Intoxicated

My first memory of this perfume dates from many years ago. While in Paris, sitting on the terrace of Café de Flor, I got intoxicated by a sensual smell of tuberose, comming from the woman sitting at the table next to me. The smell was seductive, feminin, carnal, elegant...and so was she. When I asked her what it was she smiled and told me; "Fracas". So for me this fragrance is La Parisienne in a bottle. There and then my quest for a bottle of Fracas started and it was a long one. The fragrance was created in 1948, and dispite his succes, not to be found on the market for many many years, then reissued in the late 90's in small quantities and only sold in the US, so only a happy few still could get their hands on it... Untill the talented Isabelle Hupert named Fracas as her parfum absolu during an interview. This was enough for the company to collaborate with the famous French actress to launch a limited edition of the famous French perfume. And that's how recently my quest finaly ended...
It's an exuberant blend of flowers, very particular and exclusive so not for everyone, but perfect for me!

Window shopping

 





While you're stroling in Antwerp make sure to strole by these beautiful windows, they really invite you inside...

Coccodrillo

 

 

 

 

Modepaleis

Wouters & Hendrix

 

Bazaar Bizar

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

News

Hello everyone,

I'm excited to let you know that, from this month on, my blog will feature "THE CHAT". A series of my interviews with people I admire. Through Q&A's I will portrait each one, give you a glimps of what they do, what they like and love, how they dress, how they live etc. So stay tuned cause "THE CHAT °1" will be posted soon...

Love,
Anny

Au revoir Nicolas Ghesquière

Nicolas Ghesquière and Balenciaga are parting ways! His departure, at the end of the month, was just announced.

What, why, how can this be?

Nicolas Ghesquière was the creative director at the House sinds 1997. What he did at Balenciaga was amazing! He worked his magic by creating innovative, persuasive, powerful, and highly anticipated collections, season after season. Ghesquière remade Balenciaga one of Paris' iconic Fashion Houses, and one of my personal favorites. To many he was synonymous with The House of Balenciaga, and yes, even good things come to an end.

I'm sad but it's just an au revoir, so I'm looking forward to see what Nicolas Ghesquière will do next. Meanwhile I'll start saving for some gorgious pieces of his S/S2013 master collection.

White shoes

Let's talk about white shoes cause now that they've been spotted on the feets of celebs like SJP, Gwyneth Paltrow, even Kate Middleton, among others, they're no longer considered a fashion faux pas. Isn't that typical? For so many years people are going: "Oh no, you can't wear this or that. Why? It's trashy, it's tacky. Why? Because". Of course because means no one else is wearing it.
Me, I never play by that rule! I've always been heartened by white shoes and I've been wearing them sinds I was a little girl. I can't recall how many pairs I've owned sinds then, but I've owned some very pretty ones during all those years. There were Mary Janes, ballet flats, sandals, and oh a pair of Dries Van Noten cut out sandals that I wore to dead, my heart ached when I had to throw them away, and my heart got broken when my Alaïa gladiators that got stolen. I'm a shoe lover, of course I am, but I must say that for me white shoes do what no other shoes can't do. Especially white pumps, walking around in a pair of white pumps makes me feel a certain way. They are so complementary in comparison to any other pumps and just because of that they can complement my outfit in this particular way. An article in British Vogue said that they're not for summer but for fall. Well, for me they're for all season, that's the advantage of a black skin. Yes, I love white leather shoes, and I don't need anyone, any trend or any fashion, as much as I Love Fashion, to allow me to wear them. I just do cause for me they're part of my personal style!

Celine white leather wedge-pump, my favorite this season
 

 

Out of the Hat

Styling by Anny Ongena
Photography by Melanie Mrakovcic

Brad Pitt for Chanel

There you are - clip by Chanel



Brad Pitt for N°5...
Sure we are in a new area, sure things change and evolve, but this is N°5 we're talking about! And from where I'm looking Mr Pitt has trouble getting in touch with his feminin side. Even being the damn good actor he is, it's impossible to incarnate the seductive femal spirit of N°5. Sure he is very charismatic, no argument about that, but the N°5 lineage is made of female icons such as mademoiselle Chanel herself, Marilyn Monroe, Catherine Deneuve, Carole Bouquet etc. So, sorry Mr Pitt, it takes a woman to do this job, cause N°5 was, is and will always be inévitable a woman's thing!

image by Chanel

Dear readers, what do you think of this? Tell me by leaving your comments, you can write in NL, ENG or FR. I'm looking forward ... Love, Anny