Crop Top and Skater Skirt

skirt: Pimkie - top: vintage via Think Twice - sandals: H&M - tote: c/o Converse - sunglasses: ASOS - ring and necklace: Diamanti Per Tutti

Aaah summer summer. I've been really liking the combination of skater skirts and crop tops, ever since seeing these lovely pictures on Elien's blog. Simple crop tops with girly skater skirts just feel so... easy, and girly, and Barbie-pretty. Sort of preppy too. Like you're wholesome, but with a flirty edge. Definitely something I can dig. 

I went for a look in simple black and white, with a hint of blue from my awesome soles. I mean, turquoise sandal soles, is that cool or what? And they are super comfortable as well. H&M isn't the place to go for mega high quality luxury, but I sure do love their sandals. I have a few pairs that I wear over and over and over again, and they all cost me 10€ tops. The strappy ones I wore in my previous outfit post have been in my possession for like, 5 years at least, and I STILL wear them. I'm pretty sure these will go down the same route.

Are you a sandal-fan? Where do you buy your perfect summer footwear?

Maxi Dress Sunset

dress, sandals: H&M - friendship bracelets: Etsy, DIY (tutorial here) - ring: Diamanti Per Tutti

I wish I could take my outfit pictures in the sunset every time, the golden light just seems to make even the most boring outfits pretty. And I definitely need that, now that the summer heat and my current appreciation of simplicity push me towards increasingly less complicated style. But I can tell ya, not having to try so hard is super refreshing.

I've had this dress for years and years now, and I still like pulling it out when the temperatures rise. The thin cotton is the only thing I can tolerate on my skin during a heatwave. Sometimes I do think I'd fare well as a naturist. But that would render this style blog pretty fucking boring. There's only so many ways one can wear their pubic hair, you know.

Do you wear maxi dresses? And more importantly: would you like to be naked 24/7 during summer heatwaves?

We Can Dance Sweater and Quizilo Boots

sweater: c/o We Can Dance festival - watch: c/o Swatch - skinnies: Lee - Quizilo boots (enkellaarzen): Dream In Green via Spartoo

Yeah this outfit is wayyyy too hot for the weather we are currently experiencing, but it was appropriate when I took the pictures and, since I live in Belgium, will undoubtedly be weather appropriate again before you know it. Yeay for countries where autumn lasts half a year and summer just a few weeks! But not really yeay. More like nay. However, lets not dread the end of summer while the season is still in its prime, I'd rather enjoy the beautiful golden evenings we've been getting. Like the one in these pictures. Such beautiful lighting! Btw pro tip: back lighting (when your subject is standing between you and your light source) works best if the person with the camera is standing in the shade, otherwise your camera will have a hard time focusing and getting enough contrast in the picture.

The sweater was gifted to me by the people behind the new We Can Dance festival, an electronic beach fête at Zeebrugge on the 10th and 11th of august. You can check info and buy tickets on their website, or just admire the beautiful sunset ombre they used for their website design. I'm not going because I'm not a huge fan of dance music, but if you go be sure to buy this sweater because it is beautiful and so incredibly soft and comfortable. My sister tried to steal it from me but I knew what she was up to, that conniving little sneak thief! And you already know the boots, my perfect pair of pistol boot lookalikes. Aren't they sublime? They almost make me look forward to autumnal weather. 

To get back to the subject of festivals: what shows will you be seeing this summer, and what festivals have you visited? I've seen Lana Del Rey and Die Antwoord, and I'll be seeing Danzig, Deep Purple, Monster Magnet and Alice Cooper at the Lokerse Feesten soon. YEAY!

The Styling Dutchman loves: DELUKSE

You guys, expect to see more of these in an outfit post soon, but I just had to hop in and share quickly before going on with the rest of my day. The mailman delivered these minutes ago and they are SO COOL. Mirrored sunglasses (duh, it's what I'm all about these days) made out of bamboo. BAM FUCKING BOO, PEOPLE. I mean, isn't the use of a-typical materials the coolest thing ever? Seriously, it's why Cinderella's story became such a sleeper hit: a pumpkin for a carriage and glass for a slipper. That was some a-game marketing right there.

They were a gift from new webshop Delukse, a brand that is just starting out but will add more models to their selection soon (I'm hoping on small round ones and cat eyes!). I chose the Spotlight because mirrored glasses are the shiznit, and because I love how the dark frames complement the red of the glasses. They're currently marked down 20€ and I can give you an even smarter deal: use the coupon code 'THESTYLINGDUTCHMAN' for an extra 5,50€ off on any pair of shades. WINNER.

There's a bunch of giveaways and coupon codes floating around on their facebook and twitter pages, so check those out if you're interested.

Let me know if you like them!

Cold Shoulder Dress and Brontë

dress: ASOS - boots: c/o Sacha - bracelet: Twice as Nice - ring: Diamanti Per Tutti

 Yeah I'm wearing those boots AGAIN. And I'm not going to tell you how much I love them AGAIN. Oh wait, I already did lulz. You can get the dress here, it's available in several different colours and it really is a great piece for warm summer weather if you're not into sundresses or baring a lot of skin. It's super comfortable, in typical t-shirt jersey which makes it very casual, but the shape gives it a bit of stylish oomph as well.

In other news, I just watched Jane Eyre with the delicious Michael Fassbender and I can really recommend it. Now I totally want to read the book, so many beautiful quotes! That Jane was a total proto-feminist if you ask me.

“I can live alone, if self-respect, and circumstances require me so to do. I need not sell my soul to buy bliss. I have an inward treasure born with me, which can keep me alive if all extraneous delights should be withheld, or offered only at a price I cannot afford to give.” ― Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre

I might need to get into that when I'm finished with the A Song of Ice and Fire franchise (obsessed).

What are you reading this summer?

Sunset Crop Top

crop top: River Island - cut offs: vintage Levi's via Think Twice - sunglasses: Ebay - straw bag: Pimkie

Another day, another crop top! This one is a definite fave of mine. I mean, I'm wearing a sunset on my top, while taking pictures WHILE THE SUN IS SETTING. Amaga meta themed dressing is the new black! YO DAWG I HEARD YOU LIKE SUNSETS SO WE PUT A SUNSET PRINT IN YOUR SUNSET PICTURES SO YOU CAN ADMIRE THE SUNSET WHILE YOU ADMIRE THE SUNSET.
Double sunset all the way?

Haha, sometimes I just slay myself.

The Converse sneakers are new, my black pair is worn to death and after seeing a couple of people in this burgundy version I was convinced that they were the perfect Converse. Sort of like the Converse to end all Converse: they've found the perfect rendition, so they might as well stop trying now. Right? Burgundy is just such a lovely, rich neutral (in my book!). Jeans, cute dresses, whatever: these babies will look perfect with it.

PS: I went swimming yesterday. I swam like a mermaid. One of those days you want to cut out and stick in your diary to remember forever.

Black Skinnies and Floaty COS Top.

top: COS - skinnies/jeggings: H&M (similar at Garage) - mirrored sunglasses: Ebay - pumps: c/o Wonders - ring: Diamanti Per Tutti - watch: c/o Swatch

Just LOOKING at this outfit makes me break out a sweat. Just to set the scene: I'm writing this post wearing nothing but my underwear, with an electrical fan pointed right at my face. And if you think 'underwear' includes a bra in this instance, you are obviously in denial about the sweat-mongering powers of the brassiere. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining, I'm loving every second of this heatwave (going swimming tomorrow!), but pants are just NOT an option right now, not even pants as fab as these babies. I've had them for about half a year now, bought them when I realized I didn't own ANY black or grey skinnies/pants, and they are definitely the perfect staple. BUT WAY TOO HOT RIGHT NAO.

I've been wearing the top a lot though, the front is in silky cupro fabric (feels just like silk but more affordable) and the back is simple stretchy jersey. Very chic but still comfortable, sooo airy and light. I picked it up at COS for 50% off and I've been wearing it all the time, best sales buy of the summer! Yeah, I'm all about COS these days. Tops are not my favorite thing to buy, but this baby is a success for sure! Great for both casual and professional dressing (which I've been really into).

PS: mirrored sunglasses, definitely my number one favourite thing this summer. They just make you look SO COOL. Like the Terminator. This Chicnova pair is the most recent addition to my collection, works quite well for both men and women if you ask me! I actually think my boyfriend is rocking them harder than I am. Get them here, and while you're there check out the rest of their offer because they have some truly awesome sunglasses for cheapies, and they ship for free!

Ugh too warm to type anymore, Ima grab a popsicle and think cool thoughts! 

POOLS, SNOW, SLUSHIES, MILKSHAKE. How do you stay cool these days?

Leggings and Crop Top for Die Antwoord

It's been almost three weeks since I went to the Die Antwoord show but I still haven't shared the outfit I wore. About damned time! I actually changed outfits right before we left because it was an unexpectedly hot day, but let's pretend this is what I wore lulz. I was once again inspired by Yolandi Visser so I wanted to wear something ZEF. Leggings as pants are zef as can be, and Yolandi is all about crop tops so there you have my outfit.

crop top: cut off boyfriend's shirt - leggings, earrings: H&M - sneakers: c/o Converse - watch: c/o Swatch

I'd apologize for the excessive arms-above-head posing but you know, zef style is not about subtlety and Yolandi shows off her bod all the time so SORRY NOT SORRY.

PS: let's put this to a vote once and for all. Are leggings pants or not? Hint: they totally are. Tell me how you feel in the comments.