Amsterdam Fashion Week Backstage Impressions #1

SMILE! Mattijs poses after his show backstage with all the models. His collection was well received.

Esquire’s Best Dressed Man 2009

The winner of the Esquire Best Dressed Man Award 2009 is guitar player Dennis van Leeuwen.

The international jury chose Dennis because of his very own style and because his clothes stress his personality. Yet shortly after Dennis came on stage it became clear that he was not the only one responsible for his good looks. When he accepted his award he immediately gave all the credits for his clothing style to his wife Karen.  ‘Karen always tells me what to wear and gives me great advice.’

There were six nominees for the Esquire award, all with their very own style. One of them, Chris Zegers, told us he loves to wear second hand clothing. Another one, Theo Hiddema, always has his clothes handmade in a boutique in Belgium.

A third nominee, Waylon, admitted he always wears a jacket to finish every outfit.

Tess van Daelen

Sjaak Hullekes wins Dutch Fashion Award 2009

Sjaak Hullekes won this years Mercedes Benz Dutch Fashion Award, and received a price of € 25.000,- to extend his brand. Last friday the third edition of the MBDFA took place. After being held in Amsterdam twice, for this edition the Dutch fashionscene was gathered in The Hague.

For these annual award five Dutch designers were chosen by an international jury. Bas Kosters, Iris van Herpen, Mada van Gaans, Sjaak Hullekes en Jeroen van Tuyl were all nominated for their distinctive designer style.

The most important award of the evening is the Mercedes Benz Fashion Award. It goes to the designer who is most likely to succeed on an international level.

On the night of the awards Sjaak showed an enlarged version of his summer collection, called Oscar. Backstage before the show he told Team Peter Stigter: ‘The Fashion Awards are something I look forward to every year. Winning an award on this special night is really a great way to get noticed on a national and international level. It’s a great boost for your label and your career.’

Sjaak thinks he won the award because he distinguishes himself in the use of fabric. ‘I use natural materials, light fabrics like silk or linen. These are materials you usually wouldn’t expect for a menswear collection. My tailoring and the many details I use in my designs are aspects that mark me off as a designer too.’

Apart from his way of designing Sjaak also stands out because of the niche market he designs for. ‘In Holland everything always has to be favoured by the crowd. I’m glad I design for a special group of intelligent, classic, sensitive men unafraid to address their feminine side.’

The money-prize Sjaak won will be invested in his label. ‘We will continue doing what we were doing. We can use the money to maintain the status we reached. We also want to explore the new vision we have on men.’

Sjaak thinks he will be successful in Japan, America, Italy and France. In time he wants to build a strong and independent fashion label. We wish him all the best.

Tess van Daelen

Televizier-gala 2009: the red carpet

This weekend everyone from the Dutch television-industry was gathered at Royal Theater Carré in Amsterdam. They were all there for the presentation of the best Dutch television-programme (the Dutch Emmy’s). We spotted the celebrities at the red carpet and asked them which designer’s clothes they were wearing. It appeared most of them chose a dress or suit made by a Dutch designer. Addy van den Krommenacker’s dresses came by most often. He and Edwin Oudshoorn designed the ‘winning dresses’ worn by Lieke van Lexmond (Winner Talent Award) and Yvonne Jaspers (Winner Best Female Presenter). Other celebrities rocked the red carpet in outfits from Daryl van Wouw, Jos van Raak, Monique Collignon and Django Steenbakker. Some cute short dresses from Matthew Williamson and Balmain spiced it all up. Overall most guests showed some great (Dutch) style. (Tess van Daelen)

Graduationshows 2009, #2 Rotterdam

The location for the graduationshow of Willem de Kooning Academy was typical Rotterdam: the Schiecentrale in trendy Lloyd-district. Raw, industrial, full of energy. The collections also represented that atmosphere, with focus on construction, shape and neutral colors.

What are you wearing? Streetwear Paris day 8

What are you wearing during Fashionweek? Your stiletto-heels, your latest Marni-dress or that vintage Chanel? Maybe we will spot you in Paris, Milan, New York or Amsterdam. During the fashionweeks we refresh our streetwear-category daily. We don’t judge, we’re not the fashion-police, we just enjoy fashion and your own personal style. Next stop: Amsterdam Fashion Week.

Louis Vuitton Catwalk Fashion Show FW09

John Galliano Catwalk Fashion Show FW09

The Streetfashion Theme Song

What are you wearing? Streetwear Paris day 7

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