What's in my bag: festival essentials

 By now I'd say I've mastered the art of putting together my little black handbag with festival essentials. It's a mix of what I normally carry around, without work stuff like an organizer, and with some first aid and beauty extra's. Let me know if you carry different items in your festival handbag!

• Band aids: painful feet keep you from dancing and that's the last thing we want. These animal printed ones help ease the pain with their cuteness. Gel bad aids for blisters are great too.
• A small pouch: For money and only the essential bank and ID cards.
• A lightweight camera: Not an essential for everyone, the iPhone works well too, but I just love taking pictures when I'm on the go, in the sun, with friends. This one (the Olympus Pen) is my obsession because it has great quality - and Instagram-y filters, yay! - but is light as a feather.
• Lip balm/ 8 hour cream: This one by Elizabeth Arden is an instant lip repair and also works wonders on dry patches and mild sunburns.
• Sun screen: You might not notice the heat when you're moving and walking around outside all day, which is tricky. I've had my shoulders burnt on countless occasions and now I come prepared with one that isn't too sticky.
• Mini hand sanitizer gel: Things can get quite messy at festivals so before I eat something, or just to feel clean again, this is ideal.
• Chewing gum: I especially stock up on this spicy cinnamon gum called Big Red whenever I'm in the US and my friends are always trying to steal them from me.
• Hair ties: To pull it back when it gets too hot, to switch up your hair style and just for comfort.
• Poncho: Don't let a rain drop ruin your festival mood and bring a cute, colorful poncho (perhaps one for two, so you can share the space with a special someone ;) or a girlfriend).
• Face powder: For some t-zone touch ups if I feel like it.
• Sunglasses: Obviously a necessity all summer and a nice addition to your festival look.
• Pocket size tissues: To use as napkins, to clean yourself up, or in case the ladies room runs out of toilet paper.
• Phone: Obviously. To keep track of your friends and perhaps air some festival Instagrams.

Outfit: My festival look

Yesterday's festival called for an easy going, comfortable outfit. A breezy maxi dress with a denim and leather jacket and suede peep toe wedges turned out to be perfect for partying and hanging out in the sun. It was a great kick off to a summer filled with festivals and of course I'll take you with me on every one of them and snap some outfit shots as I go.

Vintage jacket (Nicole's)

H&M maxi dress

Zara bag

Ray Ban sunglasses

Deena & Ozzy suede wedges

Fall/Winter 2012 at the H&M showroom

 

I just got out of my chocolate coma from their little lava cakes, so let me briefly take you through my F/W 2012 press day visit at the H&M showroom yesterday. Navy was a pretty dominant color int his collection, and is still a great classy, soft substitute to black. I think I'll be wearing it quite a bit with medium washed jeans, camel, cream, tomato red or even neons. At the core of my fashion heart I'm still a total black lover, so I'll also be looking out for their black items in stores. Fingers crossed they'll stock black, thick, real leather leggings this winter that work as pants (pretty please!).

My top picks are: an pair of gorgeous blue textured trousers (pic 4), a super long navy overcoat that ends at the calfs and would make a spectacular 'private investigator' look ;), the bejeweled white blouse (pic 12) and a metallic reddish purple pencil skirt (pic 10) that would be cool dressed down with a band t-shirt and heels. Accessories were good too, I'm the statement necklaces and earrings and gimme those glitter shoes! What's your favorite so far?

At the press days

 

 I did a little round of press days this week, to check out what will be in stores for fall/winter 2012. Along the way I took some pictures, catched up with some of my friends in fashion and made an imaginary wish list at Rika (obsessed, as usual) (pic 2, 3, 4, 9, 12-14), Oona PR (1, 5-7, 10), Cream PR (8, 11) and UPR.

The Derek Lam show

It's safe to say that visiting the Derek Lam F/W 2012 show in New York is one of my favorite fashion memories. Still pinching myself that I was able to witness his inspiring work in such a small, intimate setting with huge names like Anna Wintour, Rachel Zoe, Suzy Menkes, Miroslava Duma and top models such as Arizona Muse, Ruby Aldridge and Hanne Gabe Odiele. 

Lam's collection showed soft and feminine sixties references along with more modern, sportswear inspired boxy cuts for a sense of nonchalance. With a clean color palette focus was on the luxurious fabrics - think floral printed satin, woven cashmere and leather - and perfect cuts. Oxblood leather pieces stood out, along with intricate prints, an incredibly well tailored suit, shiny gold oxfords and fluid chiffon skirts surprisingly layered and dressed down with sleeveless knits as evening wear.