I almost did not make it to the Sherida Augustin show at the AIFW 2008 as I was late enough that the door had already closed. After much begging at the bouncer, he finally let me in. I am thankful for that or else I would have missed this chance to share this with you!
Sherida's designs are actually not as well known in the Netherlands as they are over in the US. Her designs have been hailed as "Ghetto Fabulous", where fashion is inspired by a mix of black tie glamour and urban street styles. They are not designed for those who don't want to be noticed!
This collection was particularly punched with electric blue, silver and black; and played with combining matte and reflective materials. The shapes were both relaxed and structured at the same time. What really caught my eye were the jeans and the pants in this collection. They were well cut and executed and will surely add something special to my outfits!
The Makeup: Dominant electric blue lashes matched the clothes, paired with matte pink/beige lips and a light dusting of contour powder to warm up the skin. Hair was combed back and simply knotted low at back of the neck.
Credits: Grayburn
Picture of blue lashes & jeans: fashionaddict.nl
Wednesday
Sherida Augustin at the AIFW 2008
Tuesday
Versace Makeup - Discontinued Little Luxuries
I came across some good surprises at the Bijenkorf (a department store here in Amsterdam) the other day. My face lit up when I spotted an almost complete assortment of Versace makeup on discount. The Bijenkorf slashed the prices because Versace discontinued their line of makeup last year.
I find this such a shame because I have now come to realize that their makeup are a pleasure to use. I enjoy the idea of clothing designers getting involved with producing makeup (a recent addition to that list is Calvin Klein) because beautiful makeup and clothes do help us feel more beautiful on the outside. What I admire about Versace is that they have always been true to what they are about and they have stuck to that with their makeup line as well.
Which of your favorite clothing designer would you love to see design and produce makeup? What products designed by a clothing designer would you not buy into? I am thinking definitely not yoga instructional dvd's, what about you?
Credits: Grayburn
Sunday
The Fashion Institute of Arnhem Proudly Presents - 9th Generation Graduates at the AIFW 2008
The Fashion Institute of Arnhem in the Netherlands, proudly presented the collections from their 9th year of graduates at the AIFW. The show was spectacular with diverse styles from 4 graduates who were chosen to showcase their talents. This show was absolutely my favorite.
I went to my last rounds of shows today and I am sad that the AIFW is over. But I am happy that I got the rare opportunity to attend the shows thanks to the organizers at AIFW. I can't wait to share every detail with you! 
Here are the designers:
Hsao Li-Fu
Originally from Taiwan, his designs were fluid and poetic. He presented his work in aquas, greys, jade and a shot of orange. The rounded shoulders of his designs imparted an air of comfort. The models glided down the runway comfortably but elegantly in flat heels. The mood was romantic. Natural materials such as cotton and silk were used throughout. Li-Fu has said in the past that his goal is to eventually have the opportunity to work with the house of Lanvin.
Makeup: The models wore very neutral makeup; semi-matte skin paired with lips in the color of sunset. 
Sanne Schrijver
Her models came down the catwalk with confidence, wearing clothing inspired by men's tailoring though touched by a woman's hand. Colors used were shades of concrete and soft skin tones, splashed with the color of blood orange. She played with emphasizing and de-emphasizing the waist. Each piece came out beautifully and finished. Sanne has said before that she strives for designs that are tasteful and complete.
Makeup: Glistening skin kissed by the most heavenly highlighting on the cheekbones I have ever seen; bare with a sprinkling of apricot around the temples and lips.
Julia Eichler
She was the winner of the "Golden Heel" award announced at this show. I forgot to mention that as part of the show, they also showed off the designer's latest creations in shoes . When we had entered the show, there were 4 models laying on hospital beds, wearing the shoes designed by each of the graduates. Each model wore a different stunning color of tights which went very well with the shoes.
Julie's clothing designs were inspired by modern African art. Lots of green, orange and blue were defined by the use of sharp white. Colorful and fun.
Makeup: The models looked almost makeup-less but still pretty; that was done to call our attention to the dizzying array of colors and shapes of the clothes.
Claes Iversen
The show was ended by the dynamic sounds of cars crashing, presented by Claes Iversen. Fashion victims they were not, the models looked as if they had just escaped a car crash scene (seat belts used as waist belts, head supports strapped onto the back). They strutted down the catwalk with me coveting every single item! There was everything from the most flattering little black dress to the flowing night gowns in what else; orange, and luxurious fur jackets in brown. I won't mention that the dress worn by one of the models almost caused her to fall a few times. Claes also worked with the house of Mulberry for their Spring '08 collection.
Makeup: Pale, powdery skin, quiet lips and darkly defined eyes. The effect was a quiet elegance.
Credits: Grayburn
picture of the shoes: fashiontalk.nl/ posted by Joris
Friday
Amsterdam International Fashion Week
I will be at the fashion shows (AIFW- Amsterdam International Fashion Week) today so I'm afraid I won't be able to share the experience with you just yet. I really had a good day yesterday at the Fashion Institute of Arnhem show so I shall share that with you a little later as well. I can't wait because I spotted some really good looks for coming Spring.
In the meantime, let me know your ideas for Valentines Day. I desperately need advice on this.
Also, please have a look at what some of my friends in the blog world are up to. They are the ones that fascinate me and also the ones who keep me going every day!
The seeker at Searching the Inner Me shows off her daily outfits but not just that!
Izar at Binary Star, an ever so talented artist shares with us her love of makeup and natural skincare, as well as her obsession with Thorns.
Vanessa at Nessasarymakeup shows us why we are going to be broke when the MAC/Fafi collection comes out!
The Muse at Musings of a Muse reports on some delish Valentines goodies!
credits: Grayburn
Thursday
A New Look for the Heineken Beer - Outfitted by Ora-Ito
I attended the Heineken Launch Party yesterday at the AIFW. There were lots of glitz and glamour as expected, and apparent sightings of Dutch celebrities. I was greeted and directed to the back area for a drink. Of course, we were all drinking Heineken beers!
This was an event to announce the new outfit for the Heineken beer, designed by a young artist named Ora-Ito (who has also worked with numerous names such as Gucci and Addidas). Though I am not much of a beer drinker myself, this new design is a fashionable one indeed! Many advertisers have linked fashion and alcoholic beverages in the past. So this is not a big surprise when Heineken decided that they wanted to design our next fashion accessory, the beer bottle! Floris Cobelens, the marketing manager for Heineken explained to me that the new bottle will be available throughout the Netherlands as well as in France. So readers in those parts of the world, watch out for it!
I captured a video of the opening show (below). I honestly thought that it would be more of a fashion show; perhaps with models holding the bottles with various outfits on (to help us picture ourselves holding the new accessory?). It was nevertheless quite beautifully done and I think everyone had a good time!
My wish however, is that I hope to see more bloggers at these events in the future. As a blogger, I feel I can write candidly because I am not pressured by sponsorship or advertisement. What is your opinion on this? Feel free to leave your questions or opinions in the comments section.
More on AIFW to come.....
credits: Grayburn
Wednesday
My Week with Sofina (the cleansing oil)
If you have followed my struggle of finding an alternative to my beloved Shu Cleansing Oil, you would know that it hasn't been an easy one. The story of my struggles can be found here in 3 parts:
Do I Stick With My Shu?
Looking back - My Years with Shu (the incredible cleansing oil)
Dilemna over Facial Cleanser
So now here we are folks, it has been almost a week since I started using the Sofina's Cleanse Make Clear Oil. It is quite a lovely cleansing oil and quite similar to the one from Shu. Sofina's texture is a little bit thinner and it smells like delicate flowers. It's makeup-removal ability matches that of Shu's.
After my weeks of experimenting, I am back with the cleanser of my life. For me, Shu is decidely the best there is out there. There are good reasons why I've been with my Shu cleanser for many years. It does exactly what it promises and it never disappoints. Shu will always be my first serious cleanser and I shall never stray again.
Tuesday
Red Lips - A Pop of Color
Red lips have been a symbol of seduction and of a confident woman since the movie sirens of earlier days. Women everywhere fear the crimson shade as it draws attention to the person wearing it like no other. There is also the difficulty of choosing the right red, as the wrong one makes teeth look yellow or the skin sallow.
I came across these two (pictured below) at The Body Shop at Kalverstraat the other day. They are packaged in sleek silver and are called Sheer Lip Shine. I found the two colors especially appealing as they are universally flattering and deposit just the right amount of color to do a stained-lips look (less high-maintenance than regular lipsticks). They also provide an attractive shine that is subdued and delicate. The color is buildable so if you want something a little more intense, you can definitely layer these.
Monday
AIFW - Designers Kick off in the Red Light District
This is one of the many events that kicked-off the Amsterdam International Fashion Week (AIFW). I spent a wet but rewarding Saturday afternoon admiring the window displays in Amsterdam's Red Light District. In place of the red lights that normally shine on these windows were more flattering white spot lights.
A handful of designers strutted their talents and made their work accessible to the public.
Mada Van Gaans
Bas Kosters
Throughout this week I will be bringing more news from the runway shows at AIFW where I look forward to seeing the designs and the makeup/hair trends. I expect to see alot of flowy-soft fabrics for women (lots of dresses) in the many colors of spring.
Credits: Grayburn
Sophie Ellis Bextor - Makeup Lesson
Sophie Ellis Bextor was found putting on her own makeup in this video on youtube. As you may know, she is a beautiful pop singer who sang songs such as "Murder on the Dace Floor" and the latest "Me and My Imagination". She really is one of few celebrities who look wonderful even without their makeup on (perhaps ignore her blond hair phase).
Readers: Can you name all the different tools/products that has been seen used in the video?
