Out and about....the Dam and beyond

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Rachel is a student at the fashion institute in Amsterdam. She has just started her 6 month internship with SuperTrash. Her style influence is the 60's and 70's she likes to mix vintage with new. Rachel's favourite place in Amsterdam is the Vondel Park (in the summer). She likes to travel. Her favourite kind of travel is backpacking and is happy walking all day long. You can see it is raining in the shot. One of the amazing things about Amsterdam is the attitude to the weather. Although they have more or less the same weather as the UK when it starts raining they don't run for cover like us they just get on with it. Only if it is too windy will they leave their bikes behind and walk. Rachel is wearing an Acne jacket, SuperTrash jeans, Marc Jacobs shoes and is carrying a Stella McCartney bag.

Before I leave the Dam I would like to share some other sights from there and beyond with you.

Twe Kanefas Bale 1632 - This was the sign over the the door to our apartment. I don't think I have ever lived anywhere so old before. Twe Kanefas Bale means 2 canvas bales, this is about as much info as I have managed to find out about it.

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Beautiful morning light - the arches are lit only by the sun. Sometimes you are just given gifts.

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This is the same bridge from the other side.

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Beyond the Dam -
On our way home we stopped at the fairytale Kasteel de Haar. There has been an a castle on this site since the 1300's however this is not the original as the castle has been destroyed and re-built several times. This is almost how it has looked since the 1600's however it fell into disrepair and refurbishment started again at the end of the 1800's. This newest magnificent refurb was completed in 1912.

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Walking around the castle I noticed this not so graceful Swan. It checked out the water and then fell in head 1st. I couldn't stop laughing. It then redeemed itself with the beautiful display in the 3rd shot.

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Out and about....Miss Sunshine

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From Fashionistable

From Fashionistable

I am back in the UK. But before I show you what I have been up to since I have been back I have 2 posts from the Dam to share with you. Lucy became a treasured friend while I was in Amsterdam. Her enthusiasm is infectious. She is bubbly, creative and was so full of info about Amsterdam she made life so much easier for me. In fact just before I left I helped her set up her own blog called an extra pair of hands. She certainly was for me. Check her out and give her the extra encouragement we all need when we start out. Lucy loves vintage and does it very well she describes her style influence as mix and match but loves the ladies of the 1950's. Originally from Hextable in Kent, Lucy has lived in Amsterdam for the past 5 years. On her creative side she was a member of the Michael Clark Company with whom she toured Europe. She is also a qualified flower arranger. Show me a creative who doesn't have more than one string to their bow. At the moment she is working as a recruiter for an Ad agency. When I asked her, her favourite place in Amsterdam she said her new home with her boyfriend and their dog. Lucy's surprise was that she has had this hair colour for over 20 years. She was very young when she started colouring it. 
In the 1st image she is wearing a scarf and top from Waterlooplein Market, American Vintage cardy, 1947 limited edition 501 Levis which were a present from her boyfriend. Her boots were a present from her Grandad "I have had them them for a while..."and her bag is from Zara. In the 2nd shot/s she is wearing a coat she bought while I was there it is a beautiful vintage swing coat. Everything else she is wearing in this shot is vintage too. In the 3rd shot her dress is from ASOS, and shoes and bag are Zara scarf is vintage.

Out and about....Nieuwe Doelenstraat

From Fashionistable

Wilhelmina is Australian and works in Amsterdam as an event organiser and DJ. She DJ's at a night called Yarr, I think I have the right link here. Kimberley is from the Netherlands and is a second year student at UVA. Wilhelmina describes her style as Rock chic, usually with colour. Kimberley's is a mix of comfy and smart casual. For her surprise she said she was spontaneously open and Wilhelmina's was that she was eccentrically adventurous. Wilhelmina's favourite place in Amsterdam is the streets, buildings (architecture) and being on her bike. Kimberley's is an underground bar called Trut where she says adventurous open minded people hang out. Her hat is Superdry, coat Sisley, jeans Cheap Monday, boots she couldn't remember the name of the shop. Wilhelmina wears a hat from Agent 99, H&M scarf, vintage coat, green coat below Stussy, jeans also Cheap Monday, boots also unknown and bag by Blonde Venus.

If you didn't see my post yesterday, David over at Nyanzi Report named me as the next person he would like Flingly to interview in his interview. You can read my interview here. 

Out and about....Waterlooplein

From Fashionistable

Emilie is originally from Switzerland and has been living in Amsterdam for 3 months. She is an Opera singer and sings soprano and told me that she has been traveling between Amsterdam and Paris where she works with a french group of musicians. She also said "I write my own shows...with French songs". You can read more about her work on her website here. She said her style influence is very mixed. "I like to improvise and go with my emotions. When I see something that that I like, I'll try it and buy it if it suits me. I like black very much, but more and more I wear colors. Gipsy-Hippie style was very much my style as I was teenager; now it is more flexible. Now I like to change and to follow my mood of the day." Her favourite place in Amsterdam to eat is Akitsu, a fantastic Japanese restaurant where she says her boyfriend takes her regularly. She also likes the Nordermarket on a Saturday morning... "looking at the mushrooms stand and have a coffee and applepie at the corner". Her surprise is that her tongue was bitten by a turtle when she was a child (her first kiss). Emilie bought her coat, scarf and shorts in Paris. Her bag is Longchamp, bike is Batavus and her gloves and shoes are vintage. 

On another note David over at Nyanzi Report named me as the next person he would like Flingly to interview in his interview. You can read my interview here.

Out and about....Spiegelgracht

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Colin is originally from Wisconsin but has lived in the Netherlands for 4 years now. The last 2 1/2 of those in Amsterdam. He is a digital producer at an ad agency. He said he was a private person and didnt want to answer any more of my questions. He did however tell me that he everything was wearing is Comme des Garcons, except of his shoes which are DMs.

Out and about....Albert Cuypstraat

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I met Bibi and Walter just as they were leaving a bakery/cafe. Bibi is from Amsterdam and works as a dental hygienist. Walter is originally from Surinam, South America and is a junior private banker. They both said one of their surprises was that their private persona is totally opposite to the straight work day lives they lead.Walter describes his influence as colourful urban hip-hop. Bibi said her her influence was classy with a twist. She likes faux fur and colourful vintage. Bibi says she likes to cook. She is veggie, always has been. Two of her favourite ingredients are sweet potatoes and pumpkin. Luckily Walter also has a passion for food. Bibi's 2 favourite places in Amsterdam are the Jordaan and Waterlooplein. The Waterlooplein holds a special place as her Dad has owned a stall there since she was a little girl. For Walter it is De Pijpe which is where we are for this picture. Bib is wearing a jacket from H&M, her cardy and scarf are vintage, trousers and T are by Stella Nova, her bag is Marc Jacobs and she couldn't remember where she bought her shoes. Walter is wearing a vintage hat, jacket and scarf. His sweater is H&M, jeans he bought in Oslo and his shoes are from the market.

Out and about....the Herengracht surprise

From Fashionistable

Anouk was full of surprise's both before I asked her for a surprise and after. When I first asked what she did she said she was a housewife, then further into the interview she told me she was actually on a 3 month sabbatical. Anouk owns an ad agency called Task Force with her husband and they do the advertising for C&A. Then when I asked for her surprise (as if going from housewife to ad agency owner wasn't surprising enough) she told me she is in a band and sings backing vocals with her sister. She has also started designing her own scarfs. I love multi-talented people. 3 amazing strings to her bow. Her style influence is urban, from the streets. Anouk is wearing a coat from Giel and Liem, she had just had her hair styled by Louis on the Vijzelstraat, she bought her bag in Ibiza, she couldn't remember where anything else was from saying when I see I buy.

Out and about....Amstel

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Irina is from Moscow where she works as an accountant. She had only been in Amsterdam for 3 hours when we met.  Her surprise was that she is dreaming of parachuting. It is something she would love to do. She told me that Nicole Kiddman is her style influence. They say red and green should never be seen unless on an Irish colleen. I would beg to differ I think it looks amazing on this Russian colleen too. Her outfit is truly international. She bought her coat in Moscow, the label said Mayachix. scarf is from Nice, boots Germany and her bag is Prada.

Out and about....Verversstraat

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I spotted Thanee as she was stepping out of a shop. I thought her coat was wonderful warm and cuddly. She said her style influence was the singer Leykke Li. Her surprise is that she would like to be a lawyer which her friends (who were with her) find amazing. Not that she couldn't do it but because it seems so straight for her. Her favourite place in Amsterdam is Waterlooplein. Thanee's coat is from ASOS, Her earrings are Urban Outfitters, sweater is Primark, bag NewYorker and shoes are Clarks.

Out and about....Utrechtestraat

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Valentina was in Amsterdam for the weekend for her birthday, it was a treat from her boyfriend. Originally from the Ukraine Valentina now lives in Belgium. Her surprise was that she left home when she was 15, got a grant to go the USA and lived there for 2 1/2 years. She said "I create myself". Everything she is wearing is from H&M, her shoes are Zara and bag is Louis Vuitton.

Out and about....walking tomato

From Fashionistable

Amazingly I met Kieu, Tony and Tomato (their dog) 2 minutes after I had left my apartment. This is the 1st time I have literally walked out of the door and found someone cool to photograph. In fact as I write this I have just noticed that the door to the apartment can be even seen in the shot. Kieu has lived in Amsterdam for 15 years now and Tony for 10 and they have had Tomato in their lives for 3 years now. Kieu is a fashion designer. Tony told me he is a product designer - what he didn't tell me was that he was Men’s Design Director at Nike for 9 years working on the White Label or that he had worked for Maharishi before that - what he did tell me was that his work could be seen at The Non. His site is amazing and his fashion collections are astonishing I am in awe as I write this. It was so unexpected. You must go see his work - here.
So back to my interview......Tony describes his style as a quirky, not of a particular time period, but a mish mash of time periods, a melting pot of quirkiness. Kieu told me she is normally more delicate than she is dressed today, her style is usually self made clothing combined with quirky new brands and high street. Her surprise for us was that she knits a lot. Tony's was that he collects taxidermy animals.
Kieu's favourite place i Amsterdam is Jordaan and Tony's is Spui for sitting and observing.
Kieu is wearing a coat from H&M, Falke tights and DM's. Tony is wearing a Norse Project hat, a Mackintosh coat, his own design trousers and shoes by Rumours

Out and about...Olieslagerssteeg

From Fashionistable

Marieke was shopping with her boyfriend when we met. She was very shy about having her picture taken and only said yes if she didn't have to look straight at camera. I think her shyness has given us quite a strong pose. Marieke is from Amsterdam and is a student of Psychology. Her style influence comes from the fact she likes vintage shopping which she mixes with a little modern. Our surprise is that she likes cats and at the moment owns 3. From what I hear about the mice in Amsterdam (not that I have seen any myself thank goodness) it is probably not a big surprise she likes cats. Her favourite places in Amsterdam are the Jordaan district and the Noorertmarkt which is also in the Jordaan.
She is wearing a head wrap from Primark, a vintage cut off Levis and vintage scarf, cardy from H&M, T and bag from Zara and shoes from Nelly.com

Out and about....9 Straatjes

From Fashionistable

I am in Amsterdam until the end of the year. So will be interspersing my posts with shots from here too. I met Jennifer on a group of streets called 9 Straatjes (Streets), which is one of her favourite areas in the city. She is a Drama Therapist and works with kids and families. Jennifer came to Amsterdam to study from her home island of Curacao, (which was a Dutch colony) 5 years ago. Her style influence is vintage, she said she doesn't like to match things up so everyone can see where you buy your clothes. She told me that she is adventurous and likes to travel. Also that her family and friends are very important to her. Jennifer's surprise is that she can spend all day styling her hair. Here she is wearing a scarf, coat and ring from Primark, Promod denim shirt, H&M jeans, Bershka shoes and is carrying a Blanco bag.