April Favorite Bag: Woven Bags

I know I am a little bit late in the trend. Woven bags were already hype last summer. But I don't mind, because for me a woven bag has always been a must have. Already when I was 5 years old I was rocking it, in town, at the beach, to play in the garden at home. Well, it is a trend, but a timeless one which is definitely coming back every Spring/Summer, as soon as the sun is out. This year, I will for sure get mines out. And I decided to have this trend as my April favorite bag because I am feeling summery and in a holiday mood all of the sudden. 

What I like most about woven bags is that you have so many different styles and shapes. They can be structured or a bit more lose, small or huge, natural or tinted, and woven in so many different ways. It might not be the classiest bag, but it is only up to you to change that. A scarf knotted on the handles, or simply paired with a smarter outfit, such as a dressed up sun dress, and your woven bag won't be carrying this terrible label claiming "I am going shells hunting". Yet it will however be perfectly fitted for that. Nevertheless, for me this bag is simply the perfect one to get into the Summer mood while lingering a bit longer in Spring. A statement transition piece that will add a little bit of sun to a Spring uniform such as blazers and jeans, or simply a good accessories to support you when you will be first outing your light dresses. A bag that screams 'sunshine'. 

xo

Amy

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Art Review: 'Bibliothèque du Dauphin à Versailles', Maurice Lobre

When I have to think about things that are too hard to figure out, too depressing, too stressful, I love to find shelter in the well-known. As I explained in my latest editor's letter, I am confused and anxious about my near future, not knowing what is coming next. So this morning, waking up sad and down as for the past days, instead of working on my thesis, I went back to my Modern art history book that I always keep nearby. While thinking about my impossible decision making, I went through the book, enjoying beautiful paintings and sculptures, trying to find comfort in the past. All of those images I knew, all those names I heard before, at a time where the future was not so much on my mind. At a time where I was falling in love with this amazing boy, but I did not have to think about what to come next yet. I then stumbled upon this painting by Maurice Lobre. He is not an artist we study loads in art history, but I remember when I discovered his work I instantly became one of his first supporter. His aesthetic, the blurriness of his paintings, the way he played with light and colors hooked me. It was during my first year in Geneva that I became aware of this artist, and since then I never studied his work, just looked at it, enjoyed it with my eyes while trying to keep my art historian's brain out of it, for the sake of pure enjoyment. This morning, for the first time in a few years, I let myself get lost in this painting again, imagining somebody walking into this sunny room, being maybe just like me, scared and unsure about the future. And then my troubles got to my mind again. But those few minutes, just enjoying a beautiful art piece, escaping from this scary present to find shelter in a comforting past, made my day a little bit easier. Just a little bit, however. The future is still there. 

xo

Amy

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A Springy Makeup

As I get older, I find myself being more and more into beauty. And the change of season is always a good excuse opportunity to get some new products and change your look. I get inspired by some beauty bloggers, youtubers, but also fashion magazines, and always end up buying product I am a hundred percent sure will match what I am waiting for. For this season I then purchased some new products, things I have heard about and fitted my Springy make up envies. But the words to follow were "fresh, light, and simple". We are off to a very hot Spring - 28 degrees on the 19th of April are you kidding me - and when temperatures are rising, all I want is to feel like nothing is on my face. I can't stand a sticky and skinny face, where your skin is struggling to breathe under all this makeup, only added to the fact that it is already dying with sweat. 

So I keep my basis simple. Before getting into the coverage, I apply a small drop of Chantecaille Liquid Lumière Highlighter all over my face, for an instantly glowy effect. It leaves your skin radiant and does work perfectly under your foundation or tinted moisturizer. Yet I have never been really into heavy coverage anyway - thanks amazing skincare routine! - so I stick to a BB Cream, yet I changed of product for this new season. I went for the Garnier BB cream Miracle skin perfector, and I am not gonna lie, the name of this basis is so true. My skin looks flawless and unified even though the coverage is minimal. It looks healthy and glowy, radiant with light and natural shimmer. Yet it does not do the job for my massive under eye bags - thesis writing is a killer - or my blemishes - amazing skincare but terrible periods. So in order to hide those disgracious areas, I stay faithful for my all time favorite, the Bourjois CC cream. Applied with a foundation brush it does camouflage those red areas in the best ways, without needing to put to much product on your face. 

Now that the basis is done, the goal for Spring time is to look healthy and glowy - how unrealistic after this damn winter. In order to do that, I use my all time favorite, the Bagsy cream blush in Velvet Rose, for its dewy and natural effect. It leaves your cheeks rosy and healthy looking. And to add a little bit of shimmer and dewiness, I tap a little bit of the Chantecaille highlighter I used as a basis on the top of my cheekbones, under my eyebrows, and on the arch of my nose. But always stay light handed, you do not want to look sweaty, just glowy. 

Last but not least, my two favorites: lashes and lips. Mascara wise, I love always testing new products from various brands, whether high street or luxury ones. And recently I gave a try to the Lancôme Monsieur Big mascara, and oh my, how amazing that is. It is so volumizing and separate the lashes so well that your eyes just look so much bigger and awake. A real dream, and not even a nightmare to get rid off! Lips wise, I could have wrote down a list of all my favorite Spring lipstick like I did last year, but being honest, this year I have one only lover: the Dior Lipglow in 101. How amazing and beautiful this look. It is natural, adapts itself to the carnation of your lips, and just give that perfect dewy finish that we are all craving for. Just ends up this fresh, light, and simple Spring look. 

xo

Amy

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Reflexion on the future

At the end of this academic year, next June, it will be the end of a chapter for me. I will be done with my master degree in Amsterdam, and I will have to move on. Find a new program if I want to continue studying for a bit longer, or find a job. Yet too many questions are now popping in my head. Where to go? What to do? Going back home? Staying in Amsterdam? Yes, but what to do here? Leaving for a new country? I hate having those questions floating around my head and not being able to answer any of them. My boyfriend is going to stay in Amsterdam for two more years, and he is also one of the reason why I am so lost when it comes to my future. I cannot envision us having a long distance relationship, I know myself too well, I won't cop with it. But it looks like Amsterdam has nothing else to offer me, and for him, the near future is written in this town. I took many decision taking him in account, and they led me to a happy life, many amazing experiences, and an even stronger will to stay near him. But how can we chose our future when we are thinking for two? Do we have to be selfish and go? Do we have to be faithful and stay? Do we have to go and try harder, in the hope to meet in the same place soon? I cannot wrap my head around this. Love can change your life, make you take decision you would have never took without him, but is it wise to live in a fairytale? Is it wise, when you are 23, completely messed up and having to deal with too many inner issues, to believe that love will last forever? Don't get me wrong, I want my relationship to last forever. I am in love, and I know this love story, my first real love story, will always be within me, impossible to forget. But realistically, does love really exist? Can it really last? Can we take decision thinking that it will last, and will we regret the path we chose if in one or ten years it is over? How am I supposed to chose what comes next? How am I even supposed to be wise at 23? Why would have I to chose between my first love and my future life? What do we have to choose between what we cherish now and what we want for our future selves? I feel like to have both is too much of a fairytale to be true. I am far from being a princess. Princesses are not messed up.

xo

Amy

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Currently Loving... Leah Alexandra Jewelry

With warmer days coming up, I am willing to upgrade a little bit my jewelry game. Winter has been hard on those pieces, and now that I let some skin appears I want a little bit of coverage, yet not with clothes, but jewels. I have been really into this layering trends, where you just add on one another several dainty pieces, whether it is necklaces, bracelets, or rings. And with Spring coming up, I wanted to give a little boost to my jewelry collections by discovering another brand. And this year it is Leah Alexandra. Once again, I discovered it on Instagram, and instantly fell in love with the style of those jewels. They are dainty, delicate and discreet, but when layered together they can definitely upgrade a look. Yet I have to say that the brand is on the gold side and I am more of a silver kind of girl, however, they achieved to convince me with their beautiful pendant and thin chains. My heart definitely goes for the crystal and stones collections, such as the Sunny Labradorite Necklace or the Celeste Black Garnet and Rosegold Earclimbers. But before you rush to get them, let me warn you that this brand is more on the pricy side. However, the quality of the jewels is here, the material  is precious and durable. It is definitely worst the investment, yet you will have to grow your collection slowly if, like me, you are on a budget. Nevertheless, those are pieces you will fall in love with and keep for a lifetime. 

xo

Amy

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Blogger Style: Emma Hill

It has been a while since I have posted a 'Blogger Style', but to be honest I am starting to get bored by all of those influencers brands are now overwhelming us with. It is always too much, girls wear too much make up, they get too many free clothes and lose their opinions and sense of critic. I wanted then to find a blogger I could really rely on for some fashion advices and honesty when it comes to the product, but also a fashion blogger with a really good style. And I was happy to stumbled upon one of Emma Hill's video on YouTube. She is not a YouTuber at first, yet it is here that I came across her work, and let me tell you, she brings some fresh air into this crazy fashion bloggers world. Emma is honest, and will always tell you what she thinks of a product or a brand, even if it has been gifted to her. And this today is quite rare. Yet her honesty is not the only thing that keeps making me go back to her: Emma has an amazing style. She is classic for sure, yet she knows how to add "a little bit of Jazz" as she would say. A Londoner with a very Parisian style, all about jeans, tee-shirts and blazers, but also quality and statement pieces. I rely a lot on her now to create my capsule wardrobe every season, but also to find the best of high street stores. 

In her case I did not want to do three categories as I usually do since her style does not differ so much. So I just picked up some pictures of my favorite looks of hers, some inspiration for every girl willing to go back to some basics. 

Credits for the Images: Emma Hill's Instagram

xo

Amy

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A Day in... Utrecht

Leaving in a foreign country, far from home, can be harsh and sometimes you feel lost and lonely, even if the city is not so new anymore. Sometimes you also feel bored, or you just want to get away from the crowded town Amsterdam is on weekends. I guess that we wanted to avoid all those tourists, and to breath some fresh air, get lost in another city, when we decided to go to Utrecht on that cold Sunday in February. We took the train and in 25 minutes we were there, in this sunny but freezing town. It is funny how every city looks like one another in the Netherlands, you're never really far from Amsterdam in the end. Same tiny and high houses, same canals, same cold. Still we felt a bit more lost there. 

Before going, we obviously checked out what were the must see and do of this lovely town, and we ended up walking around the historical city center. It is not a small town, but you can easily get lost with all those tiny streets and bridges that all look the same. Domplein is the heart of the town, the main square, where you won't miss the amazing cathedral, completely rebuilt after it collapsed centuries ago. Walking around this sacred place, with the sunlight coming through the colorful church windows, was a nice way to meet the city in its most historical place. On the same square, you will spot the impressive tower which is facing the cathedral. It is actually the highest tower of the Netherlands. Hence we did not dare going up the 400 something stairs. 

The Sonnenborgh museum and observatory is also a must see for all astronomy lovers. Another historical place telling us about a different religion. 

Utrecht is also known for its great shopping. It is true that we encountered some nice unique shops, especially in the Oude Gracht neighborhood, and on Schoutenstraat. For more usual high street shops - and to warm up a little - go to the Hoog Catharijne Mall. 

Food wise, we had lunch at Pickles Burgers & Wines. A good spot with a lot of options on the menu, and for a reasonable price, right in the city center. 

After lunch we went for a walk around Stadhuiskwartier, a lovely neighborhood, before crushing at the Grand Café Lebowski, a must for all fans of the movie. 

But as always, the city was nice and everything, yet all best memories from your excursions and travels are always things you cannot revisit and recommend, they just live inside of you. I will remember many small moments of that day that will always be the filter through which I will remember Utrecht. It was such a nice Sunday. 

xo

Amy

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