guilty. But negativity helps no one. This is why we at <i>Dear Fashion Journal</i> want to talk about sustainably sensible consumption instead of preaching about the poor state of fashion's production cycle. We want to share tips and tricks and explore how to be more sustainable on grassroot-level by caring about your clothes and making good purchases instead of impulsive ones. We want to talk about <b>putting your money where your heart is.</b><br />
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The fashion industry in itself is so complex that having a 100% clean, fair and sustainable production cycle will probably happen the same day that beauty contestants stop wishing for world peace. This is why I think it is important for us to acknowledge that our daily thoughts, deeds and shopping behaviour matter more than whether the dress that we bought was from H&M's Conscious Collection or not, bacause changing into green this and fair that is not the only way of being more sustainable. (Of course, supporting sustainable and fair brands is always good, at least as long as you don't let your brain get <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenwashing" target="_blank">greenwashed</a>).<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPSiz5c4WBONwgDnw-344vjRZ2QQ1Ez8tznXBFCx1cAHQ008XqC3AbhXUKSZ_f2e7twpqtNdVqD72rLqJSs2EgwLjpbk89cyPmB3gxvM2gw85H7v1wPFEbjPr7Limd6KNWgq0Uc_Q54y4U/s1600/you_matter2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPSiz5c4WBONwgDnw-344vjRZ2QQ1Ez8tznXBFCx1cAHQ008XqC3AbhXUKSZ_f2e7twpqtNdVqD72rLqJSs2EgwLjpbk89cyPmB3gxvM2gw85H7v1wPFEbjPr7Limd6KNWgq0Uc_Q54y4U/s1600/you_matter2.gif" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"You Matter" by Stepanka Peterka</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://stepankapeterka.com/" target="_blank">Stepanka Peterka</a> is a member of <a href="http://slowfashionforward.org/" target="_blank">Slow Fashion Forward</a> and the artist behind <i>"You Matter"</i>, a piece of digital art telling that how we act as consumers on an individual level really matters on a
community level. <i>"It's related to how we can choose to
use our garments, creating meaningful engagement that matters both
physically and symbolically,"</i> Stepanka says.<i>"I chose to use my finger prints, pixels, and hand embroidery as design
elements to represent the wealth of creativity, capabilities,
interconnectivity, experiences and skills that we
as individuals can contribute to each other and
to our thought processes, as we use garments and make decisions around
consumption."</i></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
<br />
With these thoughts, I would like to remind myself and all of you that everything great begins from something small: from drinking only fairly produced coffee, yes, but also from swapping instead of shopping, avoiding mispurchases and most of all, from being creative.<br />
<br />
Because even the smallest changes that feel good in our hearts matter to the world.<br />
<br />
Yours, <br />
Emmi "Idealist 4eva"Dear Fashionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04111254982431987169noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-981162129301486250.post-37203599514528549362013-06-06T09:21:00.001+02:002013-06-06T23:14:58.899+02:00Question of the week: How to summer-ify your wardrobe?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8VJvMj83CSmNjkgycUzZ1CfThii4BxcWu_fyoObNz2G059AZEw5_wSYsTurzOj6cjY6M3hMr9PMTuDuQKkfOOt3Hv_l6pT5cFFKTyPFyEQ9fzWj3P1L1a2bxpD1j8iHOiqyw5iZnXuyw/s640/1b50eef612ba74d57472c6be246f09d2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8VJvMj83CSmNjkgycUzZ1CfThii4BxcWu_fyoObNz2G059AZEw5_wSYsTurzOj6cjY6M3hMr9PMTuDuQKkfOOt3Hv_l6pT5cFFKTyPFyEQ9fzWj3P1L1a2bxpD1j8iHOiqyw5iZnXuyw/s640/1b50eef612ba74d57472c6be246f09d2.jpg" height="520" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Spring without new dresses" collage by Vera van het Ho</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Seasons are good. They bring the much needed changes into our lives, allowing us to housemouse in the winter and run outside with ice cream melting down our hands six months later. Seasons make the colours change from brown to white and green, and give a functional purpose to cashmere as well as miniskirts and sandals.<br />
<br />
What we and the mannequins on display windows wear changes hand in hand with the seasons. It is always a good feeling to tuck your winter coat away and take out your skirts and shorts, but seeing everybody sporting their summer gear and reading lists of <i>"Top 10 Festival Looks" </i>can also cause an impulse to have something new in your wardrobe. Something with spice, something wow, something pretty, something NOW! However, these urges don't have to mean that you must go for an emergency shopping spree - instead, you can try to freshen the contents of your closet up in other ways! We believe in cutting old jeans into shorts, swapping clothes with friends and digging through attics on the hunt for long lost summer tunics from teenage years, but we would also love to know:<br />
<h3>
</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
How do <i>you</i> freshen up your wardrobe for summer? </h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Do you rely on handy DIY tricks, accessories or multifunctional items that go throughout the year...? Share your thoughts and leave a comment below or join the conversation on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/dearfashionjournal" target="_blank">Facebook!</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.dearfashionjournal.com/2013/03/trendspotting.html" target="_blank">Click here </a>to check out our collection of DIY tutorials that will help you trend-ify your old clothes in a planet and wallet friendly way, or read how Vera and Jeanine from <a href="http://vjsfashionreset.blogspot.nl/" target="_blank">Fashion Reset</a> are dealing with their non-shopping challenge (in Dutch)!</div>
<br />Dear Fashionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04111254982431987169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-981162129301486250.post-40692680349681448702013-05-21T15:50:00.001+02:002013-05-21T15:51:19.171+02:00Question of the week: What are your rules for combining clothes?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ6LVHRVIulT3qMqPgCDu-9i8hsn_8Z5Cw2adK8dubxNk2lEhNHHny-xzlpbUHRJ2Pv2tcucVnGx0DKfEnTHzqgNbO7UfEsNwWzqn_2IxgPOOk5porsGn2-wZZg9_ysNHraSw9YwU0WvM/s640/IMG_3500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ6LVHRVIulT3qMqPgCDu-9i8hsn_8Z5Cw2adK8dubxNk2lEhNHHny-xzlpbUHRJ2Pv2tcucVnGx0DKfEnTHzqgNbO7UfEsNwWzqn_2IxgPOOk5porsGn2-wZZg9_ysNHraSw9YwU0WvM/s640/IMG_3500.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Wrong Combos" collage by Vera van het Hof</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This year, fashion seems to be clashing everywhere: statement stripes are one of the biggest trends on the display windows and it doesn't look like bright colours on sneakers, jeans or hair are going anywhere either. However, combining clothes creatively and coming up with exciting yet chic outfits is not
always as easy as it may sound, especially for the shyer dressers, who want to have a bit of fashion fun but prefer mild seasoning in their looks without too many quirks. Last month, Vera from <a href="http://vjsfashionreset.blogspot.nl/2013/04/combi-kneuzen.html" target="_blank">Fashion Reset</a> wrote about her thoughts on combining dresses, jackets and their hem lengths and shared her own "rule": <span lang="NL">short over long, long(er) over short or long over long. That leads us to the question of the week, which is:</span><br />
<h3>
<span lang="NL"> </span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="NL">What kind of rules do you have for combining your clothes? </span></h3>
<br />
<span lang="NL">Do you rely on a certain colour palette, follow suggestions from style guides, never wear black with brown or clash your clothes fearlessly? We are curious, so share your personal rules and combination philosophies with us below in comments or on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/dearfashionjournal" target="_blank">Facebook</a>!</span><br />
<h4>
<span lang="NL"></span></h4>
Dear Fashionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04111254982431987169noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-981162129301486250.post-75187601112220284622013-05-07T18:52:00.000+02:002013-05-07T20:03:04.873+02:00Interview: Two fashionistas, one blog and 365 days without new clothes<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">Meet
Jeanine and Vera, two fashion professionals who decided to reset their fashion
behaviour and stop shopping for a year. They write letters to each other on a
blog called <a href="http://vjsfashionreset.blogspot.nl/" target="_blank">Fashion Reset</a>,
where they share their struggles, thoughts and successes. These girls get
creative with fashion in an alternative way, and after a lot of digital
penpalling, we finally managed to meet over coffee to talk about fashion, style
and some “deep stuff”.</span></span></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCmP5HCiAt8a4CsAkFXArwktgSuQRgVZ2Bq9Q5QKTAI3Wzwfjbnnxotqb4Kdq1ZjB9ggbjZcSe7PcTBg8jPOoPGGoCeynF-Rh6ZL1QLKNfOqIVAjr1lxIORffJ2n5qdvbfZlEuy-E6QM/s1600/DSC_0538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCmP5HCiAt8a4CsAkFXArwktgSuQRgVZ2Bq9Q5QKTAI3Wzwfjbnnxotqb4Kdq1ZjB9ggbjZcSe7PcTBg8jPOoPGGoCeynF-Rh6ZL1QLKNfOqIVAjr1lxIORffJ2n5qdvbfZlEuy-E6QM/s1600/DSC_0538.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Let’s do it: 525.948 minutes without new shoes! <i>Collage by Vera Van het Hof</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> <b><span lang="EN-GB">Please tell us something about
yourself; who are Jeanine and Vera?</span></b><span lang="EN-GB"><br />
<br />
</span>J: I’m Jeanine, a
34-year-old designer who graduated from <a href="http://amfi.nl/" target="_blank">the Amsterdam Fashion Institute</a>. I
design accessories for private label collections and work on my own label that
is to be launched this year.<br />
<br />
V: I’m Vera, a 35-year-old freelance copywriter and stylist. I give branding
advice for companies, but have also recently done styling for a music video, so
my work is really diverse. Me and Jeanine met each other at a clothes swapping
event called <a href="http://ellieskledingkast.com/">Ellie’sKledingkast</a>,
where we worked in the same team as stylists.<span lang="EN-GB"><br />
<b><br />
You started a one-year shopping sabbatical together in January 2013. Why? What
were the main reasons for you to stop shopping?</b> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">J:
A few people I met were doing the <a href="http://www.freefashionchallenge.com/" target="_blank">Free Fashion Challenge</a> and they told me that
not shopping hadn’t been that much of a struggle for them. It made me wonder
how it would be for myself. I wrote on my facebook that I was thinking about
taking the challenge and not shopping for a year, and Vera reacted with panic.
(laughs)<br />
<br />
V: I was like “what are you thinking?!”<br />
<br />
J: Yes, and I then told you to join me.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">V:
It made me really curious. First I thought “no way”, but then I started
thinking that if I could buy second hand, maybe I could actually do it. The
thought became more serious, and I got an idea that if we did it together, we
could also write about it to each other.<br />
<br />
J: So, two weeks before the New Year we got together and set rules for our
non-shopping challenge. We also made a list of must-have items for last minute
shopping spree.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
<b><span lang="EN-GB">What were
the items on that list?</span></b><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
<span lang="EN-GB">J: For me it was mainly the basics: socks, underwear and a few tops...I
was actually so focussed on finding good quality socks that in the end I
completely forgot to buy any bras. (laugh)<br />
<br />
V: I bought socks and underwear, too, but I also had a last minute panic and
made a 200€ order to Topshop. I got myself leggings with a super trendy space
print that you can probably wear only once and a stupid pair of shoes which I
didn’t really even like. I basically made all the worst shopping mistakes the
night before the challenge started.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
<b><span lang="EN-GB">Have you
also worn those clothes?</span></b><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
<span lang="EN-GB">V: Some of them, yes. Despite the panic, I was still thinking
practically and also ordered cardigans and things like that, but the silly
impulse buys that I threw in – like the leggings – I haven’t worn once.<br />
<br />
J: One of my friends gave me a good tip to put some of the things you buy
before the challenge aside until the time you need them. I still have some
things in store that I haven’t worn, and when you need them it will feel like
you really have something new.<br />
<b><br />
That’s a smart tip. How did you come up with the idea to write each other
letters on a blog?</b> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
<span lang="EN-GB">J: We wanted to get something extra out of the challenge. We both also
wanted to do something with our talents, so the Fashion Reset-blog became a
channel for us to do those creative things that we have dream<span style="font-size: small;">ed</span> of doing. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">V:
The non-shopping challenge also makes you wonder about things about yourself.
Why do you feel the need to have something new? It’s nice to record your
thoughts somewhere, especially since</span> fashion
is everywhere and it means a lot more than just…fabric. </span></span></div>
</div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN-GB">Next to the letters, you also make
beautiful collages and drawings about your experiences, which really hit our
soft spot for art. What inspired you to start creating those?</span></b></span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB"><br />
V: I had been doing the collages already before the blog, but although I really
enjoy collaging, I didn't do it that often. The blog gave me a good reason to
get into a routine of making one every now and then.<br />
<br />
J: I hadn't been drawing much since my fashion studies, so the blog gave me an
opportunity to start drawing again. That’s actually what Fashion Reset has
become; a reason for us to do our creative things. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXdews4pOLae3yNeb6RqS-giQAKLuO1srDjZlypyipd9Ra5BRx1D8KMQYkxjkv1LQcNYmkNv30mn2xYBnCDKlz9YpjmLiEjjVb5GIC7kVwLE4r3U6QMtVTmAkVpxj2pysrMzGHrzjzlEE/s1600/socks-s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXdews4pOLae3yNeb6RqS-giQAKLuO1srDjZlypyipd9Ra5BRx1D8KMQYkxjkv1LQcNYmkNv30mn2xYBnCDKlz9YpjmLiEjjVb5GIC7kVwLE4r3U6QMtVTmAkVpxj2pysrMzGHrzjzlEE/s1600/socks-s.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last minute shopping for socks sucks. <i>Collage by Jeanine Wijnen.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b> </b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB"><b>You haven't been shopping in 4 months
now, so you are nearly half way there with the year of not shopping. How has
the experience been so far? </b><br />
<br />
J: The challenge has become kind of like a personal…well, journey sounds bit
cheesy…<br />
<br />
</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">V:
That's right, though. I think we are both finding out what we want to do
"when we grow up".<br />
<br />
</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">J:
Yes, the challenge has more to do with exploring our talents, getting to know
to each other and ourselves and learning about our insecurities. In the end,
it’s about much more than just fashion and not shopping.<br />
<br />
<b>Have you found the challenge difficult
at any point? </b><br />
<br />
V: Not at all! I was quite a big fashion addict before, and we both thought
that I would freak out at some point, but that hasn’t happened. I simply love
the project and everything we have created around it!<br />
</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">J:
We write and make stuff, so there’s always something new going on. You focus on
that rather than all the things that you don’t have or can’t buy. <br />
</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">V:
Yes, it gives you a lot in return.<br />
</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">J:…to
fill the empty void inside of you… (laughs)<br />
<br />
<b>So, you aren’t getting bored with your
clothes?</b><br />
<br />
V: No, I’ve discovered a treasury in my closet with all the clothes I already
have!<br />
<br />
<b>And how has your relationship with
fashion changed during the challenge?</b><br />
<br />
J: I’m a really blue, grey and black person, and I’m a bit afraid of all the
colourful things in my closet. Now I've had to face them, wear them and
reinvent my style. I also do a lot of DIY and just bleached these jeans that
I’m wearing. I bought them from Primark two years ago and wore them only twice,
but now after pimping them I’ve been wearing them two days in a row! Overall, I
think I was getting a bit too comfortable style-wise before the challenge. Now
I try to push myself to put more effort in it; it’s nicer for myself, for my
partner, my friends and everyone!<br />
<br />
V: For me it’s actually the exact opposite. I used to walk in heels every day,
but now I’m getting more laid-back. I don’t need to make a statement with how I
look, because I have other nice things to focus on. This challenge and the
creative blog-project satisfy the creative hunger that I used to satisfy by putting
a lot of energy into expressing myself with what I wore. Now I’m presenting
myself in a different way by channeling that energy into the blog…wow, that’s
actually deep, man! It’s amazing how our behaviour and other things in our
lives are actually related to fashion!<br />
<br />
J: I have also learned that I do really need fashion in my life, and I don’t
mean just clothes but everything that’s around fashion.<br />
<br />
V: Me too. I love fashion as an art form. Before the challenge, fashion was my
mistress. Now it feels like we are married – I’m in a steady relationship with
it. <br />
<br />
</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN-GB">Had you been thinking about
sustainable matters also before starting the challenge?</span></b><span lang="EN-GB"><br />
<br />
</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">J:
Yes. I try to act more sustainably in everything I do, but I want to make sure
that it adapts well to my life. You can't do every single thing right, so
instead of trying to do everything I choose to focus on the things in my life
that I can easily change. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">V:
Fashion Reset is more of a personal challenge rather than a project that tries
to send a big message to the world. We are perfect examples of the Instagram
generation struggling with the constant overflow of information, longing to
slow down and become more conscious. I don’t think human beings can physically
keep up with the insane speed of our world. Maybe we can do it mentally, but
our bodies cannot cope, and the whole movement of slowing down is a way to deal
with it. It’s the Zeitgeist. It’s not about me trying to save the world or
become the perfect hippie – I still might throw a wine bottle into trash every
now and then instead of recycling it! The sustainability in my life is more
about me wanting to embrace the things that I believe in and learning to live
in a way that fits me. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN-GB">Have you told everybody around you
about Fashion Reset and the shopping sabbatical? How have people reacted?</span></b><span lang="EN-GB">
<br />
<br />
V: When I told my boyfriend, he was very encouraging and said “you’ll never
make it”! (laughs)<br />
<br />
J: My boyfriend was actually very supportive and curious to see how I would
cope with it. I work in fashion, but haven’t told many people at work, because I’m
afraid that my managers would feel a bit threatened by this non-shopping
movement.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
<b><span lang="EN-GB">What do
you think will happen after your year of not shopping ends? Will something have
changed?</span></b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
<span lang="EN-GB">J: I want to continue using what I have instead of saving my clothes for
"special occasions" that might never come. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">V:
I also want to start investing in good quality and buy one good item instead of
ten trendy rags! </span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
<b><span lang="EN-GB">Some wise
words or advice you would like to share with other fashionistas who are
considering giving the non-shopping challenge a go?</span></b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
<span lang="EN-GB">J: Don’t stretch the challenge into something you aren’t comfortable
with. Set your own rules.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">V:
That’s a good one. Make it your own and make it a project; find something you
like to do, whether it is writing or drawing or something else, and use it to
enjoy the year! <br />
</span></span></span><br />
<h4>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">
We got the honour to feature a set of Vera's and Jeanine's artwork on Dear
Fashion Journal’s blog, <br />so stay tuned for more! </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">You can also follow Fashion
Reset at <a href="http://vjsfashionreset.blogspot.nl/">VJsFashionReset</a>
(in<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>Dutch)!</span></span></span></h4>
</div>
Dear Fashionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04111254982431987169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-981162129301486250.post-60526231083444480532013-04-13T16:00:00.000+02:002013-04-13T16:51:07.148+02:00Q&A with Carlotta CataldiIn the series of showcasing the contributors of Dear Fashion Journal, we now introduce you to our fashion cartoonist, Carlotta Cataldi. She adores polka dots and, being one of the members of the <a href="http://slowfashionforward.tumblr.com/post/45780166719" target="_blank">Slow Fashion Forward</a> initiative, never gets tired of talking about sustainable fashion! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvOpVLU1Nkwjto04F2MHFe9ciJ3U4TomiFY_UNpdcIwaZS-i1_oDZW_m2T9RHfixyuylr14snFhyphenhyphenK7CvdvhQDk0zjM9mzkKCygWVkrfuds4-YlHjOf3tLid5EtVJUgIo9IEpiBoj3mxMuX/s1600/Interview-headers.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvOpVLU1Nkwjto04F2MHFe9ciJ3U4TomiFY_UNpdcIwaZS-i1_oDZW_m2T9RHfixyuylr14snFhyphenhyphenK7CvdvhQDk0zjM9mzkKCygWVkrfuds4-YlHjOf3tLid5EtVJUgIo9IEpiBoj3mxMuX/s640/Interview-headers.gif" height="48" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>1. Name: </b>Carlotta Cataldi<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>2. Age: </b>34</div>
<br />
<b>3. Please fill in: I am a ______ because ______.</b><br />
I am a illustrator, consultant and educator in the field of sustainable fashion because I want to help people understand that we can truly live and love fashion without hurting the planet or the people working in the fashion supply chain.<br />
<br />
<b>4. What would be the name of your autobiography?</b> <br />
”The Diamond Quest”<br />
<br />
<b>5. What was the latest thing that inspired you?</b> <br />
A fantastic training for facilitators called ”the Art of Hosting”. It’s the second time I attend and it never fails to surprise me, move me, and inspire me.<br />
<br />
<b>6. Your biggest fashion fetish?</b> <br />
I don’t have any, I think. Or maybe I could say polka dots. They make me feel playful and elegant at the same time. I have tons of polka dots dresses.<br />
<br />
<b>7. What is your first fashion memory?</b> <br />
As a teenager, trying on dozens of vintage dresses that belonged to my centenary auntie, so that she could have a little fun from her armchair by looking at me catwalking.<br />
<br />
<b>8. What have you learned recently?</b> <br />
I have learned that I want to learn to forgive myself, because I am not perfect, and it’s ok not to be.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>9. What are you known for amongst friends?</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I am a big sustainability fanatic. I talk about it all the time.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>10. What is the most important thing to have around you when working?</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Music, and tea.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>+1: What would your dream project be like?</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I have many dream projects on my mind. One of them is to create a centre for sustainable fashion production where designers and different brands work in one open space and where manufacturing and finishing happens right on the same floor, in another large space. No need to send stuff on the other side of the world to have it made. So, more local employment, less kilometers, possibly spreading education on how to make real fashion etc. This is something that is hopefully about to happen in NYC! Check out this project <a href="http://manufactureny.org/about/" target="_blank">here</a>, and support it if <br />you can.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDT3rS059zhT46iAaPI-_hNTx_CE0DteJPmx0dBKAJBuDzXGbj9rmvAOMz2u49Pc48YbkCN5w9Z2clFEeY40kmGAcO8TmYiq6HT13WddqftCk_LQRx9gVrwIQNLoM0Kw0s3CJneA90qglP/s1600/Sad+Garment+Cartoon+for+web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDT3rS059zhT46iAaPI-_hNTx_CE0DteJPmx0dBKAJBuDzXGbj9rmvAOMz2u49Pc48YbkCN5w9Z2clFEeY40kmGAcO8TmYiq6HT13WddqftCk_LQRx9gVrwIQNLoM0Kw0s3CJneA90qglP/s1600/Sad+Garment+Cartoon+for+web.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /><span style="font-size: small;">Exc<span style="font-size: small;">er<span style="font-size: small;">pt from</span></span> Carlotta<span style="font-size: small;">'s cartoon "Story of the Sad Pants"</span>, published in Dear Fashion Journal</span></i></span></div>
Dear Fashionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04111254982431987169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-981162129301486250.post-39184503770266399332013-04-10T17:29:00.000+02:002013-04-10T20:01:16.710+02:00The greatest of the great fashion tipsAs mentioned <a href="http://www.dearfashionjournal.com/2013/04/defeat-closet-blues-swap-till-you-drop.html" target="_blank">before,</a> last weekend we got to be part of a clothes swapping event called <a href="https://www.facebook.com/krijgdeklerenkledingruil?ref=ts&fref=ts" target="_blank"><i>Krijg de Kleren.</i></a> We spent the days before the occasion cutting, pasting, gluing and tinkering, making accessories for what was going to become <i>Dear Fashion Journal's</i> tip writing corner. Yes, we were on a mission - a mission to fill the wall next to our spot at the event with the greatest fashion tips from the fashionistas of Amsterdam. Here is our tip writing and reading corner and a glimpse of the Great Wall of Tips!<br />
<br />
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<img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUQnMW_VhPKEXY4ijMri5WjYduRSuIkaeGPXzzbfJOH4Ehj30Bn9TsS3FQizuRl-5QRCBZwgDbm-_q2jol23p0V6Sk_7XlI85b0hYmw0IaxXw2_Oz4W6iw0zWS7eSqA7aa64o4wT41yjZ5/s640/Dear+Fashion+Journal+at+Kledingruil+1.jpg" width="640" /><img border="0" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVNYOjWJMAX_XMJQjubGgI5UDwvkKNWCQnoBVpIJg2Lxn43LxEp8fnDcFF-6bLHFrTGALS7hiCfnkpJVp1y67-gXheQ0r3tBayt1Uzza3HFUAishk9W06hL3Fd4ccYblk5LczqW0kGtoem/s640/Dear+Fashion+Journal+at+Kledingruil.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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<img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhThAT0Woef9JVmzBYZeW3pl0_n9IGzo_SElDx9MW4uUIWUNJJEtS8qN8eGd44B2ge0aApPmtJHcISlUPUqZpn7fEwaaDeebsLUUhZGvgli2-yH-pNjkVUtluqH7kcNAWsPD20Uovu6Bj8s/s640/Dear+Fashion+Journal+at+Kledingruil+2.jpg" width="640" /></div>
<br />
We promised to award one of the submitted tips with a surprise package filled with goodness from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/krijgdeklerenkledingruil?ref=ts&fref=ts" target="_blank"><i>Krijg de Kleren</i></a>, <i><a href="http://www.essyello.com/" target="_blank">Essyello Jewellery</a></i>
and us! To select the winner, our critical jury put their heads
together to make selection of the greatest tips that the fashion
lovers of Amsterdam pasted on our wall. Here are our favourites:<br />
<br />
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<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5t_yDj4fbVr3PtTV7TDtjJDAMP5BoFdfoJfeSzYnzA3MQbcaRZWEv9svTCUvTRLMwBcoltDHK-fcqpc9xKd_AMAEk6jsamHrt9t3rvtB2jptVqyPaJrBnlfkdMcgHoNfk-T8ZjKbjFxih/s400/Dont+wear+your+thong+too+tight.jpg" width="297" /><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjSjSJDLXuJizjn2_vdn2DwNanyuIwjxmMt2VXuP0FB_cjYk5lbe_MQNNQOAlrCd3BiQbIP3IJ0RwkefADx354ToFpFFDC4KIq7TXQ0NvQYXjHb69DXPQNAxlf1ckWct4LJgVQZvCkcyEp/s400/IMG_1043.jpg" width="298" /></div>
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<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5lkcOP9q9aa1hyP-B_uAaET7DBDqZEQBnvuyzqR5UfmQxJM0H_6RIPEBiJGEyTb8e8MG6k2PEN3buBRMsVuK1qRKTXTM0ZG1mCbqDRtqmOq04bi6Ezr4Rqinsn0hog6C_gIMtOyihLIt9/s400/IMG_1013.jpg" width="298" /><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtuC4ZXZlQ7QkoRXsclY6tuQapauwbBgOJAoN9OvrxoZmHll00Z_chlfUEWN7mhkAvuhGitYskOoDrsBaUB2kzxRGTQZRxD3T2npWpcYD8ZguIsib-VDeiAOI5MUydH8eucoUJjh7nGzGq/s400/IMG_1012.jpg" width="298" /> </div>
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<i>Left:</i> <span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">Let your new jeans soak overnight in water-vinegar mixture to keep their colour nice for longer!</span></span><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"></span></span><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"><i>Right:</i> Soak your new stockings in warm water before wearing to make them last longer!</span></span></div>
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<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCe9g8Y1Bt2QoHFU7cFPKqlP1mdsFXseVwGNTzg86ewARBsRA6A0a0jgX190dgRb4NCQ7GKZvbxnrnCil2ASyQCjv3gF7w5H0pMs9V7g5mg99SUEFWPqLpXHFUMarxOpjuOIs9TKrnY923/s400/IMG_1019.jpg" width="298" /><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRc9EyqCvIZul4FP8_8SWbnEAGVFTayfQfjQ62iCOQD2gT67rhPmUiiV7yzUEbkTm3wxCQSsScZ5jbCyHskMgnsTvh2aLSNRsS0HHVn5ETGhg2WNEDDPwchVWmg38_ROPpFSSINKRcojkV/s400/IMG_1015.jpg" width="298" /><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"> </span></span><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"><i>Right:</i> Don't trust stores that call themselves "trendy" - trendy was cool in 1950.</span></span></div>
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<img border="0" height="435" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdkLp5WuvDcqxb59U_SrI2WJ6TzI2hgdD2zbDMbV9gk1CgfW_WzrQJJHfyOWsvAKjT3arnEOkJZAHElvFTRKPkgncNND7tRj5hgdx-nuS9MWtqbzddUn9r6Kouw-OnNrsdV_uoEzl5T26g/s640/IMG_1016.JPG" width="610" /><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"><i><br />Left:</i> Buy good (bio) basics and complement them with vintage and swapped clothes!</span></span></div>
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<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHkzMa61Wu5XdqMYbRcfQgDT5MGAyzEM4_GAik5PzxF2Op1bkbdCx4-xPAdyVkYU561oOLSw0MVO2VQI_2MGIf_BSSKAnDFafODJxv7O90da4FjrWbaOcrM3V8so8hirL9cBex43AA4FcE/s400/IMG_1033.jpg" width="298" /><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4CBIJ-_ar36bybUPGvxExix0-jVP_xmWYJceVy_CXrJoPdlMmQZkQIvfFENgmwjkdC14BpuVKn8B2wePa2w65oiMk9Rjh9zas305Y_z0r_Dqg2emlpA_ZEjaVZ-9sFrLDLkstGuAHR5Ft/s400/IMG_1029.jpg" width="298" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"><i>Right:</i> Yellow
stains under your armpits? Using baby powder and then deodorant will
prevent stickiness and therefore also yellow stains! You can also soak
your clothes in vinegar to get rid of yellow stains.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqqRWFdm3swHTC1KizErQeUoF0gTymTAxXhDXk5ae2bb1ARDwL6qNmQfNb3IQvsTmmAjdlh3-xwWoSylrgpN76vcXXU7l12DupSmGJMWXmlTIdQh_S2OK7DoA7Inbqsw2-td24YjcGSyq5/s400/DSC_0082_2.jpg" width="298" /><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQAtSADBnls0jOB34HTptBzqpdN71Dq6LxyQnxcA1DgXFoKSneiACx4k_yWgiZfhyvDALdFKPR3BzjuyFgx6mkL9StEk-k6JFmK1Tkx18Q1gpetSBageuarYikAfl8bRCoGWXH8oNO7ExV/s400/DSC_0082.JPG" width="298" /> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"><i>Right: </i>You know a colour doesn't suit you when it only brings out the bags under your eyes!</span></span></div>
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<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXceQ0cOX_BfOjUwjZr-Ub-Gx66vg_IirxwPlwGfiBMuagjRuadCbH5aOuOfnd594WfQUd3vPFYwmCPOpnvHBg_g00utCXOGpdQsU33iBXhU0PnByfTgrwoRyzK4xEo4FfLvqavGLpNdbg/s400/IMG_1000.jpg" width="298" /><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8qYUw1Ldb-FDCEL3KH2h9mJ7BeuS9eJCcELL_DuELLNmWyagAXI1OYmYapDr8nSBClxivaB5QoyxNDL3TixaWZofFNcoz8tLExDf03Q_klWbdIcgcc9Beg7ZfEbsTbSIth-YuuH76Mtnr/s400/IMG_0958.jpg" width="298" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Left</i><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"><i>:</i> </span></span><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">Use transparent nail polish to protect the colours on your jewellery from fading.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And the tip that put a big smile on our faces and will receive a surprise give-away is...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(insert drums of excitement here):</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #741b47;">Don't bother matching your bra & panties - your cat won't notice.</span></h3>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">
Congrats - we'll get in touch with you via email!</h4>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Afternote:</i> In addition to many handy tips for preserving the colour of your jeans and making your stockings last longer, we also found some interestingly opinionated views on fashion on our wall. Apparently, the Dutchies aren't very big fans of their national shoe, <a href="http://marketplayground.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Crocs-CROX.jpg" target="_blank">Crocs</a>. Some of them would also advice people to avoid wearing beanies, Uggs and leggins (as pants). However, we are not Trinnies and Suzannahs and won't tell tell you what not to wear. Instead, we will end with this tip:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipIeEEI3v5RjcYENp7doCkqcU3pEQh4OOEjWoh-pS0N2pEeqap2IuAj8xSVrPpY3IMbcqhpUfnLlvtPYOetdikqDbD6p0V24wMJptOxO4YxRV0p-4f-jAfcmIHCiaGM-ucQpCgqsG4NvtE/s1600/IMG_1010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipIeEEI3v5RjcYENp7doCkqcU3pEQh4OOEjWoh-pS0N2pEeqap2IuAj8xSVrPpY3IMbcqhpUfnLlvtPYOetdikqDbD6p0V24wMJptOxO4YxRV0p-4f-jAfcmIHCiaGM-ucQpCgqsG4NvtE/s400/IMG_1010.jpg" width="297" /></a></div>
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Dear Fashionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04111254982431987169noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-981162129301486250.post-64191788196714722132013-04-04T18:10:00.001+02:002013-04-04T18:14:21.806+02:00Defeat closet blues & swap till you drop!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<img border="0" height="427" src="http://daytobeyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Seasons-change-and-so-do-weSeasons-change-and-so-do-we.png" width="640" /></div>
Have you ever found yourself standing in front of your wardrobe, staring at its contents, putting on an outfit, changing it into another one and repeating this until a desperate long sigh disrupts the routine? You say "what ever", change into the same clothes you wore yesterday (and the day before) and leave the house uninspired by your outfit. It happens. It's called garderobe boredom, which is most often caused by the different seasons in our lives; the ones that begin when get married, change jobs, become groupies of a rock band, start a new study or simply realize that after a long and dreary winter, spring is finally here and <i>we have nothing to wear.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>Being bored with your closet can be risky: it clearly calls for <i>reinvention</i>, but sometimes we might end up reinventing ourselves in a way that wears off quickly (pink pants, anyone?), leading us back to the dissatisfying daily routine of changing from one outfit into another and grunting at all of them. A better way to freshen up your wardrobe is to invest on a few seasonal pieces that a) fit your style and b) will fit it also next year. Those pieces will allow you to rotate your garderobe just like your grandmother rotated her house decor by having a different set of curtains for each season. The trick is that after four months of staring at the winter drapery, some light green summer curtains would always give a feeling of something new even if they weren't new per se. The same applies when talking about wardrobes.<br />
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/krijgdeklerenkledingruil?ref=ts&fref=ts" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5cQYux5gYz94tpouPa6WdRpV90JZ2om1AVb-o89lYvcdg0yD1MjblaslHAB7GviL-1kot5xp43f_nwceKHkm8WV6fNLmocP6RN1EYnAEtHuLBgrMPJjc2Mzy4jT0vS-863Kc9JSZZpTuO/s320/Kledingruil.jpg" width="228" /></a>So, here's a golden tip on how to refresh your looks sustainably with new items: swap your clothes! It's not only fun, but also a safe way to go outside your comfort zone and do some outlandish style experiments without having to charge your wallet or our planet for it.<br />
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Swapping is also close to <i>Dear Fashion Journal's</i> heart (and mine, says Emmi The Editor whose favourite striped sailor shirt is swapped), which is why we are psyched to be part of <i><a href="http://www.facebook.com/events/498544893542922/" target="_blank">Krijg De Kleren</a>,</i> a clothes swapping event that will take place in Amsterdam this Sunday (7th April)! If you will be around, drop by for a fashionable treasure hunt and come share your best style advice on The Great Wall of Fashion Tips that we'll be putting together on the spot - a surprise give-away filled with awesomeness might be awaiting you!<br />
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<b>More about Krijg De Kleren <a href="http://www.facebook.com/krijgdeklerenkledingruil?ref=ts&fref=ts" target="_blank">here</a></b><i> </i><br />
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<i>Psst...Remember our earlier article about defeating garderobe boredom? You can read it <a href="http://www.dearfashionjournal.com/2012/09/in-case-of-cravings-part-1.html" target="_blank">here</a></i>Dear Fashionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04111254982431987169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-981162129301486250.post-37853157036723469622013-03-19T16:37:00.000+01:002013-03-19T16:45:03.967+01:00Trendspotting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
No matter how long the winter or freezing the spring, the new trends are already taking us to the warmer seasons. We decided to do a bit trendspotting to show how to rock some of the hippest and the hottest items in a wallet and planet friendly way. Let's get trendy (not spendy) with tutorials from some of the most inspiring DIY fashion bloggers!</div>
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<b>Polkadot bottoms</b></h3>
DIY instructions for polkadotting your own pair of jeans here: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.amerrymishapblog.com/2012/08/polka-dotted-denim-diy.html" target="_blank">A Merry Mishap</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.amerrymishapblog.com/2012/08/polka-dotted-denim-diy.html" target="_blank"></a></span><i>Photo by Jennifer Hagler</i><br />
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Lace details and cut-outs</h3>
DIY instructions for embellishing your sweaters and shirts here: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.trashtocouture.com/2013/01/diy-embellished-sweater.html" target="_blank">Trash to Couture</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.trashtocouture.com/2013/01/diy-embellished-sweater.html" target="_blank"></a></span><i>Photo by Laura Zpifer</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh17HPhMNaliBeJf2jF1jgM3AUOymRy3jiZ8AlZUu1tNNBhwk31x888QT77Qp4IeXNWamOt0yelpKa-a5brQ-UwyWcNV88QIdMIlEDbpjWFP9PQ6NCfnkHDh4BaU9nsqXFAcDpiuaTgjQQ/s640/DSC_0889ljhfina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="520" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh17HPhMNaliBeJf2jF1jgM3AUOymRy3jiZ8AlZUu1tNNBhwk31x888QT77Qp4IeXNWamOt0yelpKa-a5brQ-UwyWcNV88QIdMIlEDbpjWFP9PQ6NCfnkHDh4BaU9nsqXFAcDpiuaTgjQQ/s640/DSC_0889ljhfina.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Funky Accessories</h3>
DIY instructions for pearl glasses:<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><a href="http://apairandasparediy.com/2013/02/diy-pearl-sunglasses.html" target="_blank"> a Pair & a Spare</a></span></span></span>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://apairandasparediy.com/2013/02/diy-pearl-sunglasses.html" target="_blank"></a></span></span><i>Photo by Geneva Vanderzeil</i><br />
<a href="http://apairandasparediy.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/DIY-Pearl-Sunglasses-a-pair-and-a-spare-023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><img border="0" height="423" src="http://apairandasparediy.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/DIY-Pearl-Sunglasses-a-pair-and-a-spare-023.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">DIY instructions for a multilayer necklace: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.stripesandsequins.com/2013/01/diy-lizzie-fortunato-inspired-mixed-media-collar-necklace.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">Stripes & Sequins</span></a></span></span><br />
<i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Photo by Grace Atwood</span></i>
<a href="http://www.stripesandsequins.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/GRACE_280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://www.stripesandsequins.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/GRACE_280.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">DIY instructions for a geometric necklace: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><a href="http://sincerelykinsey.blogspot.com/2012/01/golden-geometric-necklace.html" target="_blank">Sincerely Kinsey</a></span><br />
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Dear Fashionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04111254982431987169noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-981162129301486250.post-50291555798121070332013-03-11T17:00:00.000+01:002013-03-11T18:22:57.380+01:00Photo shoot: Where The Sun IsLast week brought us a glimpse of sunshine, showing that soon it'll be the time to take off our coats, tuck them back to the attic and pull out the pastel coloured pants and light cotton shirts (or at least think of doing so)! To kick off the official beginning of the spring, we are showcasing a photo shoot called "Where The Sun Is". Photographed by a young Dutch photographer <a href="http://www.jentie.nl/" target="_blank">Jentie Youna Jelles, </a>the shoot features beach fashion designed by <a href="http://www.elinevanzwol.nl/" target="_blank">Eline van Zwol</a>, the make-up artist of the shoot. To create the pieces, she worked with fabrics found in the closet of her mother, herself and the photographer, giving the materials a second life and a 'high fashion' look.<br />
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If you are already hungry for a fresh pair of bikini, you better check out these photos for inspiration and consider cutting up your lace curtains or table cloths to pimp out your beach look!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrGai_f4GtGpZZv6p7Rh_EKlYp-e5TpLIKbkDwlYY73xrOPg-up_LdGRLWboIXdihwgb48ods8_9z8sUwfflDRULhsf03yUT0KqSz6yORx3RyLlYfoQSfqI3EpMvPrOpvp7axzS8tga7qp/s1600/where_the_sun_is_04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrGai_f4GtGpZZv6p7Rh_EKlYp-e5TpLIKbkDwlYY73xrOPg-up_LdGRLWboIXdihwgb48ods8_9z8sUwfflDRULhsf03yUT0KqSz6yORx3RyLlYfoQSfqI3EpMvPrOpvp7axzS8tga7qp/s640/where_the_sun_is_04.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiINm5eeCr9PyEOA1eReuT7TGZ8izW3-v9-puuzUlgGAyZmR8u4_AvGerdchSZm1b2LxUujJIZL5UFYrDA-c54ZPPciOjVTurckwhECSkeolhhTMoqJYMMAPD8FKfk4MYBbaADJhHKaedGq/s1600/where_the_sun_is_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiINm5eeCr9PyEOA1eReuT7TGZ8izW3-v9-puuzUlgGAyZmR8u4_AvGerdchSZm1b2LxUujJIZL5UFYrDA-c54ZPPciOjVTurckwhECSkeolhhTMoqJYMMAPD8FKfk4MYBbaADJhHKaedGq/s640/where_the_sun_is_01.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsOWGAsYOrdCm12a0eiaYqJxFBztE7vPyx1sIwQLzyIx5lcksI1pGqyBp-PrKSZxf2hdd4iebVbvXMO-wceHZJp7kIk7i8LAVLWnakmpCaKCRna4WXzz7wUWkjGwBy3khPNVwLMPxDDwiw/s1600/where_the_sun_is_03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsOWGAsYOrdCm12a0eiaYqJxFBztE7vPyx1sIwQLzyIx5lcksI1pGqyBp-PrKSZxf2hdd4iebVbvXMO-wceHZJp7kIk7i8LAVLWnakmpCaKCRna4WXzz7wUWkjGwBy3khPNVwLMPxDDwiw/s640/where_the_sun_is_03.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw2YU0wcTZJoVPKgQdvUUCuISpJGDs9O65DJLHSF2HddIbU5yCHmzc8VXDdTQCr_hyc71gewDicPrWFSmyr0x_XtuIwsu4Wb49dIZGjyLJNuLFcWjUqnjLWFcfLLRo_enmiHvyChyphenhyphenAuOEN/s1600/where_the_sun_is_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw2YU0wcTZJoVPKgQdvUUCuISpJGDs9O65DJLHSF2HddIbU5yCHmzc8VXDdTQCr_hyc71gewDicPrWFSmyr0x_XtuIwsu4Wb49dIZGjyLJNuLFcWjUqnjLWFcfLLRo_enmiHvyChyphenhyphenAuOEN/s640/where_the_sun_is_02.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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<b>Photographer:</b> <a href="http://www.jentie.nl/" target="_blank">Jentie Youna Jelles</a></div>
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<b>Model:</b> Jessica van Den Berg</div>
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<b>Make-up artist & clothing designer:</b> <a href="http://www.elinevanzwol.nl/" target="_blank">Eline van Zwol</a></div>
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<b>Styling:</b><a href="http://www.jentie.nl/" target="_blank"> Jentie Youna Jelles</a><a href="http://www.jentie.nl/" target="_blank"> </a>& <a href="http://www.elinevanzwol.nl/" target="_blank">Eline van Zwol</a></div>
Dear Fashionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04111254982431987169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-981162129301486250.post-25980539971376649692013-02-20T12:36:00.003+01:002013-02-20T12:38:32.259+01:00Dear Fashion film<div style="text-align: left;">
Let us present to you: <b>the Dear Fashion film! </b></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="377" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/60066089" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="670"></iframe> <br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/60066089">Dear Fashion Journal</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user16549382">Emmi Ojala</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>. Produced at Homestudio Ltd. We would like to thank all the home appliances that helped us in the process, especially the mop that kept our lightbox from collapsing!Dear Fashionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04111254982431987169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-981162129301486250.post-16951433950837549402013-02-18T11:51:00.001+01:002013-02-18T11:55:42.294+01:00Wardrobe flow chart<div style="text-align: left;">
Today, I made a great Monday morning discovery; a flow chart for cleaning your wardrobe and separating your must-goes from your must-keeps. It's made by <a href="http://-bobella-.tumblr.com/post/34084235277/today-i-cleaned-out-my-closet-for-the-first-time" target="_blank">Allie</a><a href="http://-bobella-.tumblr.com/post/34084235277/today-i-cleaned-out-my-closet-for-the-first-time" target="_blank"> Mounce</a>, a designer who also writes <a href="http://persephonemagazine.com/author/bobella/" target="_blank">The </a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=981162129301486250" target="_blank">Lazy Lady's Guide to DIY</a> for <a href="http://persephonemagazine.com/" target="_blank">Persephone Magazine. </a>Worth of checking out, for sure!</div>
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<a href="http://-bobella-.tumblr.com/post/34084235277/today-i-cleaned-out-my-closet-for-the-first-time" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="1075" src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mca3m7ildu1qbswx9o1_r2_1280.jpg" width="660" /></a>Chart made by <a href="http://www.alliemounce.com/about-me/" target="_blank">Allie Mounce.</a> Click <a href="http://-bobella-.tumblr.com/post/34084235277/today-i-cleaned-out-my-closet-for-the-first-time" target="_blank">here</a> to view the original article!</div>
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Dear Fashionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04111254982431987169noreply@blogger.com2