All posts filed under: Fashion

Taking my summer love into Autumn…

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Aaaaaah Summer ’16. The summer that lasted an entire week, where at least half of my summer wardrobe did not even make it out of the closest due to a chronic lack of decent weather, and even more of my make remained unused. But above all, the summer of 16 will always be fondly remembered as the summer that I finally took the sartorial plunge. For years *I’m not kidding, I really do mean years…* I’ve been lusting, oooohing and aaahing over these long, swishy, sometimes pleated, sometimes blush coloured and always elegant long skirts, but for some reason I was always hesistant to actually buy one. Too tall, not exactly a single size figure, too much this, too little that, there was always something about my physical appearance that crossed my mind, clouded my thoughts and kept me from going for it! Well, not this year! I went for it, bought not one but two, and fell head over heels in love with long skirts! And now that summer is closing in on us, I …

STERNUM

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Press days usually are an overflow of images and info, with one brand flowing into the next, and after a few days, everything you saw becomes a blur from which only a select few pieces or brands stand out. Case in point: STERNUM. A little Instagram post swiftly became the highlight of the latest press days, and if you have a quick look, you’ll fall in love as well. Sleek, minimalistic, geometrical and timeless, this type of jewellery floats my boat far more than any bling ever will. Sure, an over-the-top costume piece looks great against a crisp white button down, but on me, I’d usually looks like the necklace is wearing me (so not a good look!)… Less is definitely more, and Sophie Peelman, aka STERNUM, sure got that memo! Geometrical and primary shapes galore, these pieces have an intricate delicacy and understeted elegance that works with everything in ly closet, and even better, the prices (ranging from € 37 to €48) also work perfectly with my wallet… Love at first sight! Available at  …

Insta Life

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I came , I saw, I wish I conquered (but fell flat on my face due to exhaustion). Julius Caesar may have beaten me on the “conquered” part, but I saw a lot these last few weeks, and wanted to round up the highlights up for you. As you read this, I’m off enjoying some time off in La Douce France with Mr B and our mini me’s, so if you want to know how that’s going, make sure to follow my Instagram account (@leenstruyf) to see all of the hits and misses, and more importantly, my much desired visits to a French Pharmacy for their beauty and skincare sections! View this post on Instagram Loving everyone's reactions to this @byterryofficial new lipstick after my little sneek peak on Snapchat yesterday! Check out my musings via 'leenlovesstyle'. #love #lipstick #byterry #favourite #séductrice #seductress #newin #beauty #red A post shared by Leen Struyf (@leenstruyf) on Jun 29, 2016 at 3:15am PDT View this post on Instagram One of my favourite scents, ever since that first whiff. …

Summer Wishlist – The Kids Edition

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My husband recently asked me if there ever was a reason not to shop for my little ones (when I tried to convince him that Little Miss C really needed that ultra-cute dress we just saw, and when I tried to make him forget about the other 10 dresses already hanging in her closet….). Sorry darling husband of mine, but let’s be honest, there is never not a reason to shop for our little ones! With summer finally approaching (let’s hope so!), I’ve been on the hunt for a few last minute additions to round out Little Miss C’s and Mister A’s wardrobes, let’s jump straight in, shall we? Coolness aplenty for A, this Six Hugs and Rock ’n Roll “Legends” number injects a serious dose of rock and roll; and the Petit Bateau x Keith Haring t-shirt gives his wardrobe an arty vibe. Add in a few pairs of streetsyle shorts, such as this antsy H&M one and this Stella McCartney Bix Surfer Tattoo army green pair. A pair of summer-y flip flops and this beach boy is ready! Little Miss C …

Insta Update

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It’s been a bit of a whirlwind of late (and that’s an understatement…), and whoever said that it is easy for women to have it all, surely never has walked a day in a working mum’s high heeled pumps. I’ll stop the whining here, and just swiftly move on to the matter of today, a sneaky look into what I’ve been up to on Instagram these past few weeks. A little post, a lot of pictures, and there you are, back up to date! I drank, ate and double dated with some of our best friends, tried and tested a few beauty trinkets, and spent a bucket load of quality time with Mr B and our littles ones… Can you says bliss? View this post on Instagram Rocking some French beauty (and coquetterie) today. Light base, pearly eyes and a cherry lip, j'adore! #friday #beauty #sisley #french #guerlain #morning #phyto #lips A post shared by Leen Struyf (@leenstruyf) on May 19, 2016 at 11:34pm PDT View this post on Instagram Please can I take this …

5 Things

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It’s been a while since I last did one of these 5 Things articles, giving you a peek inside my head and try to decipher the constant internal rambling that goes on in there. Beauty, fashion, interior design, work planning, kids wardrobes, that’s only a fraction of what rushed through my mind any given day these last few weeks, so how about we dive straight in? Everyone that knows me personally, knows that I work for a green and renewable energy company, so when fashions meets sustainabilty, I am all ears! Marks and Spencer brought their Clothes Exchange to Belgium this week, and I was bopping around like a kid on Christmas Eve, giddy with excitement. For each donation of used clothes and 30 euo purchase, you get a 5 euro voucher. Out with the old, in with the new, extra budget for a next shopping trip and putting in your 2 cents for Mother Nature, what’s not to like?! Looking online for decoration inspiration for my future kitchen remains one of my favourite pastimes, …

IKKS JUNIOR x ARMOR LUX – A Breton Stripe Extravaganza

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Got your attention now, didn’t I? If you’re anything like me, nothing gets your fashion heart racing faster than a Breton stripe. A France Fashion Fanatic at heart, I could wear a Breton stripe all day, every day, any day, and I’ll be damned if my kids don’t have a stripe here and a stripe there tucked into their wardrobe. Armor Lux has this maritime themed Breton stripe thing down to a t, and when IKKS approached them for a collaboration, kids spring summer 2016 fashion just got a whole more interesting. Fusing Armor Lux’s nautical inspiration with IKKS’ French rock-vibe created a kick ass IKKS Junior x Armor Lux Collection, almost like Brigitte Bardot and Serge Gainsbourgh had a Saint Tropez love child. Reds, whites and blues, a Breton stripe meets a touch of graphic design… Spring, we’re longing for you! IKKS Junior x Armor Lux collection – available now in IKKS stores and on http://www.ikks.com.    

Atelier Feryn for Xandres – A Clutch Dreams Are Made Of

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Mix the words “Xandres”, “‘Inspiring Women’ collab” and “clutch” in one sentence, and you instantly have my attention. Xandres, Belgian, elegant, effortless and aimed at strong, independent women (such as myself of course), the brand is a female force to be reckoned with, and to showcase just how much they love the strong, indepent women of today, the brand spotlights them, one at a time This month, the Xandres ‘Inspiring Women’ collab celebrates not one, but three ladies to look up to. Yanne, Mira and Lize Feryn, three sisters, twentysomethings and handbag afficionados, felt the need for timeless yet contemporary and even somewhat critical design, and launched Atelier Feryn in October 2015. Their risk paid off when their first design, the Smaragd, sold out instantly. Fast forward a few months, and Atelier Feryn for Xandres – the clutch has me gasping for air! A play on structure and  subtle prints, the clutch is a beaut’ with smooth, milky latte coloured leather, countered by a light, dusty blue austrich leather thrim and jute sides. Artistry meets fashions …

Marmalade Sky

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Instagram is swoon worthy, time consuming and oh so addictive, but above all, it is a true treasure trove for discovering new brands. Case in point: Marmalade Sky! I recently stumbled across this kids fashion brand while scrolling through my Instagram feed one lunch break, and the Milk Print Skinny Leg Harem pants kept my index finger hanging mid air, my breath gasping and my eyes glistening with excitement! I needed to know more, and I needed to know asap! A quick study session later taught me that Marmalade Sky is the result of a cool mum’s creativity and keen eye for design! Keen but unable to find cool, quirky but above all gender neutral clothes for her son, womenswear designer Sarah Ives took matters into her own hands (I love a mum like that!) and started creating her own pieces for him. Not content with just designing the pieces, she went a step further and printed her own fabric as well. Stylish babies always get noticed by fellow mums, and soon one thing led …

Wishlist Wednesday – Leather Wrap Skirt

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I was doing a spot of online window shopping, as you do, and stumbled across this precious! Slam, bam, flash in the pan, and it shooted straight to the top of my Spring / Summer Wishlist *yes that is a real thing:-)* The Marks & Spencer Autograph Leather Wrap Skirt, dark green and mysterious, is beckoning me, beguiling me, reeling me in big time! I must admit to having a soft spot for dark leather pieces, and this piece is no different! A welcome addition to my closet, standing out from my black pencil skirts thanks to it’s forest green shade, asymmetric hemline and slight swishy cut. The split gives it that slither of sexy that I am looking for, and an endless stream of combination possibilities is already taking over my mind!  My beautiful Leather Wrap Skirt, I am ready to wrap myself in you!