Review: ASPA

No that's not me! I could hardly take photos of myself during a treatment now could I?

The last time I visited a beauty salon I must have been about 16. Yes, Azra, owner of all-natural salon ASPA in The Hague seemed rather shocked too. I had booked my Prescription Facial after being told about Treatwell, an all-new website that allows you to book and pre pay your treatment online, easy!

The first thing that hit me when I entered ASPA was the gorgeous smell. Azra explained she would be using London brand Aromatherapy Associates on my skin today, hence the beautiful smell. After a thorough consultation in which I explained my problem areas (dry skin, oily T zone, blemishes) and daily routine, I was tucked in under a nice warm blanket and the treatment began. I proudly named all the beauty products I use on a daily basis (Bioderma, Olio Lusso, Benefit, Cetaphil and my beloved Clarisonic) but Azra shook her head. “No wonder you’re having problems darling, you’re over stimulating your skin!”

Ultrasound was used to pump more moisture into my skin, a peel to add extra punch. Azra explained she believes in layering products starting with a facial oil, then serum and finishing with a cream. I asked the owner of the salon why she preferred working with natural brands, my main reason for coming. She explained that it has become a holistic concept for her: the salon, a yoga studio upstairs and she even runs a health food shop.

After the treatments and a relaxing head-and-shoulder massage, my make-up was fixed with Jane Iredale mineral makeup, another all-natural brand that works with minerals. Coverage was great but I’m afraid I won’t be chucking out my Chanel CCs or Estée Lauder Double Wears quite yet.

I left ASPA feeling ultimately relaxed, with great-looking (and feeling) skin and a whole lot wiser. 

It’s now a few days on and I can already feel my skin adjusting to its new routine. The Clarisonic has been banned save one day a week and my Olio Lusso has finally become part of my daily routine now I know how to properly use it. I’m a sucker for a new beauty fad but hopefully, regular visits to ASPA will cure me of my addiction.

This is a partly-sponsored post. All opinions in this article are my own.

DIY/ Neck candy

Inspired by @dylanlex on Instragram, Nina of Salt n Sun and I decided to try our luck at making some huge necklaces. We scouted every H&M, Bershka and Pieces in The Hague trying to find suitable necklaces within our budget. In the end I think we succeeded in creating some statement jewellery.

The steps are simple:
1. Gather a series of necklaces and lay them out flat
2. Decide how you want the necklaces to fit together and cut chains accordingly
3. Optional: I added a clasp to each end of the chain so I can take them apart easily
4. Attach your chains with jump rings or clasps
5. Done!

A tip would be to assemble your chains on a mannequin or friend as some will lay different when hanging.

Shopping/ Humanoid

Well now I couldn't go all the way to Arnhem and not visit Humanoid could I? This amazing shop sells all my favourite brands including Acne and Isabel Marant of which I got a super-fluffy blue cardi and a simple white linen Tee. I know it seems silly to buy a warm knit when summer is upon us but honestly, with the low temperatures, wind and occasional snow (just kidding), it feels more like autumn here in the Netherlands!
Humanoid also stocks Aesop, an Australian cosmetics brand which uses plant-based ingredients resulting in some of the most lush smells around. As I will be in Venice all next week the travel kit and Ginger Flight Therapy seemed like a natural choice.

Expo/ Piet Paris

Named 'The Rooms of Piet Paris', the exhibition of illustrator extraodinaire, Piet Paris, opened last week in Arnhem. It was great to be lead through the exhibition by the artist himself and I really got an insight into his work method and driving force.
Not only are works by Paris on show but you can take a look at some amazing designs by Prada, Viktor&Rolf and Marni, among others. How amazing is that green embellished swimsuit?
I briefly spoke with Paris after the tour and asked him what he liked most about his retrospective. His answer was simple, get young people interested in the craft that is illustration.

Read my Design.nl review here

Design/ Highlights from Milan part 2

From top to bottom: Royal School of Arts, The Hague (KABK); KABK; Dutch Invertuals; Hogeschool voor de Kunsten Utrecht (HKU); 010-020; De Invasie; COS pop-up store; Street Art

While I love scouting for Dutch talents during fairs, graduate shows and exhibitions, sometimes it can be nice to take a little break and just wander around the city. Here are a few photos of my favourite shows in Milan.

Once again the COS pop-up store was so super minimalist, pure perfection! Some of my favourite items were seen at 010-020 – a collective from Rotterdam and Amsterdam – creating the most vibrant fabrics (Mae Engelgeer) and simplistic racks to hang them from (Jeroen van Leur).

Design/ Highlights from Milan part1

Here are a few of my favourite photos taken during the Salone del Mobile in Milan earlier this month. Each year the entire design world flocks to Milan to show off their latest products and furniture. Over at Rossana Orlandi, a space curated by the 'Godmother of design', you'll often find some real gems. I was impressed by Konstfack graduate Tobias Lutmann's brilliant Face-O-Mat, and the portrait he made of course! As always Scholten&Baijings presented some of the nicest combinations of colour and form, this year with silver company Georg Jensen. I also would love to own the glassware by BCXSY that goes from clear to completely opaque and would look great at a dinner party!

Read more about Spazio Rossana Orlandi here

Sneak Preview/ Wang

On Order/ My first Wang's

Above: Resort 2013 lookbook Below: The Jill

He's labelled the new King of cool, every self-respecting blogger owns at least one piece from his (affordable) line and he seems to epitomize street style. I'm talking of course about Alexander Wang, New York's finest dare I say 'American sportswear' designer.

I have always wanted to own a simple white T by the man himself but found inflated import prices so ludicrous I just never bothered. Last year though I bought a pair of tweed joggers, completely outside my comfort zone (consisting mainly of skinny jeans) and have found myself wearing them inside and out on a weekly basis.

After coveting many a pair of Wang boots I have finally decided to take the plunge and order a pair, before they sell out worldwide. These leather and white rubber cut-out boots are so clean and kooky, they should take me from winter to summer and back again and by the looks of it will suit trousers short and long. I am no longer defending myself. Jill, you are my latest quest, I shall see you on my feet next week!

Flat: by Borre

At the opening of their gallery exhibition in Amsterdam, I spoke with Borre Akkersdijk and Daan Spangenberg of by Borre about ideas, materials and hopes for the future.

Fashion, textiles and techniques take pride of place at Gallery 33 courtesy of by Borre for an entire month.

Suspended from the ceiling, pressed between sheets of  glass or hanging 15 metres high, there is no ‘normal’ way of showing the designs made by by Borre. Both Design Academy Eindhoven graduates, Borre Akkersdijk and Daan Spangenberg set up the brand a number of years ago and have quickly made a name for themselves in the Paris fashion scene. Creating innovative knits, thick textiles and heavy, almost sculptured jackets, the duo’s style is recognizable and very ‘now’.

Read the full article via this link

Personal note: I was invited to the newly opened Gallery 33 by a friend and was pleasantly surprised. Situated at the Westergasfabriek in Amsterdam, admittedly an instant adder of city cool, the gallery itself is a great mix of disused factory and sleek contemporary styling with high ceilings and a mezzanine level. Borre and Daan seemed really enthusiastic about the expo and what was on show really impressed me, the thickness of material alone is something you just won't see on the high street or even high-end shops, it's really unique. I would definitely recommend you stop by the gallery if you're in Amsterdam and go take a look yourself. Almost all the products on show are for sale, but beware, because of the special techniques and materials, you will need a trust fund to buy anything that's not a scarf!

All images by Cassandra Pizzey @ Gallery 33

Dutch Nominee H&M Design Award 2013

Article featured on Design.nl

For the second year the H&M Award seeks a new talent from all over Europe. From ArtEZ graduate Thom Barends was chosen as one of eight finalists.  

In a collection that has deeper social meaning, fashion designer Thom Barends shows us his version of fashion forward.

Inspired by a newspaper article that stated ‘our’ generation is not guaranteed the financial securities our parents enjoyed, Barends started playing with the idea of a girl who is forced to live on the street, recycling her mother’s clothes.

For the H&M Design Award Barends showed a capsule collection featuring 1980s-inspired jackets, assymetrical skirts and grungy pailettes. Some pieces were reminiscent of Maison Martin Margiela classics such as a large blanket duffle coat and dress seemingly made from two different garments. Nonetheless, Barends somewhat dark take on future fashion pleased the jury headed by H&M’s Head of Design Ann-Sofie Johansson.

Chosen from 19 design schools divided over 8 countries now Barends represents the Netherlands in the competition to become the H&M Design Award-winner 2013. The winner of the H&M Design Award 2013 will be announced January 29, 11:00 a.m. at the Mercedes-Benz Stockholm Fashion Week as they host their own catwalk show. He or she will also receive a €50,000 cash prize and develop pieces from their collection to be sold at select H&M stores during autumn 2013.

Watch the videos to get an idea of Barends collection and ideas.

The other finalists are Alba Prat (UDK, Germany), Maia Bergman (Saint Martins, UK), Erik Litzén (Beckmans, Sweden), Eleonora Bruno (Polimoda, Italy), Mark Tan (Designskolen Kolding, Denmark), Daniela Salazar (Ecole Couture Parisienne, France) and Minju Kim (Artesis, Belgium).


Personal note:

From a commercial point of view I would love to see Alba Prat or Maia Bergman’s collection hanging in my local H&M! How beautiful are Bergman’s materials and I am in love with the sheer panels. Prat has great use of pattern and I think her collection is very wearable. Daniela Salazar’s collection is impeccable but to be honest I could only see that looking good on a 6ft model! Minju Kim’s collection on the other hand just screams fuuuuuuuun, but maybe not realistic for the highstreet. Well who knows?

& Other Stories

Seriously excited about this new project by favourite Scandinavian group H&M! Already getting us interested early last year, now the first shops are set to launch this Spring (in Barcelona, Berlin, Copenhagen, London, Milan, Paris and Stockholm). But not to worry! If there is no upscale boutique opening in your area, you might be blessed with a webshop, I know we Dutch will be!

View the & Other Stories tumblr for inspirational clips and images.

Rethinking Design

Images: 1. Leather Needlework by Lio de Bruin DAE 2.-3. Ingenious swimsuits at DAE/ Pronkpak by Ioni Chamilaki 4. Leather gloves at Arnhem Coming Soon 5. Rings made of money by Lex Pott

After visiting events such as Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven I always need to have a good think about what I saw and how it fits into today's bigger picture. When it comes to design, most of us think about chairs and tables but it's so much more than that. I've been hearing designers say "We don't need any more solutions to problems" or "We don't need another chair" for years now and although I was at first a little disappointed at what was on offer at DDW, now I'm thinking maybe this is the shift we asked for? This year saw much more conceptual design and creative thinking than previous editions and it's precisely this that makes us question our 'need' for ever-more products. Even-so I managed to pick a few of my favourites just for their look and feel!