Branching out

My newest article for Scriptus is a bit of a departure from my usual fashion pieces -but then again, it is about literature, one of my great loves. I hope you enjoy this piece even though it's a change of theme. It's titled "Reasons not to Ban Mein Kampf".

Weekly inspiration #4

This week I'm thinking about...

-Bum bags. Prejudices about tacky tourist attire aside, they are possibly the most practical way of schleping the essential things you need around. Add a serious makeover and rebranding courtesy of Celine and you have an unlikely contender for the new it-bag. If I could find one that was affordable but still chic (read: in leather or maybe canvas and without thirty zippers and/or waterproof material) I would be very tempted to buy it. I'm already dreaming about endless hands-free walks in the summer. After all, what do you really need besides some money, your phone if you feel like being reachable and a pair of sunglasses? Plus, I like the way a minimalist bum bag can be part of your outfit and act more like an accessory -like a cool belt- than an encumbering add-on.


-Flares. I need a new cut of jeans in my life -if you think about it, mom jeans came into fashion a couple of years ago already and so did cropped lengths, so it might well be time for something new! Personally, I would wear them as a nod to the 70's, maybe with clogs, a crochet top and even mini braids on my hair-, but they're also good as a 'smart' jean with a tailored shirt and they lengthen your legs if you wear them long with heels (the oldest trick in the book, I know). It'll be weird getting used to having so much spare fabric around my calves again after years of skinnies, though. Also confusing: not all flares are the same, some are extremely wide, some tiny, some high-waisted, some low. I trawled ASOS a little bit and I like the shape of these (although I'd buy them in blue denim).



-Graphic novels. Although university work is preventing me from reading much at the moment, I read the graphic novel Maus for a course and I thought it was brilliant. It is about the Holocaust, so not the lightest, most mood-lifting read -yet at the same time it reads really quickly because it's basically a comic strip. I admired how this text approaches the memory of the Holocaust in a very self-conscious, openly subjective way. Aside from earning Art Spiegelman a Pulitzer prize, Maus also legitimized the genre of the graphic novel as something that can qualify as 'serious' or 'quality' literature. Personally, I'm just beginning to explore this genre, and now seems like a good time to start given my lack of time for 'real' books. I think I know what my next read will be: one of Guy Delisle's graphic-novel-formal travelogues. I have already read Jerusalem and I thought it was great. It made me feel like I grasped the spirit of the city, problematized its dynamics with a sense of humor,  showed what everyday life there was really like for the author... and, of course, made me really want to visit! He regularly moves to different places and he's (so far) published graphic novel-format works on Pyongyang (North Korea), Shenzhen (China), and Burma -which one should I pick?

Weekly inspiration #3

Here's what I'm thinking about this week:

Scented candles: they're one of those things I used to think of as the ultimate luxury item, but they are incredibly useful when your kitchen is in the same room with your bedroom! I received a couple as gifts last year and now I just need them. They make cooking smells go away, turn my room into a little sphere of its own, and make for a special bedtime ritual.  I really recommend giving a good scented candle a try! I just bought the Studion one from & other stories. It smells like fig leaf (OK, so it's copying Diptyque, but I'm not complaining!) and the scent is not artificial at all, nor is it overbearing, so it's the right touch for me. But these things are very personal, so find what you like :)

my beautiful yoga selfie

Sportswear. Amazingly, I've stuck to my resolutions about doing sports this year (no-one's more surprised than I am... even though it is only yoga, it's better than nothing!), so I think it might be time to finally buy some actual sports clothes: My one pair of leggings has holes in it, but I didn't want to be that person that says they'll do sports, buys a whole new kit and then never ends up using it, lol. Thankfully sportswear is very in fashion lately -even netaporter.com has a special sports boutique now!- so finding something practical and stylish shouldn't be impossible... For now, I like the idea of a back-revealing tank top and I really like a couple from the adidas by stella mccartney line, but honestly I don't think I can justify spending 80€ on a tank top so I guess I'll have to keep looking...


The written word. Writing is one of the most powerful things in existence. It can convey so many things, and can be subtle, intricate, beautiful, and earth-shattering at the same time. It's experienced differently by each of us yet we all share it. I really wish I had more time to write, and I also miss reading things outside of my university curriculum. I get my fix by reminiscing from my creative writing course and revisiting postsecret.com every week (we had an assignment where we had to pick a postcard and write a story inspired by it) and by reading Ariel Levy's incredibly moving nonfiction prose. I love this woman's writing and I love that it is for once a woman's writing: I just took a look at my Goodreads account and virtually all the works of literature that I've read in the near past were written by men. Lesson of the day: the patriarchy can sneak up on anyone (and I should make a conscious effort to read works by women). So today being women's day, it only seems appropriate to share this work -yet it's also neccessary to add that I would share this story any day of the year, because regardless of her gender, this person is a great writer.

image via postsecret.com

Light packing

...I'm out of here. I love Amsterdam, but it's time to honour my "very fortunate origins", as a friend put it. So, time to pack. Different year, same shit concept. Except this time around I'm cutting all the crap and really challenging myself: 1+ month with only a 10kg carry-on suitcase. Last year, I made a big deal out of packing 'only' 25kg, and then didn't even end up needing all the stuff I brought. This year, I'd rather spend the luggage fees on my holiday instead. And since all I'll be doing is lying in the sun and strolling around, there's no need for much more than bikinis and shorts. That said, some tough decisions had to be made (I have too many summer clothes...).

Here's how packing 10kg for a month-long holiday happens.

1. First, make a list.* **
-about 10 tops (you can do laundry, you know!)
-around 9 bottoms (OK, maybe less -but don't forget a pair of long pants for chilly nights and maybe a skirt)
-dresses: I'm not much of a dress girl, so I only packed one for going out and 2 cover-up dresses for the beach.
-1 denim shirt and 1 cotton sweater for when it gets chilly
-3 bikinis (who needs more? not me) and a hat for the beach. And sunglasses.
-a week's worth of underwear. And I end up wearing my bikini tops as bras most of the time so no need to pack many bras.
-3 pairs of shoes, + flip flops. And then again, I could've done with less, but I'm a shoe girl. Keep in mind that shoes are heavy, though.
-1 canvas bag, 1 small hands-free bag and a big tote for the plane (to cart all my books and my laptop around)
-cotton shorts to be worn with a t-shirt as PJs
-few accessories: I packed a belt and three pairs of earrings.

Of course, I couldn't resist arranging my 'summer capsule wardrobe' by colour on my clothes rack and showing it off -it just makes me happy!*** I think it's a good reflection of what I usually wear: a whole lot of neutrals (black, some white, and shades of grey and sand/brown) and some colour (mainly blue).

2. Here's how you make it fit in your carry-on:
Roll everything tightly and pack it in your suitcase without leaving any empty spaces. If you were planning on taking things that need 3 hours of ironing, forget it... or get your mom to iron it when you get there ;) It's the holidays after all, who wants to worry about wrinkles?

3. Don't use a hundred million different vanity cases and pouches -they take up space and weight. Squeeze the smaller stuff in any gaps left.

4. Most important thing of all: Don't take a huge nécessaire. You can buy your big bottles of shampoo and sunscreen there. If you're a hundred years old and you have a 21-step skin routine, that's another story but leave your 37 hair products at home. As for makeup: take the absolute basics. You won't need much makeup at the beach(!) and anyways you wear less makeup when it's hot. I packed tinted sunscreen, foundation, 2 lipcolours, 1 eyeshadow, 1 eyebrow/eye pencil, eyeliner and mascara.

5. What am I reading this summer, you ask? Voilà. Happy holidays!

* Be ruthless. Do you really think you're gonna wear that? Don't take things 'just in case'. Only take the things you love.
** I love lists, can you tell?
***As does this video in which my friend used my (complete) colour-coded wardrobe as an example of obsessive-compulsive behaviour... oops. Oh well, I think it looks really good actually! :)

Sneaks or heels?

Happy new year! These pictures are old by now-I’ll try my best to bring the blog up to date.



I’m wearing my zara sweater and massimo dutti jeans. Everything else is random/unknown.


I love this outfit -it feels simple, effortless and right:

-perfectly naturally ripped denim (it took years but I’m finally there!)

-stolen-from-the-boys ribbed sweater in a beautiful shade of gray (love them all, and I’m definitely not talking about certain books!*)

-funky striped socks

-a slash of red lipstick to put some colour into the outfit and my hair to one side and …voilà!

As for the hat… I just couldn’t resist -plus it (almost) matches the sweater!






First I wore my heeled oxfords, which went nicely with the outfit, but in the end I think I prefer the nonchalance of sneakers that complete the androgynous outfit -felt easy, comfortable and pretty.



Thanks to E. for being the loveliest most patient photographer!


*which I admit to reading -and seriously?! I don’t understand… :(

What would Sunday be without pancakes?

…think about it.


It would just be a weekday. (And no, for once I’m not referring to Weekday, whose clothes you might sacrifice your pancake-eating habits for…*)

I got the recipe from here (by now you know I’m a big fan!) and I also plan on giving the apple crisps a go :)







So come on over to the dark side and allow yourself to relax with some easy-peasy Sunday morning noon cooking, a nice cup of your favourite tea/coffee/soy latte/smoothie, and… **

- tumblr: other people call it procrastination, I call it inspiration. Nothing like gazing at beautiful/funny images to relax after a long week. Exhibit A: This illustration that makes me so impatient for Girls season 3! (more here)




- your bed. Unbeatable.

- a museum visit. Dress cozy and take your time engaging with art.

- cook some more. If you hate cooking then do skip this, but I find chopping vegetable etc. very very therapeutic.

- a good book. It’s been a long time since I read, but an assignment for this weekend is to read Cloud Atlas, so I have no excuses, hehe! I’ll keep you posted on whether I finish it or not what I thought of it.




- some nice, relaxing yoga. I promise you’ll feel like you’re floating on a little cloud afterwards.

- catch up with your favourite TV show. It’s OK, it’s Sunday, you’re allowed.

- get excited about Christmas. It’s finally time :)

- if you insist on working (and I know a lot of people are busy these days…) then try this little website called Noisli. It’s chromotherapy + customizable sounds that help you concentrate/relax + a distraction-free basic text editor. So no excuses! ;)






Whatever you do, have a happy Sunday!

*clearly not me, though ;)

**note: this is not an exhaustive list…

Things that inspire me

Edward Said. Because usually it takes many people’s small contributions to finally arrive to an earth-shattering, history-making conclusion, yet he managed to (literally) single-handedly conceive the theorization of power relations -and not just those between Orient and Occident. He has made a radical impact by making us aware of hegemonic discourse, producing theoretical framework for all ‘otherized’ groups to use, and penning one of the most influential texts in the 20th century.

Invest in...

No, not a cashmere  sweater, nor designer shoes (I’ll save  that for later)…


The Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism.




It contains some of the most crucial texts ever written by the most important, celebrated and controversial thinkers (in the Western world at least). And given how carefully selected the texts are, how well-written the introductions and how thorough the footnotes, how meticulously and thoughtfully edited the anthology (down to the several contents tables), it is the best value for money you can get -provided you actually crack it open, of course.


Go on, don’t be afraid! Illuminate your mind a little. (You can thank me later)

The Mafioso

t-shirt: oysho, blazer: thrifted, jeans: weekday, shoes: converse

…complete with Mediterranean genes and pinky ring.

I thought I would try the fast lane to sophistication, i.e. the total black look. With white converse to make it more casual.

I wore no bag because who needs one when one has pockets (irrefutable guy logic right there), and for makeup only wore a semi-sheer red lipcolour, which is less dramatic and more effortless than matte red lipstsick.





And of course, to compensate for the lack of colours, I had to wear all of my rings. I actually lost one during the bike ride (maybe my fingers are shrinking?) but thankfully it was just a cheapo one so no biggie. If I were to lose one of my mum’s, I would still be back there looking for it!

PS. In case you were dying to know, the book on my mini bookcase/table is The Sartorialist, a collection of street style photographs by Scott Schuman.

Now, is Mafioso a good look?

Yay or nay?

Last weekend I tried white nails*, drank (copious amounts of) mint tea and read Brave New World. I liked them all… how about you?

*are they fashionable or tacky? I think as long as you don’t have long acrylic nails and keep your style simple, they’re nice… but they do crack exceptionally fast.