Woah, this weather! I do not know about you, but I am officially hot today (it is 34°C outside!!) and hot weather calls for sunny make-up stuff.

Sun screen for my face by Chanel
Even when the sun is not all out, it is super important to protect your skin at all times. The BB cream I am usually wearing has UV protection, but for when I do not feel like wearing anything at all, I use this bag-sized Chanel.

Body mist from Rituals
Sometimes perfume just feels a bit too heavy during summer and that when this body mist comes in handy.

Sun protection oil spray, Biodermal
SPF 10, for the non sunny days.

Origins moisturizer
You all know by now that I am a huge Origins fan and this moisturizer smells delicious. The perfect energy booster for AM and PM.

Sea salt spray by Toni&Guy
Amsterdam is not too far from the beach and I love to go every now and then, but sometimes with a busy schedule it is impossible. I often use this sea salt spray to fool myself and others and pretend I spend my days at the beach.

UV Essential Daily UV Care Multi-Protection, Chanel; Blossom Water Cherry Blossom Relaxing Body Mist, Rituals; Sun Tan & Protect Oil Spray, Biodermal; GinZing Energy-Boosting Moisturizer, Origins; Sea Salt Texturizing Spray, Toni&Guy.

Did I pass?

I have to admit, it would have looked a bit better with a bright colored strappy sandal, but uhhh I do not have any colored shoe whatsoever…

Denim Shirt, Polo by Ralph Lauren (my boyfriends); Jeans, Paige; Shoes, Céline; Sunglasses, Bottega Veneta.

Wearing denim on denim, also known as the Canadian Tuxedo, is something some of stay as far away from as they can (and if your name is either Britney Spears or Justin Timberlake (remember that denim cowboy hat?!), I think you should).

It was a faux pas in the nineties, kind of made its comeback during the spring 2010 collections and is here to stay or subtly pass by every now and then.

Despite the fact that some can pull off any double denim look, I personally only think it works when there is enough contrast in colors. Also, it is a bit easier to wear when breaking up the ‘denim block’ with layers, though a simple denim on denim with the right pair of shoes can work just as well.

A few of my favorite full denim looks are Shala Monroque in a button down (or up?) skirt, Caroline Brasch Nielsen in Chloé jeans and Catherine McNeil by Christian MacDonald for Models.com and I pinned them all on Pinterest.

What do you think, love it or hate the double denim thing? I am going to try to pull it off tomorrow.

A skirt? Ruffles?

Ahh, this is one of those items (I think) no one could have pointed out for me and yet it is that perfect feminine touch for the mostly kind of boyish looks I like to create around skirts. I am thinking unfitted t-shirts and sweaters – anything really as long as it is from my boyfriends closet – and Balenciaga boots, Birkenstock sandals (ok, just maybe) or a cool flat sandal.

Skirt, J.W.Anderson (on sale).

‘Doubt’ could have perfectly been my middle name, but when I got a phone call a couple of months ago, if I wanted to participate in this new project called REACT NOW – a project initiated by Dutch concept label Ruby Tuesday to support Orange Babies in their fight against hiv in Africa – it took me about less than a millisecond (if that is even possible?!) to say yes.

Danish designer Kamilla Byriel designed these React Now t-shirts (I am wearing the men’s version, of course), which are available via HERE from today. 150 of the 5.000 t-shirts being produced are limited edition and come with a book containing all 32 portraits (including illustrator Piet Paris, Vogue’s editor in chief Karin Swerink, model Sylvia van der Klooster and designer Ulrika Lundgren) shot for this project.

These limited editions will be introduced at an expo party on the 30th of June, where all portraits will be sold as well. (I am not sure who – apart from myself – is going to bid on my picture, but hey it is for a great good cause.)

All profits of the project go to Orange Babies.

I have to add that being able to work on a project like this is one of the biggest gifts that my blog has given me.

Picture by the amazing Paul Bellaart, styling by Jetteke van Lexmond. (You are a perfect team, thank you!)

Blazer, afterDRK; T-Shirt, T by Alexander Wang; Jeans, Diesel; Shoes, Vince.

Here is the rest of the goodies that I brought home from Paris (apart from that bag).

Hand Balm, Stop the Water (via & Other Stories); Le Vernis in Eastern Light, Chanel; Print, Hermès (bought at Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen).

These shots were taken last weekend, when I spent a few days in the city of romance with my boyfriend and his family. And oh, how I wish Paris could always be my background. Or at least for a few months…

For quite a while now, I have been thinking of temporarily moving to another city – preferably Paris. Just for the sake of being in a different environment and around other people for a bit.

It is not that I am sick of Amsterdam nor the people I have around me, it is just that íf I am ever going to do it, it is probably best to do it now. You see, no kids, only a rental house…

I have friends that moved to London (and some never came back, haha), friends that moved to Paris (and are almost coming back, yay!), to New York and even to the other side of the world! I am wondering what is keeping me from packing my bags and do the same.

Maybe the fact that I already miss my boyfriend 10 seconds after he leaves the house in the morning. Maybe because staying just feels so damn comfortable. Maybe because I learned over the past few years that I am not a loner, not at all! Maybe because I already travel quite a lot.

I think it is just because I am scared. Scared and lazy, lazy to figure everything that needs to be figured out for an adventure like that out.

Moving to Amsterdam from a smaller city in The Netherlands already felt like a big step to me, but should I take another step – or better said, a jump? If it is only temporary, what could go wrong?

How about you, did you ever – forced or voluntarily and temporarily or for forever – move to another country? Did you like it?

Shirt, Asos; Jeans, Paige; Sunglasses, Bottega Veneta; Shoes, Acne.

Ah, Paris was fun!

Aaand, I found a bag!!

After two years of constantly spotting bags I liked – not loved – I found one that gave me butterflies. It usually takes me a couple of months filled with doubt before I pull the trigger on big guns like these and then when I am finally ready, they are mostly gone. This time I decided it was now or never, even though I was doubting for a little tiny second (about the color, not the bag itself).

At first I was twirling around in front of the mirror with the leopard version of this Side Lock bag, but then the shop assistent showed me this ‘rust’ version – as they call this color over at Céline – and I thought that would be more me and a bit more versatile.

You see, the leopard was super cool (and I would have loved to take them both), but I feel like this one I will love eternally. And where the pony hair of the leopard version would probably come off after a while of rubbing against my side, this burgundy (yes, it is rust, I would say it is burgundy) friend will only get prettier by using it.

The shape of the bag is super classy, but the color and that side lock make it fun.

I will show you the rest of my (smaller) purchases from Paris in a bit (or in a few days…)!

Bonjour from Paris!

It has been a long long time since I last did a giveaway, but I thought if I would go on and on about denim (and the denim vest in particular), it would only be fair to give one away.

So I got you this vest (in a size S, next time I will make sure it is something that fits all!) from Mango and the only thing you have to do to get a shot at getting your hands on this one is share and care.

1. Like afterDRK on Facebook.
2. Share this post on Facebook.
3. Leave a comment on how you would style it (and make sure to fill in the name and e-mail address field correctly).
4. Love me forever?

This giveaway is open until Sunday the 16th of June to everyone and anyone. The lucky one will receive an email from me on the 17th.