Spot of the day: De Drie Graefjes

I just can't believe that -though i spend A LOT afternoons sitting here- i have never mentioned this place filled with cappuccinos, red velvet cakes, lemon 'n meringue pies and BLT sandwiches: De Drie Graefjes. It's the kind of place where I can actually hear the people think: 'Oh, there you have her again. The one who's addicted to Red Velvet cake and talks a bit too loud about her private life, such as her party last night'. I guess every person in there knows me and my friends all too well, but hey, what would life be without De Drie Graefjes' red velvet cake and their authentic ambiance that puts a smile on my face? Exactly. That wouldn't be life at all.

De Drie Graefjes - Eggertstraat 1 (behind the Nieuwe Kerk, Dam Square)

FASHION & FOAM: new conceptstore (Vijzelstraat 78 A'dam)

While I was racing through Vijzelstraat again -earplugs in, coffee in hand, almost running- as if I'm some sort of forrest gump realizing i have always been able to run, something held me to the place where I was standing. Vijzelstraat 78, Amsterdam. Finally, some square meters in amsterdam that hold photographes, fashion, portraits, magazines, music and inspiring books: and all in one space. Yes, I am able to tell you all about it and make sure you know every little detail before entering this creative walhalla, but you might as well just read the article below. All I can say is, abacadabra, heaven is born!

Het fotografiemuseum Amsterdam (FOAM) opent tijdens de Amsterdam Fashion Week haar nieuwste initiatief; &FOAM. Het is een conceptstore aan de Amsterdamse Vijzelstraat met een groot assortiment van fotoboeken, prints, magazines, muziek, mode tot accessoires. Het concept &Foam behelst samenwerkingen van Foam met partners uit verschillende kunstdisciplines. Later dit jaar zullen de disciplines muziek, design en film een eigen &Foam editie krijgen, maar ter ere van de Amsterdamse modeweek starten ze met Fashion &Foam.

Voor de eerste editie van &Foam wordt goed uitgepakt. Het assortiment fotografieboeken is verrijkt met werk van Terry Richardson, Richard Avedon en Hedi Slimane. Voor het komende &Foam-kwartaal is hoofd Mode van de Gerrit Rietveld Academie, Niels Klavers (van wijlen modelabel Klavers & Van Engelen) aangesteld als gastcurator. In samenwerking met Salon/ maakte hij de tentoonstelling
‘ONDER ANDERE…’. Hiervoor zijn een twintigtal alumni van de Amsterdamse kunstacademie gevraagd om een bijzonder item uit hun persoonlijke collectie ter beschikking te stellen. De reeks items worden gepresenteerd in de vorm van een installatie en geven de visie van de modeafdeling van de laatste twintig jaar weer. Architectenbureau X + L is betrokken bij de vormgeving van zowel het interieur van &Foam als de vorm van Klavers’ tentoonstelling.

In het aanbod van &Foam zijn speciale items opgenomen zoals de zines Self Publish Be Happy (GB), Bolo Paper (IT) en Club Donny (NL). Muzieklabel Rush Hour maakt ieder kwartaal een nieuwe albumselectie. Wat ook elke drie maanden verandert is ‘Curated bookshelves’. In samenwerking met de gastcurator maken ditmaal Penny Martin, de hoofdredactrice van The Gentlewoman, fotografe Viviane Sassen en journaliste Merel Bem een selectie van hun favoriete boeken binnen het thema mode.

Foam Editions, de inhouse gallery van het fotomuseum aan de Keizersgracht zit voortaan in de Vijzelstraat. Daar worden gelimiteerde prints voor aantrekkelijke prijzen verkocht. Het assortiment van Foam Editions is onlangs uitgebreid met onder andere het portret van Chloë Sevigny (zie foto) van Blommers & Schumm en met de serie Seven Feet Under van Philippe Vogelenzang. Op naar de Vijzelstraat!

Best bagels in town

Whenever it is lazy sunday again, bagels and I get along very well. I mean, who doesn't adore bagels? So, for all the ones who do, here come my three favourite bagel-spots in Amsterdam.

1. Village Bagels
Vijzelstraat 137 Amsterdam

2. Bagel Nash
Olympiaplein 148 Amsterdam

3. Bagels & Beans ( I know it is not exactly unknown, but still, their bagels are really good!)
My favourite location is: Zeilstraat 64 Amsterdam

Spotted in PS van de Week

Yay!
Last weekend my interview + pictures appeared in Parool's PS van de week, and I am so so so excited about it! I was asked to do an interview and here it is; my own little piece about why I started my blog, where the roots of my love for clothing lie and who I am as an eighteen year old girl.
I hope you like it, check it out and don't forget: comments are always more than welcome!
Love,
noor

The 8 most magical tips

There it was again. That feeling inside of me that keeps me from writing whatever it is I am thinking about. Even when drinking coffee after coffee, the ideas weren't making their appearance. This is the moment where I grab my laptop (or Ipad,which is too complicated for me to handle by the way) and take a visit to whowhatwear.com. I am the worst liar in this entire world,so let me just be honest by saying the tips below come from this addictive site. Read them,understand them,try them and love them! 

1. Break up noir pieces with neon trousers.
2. Style a midi dress with an oversized,furry vest.
3. Layer your outerwear for a stylish cold-weather outfit.
4. Elevate a turtleneck with a silky maxi skirt.
5. Freshen up your look with crisp,white separates.
6. Finish a sleek outfit with a boyfriend coat.
7. Pair a long tank dress with leather boots for a cool,90s look.
8. Swap your dark coat for a chic,white style. 

FOAM: Joel Sternfeld Color Photographs since 1970

Foam is the one place you can escape to whenever you feel the need to do so. Whenever you lost your motto 'sunny side up'; get your ass down there immediately. Besides, now is the time,  because Joel Sternfeld is now 'exhibiting'. In case you are wondering if this isn't too arty farty for you or you want to go there 'prepared': Sternfelds' two trademarks are COLOUR and the USA (and its history). Two things that make me very happy indeed.

december 16th - march 14th 2012

Brandy Melville

Oops I did it again! It was two summers ago when I fell in love (again) with the brand Brandy Melville. Never a dull moment when my friend in Los Angeles and I go shopping in LA, and this was our very first stop. It was like going shopping for groceries while you're hungry as hell. It's the kind of store that holds woollen and cashmere clothing só soft, you just want to smudge your face in them. And yes, it keeps getting better: Brandy Melville has now opened a store in Amsterdam, Leidsestraat! So if you want to spend your summer as the california kinda girl, you're at the right address. Are you already on your way? I know I am.