Did I need any new beauty products? No. Am I a sucker for new formulas, pretty packaging and limited editions. Without a doubt. So while I didn’t plan any new makeup purchases, I could’t resist a nice discount on Chanel. I ordered the Chanel Eau de Teint from the 2019 Les Beiges collection and the classic red lipstick Rouge Allure in 99 Pirate.
I don’t own a lot of makeup. Mostly skincare products. I would rather have nice skin and no foundation than having to cover it up for a smooth complexion. Mind you, I know that not everyone is blessed with such easy skin as mine so I have nothing against wearing full coverage makeup. It’s just not for me. My idea of makeup is a tinted moisturizer and some mascara. So if I wear anything on my face it needs to be lightweight. For years I’ve been wearing Origins VitaZing SPF15 Energy-Boosting Moisturizer which adds just a hint of colour. But the formula of the Eau de Teint and the reviews got me interested. We will see how I like it.
If I could only wear one makeup product next to my base for the rest of my life, it would be lipstick. A blueish red to be exact, which works excellent with olive skin, so the internet tells me. MAC’s Ruby Woo has been my go to option for the last 10 years but the extremely dry formula doesn’t seem to work for me anymore. I still love the matte look but my lips are always dry now, no matter which lip balm I try or how much water I drink. So I hope this will be a nice replacement.
Do you ever switch from long time favourites to new products?
Because, don’t we all have one? A list of covetable pieces for which you have an inexplicable desire. Quite often well out of our range, price wise. For now, or maybe forever. Or perhaps they are within range but you’re just not ready to bite the bullet because you know they are ridiculously expensive and how the hell are you going to justify the purchase. Or am I just projecting, LOL. Anyway, a girl can dream right? These are the 5 items that have long graced my long term wishlist.
Chanel two-tone ballet flats
It doesn’t get more classic than this. I first saw these flats at around 2009, I think. The French / minimalist style blogs were on the rise and I spotted this one image of a girl with black skinny jeans, an Isabel Marant like coat and a pair of creme/black Chanel flats. She looked so effortlessly chic. The image should be somewhere on my computer or external disk but sadly, I couldn’t find it. But you get the idea from the image below.
I tried these flats on once, in Antwerp, about 8 years ago. They looked and felt amazing but at the time I wasn’t in the position to spend that much money on a pair of flats. I still somewhat regret it as the price has increased a lot since then. Honestly, I don’t know if they’re worth the price anymore. Let me know if you have any experience with these shoes. For now, I will stick to my Repetto flats.
Max Mara 10801 Icon coat
Another classic. I’ve had a penchant for long camel coloured coats for ages. I bought my first one 10 years ago at H&M when I had finally gathered enough confidence to wear it. Anyway, the 10801 Icon coat is THE coat of al camel coloured dream coats. God, I’m such a sucker for oversized coats… I could see myself wearing this for the rest of my life. 30 degrees celsius? Whatever, hold on, let me grab my cashmere Max Mara coat.
Firstly introduced in 1981, it remains a timeless piece that exudes simplicity and elegance. It doesn’t matter if you are 25 or 75 years old, it’s suitable for all ages. Of course it would look brilliant with a pair of leather boots or flats but I can see myself wearing it with a pair of sneakers as well. To be honest, this coat will never be in my possession unless I win a lottery but if I ever get the chance to try it on, I’ll make sure to have my diva moment.
Cartier Tank Française watch
I don’t know how many times one can use the term ‘classic’ but I’m afraid this post mostly contains items that have withstood the test of time and are just as popular now as when they first made their appearance. The Tank Française was released in 1996 as a sportier version of the Tank Américaine and has graced the wrists of stylish, influential women such as Princess Diana en Michelle Obama.
While I like the Tank Solo which comes with a leather strap, this watch looks slightly more simple and sleek and a bit more modern. My colour of preference would be silver as I don’t wear gold jewellery. And also a smaller model than the one pictured below. I know owning a watch seems redundant nowadays but I don’t consider it very different from a bracelet. I just see it as an accessory and I like the thought of not needing my phone to tell the time. Which was incredibly helpful during my days as a museum guide.
Céline Box bag
The Box bag is still relatively new ‘on the scene’ compared to these other items. For a short time it wasn’t known if this bag would still be produced under Heidi Slimane when Phoebe Philo left Céline. So far, so good but I wouldn’t be surprised if it slowly disappears at some point. I’ve made my peace with it. However beautiful it may be, it’s not very practical for my lifestyle.
Burberry trench coat
I’ve been working on a post about trench coats so I’ll keep this part short. A trench coat will never go out of style. That is, if you opt for one of the more classic styles. So Burberry is the only logical choice here. I have to admit, they have so many different options that, at this point, I can’t narrow it down to just one design. Just from looking at the website, my first choice would be the Relaxed Fit Tropical Gabardine Trench Coat or maybe the Westminster.
Well, that’s it! If you managed to read this entire post, respect to you. I know a long term wishlist isn’t necessarily the correct term here because I won’t be buying most of these items (if any at all). Not now, not in the future. But no harm in dreaming, I suppose.
It’s funny that now that I’ve reached the end of this post, I realize that most of the things listed are accessories or coats. I suppose it’s somewhere in the back of my mind that clothing isn’t a great investment. Especially as you grow older and your weight fluctuates over time. Nobody needs to dress head to toe in designer clothing/accessories to look stylish. Imagine those Chanel flats with a pair of black jeans and a simple white blouse. They don’t have to be expensive to make you look put together. Just one simple statement piece goes a long way.
Do you have a long term or an in-case-I-win-a-lottery wishlist?
I have had this blog for almost 5 years now and surprisingly, I have never done a classic ‘what’s in my bag’ post. With the birth of my new baby aka the purchase of my Loewe Puzzle bag, I figured this was a good time. So, this bag hasn’t left my side every since I purchased it three months ago. It’s even better than I thought it would be and carries a ton without looking too large. I would say it’s a medium sized bag compared to my Céline trio and Mansur Gavriel bucket bag.
Let me start by saying that I don’t like a cluttered and messy bag. For the longest time I just threw everything in there which mainly led to frustration. I could never find anything. So I decided to divide everything over different smaller pouches. How Marie Kondo of me, I know.
The essentials I carry my cards in a Louis Vuitton key pouch together with my key. Yes, just one key. Funny story, I was once in a meeting in which everyone had to introduce themselves by their keys. So everyone had these long stories about each and every key and I was like: this is the key that opens the door to my house *awkward silence*. Long story short, everyone agreed that that one key said a lot about my personality, LOL.
To be honest, I was never a big fan of Louis Vuitton. I like some of their SLG’s (small leather goods) but those, albeit classic, prints rarely look good on larger bags, in my opinion. It’s just too out there for me, I guess. Anyway, I bought the key pouch on a whim on a trip to Amsterdam with Ellya last year and love it. I never have to search for my key anymore as it is attached to the inside of the pouch and it holds all the cards that I need.
Louis Vuitton mini pochette It contains a few emergency supplies (bandaids, ibuprofen etc.), hygiene products as well as a few beauty items. I’m amazed at the amount of stuff I can fit in this small pouch; HEMA SPF 50 sunscreen stick, a tin of classic all-purpose Nivea creme, Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb, Nars Dolce Vita lipstick, Chanel Les Beiges lip balm in deep, RMS lip2cheek in Illusive and Blistex MedPlus.
Headphones I can’t leave for work without my foldable noise-canceling headphones. My commute is at least 1,5 hours on public transportation and I need my peace and quiet, especially in the morning. I mostly listen to Spotify or podcasts. If you have any recommendations, let me know.
iPhone 8 I don’t switch phones very often so don’t expect to see me with the latest iPhone. If it works, it works. I rarely make any phone calls and mostly use the internet, WhatsApp, Spotify, Instagram and a few games such as nonograms and FarmHeroes (level 1328, what’s up!) to kill some time on the train.
Chanel Palette Essentielle I don’t use a lot of makeup. Mostly tinted moisturiser, mascara and a lip balm or gloss. But this is a great three-in-one product that has everything that I need whenever I need to step it up a little. It contains a highlighter, concealer and blush.
Well, that’s it, I guess. This is what I carry with me on a daily basis. I get cold easily so sometimes I stuff a scarf in there as well. Just to be safe. Whenever I switch to a smaller bag, it’s just the key pouch, phone and a lip balm.
Sorry for confronting you with the soles of my shoes. Just #keepingitreal, you know, because I wear my stuff and I wanted to post a reminder that although I frequently write about purchasing clothes, shoes etc, I also take very good care of the things that I own. Nothing gets discarded unless it’s absolutely worn out. You can fix a lot more than you may think and many simple things, like having your heels replaced for instance, can expand the longevity of your wardrobe.
I was happy to receive two pairs of boots back from the cobbler last week. I always procrastinate the visit because I feel lost without my go-to shoes (I’m so dramatic) and I can never get home in time on weekdays to pick them up. The cobbler was impressed with the quality of my shoes and I must say, I am as well. The Aeyde boots have been on heavy rotation ever since I got them and are holding up nicely.
My Isabel Marant Deyissa boots originally have a leather sole so I had an extra protective sole added and I plan on wearing them more often now that I won’t have to mind the rain or snow. The rubber sole looks a bit bulky in the picture but is actually nicely in line with the original sole. My Aeyde boots are a different story. These have been worn countless of times so in addition to new heels I also had rubber toe taps added (remember, I wrote about the awful paving at my local train station that ruins the tips of your shoes?)
I know that the internet and many cobblers as well, are constantly debating whether or not you should add protective rubber soles to your leather shoes. In my opinion it all depends on the circumstances. Where you live and what the weather conditions are like, how often you will wear them etc. Many a shoe lover will claim you should wear your shoes the way they are made. I get that. But in my case, leather soles and Dutch weather are a terrible combination. Not to mention that leather soles can be very slippery. I wear my shoes regularly and want to enjoy them as long as possible. So this solution works for me.
So to end this blogpost, please don’t think this blog is all about purchasing new things. Yes, I do buy new clothing, accessories etc., make collages around possible purchases and I love to write about it to keep things in perspective for myself. But for the most part, I get much more pleasure from the wardrobe that I currently have and will put in the extra effort to make sure that I can enjoy everything as long as possible. For instance, I would rather fix the Aeyde boots than buy a different replacement pair. Because they make me happy every time I wear them.
What do you do to ensure longevity of your wardrobe?
