Tomorrow it’s happening for me, I am going back to school! I will start my Master in Art Direction and Creative Advertising at the INSA Business School here in Barcelona, and I am looking forward to it like crazy! That is why I am dedicating today’s #OOTD to a school-proof outfit: simple but classy.
Earlier this week I was visiting the designer Loretta Piovano, who is known for her feminine designs and adding interesting details to the outfits in order to create unique pieces. One of the designs she gave me was this black jumpsuit, which has a gorgeous neckline and a perfect cut… I was immediately in love! The jumpsuit itself is a typical all-black-classic, which gives lots of space to varying styling options.
So for today guys… I NEED YOUR HELP! There are so many cool ways to wear this jumpsuit that I can’t decide which one to choose for my first day of school, let’s check them out:
The Classy Lady
For the first option I went for a feminine style with black heels, a turban and a draped scarf from S Oliver. As a color detail I am holding a bright blue clutch of Karl Lagerfeld, I got it in Paris last fashion week during the presentation of Karl’s new collection… I love it! While wearing this outfit I feel like a true lady who can go to class one moment (perhaps slightly overdressed, but definitely stylish!), and then go for a cocktail with a friend afterwards… who wouldn’t love this combination?!
Another idea is to just completely ditch the lady look and go for a streetstyle with my all-time favorite black Converse sneakers. With a comfy long navy-style cardigan I can comfortably walk around without getting cold and my big backpack can definitely hold any book I might need! Perhaps you might have noticed that the neckline of the jumpsuit changed… while being clumsy and putting it on wrong, I actually discovered that I like this straight neckline too, PLUS the back has a cool detail to it now! I’m not sure if Loretta Piovano had a reversible jumpsuit in mind when she designed this beauty, but it sure works! With the streetstyle look I feel confident and casual, which is also very important for a first day!
Braids, black derby shoes and a fedora hat… how cute can it get?! To don’t look all too much like a naïve schoolgirl I edged up the look with a leather jacket and my little Moschino bag. I think it sends the message: I’m cute, but don’t mess with me! At least, that’s what I like to believe haha. Personally I love Fedora hats since they make an outfit instantly fashionable. The good ones are hard to find but once you got it… cherish it! In this girly chic outfit I feel stylish and ready to rock my day!
There you go, three options, all with their own pros and cons… Which one to choose? Let me know which look you would like to see me wear tomorrow! If you are just as in love with this jumpsuit as I am let me know, you can order them via e-mail (hola@lorettapiovano.com)
Lots of love,
Lynn
#OOTD How to combine Spring Trends and look Flawless
Published Date : March 13, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : #OOTD, The Styling Files
Hi there!
I am especially excited about today’s #OOTD on Spring Trends because the pictures I made with Naelia Salas turned out so cool! What was supposed to be just a casual stroll around El Raval in Barcelona turned into Editorial-worthy photography, Go Team :) In case you are ever in Barcelona and you enjoy modern architecture, you should definitely check out the area around MACBA. It’s super central, right next to Las Ramblas!
So let’s get into my outfit! I challenged myself to combine two of the most popular upcoming Spring Trends : Romantic Lace and Sporty Deluxe. By layering two completely different styles and dresses you create an interesting contrast in your outfit: lenghts, materials, movements and ambients are clashing – but because of the neutral colors and minimalistic lines it works perfectly together.
Don’t you just love how the lace flows while walking?! It gives a sexy feminine touch to the ‘cool badass’ vibes from the sweaterdress and the booties.
Small tip: in case you want to try this look, you should definitely look for a sweaterdress which has an elastic in the bottom part of the dress… it just looks so much better! If you go for an A-line sweaterdress all the shapes become even more wide and it becomes unflattering. Oversized Comfy is cool, as long as the shapes are still structured.
Btw, did you notice that I am NOT wearing leggings and I actually felt the need to take my Sunglasses with me? There is actual SUNSHINE! As a Dutchie I am still trying to get used to the warmer climat advantages that Barcelona has to offer, and I am enjoying every minute of it! Every day when I wake up I look out of my window to find a bright blue sky wishing me a goodmorning… incredible! I am totally ready for this Spring/Summer Season :)
Also, let’s take a look at my accessories! They are a very important part of the look since they are giving the ‘final touch’ to my Spring Trends vibes. As you are already used from me by now, the Fedora Hat can’t be missed in this look, just as a minimalistic silver ring. I love how the Sunglasses give a touch of color with the blue/green reflections, and they are awesome because they are made from recycled wood! Other fun fact: the wide black chocker I am wearing is actually ‘handmade’! All I did was buying 30cm of wide black elastic ribbon and applying a little button on it in order to attach the ends to each other, which cost me like… 50 cents? Once again a proof that it’s not necessary to waste all of your money on the latest trends, all you need is some creativity :)
That was it! My Spring Trends Mix, I really enjoy this outfit and will be definitely wearing it a lot this Spring. I’m very curious what you guys think about the combination so leave a comment to let me know!
Published Date : July 25, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : #OOTD, The Styling Files
Is it just me or has it been almost tropical for the past few days? That requires a suitable outfit! The collection of trousers from Anbasja Blanken is not for your every day look: it’s super chic and feminine, which makes it perfect for cocktail parties or elegant dates.
I saw the designs of Anbasja Blanken at the Amsterdam Fashion Week and I realized I just had to have them! I don’t know why but her clothes just make me feel empowered, beautiful and elegant – which is quite an impressive thing to do since I am the clumsiest person alive.
The off-shoulder trend is one of my current favorites because it makes me feel super girly – and since I’m going through a girly phase right now that’s pretty much perfect for me. It’s funny to see myself like this right now… I wonder what my 10-year-old Mini Me would have said about that, I think she would be terrified by the idea of having pink as her favorite color.
Btw, have you noticed my hair? When I was in the Netherlands I visited The Graduates and they made it so beautifully white without damaging my hair at all! I just wanted to give the tip to all the Dutchies out there because usually I am SUPER picky when it comes to hairdressers.
Anyway, let’s take a second to appreciate the details that Anbasja Blanken added by hand: all these cute little flowers and embroideries!! That’s definitely an extra plus for the tropical vibes. And did you already notice that the trousers are made out of two layers?? Love it!
According to the weather predictions it will be super hot again next week, so do you guys have any special plans? I was thinking about a little weekend getaway, can you believe that even though I’ve been travelling this much in the past month, I haven’t been on a beach yet?! Unacceptable!! Also I was thinking about doing a little roadtrip with Hector Ges and Victor Supertramp to make some awesome lifestyle/travel pictures…. maybe for another C-Heads Magazine publication?
I am not going on any big relax vacation this year because I’ve decided to fully dedicate myself to the first year of my blog – she is still young so she needs lots of attention! In fact… I won’t give any details yet because it’s still a secret… but you can start expecting something HUGE from me for my 1st year blog anniversary this September… stay tuned <3
Lots of Love,
Lynn
#OOTD: A Sporty Summer + Giveaway
Published Date : August 26, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : #OOTD, The Styling Files
Don’t you just love summer? I always want to be outside and enjoy the days as much as I can, last week I even went for a quick spin at basketball – a perfect excuse to wear my sporty summer look! Fun fact: Did you know I used to play in my high school basketball team? To be honest I’m not the biggest fan of fitness – or any sport that you have to do alone – but I looove competitive sports, they get me so pumped up!
Can you see that? I even got some TANLINES this summer (hooraayyy)! This was definitely an important goal for me this year: if I cannot even get tanlines while living in freakin’ Spain… I would be pretty much doomed. And also: I finally figured out how to make nice braids! I am so proud of myself that I am currently wearing braids almost every day… go me! :’]
Sooo what am I wearing for my sporty summer look? I have been dying to do a blogpost about this set because I love everything about it! My sunnies are from this French brand called ‘Polette Eyewear‘, I was at their shop opening in Amsterdam and got this beautiful pair. My body is from a London-based brand called New Age Rebel, they have lots and lots of cool clothes for edgy fashionistas. Last but not least, I ADORE my jewelry from Sotine: it’s super minimalistic, but so unique! I don’t know why but I immediately feel cooler when I wear her jewelry set – which is pretty impressive for an awkward person like me lol.
GIVEAWAY ALERT!
I hope you guys like it too, because I am allowed to give away the handpiece of this set! Give any outfit an edgy look with this handmade jewelry, all you have to do is be subscribed to my newsletter:) I am kinda curious though: let me know in the comments why you would like to win this design piece!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
#OOTD: Burgundy Red & Kimono's
Published Date : December 2, 2015 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : #OOTD, The Styling Files
Hey there y’all!
Every year when Christmas is getting closer I seem to develop certain habits such as: playing Michael Bublé’s Christmas album on repeat while singing and dancing around my room, staring at every single christmas decoration I can find in shops and in the streets because it is just THAT pretty, loads and LOADS of christmas shopping AND last but not least, I seem to get obsessed with the colors Burgundy Red & Gold!
This year is not an exception, as you can see! This modernized Kimono made by the brand Kimonea has a beautiful deep shade of burgundy which happens to fit perfectly with my lipstick, lucky me! The material is 100% wool so it’s super soft and warm, perfect for beating the icy winter breeze :) Since ‘oversized layering‘ is in Trend right now I decided to go for a larger size, which the owners of Kimonea made for me by hand! Aren’t they the sweetest?! Kimonea is all about designing different versions of the Japanese Kimono and has an amazing way of modernizing them along with the trends of the moment, very creative and original! If you are someone that is into the current Poncho Trend, this is definitely something for you :)
Furthermore, I kept the outfit simple and cute (if anyone has been following my #OOTD’s, you must have realized by now that’s my signature style haha!) with an oversized soft peach sweater from H&M and a faux-suede skirt from Double Agent which make the Burgundy color pop out. Since I was missing a ‘Gold Touch’ in my outfit, I took the golden ring which I got from my mother when I turned 21 as a small color accent, it never fails!
Anyway, I would LOVE to hear from you guys if you develop certain habits when Christmas is getting closer. Do you have a favorite color to wear around this time of the year? Don’t forget to leave a comment down below!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
#OOTD: Crispy White for Spring
Published Date : May 11, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : #OOTD, The Styling Files
Hi Lovelies!
After my editorial inspiration earlier this week, now it´s time for an #OOTD inspiration! I have always feared the Crispy White outfits because I am super clumsy and I always seem to get stains on my beloved clothes, but this Spring I decided to give it a go with this look! Later on in this blog you will find out how that turned out for me haha, keep reading!
P.s. All these beautiful pictures are taken by my sweet friend and amazing photographer Naelia Salas! Thanks for helping me out :)
As you can see I combined the White Tee & Jeans with a pastel blue coat from Karen Millen, silver sandals from Zara and a nude bag from Martina K to give the outfit an extra twist. The combination of light colors made me feel very fresh and classy while walking down the streets… and I turned quite some heads too! If you feel beautiful that´s what you will radiate, so this is my most important styling tip EVER: Wear the clothes you feel comfortable in! This doesn´t mean you should always stick to the same and that you shouldn´t try new looks. In fact, it implies the opposite: as soon as you start having fun with fashion, it will show in your attitude while wearing your newly discoved outfits as well, so go and get creative! Enjoy!
What I like about my new shirt from Tobi, is that it has fun elements with open cut sleeves and a tullip back: simple yet sophisticated. I spent quite some time checking out their webshop the other day and I just got lost in all of their products, they are so pretty! If you are still looking for some new spring looks, they might be able to help you out. Check out more from Tobi over here: Maxi & Midi Dresses, Crop Tops, Rompers, Skirts & Cardigans
Here is a quick detail shot of my supercute necklace which I got from Passage BCN: a surrealistic ballarina catdoll designed by Servane Gaxotte Paris. The reason why I wanted to share a picture of this necklace is because I love the story behind it. The designer Servane Gaxotte has always worked as a jewerly maker, but never designed her own pieces for a long time. Untill one day she became pregnant and started having the most vivid dreams of her baby girl: with her own house, a lover of animals, dressed up in pretty clothes, and more! The dreams were so vivid that Servane decided to express them in her very own surrealistic jewelry designs. These necklaces became such a huge success that her brand has been growing ever since! Isn´t that a lovely story? :)
So how is this All White look working for me you might wonder? It started with good hopes but I have to be honest with you guys, a couple of hours after the photoshoot I managed to get some mandarin sprinkles on my Karen Millen coat. Some hours later at the La Flower Barcelona party in CDLC I thought it would be fun to sit around real flowers for a picture, which resulted in getting petal stains on my crispy white ass…. GOOD THINKING LYNN hahaha. Will I ever learn? Maybe I will, maybe I won´t, but as long as it lasts I will enjoy this beautiful look, along with the amazing spring weather here in Barcelona!
Do you want to give the Crispy White Look a go? Shop the look here!
Published Date : January 25, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : #OOTD, The Styling Files
Hey guys!
Last week I visited the organization Model Workout in Amsterdam while I was there for the fashion week, and I got a personal training session from their coach Paultje Column! I will be sharing everything that I learned very soon… but let’s start at the beginning: what to wear for a good workout? In this blog I will be reviewing an outfit from the New Sylvie Sport Collection of Hunkemöller, let’s check it out!
The First Impression
BOOM, let’s get started! To be honest I was kinda nervous for my training with Paultje (I heard that he loves to kick ass), but after putting on my poweroutfit I already felt a bit better… at least I would look kinda cute while biting the dust. The materials are supercomfy and I love the color combination: cute pink meets strong black. And not to miss: the subtle leopard print in the pants adds an extra fun factor, love it!
My Experience
Anway, you must be wondering… was I comfortable while working out? Actually I felt great! The Pants fitted like a second skin and I could follow all the movements without any problems. A small detail that I really appreciate is the little pocket in the back where I can keep some essentials, you never know when you might need them!
Usually I prefer to wear a croptop during workout because I overheat otherwise, but it seems like Hunkemöller was prepared for this problem: the Shirt has little holes in the section of the shoulders to let the fresh air flow, simple but effective! The shirt has a loose fit so it’s easy to move around and feel comfy.
I was wondering if the Sport Bra would support enough during the workout… I mean, it’s beautiful and I love the little push-up effect… but will it be strong enough to hold my 70C cup? It turned out my worries were not necessary at all: the double straps kept everything thightly in place! I know that the S in the front of the bra is for Sylvie, but I prefer to think it’s for Superwoman. How awesome would that be, am I right?!
So there you go Hunkemöller, I absolutely adore your Sylvie Sport Collection! Thanks for making workout a little bit more fun :)
Lots of Love,
Lynn
P.s. Thanks for helping me out with making pictures Stef Hartog! And thanks for letting me do the retouching, I certainly need the practice haha
#OOTD: Girls Supporting Girls
Published Date : September 4, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : #OOTD, Get inspired!
“Girls Supporting Girls”… Last week I bought this shirt and I loved it so much that I just had to make an #OOTD about it for you guys! Everyone that knows me also knows that I am a huge fan of spreading positive vibes and a true believer in Karma and helping each other up instead of bringing each other down. That’s amongst others why I organized two network events for female bloggers, wrote a blog about How to get more Instagram Followers, and invite other bloggers to do fun activities together.
Girls Compete with one another
Women Empower each other
We are all working our pretty asses off to get to the top, so why make the journey on your own when you can hang out with cool, like-minded, smart and beautiful women while doing so? I honestly think that this whole “Girls Supporting Girls’ thing should become the next hype in the world, who agrees with me?!
Speaking of which: While I am preaching about girls supporting girls, I shouldn’t forget to mention Two amazing brands which I am wearing in the pictures. That cute little bag that looks like a circus tent? I mean, how freakin’ cool is that?! It is designed and made by an amazing person called Nuria, a woman who is working SO hard to make her creative passion her job. Kiwi+Pomelo is a local brand from Barcelona and I really do hope that Nuria (and her lovely mom) will be able to succeed to make it a big success! Go Girls!
The other brand – or rather person – that I would like to give a shoutout is the successful fashion illustrator Mimi Nizan. After meeting her and talking for hours about her passion, I just love to see how well she is doing with her newest project: a webshop. She created a couple of cool products out of her illustrations, such as the two pins I am wearing on my shirt. A strong, professional and beautiful person that is creating her very own empire… I’m impressed <3
Anyways, all I really want to say is: Hate Less, Love More! Together we can achieve so much more than we could ever do on our own, so why see each other as competition instead of opportunities? #girlssupportinggirls #letsmakeitahashtag
She turned her Can’ts into Cans and her Dreams into Plans
Peace out y’all!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
#OOTD: Looking Chic on a Low Budget
Published Date : September 8, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : #OOTD, The Styling Files
How to look chic on a low budget? I think all of us wonder the same every now and then. Last week I went to an event of Hunkemöller with the dresscode CHIC, and of course I had “nothing to wear” (who is feeling me lol). I didn’t want to spend too much money and I just had a few days to find THE look… so internet shopping wasn’t an option. Time for a shopping spree I would say! This is what I found:
It’s not a cocktail dress – which I was searching for at first – but actually I turned out to like it more! I mean… who doesn’t like shimmers & sparkles for a chic occasion? Or like.. for any other possible occasion ;P It’s different, stylish, chic and fun… what do you think about the look?
So let’s fix that curiosity and answer the question you have been wondering… How much was it?! The shirt and the trousers are both from Zara and together they cost only 35 Euros! The great thing about the look is that you can combine it with your own shoes and accessories because those can be more neutral.
Do any of you guys have cool low budget tips for me? Let’s share and help each other out! <3
Lots of Love,
Lynn
#OOTD: My Christmas Look
Published Date : December 23, 2015 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : #OOTD, The Styling Files
Finally, the Christmas days are starting tomorrow! I’m sure all of us had some small dramas about what to wear, and I am very curious which outfit you went for in the end! Last week you were already able to see a sneak peek of my Christmas Eve outfit and now I am sharing all the details, I hope you like it :)
What I find tricky about Christmas outfit’s is mainly the color combination because there are so many possibilities. Christmas Tree Red & Green… Snowy White, Blue & Silver… Cozy Fireplace Red & Gold… I tend to love all of the combinations and start mixing them up, which doesn’t always result in the best outfits. This Christmas I’m going for a classic safe Black & Gold: a classy look with a touch of glam for the special occasion but still perfectly suitable for a cozy family gathering.
So… what am I actually wearing? You might recognize the black ‘pants’ which is in fact my beloved jumpsuit from Loretta Piovano. I changed its look by wearing this beautiful shirt from Zara over it. I love the material; it’s very thin and shiny, which gives an amazing light effect while moving. By combining this straight-on look with my black heeled booties I was aiming for a Balmain-inspired look, powerful yet feminine, do you think I pulled it off? Last but not least… accessories! I’m wearing two bracelets by Quoins which are gold with black leather details and a beautiful basic yet strong golden necklace which emphasizes the neckline of my shirt and makes the golden details pop. BOOM, Christmas I’m ready for you!
I will be out for the coming three days to be with my family and friends, so for now I am wishing you the happiest of holidays! You won’t have to miss me for long though, I will see you guys again soon with ANOTHER Giveaway for NYE! Yes, you guessed it right, I just really love the holidays!
Lots of love and happiness,
Lynn
#OOTD: NYE Glam
Published Date : December 31, 2015 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : #OOTD, The Styling Files
New Year’s Eve… THE night in the year when everyone can shamelessly go full on Glam with their outfit, enjoy it!
This year I decided to go for a sophisticated sexy look with this long black dress designed by Claudia Falcieri Oliver, an upcoming designer from London, isn’t it amazing?! I love how it emphasizes the right parts of my body and makes me look taller, it’s very flattering indeed! Because the dress already gets enough attention on its own, I kept the accessories simple with a small silver bracelet & ring from Lito & Lola and another ring from Amor.
Tonight I will be celebrating NYE at the W Hotel here in Barcelona (Yes that’s right, the same hotel were I also had this amazing #Retox brunch!) Their club Eclipse is located at the 26th floor and has breathtaking views over the ocean, I can’t wait! However, an amazing party can only happen with amazing friends: I am so excited that Christel and her boyfriend are joining me and Alex to celebrate together!
Btw, did you guys know that in Spain they don’t celebrate NYE like they do in the Netherlands? I’ve always been used to running outside in the cold to see the fireworks when the clock strikes Twelve, but in Spain there are no fireworks at all! However, they have a very fun tradition of their own: the famous ’12 Uvas’. With every strike of the clock you have to eat one grape, if you are able to chew all of them down before the clock strikes Twelve, you will have a prosperous year ahead of you! I better get started practicing my ‘Grape Eating Skills’ lol, I’ll let you know how it went!
Have a very good night my dears, and see you next year! ;)
Lots of love,
Lynn
#OOTD: School Chic with Ruitertassen
Published Date : January 13, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : #OOTD, The Styling Files
Bye Bye Holidays, Hello Exams! Since most of my friends are spending their days in the books at the moment, I figured it would be fun to do an #OOTD inspired by the University Look. How to walk to classes while looking effortlessly chic? I got the answer! And there is more: for this #OOTD I convinced Alex to join me for menswear inspiration and I think he did an amazing job. Let’s check it out!
For Her
When you are too busy studying, you most definitely not want to get too complicated with your outfit. Therefore, the first (and very obvious) ground rule for effortlessly chic is: keep it simple! As you can see I went for a basic Zara shirt in combination with a checkered A-line skirt: warm and comfy, but still cute.
The second thing which is important for a chic school outfit are the colors. Black and white is always a safe option, but for today’s outfit I felt inspired by warmer colors: brown and burgundy red. These colors are trending as we speak and I happen to love them, happy me! Is it just me or do they also give a little 70’s touch to my outfit? Anyways, the neutrals are always good for the chic look, so all you have to do is ask yourself: does the color scream? If the answer is yes, don’t wear it as one of your basics. As a fun touch for an accessory? Go for it!
And last but not least: you NEED a bag to drag all your books around, so you might as well go for a cool one! This oldskool leather bag from Ruitertassen really gives my outfit that final touch and is super practical as well. The best part is the fact that these oldskool bags are made with great quality and they will only start looking better with the years, unlike most other bags I ever took to class. Besides, I love the vintage style of the bag because… vintage! Do I need to say more?
For Him
How amazing is it that at the moment it’s trending again for men to suit up and look classy? I’m a fan! Alex is wearing a shirt under his jumper with his tie tucked in (yes, I was inspired by Nate from Gossip Girl) combined with his beige skinny fit jeans. This fit makes the look a bit more casual, otherwise it would go into the direction of ‘business man’ instead of ‘college student’ and that’s not the look we were going for!
For Alex I also decided to go for neutrals with a beige jeans and a grey/blue-ish sweater. However, the combination of different structures and layers makes the look more interesting, just as the small burgundy red detail on his socks! Finally, Alex’ outfit also got its final touch with the oldskool leather bag from Ruitertassen, who do you think wore it better? ;)
#OOTD: Summer Vibes!
Published Date : June 20, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : #OOTD, The Styling Files
Buenos Días!
#OOTD Update: It has been SUCH amazing weather for the past few days here in Barcelona, I honestly don’t even know what to wear because everything feels too hot! Could I just walk in my bikini all day/every day? However, I did find a solution – you know, just in case I cannot actually walk around in my swimwear – … at the moment I am a huge fan of the culotte! They are amazingly breezy, super classy and easy to combine with any kind of tops! I scored mine at the website of ModeMusthaves for just €20,-! My off-shoulder top is from Mango, don’t you just love that Kobalt blue? :)
Since it’s way too hot to wear too much stuff I decided to keep my #OOTD simple with my currently favorite sunnies from Prada, my nude sandals from EGO (seriously an awesome webshop for low priced on-trend shoes!) and my suede nude bag from Martina K.
This week I am graduating from my master in Art Direction and Creative Advertising so wish me luck! I have two projects to finish before it’s SUMMER VACATION! Goodluck to all of you who are also struggling with their final exams!!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
P.s. Thanks for shooting these pics with me Camilo Ospina!
#OOTD: The Grey Trend for this Winter
Published Date : November 25, 2015 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : #OOTD, The Styling Files
Hi there!
Do you already know the new Trend for this Winter? Besides the Layered Trend there is a color we won’t be able to avoid the upcoming months: Grey! I will have to be honest to you guys… I have never been a huge fan of grey, it makes me look so pale. However, after I realized I won’t be able to avoid this color anymore, I decided to dig in and experiment with different combinations.
As you can see not my full outfit is grey, by combining it with another basic color such as black and not wearing anything grey close to my face, I was able to avoid looking pale. Win for Lynn! However… this grey pants from Cortefiel definitely is the showstopper of my outfit by combining not one, not two, but THREE trends! Introducing: the grey, sporty 70’s pants!
As you might be able to see the fabric of this flared trousers is a very soft material which is mostly used for jogging pants… a.k.a. it feels like you are walking around in your PJ’s all day long, can it get more awesome?! In fact yes, yes it can. The cut of the trousers is very flattering for your legs which makes them look super long and thin.
I love how this outfit is in fact super simple, but still is a great fashion statement to wear while walking down the street on a casual day. My currently favorite fedora hat is from Mango and the thin turtleneck sweater is from Primark. To accessorize I am wearing a simple silver ring from Amor and nothing else,, I prefer minimalistic jewelry
I am very curious what you guys think about my Tripple Trend Experiment, especially since neither of them are necessarily my favorite! However, after experimenting and putting this outfit together I might fall in love with these trends after all. I guess the key is to make the trends fit with your personal style, and for me this outfit proves that it’s definitely possible!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
Photocredits go to Luis Lau: www.luislau.com I had a great time shooting with you! :)
Published Date : November 4, 2015 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : #OOTD, The Styling Files
Brrrrr, it’s so cold outside! Thank god for this autumns layered trend which allows us to stay warm during the autumn & winter months. What is the layered trend you ask? It’s a mix of materials, it’s (often) oversized, it’s comfy, it’s warm, it’s creative! The cool part about this trend is the fact that even if you think that it might be too much, it could totally still work if you do it right. Here are a couple of examples from the previous fashion week streetstyles:
These ladies sure know how to look beautiful with all those layers! As you can see: any material, color, print, length, shape or accessory is possible! Popular for this look are tulle skirts, wide legged trousers or A-line dresses in combination with oversized sweaters. This trend is ideal for experimenting and finding out which materials or prints look good on you, and you will stay warm and comfy in the meanwhile!
The other day I went shopping in Mango and put together this simple yet stylish outfit, as you can see the wide legged trousers with the oversized sweater are an important part of my look! Under the sweater I am wearing a white blouse in order to create that layered effect which makes the look more interesting. To give the outfit a personal touch I am wearing my currently favorite black fedora hat with girly braids.
Regarding the print, I went for large chalkstripes in the trousers, something I had never tried before until now! I thought it was a cliché, but it looks so classy and it makes your legs look longer, definitely a print that’s going to stay in my closet! Furthermore I adore the cute laced detail on the back of my supersoft sweater! The heels give the outfit a more feminine feeling. Since you can see no shapes of the body at all, this is a great way to keep your look ladylike.
What do you think about the layered trend? Will you give it a try or are you going to skip it? Let me know in the comments down below!
#OOTD: What I wear on a Day Off
Published Date : June 29, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : #OOTD, The Styling Files
The other day I went for a dinner in the vegetarian restaurant Ale & Hop and I decided to take the opportunity of my available boyfriend to also make some #ootd pics of what I was wearing that day! It is actually really simple, but I love to wear these kind of outfits on a casual day out
I’m still working on getting my coat filled with patches, so if anyone has some good tips for me send me a message! I can’t find any big ones… anyone? Anyways, I love the color combination with grey and army green, definitely recommendable for other blondies out there that need #ootd inspiration!
At this moment I am doing a research on my fav veggie restaurants in Barcelona, of which Ale & hop is one of them! Most of the veggies they grow in their very own garden, and would you have guessed that they won multiple awards for their amazing beers?
What about this #ootd detail: these shoes just came in and I LOVE them! Bustom Shoes let’s people design their own shoes and customizes them, I chose this one from their website but I cannot wait to create my own pair <3
Anyways, this week is 100% about 080 a.k.a. Barcelona Fashion Week! Later I will write a blog with all my favorite designers, highlights, outfits, and more! Stay tuned :)
Lots of Love,
Lynn
#Traveltips: A side of Paris you never knew before
Everyone has their own vision of Paris, but most people think about the Eiffel Tower, the Sacre Coeur, the Champs-Elysées, the Seine, the Louvre… you know, the typical touristic things. Paris is also known as the city of love, the city of fashion, a city rich of culture! But what does culture mean exactly? Of course we glorify the remarkable architecture, classic art and historic tales. But what about the new ones? Paris has a side to it which is actually in full view, but no one seems to see it. Well, actually I think many people see it, but don’t really realize what they are looking at. You must be wondering what the hell I am talking about… I am talking about Street Art!
Let’s face it, at first I didn’t really pay attention to Street Art either. However, after following this fascinating street art tour I won’t be able to walk down the streets like I used to anymore. The passionate tour guide explained us many things about the Street Art culture which I never even had thought about. Let’s dive into my tour with a photo diary and I will talk about some fun facts and some beautiful places to visit!
This beautiful piece of art up here is made by Kensa, an artist from Lyon who works with vinyl records! Don’t you think that must be quite hard? If I would try that probably I would ruin all the Vinyl haha. As you can see there is lots going on around the wall in the picture below. First of all: do you notice that all of the street art is higher than 5m above the ground? That has a funny story behind it! Apparantely the French government only covers your insurance for the first 5 meters, after that they won’t pay for your paint if you want to paint over the grafiti on your wall! Since the street artists don’t want to see their art painted over, they are very careful with this rule and make sure to place it in higher spots!
Furthermore, you can see that there are lots of different artists putting their stamp on the corner of Rue de la Fontaine au Roi. The cute little mosaic guy who seems to come from a Mario game is from Megamat: people often confuse his work with that of the famous Space Invader but this guy is often way more detailed and serious, that’s the trick to keep them apart! The diamond on the right side of the wall comes from La Diamantère: he placed more than 500 diamonds around Paris! Why you must wonder? He just wants to make the city prettier! He started this project during the economic crisis in order to create a feeling of wellness. How considerate of him :) If you look closely, you might also notice a piece of a bike stuck to the wall: this is the work of ‘Ride in Peace‘, who wants to give the abandoned bikes of Paris a new – artistic – life, actual recycled 3D art! Who needs museums?
You might have spotted a funny little octopus in the previous picture as well, and here is one again! The street artist Jeesup is known for placing more than 500 of those babies around Paris, all in different shapes, sizes, colors, expressions, and themes. The reason why they are famous is because Jeesup strategically places all of his artworks right next to the work of other famous artists, so they pretty much function as an indicator. Which brings us to the next artwork: Le Module de Zeer. This artist should seriously hang in museums with his works because they are beautiful! His concept comes from the starting point of one single cell: which keeps spreading. His doodles become art for which he doesn’t have an explanation. He wants you to see and interpret your own reality… how philosophical!
This beautiful artistic street can be found in the 20th district of Paris named Belleville. Fun fact: every truck in this neighbourhood gets covered in graffiti and streetart, this way the artists like to spread their art troughout the city.
The left picture down below is a commisoned work by an artist from Barcelona called ‘El Pez‘: he is famous for his signature fish with a HUGE smile on his face. That definitely brightens up your day now doesn’t it? :)
Fun fact: do you see the street art in the picture above? As you might have noticed someone tagged ‘TOY’ over the Statue of Liberty. This is the way for street artists to mock the others work, as it comes from the abbreviation TOYS: Tag Over Your Shit. This is considered highly disrespectful on the streets and you might want to start a war if you dare to TOY someone else’s street art!
The artworks above are also commisioned and excecuted by the artist Seth: he started out in artschool and traveled around Europe to discuss the concept of culture and art. He loves children and especially to teach them, which we can also see in his artworks. His signature is children going trough portals or looking in a direction of which the spectator can only guess what can be seen on the other side… mysterious and calm. The reason Seth is respected as a street artist is for his skilled shading, extensive detailing and his respect for the environment.
Yay! we spotted another octopus from Jeesup there! If you look closesly you see why: under the octopus there is an original artwork from the real Space Invader hidden! Almost in camouflage blending in with the grey walls.
Another comissioned wall that we passed by on the tour, and perhaps my favorite! Not only are the colors beautiful, but it’s amazing to see how all these seperate artist can make completely individual works but still blend in with the rest. Hopare, the artist who was the creative director for the project, is the one responsible for the artwork up here, the one of the woman looking up. I mean… WOW! He is just 25 years old and is known for his incredible details, figurative and linear style and the photographic elements in his artwork. He was never schooled in art and developed his style completely on his own… I can’t wait to see more of him in the future! The best way to end the tour, without a doubt!:)
Funny! After the tour was over, we spotted another Space Invader on our way to the Metro! Walking around Paris will never be the same again… ;)
What do you guys think about streetart? Will you be paying more attention from now on? Let me know if you spot something cool!
Even though the life of a blogger is not as glamorous as one might think (especially after seeing all the cool stuff we get to do), I really would never change my decision on becoming a blogger. Yes, it is though, with a lot of competition and few sleeping hours. But I get so much adventure in return: like paris fashion week for example! In this one year as a blogger I learned some of the most important life lessons till now and met amazing people…. I cannot wait to see what next year will be like!
After Amsterdam and Paris, last week it was time for Barcelona Fashion Week! Better known as 080, this fashion week is all about offering a platform to upcoming designers and new talents such as Justicia Ruano and Krizia Robustella – two of my favorites shows this season! The first day started good when my outfit (and also Alex’ look!) immediately got noticed by Flash Moda from the Spanish national TV Channel as soon as I walked in! Down here you can see the part where I get interviewed, for the people that don’t speak Spanish: I’m explaining that I’m wearing desings from the local brands Valentina Garí and Maria Roch, and of course my beloved oldskool bag from Ruitertassen!
My favorite show to see that day was Miquel Suay with an amazing menswear collection based around the concept of balanced infinity: elegant, graphic and comfortable!The second day was lots of fun: I met lots of amazing people and the shows were great! It started off with the catwalk presentation of Krizia Robustella, who brought back the hiphop 90’s on the song ‘no diggity‘. After that it was time for Punto Blanco to blow us away with underwear and pyjama’s based on the ‘Superman vs. Batman’ movie theme, sexy and fun at the same time: winner combination! My third favorite of this day was Sita Murt: an established brand which stands for timeless and classy femininity, what’s not to love?!
Today I was also spotted by the press, lucky me! I was asked for an interview for El Periodico (the national journal in Spain) to give my opinion on the 080 Fashion Week in comparisation to other fashion weeks like Paris and New York. They also loved to hear about my outfit, which was again completely from brands in Barcelona! I was wearing some very special trousers from Loretta Piovano in combination with my navy blue coat of Maria Roch and the most adorable clutch from Sarah’s Bag which I scored at Passage BCN! Check out the short article here:
Also I was very happy to meet one of my favorite models backstage one of the shows: Zhenya Katava! Isn’t she gorgeous?!
My last day at 080 I was wearing this beautiful velvet 70’s outfit from Ay Si! Barcelona in combination with my body from Boohoo.com and the most adorable bag from Les Petites Joueurs which I got from Passage BCN. I just LOVE everything about this outfit, don’t you?! Also, I was very lucky to spot the model Sam Steele – the shining star of the Punto Blanco show – in the photobooth in between shows and take a quick snapshot with him, oh my goodness!
It is hard to chose my favorite shows from this day because there were just so many good ones! Of course there was the most important show of 080: Custo Barcelona, which was happy as always with many colors, patterns and textures. However, I might prefer some of the smaller designers such as WOM & NOW, Lebor Gabala and Justicia Ruano. Why you might ask? Probably because I wanted to wear pretty much every one of their designs when I saw them walking down the runway, and the styling of the looks was simply amazing!! Even though 080 was missing two of their biggest catwalk presentations this season (Mango and Desigual both decided not to show this time), there was still more than enough talent to admire these days!
Unfortunately I couldn’t visit the last two days of 080 because I was busy shooting an editorial, which is going to be supercool by the way! Anyway, I can’t wait for next season, when I will be able to show off my summer outfits!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
1 Week Out of my Life: A Photo Diary
Published Date : May 25, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
Hi there!
Don’t you wonder sometimes… what do models and/or bloggers actually REALLY do?? Many people ask me what a ´normal´ workday looks like for me, which I always find hard to answer because there is so much variety! This week you will be able to tag along with me with this Photo Diary to see what I do on a daily basis: get ready because I’ve had a crazy week! One spoiler: It involves 2 countries and 8 cities
Sunday 15 May:
8.00: Getting up early on a sunday, YAY this is great! Not really, but I am very excited about the shoot I will be doing today. I am meeting up with a Dutch photographer called Mark van Velsen: we have been wanting to shoot together for 2 years already and now he happens to be on vacation in the Costa Brava. Not an opportunity we can miss obviously!
10.00: After breakfast, packing all the clothes (I prepared the styling for this shoot myself and I am SO happy with it!), running around to see if I forgot anything, me and Alex finally get into the car and start driving towards Calella.
13.00: After we had some problems with finding a good location for the shoot, we eventually ended up in Platja d’Aro. This was quite further than planned, but it´s beautiful here! Let´s get this shoot started!
21.00: After shooting 8 looks on gorgeous locations we are finally done! We had a blast, the results are going to be awesome, but now it´s time to start driving home and have a verrryyy late dinner.
23.00: Cooking up a pasta salad and chilling a bit on the couch before going to bed….
4.00: Ups we fell asleep at the couch, perhaps better to get up and actually get into the bed haha. Goodnight!
Monday 16 May:
11.00: Ups we overslept 1 hour, I guess yesterday was a long day so that´s fine. Today I have nothing on my planning, so we take an easy breakfast and shower.
13.00: Time to check my mails and send out some messages. I printed out my flight tickets for tomorrow and checked the backstage pics we made yesterday, cool!
16.00: Getting my lunch and hopping in the car to Barcelona (in case I forgot to mention before: I was in Sant Cugat at the house of Alex). We also passed by a beautiful shopping center in Gloriès to check out some shops and make pictures!
21.00: Last preparations for my departure of tomorrow! Packing my suitcase and doing my last-minute checks. I’m going to bed early today.
Tuesday 17 May:
6.00: Getting up early to catch my flight to Alicante, I’m sleepy but at least I got an extra hour while flying.
12.00: Once arrived we drive to our Bed & Breakfast for some food and we get on our way to the shoot location. The next two days I’ll be shooting with the Belgium Photographer Thierry Goovaerts!
15.00: I am really enjoying the car trips because of the amazing views here, and the temperature is so nice! The shoot location is a beautiful beach and we are ready for making some awesome shots!
21.00: Shooting time is over! Let’s pack up everything and drive home, I am tired!
0.00: Okay so we got lost and it took longer than expected, but we made it! In the Bed & Breakfast there is a Paella Party going on and we decide to join to get some food and a drink. Later on I set myself on the couch to quickly answer some mails.
2.00: I will most definitely sleep like a baby right now, goodnight!
Wednesday 18 May
8.30: Goodmorning! I’m feeling fresh and ready for the next shooting day, we all meet up for breakfast and discuss the schedule for today’s shoot.
11.00: We are going through the styling for today while getting on my make-up. The shoot starts at the Bed & Breakfast because they have a beautiful garden.
16.00: Okay awesome, we made some amazing shots! Now it’s time to move to the next location and pass by a supermarket on our way there because we are HUNGRY.
19.00: I would have loved to stay longer on this beautiful location – another beach – but unfortunately it’s time for me to go; I have a plane to catch! Shoot make-up and wet hair included, I’m on my way to the airport to fly back to Barcelona.
0.00: Finally home! I’m tired but I have to eat something, clean myself up, and repack my suitcase for the Netherlands, where I’ll be flying to tomorrow. I hope I’m not forgetting something…
2.00: Sleepppzzzzzzz….
Thursday 19 May
8.00: Getting up and preparing for my flight, also still had to send out some other mails and take care of my blog & social media. For breakfast I’m having my all-time favorite muesli with yogurt and fresh fruits.
12.00: On our way to the airport! Alex is dropping me off because he is such a sweetheart. One bummer though: it turned out that the plane had a delay of 2 HOURS! Bored bored bored…
17.00: Arriving later to Amsterdam than expected so now I have to hurry! I’m going straight to Amanda’s house (where I will be sleeping this week, thanks hon!), change outfit and repack my suitcase. Within an hour we are on our way to the 2 events we are attending today!
19.00: Men Today was having a great party with drinks, fashion and fun people! Unfortunately we couldn’t stay long because we have to drive to Rotterdam for the opening of The Loft in the NHow Hotel in Rotterdam.
21.00: We arrived in the hotel and first chilled in our hotel room a bit, dressed up, had a drink, and went downstairs: It’s party time! She is vlogging her way through the event while I’m busy making pictures for my Photo Diary!
0.00: The event in The Loft is over, but the party isn’t! We moved over to the city center to have extra drinks, chats, dance and get to know the party scene in Rotterdam.
5.00: Back in our hotel room after too much drinks and the unwise decision of eating some McDonalds, but it was so good though! We are quickly going to sleep because we have to get up early again x.x
Friday 20 May
9.00: Time to get up already! We quickly take a shower and get ready because I have to be in Amsterdam again at 12.30! Traffic isn’t helping today…
13.00: Yay, it’s time for the Hunkemöller Ambassador Event! I am SUPER excited! In Amsterdam I’ve met up with Lucas, who is going to be my videographer for today!
16.00: After a brainstorm session on the newest Sport Collection now it’s time for a beach shoot in Hunkemöllers’ newest bikinis, and they are so beautiful! It’s a bit cold but the location is so beautiful that I keep running around to make even more pictures and videos for the photo diary:)
18.00: The bus is going back to Amsterdam, thanks for choosing me as your new ambassador Hunkemöller, I’m so excited! Now it’s time to keep moving to the city center for a party of Harley Davidson with Amanda and other lovely people!
20.00: The party moves to another bar, where we hang out till we go to the Supper Club to celebrate Manou’s & Desy’s Birthday!
3.00: Back in Amanda’s place and straight to bed!
Saturday 21 May
10.00: Taking it easy in the morning with a nice breakfast, social media, freshing up and packing my little suitcase for today.
14.00: On my way to visit my sweet friend Christel this weekend! In the train I have some time to answer mails and messages: 10 points for multitasking!
16.00: Christel is picking me up from the train station and gives me a tour in her parent’s home, which I found awesome because it’s a goat farm! After dinner we go for a drink in her hometown and catch up all night :)
1.00: Ups it got a bit later than expected! Time for a quick shower and off to bed because tomorrow we are getting up early. Totally forgot to make pics for my photo diary today because it was so relaxed, sorry guys! Here is a cute pic of me and Christel anyway <3
Sunday 22 May
8.00: Getting up early on a sunday AGAIN (whyyyy always on sundays?!), getting breakfast and in the car! Christel is driving me to the studio of Ivor Paanakker: the photographer I’ll be shooting with today.
10.00: We are first getting some tea & coffee while waiting for the full team to arrive, then we go through the concept and the looks. The jewelry designer had a great idea: why don’t we do a duo shoot with Christel as the second model? Hell yes! Great idea, let’s do this!
20.00: After shooting some amazing pictures everyone is super excited and we are on our way out. Christel drops me off at the train station and I’m on my way back to Amsterdam.
22.00: Yay, back at Amanda’s place! My hair is all messed up so I need to take a shower right now. In the meanwhile she made a delicious salad because I was sooo hungry. Once I’m good, I check my notifications and fall asleep in the middle of a mail, ups.
1.00: It’s Amanda’s time to go to bed so I quickly put on my PJ’s, go through my beauty regimen and join her. Happy and tired after a long but exciting week!
Pfiew, that was a long week wasn’t it? Did you like my photo diary? People have been asking me why I wasn’t super tired all the time, and I will tell you why: I LOVE WHAT I DO :) The only way you are going to survive in the fashion world is by having a huge passion for your job, endless creativity and excitement about new opportunities. You know what they say:
“Choose the job you love and you will never work a day in your life”.
Lots of Love,
Lynn
10 Nutrition Tips for better workout results
Published Date : February 19, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Model Stories
Since the last time we talked about the right workout gear, it’s time for the next step in our journey to better workout results: your eating habits. In order to get the body you want, you will have to work on the outside as well as on the inside, for which the right nutrition is vital. I talked to model coach Paultje Column for some tips.
“For starters”, Paultje says, “we have to stop fooling ourselves, we know exactly what is healthy or not if we think about it.” I think he secretly has a point, but a couple of nutrition tips never hurt! Let’s see what Paultje had to say.
1. Drink a glass of water with ever meal, no exceptions!
2. Eat 30-50 grams of fibers ever day.
3. Eat your calories, don’t drink them! No more smoothies or juice detoxes.
4. Make sure you get good breakfast every day to jump-start your metabolism.
5. Stop guessing proportions, start measuring your food in order to make sure you get exactly what your body needs. Educate yourself!
6. Get your proteins within an hour before you train (max), or 30 minutes after you train.
7. Not feeling active before a workout? Drink black coffee: it will give you energy to train harder. Plus, it will make your metabolism work faster as well. Double win!
8. Eat light before you train and a full meal after you finish: it’s better for your body and it will feel so much more rewarding.
9. There is a difference between being hungry or having cravings. If you aren’t really hungry drink a glass of water.
10. Start eating less, more often. Preferably small meals or snacks “every 2 hours.
Finding the right balance in our nutrition is a constant struggle, but of course we are allowed to have cheat days! Whenever I go to workout I eat a banana and drink a coffee beforehand, and afterwards I love to eat pasta or rice dishes to really nurture my muscles. But nothing beats my true beauty secret: liters, liters and LITERS of water (literally, 2-3 liters per day), I couldn’t say it enough. At first it was terrible because I had to pee like, every 5 minutes. However, now my body got used to it and I can see my skin and my body look so much better.
Which nutrition tip was the most useful or interesting for you? Do you have any other questions? I will try to answer them for you!
Published Date : October 3, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
Nooooooooo, Summer, don´t leave us! It is always hard to say goodbye to long and sunny days, while dreading the cold winterdays. But hey, let´s give it a positive twist this time! Sure, summer is pretty awesome… but autumn has a completely different charm.
1. Cuddling up in your Blanket is soooo good
2. Beautiful Autumn colors!
3. Did I hear anyone say Hot Chocolate?
4. Or even better… Pumkin Spiced Latte???
5. And OF COURSE you NEED to go shopping to score some Autumn outfits
6. New Netflix Seasons #yaassss
7. The clock will go back 1 hour, so more time to sleep!
8. We get to look forward to the newest Halloween prank videos from Jimmy Kimmel
9. Fal Food… mmmmm
10. New season, new chances! The perfect reason to start fresh again :)
What is your favorite reason to welcome back the Autumn?
10 Signs you are in a Model Apartment
Published Date : March 5, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Model Stories
As a model you stay in different model apartments all over the world. This makes you able to gain a lot of new friends who are all doing same thing as you. It’s very convenient to stay in a model home if it’s your first time in the city you’re going to, because the girls that are staying there can show you around and help you with everything. Also, you don’t have to find a place to stay by yourself, because your agency arranges everything for you. I’ve met such amazing people by living in model apartments and I have really good experiences, but there are also some typical signs that show that you’re in a model apartment. Keep reading!
1. Old comp cards spread around, these could be from 5 years ago … are these girls even still modeling??
2. Russian or Polish cosmeticsleft behind in the bathroom (I really don’t know why it’s always the East-European)
3. Rules on the fridge (or basically all over the walls)
4. Garbageeverywhere (and who is going to clean it up?)
5. Bunk beds, to fit as many tall, slim models in the tiny rooms as possible.
6. Mismatched furniture, it’s probably too much effort or too expensive to buy matching ones.
7. A fridge full of kale, avocado and eggs. I don’t think I have to explain this one ;)
8. Random black heels and nude thongs in the back of a closet and nobody knows from who they are.
9. Old portfolios, because a lot of girls leave theirs at the apartment when going home. (Believe me these things are f*king heavy!!)
10. Dirty dishesin the sink, because if one person leaves their used plate or pan in the sink .. why would you wash yours, right?
Would you have ever guessed that our apartments look this messy? What else would you like to know about the life of a model? Leave me a message and I’ll write a blog about it!
Are you the type of person that already starts singing christmas songs and decorates the christmas tree in November. Good, you’re in the right place. After last year’s Christmas Gift Guide it’s time for an update! Here are 10 things that every girl wants. Keep reading!
1. The Perfect Cup
Winters are for long tea dates. We cannot miss the perfect cup for the occasion! A touch of humor, cuteness or a good sense of style is ALWAYS welcome. Here are two awesome options:
A new year, a new start right? With a stylish new watch you will make sure she makes the most off her time. Olivia Burton has many unique watches which will blow her away. Check these out!
4. A Polaroid Camera
Polaroids are THE way to capture your memories and get up those nostalgic feelings, especially around the holidays. You can pretty much score these cute Fujifilm Instax Mini cameras anywhere online. However, I’m a big fan of Bol.com, so that’s a personal recommendation!
5. A Fluffy Onesie
No matter what age, every woman likes to feel warm and cozy. Especially during the icy winterdays. Don’t know the right size? Not a problem, these babies are allowed to be oversized, so XL please! I shop my favorite onesies at the Hunkemöller
Smelling nice is never out of style and women can never have enough perfume! Sure we have our favorites, but we can also choose a completely different perfume each day depending on our mood.
8. Custom Made Coupons
You can order them online OR make them yourself with your own coupon ideas! Super cheap but super personal and cute.
9. Quick Cheat Meal Recipies
Learning how to make a brownie mug cake withing 10 minutes and without making too much mess? Ehmm…. hell yes please?! Every woman needs this book.
10. A Personalized Shopping Date
That’s definitely something women like: shopping! Instead of buying clothes that she might not like, make a cute gift card where you offer her a shopping date: go on a trip together and hunt down the perfect items for her. To make it even better you can even go to a different city and turn it into a mini city trip with a nice lunch and/ or dinner. She will love it!
Ladies, what do you think about this Christmas Gift Guide? Do you think I made some good suggestions? Let’s make everyone happy these holidays!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
P.s. Did you like this post? Make sure to also check out some gift ideas from last year, they are timeless!
10 Ugly Christmas Sweaters I need RIGHT NOW
Published Date : November 30, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : The Styling Files
Oh yes… tomorrow it’s finally time for the ‘jolliest’ month of the year… Christmas is getting close! My family and friends already know that I start playing Christmas music as soon as possible, and spend my days singing and dancing to it while decorating the house and cooking christmasy food. Ironically, I don’t have ugly Christmas sweaters yet. And it’s time that’s going to change! I’ve been doing some digging, and these are the Ugly Christmas Sweaters I’m going to hunt down this month:
This is such a cute gift idea! I see a DIY project coming up…
Again… This doesn’t look all too complicated. Maybe I can even throw a DIY Ugly Christmas Sweaters Party! Who’s in?
Okay yes… this DIY party is definitely happening
A somewhat more subtle sweater, but look at that cute little nose <3
Asos has some pretty nice options on their website
I’m pretty sure this sweater is made for me
Glitter Rudolph! Pluspoints
Your Ugly Christmas Sweaters cannot miss the 3D effects!
Cool Santa!Okay this one isn’t for me… but how cool would it be if I’d get Alex in one of those?
I’m still deciding about which is my favorite ugly Christmas sweater, what about you?
Lots of Love,
Lynn
10 Ways to be Happier + Mini Giveaway!
Published Date : April 17, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
Happiness, everyone wants it but it seems to be something which is hard to achieve in our current society of overachievers. However, did you know that around 40% of our happiness is within our own control? Time to get active and chase our own happiness now shall we?!
1. Practice Gratitude
This seems to be quite simple, but it makes such a huge difference! Personally I’ve really noticed the difference since I started writing down my daily highlights before going to sleep. It gives you a positive outlook on life and a better goodnight rest. Also try to express more gratitude towards the people around you: say thank you, write a letter, tell people why you appreciate them. It will double the happiness!
2. Exercise more
I know I know, all of us feel kinda lazy about going to the gym, but once you are exercising your body and mind have the time to take a break from daily life. Afterwards you will feel proud of your achievement and on the longer term you will feel healthier. Also notable: why should exercise be boring? Try to look for a sport which you enjoy and it won’t be hard to motivate yourself! Besides, you won’t have to exercise for hours, research has proven that 10 minutes can already be enough to give you a happiness boost!
3. Help Others
Practicing gratitude isn’t the only thing that makes you happier: receiving gratitude is just as effective! Be thoughtful towards friends, family, strangers, animals… anyone! Share kindness and enjoy the magic called “Karma”. Do some volunteering projects, help someone in need, give a homeless person your lunch, give compliments… really there are so many ways to make someone smile!
4. Fake it till you feel it
Every now and then it’s inevitable you are feeling a bit down, so what to do? Feelings follow actions. If I’m feeling low, I deliberately act cheery, and I find myself actually feeling happier. It might feel weird at first, but try smiling and laughing out loud: at first it feels unnatural but this strategy is uncannily effective.
5. Do new things
Challenge and novelty are key elements of happiness. The brain is stimulated by surprise, and successfully dealing with an unexpected situation gives a powerful sense of satisfaction. People who do new things―learn a game, travel to unfamiliar places―are happier than people who stick to familiar activities that they already do well. I often remind myself to “Enjoy the fun of failure” and tackle some daunting goal.
6. Music Therapy
This is a tactic which works incredibly well for me! Sometimes we like to drown in our moodiness by putting on some blue songs: you should do the exact opposite instead! This comes pretty close to the ‘fake it till you feel it’ tactic since you will – sooner or later – take over the happy vibes you get from the music you are listening. Make a playlist with cheery music and put it on during the moments you need to cheer yourself up, it works like a charm.
7. Learn to let go
First I always wanted to make sure I vented all bad feelings before bedtime. Studies show, however, that the notion of anger release is nonsense. Expressing anger related to minor, fleeting annoyances just amplifies bad feelings, while not expressing anger often allows it to dissolve. So before you express your anger/ frustration think to yourself: is this really worth my valuable energy? Is it worth the negativity? Choose positive vibes whenever you can!
8. Take care of yourself
You know those airplane instructions where they tell the parents to first help themselves to an oxygen mask before they help their children? Life in general is pretty much the same. How are you supposed to be effective at work/ help other people/ be happy if you can barely hold onto your basic needs? More than enough researches have proven that sleeping well and eating healthy are vital elements for our happiness: so don’t be too hard on yourself and see it as an investment in your health and happiness to eat and sleep good!
9. Spend on quality over quantity
They say money can’t buy happiness, which is very true! But every now and then investing on a quality product which will honestly make your life better/more fun will most certainly increase happiness! Think about a good camera to capture your memories, an experience which you will never forget, the dress of your dreams which you will wear over and over again, and so on. Furthermore, try to spend less on yourself and more on others! Research has proven that you get happier while buying something for someone else.
10. Take Control
Some people assume happiness is mostly a matter of inborn temperament: You’re born an Eeyore or a Tigger, and that’s that. Although it’s true that genetics play a big role, about 40 percent of your happiness level is within your control. Taking time to reflect, and making conscious steps to make your life happier, really does work.
To help you guys get into the mood for a happier life, this weeks’ mini surprise giveaway will be the book of Barbara Ann Kipfer: THE HAPPY BOOK! In case you can’t come up with reasons to be happy, she has 14.000 suggestions for you. A perfect book to read a page from every time you are feeling a bit down, or to get positive vibes from before you go to sleep.
Congratulations….. Kaylie Slagers! This cute little book will be yours very soon, so make sure to check your inbox for a mail :)
For the rest of you lovelies, don’t worry I got you covered! In case you are searching for some extra reasons to be happy (or you’re just looking for a good laugh) you definitely have to check out this Buzzfeed Blog: 27 Excellent Reasons to be Happy. I swear I was laughing out loud most of the time while reading it (especially nr.8), I personally guarantee it will bring a smile to your face!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
10 Ways to spot a Burnout and 11 Ways to handle it
Published Date : February 24, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : BlondieTV, Business Hacks
Hey everyone,
As you might have noticed, the fashion week season is in full blossom, yet I am hanging around in my comfy home in sunny Barcelona. In case you might wonder why: for the past few weeks – or even months – I’ve been under a lot of pressure and I decided to take it easy this season. I’ve been doing some research and I came to the conclusion that I’m on the edge of a burnout due to an overload of expectations, workload, pressure and perfectionism.
“But you’ve been doing great! What happened?” Exactly, I’ve been doing more than great all these weeks. In fact, I’ve been doing SO great that my current workload is around 75 hours a week, not counting the other hours I spend thinking about work on the side (I’m not even joking, I’ve been keeping track of my hours). It would be lovely to already earn enough money to hire people to take on a part of that workload, but as long as I’m not there yet, I’m on my own. And since I want my work to be top quality, I will not stop working until it’s perfect. Competition is though, can you blame me?
I was doubting whether I should write about this, or even let anyone know that I might have issues since the world of social media is supposed to be perfect. I neither wanted to give the idea that I’m trying to get compliments or attention with this: I simply figured that since my blog is supposed to be about me helping people with my personal experiences, it would be hypocrite of me to leave out the negative things. And who knows, maybe I can actually help someone by talking about my own experience. Especially in the world of creative freelancers I am sure there are more of you out there that are on the edge of a burnout, since we never seem to be able to stop working. So this one is for you: let’s get better together! In the video I talk about everything you need to know, but in case you want to read more details, check out the text below:
First of all, it’s important to know which factors are likely to contribute to a burnout:
Poor work/life balance
Lack of resources, training or support needed to do your job
Stressful workplace dynamics
Being engaged in work that you don’t find meaningful or important
Failing to implement proper self-care (exercise, eating well, etc.)
Perfectionistic tendencies
Secondly, we have to find the indicators of a burnout in order to recognize whether we are dealing with one, so I did some research and made a list of the 10 most common symptoms.
1. Inability to stop thinking about work
Obviously it’s normal to think about work in your free time, but as soon as it becomes obsessive you might want to consider taking a couple of deep breaths and CHILL.
2. Constant exhaustion
Waking up exhausted every day, no matter how many hours you sleep? Do you feel constantly like you are at the end of your resources, emotionally as well as physically? Besides the fact that this is a symptom for a burnout, it also is for other health problems… so get yourself checked!
3. Poor job performance
Even though you always used to rock your job, now you are feeling too tired and can’t seem to concentrate on your tasks anymore. You’re procrastinating and secretly hoping someone else will fix the mess.
4. Guilt
Even though you’re constantly (obsessively) working, you still can’t seem to get it right. The load is too heavy or you can’t concentrate… anyway: you feel guilty for not being able to complete your work. Which often leads to working even more. Are we sensing a pattern here…?
5. Mood changes, irritation and cynicism
Burnouts cause emotional exhaustion and a loss of a sense of personal accomplishment, which makes the emotional state unstable. If you’re feeling out of control, it’s easy to take those feelings out on those around you. You may be so overwhelmed by your own issues and exhaustion that minor annoyances lead to intense feelings of anger and irritability. At work you might become cynic and pessimistic, which is characterized by frequent isolation. In short: you are NOT in your happy place.
6. Social Isolation
The combination of exhaustion, depression, guilt and a feeling of failure can lead us to isolate ourselves from others. You start feeling ashamed about your work and you prefer to don’t be around people all too much. I mean… not everyone has to know you are a failure, so it’s better if they don’t see it right?
7. Unhealthy lifestyle choices
You are already exhausted and depressed, who has time or energy for cooking a healthy meal and going to the gym? You might be eating too much (or too little), choose unhealthy foods and stop exercising. You also might be drinking more alcohol than you used to, in order to escape the anxious or depressive feelings. Did I hear anyone say happy hour?
8. Loss of enjoyment in daily activities
Since you are obsessed with your work and performance, you don’t feel like you can really enjoy your daily activities anymore… not like you used to at least. You no longer feel satisfied with your personal life, you might even feel apathetic or fearful… is that the guilt speaking.
9. Difficulty sleeping
Frequently being unable to fall or stay asleep – particularly if accompanied by thoughts of work – can be a symptom of a burnout. You are feeling too anxious to sleep, which makes you even more tired during the day and perform worse at work… and the vicious circle continuous.
10. Stress-Related health problems
People suffering from burnout often experience health issues commonly associated with depression and anxiety. These can include gastrointestinal problems, back pain, frequent headaches and low energy levels. Make sure that the doctor is up to date about your physical, as well as mental state!
So… in case you might feel like you can relate to one of these ten symptoms: you might have a burnout, or at least be headed towards one. So keep reading! It’s time for the most important part: how to deal with a burn out:
1. Reduce known stressors at work
Analyze what are the things stressing you out most about your work. Are they really worth stressing about that much?
2. Make healthy lifestyle choices
Even though you might not feel like it, keep taking care of yourself! Eat well and keep exercising: it won’t be a magic cure-all for a burnout, but it will definitely improve your energy levels and help you cope with stress.
3. Speak with your working environment
Since your burnout is impacting your work performance, it’s important to speak to your boss or the people you collaborate with. Discuss your ideas on decreasing your stress levels as well as increasing the work performance. Don’t forget to be clear about what you need, and how these strategies will improve your effectiveness at work!
4. Take a leave of absence
In case you really can’t handle your work anymore, you should definitely consider taking a break to give your mind and body a chance to relax. If you don’t take time for yourself you will only make it worse, no one will be happy with that!
5. Use your free time for anything other than work
It is typical for people who are on the edge of a burnout to use their free time to get ahead on work, hoping that this will reduce their stress levles during the workday. Research shows, however, that spending your off-hours doing non work-related social and physical activities really help you prevent – or recover from – a burnout
6. Set Boundaries
Be strict to yourself by making sure you won’t take on too much work or spend your free time working. Give yourself rules such as “weekends are free” or “after 20.00 I have to stop working”, and learn how to say ‘no’ to projects which might not be that interesting for you, in order to reduce your workload.
7. Make Changes if necessary
Obviously something is not working the way it should, so try to figure out what it is. Reorganize yourself and your work: compare the concept of your brand/company to your current projects, make a structurized weekplanning to create a better overview and start prioritizing!
8. Learn to Switch off
Sometimes it’s very tempting to ‘just quickly finish this task’, and then new things keep popping up so you completely forgot you were in your ‘off time’. Don’t worry: tomorrow is another day, answering that mail can wait eight extra hours! Be strict to yourself and try to truly enjoy your free time.
9. Ditch the Technology
Okay, I know this is a though one! Especially for the bloggers out there… our phones and laptops are our spirit animals. But at least try this: take – at least – 30 minutes to check your phone after waking up: drink a cup of tea, do some stretching, enjoy a beauty routine, have breakfast… whatever you do, just do NOT touch your phone while doing so! The same counts the 30 minutes before going to bed. It’s not good to have an endless working cycle, it gives so much more stress.
10. Start a new Hobby
A hobby is a great way to get your ‘me-time’ and having fun! It’s the best way to swtich off and to even work on your healhier lifestyle (sporting, dancing, walking, everything counts!). Is there something you’ve been wanting to do forever but never took the time? This is your chance
11. Find support
Avoid social isolation by talking to your friends and family about your current dip. Trust me, they will be more than happy to help you! Let them take you out for a cup of tea, a nice dinner, the cinema, whatever! Any distraction counts. It will feel great to have their support and love around you, I promise.
I hope with this article I was able to help some of you overachieving creatives out there! From now on I will definitely start working on myself: this month I will be posting a bit less, but I will be sharing blogposts on how to make your life easier with tips on organizing yourself, improving your Instagram skills, photography skills and more!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
P.s. For more reading on Burnouts you can check out these sources:
Usually after 21 people start resenting growing older – myself included – but this year I felt differently. You see, one year ago I decided to change my life around and take a leap of faith: starting my own company. Did I study about business? Nope. Did I ever have a blog before? Not really. Did I know what I was doing? Most definitely not. Would I change my decision if I could? Never. Did I learn some of the most valuable life lessons ever? More than I could’ve imagined.
I think my 23rd Life-year might have been one of the craziest rollercoaster rides I have ever had in my life. I’ve been broke most of the time, I had a burnout and managed to get out of it, I moved to another country to live together with the love of my life and had to start from zero, I made new friends and had to say goodbye to others, I was constantly struggling to balance my blog with university and model work, and I am pretty sure I am still going through a quarter-life crisis… I think I could keep going on forever, but I will spare you with further details.
“Why do you call your blog a company? Isn’t that just a hobby?” To answer you shortly? No, no it’s not. I personally underestimated the amount of work that comes with a blog – or let me rephrase that – a good blog with interesting content, nice pictures and social media community (amongst others). So this year I also learned: how to photoshop, how Instagram & Snapchat work, how to develop a personal style, what is Google Analytics, how to do my own administration, how to navigate myself in unknown places, what are the best ways to collaborate with brands, and so on. Maybe these things might not be essential life lessons on their own, but look at the bigger picture: I learned how to be an indepenent grown-up.Did all of these things go well immediately? Hahaha, I think you know the answer to that one yourself.
*verrryyy grown-up… as you can clearly see
But that’s the thing: if I wouldn’t have taken this leap of faith and risk everything to follow my passion, it might have taken me years to learn all of these things. What are those sayings again? “If your Dreams don’t scare you they aren’t big enough“, or “If you think you are in control you are not going fast enough“? If #SpiritQuotes would be a thing, I am pretty sure these would be mine… true life lessons right there. Bottom line is: instead of being afraid of failure, you should be thankful for it and embrace it as much as you can. I know it is really easy to feel down if you fail, but the trick is to look at it positively and ask yourself: what did I learn from this mistake? How can I improve myself with this new information? Admit that failures happen in life (we are all human after all), and consider it an opportunity to do better next time. BOOM, instead of shrinking you are growing. You’re welcome.
Last but not least, I realized that because of my blog I have been on much more adventures in this 1 year than I had in the past 3 years. At first it started off as an ‘I need to visit pretty places to make good pictures for my blog‘ kinda thing. But soon enough I simply became addicted to discovering new places and experiences, I learned how to love adventure. I started hiking in the mountains of Catalonia to find places of which I never even realized that they were there. I traveled to more than 7 countries this year, and I tasted more types of weird foods than ever before (which is impressive since I am a total foodie). I experimented with countless unknown beauty products, hair styles, fashion trends, workout tips and recipies than I ever had experimented with in my whole LIFE. It might sound silly to you, or perhaps you totally understand what I am talking about. But ever since I decided to take this leap of faith I feel SO alive! I feel like I am not wasting a single day, because each day is a new adventure with new things to learn and discover. Good things. Bad things. The Whole Shebang.
Photo by Naelia Salas Amner
Pfiew what a relief, I feel like I’ve been wanting to talk about this whole ‘life lessons’ thing for a while already but I didn’t really know how. I wonder if any of you guys think I am crazy or relate to me in any kind of way… Let me know?
Lots of Love,
Lynn
3 Instagram poses that are WINNING and easy to do
Published Date : March 20, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Model Stories
As a model, I’ve been posing in front of the camera for many years already. Now that I started moving from fashion shoots to streetstyle pics, I obviously use the skills that I’ve gained over the years. Here are 3 poses which will make you look like your best self! You can thank me later ;P
1. Lean Back
Try this out: stand straight and then take one step back with one of your feet. Vital for this pose, is that all of your weight is on the back foot because it makes you stand up straight and creates that effortlessly cool look. Extra plus points: it makes your legs look longer and skinnier. YASSS. P.s. As you can see this pose even works in a seated position!
2. Endless Legs
Who doesn’t want to have Karlie Kloss legs? I sure do. Even though my legs are relatively short, I manage to make them look super long with this easy pose. Just sit down and stretch out one of your legs a big farther than the other. For an extra cute effect, make sure to press your toes down.
3. Over the Shoulder
The main reason why I like this pose is because it gives you a beautiful defined jawline. For casual vibes do a little walk and simply turn your head around. You can also give it some extra fashion vibes by standing strong and facing your chin more down.
Boom! Give these poses a try and you will see your Instagram become even more gorgeous. Make sure to tag me:) Do you have any winning poses that we need to know about? Let me know!
3 reasons why I struggle with going to the gym and 3 ways I deal with it
Published Date : July 2, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Model Stories
It doesn’t matter which beauty perspective you prefer about body types: there’s one thing that is really important. Feeling awesome in your body. We all can’t deny that we gain a little weight during the winter. It’s just because of all those pastries from grandma during the holidays and drinking warm chocolate milk with cream because it’s cold that we gain maybe just a little bit (which is totally worth it btw). Now that summer’s getting closer we all want one thing: get our summer bodies back!!
Get ready to sip on all those Margaritas and Bloody Mary’s while tanning on the beach and feeling super comfortable in your body and even being a little, wait I mean being SUPER, proud of it.
There is just one tiny thing that might cause the tiniest struggle.
The gym.
But hating the gym doesn’t mean you can’t reach your goals!
Actually, I like going to the gym from time to time. But sometimes I don’t feel like going to the gym. Which can have several reasons:
1. When I have to bike to my gym but it’s raining(and in Holland it rains a LOT) even when you least expect it.
2. I don’t like being stared at when I’m knackered and all sweaty. Even though nobody probably cares because, hey, it’s a gym and everyone is sweaty. But still, I don’t like the feels of having the odd feeling that everyone stares at you.
3. When I want to work out, but It’s just too much effort to actually go to the gym. (You have to bike, walk, drive before even getting started)
Well, here’s one thing that’s going to ease your mind: You don’t need the gym to do work outs!
If I’m being honest, I choose working out without being in the gym over working out in the gym. Working out can be SO EASY. Here are 3 of my best tips for working out that made me feel comfortable in my body without going to ANY gym:
1. Before getting dressed and doing anything, I start every day with drinking one glass of water and doing tummy exercises. On my yoga mat in my bedroom or even in my bed! It doesn’t even have to last 5 minutes. It gives me energy and gets me motivated to start the day! 5 minutes doesn’t seem much, but do so every morning of the week and enjoy the changes that you can see in your tummy <3
2. Jumping rope.I swear by it. I bring it with me literally everywhere I go. Since I travel a lot it’s sometimes hard to find a good gym. So I always bring my jumping rope. This is the best work out you can imagine. As a kid I did this a lot and was never exhausted. But when I started it again a couple of years ago I was so super exhausted after 30 seconds.. I know a lot of people can relate to this haha. The thing with the jumping rope is that you have to practice. Start with 30 seconds, have a break, and try again. You will notice that if you repeat this every day or every other day that soon enough you will become a pro a bit more every day!
3. My absolute favorite number 1 work out is: walking. Simply walking. I try to reach the 20.000 steps every day. This seems a lot but I’m quite busy all day. I prefer to walk to wherever I need to go instead of taking the bike if it’s an hour walk or less. If I didn’t reach my goal by the evening I’ll go for a walk on my own in the several parks or woods near my house. (It’s also a really cheap therapy, walking clears your mind<3). You can’t imagine how much weight you will loose by just walking, it has helped me a lot to get in shape!
Do you have some tips for working out without going to the gym? Let me know in the comments below.
3 Surprising Habits from Creative Thinkers + Mini Giveaway!
Published Date : April 30, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : BlondieTV, Get inspired!
Not that long ago I saw this TED video and found it truly inspiring and motivational! Obviously I had to share this with you guys, I had to share the message: all of us have the chance to be great, all we need is a little reminder. In this TED Talk Adam Grant wonders about the question “How do creative people come up with Great Ideas?” He explains about his studies of ‘Originals’: creative thinkers who dream up new ideas and take action to make them happen. In this talk he speaks about three unexpected habits he was able to recognize in Originals:
1. They Procrastinate (moderately)
With his research Adam discovered that the people who procrastinate get more creative ideas because they have more time to think about them in the back of their heads while procrastinating. Besides, the slight pressure of running late makes you think about other options which could work better/ faster and your brain is able to see more perspectives. However, if you procrastinate too long you won’t even have time to get creative so probably your results will be slacking. Make sure to find the right balance!
2. They are Full of Doubt and Fear
Adam explains that there are two types of doubts: self-doubt and ideas-doubt. Self-doubt is paralyzing and makes people scared to follow their ideas. Instead, originals don’t take fear and doubts personal: they realize that bad ideas are a part of growing and that they are still developing themselves. Originals are known for ‘booming’ later than others, because they take their time to think well and keep improving themselves until they are satisfied. The only thing Originals fear more than failure, is the fear of not trying at all!
3. They Fail All the Time
You would say that Originals come up with brilliant ideas and take their time to develop them into perfection. The reality is: they have lots of terrible ideas and simply keep trying till they find something that works. Actually it makes total sense: the more ideas you work on, the higher the chance there is some that works… am I right? So instead of being scared to try something, just go for it and see what happens!
Not only Adam Gilbert has been researching the creative qualities of people. Elizabeth Gilbert (the writer of Eat, Pray, Love) wrote a brilliant book which helps people to reach ‘creative living beyond fear’…. Who wouldn’t want to learn that?!
“Whether you long to write a book, create art, cope with challenges at work, embark on a long-held dream, or simply to make your everyday life more vivid and rewarding, Big Magic will take you on a journey of exploration filled with wonder and unexpected joys”
And guess what? I am going to give away Big Magic to one of you sweethearts! Congratulations…Naomi Rosheuvel!
For others that would love to hear a bit more about Elizabeth Gilbert dealing with her creative career fears, check out her TED Talk from 2009!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
3 tips to make you feel like you're still in summer
Published Date : October 4, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
Sunshine, beach, a nice tan and the cutest outfits. Who else agrees that summer was too short?! My favorite season is officially over… THE season where everything is just a bit better and brighter. Let’s make the autumn bright as well! Here are 3 tips to keep up the happy summer vibes in autumn.
Good vibes only!
In summer it’s just easier to see things ‘on the bright side’. While you’re lounging in a bikini at the beach your problems all seem so small. Try to keep this mindset! Set your mind to being positive and don’t get influenced by pessimistic people that are always complaining. No way anything or anyone is going to ruin your happy vibes! Don’t forget: happiness is a choice.
The ultimate summer playlist
During your vaction you hear new numbers all the time. Try to collect them into an ultimate summer playlist and listen to them on rainy days to pretend you are sipping cocktails in the bahamas. P.s. The spotify playlist that is currently ‘on repeat’ on my phone is US Latin Top 50. SOOOO GOOD!
Get out of that routine
As soon as we come home from vacation, we immediately fall back into our daily routines. Unfortunately, we can’t escape school and work, after which we go to workout, eat and/or netflix our favorite series. Try to break through this pattern! Spend some time outside of your home, go out to dinner, make a walk in the park, meet up for drinks with friends. Keep your life fun and spontaneous!
Do you want to read more summer vibe tips: read the original post here.
Published Date : April 9, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Business Hacks
We have come to a point where IG is more than just a gallery where you share your life with the world. It’s an art piece where every separate detail is a part of the bigger picture. Having a beautiful Instagram feed is vital for your followers growth, but how do bloggers do it?
1. Stick to a Color Palette
Look closely: all the IG accounts that are nice to look at, have a certain color palette. Usually a color palette consists out of 3-6 colors. By sticking to the same colors, your feed becomes more balanced, clean and stylish. It also helps to choose one filter and stick to it in order to make your feed more cohesive.
Always make sure to play with dimensions in your IG. Alternate close-ups with wide angle shots, your selfies with your breakfast and streetstyle pics with outfit details. Keep changing things up because otherwise there is too much of the same going on and it gets boring.
In order to think of your IG as ONE art piece, it helps to always consider your latest 12 posts when choosing a new picture. Make sure there is a balance between lifestyle/ fashion/ details/ personal pictures in order to create a story. Aimee Song from @SongofStyle first published this tip and it has been life changing.
Three life changing IG Blogger tricks: did you already know about them? Give it a try and let me know how it went!
Published Date : April 26, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
Who doesn’t like places which are so photogenic, you could take pics from any angle and it’s still Instagram worthy? I sure do! After extensive brunching for 2 years, I finally selected the 5 most Instagrammable hotspots in Barcelona. Keep reading for the prettiest places and the best food!
This chain of restaurants is very popular among the foodies in Barcelona. All of their dishes are #InstagramGoals and super delicious as well! My favorite location is Brunch and Cake by the Sea because you can sit outside in the sun, 5 minutes away from the beach.
Flax and Kale is one of the most popular Vegan restaurants in Barcelona. They have a huge variety of vegan dishes and a perfect hipster location to match it. Huge windows guarantee perfect light for your pictures.
Some might already know the chain Generator hostels: they love to create design boutique hostels all through Europe. The location in Barcelona is one of my favorites because of their beautiful bar/ restaurant: it’s gorgeous from floor to ceiling.
They might not have a very big menu, but I do have to give them credits: every single dish is absolutely fantastic! My favorites are the Seabass and the Paella.
If this wall isn’t instagrammable, then nothing is. Their smoothies and pancakes are especially IG-worthy menu items, but I also really love their Latin-American inspired dishes. As the name already gives away: they are very “tropico”
This is the first edition of my IG hotspots in Barcelona, but there is more coming! If anyone has tips for me they are more than welcome :)
Published Date : October 29, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Uncategorized
1 stop lying to yourself
2. replace a bad habit with a good habit
What are you currently not doing but should be?
+ What is blocking your progress?
+ What do you want to cut out in your life?
+ What do you want to add to your life?
Bad Habits
Good Habits
Too much work @ Sanoma
Start working less (from 36 to 28 starting from january)
Addiction to Netflix
Only watch Netflix 3-4 days a week. Use other days for something more useful such as reading.
Going to bed too late
Start preparing for bed at 10pm and sleep before 12pm
Not cleaning enough
Clean for 10 minutes before going to bed.
Not learning how to edit videos
Use a Netflix-free evening to practice your skills
Wasting time reading stupid articles and watching movies on Facebook
Think: “do I really care about this stupid video or article?” If the answer is no: don’t read/ watch it.
Keep track of friendships
Reach out to 5 friends each week and schedule 1 dinner per week.
3. plant a seed
Now that you have a list of things that you want to improve, it’s time to go out and actually
implement it.
Don’t choose to do everything on your list immediately. Pick 3 things at most that you want to start
forming a habit doing. Save the rest for later, when you’ve ingrained the first habits into your mind.
Now it’s time to create a system to make sure you accomplish these things. Here are a few options:
1. Buy a physical calendar that you use for your habits only. Each time you accomplish your
goals, put an X on that day.
2. Create a habit tracker in a notebook. For an example, just go onto Pinterest and look up
“bullet journal habit tracker” — you’ll find tons.
3. Create a to-do list on your phone or laptop.
Whatever system works best for you, do it! Use post-it notes, an expo marker on your bathroom
mirror at home, whatever. If you have something that works really well, post it to the comments
below.
The goal of all this is this: for the next month, your #1 goal in life is to NOT BREAK THE CHAIN.
This is crucial. Treat this as a life or death exercise. Whatever you set your positive habit as, do NOT
break the chain. The key to forming the habit over and over is through repetition.
If you miss a day, don’t give up. Keep going as if the missed day never existed.
Who doesn’t love to have soft hair, am I right? As a person who always used to have perfectly healthy hair, but then had it ruined by a terrible hairdresser, I’ve been quite obsessed with keeping it soft ever since ‘the incident’ *dramatic pause*. It comforts me to know that not everything is 100% ruined every time I touch my soft hair, so in the past 2 years I developed certain habits which help me to limit the damage. Keep reading!
1. I wash my hair max 2 times a week
Not only is your hair at its weakest when it’s wet (which increases the chance of breakage), if you wash your hair too often, you remove the natural oils and proteins, causing your hair to dry out quicker (and break faster). How to prevent it from getting oily? Don’t touch your hair too much, don’t brush your hair too often (it will spread the oil all over your hair), or try dry shampoo if you want a quick touch-up.
2. I use conditioner and a mask every time I wash my hair
Before all of you suddenly start doing this, keep in mind: the only reason I do this, is because my hair is severely damaged due to ‘my incident’. If I don’t do this, my hair doesn’t feel as soft, so for me it’s really necessary. Usually I leave them in for 3-5 minutes (which really does have much better results than just 1 minute). If your hair is a bit healthier, try to leave it in shorter or just at the tips of your hair to prevent dead ends.
3. After washing my hair, I use a serum and a de-tangler spray
The serum gives my hair extra care, while the de-tangler spray makes it easier for me to brush out the hair tangles. I usually – very carefully – brush out my hair while it’s still wet, which makes it easier to dry out naturally. Which brings me to my next point:
4. I never blow-dry, straighten or curl my hair
If it’s not for a model job, I NEVER do any of these things – even though I know it would probably make my hair look a lot more stylish and prettier. The long-term damage is simply not worth it for me. The heat dries out your hair and will cause a lot of damage in the long run.
What do you guys think about my tips? Do you have any to share?
Published Date : April 10, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Business Hacks
2017 is the year of the #ladyboss. All around the world women are stepping up their game and being awesome, I love it! Lately I’ve been interviewing many powerful women on their careers, and I started to notice they all have specific features in common. Do you consider yourself a ladyboss? Find out!
1. You don’t see others as competition. Instead, you admire the strong features of others and try to learn from them in order to improve yourself.
2. You are always thinking 5 steps ahead with your plans in order to keep growing continuously. You keep seeing/ creating opportunities and ideas everywhere so why would you stop?
3. You support others whenever you can. This doesn’t only creates positive vibes, but also goodwill, great friends and a strong network: karma really does work!
4. You live for your work because it’s what you love to do most. Some call you a workaholic, come call it a monetized hobby. Either way, you are obsessed 24/7, and you’re loving it.
5. Of course you get insecure and scared sometimes. The trick is: you face your fears and dive in headfirst. You aren’t afraid to get outside of your comfort zone and you don’t mind to learn along the way. No one ever got successful while playing it save all the time. Think about it.
What else do you think is an important feature for a ladyboss? Let me know in the comments!
Published Date : March 19, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Model Stories
Lately I’ve been getting TONS of messages from you guys, asking me for tips on how to become a model. Hopefully this post will give you some more clarity on what it takes to be a model, and how to get started.
Step 1: Find your motivation
Before you start chasing a modeling career, think very well: why do you want to be a model? For the fame? For the money? In that case it’s better to turn around, because that’s not what’s going to keep you determined to keep going. The modeling world is a though place where we are often told we are not good enough, face huge competition, and most of the time we barely earn anything. The model life is not glamorous, so make sure you want this before diving in head-first.
Step 2: Just do it
So you decided that you really want to go for it? Then let’s do it! It sounds so easy but many girls wonder… how? The first step to know if you are cut out to be a model is simple: make some pictures of yourself (or even use vacation photos) and send them to several model agencies. Which agencies? Simply google: “Model agency in *insert your country*” and send your pictures to the first 10 agencies that look professional.
BONUS: If you want to take your photos to a more professional level, ask a friend to make you some ‘polaroids’: pictures of you in your swimwear or tight black clothes that show off your body. Every model has polaroids, which we have to update every 3-6 months. Here are some examples:
Important for good polaroids: at least have one close-up portrait, one half body, one full body – straightforward as well as from the side. Simple clothes and no make-up, agencies simply want to see who you are without any distractions. Last but not least: polaroids are best taken in day light.
As for the physical requirements for models. Here they are:
Length: 174cm-180cm
Hips: 87cm-91cm
Waist: 58cm-62cm
Bust: 80cm-84cm
In the chart on the right you can find a detailed explanation on how to measure your own sizes. These sizes are quite strict, unfortunately. But as long as the fashion world still likes them we have to make sure to fit in. If these sizes are really not attainable for you: the rules for commercial models are a bit less strict, give it a try!
Step 4: Improve yourself
In case an agency took you in, congrats! They believe you have model potential and they will help you developing your portfolio. If not: keep looking for agencies, and maybe even start to organize some photoshoots to practice your skills. Go with friends to make pictures of each other. Or, if you want to try the next step: join local facebook groups of fashion creatives such as photographers, models and make-up artists. Here you can comment on requests for photoshoots. You could even place a post yourself, asking for a TFP shoot with a team.
TFP means ‘Time for Print’. A team will work together in order to improve everyone’s portfolio.
Need some tips to improve your modeling? I had a workshop with the famous Australian photographer Peter Coulson, where he explained everything about model photography (for models as well as photographers). Check out what I learned here.
Step 5: Repeat all of the above
Very few girls have the luck of getting spotted on the streets and rise to fame overnight. Most of us work hard every week to keep growing and become better at what we do. Better pictures, better jobs: it’s a circle that keeps repeating itself. The most important is: if you REALLY want this, don’t give up and keep trying.
Goodluck my lovelies!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
5 things succesful influencers do
Published Date : September 6, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Business Hacks
Last week I wrote an article about what succesful people DON’T do. So you might wonder: what do they do instead? I’ve been working with many influencers and brands in the past couple of months since I started to work for Sanoma, and it became quite easy to pick out the ones that are pleasant to work with and the ones which aren’t. Keep reading!
1. Focus on quality content
If you want brands to keep coming back to you, you have to give them a reason! Don’t try to get off easy by taking one single picture from your phone, but actually try to make a picture as good as it can be. I often send a selection of 3 pictures to the brand, from which they can choose the one they like most.
2. Stay true to yourself
The #1 rule in inlfuencer world: don’t work with brand you don’t have a match with. Agencies will actually appreciate the fact that you say no if you’re not feeling it. Besides, the fact that you don’t like a brand will show in your results AND if your followers know you, they will see that you are being inauthentic.
3. Be Pro-active – Always think 5 steps ahead
Big companies often make year plannings for their collaborations, so make sure to think ahead just like they do. Come up with cool projects/ concepts and share your ideas with brands that make a good match. To give a more specific timeline: you need to start coming up with your pro-active project AT LEAST 3 months before the actual excecution.
4. Work on professional communication
Invest in learning how to write professional (but kind) e-mails and how to present yourself. If you have a concept that you want to pitch, create a small mediakit or at least a stylish looking powerpoint. These brands are supposed to invest money in you, so you have to prove to them you are a professional and that you’re worth their investment.
5. Deliver – Work on your customer service
This kinda brings me back to the blog of last week. Lots of influencers are busy or start to get arrogant as soon as they grow in followers, which often results in bad communication or lazy results. You grew because you worked hard so don’t ruin that now. Consider brands as your clients, and you know what they say: client is king. Lots of brands are still unfamiliar with working with influencers so just be patient and professional with them: send them a couple of picture options before posting, allow them to have 1 feedback round and follow the deadlines.
There is so much to learn, but this is a good start! Is there anything that I missed about working as a succesful influencer?
FINALLY, it’s time for festival season again! Last weekend I already had my first crazy concerts at Pinkpop festival. It was awesome, but I also realized about all the inconveniences that festival campings bring along. That’s why I decided to share my mini survival guide of 5 useful things that helped me through the gross toilets, cold nights and long days.
1. Crazy festival make-up and/or clothes: Festivals are all about having fun, meeting new people and being spontaneous. If a crazy look isn’t a good conversation starter than I don’t know what is. Don’t have crazy make-up skills? Don’t worry, often they offer to do it for you at the festival area. Here’s some inspo:
2. Mini face brush: after all that crazy make-up and partying however, we shouldn’t be forgetting about our skin. I managed to get off all that heavy make-up residues with a small face brush (I used the travel-sized LUNA go from FOREO) which prevented my skin from breaking out or looking fatigued.
3. Mini baby wipes:no more big toilet rolls or tissues. Travel-sized baby wipes (I used the ones from Etos) are perfect for any purse you might take with you to the festival and are super refreshing in many situations. Absolute must.
4. A Flag: everyone who spent time on a festival camping before knows how hard it is to find back your tent in the middle of the night. With a fun flag this problem will be solved in no time, you’re welcome!
Yeh… Goodluck with that!
5. A cape/blanket: This might sound weird but I saw a lot of people walking around with them and it was actually brilliant! During the day, you can use it as a blanket to chill in the grass and in the night when it gets cold you can wrap yourself inside to stay warm. Perfect. I’m still trying to figure out where I can get one, tips anyone?
Couldn’t even find a picture of this brilliant invention so I’ll be sharing some extra inspo: crazy hair works too!
SOOOO ready for festival season now! Where will you be going?
Published Date : March 31, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Business Hacks
Is your CV in the perfect shape and ready to get you your dream job? I’ve noticed that many people don’t really know what’s best for their Curriculum, which makes them miss out on so much opportunities! After continuously working on a better CV since I was 15, several courses on job hunting, and helping countless of my friends with improving their Curriculum and Motivation Letters, it’s my time to help you guys! I structured the most important elements of a winning CV so you can check if you’re on the right track.
1. Visuals Matter
The first and even one of the most important elements of a CV: the presentation. Because let’s face it… are you really getting that job if you can’t even organize your own curriculum? I don’t think so! There are several keys to a visually attractive and organized CV:
A clear distinction between the several categories of your Curriculum. The absolute musts are these categories (preferably in this order): Personal Details, Statement, Work Experience, Education, Extracurricular Activities, Skills, Languages and Interests. If there is space left it would be great to also add references.
Use bold, italic, underlines or font sizes to draw the attention to the keywords and divide sections in your curriculum. Make sure you use them consistently in order to avoid confusion. For example:
Work Experience
2015 Founder and Creative Director, Who is that Blonde
Blog about Fashion and Creativity. Overseeing the overall concept of the website. Researching and writing blogs on a weekly basis. Communication with designers and fashion illustrations for collaborations.
Make sure your CV isn’t longer than two pages. This is a simple matter of prioritizing and writing efficiently.
Save your Curriculum in a PDF file and name it “CV -your full name-“. This is a proper way to present your CV and like this the HR-Department will immediately know from who is the curriculum. Imagine they get dozens of applications on a daily basis, how confusing must it be if all of them are called ‘resume.doc’!
There are always discussions whether or not you should add a picture to your CV. So let me clear that up! In the USA and the UK, it’s recommended not to add a picture because of the anti-discrimination laws (regarding age, race and gender). In other countries there are no specific preferences.
2. Tailor to the Job
We’ve all done it. Whizzed the same CV out to lots of employers to save time… Stop! Take the time to change your CV for each role that you apply for. Research the company and use the job advert to work out EXACTLY what skills you should point out to them. They will appreciate the obvious effort. An extra plus you get if you tailor your Curriculum: it will be automatically up to date, which is very important as well! Remember: if you are looking for a serious job quality goes way over quantity.
3. Get Personal
Don’t let your experience speak for itself: explain why you are the best for this job! Write a short statement (not more than 3-5 lines) on which of your skills fit the job, in what way you are a valuable asset for the company, and also where your motivation for this job comes from. Enthusiasm is the key! Sometimes it’s tricky having to ‘sell yourself’ as it might feel like boasting and dishonest, so where do you find the balance? A great trick is to talk about how other people think about you, for example:
“Enthusiastic, focused and perfectionist… these are three words which are often used by former colleagues and employers to describe me and my work. For me it’s very important to keep developing myself and therefore I am ready to take on the challenge to become your new editor in chief! I have many great ideas about what I can do for your magazine, which I would love to discuss during an interview.”
This works because: you are humble but still talk about your skills; show your personal motivation – which isn’t ‘money’; you tailored the CV for this job because you mention the job position and the company; you make the company curious for your ideas so you are more likely to get invited for an interview. What if you don’t have work experience? Change ‘colleagues and employers’ for ‘friends and family’, they know you the best after all! And what if you don’t have ideas? Do your research! Check the work of others and see how they create value for their company. Check out the work of the company and if there is still something missing or ready to be improved. Don’t be scared to be bold and creative, but make sure you don’t step on their toes.4. Use Keywords
In case you’ve uploaded your CV to a job site so recruiters can find you, keywords are very important. Job titles and buzzwords will help a search engine pick out your CV from the digital pile. In case you are sending your tailored CV to a company keywords are also essential. You should implement the keywords which the company used in its job description into your own CV… This way you mirror their needs in your offer, which is very attractive. An extra plus: by using keywords in your curriculum you communicate information as efficient as possible. Make sure they are active, informative and relevant.
5. Feedback is Vital
The nr. 1 turnoff for a company is to see spelling and grammar mistakes in a CV, so make sure you let someone else check it before you send it! Another good reason for someone else to read your curriculum is to check if it’s really as clear and visually attractive as you thought. If you are working on something for a while it’s normal you don’t have an objective view anymore, so a second check-up is definitely recommendable!
Where these tips useful for you guys? I am considering about offering to help some of you out with your CV so I’m curious to hear if that’s something you would be interested in!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
5 Tips so you can pack even MORE clothes for your vacation
Published Date : July 26, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
Not long ago, I recorded this video for Fashionchick Girls and I loved it so much, that I wanted to share these handy tips with you as well! We are in full vacay mood so in case you are struggling with packing your suitcase, let me help you out! The video is in Dutch but I will write a quick translation down below. Keep reading for 5 tips to help you pack:
1. Organize your Space
Everyone knows how annoying it is to dig in your suitcase, but not finding anything because it’s one big CHAOS. So here’s what I like to do: use one half of your suitcase for clothes, and the other half for accessories/ shoes/ beauty products. This way it’s much easier to find what you need. Extra tip: make sure to put the stuff that you’ll need first on top of your piles. After travelling you are so tired, you will be grateful for it.
2. Bye bye wrinkles
The worst thing of unpacking your suitcase: seeing your pretty clothes all wrinkled up. No iron to be seen? Try taking out the wrinkles by hanging them in the bathroom while showering, or use your hairdryer. The heat/ steam helps!
3. Prepare for your shopping impulses
Always pack a big cotton bag: it doesn’t take a lot of space and it’s ultra light, but it can carry a lot of your stuff in case you went shopping too much on vacation #ups #wevebeenthere
4. Use your suitcase space to the max
Fill your (hand)bags & shoes with your socks and undies in order to use as much of your space as possible.
5. Pack to Match
Choose fashion items which are easy to combine in many ways. This way you can always change up your look without having to carry a 50kg suitcase around.
Published Date : August 20, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Uncategorized
reply fast – a max of 5 workdays
be kind but clear
Be pro-active: already come up with a couple of cool suggestions/ideas. It shows you are willing to make an effort for them and that you are not sending a general e-mail.
Be personal: show that you’ve already thought about a good way to collaborate. Why do you match with this brand and what can you do for them?
Think in service: too often, we only think about what WE can get out of something. However, if you want to work with/for a company, you will have to prove to them you’re worth it. Think about their needs and use that in your communication. The moment when a company understand that you can be useful to them, is the moment you can set up a mutual meaningful collaboration.
Ask Elise for more tips – gebruiken als reference
5 Tips to get more Instagram Followers
Published Date : March 16, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Business Hacks
Hi there!
Something that all of us want, but seems to be so hard to achieve! More Instagram Followers more engagement – and in the case of my sweet fellow bloggers: more influence and collabs. In the past three months I have been experimenting with Instagram and was able to grow my Instagram Followers from 10K to more than 27K! In this blogpost I am sharing the absolute musts which you need for a succesfull Instagram with consistent growth and engagement.
1. Fix your IG Feed: People want to follow you on Instagram if they like your pictures and if your feed is cool. So let’s start with that! First of all, here is an article about 11 Instagram Stars Spilling their Secrets on creating the best photos. Secondly, It’s easy on the eye if the photos you post are cohesive and connected to each other in some way, you can achieve this in several ways:
Always use the same filter
Edit your pictures in a way that they get similar lighting & contrast
Try to stick with a color palette (as you might have noticed, mine is dominantly white & blue)
Balance out the type of pictures you post, don’t post too much of the same things in a row.
Post a neutral picture such as a B&W Quote or a mainly white picture every now and then to make your overall feed more easy on the eye.
2. Use the right Hashtags:If you want to be found by the right people on Instagram, make sure that your hashtags are relevant to the picture which you are sharing. In theory they are pretty much search words, so think well about what type of hashtags fit with your IG and your picture for the most relevant engagement. You should definitely try to see which hashtags work best for you, so go ahead and experiment! Important note: make sure not to use too much hashtags all too often, this might come over as spammy. The Nectar Collective shared some of their favorite hashtags to use to get more engagement and shoutouts, a great place to get started!
3. Regular Engagement: This is kind of a ‘no-brainer’: the more you engage, the more engagement you get in return. Of course not everyone has time (or internet) to be on IG all day long, but at least try to keep your engagement consistent. Like and comment on some pictures every day for 30 minutes, post a new picture at least once a day, and search for new interesting IGers once a week to keep your inspirations flowing and network growing. Good ideas for smart engagement:
Check out the IGers who are similar to you and like some of the pictures of their followers. If they like them, they might like you as well!
Go to the IG of hotspots where you regularly hang out (or where your target group probably goes to) and engage with some of their followers. It shows you have something in common and people will be more keen to follow you.
If you get a shoutout from another IGer, make sure to engage with the people that like or comment on that shoutout. They already liked you, so the step to following will be easier!
4. Tag the right People: If you tag other IG’ers in your pictures it means that your picture will be shown in their tagged pictures, which means: more visibility! Also it will allow you to – hopefully – catch the attention from the IG’er you are tagging: a cool brand, a shoutout page, maybe even a celebrity, or just a friend! No matter what: more visibility = more engagement, and that’s what we are going for. Just like with the hashtags, make sure not to ‘overdo’ it since people will experience it as spammy. Keep the tags relevant to the picture you are posting and keep it balanced.
5. Show Personality: Make jokes, tell people what you’re up to, share your thoughts, and more! In the end, people want to follow you for one of the following reasons:
They personally know you and want to stay in touch
They like your pictures and captions; which means they want to know the person behind those pictures too
They feel like they can identify with you and feel a connection
Either way, for all of those reasons you need to show your personality! There are 1000’s of people with pretty pictures on IG, who are you? Don’t be afraid to share your mind, you will be surprised to see how many people agree with you, laugh with you, or even cry with you. Don’t all of us like to feel a connection, even if it’s with someone who seems to be a stranger?
BOOM! There you go guys: your class on Instagram Followers 101, was there anything new you didn’t know before? Do you have any tips of your own? Share it with the community! For the brands out there: I recently started offering social media marketing and branding services, so don’t hesitate to contact me if you need any help!
Throughout the years I’ve had to travel for work a LOT! On stay contracts as a model, presstrips as a journalist and citytrips as a blogger definitely made me business proof while travelling. Here are some of my favorite tips:
1. Make sure you find the best flexwork space in town
Sure, you can work in your hotel room, but what’s the fun in that? Then you’re in a cool different city without actually seeing anything. I always like to look for a cool coffee bar or a brunchspot to work for a couple of hours. It will give you the opportunity to walk there and see more or the city, plus: after work you are immediately in the city centre for a nice after-work walk!
2. Score a medium-sized travel bag for quick trips
Going for just 1 or 2 days and don’t feel like dragging a full suitcase along? My life definitely got easier (and lighter) once I scored my medium-sized travel bag. I got one from Duifhuizen with a laptop compartment and still enough space to keep necessities for a short trip such as chargers, my camera, an outfit, notebook, make-up etc. Super handy!
3. At the airport: don’t wear accessories and DO wear sneakers
Going through customs takes forever if you have to take off all your bracelets, necklaces and rings. Also, I don’t know about you, but I hate to take off my shoes while going through customs. I noticed that they always let me pass when I’m wearing sneakers. So unless you really need to save space in your suitcase by wearing your heels while travelling, go for sneakers.
4. Have a light-weight laptop
When I just started travelling, I still had my old laptop which was 17 inch. I mean it was a great computer, but it was so heavy! Having to carry it around all the time really hurted by back so I switched to a 13.3 inch laptop with a slim design. Trust me, it is totally worth it!
5. Always take a big oversized scarf
No matter where you go, there is always a chance that it’s going to be cold at some point. Instead of overpacking with tons of sweaters “just in case”. Save space by simply wearing a very big scarf which can also be used as a blanket in times of need.
Do you travel for work often? Let me know if I’m missing some essential tips!
Summer is coming, and so are your next travel adventures! As a person who cannot sit still for more than a month, it’s pretty save to say that I know all the ins-and-outs of living out of my suitcase. Here are 5 tips that I’ve learned through many years of dragging along suitcases everywhere I go.
1. Organize your Space
Everyone knows how annoying it is to dig in your suitcase, but not finding anything because it’s one big CHAOS. So here’s what I like to do: use one half of your suitcase for clothes, and the other half for accessories/ shoes/ beauty products. This way it’s much easier to find what you need. Extra tip: make sure to put the stuff that you’ll need first on top of your piles. After travelling you are so tired, you will be grateful for it.
2. Bye bye wrinkles
The worst thing of unpacking your suitcase: seeing your pretty clothes all wrinkled up. No iron to be seen? Try taking out the wrinkles by hanging them in the bathroom while showering, or use your hairdryer. The heat/ steam helps!
3. Prepare for your shopping impulses
Always pack a big cotton bag: it doesn’t take a lot of space and it’s ultra light, but it can carry a lot of your stuff in case you went shopping too much on vacation #ups #wevebeenthere
4. Use your suitcase space to the max
Fill your (hand)bags & shoes with your socks and undies in order to use as much of your space as possible.
5. Pack to Match
Choose fashion items which are easy to combine in many ways. This way you can always change up your look without having to carry a 50kg suitcase around.
What do you think? Any mindblowing suitcase tips that you’ve never thought of before? Or perhaps am I missing a very important one? Leave a comment!
6 Year Anniversary! 10 things I learned from my relationship
Published Date : July 19, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
6 years… how can they possibly feel like an eternity, but also feel like they flew by in just a second at the same time? It’s still a mystery to me. However, what I do know, is that I learned a LOT about being in a relationship with my dearest Alex. Here’s 10 reasons why we are still going strong. Keep reading!
1. Make compromises: when you step in a relationship you have to realize you are not on your own anymore. Individuality? Having your ‘own life’? Of course! However, the art of a good relationship is finding your own place while maintaining a balance in your relationships, which sometimes requires compromising.
2. Listen and understand: what I see all too often in other relationships (and sometimes still in my own) is that we listen to come up with a reply, not to really understand what the other person is saying. When there is miscommunication or a disagreement, me and Alex really sit down together to see where it went wrong and we try to put ourselves in the position of the other.
3. Work as a team:too often in relationships I see there is one ‘dominant’ partner who completely rules over the other and makes all the decisions. Me and Alex made quite clear agreements on this: the person with the most knowledge on a specific topic has the biggest vote, and the other simply trusts that it’s the right decision. Obviously, I have a lot to say in the relationship hehehe;p (sorry hon, love you lol). The point is: realize that both of you have your own strengths and weaknesses and work together as a team to be even better together.
4. Support each others ambitions:me and Alex are both very ambitious about our future, which often leads to workweeks of 80 hours and not a lot of quality time. Yes, it is tough. But we couldn’t be more proud of each other. Alex is patient with me if I don’t have time to see him for more than a month, and I always try to help him in whatever way I can in order to reach his goals. How we deal with this? We don’t look at the negative side (you never have time for me blabla) but instead look at the positive things (one step closer to your goal, you are awesome!). We are in it for the long haul: what do these few years matter compared to a lifetime?
5. Swallow your pride: sometimes you have moments in your relationship when it gets though and too often we are too proud to admit we were wrong, sorry, or simply want a hug and pretend like nothing ever happened (Alex is definitely better at this than me). Sometimes, you would just LOVE to tell the other how stupid/ wrong he is, but you know it would just start a useless discussion. This is the moment to take a deep breath, be patient and simply ‘agree to disagree’ (I’m definitely better at this than Alex). You see, it’s all about balance.
6. Keep it special: in a long-term relationship you always have the danger of becoming ‘boring’. And I’m gonna be honest here: I would totally choose a night of binge-watching my favorite Netflix serie together over going out to party. However, there are more ways to keep a relationship interesting: me and Alex like to make walks, cook, photography, visit new restaurants (okay scrap that, I like to visit restaurants and I drag him along) and we have a mutual love for beer + pizza nights… just find something you both like to do! However, I definitely hate routines so sometimes I need some extra ‘me’ time to work on myself, but after some weeks I only learn to appreciate him more after being without him for a while.
7. Be grateful: when you’re in a relationship for a long time, it becomes very easy to take the other for granted. You are used to everything that the other does for you so you don’t realize how special that actually really is. Just try to remind yourself every now and then that it is in fact NOT normal at all. For me it helps to listen to disastrous stories of friends, or simply check in to Tinder for 1 day to realize how much assholes there are out there and how lucky I am to have such an amazing person who actually really cares for me. Just remember: real connections are rare to find nowadays.
8. Be reasonable and respectful: sometimes when I hear stories of my friends, I’m like girllll you need to take a chill pill. Women (men too btw) can be SO unreasonable at times because emotions mess up their brains, which results in pointless and simply stupid discussions. Sure, me and Alex get into disagreements sometimes, which is okay. The moment that it starts getting mean, is when it’s not okay anymore because you should always respect the other, even when you’re angry. The moment that I realize Alex starts getting mean, I immediately stop him there and say: “Alex, it’s fine we are disagreeing but there’s no need to get bitchy with me right now” then he looks at me, nods, and rephrases his opinion in a respectful tone. This also happens the other way around when I get too carried away.
9. Never be afraid to be the one who loves most:me and Alex are both very giving in our own way. Whenever we find a way to show the other that we love them, we will always do it. It’s petty to think ‘I surprised him with a gift last week, why isn’t he giving something back’, everyone should simply do whatever they can to show their love! Love isn’t about receiving, true love is about giving, and even sacrificing. However, eventually it always comes around. Just like Karma.
10. Communicate: I can’t express how important this is! Bad communication is the reason why so many relationships fail. We all start assuming things in our head and not talking about our insecurities to our partner because we are afraid to be vulnerable. That’s when frustrations build up and misunderstandings/ fights start to happen. Me and Alex literally talk about EVERYTHING that we have in our minds, even if we are scared what the other might think or feel. Actually it’s our #1 rule: honesty first, no secrets. I promise you: this 100% commitment is the most rewarding, relieving feeling in the world which will make you feel connected to your partner like never before.
These are my 10 relationship tips! Here’s a final thing to keep in mind: Relationships are never defined by how well the good times go, but by how well you handle bad situations together.
7 Lipstick Tricks you didn’t Know Yet + Mini Giveaway!
Published Date : April 24, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Beauty Guru
Hi there darlings!
Isn’t it a beautiful day to feel beautiful?! Lately I have been experimenting with lipstick tricks and I’m finally starting to get the hang of it. I might not be a professional make-up artist, but I sure do love to experiment!
1. Make any Lipstick Long-Lasting
After applying a coat of lipstick, blot it with a tissue. Then use a large eye shadow brush to dust the lips with some translucent powder and apply another layer of lipstick. Repeat twice for the best results. For extra impact: replace the translucent powder for a shimmering powder (such as eyeshadow) to sparkle all day!
2. Same Lipstick, New Color
An unexpected lip gloss can give your favorite lipstick a completely new look each season. Experiment with color combinations and you might be surprised by the results! I love to use my baby pink YSL lipstick in combination with a bight fuchsia for Spring/Summer, while I combine it with a dark purple lip gloss for Autmn/Winter.
3. No more Lipstick Stains!
Okay this might sound a bit silly, but did you know that you can prevent lipstick stains on glasses by (discretely) licking the rim of your glass before drinking? Try it out and be amazed!
4. DIY Lipstick with Eyeshadow
Do you have an eyeshadow color which you think would just be amazing as a lipstick? Go DIY-Style and mix-up the eyeshadow with some Vaseline, and voila! You got yourself a new lip gloss. Even better: buy a lipstick sample box and create your own color-palette!
5. Subtle Lipstick
Do you love your bright lipstick colors but do you think they are somewhat too intense to wear with a casual look? Make them more natural by only applying the lipstick at the center of your lips and blending it out with your fingertips.
6. Bye bye smudged lipstick!
Having your lipstick smudging over your natural lip line is the worst, isn’t it? Try these two steps: apply a clear lip liner at your natural lip lines as a prevention. After applying your lipstick use a thin brush with concealer to fix any mistake (trying to wipe it off with a tissue will only make it worse!)
7. First apply lipstick, then lip liner
Usually people first start with applying their lip liner before filling in their lips with lipstick. However, I’ve noticed that my lips look much more natural when I first apply the lipstick and then the lip liner. The lines become softer and blend in better with the color… give it a try!
Did you already know all of the lipstick tricks? Now that we learned a bit more it’s time for this weeks’ mini-giveaway! A beautiful red lipstick from the Parisian beauty brand Payot!
Congratulations…. Anne Stikvoort! Let’s see if you will be able to use the tricks you learned today :)
You may think it’s a really big step to get a healthier lifestyle. But actually all it needs is just some small adjustments. As a model I’ve learned many useful ones that I’ll be sharing with you now!
1. Get enough sleep. Your body needs to recharge and needs around 8 hours sleep a day.
2. Be aware of what you eat a day. You can write it down, but there are also plenty of apps which let you safe what you eat. I use ‘Lifesum’ for example.
3. Don’t drink sugary drinks. Soda is the worst, drink water instead. This keeps your body not only hydrated, but its also helps most of the time against being hungry. You can add lemon or mint to your class if you think water is too boring.
4. Don’t skip meals! You will be even more hungry by the time you do eat, so it causes you to overeat. The best is to eat smaller portions throughout the day in order to keep your metabolism active.
5. Stop eating when you’re full. I sometimes caught myself finishing my whole plate, just because I liked the food. I started being more aware of if I really need to finish it to be satisfied. This also helps for eating slower, which is good because it gives your body time to let you know when it has enough.
6. Always bring healthy snacks. Wherever you go, always be prepared! Bring snacks like fruit or raw nuts when you go out.
7. Exercise everyday. This doesn’t mean you have to go to the gym everyday. Think about your daily activities, take the bike instead of the car and use the stairs instead of the elevator.
I hope these tips were useful and I wish you the best of luck! Do you have any hacks yourself to make your life healthier? Share it in the comments!
Published Date : February 6, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
Oh yes people, it’s that time of the year again. Valentine’s day is getting close. Me and Alex always get questions about how we’ve been lasting for 5.5 years already despite the long distance between us. So to stay in the topic of looovee this month, we will give you an insight in some of our romantic ideas.
1. Plan a citytrip: me and Alex love to visit each other, or even meet halfway by both flying to a random city for a (long) weekend. We love to travel and discover new places, so it’s the perfect excuse! Not possible to take a flight this V-day? Don’t worry, we got you covered:
2. Get Oldskool:be romantic and send your better half something via post delivery: a love letter, flowers, chocolates… whatever you feel like! And ladies: why wait for the guy to send you something if you could make this sweet gesture just as easily?
3. Date Night: order food from a restaurant with the same cuisine (let’s pretend you’re in the same restaurant) and watch a movie in sync while you comment through Skype. It’s almost like you’re in the same room :)
4. Play 20 Questions: come up with deep conversational questions to get to know your soulmate even better. This really strengthens your bond and assures you won’t run out of topics to talk about.
5. Write “Open when” Letters: write a bunch of letters which are written for special occasions and send them to your other half, that way it’s almost like you are there when he/she is having a moment. For example: Valentine’s Day, birthday, graduation, first day of a new job, new car, exams, your anniversary… and so on.
6. Make a Mixtape: select a couple of ‘your songs’ and all put them all together in a CD/USB. It’s a cute and thoughtful gift which you can both play while you miss each other (or when you’re playing the 20 Questions game)
7. Make a list of what you would like to do together:spend your Valentine dreaming about what kind of things you could be doing when you see each other again. Make a list of activities to do, places to visit, restaurants to try, movies to watch… whatever! You can even take it to the next level by creating a Pinterest board together where you can add inspirational pictures for the future such as interior or vacation ideas.
What do you think about my ideas? Are there any suggestions you would like to try? No matter what: make sure to enjoy your time together (on V-day or any other day in the year), even when you are in a long distance relationship. You can do this!
Published Date : February 27, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Beauty Guru
I’m gonna be honest, I am the clumsiest person when it comes to doing my nails: I always make stains, ruin the polish because I move too much and chip the nails after 1 day already. This is exactly why I realized I needed help. I searched all over Google for nail hacks and tested the most promising ones. These are my favorite tested & approved nail hacks! You can thank me later hehe
1. Make your nail polish dry faster by soaking your nails in ice water after painting them.
4. To prevent the tips of your painted nails from chipping, paint two base-coat layers: one on the top half of your nail and the second coat over the entire nail.
2. No more nail polish marks: put Vaseline around the edges of your nails before painting them to easily wipe away any stray marks without ruining your manicure.
3. Save time polishing your nails with an electronic polisher. Since I started using the MicroNail from Silk’n I saved myself at least 30 minutes per manicure, and the results are much shinier as well!
5. Create a marbled effect by using drops of swirled nail polish and a cup of water.
Choose an accent finger and tape underneath and around your nail to protect your skin. Next, fill a small paper cup with filtered, room-temperature water. Grab two different colors of paint and add drops of each polish into the cup of water, alternating paints each time. Once you’ve added a few drops, grab an open paper clip and swirl the layers together to create the design you want. Then, stick your finger into the cup with your nail facing the paint layer. Holding your finger in the cup for a few seconds, use your paper clip to gather the rest of the paint away from your finger. Pull your finger out of the water and clean up the edges for the finished look.
6. Quickly cover up chipsin nail polish with a coat of glitter. Choose a pattern or apply glitter polish in varying strengths to achieve a faded effect. My personal favorite is the dusty pink glitter polish from Essie and I like to apply it with a sponge in order to create an ombré effect :)
7.Remove stains on your nailswith whitening toothpaste. Scrub it for around 1 minute and your nails are perfectly clean again!
8. Use structures from daily objects tocreate interesting printson your nails. For example: lace, feathers, tape, make-up brushes, band-aids, and so on.
8 Ways to stay more productive when you're tired
Published Date : April 19, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Business Hacks
We all have “those days” when we are just not feeling it. Maybe we are tired from a long week, maybe the workout of yesterday is killing us, or maybe we just had a really good party this weekend. Even though sleep can do wonders for your focus, there are other ways to help you stay productive when you’re exhausted.
1. Take care of your body
A balanced breakfast will give your body an energy boost before work. Think of: proteins, grains and some leafy greens. It’s tempting to get yourself sugary treats, but it’s best to avoid sugar rushes.
2. Break down the workload
If a task looks too big to handle, try breaking it down into smaller pieces. Since you’re tired, you can start with the easier parts of the task. This will help you get more focused and motivated for the harder parts.
3. Limit your caffeine intake
Caffeine is very bad for your energy balance. It’s a great way to start your day, but it’s better to don’t drink more after that because the caffeine crash will leave you feeling even more exhausted.
4. Walk & Stretch
When you start getting drowsy, try to make a walk and stretch. This improves your blood circulation, which transports oxygen to your brain and helps you to focus.
5. Choose the right music
Music can play an important role to keep our minds alert. Having background noises stimulates your brain without distracting it. Freelancers: try working from a café for a change of scenery!
6. Hide your phone
When you are tired, it’s easy to get distracted. A phone doesn’t help! Turn it down or hide it for a while until you finish your tasks.
7. Get some light
Vitamin D helps with battling fatigue and brightens your mood. Take a break in the sun or have your meetings outside.
8. Be gentle with yourself
You are only human, so don’t be too hard on yourself! It’s easier to get moody when you’re tired, so take it easy and remember that you can go straight to bed when you get home.
Bye bye Easter holidays, time to get back to work! Are you refreshed after these days? I sure am! Let’s be productive these days :)
Rotterdam, such a lovely city. I am pretty sure they have the best parties of the Netherlands, and let´s not forget about their modern architecture. Even though I have been there quite often for work, I still felt like I didn´t see that much of the city yet, or knew many hotspots. So when Beautymarket invited me to come over I figured I should make it a day. Let´s go!
We spent our morning and midday getting pampered at the Beautymarket: nails, hair, tanning, beauty treatments… the whole shebang. I thought it was pretty cool that they had such a wide variety of services, I think I could literally spent days in there lol. Oh and fun fact: this was the first time EVER I went under a tanning bed. I always heard that it was so bad for your skin, but apparently their lights have filters so I was willing to give it a try. I can see why people like it now. it’s pretty awesome.
After our beauty treatments we got some make-up on so we didn’t have to walk out in – what we Dutchies like to call – “Blote billen gezichten” (naked butt faces??). Anyways, thank you! Next step: visiting the city.
We made a walk across the river to see the Erasmus bridge from up close, it was pretty nice because it was also time for sunset. Prettyyy:) After that we walked into the city center to see some shops (I bought a HUGE pink suitcase at TK Maxx because my old suitcase broke during my tour) and we sat down for biological fries with truffle mayonnaise (YASSS).
Since it was seriously cold, we decided to walk to the NHow to warm up with a nice drink before heading back home, or rather: to Amsterdam! I had a very fun beach date yesterday which I will tell you about soon!
Do you have any tips for me? I would love to get to know Rotterdam better!
A day in the life of a model + learning how to pose
Published Date : July 31, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : BlondieTV, Model Stories
Last night I was going through the YouTube of Demi and I noticed I didn’t see this video yet, but I absolutely LOVE it! In this particular vlog, we are following Demi during her day (including blogging for me, yay!) and a fashion photoshoot. I also added 5 efficient pose tips as extra inspiration, are you ready to rock your vacation pictures? :)
Starting from 1:30 we can see Demi in the photoshoot. I had fun watching her work uncommon outfits and objects such as papers, old mattresses, a bathtub and more. Do you want to learn about how to pose? This is a definite must-watch! Here are some simple tips to help you get started:
1. Never stop moving: if you move from pose to pose it might look very artificial. However, if you slowly move from one pose to another, there are 100’s of extra shots the photographer can make in between which will most likely look more natural! Which brings me to my next point:
2. Act natural: unless you want to shine in a high fashion editorial, it’s not necessary to get into awkward big poses. Just try to do ‘daily’ movements in slowmotion and you’d be surprised how cool it can look. I often ‘fix my sleeves’, touch my hair, walk around, strap my shoes or look around while I’m posing. Give it a try :)
3. Practice in the mirror: I think this might be the most important lesson. After all, practice makes perfect. Learn which angles work for you, find your ‘best side’ and work on your facial expressions.
4. Find the light:this is quite simple. Shadows don’t look good on the picture and is unflattering for your face. Always try to look or lean towards the direction where the light comes from in order to look at your best.
5. Don’t be scared to try something new: even though it is important to act natural while posing. It is also good to get a bit out of your comfort zone every now and then and try something different. Who knows, perhaps you will surprise yourself and find new tricks/ moves that work! Don’t be shy or embarrassed: trust me, I had a lot of BAD looks, but in the end it just shows you what works and what doesn’t.
There you go: 5 simple yet effective tricks! Have fun with your vacay pics this summer :)
HAPPY NEW YEAR! I’m back with a new Giveaway for you guys! I want you to get a great start this New Year with this must-have which I am sure you will absolutely LOVE! Introducing: This fabulous Leather & Gold Guess Clutch worth €225, -!
Perhaps you already spotted it in my NYE Glam #OOTD sneak peek, it suits perfectly to my outfit! The truth is however, to which outfit wouldn’t it fit? What I love about Black & Gold is that it can go with pretty much anything, it’s especially suitable for all the amazing parties you will be having this year!
That’s it! I like to keep it simple for you, because you deserve that beautiful bag :)
In one week from now I will announce the winner so stay tuned!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
A Photo Recap of My Summer
Published Date : August 29, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
Wait… is it the end of August already? What happened to summer? Am I the only one thinking this? I guess the saying ‘Time Flies when you are having Fun’ couldn’t be more true. Now that I think about it…. what did I actually do this summer? Thank god for Instagram! Let’s check out my latest posts to see what I have been up to this summer.
Een foto die is geplaatst door Lynn Quanjel (@whoisthatblonde) op
My summer started of two months ago with a long weekend in Ibiza: partying day and night while working on my fresh new tan! I was pretty exhausted after that, but I didn’t have much time to recover because it was time for Barcelona Fashion Week
Een foto die is geplaatst door Lynn Quanjel (@whoisthatblonde) op
Checking out the newest trends and meeting lovely people is always a good idea! After three days I had to leave Barcelona again because I had to fly over to Amsterdam for another Fashion Week
Een foto die is geplaatst door Lynn Quanjel (@whoisthatblonde) op
It felt great to be ‘back home’ in my country again and to see many of my friends. The shows were great and I had lots of fun, I even took an extra week off to visit my family in the south of the Netherlands :) After 2 weeks it was time to fly from Amsterdam to my next destination…. Miami!
Een foto die is geplaatst door Lynn Quanjel (@whoisthatblonde) op
Even though it was just for a long weekend, it was an amazing experience to visit Miami. I always thought I preferred historic architecture but I have to say those modern skyscrapers have style too. Back in Barcelona it was time for something different though.
Een foto die is geplaatst door Lynn Quanjel (@whoisthatblonde) op
I already started to miss the travelling so I decided to make a small roadtrip with some friends! Check out the full blog about it here. But of course one roadtrip didn’t cover my wanderlust so at the beginning of august it was time to discover the east of Europe :)
Een foto die is geplaatst door Lynn Quanjel (@whoisthatblonde) op
Nothing beats beautiful nature now does it?? I just cannot stop being amazed by how amazing our world is and I cannot stop with exploring as much as I can… I think this year I really started to develop myself as an adventurer and I cannot wait to see what the next year will bring me :) But for now….
Oh how I miss the warm sunrises in Barcelona! This photoshoot was one of the last mornings I had in my favorite city and I love the pictures so much that I just had to share them! I’ve been planning my return to Barcelona for a while already, but I had to cancel for one important reason… I am moving to another city!
I already hear you thinking: “why are you moving away from such an amazing city?!” It’s true: I’ve had an amazing 2 years in Barcelona, and I’ll miss Alex like crazy. But I felt like it was time for a change, a new challenge.
Not that long ago I had a meeting with a company: they had an amazing job opportunity and I really connected with the team. By the end of the conversation we were both super excited and I decided to take the job: product manager and influencer marketeer! It still feels unrealistic but I will start in 2 weeks, can you believe it?!
Since it’s a fulltime position I will have to move to the city of…. Amsterdam! Yes that’s right, going back to my Dutch roots it is. If anyone wants to hang out, I will be spending lots of time at Sanomafrom now on :)
And what about Alex you might wonder? Yes of course, we will miss each other… back to a long distance relationship it is :( However, he totally understands that this is a great opportunity for me and he is super proud. In September he is moving to Germany so hopefully I will be able to visit him in the weekends! I will keep you updated <3
It’s funny you know, people always compliment my writing, and if I’m being honest, I like my own writing too. I am good at it. Nevertheless, whenever I want to write you something, I can’t seem to find the right words. It’s like taking away the legs of a runner, the eyes of a painter, the hands of a thief. You take away my words, just by being you.
That’s why I decided that my tribute to you is going to be more than words. Today, exactly today. We have been together for 5.5 years, I figured it was a funny number, don’t you think? I almost can’t imagine all the memories that we have shared, so I took a quick walk through memory lane (a.k.a. all of our pictures). Probably you would be much better at it than I would ever be, you are so organized haha. I’m pretty sure I didn’t even find the half of our pictures, but the memories are lovely nevertheless.
What I’m trying to say is, I love you to the moon and back… and beyond*start song*
Now that I go through all these pictures I think I figured out why I can’t seem to write something nice for you. It’s because when I think of you, of us, you take me right back to where we started 5.5 years ago. To the time when I still was that awkward teenage girl. That geeky girl that you loved no matter what, whom you spent hours on MSN with, day and night. When I still didn’t know what I wanted in my life and wasn’t nearly as beautiful and confident as I am nowadays. You believed in me from the first day we met, you saw something in me that I didn’t even see myself. You remind me of where we came from, and how much we have grown since then. You support me in everything I do and would follow me blindly if I’d ask. Sure, we have good times and bad times, but unconditional love and trust always pulls us through. “To be brave is to love someone unconditionally, without expecting anything in return.“
Love is… not wanting to go to sleep, because you don’t want to miss any minute with the person you love.
Love is… annoying everyone around you because you can’t stop talking about your better half.
Love is… turning the world upside down for the person you love
Love is… still getting butterflies every time you smile
Love is…You
“You don’t love someone for their looks, or their clothes, or for their fancy – car, but because they sing a song only you can hear.” – Oscar Wilde
A Trip to the Seychelles - The Coolest Photo Diary EVER + Exciting anouncement
Hi there lovelies! This week was one for the memory books: I was invited by Hunkemöller to go on a trip to them to the Seychelles for a secret project. Keep reading for more info and to have a sneakpeek of the paradise called Seychelles<3
Starting at Schiphol Airport! All set for an exciting trip with headphones from Sony, a small handbag from Markberg for the plane and a HUGE suitcase from Duifhuizen for check-in (in case you are wondering, we were in the Seychelles for 5 days, and yes I definitely needed this suitcase!)
Just me, casually chilling in the garden of my Jungle villa on the day of arrival. It was SO HOT but this suit from WE Fashion is so cute so obviously I needed a picture (oh, the lengths we go for our fashion looks and insta pictures haha)
First dip in the ocean! Literally the definition of Paradise with the perfect white sand and crystal clear blue water <3
Lisa! One of the other ambassadors AND the best roomie in the world :) Follow her on Insta!
Sunsets aren’t visible from our side of the Island, so I got up at 5am in the morning to watch the sunrise instead. I HAD to have a picture so I put my camera on a tripod in the sand and put it on a timer. Running back and forth was quite a morning workout, but so worth it!
Hunkemöller got the Presidential villa for the photoshoot so obviously I had to take a picture with the infinity pool + amazing views! Anyway, let’s show some pictures of the secret project I was talking about :))
Amazing news! Me, Lisa and Nori have been asked to design a collection in collaboration with Hunkemöller! It’s all about powerful women, being proud of your body and bringing out the best of yourself. Together we WILL make HERstory! The capsule collection will be in stores and online starting from the end of May, so if you want a ‘Lynn Swimsuit’, this is your chance :)
After the ‘official shoot’ I was still so excited, so of course I had to make some extra pictures on my own :)
Can’t forget the bathroom selfie ;) What do you think of my swimsuit??
Polaroids to cherish the amazing memories we made during the trip <3
That’s it guys! My photo diary of the Seychelles, did you like it? What about the capsule collection? Which one is your favourite? :)
Lots of Love,
Lynn
A Weekend without Social Media: the pros and the cons
Published Date : March 11, 2018 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
As an Instagrammer I LIVE for my phone. However, staring at a screen 24/7 cannot be healthy…. right? I noticed that I was getting a bit too addicted and decided to do a detox: one weekend without social media. Check out this video to see how it went and what I learned!
This weekend it was my mom’s birthday! I don’t know about you guys, but I personally find it quite difficult to buy a present for my mom. Do you know why? Whenever you ask her what she would like to have, all she says is: “I want nothing, just sweet children”. I mean… you already have those mom, what else do you want?!;p Usually me and my sister buy her a nice perfume or something from Rituals, but this year we wanted to do something different.
We were thinking and realized that it had been quite a long time since we spent quality time together, just the three of us. My sister has been living in England for the past few years and just returned back to the Netherlands. I had been in Spain for a while and moved to Amsterdam some months ago. Time to do something special!
The evening of her actual birthday we dropped her a hint: we gave her a beautiful watch from Renard and told her that it was a symbol for her REAL present, which she would get tomorrow. Honestly, I think this watch was already amazing on its own. For me they are such personal gifts. When I turned 21 she gave me a ring that used to be hers, and I wear it every day. It’s like I’m wearing a little part of her. By giving her a piece of jewelry that she can wear every day (she is not really a ring person), me and my sister wanted to give her something that reminds her of us every day. In case you are curious, this is the watch that we got her.
Anyways, let’s go back to the rest of the present! The next morning, me and my sister kidnapped her and took her to one of her favorite brunch places for a high tea as a surprise. We spent hours eating, drinking tea and talking about any kind of topics. It was SO lovely :) After we finished our food, we took her to the city for a shopping spree. Mom’s always have one problem: they love their children so much that they spend all their money on THEIR needs instead of on themselves. Now it was time for her to get what she needed: some fresh new clothes! We spent the whole afternoon shopping and got her bags full of new clothes
My mom LOVED the high tea and the shopping spree, but not because she got a nice brunch and clothes. The real present was the hint that the watch gave: we gave her TIME. Quality time to be exact. When children grow up, they get their own lives and we aren’t around as much anymore. All that mothers really want is to still see their children every now and then and spend TIME with them. It is so simple, I can’t believe I didn’t think about it like this before.
The watch we gave her wasn’t a one-time thing, it was a promise. Mom, from now on we will spend more time with you, real quality time.
With all my love,
Lynn <3
Amsterdam Fashion Week Outfits
Published Date : February 8, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : #OOTD, The Styling Files
It was sooo good to be back in Amsterdam again for fashion week: seeing all the amazing people I usually don’t see because I live far away AND getting lots of new fashion inspiration. What’s not to love? This time the fashion week was shorter than usual, but I still had lots of fun, let’s take a look at my outfits. Shall we?
Day 1
The first day was a warming up for me: tuning into the upcoming pajama trend. I literally scored a cute pajama from DKNY and turned it into an outfit. I could totally get used to this #pajamasallday
The cute patched bag from ALDO and the nerdy glasses from Polette are my current favorite accessories.
Day 2
My time to shine! My dear friend Anbasja Blanken was presenting her collection at the big stage for the first time so of course I had to show my support. Her top gave me magical vibes and I got so many compliments! Of course I got spotted by Team Peter Stigter front row, not very hard in this outfit ;)
Day 3
With these cuties! Daphne from Daphisticated, Farah from Formula Farah, and me!
I don’t have any #ootd pictures of my last outfit because it was already dark when I went out to see the show of Liselore Frowijn. But I was wearing her vest and I’m totally in love with it. The sleeves are SO POOFY. I decided to style it with a grunge shirt, fishnets with skinny jeans and a suede cap as the finishing touch. Channeling my inner cool girl. You know.
Oh, and can we all take a moment to admire these shoes? I love you Chris van den Elzen <3
After the last show it was time for the Models at Work afterparty! Fun fact: after years of following each other on social media, me and Mike Meijer ran into each other by accident. We had to take a picture, obviously. The rest of the night I spent dancing with my lovely friend Lonneke Bakker, just like in the days we spent at Ibiza. Please remind me to never take drunk party pics anymore lol.
The next morning I wore what might be my favorite outfit of the fashion week:
Baby pink and little dogs… what’s not to love?
Tell me: what’s your favorite outfit of my Amsterdam Fashion Week? Leave me a comment!
This weekend I flew to The Netherlands to attend the Amsterdam Fashion Week for a couple of days, and it was so much fun! What did I wear? With who did I hang out? Do I have some favorite designers? I will spill it all!
Day 1: Saturday
After sleeping for only two hours because I was catching my flight, I immediately got into a cute outfit and ran off to pick up my Press Bracelet! Btw, What do you think of my cute ‘Aloha’ Bracelet designed by Venessa Arizaga?
My outfit is a minimalistic jumpsuit from Zara Knit combined with this beautiful statement bag from Les Petites Jouers, wich I scored at the cutest concept store in Barcelona: Passage BCN! I wasn’t the only one who fell in love with this bag, also Fashionblogger Susanne Bender spotted it and selected it as one of her favorites on her blog Bag at You! Finally, I did some detailed color matching with a bright red lipstick… that can literally never go wrong!
Another part that I love about going to Amsterdam Fashion Week is the fact that I meet so much amazing people that I haven’t seen in a long time since I moved to Barcelona! Obviously I had to make a picture with shoe designer Chris van den Elzen en Fashion Designer Judith van Vliet! Great seeing you guys :)
Catwalk Highlights:
Today there were so many awesome shows to be seen! My personal favorites were Anbasja Blanken for her feminine style and interesting use of materials, Mick Keus because he knows how to rock his basics, and Esther Haamke because her show had a great energy and I absolutely love her inspiration: “Lucky“. However, there were some master pieces from Monique Collignon as well which I just have to show you!
Anbasja Blanken.
Photocredits: Gavin de Boer
Esther Haamke. Photocredits: Gavin de Boer
MICKKEUS. Photocredits: Gavin de Boer
Monique Collignon. Photocredits: Gavin de Boer
So many amazing shows! If that wasn’t a great day yet, there was also lots of fun after the shows. Everyone got together with a drink to talk about the beautiful inspirations for the upcoming Winter/Fall season and relax. Fashionchick was also present and I had the pleasure to get to know one of them: vlogger/illustrator Amanda van Effrink! She was doing a report on the Amsterdam Fashionweek and I’m there too, check it out here
Day 2: Sunday
Sunday was a busy day! So many shows to see, so little time… I was barely able to eat anything in between because everything was thighly scheduled, but I most definitely didn’t get bored! Also I had the pleasure to meet up with lots of blogger friends who were joining me on the front row today, I was able to find one picture of myself during the FUTURA show
Photocredits: Gavin de Boer
Since today was a very cold day I decided to make my coat the statement piece of my outfit. It’s a grey & yellow oversized jacket from Bless the Mess, which I also found at Passage BCN. This brand is known for having very detailed sleeve decorations, absolute showstoppers! I combined this coat with a embellished little black dress from Mango: it doesn’t steal the show from my coat, but emphasizes the best part… shiny details!
Catwalk Highlights:
On sunday there was lots of variation to be seen on the runway: from cute ‘horizontal wear’ by SNURK with an adorable show filled with children, to an elegant yet powerful presentation by Tony Cohen. Also Oilily manages to put up an amazing performance every year, this time with the slogan ‘Different is Beautiful’.
SNURK Photocredits: Gavin de Boer
SNURK Photocredits: Gavin de Boer
Tony Cohen Photocredits: Gavin de Boer
Tony Cohen Photocredits: Gavin de Boer
Oilily Photocredits: Gavin de Boer
Oilily. Photocredits: Gavin de Boer
After a long day it was time to make some bored selfies in the train and go to get some well deserved SLEEP
Day 3: Monday
Last but not least! The new creative director of Amsterdam Fashion Week came op with something refreshing for the final day. Instead of programming shows, she decided to make space for creative, young ideas and show the work of some of the many talents that our country has to offer. Walking around, you could see many exhibitions and projects around the concept ‘The Future of Fashion’, which gives us an insight in what we might be dealing with in 10 years… so fascinating!
Photocredits: Gavin de Boer
Here is an example: the initiative Blond & Bieber created a type of paint which changes colors when exposed to Ultraviolet light, how incredible! Other ideas that were exhibited shared ideas on inter alia: moving fashion on brainwaves, new production techniques, artistic criticism on the current our current fashion culture, and much more.
Today I decided to go for a glam outfit with this beautiful body from New Age Rebel in combination with these classic shimmer trousers designed by Maria Roch… a sexy yet classy look! To make the look complete I wore a handmade necklace from Chris van den Elzen (yes, the shoe designer I mentioned earlier also makes gorgeous jewerly!) and a clutch from Intermission Design.
After visiting the exhibitions it was time for the best party to end Amsterdam Fashion Week! I got picked up by Gliziegal Amanda van Efferink to go to the Supperclub for Zalando’s Blue Monday Dinner. As soon as we got inside, we got the best Blue Cocktail I ever had and we sat down in the lounge area to chill and talk. The dinner was perfect, as well as the music, the people and the atmosphere… I couldn’t have wished for a better end of the Amsterdam Fashion Week!
What do you guys think about my Amsterdam Fashion Week? Did you have any favorite designers? Which one of my outfits would you want to wear yourself? Don’t forget to leave a comment:)
Oh how I love my trips to Amsterdam, there are always fun activities to attend! I am thinking about moving there actually, because living in a small town in the south of the Netherlands is far from… exciting. Anyways, let’s get back to my story: this time I went to Amsterdam to visit the Hunkemöller Pressday and see the swimwear collection that Anna Nooshin designed!
Before going to the press event, me Lieke and Loïs decided to meet up in the Pulitzer hotel for a blogger date: coffee and pictures. I recently ordered these new clothes at Ivy Revel, so obviously I wanted to make pretty pictures with them! I mean… dusty pink satin bomber and bell sleeves? YASSS #obsessed
Here are some quick results of our shoot, what do you think? I scored my full look at Ivy Revel, a fashion brand co-founded by one of my favorite Swedish bloggers Kenzas (girlcrush #noshame). If I could, I’d probably fill a full wardrobe with all of their stuff! That’s why I was SUPER excited when they e-mailed me to ask if I want to become one of their ‘Revelistas‘ a.k.a. ambassadors. Ehmm.. Hell yes?!
Every month I become more grateful for my blog because it has been giving me so much amazing experiences and opportunities. But this doesn’t only have perks for me, I am sharing the positive vibes! As a Revelista, I can give my dearest readers 20% discount on their purchases with the code: BLONDE20. Who wants to be a Revelista with me?:)
After drinks and pics it was time to join the rest of the Hunkemöller crew! One big happy family :)
Obviously, we all got super healthy snacks for lunch (except for the donuts, but in their defense: they have blueberries!). While enjoying the food we could walk around the Vaudeville Theater to admire the new swimwear collection of Anna Nooshin.
There was perfect light for selfies, so obviously me and Lieke had to take 1000’s. For today, I will spare you the details though lol.
Isn’t this a cute little corner? But even more importantly: this was the corner where me and the other ambassadors were going to meet Anna Nooshin (finally!). I’ve read her book On Top and I really admire her as a person, as well as a career woman. Usually when I meet ‘famous’ people, I always wonder if they are as nice as they seem online, and most of the time they unfortunately don’t live up to it (except for Karlie Kloss)….
However, Anna really was ‘lekker nuchter’ as we Dutchies would call it. Down to earth, professional, humble, honest and kind. The poor thing must have been exhausted because she has been travelling around for work 24/7, but still she took the time to talk to everyone and take 1000’s of pictures, never change Anna :)
After our 1-on-1 time with Anna, me and the ambassadors stuck around for some extra drinks and to film a video for Hunkemöller. I have NO clue when it’s coming out, but I am super nervous! It’s quite ironic, but as soon someone points a camera at me I become nervous and I talk weird lol #modeloftheyear #notsomuch
After the event me and the two german ambassadors (Nora and Carina) went out to dinner and that I hopped on the train: off to Utrecht! I crashed at a friend’s place (thanks Helia!) and the next morning I had a blogger date with Kiki Düren at Laurent Salon & Spa. We were both totally ready for a pamper session and left completely zennnn. After getting in touch with our Chakra’s, we had a coffee in the city and eventually took a train back home. The perfect end of my trip:)
So there you go. In case you were wondering what bloggers do in their daily lives: running from events to meetings to blogger dates and making lots of pictures while visiting beautiful locations. After some intense days we are forced to lock ourselves up for a day to make sure we create nice blogs to share our adventures with you. Doesn’t sound all too bad now does it? :)
Next week I have something super cool coming up again: Madrid Fashion Week! Make sure to follow my IG Stories for more ‘behind the scenes’ pictures.
Food for Fashionista’s! Within the crowd of artists on Instagram, Gretchen Röehrs knows how to stand out with her creative fashion illustrations created with merely a few fine lines of ink and… yes you guessed it right… food! This San Francisco-based artist spent a while in New York City working behind the scenes of the fashion world, but soon she decided to pursue her illustration career and moved to the West Coast.
Gretchen Röehrs loves to make her illustrations quirky and fun with her own ‘foodie fashion designs’ as well as with the poses and the expressions of her illustrated models. Her fresh look on fashion illustration caught the attention of Harper’s Bazaar and the Huffington Post, I am predicting a delightful future for Gretchen!
Combining his love for fashion, architecture and illustration, Jordan based artist Shamekh Bluwi has taken a simple idea and turned it into something startling beautiful. This illustrator is known for creating cut-out drawings and photographing them in front of beautiful backgrounds. Besides the fact that the illustrations themselves are beautiful, they are also a brilliant tool for coming up with inspiration for new fashion designs: all you have to do is to hold up his drawing and discover possible lines, patterns or images which would look good on a clothing piece.
Shamekh Bluwi is an upcoming illustrator we should definitely keep an eye on. His work has already been recognized by some great designers and celebrities such as Roberto Cavalli, Gigi Hadid, Valentino and Alessandra Ambrioso. He will also be teaming up with established fashion illustrator JaeSuk Kim (number five on this list!) to collaborate on an artwork inspired by the latest D&G Collection.
The name of this fashion illustrator couldn’t fit better to her style: in an interview Sunny explained that she tries to put the happiness which she feels while drawing into the painting by using radiant bright colors and rich details. Her overall aim is to preserve the beauty she sees, and the kindness she feels around her.
Sunny Gu’s work can easily be recognized by her favorite materials: she loves the vibrancy and the unpredictable nature of watercolor and occasionally uses graphite paint to create textures. The positive vibes that radiate from her illustrations also got noticed in the fashion world: she worked for Vogue, Elle, Versace, Bloomingdales, Carolina Herrera and the list is still growing!
Perhaps the most famous of this list is Megan Hess, she is an international fashion illustrator who works with some of the most prestigious fashion designers and luxury brands around the world, such as Chanel Dior, Cartier, Montblanc and Tiffany and Co. Her iconic style is recognizable by the use of black ink lines and the drawing of strong and elegant women in amazing outfits. Her illustrations are mainly black & white with a single color accent and always have up-to-date fashion topics.
Her latest project was in Dubai, where the Mall of the Emirates actually rebuilt one of her drawings as an exposition space, how cool is that?! You can also admire her work in her newest book “Coco Chanel: The Illustrated World of a Fashion Icon”.
This particular fashion illustrator is very fascinating since he uses a mixture of several illustrating techniques to create his final artworks. This does not only show his outstanding creativity, but also his capacity to master all these separate techniques. His artworks can be recognized by the mix of graphic design, sketching, watercolors, textures and even photography in some cases! His so-called ‘Susu Girls’ can be recognized by their long, skinny and anonymous portrayals.
As the founder and creative brain behind his personal brand Susu, JaeSuk Kim has been illustrating Susu Girls, which caught the attention of Bloomingdale’s and launched his career. Since then he has worked with Style.com, Vogue, Chic Mademoiselle and Swide.com, among others. Since JaeSuk Kim truly is an amazingly inspirational artist we will definitely be seeing more of him in the future, just wait for it!
Published Date : October 16, 2015 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Get inspired!
YAY It’s Weekend!
It has been getting seriously cold, so I am cheering you guys up with amazing fashion illustrations! It is important to keep the creative juices flowing ;) You wonder why I love this specific style so much? As an Art Student and a Fashion Blogger it’s great to combine these two things that I absolutely LOVE into one concept. Fashion Illustrations show how important the art- and fashionworld are to each other, and how they simultaneously influence one another. Many magazines and brands nowadays use fashion illustrations for their commercials and advertising because it’s new, it’s creative, it’s fresh and above all… unique!
This week I decided to look for illustrations which portray women and fashion in several styles: abstract, sketchy, watercolour, detailed… I even found an image which was made in the style of the famous painter Alfons Mucha! There are so many amazing talents in the world and I see it as my mission to find the most creative and unique ones,
I hope you guys enjoy my journey :)
What do you think about fashion illustrations? I am very curious to hear more about other opinions on this topic. Also I would love to hear if you have a favorite and why, what would you like to see more?
And last but not least: BIG credits to all the artists that I selected for today, it was tough to chose but I had a great time looking through all the inspiring images during my search.
Lots of Love,
Lynn
P.s. The names of the artists are mentioned from left to right!
Published Date : July 29, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Get inspired!
Perhaps some of you are already familiar with the fashion illustrator Mimi Nizan: with clients as Lancôme, Moët & Chandon, L’Officiel, Topshop and Estée Lauder she is definitely considered successful! Last week I was delighted to go for a Chai Tea Latte with her in Amsterdam and ask her everything about her work as an illustrator. What is she up to and how did she become such a success? Keep reading to find out!
Hello Mimi! I am so excited you were able to make some time for me in order to tell me more about yourself and your work! How have you been lately?
Thank you Lynn, it is great to meet you as well! I have been working on some new ideas lately, It’s a lot of work but it’s going to be awesome!
1. What inspires you to make your illustrations?
Mainly catwalk shows… outfits… streetstyle, but also very simple things from daily life such as interesting color combinations. Two people who inspire me are Daphne Groeneveld (her face is so fascinating!) and Sofia Richie.
3. How long have you been drawing and how did you grow into your signature style?
I’ve been drawing as long as I can remember, and I was always drawing women. But I started developing my personal style three years ago: once I decided to follow my passion and become a professional illustrator. At first my style was somewhat darker and more sinister, and currently I am experimenting more with colors and lines, so I have the feeling I am still developing myself. My signature style fits with me as a person so it will always keep changing slightly.
3. How do you think Art is connected to Fashion?
Both of them are ways to express yourself or help you to define yourself. Once people covered their basic needs it’s in human nature to look for improvement or satisfaction – We all like to witness beauty. I believe that art and fashion are a great way to do so, especially when they complement each other.
4. What was your most exciting project till now?
Last Christmas I had a 10 sheet spread in L’Officiel: a magazine which has been my favorite for a very long time already. That was a huge honor for me! Another great project was in collaboration with Topshop: one day I was creating a huge window illustration and the other day I was customizing denim totebags for consumers in the shop, it was such a big event and so much fun!
5. Do you have a favorite illustration?
It’s hard to choose, I love seeing my work hanging in the interiors of other people – I’m so honored that they want a little piece of my fantasy world in their lives! However, this might sound a little strange, but personally I keep the walls in my home pretty empty. If I would look at my own art the entire day I wouldn’t be able to clear my head, I would be constantly looking at it from a creator’s perspective. I’m a perfectionist and I always see things that I could have done better. Anyway, if I would have to choose I would go for this romantic illustration down below… I like the vibes it radiates: it’s softer than my other work.
6. How do you feel when you are illustrating?
In my own world, nothing else exists around me anymore and I can create anything I want. It’s an amazing feeling which makes me so passionate about illustrating. However, when I do live illustrations I have to get out of my own dream world because I have to interact with the people in front of me. At first this was quite hard for me but now it became very natural. In fact, I’ve come to really enjoy it, meeting new people and all of their personalities.
7. Do you think that your work as a fashion illustrator influences your personal fashion style?
The other way around! I draw the trends/ clothes which I like.
8. Do you have any personal fashion styling ideas that all of us should know about?
The most important thing is to feel comfortable in what you are wearing: it’s terrible to see girls struggle on heels they can’t handle or skirts that are too short! Don’t just wear all the trends that are going on right now: it’s temporary and maybe not suitable for you. Instead: take out the elements of trends which fit with you and use them to strengthen your personal style. You will be timeless and unique!
9. Give us a tip for all the young and upcoming artists out there: how do you make art a good business?
First of all, you will need to create a unique style: there are so many artists out there so why should anyone choose you? Your signature and your brand is the most important. Second of all, it’s very important that you are visible online: work on your website and your social media, that’s where people will start finding your work and from there it will keep growing. Last but not least: don’t underestimate the power of networking. The more people you know, the more people will know about your art and talk about it. Personal advertising is nothing to be ashamed of.
Thank you for all the great answers! I love your work and I will definitely keep following you for more, are there any exciting projects coming up for you that we should stay tuned for?
Thank you so much! Actually now that you mention it: I just launched my webshop! I will be selling a selection of my illustrations – originals as well as prints – postcards and cute accessories at: miminizanstudio.com, feel free to check it out!
Arty Farty Fashion Friday: The 2 Funniest Illustrators you need to Know
Published Date : April 22, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Get inspired!
Since I am posting lots of articles about FUN this month, I decided to stay in the theme for my monthly Arty Farty Fashion Friday. I’ve been following these two illustrators for a while already because their drawings always make me smile. Let me introduce to you: Gemma Correll and Saray Martín.
This illustrator is one of the few that actually made a career from her love of pugs and drawing like a ‘five-year-old’. Gemma’s favorite color is turquoise, her zodiac sign is Aquarius and her favorite word is “Albuquerque”, in case you wondered. Above all, her sarcastic humor is starting to become legendary: not just because of her funny illustrations, but also for the way she answers interview questions. These are two of my favorites:
Why do your illustrations look like a five-year-old drew them?
I hire a five-year-old to do all my work for me. I pay him in fudge. His name is Alan.
Is being an illustrator a real job?
No, it’s a fake job. I actually run a very successful drug smuggling ring. I just pretend to draw things and distract people with my cute pug.
Don’t you just LOVE her already?! I selected some of my favorite illustrations, hope you like them!
This sweet lady is a Catalan blogger (better known as Dans Vogue), ballet dancer and – obviously – illustrator. Just like Gemma Correll she loves to create a cartoon-ish, playful style with her drawings and uses many bright colors. She says her favorite material is watercolor because it creates more dimensions in her illustrations and she gets her inspirations from daily experiences. What I love about her drawings is the fact that her characters are totally adorable, I feel like I can relate to the situations she illustrates, and of course her sense of humor! This is definitely one artist to keep an eye on ladies!
Arty Farty Friday: Legends Art Exposition
Published Date : December 4, 2015 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Get inspired!
What happens when the #1 Celebrity Photographer of the Netherlands teams up with one of our best artists? It happened! And I was there to witness the result in the Hard Rock Café of Amsterdam! In fact, I was invited for the VIP revelation as the muse of Toshy, the artist. Earlier that month we worked together on the projects ‘Seduce Me’ & ‘Love Now!’, and it was an amazing experience so I had to be at The Opening to show my support!
The evening was packed with interviews, networking and of course… beautiful artworks! It was an amazing experience to be able to get so close to the paintings and admire the extensive details which Toshy created. Maarten Waalraven (a.k.a. Toshy) is known for taking photos and transform them into art pieces with his unique painting technique which reminds us of street art and graffiti. For this special occasion William Rutten gave Maarten a selection of thirteen portraits of celebrities:
Robbie Williams, Prince, Rihanna, George Michael, Paul McCartney, Kurt Cobain, Adele, Bono, P!nk, Madonna, David Bowie, Mick Jagger & last but not least our own Dutch pride Marco Borsato.
I asked William why he chose for these specific celebrities. He answered that he had asked his followers on Facebook about their thoughts but that most of the answers were a little bit cliché. He decided to make a mix between old & new legends, then and now. He chose for celebrities which impressed him, which he admired for staying down to earth, and who he had a good connection with during the shoot. Who he still wants to get in front of his camera? Barrack Obama is #1 on the list.
It is fascinating to see how Maarten used his painting technique to personalize the portraits by writing texts which are related to the artist. About their work, their life, their thoughts and their image. In my interview with him he explains that he tries to oppose stereotypes with his art: he tries to show the other side of the story, the person behind the public image.
Furthermore, Maarten explains how his artistic style has developed throughout the years and how everything started in the 80’s: Graffiti was no longer seen as a nuisance but as a talent and was rightly recognized by the media. Maarten started experimenting with combining street art and his creative studies, which resulted in a new style of art which he defined by the end of 2012: he combined his graffiti skills with personal background, typography and photography. How great is that?! I can’t wait to see the artworks he will make from the project I collaborated on with him!
Published Date : February 20, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : The Styling Files
Custo Barcelona once again lives up to its iconic style with the AW16 collection. Mixes of colors, graphics, fabrics and layers are present as ever in this cheerful presentation. It’s safe to say that over the years Custo has become more than just a fashion label, it’s a particular way of viewing life: the representation of a lifestyle.
Leopard prints, mohair, hippie trousers, Eastern inspired prints, sporty mesh, British checkers, graphic lines and feminine laces & ruffles: Custo sure loves to create an eclectic mix-up of everything that inspires the label. A continuous motive however, are the colorful patches and embellishments applied to the designs. Also we can see many sporty details as a consistent tendency throughout the collection. It’s fascinating to see that some of the outfits at first sight seem to be a layered combination of designs, but after a closer look, prove to be in fact one complete design with separately attached materials. This once again proves the constant search for innovative improvement and creativity of Custo. Whether you love it or hate it, no one can deny that this designer label has outstanding production techniques and lots of enthusiasm for cheerful fashion.
One of our favorite designs is the flared trousers with applied ruffles on the bottom in order to create movement while walking. Another great look is the transparent lace dress with a body underneath. Perhaps some of the looks on the catwalk might be quite intense for those who prefer a more casual style, but if you imagine combining Custo with your own wardrobe, it suddenly opens up so much fun styling possibilities! This label is without a doubt for the creative daredevils of society; do you think you’re up for it?
AW16 Justicia Ruano – ‘Orion’ Shines Bright on
Published Date : February 14, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : The Styling Files
Elegant lace and a rich combinations of textures: the Victorian trend is clearly the main inspiration from Justicia Ruano in her AW16/17 collection ‘Orion’. After many years of designing for big brands, the creative director decided to start her own label in 2009, with which she wants to reinvent her own interpretation of contemporary luxury and femininity. Justicia Ruano is known to spend a lot of time on the quality of her materials and the craftsmanship of the designs, which definitely shows in the final result!
As the designers likes to describe it herself, the collection ‘Orion’ is “a festival of fabrics with controlled volumes”. A returning motive is the use of vinyl in combination with Chantilly lace, which results in beautifully fragile designs. This soft femininity is contrasted with structured lurex, sending out the message of independency and strength. With black, dark purple and shiny copper & silver as dominating colors, we can find the connection to the star sign Orion: they are a reflection of a dark starry night. A subtle touch which also emphasizes the theme is the application of circles on the lace which used in many designs, could they represent stars?
Besides the fact that Justicia Ruano is 100% staying true to her individual style, she still manages to also stay completely in the trends for the upcoming winter with pleated skirts, shimmering materials, transparence and (faux) fur. And isn’t that exactly what makes a designer truly brilliant? It was hard to decide which one of the designs was the true showstopper of the collection, as many of her looks made quite an impression. Our favorites are the gracefully flowing purple dress and the copper blazer dress.
All in all it’s hard to categorize ‘Orion’: historical yet modern, fragile yet strong, subtle yet a statement, Justicia Ruano’s collection is the ultimate merge, the best of all worlds, or should we say it’s… ‘out of this world’?
AW16 WOM & NOW: The Best of British Class
Published Date : February 17, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : The Styling Files
The name of the AW16/17 collection of WOM & NOW already shows the inspiration for this winter: ‘Bloomsbury Road’ is all about British Class. This road, located in London, has been the home to numerous historical institutions, gardens, and cultural spots for centuries now, and is known to be an area for the fashionable upper class. The label explains:
“The Bloomsbury of the arts, of education and of medicine.
The Bloomsbury of Virginia Woolf and of John Maynard Keynes.
The Bloomsbury of modern thinking,
which changed literature economics and aesthetics forever,
which forged a new attitude towards life.
The Bloomsbury of the unshakable faith in the importance of art.”
With this collection, WOM & NOW wants to create modern designs with nostalgic reminiscences: urban luxury for the classy cosmopolitan. The British inspiration can be recognized by the use of many welsh checks, harris and other tweeds. The knitted wools and raincoats seem to be a reference to the cold and rainy weather in London, just as the turtlenecks, long leather gloves and caps. These streamlined, strong designs are alternated with feminine elements such as flowing blouses, delicate embellishments, cute laced-up heels and soft (faux)fur collars. The colors used in the collection of ‘Bloomsbury Road’ are rather warm with old pink, red, ochre, tobacco, coffee and burnt orange. This earthy color scheme is alternated with the basics in order to create a nice balance for the overall look.
It is clear that balance is very important throughout the collection: there is a playful contrast between strong materials such as tweed and flowing feminine silks, between straight lines and dynamic movement. It is wonderful to see that the balance is executed on a high level, truly admirable! WOM & NOW designed this collection for the dynamic, cosmopolitan and demanding woman who loves a high dose of femininity and a contemporary twist. I am already falling for this fashion label, what about you?!
Balloons, cupcakes & glitters a.k.a. the BEST sleepover party ever - Vlog & Pictures
Published Date : June 11, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : BlondieTV, Model Stories
Oohh yes, I was feeling festive so I decided to throw the kind of sleepover party I’ve always dreamed of. Glitters, balloons, cupcakes, amazing friends, you name it! We spent all day making awesome pictures, eating, chatting and laughing… can we just start doing this monthly please?
In Demi’s video you can see more about our day, the shoot starts around minute 03:00. Just remind me that the next time it’s not just a day, but an actual sleepover, how epic would that be :) For more pictures check down below! I couldn’t choose so I just added a bunch #wearetoocute #thestruggleisreal
Published Date : June 26, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
Hello Everyone!
Last week I was booked for a commercial spot/campaign of SyNeo, and it was shot on the most beautiful location ever! Did you ever wonder what it looks like to be behind the scenes of a commercial shooting? I made a photo diary for you guys!
The first outfit was shot on the terrace of an amazing house close to Tossa de Mar, in the middle of nature and on the edge of the ocean… WOW!
THOSE VIEWS OMG
Filming the movement of my dress as I walk on the most beautiful terrace in the world :)
These guys are taking their video angles very seriously!
WOOSH Free like a bird :)
For the second outfit we went to the patio of the house, which had some serious #interiorgoals …. I want those lamps!
The pink ´IT-girl´ look! If you pay attention you might notice that the color palette of this shoot is White & Pink because of the logo of the brand
On the shots it always looks like I´m all alone, but no one ever sees the full production team behind the scenes!
Besides looking serious, I´m also allowed to smile and be silly every now and then :) You know… Just randomly sitting in my huge mansion listening some music and having fun ;)
The next look was the ´tanning in my bikini´ shot! The bright sunlight was creating a very strong contrast which didn´t look good on camera, so the whole team had to help out with holding light diffusers
Feeling like a pink Diva
Getting directions from the producer. I was having a hard time during these shots because the white floor was functioning like a HUGE reflection screen. Try keeping your eyes open with all that bright light on your face! In the end the result was pretty awesome though, totally worth it :)
Now it was my turn to get into the pool, and it was COLD I can tell you! But don´t forget to smile like you are having the most tropical fun :D
BOOM! Those final shots are quite different from the rest… but isn´t that white wig SUPER cool?! Too bad I couldn´t take it home with me haha
And that was the final look! What do you guys think of the behind the scenes shots? The commercial will be out in Germany this August so I cannot wait to see it! I will make sure to post it on the blog to share it with you guys, let´s see how different the behind the scenes will be from the final results :)
Lots of Love,
Lynn
Blogger Tips: How to sell your clothes
Published Date : April 30, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Uncategorized
Baseren op fashionista interviews tijdens de bloggers market
Bloggers in Barcelona: Fun with Lady Goldapple!
Published Date : December 19, 2015 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : #OOTD, The Styling Files
Hi guys!
Last week I had so much fun, my sweet friend and fellow blogger Charissa Goldapple a.k.a. Lady Goldapplecame to visit me in Barcelona! I tried to take her to as much beautiful hotspots as possible during the day, and party in the best clubs during the night! Long days and long nights make sure for a lot of fun, and a lot of exhaustion. But of course, bloggers wouldn’t be bloggers if we wouldn’t also do a small photoshoot together before she left!
Can you guess where we started our walk? It’s right in front of Arc de Triomf! We walked down the boulevard in the direction of Ciutadella Park. This is a great area to walk around because you can find many streetartists and skateboarders around there: they sure love the long, open streets without cars. Besides, since I’m a Dutchie I love the sight of palm trees. They give me the feeling like I’m on vacation, so happy and relaxed!
Ciutadella Park is the biggest park of Barcelona and has the most beautiful fountain as its treasure: the light blue water and the golden statues create interesting color contrasts which looks great on a sunny day. In summer I love to come here to have a picknick with friends or to read a book in the sun! On the other side of the park you can find the Zoo of Barcelona, which is also worth a visit!
You must be wondering by now… what are we wearing actually? It turned out we are both fan of the current Grey Trend and we actually were able to put together matching outfits, awesome! This look is quite basic and really easy to do by yourself: all you need is a midi grey dress, a leather jacket and an accessory such as a black hat or a scarf, et voilá! You’re good to go!
My own dress (Zara) is long, warm, straight-on, comfy and SUPER soft, I love to wear it! By wearing the leather jacket I create some more shape and the illusion of a waistline. The black scarf (S Oliver) is a playful detail to make the look more dynamic, and obviously is great for keeping me warm! The black booties (Marypaz) and the fedora hat (Mango) give the neutral outfit some extra stylish edge. Charissa’s outfit has a cute feeling to it because of the flowy bottom of the dress and the feminine necklace and well… look at her… isn’t she just adorable?! She bought her dress in an online boutique shop but now you can also find it on Asos!
These outfits were randomly assembled from our closets to make matching outfits and they look great! Cheers to the prove that you don’t need lots of money to be fashionable. Keep in mind you guys: all the money in the world can’t buy you style! Just keep experimenting and having fun with your clothes, who knows what you will get :)
Lots of Love,
Lynn
P.s. All of the photocredits go to Luis Lau, it was so much fun to shoot with you again!
Today I want to share something with you, a blogpost about the first event I organized in Barcelona! Me and my beloved concept store Passage Barcelona decided to start a project: A Bloggers Night to bring some of the top online influencers together.
Why should bloggers feel like competition while they much rather should collaborate and help each other grow? That’s exactly what we thought! It should be fun to share experiences, talk about your interests, problems and laughs… we are in the same world after all! I am very glad that everything turned out exactly the way we hoped and we got great feedback from everyone that visited! So what happened during Bloggers Night? Let me show you!
Art:We invited blogger/ illustrator Saray Martín from Dansvogue to our art gallery to do a live illustration of the event. She almost finished it by now and it will be hanging in the gallery of Passage very soon!
Fun: During the night everyone had the chance to make pictures in our photo call and had the chance of winning a product from Passage if they posted it on Instagram. The catch? The funniest or most creative post wins! In the end blogger and stylist Frida Stuvenmark from Xoxo Frida won with her fun ‘VROOM’ Video! Out of the box, fashionable and a little bit silly… exactly how we like it:)
Food:In collaboration with La Fermata we were able to serve up some delicious pizza’s. Maybe not the healthiest food, but at least we were all being guilty together! And I mean…. Look at those pictures, don’t they look delicious?!
Fashion: We were very excited about our collaboration with Italia Independent! We organized a design competition for the bloggers that were invited. The brand of sunglasses selected four of the bloggers, who will now each create their own unique design for Italia Independent! From left to right… congrats Gigi Vives, Aretha la Galleta – Elena Soldevila from Passage -, Hola Cuore and Coolhunter Diary! :)
Furthermore, we also invited photographers, stylists, socialites, and more people from the Spanish fashion world so everyone had a chance to meet each other! It was great to see everyone was having fun, I definitely was! So thank you guys, for coming and for being awesome. And of course to Passage Barcelona, for organizing this super cool event with me!
For the people who live in Barcelona (or Spain), the next event I’ll be organizing will be soon again, so stay tuned for more information! Follow @passagebcn to make sure you don’t miss the invite:)
Lots of Love,
Lynn
P.s. Check out some more ambient pictures down below!
Some IG Posts:
To see more: #passagebloggers #weitaliaindependent #bloggersnight @ Instagram!
Blondes in Barcelona!
Published Date : November 22, 2015 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : BlondieTV, Life & Travel
Hey guys!
Last week one of my best friends came to visit me here in Barcelona, and we had such a good time! We spent our days strolling to all the coolest places of Barcelona, having good food, partying all night long… and recording everything on camera and making pictures! Christel put together a supercool video with some of the highlights and I would love to share it with you, hopefully it will bring a bit of sunshine to wherever you are :)
Some of the places you can see in the video are: the statue of Colombus at the port, Plaça Reial, Plaça Catalunya, La Boquería Market, Park Guell, Barceloneta Beach & Maremagnum… and there are so much more places to discover!
Would you like to see more of my friend Christel? Check out her Instagram, I love her fashion style and her pictures >>> @xoxchristel :)
Do you have any favorite places in Barcelona or any reccomendations of what I still have to visit? Please let me know, because I would love to get to know this city better now that I’m living here!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
Blondie Sleepover Party!
Published Date : August 22, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
Yay! Who doesn’t love a good Sleepover Party? Hanging with your bestie, watching girly movies, dancing in the middle of the room, laughing till you end on the floor, going over the latest gossip, eating snacks that you shouldn’t be eating and much more! It has been such a long time since my last sleepover that I am seriously organizing a big one when I am back in the Netherlands… Who is in?
Okay I’m going to have to be honest: this is NOT what me and Christel Schuurman look like during our usual Sleepover parties – usually we are a lot less charming. These pictures were taken by Jesaja Hizkia during a social shoot for Hunkemöller with some of their newest PJ’s! Didn’t make it less fun though :)
Watch out! You guys will be seeing a lot more of this duo. It’s still a secret for now but it’s going to be awesome!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
P.s. Does anyone have good Sleepover Ideas for me? I want to organize something new and fun!
Body Talk: This video is sadly very real for most models
Published Date : July 10, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : BlondieTV, Model Stories
I just bumped into this video of The Try Guys, I already thought they were amazing but this made me love them even more. While watching the video, I saw so many things that I could recognize myself in and I truly wonder how many people realize how terrible many models feel about themselves exactly because of this reason. Let’s go through some quotes from the video:
1. “After a while it really starts to influence your own psyche. This sort of unrealistic expectation of what is a beautiful woman when they don’t even really look like that”
You have no clue how often I hear this: “Wow I didn’t even recognize you, you look so different in your pictures!” Which is exactly why I decided to stop posting so many model pictures. People don’t realize that I often sit 2 hours in hair and make-up to create a look, then get the perfect lighting set up for me to emphasize my best features, then get shot by a professional with a very expensive camera and thén get photoshopped to fix the flaws that are still left.
And by the way, what is that comment even supposed to mean? I’m sure these people don’t mean any harm, but think about it: at first they thought I was beautiful because of my pictures, so does this mean that now they think I’m ugly? Do I disappoint them with being myself? I cannot help but to feel insecure and a little bit hurt in those moments, even if these people are super nice and don’t mean to insult me.
Actually, I often feel very insecure about myself because I see all these beautiful pictures of me, and I feel like I am a ‘fake’ for not looking that perfect in real life, but that’s not fair! No one looks like that! Girls: always remind yourself that images are NEVER real and that even the beautiful celebrities and models don’t look like that. Photos are always constructed in some way, so unless you have a crew walking around you all day who keeps fixing your make-up and continuously shines a flattering light on you, don’t be too hard on yourself lol.
2. “They will start saying all these things to you, that you didn’t even realize were a problem”
In the video you see how the beauty team was instructed to be hypercritical in order to replicate the standards of a professional photoshoot and you might wonder: is that really how they act? Honestly, there is not a black/white answer because it always depends on the team you are working with. Sometimes they are super lovely and supportive, but yes, in other occasions this is definitely how they act… if not worse.
I’ts like what The Try Guys say about the picture of Ned: “It’s really weird but the more I stare at this, the more normal you look to me. I’m getting really used to it“. And Ned replies: “I’m a very skinny guy, I know that. But now that I see the photoshopped photo, I look chubby as fuck in the original photo.” At first Ned was fine with his body, but now he starts questioning himself because they told him he needed to look skinnier for better results.
Before I started modeling I never thought that my hips were 2cm too big, that I was 1cm too short or that my hair should be more white instead of gold. That’s what I started believing after hearing it over and over again from agencies, casting directors and photographers. Some of the critics I have gotten almost made me laugh because I thought they were so ridiculous; one time I was sent out of a shoot because the instep of my feet was too high, I’m not kidding. Seriously though, how do they even come up with that stuff?!
Judgments are ALWAYS objective, which doesn’t make them necessarily ‘true’. If one person has an opinion about you… well… good for them. But that doesn’t mean you should question your self worth! Opinions don’t shape who you are. YOU shape who you are #YouRock #Ladyboss
3. “I think the most shocking part might be after you see the photoshopped version of yourself. You basically have seen what someone wishes what you’d look like. It’s so hard to not let that affect you”
This quote was actually quite confrontingfor me because I never thought about it that way, but in fact it’s completely true. The fact that people feel the need to photoshop you, means that they think you aren’t good enough the way you are naturally, and that kinda hurts. Why don’t we just all stop with worshiping these impossible creatures we see in advertisements and start seeing the beauty in real people?
This is how The Try Guys felt about the shooting day and being photoshopped:
“This is a hyper sexualized position and my face is not a part of who I am at all in this. I’m an object”
“I just felt so beaten down, there are so much expectations of me that I couldn’t meet”
“There was nothing human about that, it’s just an object lit beautifully and now it will be photoshopped to look even better”
“I don’t wanna be seen as a sex object, I wanna be seen as a fun person”
This is something models go through every single day. However, I do have to share the silver lining: yes, you get a lot of critics, but I don’t think I would be such a strong person nowadays if I wouldn’t have gone through all of that for the past couple of years. It took me a while, but I finally learned to embrace my body and love myself, no matter what other people think about me. And so should all of you! Which brings me to the final, beautiful lesson of the video of The Try Guys:
4. “You should know that all of media is altered. Everyone is trying to be better, everyone is putting a better version of themselves out there. So you can’t judge your raw self with someone else’s affected self.”
Everything you see on Social Media and Advertisements is fake. I mean… how could it ever even be real? How can one single image grasp someone’s identity and appearance? Do they look like that 24/7? What about the energy that they transmit in real life that you can’t see in a picture? Girls, we should never compare ourselves to any of these pictures, it’s a competition that no one wins. Not even the models on those pictures ;)
Everyone, take a moment to really think about this: NOW is probably the best you are ever going to look. In 10 years you will look back at your pictures and you will think ‘wow, I wish I still looked like that’ (unless you had a very awkward teen phase lol). Make sure to honestly appreciate your current beauty, otherwise you will regret it later.
As a final note:I honestly believe that the most beautiful people are actually also the ones that are most insecure, because society always talks about their appearance instead of about their skills; as if that’s what will define their success in life. This already starts from a young age when we compliment girls on how pretty they are. One thing is for sure: if I ever get a daughter I will make sure to compliment her on how badass she is ;)
So from now on: instead of admiring someone’s beauty, let’s admire someone’s kindness, intelligence, skills, talent, sense of style, energy…. pretty much anything else that says more about a person than their body shape <3
Sorry for this long story guys, it’s just that I truly feel passionate about this topic and I can’t stop talking #ups. Will you join the positivity moment?
Published Date : January 17, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Uncategorized
Praat met jeroen krak over verschillende bodytypes
Bye Blue Monday! How to Beat the Flu
Published Date : December 7, 2015 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
December is here, and so is the cold! The Flu is around the corner but I most definitely do not have time for being sick! That’s why I have been doing some research on how to deal with your (upcoming) Flu with natural ingredients which you can find in your Supermarket. You can thank me later
1. No more Toxins: Keep your Liver Clean
In order to keep your body clean from toxins, your liver has to work hard! By keeping your liver clean, you will be able to flush out toxins more efficiently and thus prevent you from becoming sick! A good way to keep your liver clean is by eating lots of cruciferous vegetables such as kale, broccoli, lettuce and cabbage.
2. Ginger for the Lungs
Ginger warms the body and helps to break down the accumulation of toxins in the organs, particularly in the lungs and airways. By keeping your airways open, ginger can help to prevent the risk of infection. If you’re having a cold, it’s also great to help you breathe better trough your nose!
3. Lemonwater against Nausea (and more)
In this article, I explained that lemon contains Pottasium, which controls high blood pressure and reduces the effects of nausea. Furthermore, lemon has disinfecting properties, helps cleansing toxins and keeps you hydrated. Personal Favorite Tip: make your own tea with a slice of ginger, the half of a lemon, and a full spoon of honey. This is the ultimate Get Better Recipe, and it tastes delicious too!
4. Saltwater for the Throat
Scratchy throat? Add half a teaspoon of salt to a glass of warm water and gargle! The salt draws out excess water in your throat’s tissues, reducing the inflammation, and clears mucous and irritants from the back of the throat. The rinse also flushes out bacteria and viruses, which will help in case you’re getting a cold (or if you want to prevent one). Easy but effective, definitely worth a try am I right?
5. Ease your cough with Sage
Sage extracts work as a cough syrup, which helps your body move mucus out of your respiratory tract and helps to calm your cough. As a good alternative to cough syrup from the pharmacy, try a drop of sage extract in tea or hot water (maybe with the ginger/lemon/honey mix?)
As a last note I figured I should also quickly mention other common things I read everywhere about preventing the flu: keep doing (light) exercise, sleep enough, reduce your stress levels, eat healthy, get fresh air, wash your hands regularly & stay hydrated. Sounds good to me, I feel ready for the Winter now!
Do you guys have any personal favorites which help you beat the flu? Share your wisdom with us and perhaps it will save us from becoming sick during the holidays!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
Cake, Vodka and Secret Hotspots: How I celebrated my birthday
VIRGOS UNITE! I know I know, it’s already the month of the Libras (also a great sign btw). I just wanted to tell you guys about how I celebrated my birthday last week, I can’t even express how amazing it was! I celebrated it together with Mailili because we have the exact same birthday…. as you can imagine, it was definitely a case of ‘double trouble’ ;)
The evening started off with a lovely small dinner at The Butcher at the Albert Cuypmarkt. We had a shared platter menu, so the food just kept coming! Exactly how I like it haha. Dish after dish I was amazed by the perfection of the tastes, which got even better with delicious cocktails on the side. Then around 22.00h the rest of the guests started walking in.
It was quite funny because (in case you didn’t know yet) The Butcher at the Albert Cuypmarkt has a secret cocktailbar in the back where we were sitting, and in order to get there, everyone had to find the secret entrance door and say the right password in order to be able to get in.
Quite soon The Butcher was completely full and the party started! Belvedere arranged delicious cocktails for our guests and me and Mailili got super awesome customized bottles with our names on it. OMG! I kept the bottle and I think I’m gonna use it as a vase from now on hahahaa.
Then at 00:00 was the big birthday moment of course, and we got a beautiful cake made by Zina’s Bakery, it was Red Velvet on the inside… can a girl ask for anything else really?Around 1:00 we got little busses to drive us to Mad Fox, where we pretty much danced our booties off till 5am! When I got home, I insisted ordering an XL pizza because I refused to have a hangover on my birthday but obviously I couldn’t finish it…. so it was also my breakfast! #pizzaforbreakast #hellyes
I was feeling suprisingly well (did not expect that after all that vodka lol) so I woke up very good!
My favorite Triumph pajama <3
Then I got all dolled up, got my hair styled at Salon B and met up with a group of friends for a lovely lunch where we literally spent hours sitting, lauging, eating and talking some more.
OOTD: Velvet suit from VILA // Burgundy Body from Hunkemöller // Shoes from River Island
In the evening I went out to dinner at Sushito for my favorite poke bowl and then spent the rest of the evening in my bed watching my favorite series <3 Can a day be any more perfect?! I don’t think so :)
Anyways, thank you everyone that came to celebrate with me – in real life as well as online – I have read ALL of you birthday messages and they definitely made my day!
Christmas time is coming around again. The time of family, presents, happiness, love and sharing. I am one of the lucky girls who has a great family, amazing friends, and a lovely boyfriend, honestly I have nothing to complain about and I definitely realize that! However, I also do realize that there are many people and animals that are not as fortunate as I am… and as a true believer of Karma I want to share a bit of my own love and fortune with others in order to spread a little sparkle around the world. There are so many ways you can make a change, big or small! In this blogpost I am sharing some of my own ideas to make the world a bit brighter, take a look at it and maybe you will like some of them :)
1. Send your Christmas Cards with www.dierengroet.nl
(For the Dutchies) It’s about time to send those Christmas cards to your loved ones to wish them happy holidays! Personalize your very own Christmas card on www.dierengroet.nl and send them from your comfy couch: If you order them before 4PM the cards will be delivered the day after and the prizes start from €1,39. The money you spend on the cards is a 100% Gift to the Dierenbescherming (Animal Rights organization) so you will also help some cuties get through the cold winter nights! Win-win am I right?
2. Fashion for Charity
Okay guys… this is literally BRILLIANT! On the website www.fashionproject.com you can either donate your old clothes, OR shop vintage designs from other donators. The Fashion Project works together with several charities where the shop money will go to… everyone happy! Forbes Magazine did an interesting interview with the founders and their concept, worth a read as well!
3. Adopt a Cat (on Distance) from Rome
Everyone knows that person who loves animals but isn’t able to take care of one at the moment… myself included! Why don’t you adopt a cat on distance in their name as a Christmas present? Some years ago I was in Rome and visited Torre Argentina: the Roman Cat Sanctuary, they take great care of the cats and you can go there for hours to cuddle with as many cats as you like… such an amazing experience! Also a good reason to make a city trip to Rome to visit your cat… ;)
4. Give someone the World
Last year this was in fact my Saint Jordi present to my boyfriend (a Spanish tradition where the lady has to buy a book for her man, and gets a rose in return). Since he has more than enough books I decided to take a creative turn and buy him… an acre of the rainforest! That’s where all the paper comes from anyway right? The money is used to protect an actual specific spot in the rainforest and you receive an official “certificate of appreciation”, isn’t that lovely?!
5. Keep it Local
Great, you are helping the world around you, but you still see enough poverty around you… helping your locals is great to bring a smile on someone’s face! When I was on vacation in Greece I constantly carried around a little bag with dog treats to feed the hungry street dogs. If you are more the humanitarian type, get spontaneous one day and invite a homeless person for a lunch in the McDonalds (Note: not the scary type though, choose smart haha). Here in Barcelona there are many homeless people so I might actually try that one day… should definitely be interesting! It’s just something small, and I’m not sure if it actually helps at all, but I like to believe that it makes someone’s day and they will pass on the good karma as well.
So get out there you guys, spread your good karma and make someone smile for the holidays!
Lots and lots and LOTS of Love
Lynn
Christmas Giveaway! Quoins Jewelry Set worth €300,-
Published Date : December 14, 2015 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : The Styling Files
Hey there Lovelies!
It’s getting SO close you guys, the most wonderful time of the year! Since Christmas is my favorite holiday I want to do something special for this months’ giveaway to spread even more happiness :) Are you ready to hear all about it? Let’s check out what I have in mind!
The jewelry brand Quoins has an amazing Christmas Collection, and one of their sets will be all yours! Glam up your Holiday outfit with two beautiful bracelets and a long necklace with diamonds. What I like about Quoins is the fact that you can switch up the accessories perfectly and create many combinations, they are designed to be multifunctional! Do you think Quoins is pretty awesome as well? Check them out on Instagram (@Quoins.eu), I am sure they will LOVE you for it!
That sounds pretty awesome right? I KNOW! Do you want to have a chance on this Christmas Giveaway worth €300,-? It’s easy, all you have to do is Subscribe to my Newsletter and follow me on Instagram (@whoisthatblonde). Come over and share the holiday happiness by showing your support :) Once you followed me, comment #HappyHolidaysWhoisthatBlonde on my latest picture and I will write down your name on the Giveaway List! Getting beautiful jewelry was never this easy am I right?! The 21st of December I will announce the winner, perfect timing for spreading the Christmas Spirit!
And there is MORE! For every new subscription to my newsletter I will donate €1,- to help animals get through the cold winter months. Just sharing the love that you guys are giving me, and it feels amazing! In fact, there are many ways to help those in need, next week I will post a blog with lots of cool ideas for you!
Btw, do you think my outfit is awesome? Thank you very much, it’s my outfit for Christmas Eve! I will post a blog with all the details next week.
Lots and lots and LOTS of Love!
Lynn
Classy in Zara
Published Date : September 23, 2015 Author : meganmedia15 Categories : #OOTD, The Styling Files
Simple, elegant and stylish… who doesn’t love Zara?! For today’s look I decided to go with a navy blue dress with light golden details which complement my light skin and hair. It is actually the first time I wear an A-Line dress since usually I prefer to create some shapes with my waistline, but it gives a very cute and classy effect don’t you think so? Instead of wearing heels I went for a pair of black Derby shoes with a track sole to give the overall style some edge.
To finish up the look I used golden accessories which match with the golden pattern of the dress (it’s all in the details I tell you!), and last but not least: the black Michael Kors bag brings everything together and creates some peace with its solidness. It’s a perfect accessory since it will fit with any creative styling ideas you might have in mind! Do you love this bag too? Click here to join the Giveaway and win this Beauty!
I’m sure you’ve heard it before – or you even said it yourself: “Don’t you just hate it when people are bragging about doing charitable things?“. I had a discussion about this very topic a week ago and it got me thinking. Why is it such a bad thing that people like to talk about the charitable things they did? Personally I am a big believer in Karma and I honestly enjoy charitable activities every now and then, but currently I would be terrified to talk about it because I would instantly be stigmatized as a #humblebragger. Are you guys seriously telling me that it is more than fine to read about corrupt politics, terrorism, abuse and even superficial gossip, than to spread a positive word about trying to making a change in this world? Not having it.
Does anyone enjoy watching Peta‘s animal videos? No. But just as with humblebragging for charity – we have to raise more awareness to make a positive change in this world. Yes. It is true that some people do charitable things just so they can brag about it. But hey, that doesn’t take away that they actually did something good for this world, does it?
This has two main benefits: boosting awareness for nonprofit organizations and turning everyday people into modern-day humanitarians. And so what if they brag? Good for them — as long as it means they are actually doing something positive. Albeit in the form of donating money, volunteering, or helping a guy in a wheelchair crossing the street. We brag about everything else we do in this experience economy that we live in, so why not add charitable giving to that list?
The fact is that the lightweight interactions, minimal contributions, and the charity “humblebrags” social media allow us to make a lot of hands do a heavy job. This brave new world allows for a new culture of well-doing, where it doesn’t take a billionaire with a checkbook silently underwriting operational costs for a charity organization to consider oneself a “humanitarian.” The fact is, we are all just a few clicks away from being micro-humanitarians. And when we take that action, we brag about it — not just to feel good about ourselves, but to inspire others to do the same. Maybe people are bragging more, but if that’s getting animal shelters the medical care they need, or helping us save the environment, then keep “humblebragging” away. We could all deal with a little extra social media clutter for the greater good.
Or even better: we should all get acquainted with being nicer to the world that we live in, so that it becomes a normal value instead of a ‘brag’. Instead of shutting down humblebragging, we should work towards making charitable activities a normal, daily activity. Who’s in?
You might be reading the title of this blog and think to yourself: “Easy for you to talk, your body is amazing, of course you love it!”. But there is more than meets the eye. Any model will agree with me: while going to an endless amount of castings we all developed serious self esteem issues at some point.
There is always something wrong with us: too short, too tall, too fat, too skinny, too young, too old… one time I even got send out of a casting because the instep of my foot was too high… not joking. I most definitely have some very insecure years behind me, but since last year I finally learned how to embrace myself for how I am.
What’s “wrong” with me you might wonder? The length of my legs is out of proportion compared to my upper body and they are also the problem zone where my fat goes if I eat too much unhealthy food… perfect combination don’t you think? As a model, I was always too short (2cm to be exact) and my ass was too big (ironically enough, also 2cm), which the casting directors and agencies gladly reminded me of every time they saw me.
Teenage girls should never have to hear all these negative comments about their bodies. I’ve met so many girls that started to become obsessed with their bodies and even developed eating disorders, it’s disturbing. So yes, maybe I have an “amazing” body in the eyes of other people, but everyone has their own insecurities and problems! In the end, we all deal with the same question: how will I learn to love my body?
1. I realized that everyone has a specific body type and that it’s impossible to get another body type, no matter how hard you work out.
Of course, you can lose weight and tone your muscles, but always following the lines of your body type. In my Amsterdam vlog I talk about this with Model Workout coach Jeroen Krak.
2. I realized that photoshop creates an idealistic image of bodies in the media, which isn’t realistic most of the time.
I’ve seen my body photoshopped so many times that I used to get disappointed in myself when I look in the mirror. However, now I get disappointed whenever I see ads in magazines. I learned to love myself because I realized I wasn’t the one showing the wrong body image: the media are. Currently I am a big supporter of a new (hopefully upcoming) body trend: fit & healthy.
3. I realized that in the end looks are nothing compared to skills.
Sure, good looks are nice, but how far are they going to get you? Since I started my own company and developed my skills people have been treating me with much more respect than they ever did.
4. I realized that everyone has their own problems
The next time you feel insecure about your body because someone else looks “better”, remember that they have their own insecurities. It’s cliché but true: “no one is perfect”
5. I realized it’s better to be more curvy and happy than skinny and stressed
Sure, I can be super-duper skinny. If I work out 7 days a week and follow a strict diet. I realized I prefer to enjoy good food and some extra relax time, instead of working my ass off and obsessing about my weight 24/7.
Are you insecure about your body? Or do you have any other tips on embracing yourself?
Lots of Love,
Lynn
P.s. Photocredits to the amazing photographer Ron de Wildt! :)
Column #3: Perfectly Imperfect Holidays
Published Date : January 4, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
Who doesn’t recognize these typical Christmas scenes: stressing all day trying to make the perfect Christmas dinner, looking for the best presents, trying to untangle the lights for the Christmas tree, struggling to make plans with both sides of your family to make sure you see everyone during the holidays and gaining 5kg from all the food. I think we can all agree that Christmas isn’t as perfect as we like to make it look like on social media, can we? Nevertheless, Christmas is one of my favorite holidays – and not because of the presents under the Christmas tree. Maybe all these little holiday dramas are exactly what make it such a charming holiday. Let’s see how I spent mine!
I decided to be pro-active this year. Every single year my mom goes insane over the Christmas dinner menu and getting all the food nicely presented on the dinner table in time. This usually results in her running around the house, yelling at everyone because – let’s face it – we are all being lazy assholes. This year was going to be different, I told my mom I’d take on the task of arranging the Christmas dinner. Actually I figured it could be fun: I spent hours on the website of Jamie Oliver and came up with a three-course fully vegan dinner. Time to experiment with food! My favorite hobby after all.
I was so busy with burning my hand, running around the house, ruining my chocolate cake (I was highly disappointed about that) and almost burning my cauliflower roast, that I forgot to pack my final presents and to decorate the table. Yep, now I totally understand why my mom yells at us each year. Sum that up with typical family irritations such as gossip, complaints and disagreements: I think we can come to the conclusion that the holidays are never perfect. But you know what? What about the moments of laughing together about stupid jokes, playing silly games for hours in a row, singing along to the Christmas music together and enjoying long dinner conversations?
Maybe, the reason that Christmas is my favorite holiday, is because it is so perfectly imperfect. It’s sharing all these moments together with my family. With good vibes and bad vibes, stress and laughter, fun moments and sad moments… the whole shebang. Christmas reminds us what a family is really about: going through everything together, no matter how good or bad things are. I know the holidays are already over for a while, but I just had to share these thoughts and pictures with you! Maybe I secretly enjoy stretching out Christmas as long as possible?
Btw, I know I told you guys before that I would score an Ugly Xmas Sweater, or even make one myself. But then I saw this super cool blazer from OppoSuits and decided to wear it instead! It’s fun, unique and still kinda chic – and a big hit with the family too haha :) Do you like it?
What are your thoughts on Christmas? Did you spend it with your family or did you go to a party? *Ups still stretching out Christmas, I’ll shut up now :x
Published Date : March 12, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
I don’t know about you guys, but sometimes I metaphorically look at myself and I’m like.. “wow, I am actually getting older. It’s really happening!”. Like… I already knew it would happen. But how confronting is it when you really start noticing it?? When the bags under my eyes start to become permanent, or when I prefer to stay home in my pajamas all weekend instead of going out to party, or having the WORST hangovers EVER when you decide to suck it up and go to party anyway.
The last three times I went out to party were a lot of fun, but the day after was just the most terrible thing I ever experienced in my life. Now I understand why old people don’t like to party that much anymore. Dehydrated, headaches, nausea, exhaustion… you name it. Of course, I’ve had hangovers before, but it’s like they are getting 10 times worse. They say that after 25 you go downhill. I’m not even there yet. I was supposed to have one extra year!
Now I started experimenting: how to prevent this hangover from hell? That’s why I am writing you today: I found the solution.
Step 1:Eat a LOT of food before going out
Step 2: Drink whatever the hell you want (preferably not mixing drinks, but you already know that)
Step 3: 1 hour before you are leaving the party start drinking water non-stop (I might have had 10 glasses).
Step 4: At home, order a huge pizza and eat everything while chugging down even more water.
Step 5:The next morning you let yourself sleep-in, drink some coffee (and more water) when you wake-up and eat some crackers or bread with peanut butter.
Who was saying we are getting older? I don’t know what you’re talking about.
Bye bye hangover, bye bye age. My party days aren’t over yet muahaha!
They say the 30’s are the new 20’s? Bring it on, I’m ready for you ;)
Lots of Love,
Lynn
DAYS IN BALI | photo diary, tips and must visits!
Published Date : July 23, 2017 Author : demijonk Categories : Life & Travel
Two years ago I fell in love with Bali, home to beautiful temples, rice fields, beaches, friendly people and breathtaking nature! This is why me and my boyfriend decided to go traveling around this beautiful island for 3 weeks.
We started in Canggu, this coastal village on the westside has everything you need. It’s the perfect place to surf, for both beginners and more advanced. I tried to learn how to surf at Echo beach, but I know now that it’s way more difficult than it looks… For lazy beachdays you should definitely go to Finns beachclub, which has a really chill vibe with a DJ, pool and good food. Dinner is the best at Betelnut cafe, a cute mexican restaurant on a roof. Be aware that you probably have to wait a while because they just have a few tables. Oldman’s bar is the place to be to have a few drinks after dinner. I definitely recommend staying in Canggu!
After 4 days in Canggu we went to Amed, all the way on the east side of Bali. We stayed here for one night, only because it’s an easy layover for the boat trip to the Gili Islands. We choose to go to Gili Trawangan: words can’t describe the beauty of this island. We arrived at paradise! I had never seen water this blue and sand this white. We walked around the whole island, which took us 2 hours. It has a really romantic vibe with all its swings in the ocean. Where the Gili’s are also known for is turtle diving, so of course we couldn’t leave Gili T without seeing one. What an incredible experience!
Unexpectedly we decided to go to Lombok after Gili T, to the very south, Kuta Lombok. We went on a private trip with a guide trough the jungle to see the Benang Stokel and Benang Kelambu waterfalls. An amazing experience to jump from cliffs and swim in waterfalls while monkeys are watching you. The best place to have dinner while visiting Kuta Lombok is definitely El Bazar, a pretty place with amazing food and super friendly staff. They serve Moroccan food made with love, which you can definitely taste! And not only their dinner but also their breakfast and lunch are delicious. On the opposite side of the street is KRNK located, it has the same owner as El Bazar. A industrial styled interior, good atmosphere and a wide variety of good quality food. Must visit while you’re in town!
It was time to go back to Bali again, this time we went to Seminyak, a very popular place just above Canggu. I had been here before, but I fell in love with the La Plancha beach vibes and the streets full of Balinese clothing shops. We were very lucky to be able to stay in a beautiful villa (thanks David!!!), located in the very central of Seminyak. I have an agency here, Balistarz, so I thought why not do a few shoot while I’m here?! Bali is too pretty not to shoot, so I did one job and one testshoot and I can’t wait for the results!
Unfortunately our trip ended and we had to go back to reality. Bali, thanks for having us and we’ll be back!
Let me know if you are interested in more tips or have any questions.
Published Date : November 27, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Beauty Guru
Two weeks ago I was going through my growing pile of beauty products. I often receive samples from brands to try out their products and it’s almost impossible to find out which ones actually work for me. This day in specific I was looking for a cream that wouldn’t block my pores all too much, but would still give me some light coverage during the day: my skin was doing really well so I didn’t want to wear my usual foundation.
My eye fell on a couple of small Perfect Coverage BB Cream samples from Missha – a Korean beauty brand that I got to know in Barcelona – and decided to give it a try. The cream hydrated very well and gave just the right amount of coverage to hide the small imperfections of my skin. I’ve been trying the cream for a while now and I really notice it doesn’t clog my pores, which makes it perfect for natural/ casual days.
In case I need some extra coverage or less shine, I combine the BB Cream with the mineral powder from Clinique, these two complement each other perfectly!
Have you ever heard of the brand Missha before? Which BB Cream do you guys use?
Lots of Love,
Lynn
P.s. One of my other discoveries is this amazing restaurant in Barcelona: Tia Santa! Check it out.
Discovery of the Week: Restaurant Tia Santa in Barcelona
Published Date : November 13, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
The other day I was walking around my beloved city Barcelona with Alex, looking for a nice place to have dinner. I felt like something healthy because I had nacho for lunch #ups, and I was determined to find one of those super cool veggie places that Barcelona has. We didn’t even walk down our street when we suddenly noticed this super stylish restaurant named Tia Santa. I saw vegetables growing from the walls, beautiful lamps and a very interesting looking menu for a reasonable price. YASSS. Goal accomplished.
Once inside, a very friendly waiter seated us and brought us the menus. He explained us that all of the veggies are grown in their own garden to make sure there are no chemicals in the products, and that they are specialized in anti-allergies and vegetarian food. Alex went for a Ceasar salad while I went for Asian noodles, and the food was there within 10 minutes… HOW?! The food was absolutely delicious and me and Alex returned 2 more times later that week because there were so many things I wanted to try from their fascinating menu.
I asked the waiter about this place, and he told me that Tia Santa opened up only 4 months ago and that it has been very successful. If they keep growing like this they want to open another location very soon! I don’t know about you guys, but I can see a new hotspot coming up.
Autumn Risotto <3
P.s. Tia Santa opena at 7.30 in the morning for everyone that wants a tasty breakfast! I went for a chocolate muffin because I wasn’t very hungry, but it was deliciousssss.
Enjoying Breakfast
I will start posting new discoveries more often from now on! Please note that I am truly giving my own opinion and I am not getting paid for this post. I just really get excited about good food and want to share that with you guys :)
Lots of Love,
Lynn
Discovery of the Week: Sensilis Day Cream
Published Date : December 11, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Beauty Guru
Okay perhaps this title isn’t completely correct: I started using the Skin Delight Day Cream of Sensilis a couple of months ago already, but it has kept surprising me with results for a while already, so I figured it deserved a spotlight as well. So let’s call this… the discovery of autumn?
It all started when I was about to start my tour but my night cream was almost finished, so I jumped into my pile of beauty products and found this cream from Sensilis. To be honest I didn’t even realize it was a day cream, I just needed something hydrating on my face so I took it with me and used it as a night cream. I’m not even joking, my skin became SO insanely soft right after the first night of using it. My mind was BLOWN. It seemed like my blemishes were healing faster than usual and my skin got a nice glow…. what is this sorcery? I am still using this cream every night, and sometimes I even apply it extra thick so it gets an ‘overnight mask’ vibe. I also got their black exfoliator so I’m gonna try that next… let’s hope it works just as good as their day cream! Anyways, absolutely loving this brand and recommending it to everyone. No more words needed <3
Have you ever heard of the brand Sensilis before? Which Day/Night Cream do you guys use?
Lots of Love,
Lynn
P.s. One of my other discoveries is this amazing restaurant in Barcelona: Tia Santa! Check it out.
DIY SPA from Head to Toe
Published Date : May 26, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Beauty Guru
Heya Y´all!
Last Sunday it was a rainy cold day in Barcelona, so I decided to have some fun with Alex by making our own indoor DIY Spa! We just looked at what we could find in our kitchen, combined the right ingredients, and got some great Head-to-Toe Spa Recepies for you! Not only is it important to take care of yourself, this is also a great activity to do with your friends or boyfriend! Warning: it might get a bit messy while experimenting, but as long as you clean up together that can be a part of the fun!
Hair
Here is a recepy for the best AND easiest natural hairmask ever: Mix together 1 can of coconut milk, 1 tablespoon of Honey (preferably raw and organic), and 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Leave in as long as you want (I would reccommend a minimum of 10 minutes), and shampoo it out! Voila: shiny and soft hair :)
Face
For the facial mask we combined three of the best natural products to treat skin: ½ tablespoon of Honey, 1 tablespoon of Yogurt and 1 tablespoon of Cucumber Pulp. So why are these ingredients so good for your skin?
Yogurt contains lactic acid which helps reduce the size of your pores. Further it moisturizes and reduces oiliness. Honey brightens, tightens, and smoothts out the skin, and with cucumber in the mix your skin gets even softer and it sooths irritations. For the people out there who have troubles with breakouts or acné: this is definitely a mask to try out!
Besides the facial mask I also wanted to try something out to reduce the puffiness around my eyes. I´ve been working hard lately, and unfortunately it´s starting to show haha. Besides the ´good old´ classic of applying cucumber slices on your eyes for 10 to 15 minutes, I decided to try out something else today.
Did you ever try to apply egg white to your skin? Since it acts as an astringent it makes your skin appear tighter and smoother, PLUS it contains lots of Vitamin B2, which is associated with improved circulation. Simply beat 2 egg whites till they are stiff and apply them on your eyebags, let it dry for about 15 minutes and rinse well. So easy and so effective!
Body
This DIY Spa Scrub is literally the easiest to make and can be used for everything! Hands, feet, full body…. it´s perfect!! Get a cup of granulated white sugar and add equal parts of lemon juice and olive oil until you get to a thick paste. If possible, at some Vitamin E oil for an extra boost to your skin. Scrub well in circular motions and rinse…. Be amazed by how soft you are!
Feet
I never tried a foot mask/bath before so I decided to give it a try during this DIY Spa Day with cucumber pulp for its calming qualities (too much heels lately if you know what I´m sayin´), and combined it with lemon juice (2tbs) and olive oil (2tbs). Place your feet into the bowl(s) with the mixture and rub it well untill each foot is fully soaked. Then leave it on for about 5-10 minutes before rinsing it with warm wáter.
Quick tip: it would be smart to do this foot mask right next to your shower because otherwise you have to cross your house in dirty feet (unfortunately I found out the hard way hahaha, way to go Lynn). The cucumber is refreshing and reviving for tired toes, the lemons exfoliates the skin while the olive oil is a deep moisturizer that ensures supersoftness!
We spent all day long playing with food from our kitchen and trying out new things, it was so much fun! Definitely recomendable for a date day :) If you guys know any cool DIY Spa recipies let me know! I would love to go for a second edition!
I’m not sure exactly why, but I always get to hear from people that I don’t look like myself? I honestly think it’s because when I’m in a photoshoot, I’m in hair- and make-up for 2 hours and then there’s amazing lights and 1000’s pictures and after the shooting is over… Photoshop💄📸
This kinda makes me upset because I can’t help but think…. So in ‘real life’ you don’t think I’m beautiful…? Okay, I am SURE these people don’t say it to be mean, they are just honestly suprised. My photoshopped pictures create such a perfect image of me which I will never be able to live up to, and WHY?! Why do we even do this to ourselves? Torture ourselves with insecurity and unrealistic images, what’s the point?
Sometimes I’m still struggling with accepting myself, but more and more I am starting to appreciate my own, real, natural beauty – which most definitely isn’t perfect and I totally have flaws. However, I prefer the term ~unique ~👸👑
Who else read that article that people are starting to look more and more the same because everyone is getting plastic surgery done to suit the beauty ideals of our time? What happened with being a unique, individual being? If you ask me… that’s where true beauty lies❤️
So here it is, in collaboration with @naifcare I made a picture: no make-up, no-nonsense. Literally NAKED. Now when you spot me in public, let me know if I look like myself, okay? ;) P.s. Most likely I’ll be wearing glasses, so don’t let that confuse you lol.
Okay so this is seriously the only picture I could find of myself wearing glasses! Usually I automatically take them off because I don’t like how the light reflects in them while taking a picture.
Published Date : August 10, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Beauty Guru
Who doesn’t love perfume?! Some weeks ago I got this new perfume called ‘Embrace the Day‘ from Hunkemöller and it’s so fresh that I wear it day and night. Now I can make 3 of my sweet followers happy with a perfume bottle, all you have to do is to subscribe to my newsletter!
Next week you will get a message about who are the lucky winners so stay tuned :)
Last week I saw my chance: it was finally snowing! Me and Taria-ann decided to go on a small adventure and go to a beautiful nature area in the south of the Netherlands. In the middle of nowhere there is this cute small cottage/restaurant called ‘t Hijgend Hert: a perfect spot for a snowy saturday! It didn’t go as smooth as we planned though…
Apparently we weren’t the only ones that thought it was a good idea to go to this restaurant, which resulted in me having to parallel park in a slippery snowy road with 10 cars waiting behind me. Ups! After that I realized soon enough that it might have not been a smart move to wear my cute OTK heels. In the snow. In a forest. But in my defense: they are cute AF and they matched with my outfit #bloggerproblems. I felt like a true Survivor on Stilettos, right Tari? hahaha
After sliding our way to the restaurant, it was time to warm up! Hot coco and onion soup it is <3
Enjoying a warm drink by a fire place while watching the snow outside… isn’t that one of the most beautiful things in life? The perfect winter wonderland.
Published Date : April 3, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Beauty Guru
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I am pretty sure that every girl dreams of owning Urban Decay palettes – their NUDES series is legendary! That’s exactly the reason why I got super excited when I received an invite for a super exclusive Urban Decay event at the Pulitzer Suite in Amsterdam. If I would like to come? Uhmmm… what about hell YES <3
Sooo much new goodies! We all sat together, and no one less than Amy Zunzunegui – the senior vice president of product development (the person who comes up with all these brilliant beauty goodies) – explained us about their newest items for spring/summer.
Even though I’m not the biggest beauty expert, even I could see that some of their items were pretty badass. Their vice liquid lipsticks was literally impossible to get off my hand – for example. But not to worry: they even created a completely new type of make-up remover (a dissolving spray, oil free + vitamin E) which was able to take it off with just ONE swipe (how?!). As you can imagine, my mind was blown.
Furthermore, they did a lot of research on the perfect make-up prep. Their newest collection has (among others) a poor refining peel, hot springs hydrating gel and a moisturizing lip balm which smells a-ma-zing.
After the explanation it was time to have fun! We could all make pictures in the room, get our make-up done by Urban Decay make-up artists, or in my case: interview Amy. I asked her dozens of questions about what it’s like to be a ladyboss: tips, struggles, personal life, and more. The interview will be out next month! It might have been one of the best conversations I ever had because this lady is truly inspiring, smart and very refreshing with her point of views.
Apparently the feeling was mutual because we made a selfie and she even posted it on her Instagram. OMG. #fangirlmoment #noshame
And last but not least: the Urban Decay team! Aren’t they beautiful:)
After all the pics, talks and make-up, we had a lovely lunch before heading home. Thanks for having me, I had a blast!
Are you a big fan of Urban Decay? Which palette would you wear in your bag 24/7 if you could?
Exclusive Editorial for Point Seven Mach + 1 extra shot!
Published Date : October 26, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Model Stories
One of the fastest results of my Tour is this nostalgic editorial for Point Seven Mach! A rather young, yet rapidly growing magazine which publishes online as well as in print:
We don’t care about fashion. We like clothing and pretty things but, above all, we love women. This is all about women.
What I love about PSM is how empowering it is for women. All of their editorials show strong, sexy women in their purest form. Women who are comfortable with their body and choose to be proud of it. Isn’t that what we all should be aiming for in the first place? Go Ladybosses!
The selection of pictures I show here on the blog are my personal favorites, but you can also check out the full editorial on Point Seven Mach! Just click here.
Boom! I saved my personal favorite for last. But absolutely adore this full series, Jeff Tuliniemi is such a talented photographer and we have a great connection! It was a fun day in London, I hope to shoot with him again soon :)
Oh and before I forget… I promised you guys 1 extra shot that isn’t used for the editorial in Point Seven Mach… in color! I think it’s a super casual and fun pic which shows the vibes we had during the shooting. Look for yourself :)
Face Mapping: The Reason Why you get Acne Breakouts - and How to Fix it
Published Date : August 7, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Beauty Guru
After having a pretty good skin for the past couple of months, I have been noticing that lately my acne breakouts have increased, but only on the right side of my face… isn’t that weird? Do you guys have such specific acne breakouts as well? Today I was tired of wondering, decided to search for some Google Wisdom, and learned all about Face Mapping.
Yes. Apparently, there is this thing called ‘Face Mapping‘: “an ancient practice rooted in Ayurveda teaching and Chinese medicine that treats your face as a roadmap to pinpoint underlying issues in other parts of your body.” If you are having acne breakouts on specific spots on your face, face mapping connects that area of your face to an organ or body part, which allows you to make the necessary changes to your diet or lifestyle to make it go away. Wait a minute… did you say… “Make it go away”?? This stuff is getting interesting!
How it Works
Let’s say that the skin on your face is a reflection of your health. Your body functions on several systems – lympathic, neurological, digestive, etc. — and all of them are connected. If one system is affected this will also affect the others, so with face mapping we verify what’s going on inside of our bodies – because every body part is connected to different organs. Here is a little guide, keep reading for extra explanation!
Forehead: According to Chinese medicine, the area above your brows is linked to your gallbladder and liver so try to take care of your diet. Furthermore it’s important to don’t get your stress levels too high and get some regulation in your sleeping pattern.
Temples/ Eyebrows: If you have acne breakouts around your temples and eyebrows, you might have a poor circulation or problems with your gallbladder. Try eating less processed or junk food and reduce the amount of fat in your diet.
Nose: Your nose, not surprisingly, is connected to your lungs and heart. To combat breakouts in this area, you should be cutting back on spicy foods, meat, and salt and replacing them with fruits, veggies, nuts (which are full of good fats like omega-3 and 6). If you’re getting constant breakouts on your nose, check your blood pressure and vitamin B levels— upping your vitamin B intake can help combat flare-ups.
Left Cheek: Chinese medicine is really big on left and right. If you’re breaking out on the left side of your face, you should eat more “cooling foods”—think winter melon, cucumber, and so on. The left cheek is more connected to your liver, which is the weakest between one to five p.m. in the afternoon. So if you’re having a breakout on your left cheek, try to avoid any strenuous work during that time of day.
Right Cheek: The right side cheek is more connected to your lungs. You should try doing aerobic and breathing exercises early in the morning to strengthen your lungs. The right cheek is also more sugar-focused. If you’re breaking out on your right cheek, it’s also recommended cutting back on junk food and sugar, as well as wine, taro, and seafood.
Mouth/ Lip Area: If you suffer from breakouts around your mouth area, once again, your diet could be to blame. The area around your mouth is associated with your digestive organs, like your intestines and liver. It is recommended cutting back on spicy foods and fried foods, while eating more fiber, fruits, and veggies. Also: try switching up your toothpaste to see if there are any changes.
Chin: Modern acupuncturists would say that if you break out around your chin, you should get your hormone levels checked, but stress can also be a huge part of it. You should try drinking spearmint tea and taking omega-3 to soothe these breakouts, as well as talking to your gynecologist about your hormone levels.
What do you guys think about Face Mapping? Doe those acne breakouts suddenly make sense now? Let me know!
Fall Make-up Trends
Published Date : September 26, 2015 Author : alexas Categories : Beauty Guru
Move over Smokey Eyes! After years of smudgy eye make-up in Fall, it’s time for something new, something fresh! After doing some research I was able to distinguish two specific make-up trends which we will be seeing a lot these months:
Make-up Trend #1: Embrace your Natural Beauty Women are strong and beautiful! This trend is all about celebrating the female natural beauty,
Especially pure skin is very important in this beauty look. If you have a good skin, all you need is a moisturizing BB or CC cream. If you prefer to do some ‘touch ups’ before going for a light foundation I would recommend using the Concealer Kit of Bobbi Brown. What’s great about this concealer is the fact that it’s very creamy, so it moisturizes the skin and gives a natural glow. Finish off the pure skin look with a pink blush to create a healthy and fresh look.
The eyeshadows are kept neutral with earthy tones such as brown, beige, bronze and gold. The lips are beautiful in a natural soft pink color (my personal favorite is ‘Mellow Rose’ from Max Factor Lipfinity). A great day-to-night switch is replacing the soft pink color for a deep burgundy red… it will give a fun touch! Last but not least: don’t pluck your eyebrows but instead leave them proud and bushy à la Cara Delevigne. There you go, with these few simple steps you got the natural beauty look down!
Make-up Trend #2: Graphic Eyes The fashion houses sure got creative with black eyeliner for this fall! You can vary between a smudgy black kohl pencil to true art pieces. Do you have a hard time with getting your lines perfect (don’t we all…)? Sephora created the perfect solution with its multi-branded eyeliner kit with different types of liners! Get into the varying possibilities of the liners and just start experimenting, it’s supposed to be fun! Are you worried that pitch black is too dark for your eyes or skin type? Kat von D got you covered: she created a trio package with a black, navy blue and espresso brown liner.
For this specific beauty look it is important for the eyes to pop, which is why the rest of the face is kept very light and neutral. No surprise we find the pure skin look again, just like the fresh blush on the cheeks. For the lips there is not the option to go burgundy red since then the make-up look would get too busy.
Personally I am quite excited about these trends since they will fit with anyone and they are very open for interpretation! I know that many of us just have their ‘signature make-up look’ of which we know it looks good on us. But seriously guys, let’s try to get out of our comfort zones and have fun!
Fashion Editorial: Beyond the Walls
Published Date : December 12, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : #OOTD, The Styling Files
“Which stories are hiding in those walls?”. I often wonder while standing in front of a beautiful building. Generations come and go, with architecture as their silent observers. There are so many untold stories created behind our walls, some of which create an unexpected impact while others are simply passing by.
The city of Barcelona inspired me to think beyond the walls, to dream about mystery, to wonder about untold stories. Endless dynamic shapes, textures, colors and a touch of mystery is what makes a city magical. Not surprisingly, the same can be said for fashion. Two different art genres, but connected nevertheless.
Merging fashion and architecture creates a completely new story. Soft materials are intertwined with structured shapes. Colors complement each other and seeming contrasts turn out to be the best possible partners. The local designers that made this editorial happen know better than anyone how to embody a story of materials and mysteries.
Take a walk through your city, with new eyes this time . What do you see?
Not that long ago I was in Rotterdam for Salonè della Moda, and I loved one of my outfits so much that I shot a short fashion video with Lucas Bakx for it! I know I know… not necessarily an outfit you could wear on a daily basis, but doesn’t that make it much more fun and special to wear?!
What I like about fashion is that you can get creative and make it fun with different combinations of styles, colors, materials and more! I guess my slogan came into existence for a reason:
Published Date : April 1, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
Happy April Fools Day!
I don’t know about you guys, but I am in the mood for some fun and spontaneous actions! Instead of my usual big monthly giveaway, I will be doing 4 mini surprise giveaways for anyone that’s subscribed to my newsletter each week of April! Everyone deserves to feel the little jump of joy when you get a cute surprise, so get ready!
In case you are not subscribed to my newsletter yet, there is this cute little pink button on the right sidebar of this page called ‘Sign Me Up‘! Give it a try :)
Don’t worry, I only send out a newsletter once or twice a month, so I promise I won’t be spamming you! Of course you are more than free to unsubscribe if you don’t like my newsletter, it’s there for the readers who like to stay up to date with my latest blogposts, giveaways and sneakpeeks, it’s not there to bother anyone!
Also I am planning on doing some fun pranks with people today…. Does anyone have good suggestions for me? Make sure to follow me on Snapchat to see what I am up to! >>> whoisthatblonde <<<<
Lots of Love!
Lynn
Five types of photographers that drive models CRAZY
Published Date : November 23, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Model Stories
There are many things that can drive models crazy… castings, people telling you that you’re too skinny, breakouts from unhygienic make-up tools, waiting on set, and so on. Every job has its pros and cons rights? Today we take on the topic of photographers, because even though there are many amazing ones, there are also many photographers that drive models crazy. [start rant]
1. The Amateur
Every model has experienced this: a photographer contacting you through Facebook to ask for a free shoot. When you check their profile it turns out they are nowhere near to a professional level so you kindly tell them that you are not available/ interested. Surprisingly enough, they seem to believe that they are photography Gods and are immensely insulted by the fact that you rejected them, which results in insults/ rude comments/ justifying anecdotes on how amazing they are and how there are 100s of models waiting in line for them. #byefelipe
2. The AWOL
This type of photographer shows up on every level. Sometimes you make plans and then they suddenly stop answering, other times they decide to disappear after your shoot so you never get your pictures. Here’s all that I have to say to you: if you make the decision to commit to a photoshoot, be a professional. Not answering is the weakest path you could choose… at least be (wo)man enough to cancel or explain why you can’t/won’t send the pictures.
3. The Perv
“No is No” is a sentence that this photographer doesn’t seem to understand. Models are very clear about how far they want to go (regarding topless/covered/nude), so why would you disrespect that and try to push our limits all the time? The best part is that they try to turn around the blame and make us look like prudish babies that are ruing the flow of the shoot. Here’s what you’re not getting: with making models uncomfortable you are the one ruining the shoot. Sure, some models don’t mind doing nude – and that’s fine – but that doesn’t mean all of us want to. Stop asking for the 10th time.
4. The Big-Head
These photographers usually already have a good portfolio… and they know it. They tend to get very cocky whenever you want to organize a shoot with them. They refuse to do any preparation work and often get quite dramatic when things don’t go their way. For these photographers counts the same as for the AWOL: if you make the decision to do a collaboration, be a professional. Not a prom queen. There’s no need to give an attitude, we are all a team working towards the same results. The worse is when they get SO cocky that they don’t even bother to do a decent post-production, or when they decide that the shoot isn’t even worth editing because they are too busy. Again: if you decide to make a commitment, finish it.
5. The Perfectionist
This type of photographer drives us crazy on so many levels. Not only are we waiting for the right light settings for most of the time during the shoot, this photographer doesn’t allow us to do our own posing either. Whenever we try to move, they put us in the pose that they have in mind, which feels very unnatural and uncomfortable… and quite frankly… completely boring. Do we tell you how to do your job? Yeah I didn’t think so either. Shoots with this photographer aren’t fun: there is no connection nor vibes and it will show in the results. If you are in bad luck they are also a Photoshop perfectionists, which means that it will take weeks or months before you see some pictures.
[end rant]
Pfiew, well that’s off my chest haha! This one is for all the frustrated models out there, I’m feeling ya lol. Did I miss any type of photographer that needs to be added to the list? I won’t be doing any shoots till the end of January, so be ready for a new editorial boom in February!
P.p.s. Amazing photography credits to my love Naelia Salas <3
Foodie Friday: 3 Cute Coffee Bars in Barcelona
Published Date : May 13, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
Yay, It´s time for my newest Foodie Friday edition! This month I decided to do some research on nice places to go for a coffee and hang with friends. I´ve seen many places and I came to my final selection of 3 favourites!
I´ve been coming to this cute bistro for a couple of months already: to meet with friends for coffee, to have a business lunch, or just to spend some relax time in between running around for appointments. The reason why I like it so much is because it has a really comfy and stylish interior and its located in a central location: next to the metro of urquinaona, which is one block away from Placa Catalunya (the main square of Barcelona). They have amazing pastries, brunches, smoothies, coffees, teas and more… and everything is organic!
This is a café chain which you will find all over Barcelona, but for my particular trip I went to the location in Barceloneta because it´s close to my home and just 2 minutes walking from the metro. I love the light colors in this café because they create a fresh feeling, and don´t you just love the haystack seats?! Besides the nice coffee I would also definitely reccomend Brunch and Cake for the amazing brunch menu they offer: I tried out their vegetarian Quinoa Burger and it´s to die for!
This cute café is located between Urquinaona and Passeig de Gracia, which makes it an amazing place to go for a quick fresh up when you are in between meetings during the day. What I like about this place is the colorful interior, which is a mix between a regular café and a lounge bar. They gave me quite a treat with their adorable café latte and fabulous red velvet cake!
Foodie Friday: 3 Restaurants you have to Visit in Barcelona
Published Date : April 8, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
Hi there lovelies!
I am very excited to present this very first edition of the ‘Foodie Friday’! From now on I will be searching everywhere for the coolest bars, best restaurants, cutest bistros, and more! Basically this is just a great excuse for me to go eat outside more often, but hey it’s a win-win right?! Also I want to note that some of the visits I do are sponsored, but that would never influence the way I write about my experience! If you guys are okay with that, so am I :) Anyway, let’s get on with it! Which restaurants did I visit last month?
This authentic restaurant invited me for a degustación menu, with a small tour and explanation about the kitchen included! I was very pleased to hear that Toto restaurant has a ‘Zero KM’ rule. It means that they exclusively use seasonal, biological products from locals: it’s not only healthier, but also supports their community! The restaurant has an open kitchen so you can take a peek at the chefs cooking your meal, and the interior is a mix between modern industrial and warm nostalgia. Personally I really enjoyed the ambient of the restaurant, the staff was very kind and everything is very spacious so you don’t feel overcrowded. But let’s get to the best part: the food!
The Degustación menu consists out of a lot of small dishes so you get a taste of everything that the restaurant has to offer. This Beets & Grapefruit salad was one of my favorites! It’s combined with goat cheese and walnuts… I should be able to make this myself right?
ALLL of the food was delicious, unique, fresh and well presented. Thumbs up for Toto Restaurante!
Picture above: the awesome interior with views on the open kitchen in the back! Picture below: a quick picture with ladyboss Ronit Stern, the creative brain behind the restaurant and the general director. Thanks for the lovely evening!
You might remember this bar from the beautiful picture I posted not too long ago of me standing in front of an incredible carved out world map wall. THIS IS THE PLACE GUYS! Besides the amazing interior, I also had a great time looking at the menu because of all the fun dishes they offered. As the name of the restaurant already gives away, the menu mainly offers exotic dishes inspired by many cultures (mainly South American, Arabic, and even some British!) – which results in very interesting combinations. All the food looks very fresh and is definitely tasty!
Besides the fun food menu, they also have a wide range of interesting smoothies and juices to offer!
These pancakes are THE BEST OMG! I’m swear I’m not even joking when I say I still daydream about them sometimes… #foodporn 3. La Fermata
My not so secret pleasure…. Pizza! Every now and then it’s perfectly fine to treat yourself with an unhealthy dinner, especially if it’s as tasty as the Pizza’s they make in La Fermata. I got to know their food in an event where they catered and I just HAD to find them! Their pizzas are completely different than any other I’ve ever tried since they have a different type of dough (it seems to be closer to focaccia) and the toppings have very intense flavors. Besides typical toppings such as fungi, ham, four cheeses etc., they also experiment themselves with new types of toppings such as caprese, pesto, sobrasada, and even honey! You can choose yourself how big of a slice you want so I would recommend taking a couple of thin slices to try more types of pizza <3
Obviously I had to make a Snapchat story of my visit and already start eating the pizza before we finished making the pictures. Because – PIZZA –
These were the three first restaurants I visited for my monthly FOODIE FRIDAY! Did you guys like it? If anyone has tips for me, or heard about a restaurant and you are not sure if it’s worth going? Let me know and I will check it out for you! I already have something really nice in mind for next months’ edition so stay tuned for more!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
Foodie Friday: Eggplant with Yogurt and Pomegranate
Published Date : June 3, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
Everyone that knows me knows that I am a HUGE fan of food – and especially trying out as many recipies as possible! Earlier this week I was looking for some new inspirations for a healthy dish over at Model Workout, and I found a recipy that immediately caught my eye: Eggplant with Yogurt and Pomegranate. “Well that’s an interesting combination” was my first thought, definitely something I should give a try!
Ingredients: for 3-4 people
2 Cloves of Garlic
3 Eggplants
170 grams of Greek Yogurt
2 spoons of Lemon Juice
4 spoons of Olive Oil
2 spoons toasted Pine Nuts
100 grams of Pomegranate Seeds
20 fresh Basil Leaves
2 ts Za’Atar
Petter/Salt
Photo Credit: Modelworkout Magazine
Preparation
Pre-heat the oven on 200 degrees
Half the eggplant and cut the flesh crosswise
Sprinkle the halves generously with olive oil and add salt & pepper
Place the eggplant on a lined baking sheet and roast approximately 30-40 minutes in the oven until golden brown.
In the meanwhile, make the yogurt sauce. Press 2 cloves of garlic or cut them very thin.
Mix the garlic with the yogurt, 2 spoons of olive oil and 2 spoons of lemon juice. Add extra flavor with pepper, salt and 2 tl za’atar.
Mix everything well and taste whether the sauce has the desired flavor.
Toast the pine nuts until they are golden brown.
Take the eggplant out of the oven once they are golden brown. Divide the yogurt sauce over the eggplants.
Garnish with pomegranate seeds, pine nuts and fresh basil.
I would have never thought about this combination before but I absolutely LOVE it! Do you want to see more awesome recipies? Make sure to check out Modelworkout Magazine, as well as the blog of Three Girls One Kitchen.
Bon Appétit!
From model to student | STORY TIME
Published Date : September 3, 2017 Author : demijonk Categories : Model Stories
A few people think it’s a wise decision, but most of them are usually surprised when I tell them I’m going to quit modeling and start studying . ‘That’s so bad’. ‘Why would you do that, you’re still young enough!’. ‘Your career went really well, why would you quit?’ Why, Why, Why …. So many questions and everyone has something to say about it. After 2,5 years as a full-time model I decided to go back to school and in this blog I’ll tell you why.
Let me start with making one thing clear; modeling is great and I love doing it. I met and worked with the most inspiring people, made friends from every part of the world and went to amazing places I otherwise never would’ve been. Although all of the beautiful memories, I still decided to quit full- time modeling and start studying again.
One of the main and probably most obvious reasons is that modeling is notforever. It could be of course, but then we are talking about some exceptions. It’s possible that your face is suddenly not ‘a trend’ anymore. Maybe you break your leg, gain weight, get pregnant or you’re just too old. I could think of a thousand reasons, but one of them is enough to not being able to work as a model anymore. A lot of people, when they’re getting too old to model, switch jobs in between the fashion industry. Think of working at a magazine, starting a fashion brand or a model agency. Of course this is possible, but to be honest I don’t see myself doing any of these jobs.
What really helped making this difficult decision to quit is that I finally got accepted at the study that I want to do since I was twelve years old, Hotelschool The Hague (in Amsterdam). This is an international business school focused on hospitality. Everything is in English and 50% of the students are from abroad. I’m not going to tell all the details about this school, but if you’re interested you can click here. Their selection is really strict so I didn’t get accepted the first time. I was over the moon when I heard the 24th of May that I got accepted! Now you would probably understand that I have (and really want!) to take this opportunity.
Some people also say that you don’t need a diploma these days to get where you want be. I agree with this, if you really want something you can achieve it. But I still chose to study (and hopefully get a diploma in four years!), because their program really interests me and I already wanted this for so long.
The one thing you don’t have when you’re working as a model is routine. I used to be someone who liked to plan everything in advance, make lists and write every appointment down in my agenda. You can imagine how hard it was for me to let that all go and not knowing what kind of job you have the next day. Everything is very last minute in the modeling industry and no day is the same. Now I do love the variety and not knowing what’s next, but I’m getting routine back! I’m already excited to buy a new planner ;)
I’m starting in February (you’re able to start every 6 months), so I have enough time to close this amazing chapter of my life and start a new one. One where I’m more mature, well travelled and less naive.
Ps. I’m probably going to miss this time A LOT. Then I can just read my own blogpost over and over to remember why I wanted to stop full-time modeling
Love,
Demi
P.p.s. If you liked this post, read more about how I became a model in the first place here.
Front page at C-Heads Magazine
Published Date : July 20, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : The Styling Files
I have been a huge fan of C-Heads Magazine for a while now already – the collector of awesome photography of youth culture – So you can imagine I was excited to hear that they loved the editorial I shot with Hector Ges and Lara Guëll and that they wanted to publish it exclusively!
At the Front Page of C-Heads Magazine!
Aww, isn’t that SO sweet?! You must keep in mind that usually people always tell me to stop smiling when it’s about taking pictures, so it gave me such a fresh breeze to be allowed to smile and have fun during this shoot…. and people actually liking it! At first I was always a bit shy about my smile but this definitely gave me a confidence boost :)
Click here to go to the original publication of C-Heads Magazine, but I would also recommend to keep scrolling down to see some of the pictures which are not shown on their website :)
It was an amazingly fun day, both Lara and Hector are amazing people and the chemistry was perfect! Hopefully I will be able to work with them again soon :) Thanks Hunkemöller and Happy Socks, for providing the styling for this shoot. And last but not least a HUGE thanks to the Majestic Hotel for letting us borrow one of your best rooms so last-minute!
I am super curious to find out what you guys think about this editorial? Leave a comment!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
Fun in a Penthouse in Barcelona
Published Date : November 6, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Model Stories
1 Penthouse, 4 Models, 2 Photographers. Last week Generator Barcelona offered me their penthouse for a day to make some awesome pictures with friends, of course I couldn’t say no! I gathered around some awesome people and we had so much fun! Check out some of the results below :)
Photography by Naelia Salas
Goodmorning! Me and Naelia Salas started off early with my first look: Bonjour Baby! I think this might be my actual favorite shot of the day – perhaps because my hair & make-up were still on fleek at that time. Or maybe because my new glasses from Polette are just the cutest. Or maybe simply because Naelia rocks… we will never know.
Photography by Naelia Salas
She let me play with her vintage camera lens #yaasss #geek
Photography by Victor Supertramp
Yay the girls arrived! From left to right: Liz Amiach, Carly Gibert, Me & Paula Ruiz. The photographer Victor Supertramp always knows how to make us laugh haha! If you want to check out more pictures make sure to check out their personal IG’s, they are pretty cool I promise :)
Photography by Naelia Salas
Photography by Victor Supertramp
Woop! Bootieessss
Photography by Victor Supertramp
Serious Face Mode *on*
Photography by Victor Supertramp
Photography by Victor Supertramp
It was getting dark but we didn’t mind! Photoshoot á la Terry Richardson and the problem is solved lol
Photography by Victor Supertramp
Me and Carly enjoying some romantic potatoe eating #WherearetheCandles
Photography by Victor Supertramp
Photography by Naelia Salas
I wasn’t happy because the shoot was almost over:(
Photography by Naelia Salas
All in all we had such a fun day! All day long chilling in a penthouse, eating, drinking, making pictures and being silly. Can we come back next week Generator Barcelona?<3
While scrolling down my Facebook timeline today, I found this amazing fashion editorial for Harper’s Bazaar US November 2015. Not only is the fashion gorgeous and would I love to wear every single design, the whole team did an amazing job! However, most of my admiration goes out to the beautiful model Sasha Luss, like seriously… how does she manage balancing on those stilts, give badass dynamic poses and look freakin’ #flawless at the same time?! You have my respect girl… keep it up!
Publication: Harper’s Bazaar US November 2015 Model: Sasha Luss Photographer: Jean-Baptiste Mondino Fashion Editor: Martine de Menthon Hair: Paolo Ferreira Make-up: Tatsu Yamanaka
Get to know me in 4 Minutes!
Published Date : September 25, 2015 Author : alexas Categories : BlondieTV, Life & Travel
Hi there!
Since this is the first week of my blog launch, I figured you might want to get to know me a bit better! Besides the fact that you could also check out my About Page, I decided to make it a bit more interesting and fun by asking some of my closest family members and friends to write down a couple of things of which they think other people might not know it about me yet….
Is there anything you want to know about me? Don’t hesitate to ask it here
Love,
Lynn
P.s. Do you like my outfit? You can find the blogpost about it here!
Get your Sexy on! Hunkemöller Glam Collection
Published Date : December 28, 2015 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : #OOTD, The Styling Files
Hello there Lovelies!
This week I was lucky enough to be invited by Hunkemöller to check out their newest Glam Collection, it’s so beautiful! To get started, they measured me and helped me to find the perfect fit for my bodytype, and then… the shopping started! The Glam Collection has lots of variations with mainly black & red colors, lace, diamonds and strappy details for the perfect sexy holidays. Curious about which two sets I selected? Keep reading and let me know what you think about them :)
For this look I’m going for sexy black lace with garters and hold-ups! The bra has a subtle Push-up for a better shape and I love the cute little rose as a detail on both the bra and the panty. Personally, I have to admit that I am not a huge fan of garters because I am too darn clumsy to get them on, but I have to be honest… once I got them on it felt pretty awesome! Lingerie really does make women feel beautiful!
For the second look I went for a romantic touch with a Kimono and lots of lace! I’m wearing a short top and matching panties with diamond details on the back. The reason I went for this lingerie set is because of the many ways I can wear it: cute and romantic with the kimono, sexy lady with the full transparant look, or adding an extra glam detail to your holiday outfits with an open back. Smart move Hunkemöller!
Up here you see the cute look and in the pictures down below you see the ‘party in the back‘ sexy glam! Don’t you love the beautiful little detail on the panties with matching diamonds? I am going to wear this top during NYE because my dress has an open back and the diamond chains will be an awesome detail, I’m excited already!
Sooo… I am super curious about what you guys think about my choices of the Hunkemöller Glam Collection! Which one is your favorite? Would you go for another set? Let me know!
The new year barely started yet, but I am already set to kick ass! 2016 was a great year for me, and I am planning to make this one even better. By setting goals you will be more motivated and focused while working on your dream. These are my goals for 2017!
1. Finish my book: In 2016 I’ve been sporadically thinking about some ideas for a book, but now it’s really going to happen! I’ll set up a monthly planning to assure my progress, stay tuned :)
2. Score a contract at a creative agency: I’m looking forward to the next step: getting a job where I can put my creativity into use. New year, new challenges, am I right?
3. Find contributer(s) for Who is that Blonde: Since I want to focus more on brand collabs and a job this year, it would be great to have someone help out with the content on my blog. Make sure to let me know if you know someone!
4. Increase my web visitors & social stats: In 2016 I’ve been growing continuously, the plan is to simply keep doing that. Step by step.
5. Find a better balance between work and personal time: Workaholic? Guilty. What can I say, when you love what you do, it’s hard to stop sometimes. So for 2017 I will focus on some ‘me’ time: meeting with friends, read a book, spend more time with family, and so on.
6. Design a product in collaboration with a brand: Wouldn’t that be just the coolest thing ever? I would like to design an item for a brand that I admire because #whynot.
Do you have any goals which you like to achieve in 2017? I’ve heard that telling your goals to other people will help you achieve them faster, so make sure to spread the word!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
Getting fit in 3 weeks for a Hunkemöller shoot: How did I do it? HIIT Workout Review
Published Date : April 8, 2018 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Model Stories
As you have seen in my previous blogpost: I went to the Seychelles for an AMAZING Hunkemöller campaign! Obviously I wanted to look as good as possible so I followed a workout plan: 2-3 times a week intense HIIT workout. In the video below I show several workout moves and you can slowly see my body turn more and more fit!
Important: if you consider starting with HIIT workout, it is not always the best option to go with if you want to get fit – as I explain in this blog. This really depends on your personal goals! Watch till the end. There is some important advice that I’m sharing.
Have you ever tried HIIT workout before? Share your experience!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
Giveaway Michael Kors Bag: The Winner!
Published Date : September 30, 2015 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : The Styling Files
Hi there everyone!
After getting loads of subscriptions in just seven days, it was now time to pick out the winner for my very first Giveaway: this beautiful Michael Kors bag!
Congratulations….. *drumrolls*….. Sara Cuenca Torres !
I hope that you are super excited and that I made your day! I will contact you by e-mail to give you the details so check your inbox.
For the others out there: don’t you worry! I will be doing awesome giveaways every single month so as long as you are subscribed to my newsletter you will be automatically in the running! Yes, it’s as easy as that ;)
Lots of love,
Lynn
Giveaway Winner: Quoins Jewelry Set worth €300,-
Published Date : December 21, 2015 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : The Styling Files
That’s it guys! The Instagram Giveaway Week passed and I received great messages and comments, thank you so much! I hope I am giving someone’s Christmas an extra sparkle with this beautiful Quoins jewelry set worth €300,-!
Congratulations… @ReginaCocco ! I will be looking forward to see pictures of you rocking those accessories, I’m sure they will look beautiful on you! Please send me an e-mail on info@whoisthatblonde.com so I can send the Quoins Set to you as soon as possible!
For the others out there: don’t you worry lovelies! As I said, I really do love the holidays so I have something special coming up for next Monday! Christmas will barely be over yet, but I will be making one of you very happy with a second giveaway to celebrate the New Year! I will keep the details to myself for now but make sure to keep an eye on my blog ;)
Happy Holidays and Lots of Love,
Lynn & the Who is that Blonde Team
Giveaway: Meet & Greet Ski Trip in Andorra!!
Published Date : February 15, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : BlondieTV, Life & Travel
Hi there!
I am beyond excited about this fun Giveaway! The 11, 12 & 13 of March I will be going on a Ski Trip with Stoke Travel and I am allowed to take 2 people with me!
Winning this giveaway means going on a ski trip with your best friend and hanging out with me in the meanwhile, how cool is that?! Transport from Barcelona, accommodation, food, a pubcrawl and the ski material is all arranged by us: a total package worth €500,- ! Check out detailed information on the website of Stoke ‘here‘
SO the important question: HOW CAN I JOIN?! Easypeasy, it requires 3 simple steps:
#1: Subscribe to my Newsletter
#2: Follow me (@whoisthatblonde) and Stoke Travel (@stoketravel) on Instagram!
#3: Comment on my latest IG picture, let me know that you want to go and who you want to take with you! Be sure you are available 11-13 of march though! BOOM! That´s like… No work at all if you get a Ski Trip in return, am I right? I really hope to meet some of you guys there, send me a message! The winner will be announced the 1st of March so stay tuned :)
Big kiss for now, and see you soon!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
P.s. Don´t forget to subscribe to my YouTube Channel for more fun Videos & Giveaways, and follow me on Snapchat (@whoisthatblonde) to see what I´m up to every day!
Giveaway: Orogold 24 Karat Peeling worth €170,- !
Published Date : November 3, 2015 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Beauty Guru, BlondieTV
Hey guys, it’s Giveaway time again!
After the great succes of my Michael Kors Giveaway last month, now it’s time for a beauty product! Especially with the cold weather coming up it is super important to take good care of your skin, that’s why I tested this amazing product of Orogold for you! After reading the raging reviews I just had to try it so I went to Orogold and tested their 24 Karat Peeling. As a model I get many products on my face and I’ve already tested many masks, peelings, creams, serums and more, but honestly… I never experienced anything like this before!
My Experience
After only 5 minutes of having the Orogold peeling on my face, the dead skin simply rolled off my face and felt super soft and clean… no throwing water in my face over and over again? No scrubbing? No nothing? What is this sorcery?! The beautician of Orogold then gave me a daycream for my face, and also applied a bit of the cream on my inner wrist. It was unbelievable to see that the cream on my face was competely absorbed within just 2 minutes, while it took more than 10 minutes for the skin on my wrist! Soon I walked out of the store with a fresh and clean feeling, 100% satisfied. Orogolds 24 Karat Peeling doesn’t only do a perfect job on the cleaning of the skin, it also improves the results of the rest of your beauty routine: tested and double approved!
Enter the Giveaway
Do you want to win this magical peeling from Orogold worth €170,-? All you have to do is subscribe to my newsletter (there is a ‘Sign Up’ button in the right column of my website!). You will get weekly updates, secret discounts and you are automatically in the running for all of my giveaways! Are you already subscribed? Perfect, sit tight and perhaps you will be testing this Orogold Peeling soon.
Lots of Love and Goodluck!
Lynn
Giveaway: Take Care of your Skin this Summer!
Published Date : June 23, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Beauty Guru
Giveaway Alert!
Hey Y’all! How have you been enjoying the amazing weather these days?
I’m already becoming the proud owner of a tanned skin, which is quite impressive since usually I never get tanned… I guess the Spanish sun is good for me :) Anywaysss, summer also has its traps: we all love sunshine and beach, but how damaging can that be for your skin!!
That’s why I got you covered for this month’s giveaway: A beauty box from Sensilis which is filled with everything you need this summer to keep your skin beautiful!
All of Sensilis products are dermatologically tested, paraben free and allergen free! Here are some close-ups of what you can find in the beauty box:
Micellar Cleaning Water 3 in 1 for all skin types & Chrono Lift Restorative Serum
Illuminating & Energizing anti aging Day Cream (SPF 15) & Revitalizing Black Exfoliator
Whether you want to spend your days at the beach, or your nights at the clubs… this Sensilis Beauty Box has got you covered! If you want to be in the running for winning this Skincare Beauty Box Giveaway, there is just ONE simple step you must take:
In case you are already subscribed, you are automatically in the running. All you have to do is keep your fingers crossed :)
At the end of this month I will announce who is the winner of the Beauty Box Giveaway in my Newsletter, so make sure to read it when it arrives to your inbox! In case you haven’t been receiving my newsletters: make sure to check your spamfolder. If you have G-mail it’s also possible it lands in the ‘Promotions’ folder, so make sure to move it to your Inbox! <3
GlitzieGal Talk: How to match trends with your personal style
Published Date : October 22, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Uncategorized
It is so hard to keep up nowadays, trends come and go so quickly… as soon as you finally buy that ‘must-have’ item it is most likely replaced by a new one within a month. Much more important is finding your personal style in between this crazy hurricane called ‘the fashion world’ and adding fitting trends to your style as you go.
Maybe this is just me talking, since I’ve been a blogger for just 1 year perhaps I still lack the experience to be able to turn every trend into something that fits with my personal style… Wait… Do I even have a personal style? I’ve been experimenting with so many styles – and I actually enjoy many of them – that I am not sure if I even have something specific that people recognize me for. Even though I absolutely love the silver & glitter trends, I wouldn’t see myself walking in trasher shirts or fishnets anytime soon. Don’t you agree that there are so many contradictory trends nowadays that it is simply impossible to incorporate all of them in your daily looks?
Amanda van Effrink a.k.a. Glitziegal is one of Amsterdam’s most stylish persons, and definitely the one with the best developed personal style! If you see her walking down the street it’s not hard to recognize her glittery, fluffy, girly and fun looks. She told me she is constantly creating trendy looks for Fashionchicks bloggers so I wondered: How do you find looks for each bloggers’ personal style while staying true to the current fashion trends? Let’s have a chat with her!
What are your favorite trends of this season?
How do you match them with your personal style?
How do you develop a personal style?
But what if you feel like wearing something that actually doesn’t fit with your style?
How do you prepare a look for someone else?
Are there any trends that you don’t like, or that don’t match with your style?
Which tip would you give for someone that doesn’t know how to match trends with their own style?
You can buy fashion but you can’t buy style
Happy Birthday! Change to Who is that Blonde
Published Date : September 23, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
Happy Birthday to me!
Today it is not only my actual birthday, it is also exactly one year ago since I started my blog… THIS blog! I know right? It feels like it has been much longer, but I guess that’s what happens when you have so many experiences.
Throughout the year I have been constantly trying to experiment with new things on my blog, to see what I like more, but also, what you guys like more. So that’s where Who is that Blonde 2.0 comes in: based on what I have learned this year I decided to make a change. Besides the fact that the layout looks a bit differently, here’s what’s new:
No more monthly Giveaways: sometimes I don’t have a brand collab for a giveaway, and sometimes I have 2 per month. I decided not to stress about it and just go with whatever I find on my path. But don’t worry, if you subscribe to my newsletter you will automatically be in the running for whatever giveaway I am organizing.
Getting Close: first I always thought that my private life wasn’t very fascinating for other people, but I started to realize that the blogs with personal stories always get lots of views. What can I say… you gotta give the people what they want!
More Videos: even though I get quite shy in front of a video camera – and yes, I do realize that’s ironic since I am a model – and I am terrible with editing videos, I will be spending more energy on creating some cool video content for you. Please subscribe to my YouTube channel to show some support!
More Structure: I used to post my blogs on random days, pretty much whenever I had time to post them. Now I will start to upload my blogs every Monday, Wednesday and Sunday, so you guys know when to check my website! Definitely a necessary change.
Advertisements: this whole year I have been completely add free but I will start placing a small number of ads on my website. I promise it won’t get annoying but you know… a girl gotta eat!
Ask Lynn: this section on the website was meant for people to ask me questions about pretty much anything. However, I’ve noticed that people prefer to send me a direct message instead of writing me on the forum, so from now on I will answers everyone’s questions personally!
Contributor: I absolutely adore writing blogs, but this year has been so much about work – I seriously underestimated having a blog ups – that I decided to add a contributor to the team. Christel Schuurman will be writing a blog for you guys once a week… and boy does she have interesting stories to tell!
I think right now I covered pretty much everything that I had in mind… I’ll get back at you if I missed something :) Anyways, I am literally DYING to find out what you guys think about my website and the change. I feel like I am throwing myself out for the wolves because this blog is my life and I put everything in here… Does that sound weird? The point is: I am nervous to find out what you think, so don’t leave me hangin’ lol. Leave a comment or send me a message!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
Happy Black Friday! The Story & The Tricks
Published Date : November 27, 2015 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : The Styling Files
Happy BLACK Friday everyone! That doesn’t sound very enticing, but in fact it very much is. You might be familiar with the yearly black Friday, which is slowly but surely a becoming an established event in Europe. It is THE day in the year that all the shops give crazy discounts and all the shop addicts can live their dreams… sounds pretty good to me!
The Story
I was wondering though… how did this tradition come into existence? Let’s check out some of the facts: Ever since the start of the modern Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1924, the Friday after Thanksgiving has been known as the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season. The term ‘Black Friday’ was created in the 1960’s because “Black” refers to the shops moving from ‘red’ to ‘black’ numbers. You see, back when accounting records were kept by hand, red ink indicated a loss, and black ink a profit! Look at that, we learned something new today!
The Tricks
However, now it’s time to get to the juicy part: where should I go shopping?! If you don’t have time to go into the city center, it’s a great option to do your shopping online. Let’s check out some cool webshops with fantastic discounts to inaugurate the Holiday Season!
We all know and love Sephora, but sometimes it’s just too damn expensive… not today though! Sephora has some amazing Black Friday Discounts running, so you can buy the perfect Christmas present for someone (or yourself). Personally I love their Holiday Giftsets which vary between €10,- and €100,- so there is something for everyone!
After putting on your beautiful make-up it’s time to get dressed! Hunkemöller has a beautiful lingerie collection with designs for everyone. Neutral, cute, comfy (you will love their Cosy Collection!), sporty, sexy, and most definitely a special Christmas collection! Today and tomorrow the Hunkemöller will give a 25% extra discount on everything in their shop!
At the moment Boohoo.com is one of the fastest growing webshops in the world! That must be for a reason you would say, and that’s definitely true! They have the kind of clothes which you always see the cool IT Girls wear and of which you wonder where the hell they got them. Even better: you can scroll trough their varied collection for hours and the prices are super affordable! Today the discounts are up to 50%!
For some reason Fashion Pills decided to go for a Black Wednesday this year! Their 60% Off Discounts on Black clothes has been running for three days already! I love this online shop because they have unique clothes which they get from a mix between uprising and established brands. Very stylish, very inspiring, very #musthave!
Scandinavian webshop Nelly.com made a HUGE impact with their Christmas Campaign: featuring worldwide famous fashionblogger Kenza Zouiten covering “Let it Snow” (Kenza claims not to be a singer, but she is killing it!). This webshop represents many big brands, as well as several Scandinavian brands which we have to get to know! The Scandinavian Style has been dominating the fashion and interior trends for a while already, this is the place to keep up with them!
That’s it you guys! The Holiday Season officially started! Have fun today and You’re Merry Welcome ;)
Lots of Love,
Lynn
P.s. Let me know what you bought, I’m super curious!
Happy Halloween! 10 Must-see videos for Inspiration and Fun
Published Date : October 31, 2015 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Get inspired!
Hey guys!
Happy Halloween! Unfortunately I don’t have time to celebrate Halloween this year (die-hard businesswoman stuff heck yeah), but that doesn’t mean I can’t share some awesome, creative, cool and funny videos with you! I have been scanning YouTube for the past three hours and I made a selection of some of my favorite videos. Enjoy!
Funny & Cool
Each year Jimmy Kimmel cracks me up with his Halloween Prank: asking parents to tell their children they ate all the candy. The reactions are PRICELESS. Can’t wait to see the 2015 edition!
Guys sure LOVE the sexy halloween costumes on girls, but… will they still love them if they actually have to wear the costumes themselves? Buzzfeed tried and found out
Or even a better question to ask: what would it be like if guys would actually act like girls during Halloween? Do you think it’s a terribly exagerrated video or do we secretly all acknowledge some of the stereotyping is true?
Now that we had some fun with Halloween Parody Videos it’s time for some other cool stuff… what about some easy DIY Halloween Hacks to get creative and original decorations?
Again problems with trying to think of a cool costume? Why don’t you try dressing up like someone from the past century who is dressing up for Halloween? You will be original without a doubt
Also something important to mention: perhaps we should stop with all the racist stereotype costumes? Maybe it’s fun for you, but not for the person who is offended by your stereotyping! Here is an example of Native Americans reacting to Indian Costumes. Spoiler Alert: they are NOT excited. #BeNice
And to finish my list of favorites I just HAD TO share this incredible make-up video of Michelle Phan where she transforms into the bride from A Nightmare Before Christmas… What is this Sorcery?!
There you go guys, I hope you liked it! What did you do this Halloween? Do you know any other cool videos? Let me know!
Lots of Love
Lynn
Happy update! Youtube IS coming <
Published Date : August 27, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
After thinking it through for a while, I finally decided: my YouTube channel is going to relaunch! I love writing and blogging, but I’m always looking for new challenges so starting from the 23rd of September (the 2 year anniversary of my blog!) this is HAPPENING!
Maybe you already saw this vlog which I posted about a month ago. It reminded me of how much I like videos so I’m gonna get dedicated and try to post a new video every sunday evening :) However, there are still some things I’m struggling with, so I took the necessary steps to BEAT my doubts and just do this. No more excuses lady!
1. I don’t know how to edit videos
Technically, I don’t even have my own laptop right now, borrowing the one from my office. So next week I’m going to buy a new laptop and meet up with Roos (the talented lady who edited my previous vlog) and she will teach me the basics of video editing. Does anyone have good laptop tips for me? :)
Obviously, I had to test the several lighting options! The first picture is without extra lighting, the second has white light, the third is a balance between white and warm light, and the fourth picture is made with warm light. This gets even better: I literally woke up today, washed my face and turned on my camera. I am wearing ZERO make-up. The light is already so beautiful and flattering that it makes the skin look very smooth. Also I like how my eyes pop out because they reflect the ringlight: extra points!
Often I come home from work quite late, so it’s great to know I can still shoot some videos for YouTube, even when it’s dark outside:) Besides, I absolutely love the interior of my new studio in Amsterdam, so it will be a great background for my videos to come.
Who else is excited about YouTube? What kind of videos would you like to see? Let me know!
P.p.s. I wrote this post in collaboration with Benel.nl. They sent me this amazing ringlight as a gift but I promise that I’m really excited about this cool tech and I can’t wait to start using it!
Have a Beauty(ful) Day! How to deal with Breakouts
Don’t you hate it when your skin is not as smooth as you want it to be? I most definitely do, it’s so frustrating! Since I started modelling fulltime my skin became somewhat sensitive if I wear too much make-up, and I have literally tried every single product in the market till I found the formula that works for me. Today will be all about dealing with sensitive skin and the resulting breakouts, but be warned! Every skin type is different so the most important of all is that you pay close attention to what works for you and what doesn’t, it will get you the best results.
1. Prevent It
The first step is immediately the most obvious, but it has to be mentioned anyway! Keep breakouts away with the right daily care: Eat healthy, clean your face twice a day (I use the products form Image Skincare), do a facial mask twice a week, don’t touch your face too much (it will increase the chance of infections) and use the right make-up base which won’t clog your pores – personally I am a fan of Malu Wilz’ foundations, it was recommended by my beautician! Some people say that Clinique is a great brand for your skin, but for me it really didn’t work at all unfortunately.
2. Contain It
Oh no, despite the daily care there is STILL a breakout coming up! I know it’s really annoying but as I said before… try to touch your skin as least as possible! It will only increase the chance of an infection. So what to do instead? Personally I use a medical serum from Image Skincare, which has Retinol as one of its most active properties. This serum you can only buy at your beautician because it’s very strong, but there are other products you can use which you can find in the supermarket! Try to wash your face with saltwater a couple of times, or smudge some toothpaste on the ‘hotspots’ (Paradontax contains more salt than other toothpastes, it will help to dry out the breakout). Furthermore, I’ve heard that lemons and strawberries work good as well, but are less strong.
3. Fix It
Sometimes I can’t help myself but to touch my breakouts, which results in a broken skin which needs way more time and care in order to heal. If you have a bit of time, it’s better to be patient and apply a cream which helps to heal wounds faster and leave it on as long as possible. It is important to keep the wound covered and moist in order to fasten the recovery. If you don’t have a cream from the pharmacy, other products you can try are honey or petroleum jelly (Vaseline), which seem to work very good as well.
If you really don’t have any time at all, a good option is to apply sterile alcohol on a cotton pad and carefully dab it on your hotspot for 2 minutes. In the beginning it might hurt a little since the alcohol is ‘killing’ the bacteria’s, but it will help to disinfect and dry out the wound. Since the skin becomes dry, you will be able to apply a layer of make-up in order to cover the hotspot. However, don’t use this trick on a daily basis! Sterile alcohol damages the skin tissue.
Do you have any proven tricks that help you deal with breakouts? Share your wisdom and help the rest of us, leave a comment down below!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
Have you ever been to the North of England? You would be surprised!
Published Date : April 29, 2018 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
If you follow me on Instagram, you might have already seen some beautiful pictures of my trip to the UK. I couldn’t help but notice: every time I told someone I was going to the UK, their reaction was: Oh, I love London! Every time I had to explain them that I actually wasn’t going to London, but to the north of England. I was going to visit 4 cities: Hull, Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool. I had never been there either and I was so curious to see what I would find. Check out my photo diary to get the experience!
Wednesday evening it was time: me and Wendy hopped on the boat of P&O Ferries in Rotterdam, ready for the “Coast to Coast” experience which they invited us for! We got our own little cabin and were going to spend the night there. We had dinner in the restaurant, visited the cinema, had a drink in the bar and went to bed early: ready for our week! Our first stop was:
HULL
Such a cute pub: a favorite among the locals! Unfortunately we couldn’t eat here because they closed the kitchen, but the interior is so cool! Definitely worth a visit.
Our appartment was located right next to B.E. Coffee: a local coffeeshop/ art gallery ran by a very nice guy named Joe. Great coffees and great conversations are guaranteed!
I was positively surprised by the aquarium of Hull, called The Deep: they focus on conservation and education. We expected to be inside for 1 or 2 hours, but we stayed all afternoon because it was so interesting!
Fun fact: did you know that Hull is the only city in the UK with white phone cells? So instagrammable ;)
Thanks for being so lovely Hull! We hopped on the train, ready for our next destination. Travel tip: if you buy the Cultural Rover Ticket of the TransPennine train you can visit 4 cities in 10 days, how’s that for a vacay idea? :)
LEEDS
I was SO surprised by Leeds! I had never heard of this city before but it was so much fun to visit. The city centre is relatively small so you can do everything by foot. Perfect for a weekend trip :)
Do you want to go shopping? Leeds is your place to go! The small city centre has 4 (yes, FOUR) shopping malls with any kinds of shops you can imagine. From a cute vintage market (where the original Mark & Spencers came into existence) to luxury brands. Each of the shopping malls has a different focus and is designed accordingly.
Too bad we didn’t have more time in this amazing city, it was time to go already! Off to the next city on the trip:
MANCHESTER
We stayed in this beautiful hotel called The Principal, which is located in a historical landmark.
These views we scored at the Kingstreet Townhouse Hotel. The spa has an infinity pool with views over the townhouse: LOVE IT!
Streetviews in Manchester are so much different than I expected: I was mainly expecting a lot of football things but the architecture and the hotspots are quite amazing!
P.S. Can we just appreciatie HOW COOL the taxi’s in England are? This pink taxi with unicorns was my favorite <3
Thanks for being amazing Manchester! Time for the last stop in England already:
LIVERPOOL
Unfortunately it was raining all the time while visiting Liverpool (but hey, real UK experience am I right?) so we couldn’t take too many pictures. But we just HAD to make a picture with this statue of the Beatles. Did you know they were all born in Liverpool?! They still have a huge impact on the city: there are bars with live music ALL over the city, which makes it a very creative and relaxed town. If you go, make sure to visit The Cavern Club: this is the club where the Beatles used to perform in their prime time.
It’s official guys: I found my most favorite restaurant. Not just in England, but in THE WORLD. The Florist just opened the night we arrived to Liverpool, and we were invited to dinner with them! First we had some amazing cocktails in the lounge area before we were escorted upstairs to the restaurant area. The menu looked absolutely delicious and what I loved about it most: anyone can eat here and find something to get excited about. Meat, Vegan, Gluten-free, Fish: whatever you want! Everything is just as delicious, and just as nicely presented. However, what REALLY makes it my favorite restaurant is the fact that the interior is 100% instagrammable: everything is so beautiful with gorgeous flowers and stylish furniture. In fact: we loved it so much that we asked to come back the next day to make pics with better light and they let us in before openingstime so we could shoot without getting other people in our pics #instadream #instagramlife
That’s it for now guys! If you are curious to see more of England, make sure to check out the vlogs on my Youtube Channel: they will be online soon!
As the leafs are falling down, everyone is starting to get back to reality after the lazy summer months. I have been working on the launch of my blog all summer long and for me, the arrival of Autumn represents the arrival of a new start, a new chapter of my life. Just like the autumn leafs I am leaving my old ‘tree’ behind to fly free and change my colors (let’s skip the falling-down-on-the-streets-and-die-slowly part for the sake of the cute metaphor okay?).
Anyhow, I know not everyone is super excited about Autumn since it means it will start getting cold again, but look on the bright side: now we can wear so much more clothes! It’s beautiful outside! HOT COCO WILL BE A THING AGAIN! How much more reasons to celebrate do you need?!
After my Summer Salute earlier this week, it’s time to welcome the Autumn months! I am sharing an editorial with you guys which I actually shot a couple of months ago. However, it has such an Autumn feel to it that I decided to save it for the right moment because I really love the pictures!
What do you like about Autumn and why? Comment down below and spread the positive vibes!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
Photocredits Photography: Rodney Deane
Styling: Roxane Mercerat
Muah: Making Faces Barcelona
Highlighted: Fashion Illustrator PEPIART
Published Date : September 29, 2015 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Get inspired!
Fashion and Art is a brilliant combination, a true artist who proves this is Pepi Art! When I found her work on Instagram she immediately caught my attention with her unique style, I just had to know more about it! I send her an e-mail and we were able to set up a small interview! We spoke about how fashion influences her art, how she gets her inspiration and more.
1. Hello there! I am so excited you were able to make some time for me in order to tell me more about yourself and your work! How have you been lately?
Hi Lynn! Thanks for your interest! I’m also excited to answer all your questions! I’m fine – thank you – just got back from London, where I had my first group exhibition at Lollipop Gallery. I had a blast and already miss the city and all the lovely people.
2. What inspires you to make your illustrations?
Everything could inspire me – I don’t want to set myself a limit regarding sources of inspiration! But I like to get inspired by people the most – simply the beauty of human being, minds, emotions etc. I also love it when I could make people smile with my artworks – that’s my motivation.
3. Help! I’m out of inspiration, what should I do?
I think inspiration also results from the process. Sometimes I already have the illustration or painting exactly in my mind but sometimes not. So you just need to start with something – the inspiration will follow. Don’t use a lack of inspiration as an excuse!
4. How long have you been drawing and how did you grow into your signature style?
All my life I have been loving to draw. It has become my passion, as well as my profession. I graduated in Media Economics, but have always focused on my passion of art besides. After my B.A.’s degree last year I decided to follow my dream and to become a professional artist. I’ll never forget the moment when Cara Delevingne and Rita Ora reposted my work on their instagram accounts – it has shown that my art could reach people by heart – all the lovely feedback I got from all over the world – motivated me to go for it. I don’t know how I’ve developed my own signature style – it just happened because I’ve never stopped drawing.
5. Do you think that your work as a fashion illustrator influences your personal fashion style?
Nope – it’s precisely the reserve! My personal fashion style/ personal taste influences all my artwork.
6. Do you have any personal fashion styling ideas that all of us should know about?
I’m crazy about jackets – especially leather jackets. So take a black leather jacket, a white or striped shirt, blue ripped jeans and you’re always ready to go! Don’t forget about the accessories – little cute arm bracelets, fine necklaces and rings. Oh and one more thing I would like to advice: Buy less but better – invest in high quality clothes! You’ll have more of it!
7. What does fashion mean to you?
I love fashion – it’s not only inspiring, it’s also a great way to express yourself! I would love to have my own fashion label someday.
8. Thank you for all the great answers! I love your work and I will definitely keep following you for more, are there any exciting projects coming up for you that we should stay tuned for?
Thank you too!! I’m looking forward to your own Fashion Blog – congrats and good luck with everything! Currently you could get some PEPIART for your phone – check out my cooperation with DeinDesign www.bit.ly/pepiart_deindesign – it’s available for mostly all phones and worldwide shipping. After my first exhibition in London I will exhibit my work in a fashion showroom in Dusseldorf soon. Stay tuned! :)
Did you enjoy reading about PepiART? You can check out more of her work here: www.pepiart.com
Do you like the concept of fashion illustrations? Earlier this week I spoke about five inspiring fashion illustrators, go check it out!
Highlights Amsterdam Fashion Week
Published Date : July 17, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : The Styling Files
Last week it was time to move from Maastricht Fashion Clash Festival to Amsterdam Fashion Week! From artistic young talents to the top of the Dutch fashion world: both have their own charm, which I absolutely love. I already talked about my highlights of Fashion Clash, so let’s dive into my Amsterdam Fashion Week experience now! What did I wear, with who did I hang out and what were my fav fashion picks? Read more down below
Some of my Looks:
Photo by Peter Stigter
Wow, I absolutely LOVED wearing this outfit! Anbasja Blanken was showing her newest trouser collection at the Amsterdam Fashion Week so of course I had to wear one of her looks :)
The last day of Amsterdam Fashion Week I teamed up with Zalando for a cool look! I went for a cute off-shoulder dress with complementing glitter sandals and a shiny clutch. Über girly, but I absolutely love it! The necklace is mine btw, it’s from a Spanish brand called Kiwi + Pomelo
One of the days I was on a trip with stylist & blogger Lara Mallo! She did my styling and took me to several hotspots in Amsterdam, my favorite was SNCKBR: a restaurant where they have lots of healthy & delicious dishes
Later on I switched my outfits to go for drinks at the Wester Wijnfabriek and to visit the show of Dennis Diem!
So many outfits! Do you like them? Besides Lara, I also was happy to see some other amazing people. That’s the perk of Fashion Weeks, it’s the perfect occasion to catch up with everyone :)
These babes! From left to right: Roos from Style my Day, Lily from Hashtag by Lily, Me, and Larissa from From Hats to Heels. Btw, here I am wearing another Zalando outfit: denim on denim is always a good idea!
Of course I needed a picture with Anbasja Blanken since I was wearing her outfit! A beautiful person inside and out <3
Great to see these sweeties again! From left to right: Me, Nikki from Non Stop Nikki, Mailili from Mailili Sasabone and Isabeau from By Isabeau
This sweetheart!! Amanda van Effrink a.k.a. Glitziegal is such a cutie, always good to see her <3
At the show of Maria Tailor! From left to right: Kubilay (photographer), Bastiaan (stylist), Amanda, Me & Nadia (Model & TV-maker)
After the show! Here I am wearing a dress which I scored at Passage BCN in combination with cute mules from EGO Shoes <3
WOW! Okay, as you can see I had lots of fun and lots of looks during the Amsterdam Fashion Week. But let’s not forget about the most important part: What were the coolest looks that were shown on the catwalk? I selected a couple of looks which I would wear straight from the runway. Let’s check them out
Elke van Zuylen
Tess van Zalinge
Zyanya Keizer
Esmay Hijmans
Merel van Glabbeek
Given
Dennis Diem
Tony Cohen
ALA BLANKA by Anbasja Blanken
BOOM! Gotta love fashion… Did you see any looks you like? I had so much fun during the Amsterdam Fashion Week, I can’t wait till next season! See you there?
Lots of Love,
Lynn
Highlights FashionClash Festival
Published Date : July 13, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : The Styling Files
Right after the 080 Barcelona Fashion Week, it was time to take a flight to the Netherlands for the FASHIONCLASH Festival in Maastricht! During this 4-day festival over more than 150 young fashion designers and performing)artists from 30 different countries were given a platform for their work. How amazing is that?!
My favorite outfit is the graphic silk dress I wore of Jorge Ayala Paris, in combination with white sneakers and the cutest clutch from Kiwi+Pomelo. Colorful, fresh and fun!
In just two days I saw lots and lots of young designers showing their collection at the FashionClash Festival. It was so fascinating to see how creative and unique all of them could be! Check out some of my personal favorites down below (Photocredits go to Team Peter Stigter!)
Getting cozy with 8CUFF
Tin Gong <3
Roman Ermakov – still not sure what this was about, but it surely was fun to watch!
Roman Ermakov
Pretty Dresses
Marit van Heumen
Joelle Boers x Chris van den Elzen: I would literally wear everything from this collection!
A pretty awesome dance performance on the catwalk
All about knits with Emma Hasselblad
Emilie Thirion is spreading love with fashion
Shoes from Chris van den Elzen <3
Amber Veel is spreading loveAdrianus Kundert for Clash Project – The fact that he named his project ‘Bubble Boner’ got him into my list of highlights lol
Fashion meets Technology with Alexandre de VosAlessandro Trincone – Winner of the Talent Award
Alessandro Trincone
So many different designs and styles, am I right? It was the first time I visited the Fashionclash Festival but it was a great experience to see that much young talent come together. It is very different from the bigger fashionweeks like Amsterdam or Paris because it is still a lot smaller, which allows it to be more artistic and creative. I cannot help to wander where all of these talented young designers will eventually end up in the future, hopefully I will see some of them at Fashionclash Festival next year to see their progress!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
Highlights of 080 Barcelona Fashion Week
Published Date : July 11, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : The Styling Files
Last week it was 080 Barcelona Fashion Week! Since I moved to this amazing city some months ago I obviously HAD to be there. Flying in straight from a fun weekend in Ibiza, I got home, changed into my fashionable outfit and drove to Montjuic, where the 080 Barcelona Fashion Week was held this week. Let’s check out my looks!
This Hippie Look I scored at Passage BCN and I absolutely LOVE it! The flared trousers with the laced-up body give a sexy look, but in combination with the long vest it gets a streetstyle fashion vibe. Not only super comfy, but also super fun for pictures :) Thanks for making the pictures for me @xoxofrida!
This outfit is a mix-and-match from everything! The lace dress is from Zara, which I combined with high-waisted undies and a bralette. I scored the blue vest on a vintage market for just 1 euro, and I love it because it fits with everything! The sunnies are from Woodys Barcelona and my clutch is from Passage BCN. Would you wear this combintation?
It was great to see Vanessa Troset and all the other lovely Spanish bloggers during the 080 Barcelona Fashion Week! It’s a great way to see each other again and catch up on each other :)
And let’s not forget that there were much more looks to be found! The shows in 080 Barcelona Fashion Week were so much fun! There were so many looks that I would totally wear straight from the runway… I mean, look at them!
BCN Brand Spring-Summer 2017
Como un Pez en el Agua Spring-Summer 2017
CUSTO Spring-Summer 2017
Escorpion Spring-Summer 2017
Justicia Ruano Spring-Summer 2017
Krizia Robustella Spring-Summer 2017
Lebor Gabala Spring-Summer 2017
Punto Blanco Spring-Summer 2017
Ups! Maybe this one I just added for fun… Juan Betancourt <3 sorrynotsorry
Punto Blanco Spring-Summer 2017
Rita Row Spring-Summer 2017
Sita Murt Spring-Summer 2017
TCN Spring-Summer 2017
The 080 Barcelona Fashion Week always has a perfect balance between developed brands and young new designers, which always gives surprising and qualitative shows. I am definitely looking forward to be wearing these SS17 collections! What do you guys think of the looks? Would you wear them yourself or did you have other favorites? <3
Lots of Love,
Lynn
How I became a model - and how you can become one too!
Published Date : July 9, 2017 Author : demijonk Categories : Model Stories
Is your dream to travel the world and do think you have what it takes to be a model? Go for it! Most of the agencies are always on the lookout for the next upcoming star. You can be the next! This is the story of how I became a model:
I was scouted on Instagramwhen I was 14 . At first I didn’t really realize that it was a big deal; I did a few shoots but waited till I was 17 and graduated highschool. School is more important, keep that in mind! While I was shopping in the streets of London a guy ran after me and grabbed my arm. He asked me if I was a mode and invited me to come and visit his agency. I visited the agency the day after and since then I am signed with Wilhelmina London and New York. From that moment I started modeling fulltime and everything went like a rollercoaster. I travelled to a lot of beautiful cities the in last two year and I’m really grateful that my job makes me able to do this.
Not everyone is going to be scouted on Instagram or on the street, this is why I’m explaining how to apply! What do you have to loose, right?
First you need to be aware of a few things: the sizes that are required, for example. You need to fit in a size 34/36 and be at least 175cm tall. Unfortunately these sizes are really strict, if you don’t fit in these sizes, you won’t be able to fit in the clothes, so you won’t be signed at an agency.
It’s time to do some research! Find agencies that are located in the city where you are based, this is the most convenient if they are going to be your ‘motheragency’. You can find the top ranked agencies at www.models.com. Or you can search in magazines or on Instagram where the models you like are signed. Be careful, not all agencies are that good.
Before you are able to apply you need to make some natural polaroids. You can just make these with your phone, because they have a really good camera these days. Wear a black bikini, heels and no makeup, this is how you make the best ones. Try to find a plain white wall and the best light (could be against a window or even outside). Here are a few example of my polaroids.
When they invite you for a casting, congrats! You passed the first step, now it’s all about presenting yourself. Personality is key, it’s definitely not only about the looks. Sit up straight and be able to express yourself, don’t be shy. They are possibly going to make some snaps of you at the agency, so practice some expressions at home in the mirror in order to be prepared.
If they like you and offer you a contract, read it first a couple times before signing it. It’s for a couple of years and you don’t want to be stuck in something you don’t want.
I hope these tips were helpful and I wish you guys the best of luck!
How I created my own Perfume with Jo Malone London
Published Date : June 5, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
Who wouldn’t like to get a shot at creating your own personal perfume? I surely would love to give it a try! Last Thursday I was invited by Jo Malone London to try out their ‘Fragrance Combining‘ and learn more about the process of creating a cologne. I invited the bloggers Taria-Ann Verburgt (Survivor on Stilettos) and Isabeau van Maastricht (By Isabeau) to come along with me… bloggersdate it is!
Getting to Know the Fragrances of Jo Malone London, you can check out the options of fragrances we had here.
After choosing our favorite scents – mine were Orange Blossom with Peony & Blush Suede – we got a little hand/arm massage with those fragrances. I spent the rest of the day smelling my arms, which looked kinda weird, but it was just SO good! After our Fragrance Combining experience with Jo Malone London, me and the girls went for a drink in the city, and of course we had to take some pictures together!
Random Dance Party! hahaha
Guilty Pleasures
Btw, what do you guys think of my outfit? I was wearing my new shirt from B- UNDAUNTED and this supercute shoe candy from Pinned by K. Simple, but always with a fun touch!
This is my last weekend in the Netherlands, I’m coming back to Barcelona soon! Not for long though, I will be back in the Netherlands again the first week of july for Fashion Clash in Maastricht and Amsterdam Fashion Week! YAY!
Do you guys have any cool plans coming up? Let me know!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
How I edit my Instagram pictures
Published Date : May 1, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Business Hacks
Last week Fashionista Magazine asked me to do a video tutorial about how I edit my Instagram pictures, check it out! However, since it’s in Dutch I will write down the steps in English in this blog, so everyone can follow :) I edit my pictures in 7 easy steps, usually with an app called Snapseed.
Step 1: Choose the Pic
Before you even start with editing, make sure to use the right picture. For example: my Instagram mainly has white/ grey/ blue colors, so I will always choose pictures which fit with this color palette.
Step 2: Paint with Light
Light dynamics are very important if you want your picture to be pleasant to look at. That’s why I like to create a clear front (light) & background (dark), using the brush tool in Snapseed.
Step 3: Basic Settings
Now that you have a clear image, it’s time for the basic settings! Since I like to have very light pictures, I add quite some brightness & highlights. But in order to prevent the picture to look flat, always make sure to also add contrast and shadows for better dynamics.
Step 4: Structure and Sharpness
A subtle touch of structure and sharpness really gives that extra boom to your picture. However, make sure to don’t overdo it, then it might get ugly. Balance is the key!
Step 5: White balance
The white balance decides the warmth of the picture. Once you decide whether you want your Instagram pictures to be ‘warm’ or ‘cold’, all you have to do is stick with it! As you might have already guessed: I always add a slight touch of blue to my pictures.
Step 6: The Finishing Touch
In this step I fix all the details in the pictures: from extra highlights to blurring out ugly details. Taking out the saturation of white backgrounds to make them even more white, crop the framing, adjust the lighting, etc.
Step 7: Instagram
After all the editing it’s finally time to open the picture in Instagram! Here I always add a subtle version of the filter ‘Hudson‘ in order to create cohesiveness throughout my feed.
And that’s how I edit my pictures! My final tip for a perfect feed: stay cohesive, it will pay off :)
Published Date : February 15, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Model Stories
Modeling is not just work, it’s a total lifestyle. You must be aware of the fact that you have to do certain things to be able to work in this industry. Before I’m going to tell you guys the ins and outs of this lifestyle I want to put some things straight, I totally love my job and I would not change it for the world!
Appearance
You can’t change your appearance until consulting with your agency. For example, if you want to cut or dye your hair, you have to ask your agency first. It’s possible that your agency in Paris is okay with it, but the one in London thinks it’s a total no go. In the end, your mother agency is the one that decides. It’s the same with piercings, tattoos and pretty much everything else you can basically think of.
It can also be the other way around. Your agency tells you to cut/dye your hair because they think it will suit you better. This happens a lot because they want you to be the best version of yourself, which is understandable. Almost one year ago my agency made me cut my hair to shoulders length, which I was not too happy about because my hair was really long. But hair is just hair and it grows back. (and I’m so happy it finally did!)
Planning
If you are the type of person that likes to plan everything in advance, I wouldn’t recommend the modeling industry. Or you can be like me (I was that kind of person) and let go of your habits. You can’t plan anything because you have to be available at all times. It’s possible that while working in Milan, you get a job in Paris the same day. Everything is really last minute and work is not guaranteed, so you have to be flexible. The positive side is that you are able to travel all the time, discover new places and meet a lot of great people.
Social Media
Let’s be honest… You can’t just post everything you want. When your (not model) friends are uploading crazy party pics on Instagram, you have to stick with your serious selfie or the perfect photo you made of your healthy lunch. Of course you can post what you do in your free time when you’re off duty, because people would like to see that side of your life as well. But you have to remind yourself that it’s 2017 and social media became a really important thing in the modeling industry. One of the first things clients do is look through your social media when they’re considering to book you. This is because they want to know what kind of person is going to promote their brand. Even your amount of followers is quite important, because the more followers you have, the more people are going to see the pictures. It’s all about the exposure.
Body
It’s really important to take good care of your body, because it’s what keeps you going. If you want to make a good first impression, your body has to be in perfect shape. This means, eating healthy (models have cheat days as well of course), going to the gym very often and taking good care of your skin. As as model you have to fit into certain sizes, which are crazy, but otherwise you won’t be able to fit in the clothes. There’s A LOT of competition in this industry, so you have to take good care of yourself.
This being said, I still wouldn’t trade my job for anything. Two years ago I would never have thought that I would make it into this industry. And now I’m writing this blog about it while i’m in New York, the city where it all happens!
Do you have questions on modeling? Leave a comment and I will dedicate a post to it!
You might be surprised about the title of this blogpost, I mean, if there is a place filled with creativity it is the actual internet. Pinterest, Tumblr, Instagram, and lots of other websites are made for people to share their creative ideas and products. So why would you say that the internet kills your creativity?
But think about this, if you are scrolling through all these amazing creative inspirations which you find on the internet, and you are soaking in ideas. Where are your own unique ideas? I personally love to look for inspirations online – don’t get me wrong – but it took me a while to realize that by doing so, I don’t spend enough time working on my own ideas. The very best ideas I ever had in my life, occurred to me in moments that it was impossible for me to get online. At first I was obviously pretty frustrated about not having internet and I desperately tried to get online – social media addict? #guiltyascharged – but after a while I gave up and actually kinda enjoyed being alone with my own thoughts without being interrupted by notifications.
Not having internet for a while feels like the brain suddenly starts getting more active again, thinking for its own instead of simply soaking in impressions. In the 1 hour I spent brainstorming without internet I was 10 times more efficient than I would ever be with internet. PLUS, the ideas that I got from this brainstorm session were 100% my own, instead of being influenced by others. And isn’t that something we all should aim for?
I am not saying: throw out the internet! Hell, I am most definitely still an addict myself so that wouldn’t be very fair. What I am saying is: consider tuning off every now and then and see what happens. You might actually surprise yourself :)
Lately I have been getting lots of questions about my Instagram. If you didn’t read my blogs with 5 Tips on how to get more Instagram Followers, I would definitely recommend you to watch this video of Chua Sihui. I was thinking about something to add to her video, but she pretty much covers it all. So there you go guys… go get Instagram Famous! ;P
Lots of Love,
Lynn
How to Create your Personal Brand (Part 2)
Published Date : April 4, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Business Hacks
“Have you ever met someone in real life been and been kinda disappointed because they were different than you expected based on their online persona? I have.More than once. More than a dozen times to be honest. I hate being disappointed. If you think your brand is just a logo or some colors or a clever tagline – you’re wrong. If you’re a blogger or small business owner, YOU are your brand.” – Elle from Wonderfelle; Digital Marketing Strategist for lipstick-wearing entrepreneurs.
Last week I already spoke about The Importance of Personal Branding, now it’s time to take it a step further! In this article I will be handing you some very practical and efficient tools to define your own personal brand. Please note beforehand that the reason I ask you to write down 10 answers for all the questions is to force you to get your creative juices flowing! This will bring you to more unique and well-thought ideas which eventually might become your business plan! Please don’t hesitate to ask help from others; they might give you insights you had never thought about before.
Step 1: Define yourself
What are 10 of your greatest qualities?
What are 10 things you enjoy doing most?
What are 10 things you know a lot about?
Are there any matching points? Or perhaps points which would combine very well together? Ask family, friends and colleagues to answer these questions for you as well, you might get surprising or inspiring answers!
Step 2: Define your value
Name 10 different services you could offer
Name 10 benefits people get from your service(s)
Name 10 ways in which you are different from your competition
Analyze your answers, did you come to new insights? Try again to combine specific points to create one or more unique service(s). Please note it’s absolutely not necessary to use all of the points you wrote down!
Step 3: Define your Target Group
Name 10 possible target groups which could be interested in your service
Name 10 moments when people could use your service
Is there any service you are still missing in the market? Could you provide such a service?
Based on your personality and your value you should find a target group which naturally suits with your brand. This way it won’t be hard to find and keep them!
BOOM there you go! If you spent some good time brainstorming on the answers of these questions, you probably found out what it is that makes you unique, what you can offer people, which people you want to offer something to and how you are different from your competition. Do I also see some business ideas popping up there? That’s the spirit of a real entrepreneur right there!
Once you established your personal brand it is also important to keep it. Here are a few things you can do to manage your personal brand:
Be clear about the image you intend to project. If you have more than one message, you run the risk of confusing people about what you are all about.
Make certain your brand message is consistent across all platforms.
Back up any broad statements with objective proof. Show numbers, dates, etc. of what you have done to back up your claim.
Keep it brief. Can you state your value proposition in 10 words or less? If not, you run the risk of being forgettable — the death knell of any brand.
Present yourself in real life the same way as you would present yourself online – and always consistently. Otherwise people might consider the personal brand ‘fake’, which will damage your credibility.
Goodluck Lovelies! If you send me the result of your brainstorm session I would love to give it a glance and give you my feedback, we all have to help each other out right?
Lots of Love,
Lynn
How to do your ‘lived-in’ blonde look right
Published Date : February 12, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Beauty Guru
I often get many questions from other girls about how I keep my white hair healthy. The truth is: I don’t. Bleaching is terrible for your hair and even though it’s absolutely gorgeous, many girls have regretted getting it bleached because it ruined their hair (mine included). So, I was facing a dilemma: I had to change my hair color but didn’t want to say goodbye to my blonde hair. I took my problem to Sue, a color specialist at Salon B. She suggested me to try out a ‘lived-in’ look, and since I trust her blindly, I decided to give it a try. New Year New Hair! Right?
What’s a Lived-In Look?
With a lived in look you can still keep your beautiful blonde hair, but instead of dying your roots every month, you let your roots grow out and blend them in with highlights into your white hair. This way you don’t have to go to the hairdresser every month and your hair has more time to recover. Besides, the Lived-in look is totally awesome! Celebs like Blake Lively and …. are the living proof.
How to get a good Lived-in Look?
The art of a beautiful lived-in look is in the details, according to Sue. The highlights which you place in the regrow in order to blend them with your blonde hair, have to be as small and subtle as possible in order to create a natural look (this is called baby lights). This can take a LOT of time, but it’s totally worth it (it took Sue 75 minutes to set my highlights, omg!). You will obviously still see the regrow, but it will be much softer and subtle.
Before
After
I am absolutely in love with the result! The regrow is very subtle and elegant. Sue explained to me that I should repeat this at least twice before you really grow into the perfect lived-in blonde look, so I am looking forward to the next couple of months.
And guess what? There is a little party in the back!
How to maintain the Lived-in Look?
In order to keep your hair as white as possible, you should regularly wash your hair with silver shampoo, or let your hairdresser apply a toner every now and then. As soon as you notice the regrow is becoming too much, all you have to do is get new highlights to blend in the colors. Sounds easy enough right?
What do you think about the Lived-In Blonde look? Did I pull it off? Let me know in the comments!
True friends are worth investing in. This may seem like a no-brainer, but sometimes we forget that friendship is a choice, not an obligation. If you don’t value your friendships, they’ll eventually disappear.
“My life is good because I am not passive about it. I invest in what is real. Like real people, to do real things, for the real me.” – Gwyneth Paltrow
This qoute really represents what I stand for in life; you will only feel truly alive, when you are real.
I’ve heard people say: “Friendship shouldn’t be difficult.” Personally, I think that no real friendship is an easy one. That is because investing takes time, patience and effort. You will never have something worthwile for a long time if you don’t invest in it. Even if this means things will get a little more complicated. Remember that eventually it will all be more than worth it.
Investing in friendship can be demanding. Sometimes because you simply don’t have the hours to spend time with your friends, or because it’s too hard to communicate with one another. Particularly the last one refers to my life since my friends and I are sometimes in different time zones. Which results in really trying to make an effort to talk to eachother even though it’s in the middle of the night. But sometimes it just doesn’t work out to talk. But this is not a problem at all, since I have a strong bond with them, I empathize with them and think on their behalf that it’s not a possibility to talk in the middle of the night when they have to get up at 6 in the morning.
I have this filosophy about how I invest in/handle friendships and I think it’s worthwile sharing with you guys. I hope you find it useful :)
1. Respect what is important to them. This is crucial. You probably often don’t have the same opinion about everything, which is totally relatable to almost everyone, but it’s important that you respect the fact that they are particular about some things. You would want your friends to treat you the same way right?
2. Agree to sometimes disagree.Basically, the fact will always be that you won’t have the same opinion on everything. And my conviction is that not everything is worth fighting over…
3. Limit your expectations. Frequently the real reason for anger at friends is because of our own unrealistic expectations. Yes, let’s turn things around. Instead of thinking they don’t meet your expectations, consider the thought that your expectations were unattainable in the first place. Let that sink in for a while haha.
4. Don’t try to change them, but value them for who they are.Be human about their shortcomings. Ultimately, you have ‘em too. If you know eachothers shortcomings, you can react with empathy to ‘em. This results in mutual acceptance and when there is mutual acceptance,there will be more room for the love you can give eachother.
5. Settle differences with respect.Don’t dismiss what they feel about certain things. Note that feelings are one of the things that we can’t control, they are just there without a filter.
6. Communication is the key.They can’t smell on you what is wrong can they? Even if you think that they may react weird about what you have to say: say it. You simply don’t know how they will react. Since you can’t think for them, don’t fill in for them how their reaction might be. They might surprise you.
7. Keep in touch after you’ve had a (little) disagreement.Don’t wait for your friend to call. Don’t let your ego ruin your relationship. It’s not worth it.
8. Spend time with them. This is an easy one. I think this one doesn’t need further explanation :)
9. Involve them in your life. Open up! They will never get to see the real you unless you let them into your life.
10. Look for reasons to share laughter. Positive influences are everything. Meet up to do fun stuff. Make memories so that when you’ll both be old you can tell your grandchildren what crazy shit you did together when you were younger. A Whatsapp forward, tagging on FB, all the little things are so important.
11. Be there for them. You don’t have to solve their problem, because you probably can’t. But be aware that it feels really nice for someone if they have the knowledge you can be the shoulder they can lean on. Show up at their doorstep with comfort food, or share a funny link to cheer ‘em up.
12. Be a confidant.Friends will get trust issues if you blab like someone who’s playing the Chinese whisperer game. Sharing secrets creates a bond. Thusly, if you want to be their crony, make sure you are the person with whom they want to share private matters with.
13. Encourage their dreams. There are probably situations where their dreams are a little out there. If so, be the one who helps them navigate the pros and cons. Do this with care and thought though.
14. Simultaneously, be sincere about their deficiencies without being mean. They do, after all, want you to tell them the truth whereas others would not.
Do you have a friend whom you can always count on?
You can see a journal as a window to your soul. A place where you can write down your thoughts, desires and goals without anyone judging. For me journaling is a way to stay positive, be grateful and to remind myself what really matters to me. Just focus more on yourself and a little less about everyone else around you. Once you start writing, drawing and gluing things it can become a habit – maybe even addictive!
My advise is to keep a journal on paper, not in electric form. This way you can take it anywhere, also to places where there’s no electricity. I also find it much more personal when you handwrite it. You can make it your own by drawing, decorating and filling it with whatever you like. I doodle, write down lyrics from songs, make lists and little poems. I write down my feelings, impressions, ideas and goals.
This is not my picture, I found it on Pinterest.
Find the perfect place to write your journal. It’s all about me-time and self reflection, so it’s important no one will disturb you. Find a place that inspires you and where you feel comfortable. Try different places to see which one works best for you. Last week I sat in Central park during sunset for two hours until my fingers were too frozen to write. It really helps me to avoid screens while I’m writing, a little getaway from all the social media madness. Just me, myself and I.
Journaling clears your emotions, increases your gratitude and improves self-trust. It really makes you feel good, about yourself and about life in general. You don’t have to write every day. It’s supposed to be fun, so just write whenever you feel like it or when you have something interesting to write about. Try to write or draw as slowly as you can, to make you aware of what you are doing and to make it a special moment. Take your time to complete the sentence or draw a line.
When you first sit down to try, you may think your life is pretty boring and you have nothing to put in your journal, but as you start to think harder, you’ll realise how much you see each day. Write about what scares you, your decisions, goals, things you struggle with, it really could be anything that comes up in your mind. Don’t worry about your Journals getting wrecked, I even enjoy them more as they fill up.
Write naturally, tell yourself the truth and re-read it all later. So you can see what you’ve learned .
Wish you all the best of luck & most important, ENJOY !
Published Date : March 20, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Business Hacks
Hi guys!
As a freelancer you are obviously trying to get as much jobs as possible to make sure you can pay your rent in the end of the month (and because – overachievers -), so it totally makes sense you often mix up your communications. We mail dozens of people/ brands on a daily basis so it’s normal to forget who exactly you mailed, what you told them, and whether they already replied.
What you do NOT want is to miss that amazing opportunity because you forgot to reply, or because you should have sent them a kind reminder. So why not keep track of your important conversations to make sure you work as efficient as possible? I tried remembering all of my important convo’s but this eventually will make your head explode – not good for your health nor your business. So how to organize your communication? It literally doesn’t have to be more complicated than a simple Microsoft Word table like shown down below:
Whether you prefer to work digital or to print it out, or whether you like to keep a daily or a weekly table: this will work perfectly fine for you! In case you prefer print you should definitely buy a map where you keep all of your tables so you can check your communication history as well. Personally I prefer to use this schedule in a thematic way so I always know where to find the communication I’m looking for. For example: I have communication tables for the brands I am reaching out to for collaborations, Agencies that are interested in working with me, Photographers that want to organize a shooting, etc. etc. But hey! Everyone has to figure out what works well for him/herself right? Down below I explain a bit more about how I would recommend using this Communication Table:
Who: Write down the name of the company, where you found them and on what e-mail you contacted them.
When: Write down the date you contacted them and, if necessary, on which date you should send them a reminder in case they forget to answer you. Personally I would recommend 7 working days, you don’t want to harass them! If they still don’t answer you after 2 reminders it’s probably best to color block this convo Red and let it go, it’s not necessary to keep wasting your time on e-mailing them.
What: Write down a couple of keywords on what the conversation is about. Also useful: use color codes to prioritize the importance of each conversation so you know on which ones you should react ASAP.
Response: Write down a couple of keywords on what their response was about. In case this block is still blank it means they didn’t answer yet and you should send them a friendly reminder!
Note: Is there anything worth mentioning about this conversation? This is the place to write it down to remind yourself, no need to keep everything stuck in your head when there is more than enough work going on!
Do you think this Communication Table will be useful for you? Give me feedback and I will be working on improving it for you guys!
From the catwalks to the streets. Models are always on the run so we have to be quick in choosing the right clothing. We never know when street photographers are going to capture you, so we always have to look good. Of course because of our work, we pick up several style tips along the way. In this post I will tell you how to create a model off duty look.
As a model you’re traveling a lot, so you can’t bring all the clothes you want. This is why we choose easy basics that always work together, simplicity and minimalism is the key to a stylish outfit.
All black isn’t boring, it’s easy but still cool and chic at the same time. Especially when you combine different materials with each other, like leather and velvet or suede.
Choose heeled boots, because they are comfy and functional but still stylish and easy they go with almost every outfit!
Wear some cool accessories, to spice up a basic outfit. Think of some big glasses or a cool cap, but don’t over exaggerate. Models love to keep their outfit simple.
One eye catching item: for example this could be a colorful bag or a bright coat. This is how you make a basic outfit interesting and show your personality with your clothes.
Layers are everything! Because we are most of the time outside walking from casting to casting, we have to wear layers.
The most important thing: be confident! The trick to look awesome is not only in the clothes, it’s also about having confidence in yourself. Stand tall, your shoulders back and head high. Learn how to love yourself.
What do you think about the model off duty look? Would you wear it yourself? Let me know in the comments!
By now we all have seen the most beautiful flatlays while going through our feeds. Don’t you always wonder how these bloggers pull it off to make such stylish compositions of random items? Would you like to give it a try yourself? Check out my tips for making the perfect flatlay!
1. Pick a theme: the first thing you do when making a flatlay. It is important that the items that you choose for your flatlay all express a certain vibe or concept together, otherwise it gets messy.
2. Find the Light: bright daylight is essential for a good flatlay. The light has to be as white and diffuse as possible to give full emphasis to the items. Unless you want to go for a ‘goodmorning’ vibe bed flatlay, then side light could be charming.
3. Choose your Center: a flatlay is always based around 1 or 2 center pieces. The other items are merely there to support the vibes, structures and/or colors that you want to express with those center pieces.
4. Pick a Color Palette: if the colors in a flatlay don’t match, it gets messy. Make a color palette of 2-3 colors and choose your supporting items wisely.
5. Choose your Composition:the way you compose your flatlays is very personal. Some people like very busy flatlays while others prefer minimalism. No matter what: always make sure that there is enough space between each item and to leave some white spaces in order to create balance in your image. Last but not least: keep in mind that the flatlays are always captured in squared framing, and that not all the items have to be fully in the image.
6. Editing: with the right editing skills you can bring your flatlay to the next level. Personally I use Snapseed to emphasize colors, white spaces, structures and more. What I like about this app is the fact that it has a brush which allows you to edit only very detailed areas of the picture. For those who get frustrated about the warm color that your white background has: first use the saturation brush to take out all the saturation, and then the exposure brush to make it even more white. Problem solved!
Published Date : March 3, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Business Hacks
Hi there lovelies!
As promised, the month March will be fully dedicated to improving your skills! I decided to get started with one of the most important problems in daily life: organization and time-management. Having a hard time to organize yourself? Creative freelancers often have tons of projects going on and it’s hard to organize… there are so many things you have to keep in mind! Some months ago I realized I needed to find a way to get my sh*t together and started to experiment with different ways of making a schedule, till I found the perfect solution which I have been working with ever since!
What I love about my method is that it does not only create a clear overview of my tasks and appointments, but it also creates space for long-term project thinking AND free time.
Step 1: Pick Three Themes
The concept is quite simple: organize your daily tasks into themes and give them a color (oh yes, we are making a color coded schedule! My first pick was pink obviously). Personally I work with three themes: Model, Blogging & School. Besides, I also added a fourth ‘extra’ theme in case I might have a task/appointment which isn’t applicable to one of the other three themes – Mostly things like meeting up with friends or family dinners go over there.
Step 2: Pick a Day
Good! You’ve added your three themes to the upper bar of your schedule. Time for the next step. It’s time you start color coding your days. The theme that needs more attention gets more days, but make sure you leave two days without a color! One of those days will be your well-deserved free day, because that’s important too. The other day will be the day you keep open in case you might have to catch up with some work, or even want to work ahead. If there is one thing I learned about scheduling and organizing, is that there is always something coming up which messes up my plans. So make sure to organize at least one day open during your week where you can take care of those type of situations! To show as an example: this is what my color coded schedule looks like:
Monday and Friday are the days I use to organize everything that is connected to my modelwork. This might be planning my photoshoots on those days, contacting brands or photographers for photoshoots, but also remind me to regularly do my nails, keep up with my workouts, beauty masks and more. If you are busy you often forget to take good care of yourself!
Tuesday and Thursday are the days that I dedicate to my blogging career. Even though I do little tasks on a daily basis, these are the days that I do the main work such as writing blogs, answering important e-mails, searching for collaborations, writing my newsletters etc. In this blog category I even made an extra division to keep track on short-term and long-term projects, to ensure that I keep growing in the future!
Wednesday and Sunday are the days I keep open for unexpected changes in my schedule. The fashionworld is very unpredictable so I definitely need two of those days! As you might have noticed I didn’t give a special color to my school theme instead, that’s because I have class just one evening a week and I don’t need that much extra time to fill in a complete day.
Saturday is my free day! Before I started with this schedule I never took a day off, but this helps me to remember that sometimes it’s okay to do something fun besides working all day long.
Step 3: Fill in your Tasks
Now that you’ve got the fundamentals of the schedule set, it’s time to write down your tasks and appointments. This can be about meetings with other people and jobs, but also personal To Do tasks that you can’t forget. If you have any long term To Do’s which not necessarily fit into your weekly schedule, it would definitely be recommendable to make a special To Do list for them and write them below your schedule so you keep them in mind. Here is an example of my schedule for this week:
Blog:
Finish Final Modules Fashion Pro Blogger Course
Make a Bloglovin Account
Make a Like to Know It Account
Work on Pinterest Account
Check out Guestpost options
Check out Quora.com
Check out Hootsuite
Check out Google Adsense
Work on new E-Book Ideas
Model:
Search for interesting photographers in Barcelona
Set up new shoots
Make new moodboards
Boom, there you go! You can decide to copy/paste my schedule, or even try and make your own in Microsoft Word now you got some new insights. You can decide to print out the schedule and write everything down, or to keep a digital document. Personally I prefer to keep it digital because my schedule changes every day and I’m 24/7 on my laptop anyway.
Either way, I hope I was able to help you out and get all of that chaos nicely structured. If you have any other questions or need some help with organizing with yourself: I became a Pro over the years so don’t hesitate to contact me with any question!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
How to start blogging?
Published Date : April 30, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Uncategorized
Baseren op influencershoot in Hoxten, fashionista intervies. Verwijzen naar video
How to take better care of your hair this summer (7 tips)
Who doesn´t struggle with keeping their hair healthy in summer? Sure, we all love the sunshine, the beach and spending hours at the pool. But this does have consequences for our beloved locks. Dry, frizzy, lifeless… sounds familiar? I visited Salon B again to ask them everything about how to keep your hair healthy this summer. From DIY to the best products, keep reading!
There are so many ways our hair gets damaged during summer. “The best advice?” Yvette asks me, “don’t get your hair wet in the ocean or in the pool. The salt and the chlorine are seriously damaging.” However, since we all like to live a little (YOLO), let’s see what else we can do.
1. Wash your hair with normal water before diving in:this way your hair soaks up the ‘healthy’ water, which leaves less space for the bad water. Want to do even better?
2. Wear your hair in a bun with conditioner or a mask while you are at the beach or the pool. This way you are not only hydrating your hair but also blocking out the damaging elements.
3. Rinse your hair at the end of the day: this way your hair isn’t soaked with chlorine or salt all night long. It’s not necessary to use shampoo but it is recommended to use conditioner or a mask, just to give your hair an extra boost.
4. Add Coconut oil to your conditioner:this really adds that extra care that you need in the summertime. Don’t you love how multifunctional coconut oil is? <3
5. Protect your hair from UV Beams: we always wear sunscreen for our skin, so why don’t we do the same for our hair? When Yvette told me this, my mind was actually blown because I never thought about it before. There are lots of brands which have UV protection, for example: Bumble & Bumble, Aveda andFurterer.(this can vary from leave-in conditioner to a spray). Whatever you choose, just make sure that it has good quality :)
6. Long term UV protection:Just like with sunscreen, the sprays and leave-in conditioners don’t last that long. If you want a long term protection, you could try this new treatment from Sebastian called Color Shine: it protects the color of your hair and adds a UV protection that lasts 4-6 weeks, nice!
7. Wear a hat: this might be the most simple option of them all. Simply wear a hat so your hair isn’t exposed to the sun all day long! I mean, obviously you can’t wear a hat 24/7, but everything counts :)
I will definitely try to pay more attention to my hair this summer! What about you guys? Do you have any tips you wanna share? :)
Published Date : October 29, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Uncategorized
“The mastery-oriented children are really hell-bent on learning something,” Dweck says, and “learning goals” inspire a different chain of thoughts and behaviors than “performance goals.”
Students for whom performance is paramount want to look smart even if it means not learning a thing in the process. For them, each task is a challenge to their self-image, and each setback becomes a personal threat. So they pursue only activities at which they’re sure to shine—and avoid the sorts of experiences necessary to grow and flourish in any endeavor. Students with learning goals, on the other hand, take necessary risks and don’t worry about failure because each mistake becomes a chance to learn. Dweck’s insight launched a new field of educational psychology—achievement goal theory.
Dweck’s next question: what makes students focus on different goals in the first place? During a sabbatical at Harvard, she was discussing this with doctoral student Mary Bandura (daughter of legendary Stanford psychologist Albert Bandura), and the answer hit them: if some students want to show off their ability, while others want to increase their ability, “ability” means different things to the two groups. “If you want to demonstrate something over and over, it feels like something static that lives inside of you—whereas if you want to increase your ability, it feels dynamic and malleable,” Dweck explains. People with performance goals, she reasoned, think intelligence is fixed from birth. People with learning goals have a growth mind-set about intelligence, believing it can be developed. (Among themselves, psychologists call the growth mind-set an “incremental theory,” and use the term “entity theory” for the fixed mind-set.) The model was nearly complete (see diagram).
Hunkemöller Ambassadors Xmas Event
Published Date : December 25, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
Yess! Last week it was time to see all of the sweet Hunkemöller Ambassadors again. Cozy Pajamas and hot cocao… could a girl ask for more? We got all picked up by busses, which drove us over to the Hotel Central Park by Ron Blaauw, which was completely decorated into a magic Winter Wonderland.
This was my outfit for the day: finally a chance to show off my beautiful bra from the Doutzen Collection! I combined it with a cute mesh shirt from Zalando and velvet trousers from the Mango. Chic, simple and stylish <3 However, I didn’t wear this outfit for long… it was time for a pajama party with the newest cosy collection!
First we all got dressed up: a full on make-up and hair session! Obviously I asked for curls since usually my hair is super straight and I still didn’t figure out how to make curls on my own. After the event I was so sad to wash my hair and go back to straight hair lol. Does anyone understand my struggle? After our pamper session we could choose some of or favorite PJ’s and start shooting with the amazing photographers: Jesaja Hizkia and Thijs Hupkens!
After the photoshoot we had a brainstorm session for the new summer collection, I think it’s so cool that Hunkemöller really wants to know our opinion and makes adjustments according to our feedback! I cannot wait to see their newest bikinis :)
After the brainstorm session it was time for games: the Xmas dice game to be exact. With some hot cocao and little snacks we sat all together chatting and playing, and in the end we all got a cute gift! Mine: Miss Snowman Socks #yassss
After the game it was time to get out of our cosy PJ’s and get dressed up for our Glam Xmas Dinner. But before sitting around the table I first had to make a picture with Phoebe, thanks for organizing everything!
After dinner the busses brought us back home, a perfect end of a perfect day. Thanks for having me in the family Hunkemöller <3
Such an international squad!! From left to right: Elke (Belgium), Nora (Germany), Me (The Netherlands), Lisa (Sweden) and Sarah (Denmark)
In case you want to make awesome pictures like this: visit the Copacabana Beachclub in Dubrovnik. We spent the afternoon there with an amazing lunch, champagne and fresh fruits. But even better: the owner has the most adorable little puppy!
Thank you Hunkemöller, because I wouldn’t have met these amazing girls without you! Each one of them are such empowered, kind, beautiful and supportive megababes! The trip was short but we had such a great connection… I cannot wait to hang out together again. You girls are the best squad I could wish for <3
After fancy resorts & beachclubs on the first day in Croatia. It was time to get our adventurous vibes on for Day #2! Hunkemöller gave us their newest festival items and we conquered Dubrovnik, wanna see?
My favorite bikini color: neon pink! I’m super white so this makes me look like I’m slightly more tanned #fakeittillyoumakeit #sadbuttrue.
After having a little private party surrounded by palms, it was time to visit the city.
Roaming around the streets, eating ice cream, making selfies and laughing a lot! An unforgettable city trip which I would like to repeat very soon. Also I was very surprised by the astonishing beauty of the old town in Dubrovnik. The colors of the streets are so classic and elegant. No wonder Game of Thrones was shot there:)
This wasn’t my first time in Croatia, but it was my first time in Dubrovnik! Have you been there before? If not, you definitely should!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
P.s. Did you also check out the first day of my Hunkemöller trip?
I got the leading role in a Music Video!
Published Date : June 12, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : BlondieTV, Model Stories
A music video, something that definitely still was on my bucket list. Last month I could finally take it off with this super cool production: the music video for ‘Call me up’ by American singer-songwriter Patrick Baker. I had SO much fun, should I pursue an acting career?;p Take a look with me!
The team of Wolfstreet: the creative production company behind the video.
The location was an old hotel in the north of the Netherlands, perfect for the shady vibes of the video.
I might look serious on camera. But in between shots it’s all smiles!
My two ‘maneater’ outfits. The body is from Hunkemöller and the dress was scored at ASOS
The director talking me through a scene. The main message: look fierce! Do you think I pulled it off?
All in all it was a great experience, and so much fun with this team! Hope to see you soon again :)
Published Date : October 25, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : #OOTD, The Styling Files
Some of you might have already heard about Fashionchick: it’s a really great platform in The Netherlands which is all about the latest trends, fashion, beauty and more! They have a squad of awesome bloggers and guess what? I’m the newest addition! I’ve been a fan of Fashionchick for a long time already, so this feels like such an honor for me. Hard work really pays off, doesn’t it? :)
To celebrate, I’m sharing this super stylish yet comfy outfit with you guys. I know it’s been a while since I posted an #OOTD blog, so this seems like a good timing!
The full outfit is from My Jewellery, from the flares to the rings. Love it! In case it gets too cold, here’s a tip from someone who is ALWAYS cold: I always wear leggings underneath my flared trousers. It fits without a problem because the fabric is flexbile. On top of that I always take a sweater or a short jacket with me to put on in case it gets too cold, or I layer 2 shirts on top of each other. Or both. #teamfreezing
Another tip: do you like the outfit? Thanks! Soon the Fashionchick Shopping Days are starting, so you can actually buy these items (and many more) at www.fashionchick.nl with 20% discount. You’re welcome :)
It’s also possible that you would choose to style these items differently, for me it depends on my mood really. Other days I love to get more ‘Hippie’ with a headband, or ‘Retro’ with other glasses. Some days I don’t feel like wearing heels so then sneakers are the way to go. Isn’t that the best thing about fashion? There are so many ways to get creative :)
Do you like the outfit? How would you style it? Let me know!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
P.s. Did you like this post? Make sure to check out this outfit too!
Inspirations: Bloggers to Follow on IG
Published Date : March 9, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Get inspired!
Bloggers cannot be pictured out of the society anymore nowadays, they are the influencers of the 21st century! There are so many that it’s hard to decide which ones are worthy of following on Instagram, that’s why I selected three of my favorites for you to check out! Get ready to be inspired by these talented powerwomen:
@Angelicablick
This gorgeous Swedish Fashion- & Travelblogger makes beautiful pictures of her adventures. Photography + food + nature + fashion = best combination ever! Her feed is fun to follow and makes you dream of going to experience the world on your own.
@Yara_Michels
This Dutchie is responsible for the brilliant blog ‘Chapter Friday’ and has a beautiful feed filled with inspirational pictures of interior and fashion. Yara has a gorgeous smile which immediately brightens your day and you will want to buy everything she posts, because yes, her taste is THAT good.
@Lovelypepa
Living in Paris definitely gives Alexandra Pereira the perfect feels for elegant fashion and photography hotspots! All of her pictures are top quality and mostly show her travel locations, food addiction and casual classy outfits… love it!
Interview with ladyboss Amy Zunzunegui (Urban Decay's Senior VP of Product Development)
Published Date : April 24, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Business Hacks
Last month I had the amazing chance to sit down with Amy Zunzunegui: the senior VP of product development at Urban Decay. Or in short: the brilliant woman who creates all the beauty products for the coolest beauty brand ever (I mean… don’t we all die for those NUDE palettes?). Me and Amy shared one of the most interesting and inspiring conversations, which personally inspired me to step up my game. I wrote down some of the highlights, will you read along?
1. What is the biggest compliment you ever had?
Someone complimented me on my confidence. I think that it’s the best compliment a woman can have, that you’re a badass.
2. How do you manage the balance between being a strong boss and a bitch?
Sometimes it’s okay to be a bitch. It means you are strong and know what you stand for. As long as you are a kind person it’s different: I never direct my anger or frustration to people, but to ideas and the work in general. Also, I always show gratitude and I apologize when I’ve been tough on my team. Every Friday afternoon I tell them how much I appreciate their work and compliment them on their achievements of that week.
3. What’s your secret to success?
I live the job! I love the brand and my office is amazing. Of course, there is some luck involved, but I also create my own fair share of luck. The office is very open minded and they allow you to try new things. Personally, I’m very straightforward and direct, that way we create a very free working environment which allows us to keep growing.
4. How do you get so much work done with a team of just 10 people?
When we are working, we are efficient. We make quick decisions and everyone is very passionate. We collaborate well between our departments because everyone trusts each other.
5. Who do you look up to?
I look up to Wendy a lot (CEO of Urban Decay), she is so smart and creative. We have very similar views on work, as well as on personal life. Furthermore, I look up to my dad and my husband: they are so dedicated to their own paths and they are such strong people. I was raised in a men’s world and my dad always told me that it doesn’t matter that I’m a woman. He taught me to show people they’re wrong when they tell me I can’t do something. For example: I tell my daughter to play soccer and play with the boys: it’s true that they are physically stronger than girls, so if she trains with them she will improve herself more than when she would play with other girls. We respect men and learn from them, because we complement each other.
6. How do you balance your private life with work?
My work is my life because it’s my passion, but I do know how to ‘switch off’ when it’s necessary. For example: I will take the time to pick up my kids from school, but I will also pick up the phone if it’s necessary. However, it is important that your friends and family understand that your work is what drives you in life, some patience is required!
7. How do you deal with insecurities?
Make sure to always admit that you made a mistake. I am lucky that I have a very supportive team and that I can talk with them if I screwed something up. Of course, I have insecurities and I am super self-aware, but I always try to remind myself that I am just a person and I have my limits. When I feel like I’m not achieving enough, I like to go through my social media feed to see all the things I’ve done and achieved in the past months. Often we are so busy that we forget all the awesome stuff that we do so this really lightens my mood.
8. What’s the best thing you’ve learned in your career?
That it’s okay to make mistakes. And a very important rule: don’t be arrogant, but always have an informed opinion.
9. What are your goals for this year?
I don’t really think in goals anymore. As long as I really enjoy what I’m doing I’m happy, so I always try to realize how lucky I am.
BOOM! So many great words, are you just as inspired as I am? Do you know anyone who is an inspiring ladyboss? Send me a message and perhaps they will be on the blog next.
Published Date : June 19, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Business Hacks
This lady has been an inspiration to me ever since I met her 2 years ago. Anbasja Blanken is the embodiment of a hard, passionate worker who won’t stop until she reaches her goals. Even though she hasn’t been in the Dutch fashion world for thát long, she already managed to make quite a name for herself and is currently one of the favorite designers at Amsterdam Fashion Week.
1. What is the biggest compliment you ever had?
I think it’s beautiful when people that have known me for a long time suddenly look up to me because they have seen how much I’ve grown. Another flattering moment for me was when I spotted myself in Volkskrant Magazine, right next to Prada and Dior! That was a very big honor.
2. Who do you look up to?
I look up to the women whom I want to dress: powerful, pro-active women! Women who take charge of their own life and who have a very clear goal. That’s the kind of woman I want to be myself.
3. How do you balance your work life with your relationship?
It’s complicated, especially because I put SO many hours into my career and I don’t have time for a social life or a relationship. I always try to keep my weekends open, but it’s also very important that me and my boyfriend support each other’s careers. We always take care of each other and we understand when the other doesn’t have time. We can count on each other and that’s the best feeling.
4. What is the best investment you ever made?
My graduation collection, it got me so many publications and nominations that it made my start as a designer a lot easier.
5. What was the biggest lesson your learned in your career?
I learned so many! Always listen to your intuition and don’t follow the crowd. Trust in yourself, that’s what makes you stand out.
6. Could you share one of your network tactics with us?
Always stay true to yourself, people will appreciate it because they see you are authentic.
7. Do you have any negotiation tips?
Try to find a balance between kindness and business. Don’t ever act arrogant but be direct and show that you know what you are talking about. This is something I still struggle with every now and then.
8. What do you do when things aren´t going the way you imagined?
I always try to look back and see what went wrong. Often it helps me to take a time out to analyze the situation. However, sometimes it simply isn’t meant to be and it could be a sign to try something else.
9. What are your goals for 2017?
This year I want to work more on my business and communication skills, often I am too sweet but because I’ve been growing so much it is a skill I have to develop. Furthermore, it’s a big dream of mine to work abroad as a designer, it’s my ultimate goal.
10. Are there any exciting projects coming up for you?
Absolutely! I still cannot give any details but there are a couple of great collaborations coming up. Oh, and also more awesome things on the webshop!
Are you feeling the inspiration flowing? I sure am! Do you know a ladyboss who deserves to be featured, send me an e-mail and maybe she will be here in the next edition!
After reading her book ‘On Top’ I got very inspired by Anna Nooshin – the founder of NSMBL – the biggest Dutch online lifestyle magazine. She shows that with hard work we can get anywhere, and isn’t that the kind of inspiration everyone needs every now and then? I was lucky enough to meet her in person and ask her a couple of questions. Let’s see what she had to say, shall we?
1. What is the biggest compliment you ever had?
“The biggest compliment is when readers tell me that I inspire them. That’s my goal in the end. People can say that they like a picture or that I did a cool project, but I find it more important to be inspiring. That moves me more than a compliment from someone in the same line of work as me.”
2. Who do you look up to?
“There are so many women that I find so cool and inspiring, but in the end I am my own role model. When I was younger I didn’t and I kept myself small. I always looked at others. What was this person doing better than I was? My life has become a lot easier now that I don’t do that anymore.”
3. How do you balance your work life with your relationship?
“It’s very hard. I am always looking for a balance between my own wellbeing, my partners’ and all the other stuff that I find important. We have been together for very long and I’m very lucky he gives me so much space. He can handle it well and it’s great to have someone grow with me.”
4. What is the best investment you ever made?
“My best investment is time with my friends. Every single Friday I meet with my friends and I’ve been doing so for years. They don’t work in fashion and are super down to earth. They keep me centered and sane. When it comes to fashion: Shoes! You can never have enough of them. They are probably my biggest addiction.”
5. According to you, what’s the difference between being a strong boss and a bitch?
“There is nothing wrong with being a bitch, I’m not even opposed to the word. I think the difference is being human and respectful. I’ve had so many jobs in my student years, I cleaned toilets for four years! I try to be as nice as possible to everyone, also the cleaning lady. You can be strict and demanding, but always be respectful and don’t treat people as if they are less than you.”
6. What was the biggest lesson your learned from NSMBL?
“It’s never too late to set up something good as long as you are willing to take risks and give your full dedication. People often underestimate what it’s like to work hard and give up too easily. Good things take time. Also: never stop thinking ahead, I’m always thinking five steps ahead to make sure that I keep growing.”
7. Could you share one of your network tactics with us?
“Make sure you have an elevator pitch prepared. You need to be able to tell anyone why it is cool what you are doing and why a brand should collaborate with you. You have to be able to sell yourself.”
8. What are your goals for 2017?
“I want to focus on doing more television work, that’s my dream. I would love to get my own show, my own travel program. Now I share my travels with a niche group and I think it would be great to share my adventures on TV with a very broad public. I want a new type of travel program. Something surprising, I already know what I would like to do – engaging the online community.”
9. Are there any exciting projects coming up for you?
“Yes, so many! Unfortunately, I’m not allowed to talk about them yet, but stay tuned.”
Smart, kind and humble. It was a pleasure to meet this strong and beautiful woman. Don’t change Anna! From now on I will do a monthly interview with a ladyboss in order to spread powervibes and inspiration. Do you have any suggestions? Leave a comment!
Interview with Ladyboss Ellen Snijder - Fashionchick
Published Date : July 3, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Business Hacks
As the founder of the largest online fashion platform of the Netherlands, Ellen Snijder is a force to be reckoned with. This FashionChick is not only known for her beautiful curls and bubbly personality, but also for her creative strategic thinking and brilliant ideas. I was wondering: how does she do it?!
1. Why did you decide to start FashionChick?In 2008 I missed a starting point where you could shop online. Now we have more options, but when I started FashionChick there weren’t any yet. I wanted to bring together all the best brands and boutiques to create the perfect shopping heaven. Also, I found it super annoying that when you’d be reading a magazine, you wouldn’t know where to buy the clothes. It was a business concept from the start, and I’m very happy that it worked out!
2. Who do you look up to?
I look up to women who work hard and follow their own passion and vision. Also, I think it’s fantastic when women stay very down to earth: girlbosses! I admire women that have an idea and make it big: a lot of the best ideas come from personal experiences and it’s great to see how they have their own vision. The goal isn’t necessarily to get rich, the goal is to add something new to the world.
3. How do you balance your work life with your relationship/ personal life?
I’m getting better at it. I had a though period because I was working 80 hours a week and I couldn’t stop thinking about my company. In 2013, I learned to take my distance because I sold Fashionchick to Sanoma and we got a bigger team. Now I can enjoy vacations and a day off if I want to. Fashionchick got its own identity and I’m super proud of it.
4. What is the biggest investment you ever made?
Television, without a doubt. TV productions are very valuable but it was totally worth it because it became a huge hit!
5. Are there things you still struggle with? How do you deal with that?
I’m still struggling with finding the balance between my work and my personal life. Furthermore, I’m a very creative person and not necessarily a ‘sales tiger’. Handling negotiations and closing deals are still hard for me sometimes.
6. What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned from FashionChick?
Celebrate your successes. Furthermore, it’s very important to build your team well and appreciate them, they are the ones making your company big. Cherish them!
7. According to you, what’s the difference between being a strong boss and a bitch?
You’re a bitch when you don’t express gratitude and just ‘take’ from your employees. You are strong when you are strict, but just. You have to show you are the one in charge, but you should always speak to people respectfully. I find it important that everyone feels comfortable, connected to the company and appreciated. You have to keep people on edge, but it’s not good to be too critical.
8. Could you share one of your network tactics with us?
I’m not much of a networker, for me it just happens naturally. I’m very curious so I always ask a lot about people’s work and what they like to do. I show a lot of interest and I’m very open. Networking to brag doesn’t work because you will come off as arrogant.
9. Do you have any tips that help you in negotiations?
Believe in your own power and know what you’re worth. Women often think they are less awesome than they actually are, so be careful with that! Prepare yourself well and ask around to know what matches the market conformity.
10. What are your goals for 2017?
More vacations and more travelling! I want to enjoy life, do more yoga, all of that. I’ve worked my ass off for the past few years so it’s great that now everything is working on its own. Obviously, I want to continue with Fashionchick, to make our brand even stronger!
11. Are there any exciting projects coming up?
Yes!! We are working on a book. I can’t say much yet but it’s going to be very exciting.
BOOM! Yet another amazing and inspiring interview. Is there anyone you think should be interviewed as well? Send me a message!
Interview with Ladyboss Juliette ten Ouden - Master Make-up Artist
Published Date : September 20, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Business Hacks
For those who don’t know Julliette den Ouden yet, let me introduce her: besides winning several make-up awards, coiffure awards (her current position is #6 of the world) and doing the make-up for brands/ names such as Versace, George Clooney, Wesley Snipes, Silvester Stalone, Harpers Bazaar and Cosmopolitan, she is also the one who creates make-up trends and campaigns for Makeup Studio. If that’s not enough yet, she does the worldwide campaings for Carmen, Varouk and L’Anza AND she creates her own trainingprograms for Schwarzkopf and several other make-up schools accross the country… besides owning her own make-up school. Of course. Is there ANYTHING this woman can’t do?! Time to ask her some questions!
1. What do you like most about your work?
Coaching people and making beautiful things, that’s all I need.
2. What is your favorite experience so far?
I was in Capetown for a photoshoot where we worked with elephants, that was amazing! Another great shoot was working in the dessert with a hawk.
3. What is the best kind of compliment you could receive?
It’s always great to hear that people think I’m inspiring. I came a long way (since 2001) and I worked very hard for everything that I achieved, so it’s great to know that other people take strength out of that as well.
4. Who do you look up to?
No one, I’m really focused on myself and I don’t want to compare myself to others. I want to focus on what I want to achieve, not on who I want to be.
5. How do you balance your career with your personal life?
Ehh… I don’t haha. I don’t have a social life because I’m always working. That’s okay though, because it is what I love to do. I would prefer to spend a week in Bali doing photoshoots than laying on the beach doing nothing at all. Every now and then I take time for myself to drive around on my motorcycle or visit some friends.
6. What is your biggest investment so far?
I took private English classes so that I could continue to grow on an international level. Also I invested a lot in a trip to Capetown for 6 weeks where I worked a lot on my portfolio, this got me a lot of awards and nominations – joining competitions was also a great investment, for that matter.
7. What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far?
If you want to achieve something you shouldn’t sit around and wait for something to happen: you are in charge of your life so don’t wait for someone to help you. I always did everything on my own.
8. Why do you think you are so succesful?
I’m very disciplined, down to earth and ‘real’. People don’t like arrogance and bragging.
9. What do you do when you feel down?
Sometimes I get stuck too much in a certain routine, which kills my creativity. In those moments I book a vacation for a couple of weeks to Bali or Capetown. I will still do photoshoots there, but the change of air is good for me. These weeks always give me tons of inspiration to keep going strong!
10. How do you differentiate yourself from other muahs?
When I do someone’s make-up, I really focus on getting that inner beauty out. I don’t look at just the make-up, but I also make sure that the total look is good. The make-up has to suit with not just the hair and outfit of a person, but also with their personality.
11. What are your goals this year?
I have too many! I have been investing in my own acadamy for a long time but this year I will be focusing on my career as an international muah: better clients and more high fashion.
12. Are there any new projects coming up?
Yes! I will go to India soon for a couple of photoshoots. New York is coming and a lot of cool jobs! Furthermore, I will be in a TV program with Maria Tailor, Kim Feenstra and Fred van Leer.
Juliette den Ouden was such a humble and kind person to interview, she didn’t really like talking about herself but I’m glad that she did! I can’t wait to see her shine abroad this year. You go girl!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
P.s. If you liked this interviews, make sure to also read the interviews with J, Anbasja Blanken and Anna Nooshin.
Is the Nice Flower Festival one of the best carnivals in the world?
Published Date : February 28, 2018 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
As a girl from the south of the Netherlands I take carnival very seriously! However, after celebrating it in the Netherlands for many years I got curious, how does the rest of the world do this? I googled a list: the best carnivals in the world. Besides the obvious options like Rio de Janeiro and Venice, there was one that caught my eye: The carnival in Nice, France. They celebrated with flowers! I had to see that of course :)
I guess I can’t say yet if Nice was the best in the world, but it definitely was fun! Guess I’ll have to go to Rio next year ;)
Does anyone else have cool suggestions? Let me know!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
It's Time to Change Things Up!
Published Date : September 13, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
Why it is Time to Change?? I don’t know if you realized about it, but my blog will be exactly 1 year in 10 days!! Let’s all take a moment to celebrate this HUGE milestone for me
Quite frankly, at first I had no clue what I was getting myself into. And I am not sure how I survived this first year, but it was a crazy ride I wouldn’t want to have missed!
So obviously, I will be the first one to admit that it is far from perfect (for now)… it’s time to change! My website will be going offline soon because I am going to make some pretty exciting changes, but it’s gonna be back online again the 23rd of September :)
The truth is… of course I have some ideas myself of what I like to change. But I have absolutely NO CLUE what you guys like to see on my blog (still not a mind reader unfortunately). YOU guys are the ones I write for, you guys are the people I want to help, inspire and talk to… it would mean the world to me if you could leave me a comment or a message to let me know what you love most about my blog (or stuff that you actually not care about at all). There is no bad feedback, only learning moments for me :) So for this time, I need your help!
I would have never thought this before… but during this year I have developed a huge passion for my blog and I want to develop myself as much as possible, but I can’t do it without you guys. Without you – reading this blogpost at this very moment – my blog wouldn’t even exist!
Well I guess that’s enough emotional talk for today, see you guys when I get back! :) Get ready for Who is that Blonde 2.0
Lots of Love,
Lynn
Lemon Love: 10 different ways to use Lemons for DIY Healthy & Beauty tricks
When life gives you lemons…. Go and give yourself some amazing beauty treatments! I could probably write a full essay on all the benefits of lemons, but first let’s start with some of the basics! Lemons contain lots of Vitamin C, hydrate the skin, boost the metabolism of the body, clean greasy skin, and more! You gotta love Lemons
Beauty
1. Make a Sugar Scrub
Mix lemon juice with sugar until you get a nice paste. Scrub it all over your body, take a shower, enjoy a perfectly hydrated baby skin! It couldn’t be easier.
2. Beat those Blackheads
Mix lemon juice with honey and spread it over your face like a mask. Leave it on for five minutes and then wash it off with water. Repeat three times a week to keep those blackheads away.
3. Light it Up
Lemons light up pretty much… everything. Your hair, skin, teeth, nails… you name it! Just spread lemon juice over whatever it is you want to lighten up, leave it there for a while, and wash it off again. Repeat a couple times a week and you will get some amazing results very soon!
4. Be gone Shiny Skin!
Get rid of that shiny skin by padding some lemon juice with water on your T-zone with a tissue: it’s great for reducing excess oil.
5. Baby Feet
Lemon juice is great for feet, as it will help soften rough skin on the bottom and also kill bacteria that builds up under your toenails. To make the foot soak, get a large bowl and combine three cups of lemon juice, six cups of water, 3 tablespoons of cinnamon powder, and one cup of coconut milk. Soak your feet in the bowl for 15 minutes and then rinse with warm water.
Health
6. No More Nausea!
Lemon contains Potassium which controls high blood pressure and reduces the effect of nausea and dizziness. Who knew right?!
7. Bloody Cleanse
Nowadays people consume lots of junkfood or other preservatives and artificial flavors. This builds up toxins in the blood and body…. Not good! BUT, if you consume lemonwater on a daily basis it will help you purifying your blood!
8. Superlemon to the Rescue
Troath infections, cuts, kidney stones, bladder infections, toothaches, headaches, fevers, digestive problems, even vaginal infections! (I know right? What can’t this super lemon do?!) Lemon has great disinfecting properties, a great way to cure your body in a natural way.
9. Hydration Boost
Drinking lemonwater is not only purifying, it also makes your body absorb the hydrating elements of the water better, resulting in a big hydration boost. And besides, it gives water a nice and fruity flavor… do we need more reasons to drink it?!;)
10.Burn fat… BURN
Actually, there is one more reason! Last but not least, drinking lemonwater gives a huge boost to your metabolism. Making it work faster and longer, which results in… yes, you guessed it right… burning more fat. WE LOVE YOU LEMON.
The even better part about all this, is the fact that you can add lemon pretty much anywhere in your daily consumptions. I love grilling my fish in lemon juice, adding lemon to my water, using lemon juice as a salad dressing, cooking my veggies in lemon juice, adding lemon to my green smoothies…. and so much more! Get creative and let me know which other great combinations you found!
LONDON | Ultimate city trip tips + photodiary
Published Date : September 24, 2017 Author : demijonk Categories : Life & Travel
The last two years I spend on and off in London. This weekend I finally got the chance to show my mom around in the city that now feels like a second home for me. A very last minute citytrip, because we only decided to go two days before departure.
I wanted to stay in Shoreditch, because this is one of my favorite neighborhoods of London. My agency, Wilhelmina Models, is also located in this area! We chose to stay in this very cute hotel named Z hotel Shoreditch. The interior design is just amazing and their concept of free wine and cheese for guests between 5 – 8 pm is genius! Although the rooms are really small, I would very much recommend this hotel (it has several locations around London).
We strolled around Shoreditch to see some of the beautiful street art creations. I don’t know why, but I have this thing with street art, I am always amazed by it. And guess what: Shoreditch area is known for its street art! Almost every street has at least one wall covered with several art works. (walk via Brick lane and Fashion street). There is also a street art walking tour, but we chose to walk it by ourselves. There is much more to see than only street art, we did some vintage shopping and went to the OldSpitalfields food and fashion market. All of a sudden we ended up in a pop-up art gallery and a fashion show event. We had to hide in a typical English pub (not that bad tho) for the pouring rain. In the evening we ate dinner along the Thames next to the London Bridge in a restaurant called Côte.
Day two of our little citytrip, we spend the day in central London. although it was pretty busy (like always), we managed to do a little shopping at Piccadilly/ Regent street and see the AMAZING toilets of world famous restaurant Sketch London. It feels like a dream when you enter Sketch, nothing to compare with any restaurant you’ve ever been. Normally you can’t go in without a reservation, but I told them the excuse that I was considering celebrating my birthday at Sketch next week. Now I was able to show my mom the crazy egg-shaped toilets, which are meant to be little spaceshuttles. Each egg-bathroom-pod is taller than a human and contains one single toilet.
Soho is my second favorite area here, so I showed mom the cute Carnaby street with it’s colored houses and lights. We bought tickets to see the Matilda musical in the Cambridge Theater. Matilda has been my all time favorite movie since I was a child, so I was super exited to see the musical version. But first we had to eat something close to the theater. We found the most beautiful little square/ garden named Neils Garden only five minutes walking from the theater. We had some moroccan bites at this restaurant located in Neils Garden named Souk. It really felt like we were in Marrakech with the moroccan vibes, smell, colors and music. The whole Theater was in style of Matilda and the musical was amazing, they did a really good job turning the movie into a play. We were invited by someone I know, to have a drink at STK. The fancy steak restaurant from hotel ME, which turns more into a club later at night. It happened to be nearby the theater, so we went for a cocktail (or two ..).
Our third and last day in London started with breakfast with a view at M by Montcalm hotel, just around the corner of where we were staying. This building amazed us from the very beginning we saw it, it loos like it is made in 3D from the outside. I planned a little shoot with a photographer that wanted to shoot me for a very long time; Gigi Fox. We walked around Shoreditch to spot cool places as a background for the pictures. I am exited to see how it turned out! Then it was already time to leave, because we wanted to be on time for our flight. We spend our three (or actually two and a half) days well, didn’t waste any second and enjoyed every bit.
click here if you want to see my after movie of our trip!
Love,
Demi
Ps. Did you liked this post? Make sure to check out my other travelblogs about Milan , Bali and New York!
Looking Back on
Published Date : January 1, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
Happy New Year everyone! Did you have a good party last night?
Yesterday I definitely spent some time thinking about my year, so much happened in such a short time. Before I start writing down my new year resolutions, I figured it was a good idea to look back on some of my favorite achievements to celebrate the positive vibes!
1. Hunkemöller Ambassador
Exactly one year ago, I was talking with Hunkemöller about a collaboration. Little did I know that I would be their newest ambassador very soon! We had an amazing Summer & Christmas event, as well as an awesome press trip to Berlin! I can’t wait for new adventures with them in 2017 :)
2. Who is that Blonde on Tour
In September & October I travelled around Europe to visit fashion weeks, do photoshoots, attend super events and collaborate with brands. Not only did I meet amazing people such as Karlie Kloss and Olivia Palermo, I also got published in magazines such as Elle, Glamour, Grazia, C-Heads Magazine and Point Seven Mach. Read more about my tour here.
3. Fashionista Angel
A couple of months ago, I was asked to become a Fashionista Angel, now you can find my monthly blogs & columns on their website!
4. Interviews
Throughout the year, I’ve been asked for interviews as an expert for several magazines and newspapers such as El Periódico (Spain), US Trendy and Nederlands Dagblad. This month I can be found in Fashionista Magazine with an interview!
5. First TV debute (RTL & AT5)
Not that long ago I was on television for the very first time with a topic on the Primark opening in Amsterdam. While shooting for the TV channel AT5 I was also asked by RTL if I could be in some of their shots. Double win!
Looking back on this year I couldn’t be more proud of myself, and barely more excited about 2017! Let’s make it a good one altogether shall we?
Lots of love,
Lynn
Looking back on 2017: did I reach all my goals?
Published Date : December 27, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
How did the time fly so fast? 2017 was like a whirlwind to me. The year began strong with traveling to amazing places such as LA and with the start of June I faced an intense new challenge with a job at Sanoma and I was struggling to keep everything together. I don’t believe I’ve ever learned so much things in one single year though, so it was totally worth it! It’s funny to read back old blogs and to see what I was thinking back then. Today I would like to go through an old blog where I talk about my goals for 2017, did I achieve them? Let’s find out!
1. Finish my book: In 2016 I’ve been sporadically thinking about some ideas for a book, but now it’s really going to happen! I’ll set up a monthly planning to assure my progress, stay tuned :)
End of 2017 note: yeah… that book never happened. I purposely chose to not write it yet though. I decided that I first want to focus on growing my career before I start writing a book. So maybe it will happen in a couple of years!
2. Score a contract at a creative agency: I’m looking forward to the next step: getting a job where I can put my creativity into use. New year, new challenges, am I right?
End of 2017 note: I did it! after 5 months I scored my very first office job at Sanoma as an influencer marketeer. I think it’s one of the biggest challenges I have had so far. Working as a freelancer and starting your own company is definitely a huge challenge as well, but as soon as you have to follow someone elses’ rules there is so many other things that you have to think about. On one side I loved to learn many new things, which also improved my work at my own company, on the other side it definitely was a struggle for me to get used to ‘the office life’ since I was always so flexible before. Nevertheless, I am very happy that I am working there still and will continue to do so in 2018!
3. Find contributer(s) for Who is that Blonde: Since I want to focus more on brand collabs and a job this year, it would be great to have someone help out with the content on my blog. Make sure to let me know if you know someone!
End of 2017 note: check! I scored 2 lovely ladies who have been writing for Who is that Blonde this year. Demi already got started in february and Lonneke joined the Blonde Squad later on in June. More cool girls are always welcome though, so hit me up if you are up for a challenge :)
4. Increase my web visitors & social stats: In 2016 I’ve been growing continuously, the plan is to simply keep doing that. Step by step.
End of 2017 note: half check! My social stats have been growing steadily all year but I decided to move my focus from the blog to my upcoming YouTube channel because I love to watch videos so it would be cool if I could make them myself as well :) Don’t worry, I will still be posting here, just a bit less regular, so just the most important blogs will be shared.
5. Find a better balance between work and personal time: Workaholic? Guilty. What can I say, when you love what you do, it’s hard to stop sometimes. So for 2017 I will focus on some ‘me’ time: meeting with friends, read a book, spend more time with family, and so on.
End of 2017 note: HAHAHA personal time? What’s that lol? Ever since I got my job at Sanoma I was struggling with doing my job as good as I could but still work on growing my own company as well. It were some really intense months but I don’t regret them for a second :) I did spend quite some time with my family this year and I tried to meet up with friends at least once a month, so I guess I can say that I was working on my personal life.
6. Design a product in collaboration with a brand: Wouldn’t that be just the coolest thing ever? I would like to design an item for a brand that I admire because #whynot.
End of 2017 note: right now there aren’t any ‘designed by me’ products on the market, but that’s only because usually you have to design a couple of seasons ahead! I can’t say too much yet but you can expect 2 really cool brand collabs in 2018 hihi <3
That’s it! I have to say I’m pretty proud of how well I achieved my goals, which makes me even more motivated to set up 5 new goals for 2018!
Did you achieve your goals this year? Let me know!
Published Date : June 7, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
Los Angeles, finally I had the pleasure of meeting you! 2 days before flying my tickets were booked: time for a last-minute adventure before I would start my new job. I didn’t know the city, I didn’t know anyone, it was an amazing experience full of surprises.
Honestly, I didn’t even take that many pictures: I was too busy enjoying my time there, or in some cases, there was literally no one around to make pictures of me. As a blogger that was quite uncanny at first, but I came to appreciate it. Living life through your phone isn’t the same as actually experiencing it guys!
The beach was as much fun as I expected, but surprisingly enough, less chic! It was really much more of a ‘hipster’ area with cheap food stands, graffiti and touristic shops. Personally I enjoyed the vibes, but you should be careful! Apparently Venice Beach is not a safe neighborhood #traveltips
P.s. For those wonder: I am in fact wearing a size M bikini. Yes, I have a small waistline, but I do actually have shapes! Don’t believe me? Check my blog about lingerie photography.
In case you feel like sweating your ass off and burn some calories: try the hike in the Hollywood hills! I definitely NEEDED a picture with the Hollywood sign, which was surprisingly harder than I thought. We hiked around for 1.5 hours before we found a good spot for a picture (which we actually found while descending the hill on the other side). Nevertheless, the views were beautiful and it definitely felt very rewarding. Recommended!
All in all, my time in Los Angeles was a rollercoaster of surprises, fun, new experiences and interesting people. I already told myself I wanna go back as soon as possible!
Have you ever been in Los Angeles? Give me recommendations!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
P.s. I you liked this blog, also make sure to check out my stories on Croatia and Barcelona
Meet our new Contributor: Demi Jonk
Published Date : February 1, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Model Stories
FROM VLOGGER TO BLOGGER: Demi Jonk is a beautiful model that is conquering the world and has the craziest adventures. She has walked several fashion weeks, worked with cool brands like ASOS and is currently working in New York with Wilhelmina Models. It’s so great that you’re joining the team!
Tell us something about yourself: what does your daily life look like?
Hi! First of all, I’m really excited to join the Blonde Squad. I can’t wait to share my thoughts and to write awesome posts! But without further ado, I’ll introduce myself: I’m Demi Jonk, 19 years old and living in Haarlem, The Netherlands (well that’s where my home is haha). I started fulltime modelling as soon as I graduated high school. It all began as a gap year before going to university, but now already 2 years passed by and I’m still travelling the world as a model. It’s difficult to explain what my daily life looks like, because I travel a lot and it never looks the same. This Is why I started making vlogs. But usually my days consist out of workouts, shoots, seeing friends and strolling around the city I’m at.
What do you like the most and the least about modeling?
Let’s always start with the positive haha ;) What I really love about modeling is that it makes you able to travel and see a lot of beautiful places, places you maybe otherwise won’t visit. You experience the most fun and interesting adventures and you meet loads of very inspiring people. The negative side in my opinion is that you need to have certain sizes to fit in the clothes, which are really tiny. I would love to see a change in the industry but I know a lot of people do and it’s still not happening…
What is the coolest job you ever did till now?
One of the shoots I will remember forever is actually one of my first. It was located at the breathtakingly beautiful Pandawa beach, Bali. We had to wait till the sun came up to be able to take the best shots. I laid down on the rocks with my body all covered up in sand, it looked really cool.
What would you like to achieve in 2017?
This is a funny question, because I just achieved my goal for 2017… to be able to go to America as a model! This means I have to think of a new goal… hmmm. Maybe to be on the cover of any kind of magazine, that’s something I really want to achieve.
What will you write about for Who is that Blonde?
A lot of my posts are probably going to be about modeling and traveling, because that’s what I’m doing and keeps me busy. This contains tips and tricks, behind the scenes, model stories, hotspots, photo diary’s etc… It can be anything that comes up to my mind!
What’s your planning for the upcoming months?
I’m currently in New York, preparing myself for the upcoming fashion week castings. So that’s the plan for the next month: do fashion week in New York and hopefully London and Milan as well. After that I hope to get some rest (because believe me, fashion week is insane!!) and quickly get back to work after that. Obviously I will also be writing a lot of interesting blogs for you guys in the upcoming months, stay tuned!
Where else can we follow your adventures?
Last year, I started to upload vlogs on my YouTube channel (I’m sorry it’s in Dutch). When I’m travelling I upload almost daily vlogs to document my adventures to show people what the life of a model looks like. So if you’re interested you can either subscribe to my youtube channel or follow me on my Instagram.
Demi Jonk will start writing a blog every other wednesday, do you have any questions for her? Let us know!
Not that long ago, I started a search for a new contributor, and soon enough I found the perfect match! Meet Lonneke Bakker: a model, musician and incredible person. What I like about her so much is that she doesn’t just write incredibly well, she also has an amazing story to tell. Keep reading!
Who Am I?
Well hello there! My name is Lonneke Bakker and I’m almost 20 years old (on July 19 th for the one who wants to send me a birthday present). Right now my home is in Enschede, The Netherlands, again. That’s where I grew up as well. Before I’ve lived in Amsterdam and Utrecht for 2,5 years.
My last 3 years in a nutshell:
You might wonder: why did she live in Amsterdam and Utrecht? Well, when I finished my high school I was only seventeen years old, and I started my study Jazz Vocals at the conservatory of Amsterdam. I was combining this with modeling. After the prep year I decided I wanted to do modeling full-time so I quit my study and started travelling. In the rest of that year I traveled and worked a lot. This was also the year I met Lynn for the first time while being on a trip to Ibiza!
When 2016 was over I didn’t feel that good about myself because I wanted to actually do something with the brain that I got. So, I decided to go to the University of Utrecht to start the study Psychology. Well, this was a mistake haha. I found out I’m totally NOT a girl who likes to study when she has to. I absolutely love reading books. But when someone tells me to read, I don’t like it anymore (anyone else have this problem?).
So yeh, after 4 months, I passed all my exams but I decided to quit anyways. And now we’re here :) . Doing modeling full-time again. You can tell I’m not the kind of girl that knows EXACTLY what she wants and how she’s gonna get there…
Where I am now:
To be honest, modeling is on pause for now. There is another side to every great story. I am currently struggling a lot with myself. Who am I? What do I want in the future? Who do I want to be? Can I process what happened in my youth and accept it? (I know I’m not alone in asking myself these questions).
To be able to be happy again I need to accept the fact that those questions do not have to be answered within days, months or even years. Acceptance needs time. I need to accept myself for who I am. I need to remind myself that I AM in fact capable of achieving great things. Even though I might not know which things I want to achieve. Wanting to be a better version of yourself is a serious life goal. But first, you need to be yourself, and truly accepting and loving yourself before you can actually be a better version of that.
My Blogs:
I will be writing on this blog about my journey to become happy. Which sounds so incredibly cheesy I know.. But seriously it’s so important to be happy, and to always keep seeing the bright side.
I will blog about my life: about travelling, modeling, about my favorite food, clothing and about doing sports. About anything that will help me on my path towards happiness. Of course, I also have some other goals I want to achieve in 2017, but you will read about those later this month!
I hope you will enjoy reading my blogs, see you soon <3
Today is a GREAT day for me! Today I’m finally launching my blog and….. it’s my birthday! I decided I want to launch with a BANG and to share my happiness with you guys. You see, even though it’s my birthday, I will be the one giving a present to one of you!
Do you want to win this Michael Kors Bag worth $400,-? All you have to do is to subscribe to my newsletter and you will be automatically in the running for all my monthly giveaways!
I will announce the winner in exactly one week from now so stay tuned!
Big kiss for now and see you soon!
Love,
Lynn
MILAN in 2 days | The best places to visit
Published Date : August 20, 2017 Author : demijonk Categories : Life & Travel
If you only have two days to spend in Milan, don’t worry – it’s enough time to get a taste of what the city has to offer. My friends and I went on a little citytrip last week and we tried to see as much as we could in two days. Luckily I already knew which areas and places are definitely worth visiting, because I worked there as a model for two months. In this blog I will tell you everything we did and all the places we have visited, so you don’t have to waste hours looking for the right places in the short time you have!
Feel the vibe of Milan by visiting The Piazza Duomo and The Duomo itself (Milan Cathedral) at the very beginning of your citytrip. It’s a magical moment when you walk out of the metro station and stand immediately right in front of this enormous building. This important Piazza is surrounded by a few buildings, one of them is the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. I would describe this monument as an extraordinary and elegant shopping mal. The roof and ceiling made out of glass and iron still amazes me every single time.
For lunch we went to one of my favorite Milan hotspots, the ‘Juicebar‘. Everything they have is healthy and tastes really good! For example: you can build your own salad or choose one of the delicious bagels (don’t forget to order a smoothie on the side!). As a typical Italian gelato as dessert you should definitely go to ‘Cioccolati Italiani’ near Duomo and the Juicebar (speaking about time management), they put melted chocolate inside your ice cream cone! This is a really popular place so be aware of occasional waiting times.
After we filled our bellies we walked via the streets around Duomo (which are great for shopping) to Porta Genova. This is one of the most old-fashioned districts in Milan and my favorite area! The Navigli canals are so beautiful and this area is also very popular because of the boutiques, restaurants and nightlife.
I was really exited to go back to one of my go-to Italian restaurants when I’m in Milan, theObicà mozzarella bar. I would eat here everyday if I could. You should definitely try the different kinds of mozzarella and the ‘Supplì al telefono’ (rice/mozzarella sticks)! For the after dinner cocktail we went to Corso Garibaldi with all kinds of café’s and bars, we can really recommend ‘Chinese Box’. Great vibes, cocktails and bartenders!
The second day we bought some drinks and bites to picnic in Parco Sempione, the largest and most-loved park in Milan. You can spend hours walking here. We combined this with some sight-seeing, because there are a lot of monuments around the Sempione park. Such as the Castello Sforzesco and Arco Della Pace. At this moment of the day it became too hot, so we decided to go to our hotel to pack our suitcases and make ourselves ready for some clubbing.
Then it was party-time! We decided to go to a open-air club called ‘Old Fashion‘. We danced all night and this was a perfect ending to our city trip. Straight out of the club we took a cab to the airport, at least we made the best of our short time in this great city!
P.S. Did you like this post? Make sure to also check out my photo diaries of Bali and New York.
Mini Giveaway 1: Fameuz!
Published Date : April 10, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : The Styling Files
Happy Sunday everyone!
I hope all of you had a lovely weekend, let’s end it with a BANG with my first mini surprise giveaway this month! Maybe you remember Fameuz, the upcoming label which is known for using merely rest materials for their designs which assures you never find a fashion-twin!
A month ago they were featured in the blog of Bag at You and right now you can visit them in their pop-up store in Amsterdam. I’m happy to let you know they wanted to collab with my mini-giveaway month by sharing one of their products… this supercute Kroko Sunny Case!
And the winner is….. Celeste Laetitia, congratulations gorgeous! I will be sending you an e-mail very soon so keep an eye on your inbox :)
Next week Sunday it’s time for my second mini-giveaway so make sure you are subscribed my newsletter and check out the blog to see if you won!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
Model Tips with Peter Coulson (for Models AND Photographers!)
Published Date : April 25, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : The Styling Files
Last weekend I had lots of fun shooting with Peter Coulson during his workshop on model photography at Kube Studios in Barcelona! The photography lovers might already be familiar with his work, but in case you are not, it’s definitely worth checking out! I’ve been a huge fan of his work for years already, so I was very curious what he would be teaching me and the photographers about modelling. You too? Keep Reading!
For Models
1. Move It Move It!
At the beginning of the workshop Peter showed several videos of top models such as Kate Moss and Miranda Kerr. What did they have in common? None of them stopped moving while shooting! Nowadays people are very impressed with the models who can strike pose after pose. But the top models never make poses: they simply keep moving while the photographers click. This way the pictures become more natural and unexpected.
2. Don’t forget to Breathe
As a result of thinking too much about moving, posing, facial expressions, lights, etc. etc. sometimes models tend to tense up, which shows in the picture. Remind yourself every now and then to take a deep breath in and out. It doesn’t only relax your face; it also gives your mouth a beautiful position. Try this: clench your teeth but breath out through your (relaxed) lips. This will give you a strong jawline and soft lips at the same time.
Photography: Miguel A. Maestre Tejerina
3. Know what Works for You
When we started shooting, the first thing Peter asked me was: do you prefer the left or right part of your face? To be honest I wasn’t sure, but after he let me change sides a couple of times he was able to see which side made me more comfortable (the right one btw). After that, he asked whether I was a ‘chin-down’ or ‘chin-up’ kinda girl, a question I never heard before, but it turned out I was a ‘chin-down’ type – In case you were wondering. As soon as you know what’s your strong suit, there is nothing wrong with sticking to it! Of course you have to keep moving around, but the better you know yourself, the better your results will be.
4. Work on your Emotions
On the second day me and Peter did some quick shooting after the workshop finished and suddenly he told me to look ‘dough’ – which was apparently a word for ‘empty’. By giving me something to focus on, he managed to change my facial expressions. Good to keep in mind! Personally I play specific songs in my head when I am looking for a certain expression. Agness Obels’ albums work perfectly for soft & dreamy looks while ‘Teeth’ from Lady Gaga is my song for Sexy Badass faces… give it a try ;)
5. It’s all in the Eyes
Peter couldn’t be more clear about this one: if people ask him what type of photographer he is, he says he is a ‘photographer of eyes’. As true windows to the soul, the eyes are what gives life and energy to a picture. Try to practice tensing up the muscles around your eyes without clenching the rest of your face – or as Tyra Banks always says it: SMEYES. Another trick that helps: look down and then suddenly look up with your eyes, it gives you a fresher, more unexpected look.
Checking Peters’ gadgets
For Photographers
1. Show respect
“The worst photographers are the kind that try to get you naked”, a statement which pretty much every model would agree on. Peter explains that it’s very important for the models to feel safe and comfortable during the shoot because otherwise it will show in the results. Stay professional and respectful towards the model for the best pictures. Peter says he never asked a model to take off their clothes and never touches them without asking, way to go Peter!
2. Communicate
“The second worst photographers”, Peter explains, “are the ones that don’t talk at all”. This will leave huge question marks for the model: ‘Am I doing this right? Is he satisfied with my work? What would he want to see different?’. All these questions make the models nervous and uncomfortable, which again, isn’t what you are aiming for while going for top results. Peter never stops talking to the model he is shooting. Not only to prevent question marks, but also to guide them in their modelling.
Photography: Jesus Simal
3. Get to know the Model
Before we even started shooting, Peter was asking me all sorts of questions about my music preference, my hobbies, whether I like chocolate and if I’m a cat or dog person. Later on he used this information to gain my trust, make jokes, and have some small talk to relax me. His tip: put on the music that the model likes to bring her in her comfort zone. Also it was quite funny that he noted that once he finds a dog person, it’s very easy to make their eyes sparkle for the picture when talking about their dog. If he has a model who is a cat person there doesn’t seem to be a difference in their expressions. Haha, Go dog lovers!
4. Be Positive
It’s very simple actually: positivity feeds confidence. If a model feels more confident, she will get out of her comfort zone and experiment more with movements and expressions which will result in more unique pictures! Give her positive feedback while shooting and try to show the model the pictures you like from her, to show that you are satisfied. If she likes the pictures too, it will make her happy and confident. If she doesn’t like the pictures, listen to her and try to use her feedback to gain her trust.
5. Encourage out-of-the-box Thinking
If you are working with experienced models you will notice they often have their own way of working. What Peter likes to do is to challenge them to work in different ways to get new and unique results. Tell a model to don’t stop moving (even if you didn’t make a picture yet), try to give her ‘emotion words’ if you want to go for a specific look, remind her to take a breath or even tell her to shake herself up in order to capture her ‘natural’ self when she is not expecting it yet. Models always try to be as perfect as possible, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that that will become the best picture, shake things up!
The group!
In the end it’s very simple: don’t forget that during a shoot you are a team and that you have to work together for the best results! I want to thank Kube Studios for inviting me as one of the models during this workshop and for the great team during the shooting, you guys are amazing! I do workshops with them every now and then so in case you still want to shoot with me some day and learn some new photography skills at the same time: join one of their workshops!
For the people that have been asking me what it’s like to work with Peter: he is a lovely man, incredibly funny, creative, kind, respectful and inspiring. I am looking forward to working with him again!
Behind the Scenes
Did you guys like reading about model tips? Let me know and perhaps I will do more articles about it!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
MODELS WHO VLOG
Published Date : August 6, 2017 Author : demijonk Categories : Model Stories
Besides modelling and blogging, I also Vlog! (as you guys probably already knew) This means I make video’s of what I do in a day and this way you can see what the life of a model really looks like. I show that it isn’t all glitter and glamour like a lot of people think. Unfortunately, my vlogs aren’t for everyone, because I speak Dutch in almost all of them. I’ve thought about switching it to English, but I decided to keep it like this. But I’m not the only model who shares her life with the world….
So I thought you guys might be interested in a few models showing behind the scenes footage of their shoots, workouts, party’s and whatever else they share of their life. These ones are definitely worth watching and their video’s are in English!
The first one I really recommend to follow is ALEXANDRIA MORGAN. A model originally from Illinois who moved to New York to model. I’ve been watching her since her first video and I love how she still films everything on her iphone even though she has a big amount of subscribers. She is really down to earth, real and raw. This is exactly what you can see on her channel. She shows that you have to look further than only looks. You can say she is a little bit of a nerd, and I love it! instagram:@alexandriatothemax
If you are curious how it is to combine modellife with mommy life (and how you are still able to have the model sizes after giving birth twice), you should definitely check out VALERIA LIPOVETSKY. She is a power woman and really inspires me. She is originally from Russia and has two adorable sons, you also see these two running around in the vlogs which makes it even more funny to watch. Besides Vlogs you can also find inspiring video’s about self love on her channel and I really admire the way she talks about several topics. Instagram: @valerialipovetsky
MeetJESSICA CLEMENTS, one of the most natural beauty’s I have ever seen. She is beautiful from both inside and out. Actually she doesn’t belong in this “Models who vlog’ list, because she doesn’t vlog. She makes video’s about beauty and fashion, but I thought she deserved a spot in this list. You could’ve seen her in the daily vlogs of her ex-boyfriend Erik Conover, but unfortunately they broke up last year. To be honest, I really miss her in his vlogs and I stopped watching his channel because of it. Everytime Jess uploads a video it makes me happy, even if it’s only to listen to her beautiful, calm voice. Instagram:@jessmclements
Last but definitely not least, new on Youtube, Dutch supermodel ROMEE STRIJD. Big news guys, she started vlogging only two weeks ago! Now we can all have a peak in the busy, but glamorous life of a Victoria’s Secret angel. She just uploaded her third vlog and I am very curious how long and if she will continue to keep filming. Instagram: @romeestrijd
I hope because of this list you guys forgive me for speaking Dutch in my own videos .. ;)
Published Date : November 12, 2017 Author : lonnekebakker Categories : Get inspired!
Hi lovelies!
My week has been exhausting, but sooo much fun! I’m working in Hamburg at the moment and I fell in love with what everything that it has to offer. You can imagine I’m spending my free time exploring the city, visiting art expositions and going to concerts. But when I’m not doing all these things I like to spend my time watching TED talks. Have you heard of them?
TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks. They’re approximately 15 minutes long so you can perfectly fit them into your daily schedule. They welcome people from every discipline and culture who seek a deeper understanding of the world. Well, I’m that kind of person haha. Always seeking a way to understand the world a little bit better day by day.
I’ve always been interested in listening to different views of the same topic. I’m a very vigorous person and one of the reasons that I am is because I find it necessary to know why people say things: what is their background, what are their beliefs etcetera, in order to become a whole person and act like one. Understanding why people think a certain way makes my mind grow in a way that I find really satisfying (and necessary, because when there is understanding, one can live in harmony!!!!).
The TED talks I find most inspirational at the moment:
1. How to speak so that people want to listen. By: Julian Treasure.
This talk is about what people do in a conversation what makes other people don’t want to listen to them any longer. Some may only do one or two things, others do all seven of them. Avoiding doing these things while conversating will result in people actually listening to you and what you have to say. Be aware of how you act in a conversation and you can really empower your speech and spread your thoughts. So is there a list of things that could guide us to ensure having a good conversation? Yes there is. And Julian Treasure will tell you all about it:
2. How we can end sexual harassment at work. By: Gretchen Carlson.
Since the #metoo campaign, everyone is talking about this issue. Which I think should’ve been talked about a lot earlier.
In the modeling industry, as well as in any other industry, women have to deal with any form of sexual harassment. As far as modeling concerned: “Can you please take of your shirt, the picture will be better” and “Let me adjust your underwear, it’s not in the right place” are just some of the experiences my model friends had when they were on set. These sentences may seem innocent to some of you. But a photographer touching a girl in a way that is inappropriate while *fixing clothes*, or asking a girl to take of her shirt is just a way of the photographer taking advantageof the fact she’s too young and insecure to say no is in my opinion sexual harassment. I have been in situations where I thought: this is not right. In these situations I say: no I’ll adjust it myself. And if they don’t listen I will leave. I am someone who can stand up for myself, but there are a lot of young models out there who can not. And I feel the need to protect them. But how?
Gretchen Carlson describes, in a very inspirational way, how we can end it. Spread the word, so every woman in every industry knows how to empower herself.
3. How artists can (finally) get paid in the digital age. By: Jack Conte
How do all these artists that put their videos and ideas on the internet make money on that? This is a question that has been in my mind for a while. The answer is: most of them don’t even make the money they deserve.. The traditional ways we’ve turned art into money (like record sales) are not working anymore. We live in the digital age right now. Musicians, writers, artists: they’re posting their art on the internet. Which is a total logical step to make since the internet is the way of reaching loads of people all over the world without investing money you don’t have. But the same musicians, writers and artists are complaining about not making money out of it. But think about this: instead of telling people not to put their art on the internet anymore cause it’s “crushing the industry”, we should find a way to make it work. With Patreon, Conte has created a way for artists on the internet to get paid by their fans. Could payment platforms like this change what it means to be an artist in the digital age?
Do you have a favorite TED talk? I would love to hear it:)
New Year, New Chances. There is a saying “If everything seems under control you are not going fast enough”, to which I couldn’t agree more! However, sometimes it can be very intimidating to throw yourself at projects, opportunities, ideas and dreams if you are not sure what is going to happen. Will you be good enough? What if you are making the wrong choice? There are always ways to find excuses and reasons to stay in your ‘safe haven’, but will that really make you happy in the end? Maybe now it’s a ‘what if it goes wrong’, but in ten years it would become a ‘what if I would have succeeded’… and we don’t want that to happen!
Today I am spilling my personal ’empower techniques’ to help you chase your dreams and ambitions this year, because even if you don’t believe in yourself yet, I do! So many people (especially women) underestimate their own capacities, and because of the fear of failing they never try to cross their self-set boundaries. Make 2016 THE year that you rose above yourself!
1. REALLY think about it: why wouldn’t you be able to do that? Is it because you cannot do it or because YOU THINK that you cannot do it? I thought I would never be able to learn how to use Photoshop or how to do my own administration, but I’m getting better every day! Don’t expect magic to happen overnight, but appreciate every small progress you make, it will feed your confidence!
2. Ask family and friends what they truly think about you and your goals. I did this when I was starting my blog and I got some very surprising answers! Not only did they give me compliments or thoughts on things I personally never even thought about, they also gave me some very useful tips and interesting ways of thinking! Your family and friends love you, but that doesn’t mean they keep telling you that every single day, all you have to do is ask!
3. Where do you want to be in five years?Choose a long-term goal and then set up smaller steps to get there. Like this the ‘overwhelming ambitious goal’ is not that unreachable anymore! I decided that later on I want to become creative director/editor for a fashion magazine so that’s why I’m working on my own blog to gain experience, studying a master in art direction & creative advertising, and following the work of other creative directors/ editors to see how they work. Am I becoming a creative director tomorrow? Nope. In five years? Maybe… Good things take time, but they will be worth it.4. Decide to prove your negative thoughts they are wrong! You always have people not believing in you, and it feels great to prove them wrong as well. But let’s face it: usually it’s your own insecurity that kills your confidence. Just keep in mind that you (like any other human being) have ups and downs and you will surpass everything as long as you keep working on your goal. You don’t have to grow super-fast every week, but as long as you don’t completely stand still you are doing fine! Don’t be so hard for yourself, just remember all the progress you already made since you started and you’ll see that your work is worth it.
5. Keep reminding yourself of your ultimate goal to stay motivated. Personally I like to dream about what opportunities I will face in the future, the things I will learn, the places I will visit, and so much more! I love to follow other big bloggers and creative directors because they show a glimpse of what I could be. I could choose to be envious, insecure and jealous of them, but what’s the point in that? It’s much smarter to watch them and learn from them to improve yourself. And besides why would you compare yourself with someone that started way before you did? They also needed years of hard work to get where they are right now!
Which of my tips will help you to empower yourself? Do you have any empowering techniques you were already using? Share it with us and let’s all have a BANGIN’ 2016 together!
Scared of Success… that might sound weird at first. I mean, who doesn’t want to be successful? Sure, everyone would love to wake up one morning and have it all, but since that doesn’t happen very often (read: never) you have to work hard and take risks to get what you want.
Will you go for it? What if it goes wrong? But what if you would spend the rest of your life wondering about ‘what ifs’ if you don’t even try? This is where comes in the scary part. We can’t predict the future, and we don’t know how things will work out for us. But then again… would life be really such an exciting adventure if we already knew everything?
I have lots of insecurities. Lately I have been experiencing a lot of stress because sometimes I feel like I can barely keep up with myself. People have expectations and I want to show them I’m worth it, I want to do everything good for everyone, I want to keep growing and establish a good future for myself. But because I want to do everything at the same time, sometimes I also have to deal with disappointments. But then, not that long ago, I read this quote which made me feel a lot better:
“If your Dreams don’t Scare You, they aren’t Big enough”
Exactly, that’s right! The best results are achieved when you are constantly reaching out for more, even when you don’t feel like you are ready yet. How are you ever supposed to learn when you don’t try new things and take risks? Take a look where you were 1 year ago, did you make progress? What have you achieved in this time? When you feel stressed you should ask yourself: are other people expecting this from me, or am I expecting this from myself?
The bottom line is… don’t be scared of success. Be scared of never trying.
Lots of Love,
Lynn
Motivation Monday: Inspiring Quotes from the Top
Published Date : November 30, 2015 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Get inspired!
Happy Monday!
Let’s get this week started with some powerful fashion inspiration: quotes from the Top! Personally I am a huge fan of quotes and after reading them I always feel pumped, so I want to share this feeling with you guys :) For this week’s inspiration I searched the answer to this question: What is Fashion? Let’s see what the fashion world has to say about it!
Be sure what you want and be sure about yourself. Fashion is not just beauty, it’s about good attitude. You have to believe in yourself and be strong. – Adriana Lima
Fashion is about dreaming and making other people dream. – Donatella Versace
Fashion is what you’re offered four times a year by designers. And style is what you choose. – Lauren Hutton
What you wear is how you present yourself to the world, especially today, when human contacts are so quick. Fashion is instant language. – Miuccia Prada
It’s a new era in fashion – there are no rules. It’s all about the individual and personal style, wearing high-end, low-end, classic labels, and up-and-coming designers all together. – Alexander McQueen
Girls do not dress for boys. They dress for themselves, of course, each other. If girls dressed for boys, they’d just walk around naked at all times. – Betty Johnson
To me, style is all about expressing your individuality freely and courageously. – Timothy John
Don’t be into trends. Don’t make fashion own you, but you decide what you are, what you want to express by the way you dress and the way you live. – Gianni Versace
What’s becoming very obvious to me is that fashion is art. – Lupita Nyong’o
Conformity is the only real fashion crime. To not dress like yourself and to sublimate your spirit to some kind of group identity is succumbing to fashion fascism. – Simon Doonan
Too much good taste can be very boring. Independent style, on the other hand, can be very inspiring. – Diana Vreeland
You heard them! Fashion is all about getting creative, being yourself, following the trends but use them to create your own style and last but not least FUN! Did you have a favorite quote in this list? Have a lovely week and let the creative juices flow while dressing up!
Today I want to share an important message with you guys! I have been getting many admiring comments throughout the years which I think are very flattering, but also bother me in some way, so I would like to get it out of my system. I hear it all the time… people are so impressed with me apparently! I am travelling the world all on my own, I am chasing my dreams wherever they take me, I am slowly but surely building up my career, I am taking many risks and diving into the deep on a weekly basis… and actually, I am doing pretty well for myself! Sure, all of these things are amazing and I couldn’t be happier about my life right now, but then again… literally ANYONE could chase their dreams with the right amount of dedication and determination!
Woops!
You thought all of my progress comes from being flawless and fearless? I doubt myself daily, wondering if I will be good enough and whether people will like my work. Honestly, most of the time I don’t even know what I’m doing! To prove it, I put together a fun bloopers video which shows the result of my first experiments with vlogging… far from #Flawless I tell you!
Personally I am quite strict for myself when I am insecure, but perhaps my mind-training will give you guys some new ways to think about your own hauntings. Whenever I am feeling down and there is nothing left of my confidence, I give myself two options: OR I’m going to sit in a corner and cry about it, OR I get over myself and do this f*cking sh*t! Because let’s face it: will you ever make progress if you act insecure? OF COURSE NOT.
So… lift your pretty ass and turn on your Warrior Mode: try to switch off your emotions and think rationally. What do I need to do to reach my goals? Which steps do I need to take? Sometimes all you need is to keep going and find your dedication & determination again… dreams don’t come true overnight and that’s okay, it’s a process!
Obviously everyone messes up every now and then. The point is to learn from your bloopers in order to grow higher than ever! Instead of being disappointed or embarrassed, try to find out why things went wrong and how you can improve yourself for the next time. Like this you will be able to look positively to all of your experiences: the Good AND the Bad. What was that saying again? Sometimes you Win, sometimes you Learn. With a positive approach to your experiences you will gain more confidence over time, tested and approved!
Are you ready to turn on your Warrior Mode after these tips? What is your trick to get your confidence back? Share your experiences with the rest of us!
Motivation Monday: The Reason why Failure is a Good Thing
Published Date : May 2, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Get inspired!
Some weeks ago I was reading this blogpost from Simply by Simone, and it was exactly what I needed to hear at that point:
It is okay to break down every now and then. Sometimes you have to hit rock bottom to be able to see your life from a new perspective. I often disappoint myself when I think I could have done better, or when I’m seemingly having a harder time than others. I get anxious from expectations and probably I judge myself more than anyone else does. But guess what? I have never been happier with my path than before: I feel like I have a purpose, I have freedom. Simone couldn’t explain this any better:
“I’m constantly exhausted, I don’t work out enough or eat as healthy as I would like, I feel like I try and try and try but still can’t get ahead. Even after all that, I keep waking up and I keep moving forward. At some point, I will collapse and I look forward to it. Hitting rock bottom is a rebirth. You get to club up to the top again. “ – Simply by Simone
Never compare yourself to others: they didn’t start at the same time you did and they might have other goals. And keep in mind that on social media everything always looks better than that it really is, don’t let it fool you! The only people who never fail are the people that never try, and people who never try will never go far. So be proud of your failures, it means that you are one step closer to finding success. Don’t forget what Thomas Edison answered when they asked him how he could fail 1000 times before he invented the light bulb. He said: “I didn’t fail 1,000 times. The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps”.
Start to learn and appreciate the moments you are feeling down… because it means there is only one other way to go: up.
Today it’s time to tell you guys what my all time favorite beauty products are. In the last few years I started to take my beauty regime more seriously. I have a really dry and sensitive skin so for me it’s even more important to take good care of it. I even have to admit that I spend more money on face creams, moisturizes and balms than on make-up (and I own way less makeup as well). It’s hard to find products that don’t irritate sensitive skin, but here are the ones that made my life a lot easier!
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream: This is definitely the best product ever made in the history of skincare. I use this for literally everything: shape brows, cracked lips, dry hands, sunburn, highlighter and I can go on and on. I’ve been using this since I can remember and I see every makeup artist using this as well. Everyone should own this one! Seriously: believe me and thank me later.
Smith’s Rosebud Original Salve:For the best lipbalm you should definitely try out the Rosebud Salve. I have to admit it’s expensive for a lip-balm, but definitely worth it! It’s the only lipbalm that I managed to finish without losing it. Again you can also use this one as a highlighter or to shape your eyebrows.
Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Face Cream: They stopped selling the moisturizer I’ve been using since I was a kid, so I was desperately on the search for a new favorite. The package I received from Fresh in one of my fashionweek goodiebags came just in time! I’ve been loving their products so far, especially this Deep Hydration Face Cream. I use it every day, morning and night. It’s perfect for my dry skin and smells great as well!
Weleda Skin Food: This one is especially for the dry and rough skin, which makes it perfect for me! This product was recommended by one of my model roomies and it became one of my favorite skincare products to use. I use it for dry or uneven spots in my face, but you can also use it for dry hands, elbows or feet. It makes my skin feel soft and smooth.
Estée Lauder Advanced Night Micro Cleansing Balm:This is a balm that melts into a silky cleansing oil ones you massage it onto your face. It removes your makeup and impurities, so your skin is ready for the night. I received this one at the Vogue X Estée Lauder workshop and I would definitely buy it again!
The Body Shop Hemp Hand Protector:Hands down the best hand cream! Ideal for very dry hands, it protects and moisturizes them. It’s has a really thick texture, that’s why you only need a little bit. As the name says it consists of hemp seed oil which is perfect for skincare. You have to get used to the smell though, because it’s a bit weird.
Let me know if these tips were helpful, because these were just a few!
Published Date : July 24, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Beauty Guru
Aloha everyone!
The summer is shining bright, and I’m loving it! I’ve been getting many questions about which products I use on a daily basis so I decided to make a selection of my beauty essentials and give you a little tour on WHY they are so important. I mean… in fact I have dozens – if not hundreds – of beauty products, but what to pack in your suitcase for vacations?
Skincare is SO important when the sun is shining bright. Very often I feel lazy about applying sunscreen but then again… I really hate getting burned, and it’s important to prevent your skin from getting old soon. Personally I love the sunscreen & aftersun of Sensilis: it’s easy to apply, not sticky and it gives my skin a nice glow. Do you get burned too easily? They have a special sunscreen for your face of factor 100 byebyeburn
When my skin gets too dry from salty water and sunshine I like to use the Hyaluronic Acid face masks from Princess Skincare. Also I have a Vitamine C daycream from Image Skincare with a factor 30 which is very moisturizing. One of my other beauty essentials for summer is the Iluma Eyecream from Image Skincare – after partying, traveling and going on adventures I prefer not to have dark circles under my eyes, and this cream really brightens everything up!
Let’s move on to haircare! When I got this Batiste dry shampoo from Beautik I immediately fell in love with it from the first spray. It smells nice, gives my hair some extra volume and helps me get rid of greasy hair. When I’m on the road I always take it with me to touch up whenever it’s necessary.
Furthermore, since my hair gets dry really easily I always have products of L’Oréal Professionnel around. I can honestly say that I have tried pretty much every single brand when it comes to haircare because my bleached hair needs some serious repair skills, and the products from L’Oréal Professional are the only ones that work like magic for me. I always take this hairoil with me when I’m travelling because it’s not just for my hair, I can also use it for a shimmer effect on my skin! #IDontSweatISparkle
When travelling, I like to keep my make-up natural but since my face never gets tanned I always use this bronzer pearls from Gosh. Then I add an extra touch to my cheekbones with the gold beach stick from Charlotte Tilbury – I got this one quite recently but I really like it! To don’t get shiny during the day I use the translucent powder from Clinique. I have to be honest that usually I am not a big fan of this brand (my skin was terrible when I used the foundation of Clininque), but I really like this powder because it almost has some sort of photoshop effect smoothening out the skin.
To fight my dark circles I use the tinted wonder eye cream from Balance Me, which I got one time in a Birchbox, and it has been working really well for me too! Last but not least I add a natural gloss to my lips – my current favorite is light pink from Sensilis – and I’m good to go out! Usually I also use mascara but since I don’t have a waterproof one, I’ll have to get back to you for that later… does anyone have tips?
And last but not least on the list of my beauty essentials, to top it all off… nail polish! Currently I am in a pink phase so these three always come with me wherever I go. For basics I love Caption Nail polish because it’s very easy to apply and hardens like a gel nail. When I want some extra color I go for the bright pink of CND and if I feel festive I go for glitters with Essie. Seriously… if you pay attention to my pics of the last 2 months, you will ALWAYS find one of these three colors on my nails! #addict
I am super curious to hear what you guys think about the products that I use, do you have any tips for me to try out?What are your absolute beauty essentials and what would you take with you on any travel? Let me know in the comments down below!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
My Daily Skincare Routine
Published Date : February 5, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Beauty Guru
Rise and shine! As you might already know, I´ve been having problems with my skin ever since I started full-time modelling. I´ve tried dozens of products (read some reviews here and here) and I’m always looking for better solutions, but I just realized that I never actually told you guys about my daily skincare routine and favorite products. Let’s take a look shall we?
Morning
The very first thing I do when I wake up is take care of my skin. Your face has been rubbing on your pillow all night and washing off the dead skin cells is a very good way to start your day (sorry for the gross mental image lol). Right now I use the face wash from Image Skincare, but I’ve been thinking about trying out something more natural, does anyone have tips? After refreshing my face I use the Vitamin C day cream of Image Skincare, it protects my skin against the sun, makes me look a bit more tanned and hydrates me perfectly. If possible, I prefer not to wear any make-up (wanna know why? Read more here), but if I have meetings I love to wear the Dream Pure BB Cream from Maybelline because it doesn’t give me outbreaks by the end of the day, and it actually matches my skin – which doesn’t happen often.
Night
After a long day of work, I really enjoy the process of cleaning my skin because it makes me feel super fresh. There is NO way I would ever skip cleaning my face in the night (or brush my teeth) – I might be a little OCD when it comes to that. In order to remove my make-up even better, I use the Silk’n Pure brush. It wasn’t too expensive and I really feel like my skin is cleaner than when I only use my face wash. If you want to give it a try: with the code ‘Lynn‘ you get 5% discount! Anyways, after I’m sure all the make-up is gone, I apply my favorite cream of Sensilis – which is ironically enough a day cream, but it’s so good that I can’t resist. I don’t know how but it really recovers the skin during the night (bye bye spots!).
And that’s all! Actually my daily routines are super simple, but I guess the real trick is being consequent in taking care of your skin. You should never. really NEVER skip a day without taking care of your skin. Also make sure to do weekly treatments such as exfoliation (no scrubs – yes, there is a difference), masks and perhaps even monthly visits to the beautician if your skin needs it. The younger you start, the longer your skin will stay in shape. Unless you have very lucky genes, in which case I am super jealous of you.
Published Date : January 22, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Model Stories
Remember, last summer I was shooting a commercial at a magical location? Guess what? It finally came out! Now this face is all over German television. If that’s not enough already, you will find me in all the shops as well, on these tiny little packages:
I don’t even really know why I am telling this to you guys. I just found it funny when I saw the commercial and the products, so I felt like sharing it with you. Make sure to check out the shops in Germany when you’re there! If you want to see what the shooting looked like backstage, check out the blog here.
Published Date : August 12, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Get inspired!
Even though we are so used to seeing our faces in pictures, it is still weird to see yourself on a painting. Is it because of the artistic interpretation? The fact that you know it probably took hours to create? The skills of the artist? I don’t know, maybe it’s a combination of everything. What I do know that it definitely felt weird (but cool!) to see myself in 5 paintings from the artist Toshy.
A couple of months ago we decided to start a project together and now the results are finally here! The opening of the exhibition was last week in the Atzaro Hotel in Ibiza, and hopefully it will also come to Barcelona so I can see the paintings with my own eyes. The paintings are up for sale and for every sale, I will get a percentage which I will donate to a charity for animal rights, so make sure to check them out! <3
People always ask me what I do to stay in shape but I never really know what to tell you guys. Besides eating healthy you obviously have to go to the gym every now and then (I am aiming for a minimum of 1-2x per week). I know, I know: it might not be your favorite activity, but having the right workout gear does make you feel more prepared and comfortable. These are my workout essentials:
1. The Outfit: without a good outfit you will very likely feel uncomfortable during your workout. You need to be able to move around well and have breathing material. That’s why I love sport leggings with mesh material around the knee area and sport tops with open backs. My current favorite is my workout set from the HKMX Sport Collection: stylish and super comfortable. If you feel awkward wearing a top you can always wear a loose shirt over it, problem solved!
2. The Shoes: Your whole body depends on your feet during workout, so they better be taken care of! Make sure they have a good fit while moving so test them out before buying. Honestly, I would wear any brand as long as they are comfortable. My current favorites are from the Primark (they have memory foam, sooooo good) and Nike (great foot soles).
3. Music: I’m that type of person that needs music with everything I do in my life. Like having a personal soundtrack, you know? While working out I love to listen badass motivating songs (I’m talking to you Beyoncé and Lady Gaga) that make sure I go that extra mile. Because I hate wrestling with my headphone cords, I recently scored these Bluetooth Sport earphones from Avanca which made me wonder why I never bought them before. In case you are tired of your cords too: they are off 30% now with the code Fit2017! You’re welcome.
4. Pocket Space: Like every other phone addict, I like to keep my phone close. That’s why I like to have a little bag/ pocket/ whatever with me to make sure I can switch songs and make IG Stories whenever I deem necessary. Before I just left it in my cotton workout bag (along with my towel & water) but it was a bit annoying finding it in the endless big bag. Now I scored a little sports belt where I can keep my gym card, phone and locker key. Awesome. If you were thinking about getting those earphones: the discount deal is combined with Avanca’s sports belt.
5. Lots of Water: This is a no-brainer, really! Water is good for you. I always aim to drink at least 2 Liters a day, and during a workout session I usually drink 1L already. It keeps you hydrated, it’s good for your skin and for cleansing your body. Do I need to say more?
Do you also have the resolution to sport more this year? Perhaps working on your gear is the first step to go. I am always looking for new awesome workout essentials, so if anyone has tips: let me know!
After visiting my family in the cloudy UK, I was very happy about my next trip: Spain! This week I spent all my days roaming the area around Begur, a beachtown in the north of Spain. It wasn’t only great to finally get a taste of summer again, I was also very excited to finally wear my new spring/ summer looks!
Tip #1: Tamariu
Tamariu is a very small beach town right next to Begur. In the summer it’s great to hang out there because there are great restaurants, cute little boats and lots of locals.
During the day me and Alex walked through the village to make pictures of the houses and the beach. They are still so authentic, and have lots of colors! P.s. Tamariu is right next to ‘Aiguablava‘: a beach which is known for it’s beautiful blue waters. If you are in the neighborhood it’s definitely worth a visit!
Wearing:
Shirt: Colorful Rebel
Trousers: VILA
Shoes: Adidas
In the evening we went to a restaurant right on the beach called ‘Es Dofí’ (which is Catalan for ‘The Dolfin’). They always have fresh catches of the day, kind and fast service, and delicious food!
Tip #2: Camí de Ronda (from Llafranc to Calella)
Me and Alex followed the path from Llafranc to Calella, which gives beautiful views on the ocean, as well as on cute little towns. The paths are easy to walk, which makes it a really relaxed experience.
Obviously, you can also opt for some extra adventure: me and Alex climbed around the rocks for even more beautiful views on the water.
Dress: VILA
Tip #3: Sa Tuna
Last but not least! Sa Tuna is another beautiful beach town close to Begur. Perhaps even my favorite because the houses are super colorful and the water very blue. Take flipflops though: this isn’t a sand beach and you might hurt your feet on the little stones.
You might have noticed all the bird- eye pictures in this blog. That’s not just because I took them from higher point of views, but also because me and Alex experimented with a small drone from TRNDlabs. How cool is that?! We had a lot of fun testing it with making pictures. The next step is gonna be videos!
I really enjoyed this week: a perfect mini vacation with lots to see and to do. I even went into the sea once! The water was still a bit cold, but I just had to get in there with so much bright sunshine. Vacay vibes: ON
Have you ever been in the north of Spain? Let me know if you want any other travel tips this summer!
Published Date : July 5, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
It’s always exciting to move to a new city: there is so much still to explore! Till now I haven’t had that much time to explore yet because I’m working a lot and I’m still in my ‘moving process’. But from what I’ve seen till now: Amsterdam is a pretty cool place to live! Keep reading to hear about more my first month:)
The Job
Till now I’ve been having a great time at work! They really allow me to think creatively, come up with new ideas and the team is super nice and easygoing. They allow me to combine my work with my blog, and I’m learning a lot from them to improve my own skills. Happiness level: 100%!
I’m still struggling to find a balance between my work and personal life, but I think once I finally move into my own studio (soon!) it will kinda sort itself out by itself :) So for all the people that have been feeling neglected by me: I am SO sorry, but I really need to focus on figuring out my balance before I can handle social interactions again lol.
The City
Amsterdam has a lovely, quaint vibe. I still think I need to live here a bit longer before I can give a real opinion about the city, but for now I’m having a good time! However, I do have high standards because I’m used to the best city in the world (Barcelona, obviously) so there are certain things that I miss. Sunshine, for example.
Also I notice that it’s harder for me to do streetstyle pictures because I can’t find many locations which I find ‘Instagram worthy‘ so to speak. I like modern, white, clean (or tropical) locations and Amsterdam is very brown and historical. Very beautiful, but not for my Instagram lol #bloggerproblems. All in all, I would give my happiness level 75%
BTW This is one of my current favorite chill outfits: I feel SO retro and I’m loving it lol.
It’s actually very fun for me to move to Amsterdam, because I know quite a lot of people there due to my work as a model! All the creative people move there for work, so it’s great catching up with them after all this time I’ve been in Barcelona.
However, again, I’m spoiled by Barcelona: Spanish people are SO warm, kind and friendly. Compared to them, Dutch people can sometimes feel a bit blunt or cold. I still catch myself being shocked every time the bus driver yells at me for taking too long or getting out through the wrong exit, why don’t they just relax?
Spanish people are much more chill about everything, so that’s what I got used to. It will take me a while to get back to the Dutch mentality again I think. But then again: the working mentality is much better here than in Spain, sometimes I got so frustrated by how slow people were! I guess everything has its pros and cons haha. Happiness level: 75%
Final conclusion: I am SUPER happy to be here in Amsterdam! It really does feel like a new adventure. It’s new, exciting, there’s lots to discover… exactly how I like it. Will I stick around for the rest of my life? Most likely not. I consider this adventure as another chapter in my life, just like Barcelona was. Any clue what’s going to be my next chapter? Not at all. But isn’t that what makes life interesting? :)
Have you ever been in Amsterdam? Do you live there? Leave me tips so I can get to know the city even better!
Lots of love,
Lynn
P.s. Did you like this post? Read more about the details of my dreamjob HERE
P.p.s. Photography credits go to Daniel Wolters! It was the first day that I actually was able to visit Amsterdam a bit and we walked through a popular area in the city called ‘De Pijp’. Very recommendable :)
After writing for Fashionista Magazine for half a year, they now asked me to also become their vlogger! From now on I will be making videos of my adventures, but I will also get into challenges, tags and other silly videos. Is there anything you would like to see? Let me know!
But for now: my first Fashionista Vlog at Madrid Fashion Week, where I spotted the latest streetstyle trends and catwalk looks. *Dutch Alert!*
My go-to beauty and health products as a model
Published Date : August 13, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Beauty Guru
Hi everyone! Today I want to share with you: my favorite beauty and health products. As a model it’s very important to take care of my skin, so I’ve tried all existing products till I found the ones that work for me. I use these products almost every day and I’m glad to share them with you:)
Glowing face
I change my skincare products from time to time in order to discover which products work the best for my face. Someone probably already told you this, but let me say it again: It is really important to take care of your skin. It will make you feel so much better if you take good care of it! And therefore, it’s really important to use the right products. For me, this means that I only use products without any perfume in it.
Right now I’m using the Dead Sea line from De Tuinen. When I shower I’m using the face wash, and after that, I put the day and night cream on. When I don’t shower, but want to wash my face, I first use cleansing milk and then wipe it off with cleansing lotion. And after I use the day and night cream. It removes make up very gently, and leaves your skin glowing. And pssst, it’s not expensive!! You can buy it in Holland&Barrett stores, or online.
Lips to Kiss
For my lips I had several products. When I was younger I used Labello, but this only makes your lips dryer so you will get addicted to it and buy more and more. Then I started using only Vaseline or Purol – which works perfect – but when I started modeling, all the make-up artists I worked with, used this lip balm called Eight Hour Cream by Elizabeth Arden. It makes your lips feel amazing. It works instantly against dry lips and it make them soft and kissable. This will probably be my favorite lip balm forever! It’s quite expensive for a lip balm but trust me… it’s TOTALLY worth it. You can buy Eight Hour Cream by Elizabeth Arden at a lot of drug stores.
Body to Cherish
One of the best feelings in the world is to get out of the shower, towel up, and putting on body cream. I got this cream from someone at work some day, but since I get a shitload of body cream for my birthday every year, this cream was waiting in the bathroom to be used. The first time I put it on, I fell in love with the smell. It smells super clean, and it really melts onto your body. Collistar Sublime Melting cream: it’s not cheap, but you may treat yourself once in a while am I right?
Hands reveal your age
Most of the time people forget to take care of their hands. But it’s so important! Hands reveal the truth about someone’s age. Take care of them and your hands will stay soft and tender. To give you a hint: place your hand cream next to your bed and every night before you go to sleep you put some on. I really enjoy having a good smell around me while trying to sleep. My favorite hand cream is from Israel and I got it as a gift. It’s called Sea of Spa: Hand cream with magnesium. It makes my hands incredibly soft and the smell is incredible.
No Stress
Sometimes my life can be quite stressfull. Although I try to sleep as much as I need and try to do yoga/breathing exercises, I sometimes don’t know what to do in stressful situations. Stress may cause making bad decisions and gives a horrible feeling. Sometimes I need a little help to decrease that stress feeling: it may not be an actual health product but I figured to share it anyways. Valdispertis a herb based pill with a mix of Valerian and Lemon Balm. These pills are 100% natural and makes you feel calm again quite fast!
Bye bye Nausea
I don’t know if this is weird, but I get nauseous a lot. In the car, on a boat, plane, elevator and sometimes even after I eat. There are pills against nausea but these often make you very sleepy. The pills I use are made off ginger rhizome powder and therefore 100% natural. Your nausea will be gone in no time and you will not get sleepy! You can buy them online: Zintona kapseln. (It’s German).
Let me know what your favorite beauty products:)
Lots of love,
Lonneke
P.s. If you liked this post. Check out what are Demi’s favorite beauty products right here!
Looking back at 2017 I realized that I’ve grown a lot in the past year. I’ve had more life experiences and professional experiences that make me calculate my choices a bit extra instead of diving in head first. These are the 5 goals I want to focus on in 2018!
1. Grow out my YouTube Channel: I am literally starting out with NOTHING, which is kinda scary and exciting at the same time. Make sure to subscribe and support! <3
2. Make even better IG pictures: This year I’ve been practicing a lot on my photography and my editing skills, and I’m super happy with my improvement already! Doesn’t mean I can’t get even BETTER.
3. Structure my life better: Not just time management seems to be an issue for me, also I never seem to know where all my money goes lol (anyone else?). I already started the path to a more structured life, but let’s see if I can actually make it a part of my lifestyle habits in 2018, shall we?
4. Moving into a new house together with Alex: For those who didn’t know yet, Alex is moving to Amsterdam! Right now he is looking for a job and as soon as he gets one, we want to look for a nice appartment to move in together. Maybe renting… but maybe even buying? Let’s see where 2018 will take us.
5. Long term collabs with brands that I love: instead of little projects here and there, I would love to start building up relationships with brands that I get really excited about. This will also definitely help me with getting a more structured life and letting me focus on doing the stuff that I really love to do!
There it is 2018: the goals I’m going to work on with you! Can’t wait to look back in one year and think of all the cool stuff that I’ve been doing :)
After multiple Barcelona Fashion Week’s it was time to make a move to the capital of Spain to see what the fashion world looks like over there. And even though Barcelona is in my heart, I have to be honest…. Madrid was pretty awesome. All the big Spanish designers show there, and the event is perfectly organized. I was invited as international press because I write reports for The Fashion Insider, which meant I got to be part of special press dinners and excursions, lucky me!
My Looks:
On day 1 I just arrived to Madrid and was in a total hurry so I went for a comfy and easy look, which turned out to be a huge success with the Spanish press! Spot the trends: Shirt under dress, velvet, boxer braids and a choker. BOOM!. The dress + shirt are from Brandy Melville, and that cute pink bag is from a Spanish brand called Kiwi + Pomelo, in case you were wondering:)
On day 2 I went for a quite more sophisticated look which looks Chic, on a low budget (check out more details here). Such a nice comfy outfit, with shimmers and silver as fall trends! Who else is a fan of the current trends by the way? I couldn’t be happier about them! #MySpiritAnimals #NotEvenJoking
The last day I felt like experimenting with something new and I think it worked out pretty well! I recently scored this super comfy velvet trousers at Zara and I really wanted to wear them. So after trying on 1000 options at home (the room was a mess), I went for this pretty body from Hunkemöller. Then I ‘fashioned it up’ with boxer braids (always a good idea), my fav sunnies from Polette, a choker & silver booties (trend alert!), and badass jewelry from Sotine. Elle Spain absolutely loved it so I got a feature, Yay!! :)
What do you guys think about my looks for Madrid Fashion Week? And what is your favorite Fall trend? Let me know in the comments! Now I’m off to Paris Fashion Week so stay tuned!
It´s time for 2016 everyone, out with the old and in with the new. If I take a quick glance at my 2015 I´m amazed by everything that happened in one year. In the beginning of the year I was still travelling the world as a fulltime model, in summer I realized I wanted a new challenge in my life, by September I launched my very own Fashion & Creativity Blog and in October I left my friends and family behind in the Netherlands to move in with my boyfriend in Barcelona to start a new Master’s Degree and work on my career. BOOM!
I can’t help but be very excited about what 2016 will bring for me, which memories will I look back on when it’s 01-01-2017? It’s funny how it seems like time is going so fast, but also so very slow at the same time. All I know is that we have to take advantage of every day, remember: we have the same 24 hours in a day that Beyoncé has! This brings me to my New Year’s Resolutions, what would I like to change about myself in 2016?
Be more Organized: since I moved to Barcelona I am still trying to find my rhythm
Work less, but more Efficiently: I’m planning on scheduling ‘blogdays’ and ‘modeldays’ to spend enough time on both of my careers.
Take more time to Relax: it’s hard because fashion never stops!
Become 100% Vegetarian: In Spain it’s hard to find many vegetarian options so I still eat fish sometimes… but it will become one of my projects!
Work Out more Regularly: because of my messy schedule my workout is usually not my first priority. That has to change though!
What do you think about my New Year’s Resolutions? Do you have any of your own? Give me some inspiration in case I forgot a couple of great ideas!
Today is a BIG day for me because… I AM MOVING TO BARCELONA! That’s right, by the time you are reading this, I am on my way to Spain with three suitcases and two backpacks (a girl needs to prepare herself okay?!) anxious to see my lovely boyfriend and MOVE IN TOGETHER. Why is it necessary to move to Barcelona you may wonder? In just a couple of days I will go BACK TO SCHOOL. Oh hell yes, I will start my second master at the INSA Business School to learn more about Art Direction and Creative Advertising because… it’s just freakin’ cool that’s why! So BOOM there you go, triple shock!
But don’t you worry guys, it will be a part-time master so I still have lots of time to share cool stuff with you on the blog and to continue with my modelling! And besides, I will still be able to travel around. Or better said… I will make time to travel around, I just can’t help myself.
Anyways, since I will be spending lots of time in Barcelona from now on, I decided to do some research on a very important issue: where will I be able to satisfy my fashion addiction?! I mean… three suitcases and two backpacks is not THAT much… right? I made a Top 5 of shops which I already visited and LOVE in combination with shops which I am dying to discover. Check them out!
La Roca Village, s/n (Shuttlebus from Plaça Catalunya)
This huge outlet centrum suits its name, it’s like a small town right outside of Barcelona. It has many cool brands such as Armani, Aristocrazy, Calvin Klein, Furla, Guess, Karen Millen, Michael Kors, Swarovksi and more! As a kid in a candystore I ran from one store to another, controlling my urges to buy everything that I found. By the end of the day I scored some amazing new stuff for great discount prices… Shopping heaven, I tell you!
This list wouldn’t be complete without some vintage! Serra Claret is located in the beautiful area Eixample and is known for stocking exclusive brands such as Marc by Marc Jacobs, Neil Barrett, Dsquared and Forte Forte. The first Serra Claret store opened in 1933 and emphasizes customer service with a personal touch. I always have a hard time finding hot items in vintage stores so perhaps they could help me? I will definitely go and find out!
The concept store Passage is actually one of the few in Barcelona! It has beautiful gallery spaces, pop-up stores, a champagne bar, fashion books, events, gadgets, accessories and obviously… fashion! Passage definitely sets the standards high with selling creative top brands such as Karl Lagerfeld, which sparkle inspiration and imagination. Very promising indeed, I can’t wait to visit!
This is a lesser known shopping mall in Barcelona because it’s a bit out of the city center, but it’s totally worth a visit! It has all the stores you usually would have to cross the complete city for (twice!) in one magnificent huge mall. On top of that, the atmosphere is very relaxing with lots of plants, music and open spaces. Do you feel like shopping without stress? This is the place to go!
I haven’t been here yet but this store seems to have it all: vintage decoration to admire, three floors to discover and a coffee shop to recover! Also not unimportant: the collection of Dolores Promesas fits perfect with the stylish interior. It’s feminine, elegant, playful, strong and very much affordable! Rambla Catalunya is a street parallel to the famous Passeig de Gracia, very central and easy to reach, I will be passing by Dolores Promesas as fast as I can!
I just wanted to say that I’m so proud to see all the amazing reactions and support that I’ve been getting! Last month I posted a picture on Instagram where I was talking about sexual abuse and it’s great to see how women are stepping up and sharing their stories! Did anyone else see the #Metoo or the #IkOok campaign on social media? Isn’t it devastating to see that so many women have experience(s) with sexual violence?
Don’t forget: women are pretty amazing and we have to stick together and continue to don’t take bullshit from inappropriate men, it doesn’t matter how ‘innocent’ they say that their jokes or touches are. If you are not feeling comfortable, it will NEVER be innocent. When your gut tells you something is wrong, trust yourself and take action!
As a model it’s incredible how much sexual abuse I have seen in the fashion world – mentally as well as physically. Why is this still considered ‘normal’?! From photographers that behave very inappropriate to producers who tell you that they will give you a super cool job if you just ‘forget that you have a boyfriend’. Young models are terrified to ruin their career if they would make too much drama of it, or get into trouble with influential people, which results in silence. It’s about time that we all step up and make a stand together. It is NEVER okay if someone crosses your personal boundaries, let’s break the silence! I think that this whole Harvey Weinstein scandal is great because it finally encourages women from all around the world to realize that it’s okay to say ‘no’ and to don’t feel guiltly about it.Remember, you are not alone. We are 50% of the population and we have a voice! It’s time for these type of men to realize that you do not mess with us. We are not sexual objects. We are intelligent, emphatic and individual HUMANS who should be treated with respect. So let’s get this straight once and for all:
The fact that I’m nice to you doesn’t mean that I want to sleep with you.
The fact that I wear cute short dresses doesn’t meant that you have the right to touch me.
The fact that I’m not prude doesn’t mean that I like your sexual and highly inappropriate talk.
The fact that I pose in lingerie doesn’t mean you have the right to see me in lingerie in real life.
The fact that you would like to sleep with me, doesn’t mean that you have the right to assume that I want the same.
I could honestly go on forever, but I think you all got the point. I will end this rant for now, but always know you can send me a message at any time. We are stronger together <3
Lots of Love,
Lynn
My Summer Salute: Rocking the Navy Look
Published Date : September 24, 2015 Author : alexas Categories : #OOTD, The Styling Files
Even though it has been Autumn now for three days already, I am having a hard time with letting summer go! The sunshine, beaches, flowers, relaxing and not to forget all those amazing summer outfits and bikinis… DON’T LEAVE ME! Anyway, we have to be strong ladies. it’s time to let go and embrace the new season: Autumn! So there we go… this is my official salute to you, oh lovely summer, I can’t wait till we meet again!
The Navy Look can sometimes be a bit tricky since it’s easy to fall into cliché’s but I think I managed pretty well. Of course I stuck to the classic colors: navy blue and white, preferably with some stripes! However, I avoided the typical anchor and strong materials in order to create a more casual and feminine look. The skirt is suede and I love how it feels and moves while walking, it’s so soft! The shirt is also very comfy and has a cool detail on the back, giving the look a fashionable edge. Since I personally like to keep my accessories simple and classy, all I did was adding a small golden bracelet as a color detail and as a reference to the gold/yellow anchors which usually fit with the navy look.
What do you guys think of my summer salute? How did you say goodbye to summer yourself? I would love to get some inspiration so let me know!
*They are similar clothing pieces, not exactly the same! The outfit in the pictures is from Double Agent, but I couldn’t find it on the website, sorry guys!
My Sunday: Baúl Charity Weekend, Retox Brunch W Hotel & Lost and Found Market
Published Date : December 15, 2015 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
Hey there guys!
As you might have seen on my Instagram, I was quite busy this weekend! The events I went to were amazing so I just HAD to write about them. Our first stop was the Baúl Weekend in Eixample, a beautiful neighborhood in Barcelona. It was a weekend event where people can donate their vintage designer clothes and buy other designs, all of the profit going to #SavetheChildren. Isn’t that amazing?! This was the first edition of Baúl Market; it was set up by a group of friends and turned out to grow enormously, I am definitely hoping there will be many more editions to come!
The space was well organized with many volunteers and even more awesome clothes. I was able to spot some real treasures such as Burberry coats, perfect Louis Vuitton heels (not my size, kill me!), Prada bags, Armani shirts and an adorable Dolce & Gabanna dress from their Spring/Summer Collection which you can see in the picture, happy me! Unfortunately, we couldn’t stay long because we had to run off to our next event: the #Retox brunch in the W Hotel!
Since November the famous W Hotel started with their weekly Sunday Retox Brunches, an oasis of stylish perfection. I mean, this is pretty much Alice in Wonderlands High Tea party.. but then with waiters… a DJ… a pool… views over the beach… cocktails… dancers dressed like rainbows… a stylish interior…and well let’s not forget all the amazing little snacks the chefs prepared for us! Besides the colorful candies that are all over the buffet, most of the food is actually super healthy and #detox worthy. Definitely something I will be doing more often on my free Sunday #foodaddict #guilty
After gaining 5 Kilos at the Brunch we decided to take a walk to the vintage Lost and Found Market in Estación de Francía, one of the bigger train stations in Barcelona. The huge arrival hall was completely filled with lots of little corners where people were selling their vintage collections and other random products. Definitely the real vintage feel: chaotic, but fun! It was hard to find anything in between all the mess but there was definitely some cool stuff, mainly accessories such as sunglasses and bags were fun to go through. In the end I didn’t buy anything because the products were all very…. Old? Well you know what I mean, it was obvious that everything was worn many times already, so the quality was pretty much gone. But it’s okay, I had a good time anyway!
In the evening we got home and I had to get started writing this story, tired but happy! I can’t help myself but smiling about how grateful I am to live in this wonderful city called Barcelona. There is always something going on, always something to look forward to. Thanks to this city my life has become an even bigger adventure… it couldn’t get any better.
Lots of Love,
Lynn
My Top 10 Favorite Abs Exercises
Published Date : March 1, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Uncategorized
My Workout Routine
Published Date : January 17, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Uncategorized
A recurring question: how do you workout? It’s very flattering that people like my body and want to know how to achieve their #bodygoals, so that’s why I am sharing them with you today! Actually it’s nothing fancy, but you know, a girl gotta give the people what they want! NOTE: I already tried to warn you guys 10000x times about different body types, the importance of a good diet and genes, so don’t expect miracles when you follow my routine. Honestly, I wish this would be all it takes to get a killer body, wouldn’t life be easier that way?
It’s DECEMBER! The only month that I don’t mind that it’s freezing winter. IT’S ALMOST CHRISTMAS! For as long as I can remember Christmas has been my favorite holiday because it brings all the family together and we create beautiful memories which I cherish deeply. Last year my family has grown quite a lot and therefore we decided to play ‘Secret Santa’: everyone gets one person for whom he/she has to buy presents, instead of everyone buying presents for everyone. After all: it’s not about buying an infinite amount of presents, it’s about sharing sweet gestures.
An watercolor world map! I’ll be changing up my room these months and a beautiful artistic world map would really be the cherry on the pie.
I’ve only heard lyrical reviews about the Miracle Complexion Sponge from Real Techniques till now. I have to try!
Current IT Girl Anna Nooshin wrote a book about her climb to the top. She seems like such an intriguing person so I would love to learn more about her.
Education about what you put inside your body is SO important. Before I become a vegetarian I need to know what I should cook/eat to make sure I won’t be missing anything vital. Besides, new recipies never hurt!
I decided I want to do more with video next year… I will definitely need more memory for that!
My resolution for the next year: learn how to relax better. Sometimes it’s not good to be a workaholic so I hope that Yoga will help me to detach every now and then. And yes. It has to be a pink mat.
What do you guys think about my Secret Santa Wishlist? I am very curious to see what is beneath the Christmas Tree. But honestly, I am mainly excited about the christmas games we are going to play. My sister and her boyfriend are awesome at coming up with crazy stuff so each year is an epic one! What will you be doing this Christmas?
New Editorial in C-Heads Magazine! My top 10 fav pictures
Published Date : October 31, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Model Stories
I can’t believe how well my tour has been going! After my editorial for Point Seven Mach in London, I now scored an exclusive publication in C-Heads Magazine during my stay in Amsterdam! Go me! The pictures down below are my top 10 favorites of the shoot I did with Jaimie Peeters. Not all of them are published in the editorial so I still wanted to share them with you guys! :)
Do you see those booties? I coincidentally scored them just the day before at Timberland! Good thing they turned out to be the perfect fit for this look :)
This location is the entry hall of the Generator Hostel in Amsterdam. Aren’t the three neon keys the perfect background? I was staying here for my tour and I got so excited by this interesting building that me and Jaimie decided to do the shoot here.
Shoutout to the amazing stylist Dieudonnee Bouwman for the fab looks btw. Who would have ever thought of using a belt as a choker? YOU ARE BRILLIANT YOU WEIRDO
Oh and before I forget, in case you want to see the rest of the editorial (with waayy more pictures), make sure to check out the original publication over at C-Heads Magazine! Click here
“During my tour through Europe I stumbled upon the Generator Hostel in Amsterdam. They had taken on a challenging project to turn around an old university building of health sciences: modernizing it without losing the essence of the location.
As a place where history and modernity come together, this inspiring building was the starting point of our photoshoot. This series is all about mixing up the centuries. A bit of the old, a bit of the new. A series where nostalgic vintage meets modern design. A series where Victorian fashion fits perfectly with graphic illustrations and where dreamy lace seamlessly blends into neon lights.
The classroom became a lounge, the entrance turned into a trendy restaurant, and the old hallways have more visitors than ever. Look around you. History is Alive.”
And that was it! Which one is your favorite picture?
Published Date : May 30, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
There it is… time for the big move. Now that I got a new job, it’s time to find a new place to stay. Since it was so last-minute I just scored a temporary room in Amsterdam for now, but that doesn’t mean I can’t make it look like a home!
It couldn’t be a bigger coincidence: just when I heard I would be moving to Amsterdam, I got an e-mail from Desenio – a brand which sells cool posters for the decoration of your house. At first I was a bit skeptical, but when I checked out their website I fell in love with their posters! Time to change things up :)
I am still not completely sure yet what will be the final compositions, because all of them fit really well together actually. I went for mainly black & white, with touches of pink (obviously). What do you guys think??
My favorite is the “The Future is Female” poster because it’s so powerful and inspiring. That one will be hanging close to my bed for sure, so I have something to motivate me in the mornings haha #notamorningperson #neverwillbe
Which one is your favorite poster? Leave a comment!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
P.s. You want some new home inspo as well? For just 3 days I have a discount code of 25% called WHOISTHATBLONDE ! You’re welcome :)
P.p.s. If you liked this post, make sure to also read more about me moving, and my new job!
Who doesn’t love wandering around the beach: endless horizons and fresh air. Last week me and Frances went on a photography date to enjoy the beautiful Dutch nature, close to Amsterdam.
Since I learned my lesson about dressing weather-appropriate last month (heels and snow are not friends), I decided to go all warm and fuzzy for this chilly beach day. After living in Barcelona for over a year I am pretty much freezing all the time here in the rainy Netherlands, so I can never have enough layers.
Aww isn’t our date romantic? <3
I was amazed by the beautiful beach that Frances took me to: the sand was very watery so it left a beautiful reflection. A small sun peaking through a cloudy sky and endless beach… absolutely magic. I think we spent 2 hours walking around there because we couldn’t stop taking pictures, or at least it felt like it because it was so mesmerizing. I’m not saying I’m good at photography, actually I’m pretty bad at it because I’m terrible with the technical settings. But for me it’s a way to get creative, just like writing poetry.
Now that I’m back in the Netherlands I am always searching for new places to discover, is there anything that you would recommend? Let me know!
Published Date : May 29, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Business Hacks
Hey there guys! Maybe you have already read about the very exciting news that I am moving to Amsterdam this week, and that I will start a new job. This is going to be my very first job as a non-freelancer, so I am super nervous. However, the team is SO nice and modern, and the work is exactly what I love to do, so I can’t wait to see how everything goes this week :) *inserting celebration pictures*
I still can’t believe that this is actually happening, but I am so eager to learn a LOT the coming 6 months. Yes that’s right, 6 months. I will be replacing a great woman who is currently going on pregnancy leave. Which I am actually very happy about, because it will allow me to see if the #officelife is something I can get comfortable with. If me and Sanoma are both happy with how things go in those 6 months, we will set up a contract for a longer term.
For those who aren’t familiar with Sanoma: it’s a publishing company which has a bunch of cool magazines under its wings (among others). Think of it as a Condé Nast, but then for Dutch magazines :)
At Sanoma I will be working at the marketing/ sales department under the following title:
“Junior Productmanager and Influencer Marketeer”
Quite a mouthful, I know right?! What it comes down to: all the brands and companies that want to get a promotional boom come to Sanoma (f.e. with their newest product or collection) and I will be the one coming up with creative project ideas while connecting the brand to the right magazines and influencers. Cool detail: if it suits with the concept and the brand, I can even introduce myself as an influencer option, yaaassss!
What will happen to my work as a blogger/ model then? I already spoke about this with the manager, and he totally understands it is important for me so my work hours will be flexible. Since I will be working with influencers, he even thinks it’s beneficial so I always stay updated with the newest developments in influencer-land. Best. Boss. Ever.
However, it is clear I will have less time than before. That’s why I will be hiring a personal assistant who will take over my online communication with brands and help me organize my agenda. Also, in case you missed it: I am currently looking for 1 or 2 new contributors who will help me write cool stories for the blog! In case you are interested: hit me up <3
For me this couldn’t come more close to my idea of a dreamjob, so I’m very eager to see what I will learn and if it’s the kind of job I see myself doing for the next couple of years. Today is my first day, so keep your fingers crossed for me guys :x
But for now… let’s pop some champagne to celebrate!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
Out of Office!
Published Date : June 8, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
* Out of Office *
Hey guys! Sorry I haven’t been very active on my social media and my blog lately, I’ve been so busy! First I was in the Netherlands for three weeks, and I had the most terrible internet connection EVER. Answering mails, comments, and other messages went soooo slow, and I’m not the most patient person in the world so I kinda slacked answering, upss. BUT! Now I’m back in Barcelona, my internet is on 100% and I’m gonna catch up, pinky promise!
However, many of you might not even know this, but I am graduating from my master this month! I’m studying Art Direction and Creative Advertising and it’s great! But my deadline is by the end of this month so I have to #workworkwork it until my final project is *perfect*. So I’m gonna be Out of Office this month! Here is how I feel about myself at the moment:
To all of you who are also struggling with exams and projects right now: you can do it! Let’s #werkit together
Lots of Love,
Lynn
PACKING LIKE A PRO | tips and tricks from a traveling model
Published Date : October 8, 2017 Author : demijonk Categories : Life & Travel
You can say I became a real expert in packing my suitcase perfectly. I always struggled with putting everything I want to bring in one suitcase. And when that’s finally done, your bag is way too heavy… You can get to the limit of 20 kilos before you know it! With the following tips you are prepared to become a packing expert as well, no more stress before traveling!
Suitcase – Which one do I use?
When I first started travelling as a model I used a very heavy suitcase from Samsonite. Good quality, but not very useful if you need every single kilogram. Invest in a light weight suitcase, you definitely won’t regret it! The one I own now weights almost nothing by itself, this way I can use all of the 20 kg (or 23kg for long flights) for my clothing and other stuff.
Tip: extra bonus points if it has four wheels, this way your luggage is a lot easier to travel with.
Clothes – What to bring?
Think about it: what did I wear in the last month? This is what you take with you, nothing more than that. If you did not wear it at home, you’re also not going to wear it somewhere else. (except when the weather conditions are different, of course).
Tip: start with the basics and then your favourite items.If you only travel for a week or less, try to re-arrange some outfit matches. This always really helps me. I try every outfit on beforehand and make a picture of it in the mirror so I remember the whole outfit together.
Tip: bring several accessories so you can mix and match, this can give one outfit several looks.
Airplane outfit – What to wear?
Wear the heaviest shoes you want to bring, for me that’s most of the time a pair of boots. Choose your biggest sweater and heaviest coat (maybe even a scarf?) to wear on the flight. This might be too hot, but you can always store it above your head. I always prefer to bring a sweater on the plane, because it can be damn cold in the air sometimes!
It even happened to me once that my bags were way too overweight, so I wore three jackets (you are allowed to have one in your hand while traveling)! It became sort of a personal challenge of mine to never pay extra for overweight luggage. I never lost the challenge so far!
Tip for the extra pro: bring a pair of compression travel socks for in the airplane, no one likes cold feet or swollen ankles (mine are from STOX Energy).
Weight – How do I pack?
Put the heaviest things in you carry on. I always try to put all of my shoes in it, but it can be books, belts, hot tools or whatever heavy things you want to bring. I hear you saying: ‘But there is also a limited of 10 kilograms for your carry-on!’. Yes .., I know, but ofcourse I have a trick for this. Most of the time they don’t weigh your carry-on (I just had it once), but just to be sure – don’t show it when you’re checking in. Try to leave it on the side, with a travel partner or with somebody who brought you to the airport. After the check-in they can’t control the weight of your bag anymore!
Tip: don’t put an umbrella in your carry-on, they frequently want to check it and you have to re-pack everything, ugh annoying!
Little things – What did I forget?
In my experience it works the best for me to begin packing my stuff a few days before departure (but unfortunately that’s not always possible). I just leave my bag laying open in my room and every time I think of something I want to bring I just throw it in there. This way I almost never forget something. At the end when I’m almost done and only need to pack some little things I make a list before I go to sleep. At night when I can’t sleep is when I remember the little things, overthinking lol who else?
Tip: check multiple times if you packed the important stuff such as your passport, cards, money and chargers. (Guilty! I just had to buy a new charger at the airport because I forgot to bring mine to New York)
Toiletries – What about liquids?
When your bag is almost completely full and you’re almost done packing, it’s time for the toiletries. Again, make sure to only bring the necessities. You don’t need all kinds of masks and scrubs, and if you do, you can always buy it once you’re at your destination. The only liquids I put in my big suitcase are my day cream, foundation, makeup remover and body lotion. (sometimes shampoo and conditioner, but I buy it afterwards sometimes as well). Just because these are to big for my carry-on, so I have to. I put the rest of my smaller liquids in the little see-trough zip bag, which I put in my handbag. Saves weight, It’s all about the little things!
Tip: If you’re bag is still overweight, you can also put the rest of your makeup in your handbag or carry-on, but be careful with little scissors etc.
And that’s about it! all set and ready to go. I hope these tips and tricks were helpful and let me know if you have one I didn’t mention.
Oui Oui, Paris! Last week it was time for some Haute Couture: the crème de la crème of the fashionworld. What could a girl want more? Amazing people to meet, a beautiful city to visit and of course lots of luxurious fashion to see! Unfortunately, I didn’t have much time this week so I only visited a couple of shows and presentations, but it was so much fun! Let’s check out what I have been up to shall we?:)
The first day it was immediately a non-stop rush of visiting shows and presentations. My favorite shows of that day were Stéphane Rolland and Georges Chakra, who I was able to interview! Here is a quick backstage shot:
As you can see I am channeling my inner 70’s with this gorgeous all black outfit! I was wearing an amazing velvet suit with a long blazer and flared trousers from Ay Si Barcelona which I got from Passage BCN. Underneath it I am wearing a laced up body from Boohoo.com which I personally love under any type of blazer or V-necks, it instantly makes the outfit look more fun and fashionable!
To finish up the outfit, I accessorized with a statement bag from Les Petites Jouers which I also got from Passage BCN, and a beautiful handmade necklace from Chris van den Elzen which perfectly blends in with my laced up body.
The next day it was great to see some Dutch representation during Haute Couture Paris Fashion Week with the collection of Ilja Visser! The designs were all based around the concept of skin, which resulted in quite some interesting looks. Unfortunately I don’t have any pictures of our interview but I can tell you one thing: she is so nice! Check out my look for the show:
I felt very Parisian while wearing this asymetrical dress from Valentina Garí in combination with a beige coat from Maria Roch, both designers from Barcelona! It’s a very simple but classy look with the fedora hat from Mango and my lace shoes from Zara. What I love about the dress is the fact that it has a velvet detail, which makes the A-line dress more unique and perfect for the winter season! In the afternoon it was time to change up my outfit for a cocktail party and the last show of Paris Fashion Week: Guo Pei! This was seriously on of the best collections I have ever seen, they call her ‘the Chanel of Asia‘ for a reason!
With this beautiful grey croptop sweater from Maria Roch I felt like creating a more casual streetstyle in combination with my highwaist grey skinny jeans from Zara and a pair of high heeled booties. I changed up my beloved fedora hat for my new beanie from New Age Rebel – my currently favorite brand from London. Last but not least I brought some color into my outfit with this adorable clutch from Sarah’s Bag, which I also got at Passage BCN. I love the text ‘Take me Anywhere‘ and how the lock of the clutch is a little toy car, I mean… who doesn’t love this?!
The day after the Haute Couture Paris Fashion Week is officially over, it’s time for the Haute Joaillerie presentations a.k.a. lots of beautiful shiny jewelry to gawk at! I was so happy to be invited to the Chanel presentation with Marcellous Jones: I had high expectations and they managed to surpass them!
This season Chanel experimented
with seamless connections between the high quality diamonds without compromising the flexibility of the jewelry. The diamond shape of the stones is the motive troughout the collection: simple but classic. This necklace right here is the showstopper of the collection: it’s worth €2,8 million! Sponsors anyone?
During the little tour through the collection I was asked whether I would like to try on one of the rings… they didn’t have to ask me twice! I never thought I could get this excited about jewelry but as soon as I put on this ring my heart started beating a bit faster. Chanel took my breath away!
Obviously I had a beautiful outfit ready for the occasion of seeing Chanel from close: a flowy navy blue dress from Maria Roch. It can also be worn as a vest but since I kept it closed it might as well function as a dress. Underneath I wore the same body from Boohoo.com as I wore for my hippie look, isn’t it great to see how a different combination can completely change the style of an outfit?! I love how this outfit makes me feel super feminine and graceful as the dress wavers around in the wind, but also a little bit sexy because of the high split and the deep V-neck… A strong combination that gives me the best of both worlds!
Last but not least I decided to hang around a bit longer than necessary in Paris to go out to party with friends, and do a photoshoot with Koffi Annipah! We made some quick shots in C-Heads Magazine Style, I am so curious about the results!
Anyway, that were the highlights of my Paris Fashion Week, I hope you liked it! Cheers :)
The newest fashion, croissants, celebs and more. Last week it was time for Paris Fashion Week, and I was there! I was running around non-stop, so I decided to make a small diary for you guys to give you an idea about what fashion week looks like. Sitting front row at the coolest designers, meeting Karlie Kloss, and of course posing for the streetstyle photographers in between shows. I’m spilling it all.
Saturday: October 1st
After not sleeping for a full night because my flight was wayyy too early, I finally arrived in the Generator hotel in Paris. I had to wait for a while till my room was ready, but I don’t mind at all. I can relax in their chill space and prepare a couple of articles that I have to write for the Fashion Insider: a magazine that reports on all the shows.
The time flies because suddenly I have to get changed and run to my first catwalk of the day: Rahul Mishra! A super talented designer that I always love to see. After the presentation I visit a couple of other fashion presentations and then I go out to dinner with my fellow Dutch bloggers. Yay!
And up early again! I am quickly writing some reports on what I saw yesterday, eating my breakfast, and running off to the shows. I just spoke with the owner of the Fashion Insider and there are around 10 invites waiting for me. I am not very lucky today: the internet that I bought doesn’t seem to work, so I have to navigate the old-fashioned way. The first show is Roland Mouret, where I got seated right next to Olivia Palermo (say what?!). I have to be honest with you guys: Yes, I totally had a fangirl moment. I couldn’t help myself and had to ask for a selfie #sorrynotsorry.
One of my favorite shows of that day – and the complete Paris Fashion Week – is from the Dutch designer Dorhout Mees. A beautiful, theatrical presentation which would make any Dutchie proud! After running in between shows all day long, I arrive to my hotel rather late. I fall asleep immediately: too tired to work.
Monday: October 3rd
Time to get up early again! I am meeting up with Fashionchick Amanda van Effrink and blog buddy Linsey Sijmons. They have to leave Paris at 13.00 so we quickly wanted to pass by the Eiffel tower for some Instagram pictures, because that has to happen as well!
After that I have to quickly run to the show of Leonard, a brand which had lots of beautiful designs. I wanted them all! Sometimes the life of a blogger is hard: you constantly see hundreds of cool things you want to wear but you cannot keep them #thestruggleisreal. I was lucky to go backstage and meet the designer, super happy!
On my way to a restaurant for lunch I accidentally passed by the entrance of another fashion show. It turned out that the streetstyle photographers LOVED my outfit so I had a fun little paparazzi moment right there. But it gets even better: just as I was there in front of the photographers, the little sister of style icon Chiara Ferragni arrived. “It’s now or never Lynn, ask if she wants to make a picture with you… the photographers are here anyways!”. She thought it was super nice that I asked so I totally scored that picture, yasss! However, because I got hold up longer than expected there was no more time for lunch and I had to run to the next show.
In the evening I put on my prettiest glitter dress and went out for a dance in Paris. After all the working I needed to blow off some steam, it was so much fun!
Tuesday: October 4th
Ooff… I just slept 4 hours, but it was totally worth it. I overslept a little so I have to run to the show of Agnes B, where I can interview the designer after the show. In between shows I pass by Gallerie de Lafayette in order to get some extra fashion inspiration – as if I wasn’t getting enough of that yet at the Paris Fashion Week. During the shopping session I get a message from the magazine: I have an extra show within 10 minutes. RUN! Thankfully it wasn’t too far away so I actually arrived in time.
Redemption is an edgy, sexy brand from Italy with a couple of top models such as Sara Sampaio and Dutchie Marjan Jonkman. After the show I wanted to go backstage to congratulate the designer, and found no one less than Anna dello Russo: the editor in chief of Vogue Japan and one of the most influential style divas in the world. Such an honor! Unfortunately, I cannot stay too long because I already have to run to the next show. On my way there I find two other Dutch bloggers: Lily and Larissa! It’s always great to meet nice people on the way. After drinking a cup of tea I have to continue my way to the show of Shiatzy Chen – a top designer from China.
As soon as I enter the room I can barely even walk through the crowd… what are all these people so excited about? Camera crews, journalists, photographers and enthusiastic visitors are all standing around Section C. Doubtfully I check my invitation and yes…. Section C. With some effort I get through the crowd and I quickly realize why people are so excited: Karlie Kloss is sitting front row! Don’t you just love how anything can happen during Paris Fashion Week?
After Shiatzy Chen I have to pass by a couple more presentations and get to my hotel way too late. I quickly eat some dinner and then start writing reports, because that has to happen as well sometimes.
Wednesday: October 5th
And then it’s already the final day, time flies by during the Paris Fashion Week! In the morning I visit the show of YDE and get hunted down by the paparazzi as soon as I walk outside – they are already calling me by my name because they have been photographing me all week haha. It’s nice that my personal style is appreciated! After a full streetstyle session I return to Generator Hotel because I also have a photoshoot in my hotelroom: it’s so pretty that I couldn’t help myself!
In the afternoon Lily and Larissa ask if i want to go to the Eiffel tower with them to make pictures, and after that I join Marta Sierra – a super cute Spanish blogger – to Ladurée. Because you cannot miss Ladurée while you are visiting Paris! Obviously we spend way too much time chatting about everything and I get to the hotel super late.
I quickly grab some veggie noodles at Generator, and suddenly run into the marketing manager of the hotel. We had such a good time talking about travelling that I get to my bad at 4am (!!!). I already pack my suitcase because the next day it’s time to check out.
Bye Bye Paris Fashion Week. I am on my way to London, ready for my next adventure!
Personal Resolutions for
Published Date : January 21, 2018 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
2017 was an intense year, as soon as I started working for Sanoma it was a rollercoaster! During the day I was constantly at the office, learning, growing, working for the company. During the evenings (and nights) I was working for myself, following my dreams. As you can imagine, I didn’t have much of a social life going on, besides the events I was attending as a blogger at least. I definitely don’t regret anything, because I learned so much! However, after getting close to a second burnout not that long ago, I think it’s important to also set some personal resolutions for myself in 2018. Keep reading!
1. More Tea (or hot coco) Dates with friends
I have barely been seeing my friends for the past year, and that’s about to change! It’s so important to learn how to relax and have fun every now and then. Sometimes I have to remind myself: work is not everything.
2. Not just mental health, also physical health is super important!
I haven’t gone to the gym in AGES (partly because I’m stuck to a Basic Fit subscription, but the locations in Amsterdam are terrible) even though workout is a great way to relax your mind is well. Instead of going to the gym, I will start with a HIIT workout challenge of 3 months. I will document the progress on my YouTube Channel! In case you didn’t get the chance yet, go and subscribe!
3. Learn how to cook
Usually I don’t even take the time to cook. If I’m not at an event with delicious snacks (which will function as my dinner because when I get home I’m too tired/ lazy to cook) I will most likely eat just crackers OR I will cook Risotto or Taco’s. Which are great, but a little variation doesn’t hurt. Good food will hopefully improve my health, AND finding the fun in cooking will also give me an extra fun hobby! I only see plus points here!
That was it! My 3 personal resolutions for 2018. What do you think? Do you have any personal resolutions? Inspire me!
Published Date : October 14, 2015 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Beauty Guru
Hi there Beauty!
During the Paris Fashion Week it wasn’t all about the new collections, I was also paying attention to the make-up styles that were shown on the runway! In order to give you some heads up, I selected two make-up trends which we will be seeing a lot upcoming Spring and Summer.
Make-up Trend #1: Au Natural
Most of the designers let all of the attention go to their outfits by leaving the make-up as natural as possible. I spotted many earth colors in combination with a soft pink blush to keep the look fresh and young. Some tips for getting your make-up nice and natural:
Use a CC Cream instead of a foundation and finish it off with a mineral powder in order to prevent getting shiny. Create a flushed fresh look by brushing some pink blush over your cheeks while you are smiling.
Use a brown eyeshadow to contour your eyes slightly. It’s very important to keep it subtle: it will emphasize your eyes without showing that you are wearing make-up. Add one layer of mascara and you are good to go!
Make-up Trend #2: Colorful Eyes
The upcoming Spring and Summer season emphasizes the eyes! If you feel like getting more creative than the aunatural look, try some color or a graphic eyeliner. On the runway I saw many bright colors such as yellow, orange and gold: very warm and summer-ish indeed! What I love about this trend is that the color doesn’t just stay on the eyelid: it is applied at the side of the face as well, right above the cheekbones. The graphic eyeliner also gets more extreme with smudgy, long and thick lines. it’s perfect that these eye-looks are supposed to look a bit nonchalant and messy: if you mess up with your experiment you can still pull it off ;)
What do you think of the upcoming beauty trends? I will enjoy doing some beauty experiments as soon as I scored new eyeshadows! Does anyone have good tips for me?
Lots of Love,
Lynn
PFW Streetstyle: Black Swan
Published Date : October 6, 2015 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : #OOTD, The Styling Files
Good news lovelies! Today I was able to shine in one of the designs by Michelangelo Winklaar, lucky me! This time I am going all black with his ‘black ballerina dress’ in combination with a bodysuit which I got at Oysho: they fit together so perfectly that you can barely even notice I am wearing two different pieces! This outfit is a great example of combining designer pieces with affordable mass production: all you have to do is to get creative and to mix & match!
Since the dress is already such a strong look on own it’s barely even necessary to accessorize. You don’t want to overload the outfit, so it sufficed to add one purple statement ring and a beautiful Mange purse.
Today I visited the Agnes B show, as well as Paul & Joe, and I had the BEST time ever interviewing people before and after the show in collaboration with the Modelboard Crew! The videos will be online soon so keep an eye out for them!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
PFW Streetstyle: Heel Rockin’
Published Date : October 4, 2015 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : #OOTD, The Styling Files
Hey there Loves!
Today was an amazing day! Among others I visited the John Galliano show (first row!) for which I obviously had to wear some kickass outfit. Leaving the dresses and skirts behind for today, I decided to go for a more edgy look. With a grey high waisted skinny jeans, a red lumberjack and a black leather croptop from Ulrike Verding I created a comfy streetwise outfit. To make this look ready for fashion week, I put on these amazing designer shoes from Chris van den Elzen. The heels are in fact created with a 3D printer and it takes DAYS before he is able to finish them! These booties are insanely high so you can’t walk on them for too long, but it’s totally worth the pain, trust me!
Now I’ll be on my way to join a party in Matignon so see you tomorrow again!
Big kiss,
Lynn
PFW Streetstyle: Prima Ballerina
Published Date : October 3, 2015 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : #OOTD, The Styling Files
Who ever said that tutu’s are just for Ballerina’s? It’s so easy to turn it around into a modern look for the classy ladies out there! I went for an all-black outfit with my ‘Cool Girls Club’ OKE by Me T-shirt, high heels and a big black ribbon to accentuate my waistline (and the cuteness of the look obviously!).
The Tule skirt is actually longer than it looks like on the picture, I turned it over a couple of times to make it knee-height and I used the ribbon to hide the evidence (yeah you didn’t notice that, now did you?!) I love this outfit, I feel like a 21st Century princess, why didn’t I buy a Tutu before?!
I gotta run to the show of Rahul Mishra now lovelies! Have a nice day and see you tomorrow!
Lots of love,
Lynn
PFW Streetstyle: Romantic in White
Published Date : October 7, 2015 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : #OOTD, The Styling Files
For the last day of Paris Fashion Week I am in a romantic mood with this beautiful white lace dress by Michelangelo Winklaar. I spotted this designer during Salonè della Moda and immediately fell in love with this designs: they arecompletely made by hand with oldskool craftsmanship and exquisite detailing… simply amazing!
To complement the romantic look I braided my hair, added some small silver Swarovski jewelry and put on a pair of matching white lace heels. However, this dress is not all ‘angel innocence’ as you might have noticed… most part of the dress is transparent! Winklaar likes to turn heads with his outfits, just like me. A match made in heaven I would say! To don’t be too shocking I put on skin colored tights and nipple covers, but the great part about this dress is that it could actually still look classy without them: it’s simply too cute! The outfit reminds me of a quote I found on Instagram the other day:
Always Classy
Never Trashy
And a little bit Sassy
I couldn’t agree more, thank you Instagram! I do have to say that I almost felt like a celebrity while wearing this dress since it definitely attracted some attention! Everyone wanted to take pictures, do interviews, make selfies and get my contact information, awesome and crazy at the same time! I even missed one show because I got slowed down by everyone I met, but it was a very interesting experience indeed!
Anyhow, I will have to be patient to wear more of these kind of amazing designs till the next fashion week, let the preperations begin and see you next season!
Lots of love,
Lynn
PFW Streetstyle: Statement Day
Published Date : October 2, 2015 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : #OOTD, The Styling Files
A skater skirt with knee-high socks and black derby shoes is ALWAYS a good combination! I decided to make the minimalistic ‘cute & classy’ look a bit more interesting with a statement shirt: more personality = more fun!
Anyone who knows me even just a little bit knows that I’m a big fan of power women: strong women who follow their dreams and work hard to get there… you have my infinite respect! This outfit is my tribute to you, and actually it has a little story to it. I got this limited edition T-shirt while visiting a Cosmopolitan event in Amsterdam some months ago, it was all about the empowerment of women and I met some amazing and inspiring people there. They organized several reading around the topic ‘Confidence’. It got me thinking about what this word actually means to me.
For me confidence is not about not having any doubts, it’s about having doubts but trusting in your own capacities to reach your goal. I had more than enough doubts about becoming a fashion reporter…
I am not schooled in fashion, I don’t have any experience (yet), there are so many professionals out there, what if I will make a fool out of myself? Did those doubts stop me from trying it anyway? Hell no!
Can I write English? Yes I can
Can I give an opinion about fashion? Most definitely
Can I learn how to improve my skills? Duhh
Seems legit… let’s do this! I guess in this situation I would classify myself as a power woman, and to be honest: I really like to think so! How would you describe confidence or a power woman? Share your thoughts!
PFW Streetstyle: Walkin' down the street
Published Date : October 1, 2015 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : #OOTD, The Styling Files
Halleluja! I needed a break from all the heels that I have been wearing this week! With this casual chic outfit it’s super easy to run to all the shows and look fashionable at the same time… why didn’t I take more outfits like this?! This green A-line dress is designed by Joelle Boers and is made by 100% recycled polyester: super soft AND good for the environment! A backpack and Adidas sneakers make the overall look more suitable for a streetstyle (and obviously way more practical… win-win!).
Today I visited the AF Vandevorst show which was inspired by motorcycles, very creative and supercool! Now I am on my way to the Manish Arora Cocktail party and after that I will go out at Raspoutine, one of the hottest clubs in Paris. As you can see I am most definitely NOT standing still here and it’s an amazing experience, let’s see how the rest of the week will be going!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
Photo Diary New York || Working for Moschino, Seventeen Magazine and partying with Leo?!
As I’m currently scrolling through my pictures from New York while flying home, I thought it would be a great idea to make a little travel diary with pictures from my trip! If you follow me on Instagram (@demijonk) you probably already saw a lot of the photos, because I already posted a few and I’m going to post more! I went to New York for 11 days to model, because Moschino booked me again to work with them for a whole week.
I stayed in the same model apartment as last time, located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Our view is the Manhattan skyline along the East River and I can spend hours looking out the window, it never gets old. This apartment building has a lot of perks, such as a rooftop, gym, doorman and a lounge area!
I was really really lucky that Moschino booked a really good friend of mine at the same time. So we were able to work the whole week together, that makes the job so much fun! I mean out all of the models they picked us, what are the odds?! We also stayed in the same apartment, just like in January. @hallesobiech
I was in New York during a heatwave, the temperature was around 35+ degrees, really hot to be in the city. I spend most of the time inside at the Moschino showroom so I wasn’t melting that much haha ;) Funny thing is, last time I was here (January) it was during a blizzard, and now the second time a heatwave! On the left, you see me walking to work on Fifth avenue and on the right I stand next to our apartment building with the Williamsburg bridge and East River in the back.
There are always streetstyle photographers in New York that capture models walking in the streets. As I walked out of the Victoria’s secret store in Soho (sale sale sale!!) 5 photographers grabbed their cameras to make pictures of me. This happens during fashion week on every corner of the street. This is normal for the Newyorkers, so only the tourists stop to see if you are some kind of celebrity and make pictures.
Although we worked everyday (only one day off) till at least 6pm, we did a lot of sightseeing as well. It’s only my second time in New York (or even in America), so I still haven’t seen everything. We went to the Brooklyn bridge, Museum of Natural history, Rockefeller Centre, Central park and of course Times Square.
This day we worked 12 hours and after we were finished we went to The Rockefeller Center and Times Square (and Shake Shack sssst).
On Saturday we had one day off, so that means party on Friday! We went to Up & Down and 1OAK, like we normally do when we go out in New York. This time Leonardo Di Caprio joined our VIP table, this only happens in New york hahaha.
On my last day I worked for Seventeen magazine in collaboration with Maybelline. It was a really fun shoot because they made me dance and goof around on set. We also made some funny gifs for the website and social media. The team consist of almost 20 people, only to shoot me! Located at Milk Media studios, this is where Victoria’s Secret also shoots.
I am very lucky and grateful that I am able to combine my work with a lot of travelling, because I love to explore cities and meet people around the world. It’s a beautiful thing when passion and work come together.
Let me know if you liked this travel-photodiary and maybe I will make a little one of every trip I do!
Lots of Love,
Demi
ps. did you liked this post? make sure to also check out the photo diary from LA
Photo Diary: My Week in Photos
Published Date : October 26, 2015 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
Hi Guys!
Since last week so many things happened for me, I decided it would be a cool idea to keep up a small photo diary so you can see what I have been up to!
Monday:
As you can see, today was packing day! What to take when you move to another country for a year or more?! Everything had to fit in the airplane so unfortunately I had to make some tough decisions, but I think I managed pretty well!
Tuesday:
Today it was THE day I had been looking forward to for a very long time already, it was time to start a new chapter and spread out my wings to Barcelona. After saying goodbye to all my family and friends I was warmly welcomed by my boyfriend Alex, who drove us to our new little palace. It was quite late already so we dropped everything, had dinner and went straight to sleep.
Wednesday:
Alex was already off to work early in the morning so I took on the project of making this little loft a home. It took me all day to empty my suitcases and decorate it, but I love the result! As a surprise I organized a romantic evening with dinner by candlelight and rose petals around the loft, it was lovely :)
Thursday:
In the morning I had a meeting with the designer Loretta Piovano and we discussed a very fun collaboration! Since I was in the city center anyway I decided to walk through Passeig de Gracia to enjoy the weather, the beautiful architecture and of course some shops! I had to prepare the styling for upcoming outfit shoots so this was the perfect occasion. In the afternoon me and Alex were invited to the presentation of the new NAAK collection, a brand for watches. The designs are young, fresh and colorful and the lookbook is beautiful!
Friday:
After my first few days of rest it’s time to get back to work! I had my first casting and already met some amazing girls, this year will be a fun one! The rest of the day I spent working on some blogposts, answering mails, talking with family and friends and just CHILL! I’m in Barcelona, the rest of the work will come mañana mañana… right?
Saturday
Yes, that’s exactly right, today was a busy day! In the morning I went to Gracia to buy some last details because today was shooting time! I shot several #OOTD’s which will be on the blog soon and furthermore I shot my next giveaway video which will be published the 1st of November! In the evening we went to have a drink in a bar to celebrate the productive day
Sunday
In the morning I shot a couple more outfits and spent the rest of the day with Photoshop and working on this photo diary. Thank you Alex, for all the help and support! Next week there are some more meetings, castings and blogs on the planning AND a very dear friend of mine is coming over to visit my new home! Carmen Vantini, get your sexy Italian ass over here asap!
As you can see there is a lot on the planning for me, so there will be more than enough to write about! Maybe I should be making another photo diary? Subscribe to my newsletter if you would like to get weekly updates <3
Lots of Love,
Lynn
Photo fails: Instagram vs Reality
Published Date : May 24, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
Don’t we all love Instagram? Such beautiful images which spread inspiration! However, there are also too many insecurities because we start to believe that all those pictures are reality. Bloggers use apps, photoshop and filters to create the perfect pic, but more importantly: they make 1000’s of pictures till they get one they like. Time to share a portion of reality, don’t you think?
Not that long ago, I finally reached my 50K on Instagram (yay!) and I decided to have fun with it: I bought a bunch of balloons and set up a shoot with one of my favorite Spanish bloggers: Saray from Dansvogue. Obviously, I searched IG for inspiration, and learned soon enough it’s not that easy to make those perfect balloon pictures.
Lights, wind, traffic, clothing malfunctions, hair, weird faces… soooo much things that can go wrong! It certainly gave us enough bloopers to laugh about haha.
The moral of the story? Don’t believe everything you see online! Love Instagram for inspirations, but don’t expect it to be real.
Photodiary + Travel Tips for Hvar and Split (Croatia)
Published Date : August 9, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
I don’t know why, but it seems like I’m spending a lot of time in Croatia this year! In one month I already visited Croatia twice and I’ve been to three cities: Dubrovnik, Split and Hvar. But let’s focus on my latest trip for now. For a couple of shoots I spent a long weekend in Hvar and Split: I was working most of the time but in my free hours I tried to see the cities and it was amazing! Scroll down for pretty pictures :)
One of the things I like most about cities in Croatia is the architecture: The beautiful white walls and bright red rooftops create a magic effect. While walking around the city center, you could make a picture anywhere and it would be beautiful no matter what!
TIP #1
In Hvar I discovered this amazing ‘Top Bar’ in Hotel Adriana. It’s located right at the edge of the harbour and it has the most amazing views on the city centre (see picture below). PLUS: their cocktails are to die for!
TIP #2
Super close to hotel Adriana (actually, everything is close because it’s a tiny cute town), you can find Bonji ‘les bains’ Beach Club. This is a dreamy hotspot right at the water with those kind of beautiful white beds that you want to have on your Instagram (and real life) 24/7. I coulnd’t help myself so I made 10000 pictures :x
TIP #3
The city of Hvar is a beautiful sight and very relaxing to walk around. Everywhere you go, there are cute little corners, beautiful architecture, nice restaurants and fun shops. Plus: the city is so small that you don’t have to worry about having to walk around for too long. I didn’t have much time because of work and still I managed to see the whole city walking! I think I spent 2 hours roaming around in total.
That was it for Hvar, let’s move to Split!
TIP #4
If you love a good view, Park-Forest Marjan in Split is a must-see while you are visiting the city. It’s just at the border of the city center and in order to get there you have to walk up quite some stairs, but it’s not too bad. We did it in 20 minutes (in heels!) and it was totally worth it!
TIP #5
Once you are up the hill, chances are that you would like to take a rest and a drink. Which brings me to this tip – which is my personal favorite on the list. Teraca Vidilica is the restaurant at the viewpoint of Park Marjan and has the cutest terrace I have ever seen. Enjoy a nice wine with views and relax….. perfection.
TIP #6
This tip is actually exactly the same tip I gave about Hvar: simply walk around the city and enjoy everything that this amazing place has to offer. Split is a little bit bigger than Hvar (at least, that’s what it felt like), but it’s still very small so I managed to see most of the city in just 3 hours! The sight seeing without the tired feet, not bad at all :)
And that’s already the end of my photodiary/ travel tips! Next week I will post some tips about Dubrovnik and share my very first official Vlog! Yes, yes, I already made videos before, but now it’s time to take Youtube more seriously so stay tuned for what’s coming :)
Did I miss something in these tips? Leave a comment!
Fun fact: did you know that Pinkpop is the oldest festival in the Netherlands? Throughout the years they have had some serious headliners, it’s almost hard to believe that the festival happens in a tiny town in the south of the Netherlands. As a proud southern girl I obviously visited the festival several times, and this year I was finally able to go again! Check out my looks and some of the vibes below:
Day 1: Foodtrucks are life
The first day I was so busy with exploring the festival area, that I forgot to make a lot of pictures. Sorry, when I see that many awesome foodtrucks… I just get really distracted. Anyways, as you can see I’m wearing one of my current favorite outfits (all Ivy Revel), this time combined with a body chain (Hunkemöller) and boxerbraids to make it more festival-ish. I wore the bodychain backwards to emphasize the open back of the top, styling tip!
Best performances: Chef’Special, Kensington and Justin Bieber
Day 2: Pink for Pinkpop
As you can see, I took the name of the festival very serious on Day 2. I got this dress from Ivy Revel (yes, again) and I got inspired to spray my hair pink (love you colorista). However, I wasn’t very talented so it looked like a total mess at first, which I managed to fix by braiding the worst parts and making 2 small buns (festival points!)
Actually, I’m surprised how well it turned out in the end. I got lots of compliments on my hair and the dress made me feel like a festival vamp. I was SO ready for Sean Paul, getting my reggeaton ON.
Best performances: Gavin James, James Arthur, Broederliefde, Sean Paul, Imagine Dragons and Green Day
Day 3: 70’s Vibes
It was going to be a HOT day, so I figured it was the perfect moment to finally wear this new bikini that I’ve been craving to wear ever since I got back from my HKM Croatia trip. Combined with the flared jeans (they are vegan btw, so cool!) and the cropped jacket from Vila I didn’t feel all too naked haha.
Best Performances: Sum41, Liam Gallagher and Passenger
Who else has this problem: you buy a new skincare product and you use it for a while, but you actually don’t know if it really works because it might as well be influenced by what you’ve been eating, “that moment of the month”, the fact that you didn’t wear make-up for some days, or any other reason. However, my skin has been drastically improving for the last 2 months and I think it’s a combination of 4 reasons:
1. Different birth control:2 months ago, my doctor made me switch pills because of insurance reasons. He said that they were pretty much the same so I shouldn’t notice any difference. However, I do think it’s too much of a coincidence to be ignored because hormones are THE reason why acne is a b*tch. Got bad skin? You might want to take a look at your birth control and change things up.
4. Less Photoshoots: the reason why I got acne in the first place, is when I became a fulltime model. All the layers of make-up that were on my face for hours, many days in a month, was NOT healthy for my skin. I decided to become more selective when it comes to shoots so I don’t shoot that often anymore. A coincidence? I think not. Your skin can only handle so much, make sure it gets its well deserved rest every now and then.
3. Facebrush: I already talked about this on my Instagram some weeks ago, because I felt like my new facebrush was able to clean my face better after a long day. I don’t think it’s a mystery that it’s important to clean your skin before going to bed. However, make sure to buy one that is not too strong: otherwise you damage your skin with daily use.
4. New Foundation: I’ve already been a fan of Image Skincare for many years so I was thrilled to test their newest foundation + concealer. Usually when I wear foundation for a long day I start getting breakouts already, but not anymore with these new goodies! As you can imagine, that was quite a breakthrough for me :)
If I come up with any other reasons why my skin might have improved, I’ll make sure to post an update!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
P.s. Beautiful photography by my favorite girl Naelia Salas
P.p.s. I wasn’t paid to promote any of the mentioned brands. Truth is: Image skincare + Foreo sent me their products to test, but the only reason why I actually mention them is because I truly see a difference in my skin and I hope to help others with my new discoveries :)
P.p.p.s. Read more about my daily skincare routine here
Roaming through El Raval (Barcelona) + Travel Tips
Published Date : July 17, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
Time for some nostalgia: oh how I miss Barcelona! I bumped into these pictures which I made some months ago with Angel Ruíz, and I figured it was time to actually share them with the world. El Raval is one of the many amazing locations in Barcelona, so I’m going to share some tips with you for your next visit :) Keep reading!
So first of all: Where is El Raval?It is in fact super easy to find, even for those who have never visited Barcelona before:) Imagine you standing at the beginning of Las Ramblas (the most famous street of Barcelona): all the little streets that are on the right side of Las Ramblas are entrances to the neighborhood El Raval. Easy!
What I like most about El Raval are the urban artsy vibes. Years ago, it used to be quite a poor and criminal neigborhood, which resulted in low prices because no one wanted to live there anymore. The result: young artists, students and entrepeneurs started moving there, which made it a lively and dynamic area with lots of start-ups and fresh ideas!
Nowadays, El Raval is known for being open-minded, hipster, artistic and just very cool. Which is why it’s not surprising there are vegetarian/ vegan hotspots on pretty much every corner. Here are some of my favorites:
1. Flax and Kale: probably the most famous (raw) vegan place in Barcelona. They have a very big menu with lots of options. The restaurant has two floors with a very cute rooftop terrace, a very relaxing spot to hang out!
2. Trópico: not necessarily vegetarian, but there are enough options! This is the most Instagrammable place with a worldmap wall and the food is absolutely delicious! I recommend their pancakes + smoothies… best. combination. ever.
3. Veggie Garden: a cute restaurant in the heart of El Raval. Their cuisine is hard to describe: vegetarian/ vegan Indian fast-food… sort of? There is a very big menu and the prices are very low. Perfect for those who want to experiment with vegetarian food!
4. Teresa Carles: even though this brand is mainly known for its delicious juices. Teresa Carles is in fact a great restaurant with Catalan influences. The chef focuses on the highest nutritional value possible in her recipies, super healthy!
5. Vegetalia: with local and international dishes, this restaurant has a wide variety for anyone who wants to try out vegetarian/ vegan food. Their prices are super affordable and they have their own organic garden where they grow their veggies.
Besides eating all day every day, there are more than enough awesome activities to do in El Raval. Here’s my top 5:
1. MACBA: If you’re not visiting for the modern art at the museum, at LEAST go there to sit, enjoy the sun and watch dozens of skaters practice their skills. It’s relaxing, fun to watch and great for a break after a long walk.
2. Vintage shopping:El Raval is famous for the huge amount of vintage shops in the neighborhood. Some of the best (and not very known by tourists) are the shops in the Riera Baixa Street.
3. Rambla del Raval: I don’t know why, but I really enjoy walking through this street. Often there are markets to be found, and there are lots of cute little bars for drinks and snacks. Plus: the palm trees give perfect vacay vibes!
4. La Boquería: this is a must-see when visiting Barcelona. The most famous market in Barcelona! It has countless amounts of fruits, veggies, smoothies, tapas, spices, candy and more (you know… just in case you weren’t eating enough yet lol).
5. Get Lost: this is honestly the best you can do in El Raval. This neigborhood is one of the most historic ones of the city, which means it has countless tiny streets. On every corner you can get amazed by beautiful architecture, street art, little shops, churches, squares and more. Just walk around and take everything in :)
That was it for this mini-guide! I was thinking about making more mini-guides every time I’m back in Barcelona, so stay tuned :)
I hope you are enjoying this beautiful sunday! This is in fact my first free day in a long time, so I sure am! It felt like the perfect occasion to share this new lingerie photography series which I received last week from Maarten Quaadvliet. It’s amazing!
This past year I have been very selective with shooting lingerie since I don’t want to get the image of a glamour model, which is quite easy with my curves and platinum blonde hair. However, Maarten Quaadvliet is a master of portraying sexy, strong and feminine beauty, always keeping it classy. Furthermore he is brilliant with light settings and framings, I learned a lot from watching him work and I can’t wait till I have my own professional camera to start practicing!
The styling of the shoot is inspired by Burberry and I am wearing several brands such as Oysho and Hunkemöller. My personal favorite is this sexy Oysho Body in the picture below
By the way, you would say that this position looks quite normal right? Believe me, it’s the most uncomfortable thing ever! Lingerie photography is highly underestimated I tell you! Don’t feel bad when you see all those skinny and toned models in the lingerie ads: It’s all a lie! In the picture above I am almost breaking my back to get the perfect ‘ass-curve‘ and keeping in my tummy to look skinnier, don’t even mention keeping a straight face despite the uncomfortable position!
Nice legs right? I was balancing on my toes to make them look more toned. And my tummy is perfectly flat too? Yep it is… after flexing my abs, not breathing, and stretching out my upper body, all while trying to look like I am just comfortably chilling in my living room with sexy lingerie and a coat because who doesn’t do that on a casual sunday ;) Don’t get me wrong, I love modelling and I most definitely love the results of this shoot! I just want to show that when you try to make pictures in lingerie and it doesn’t look like the advertisments… keep in mind that models use many tricks to optimize the way their body looks in certain angles and lights, it’s their job after all!
This immediately brings me to my next point: if I can learn it, so can you! I have been getting so many questions about how I pose and how I create my expressions, that I am considering writing an e-book or making a video tutorial where I explain some of my own modelling tricks & tips. So here I am, checking if anyone would be interested in something like that! Let me know in the comments down below or a private message and maybe it will be one of my new projects :)
Lots of Love,
Lynn
Shame on Me
Published Date : February 20, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
I have a confession to make. Even though I’ve been blogging for 1.5 year now, I still feel like I’m discovering new things every single week. While I was working on my organisation plan for 2017, I decided that I should step up my game and asked Taria-Ann if there’s something missing on my blog.
Turns out that I have been missing out indeed! Even though I have a blog for 1.5 year already… I didn’t have a Bloglovin’ account yet! THE online platform where bloggers share their stories and pictures. Shame on me. So, in order to make up for lost time, I am writing this post for you guys with an update: I have a brand new Bloglovin’ account! Better late then never right? The moral of the story: there is always time to improve yourself.
Also, for my fellow bloggers: make sure to send me your Bloglovin account, so I can follow you! I’m always looking for new inspiration and to stay updated with your posts:)
Now if you’d excuse me, I’m off to visit my sweet friend Christel in Eindhoven, we are up to something but you will hear more about that next week!
Get the Look:
Top from Olga Macia
Skirt from Custo Barcelona
Lots of Love,
Lynn
Shop my Look! Marktplaats Goudmijn Collectie
Published Date : December 4, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : #OOTD, The Styling Files
Last week the Marktplaats Goudmijn Collectie Event happened, and it was so much fun! 51 bloggers were rocking the runway with their vintage looks which are currently up for sale (till the 7th of December) right here.
My outfit got quite some compliments throughout the evening, which almost makes me regret putting it up for sale haha. But in case you are looking for a great holiday outfit you should definitely check it out!
The event took place in the Vondelkerk in Amsterdam, very cozy and beautiful :)
As I said before: the looks are only up for sale until the 7th of December, so make sure to check them out! You can bid on your favorite pieces and who knows, maybe you will score an awesome new look <3
Lots of Love,
Lynn
Snuggle Up! Rocking PJ's from Hunkemöller
Published Date : November 23, 2015 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : #OOTD, The Styling Files
We cannot avoid it anymore guys… Winter is arriving and it’s time to snuggle up! If we don’t have to be outside to rock the layered trend, it is SO much better to stay inside in your PJ’s, am I right?! I have a confession to make to you guys: I love fashion with all my heart, but if I would have to choose my working outfit I will always go for the fluffy pyjama! Lucky me that a lot of my blogging work is at home behind my laptop… ;)
Anyways, we were talking about PJ’s! Where to get them this season?! Last friday I received news that the Cozy Collection from Hunkemöller had been launched and since this is one of my favorite brands, I rushed to one of the few shops here in Barcelona to check it out!
Like a little kid in Winterwonderland I hopped to all the different designs, the collection is so varied! Pyjama’s, blankets, fluffy onesies, socks, hats, bathrobes, and more! After trying on pretty much the full collection, I decided to go for a pink fluffy onesie to wear during my ‘Stay at home workingdays’ (IT’S SO FLUFFYYY! – yes, I made a Despicable Me reference there), and a cute Scandanavian inspired pyjama dress with a matching hat and slipper boots.
Simple, cute, comfy and soft… that’s how I would like to dress every single day! Do you guys like the looks that I chose? What kind of outfit is your favorite to wear at home?
That was it! How to rock your PJ’s #flawlessly, may your winterdays be snuggly and fluffy my dears. Now if you excuse me, it’s time to get back to my blanket and cup of tea!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
P.s. Here is also a tip for you lovelies! At the moment Hunkemöller has some special discounts on the Cozy Collections for the early birds: if you buy two products you get 20% discount, if you buy three products you get 30%! You’re welcome :)
Sometimes it’s so hard to get up from the couch and go to fitness… I mean, I think we all agree on what is more comfortable, am I right? Especially if you have to go to the gym and it’s cold outside: Thanks, but no thanks! However, it’s super important for your body to get enough exercise for SO many reasons, as Lady Goldapple explained in her blog last week. That’s why I am dedicating this blog to all of you lazy girls to help you get your ass off the couch, YOU CAN DO IT!
1. Get Social! It’s easy to skip a workout if it’s up to yourself. Try to exercise together with a friend: it will be more fun, you can help each other with tips AND it makes it harder to cancel last-minute: your friend is counting on your support!
2. Reward Yourself: Exercising becomes way more interesting if there is a reward ahead of you once you finish. What makes you happy? If you finish your workout you are allowed to enjoy it! Do you like taking naps? Go for it. Perhaps a delicious lunch? Take your time to cook something nice and relax. Watching your favorite series? Check out two chapters instead of one! You will enjoy it more since you feel like you worked for it and really deserved it.
3. Go Oldskool: Make your workout fun by doing one of those oldskool 80’s/90’s fitness videos. They don’t take too long, have nostalgic upbeat music, and don’t forget the oh so amusing exercise outfits! Make this workout even better by asking a friend to join, there is enough to laugh and talk about!
4. Multitask: I love biking in the gym since it gives me free hands to play with my phone or read a book. The time (and calories) will fly without you even noticing! Fitness was never this easy.
5. Exercise with Daily Movements: If you don’t even feel like putting on your workout outfit, try making mini workouts out of your daily routines! Dance like crazy when you go out to party, take the stairs instead of the escalators, and clean your house like your life depends on it!
6. Create Anticipation: Do you like watching series or reading books? If you do, you must be familiar with the crazy anticipation for the next chapter… what is going to happen next time?! Try to use this anticipation to motivate yourself to workout: get an audiobook which you are ONLY allowed to listen to while you are working out, and let’s see how much more hours in the week you will spend on exercise ;)
7. Pay Yourself, Not the Gym: Instead of going to the gym, pay yourself every time you do fitness on your own. It will save you money, and in six months you will be allowed to buy yourself a present with what you have been saving! Keep your motivation strong by imagining what you could do with all that money, it will help you get through a tough workout!
Satisfying that shoe addiction for example!
Sporty Monday: How to stay in shape without workout
Published Date : September 28, 2015 Author : alexas Categories : Life & Travel
After taking it easy during the summer months it’s time to get back to your weekly routine, including the often dreaded workout time. But don’t you worry! With these five tips you can have a small workout while doing everyday movements. Just so you know, I personally invented all of these techniques and use them every single day
1. Plank Mornings:
You know that moment in the morning when you wake up and the first thing you do is check your phone? Try to lay on your tummy and get into a planking position while doing so! You can make the ‘exercise’ as heavy as you want. If you prefer to wake up easily you can also start with planking on your knees or even just pulling up your tummy while laying down, it activates the muscles
2. Wait for it! Squat before you Sit
Let me ask you: How often do you sit down in a day? That’s right… a LOT of times. So now imagine: every single time you want to sit down, wait for a couple of seconds while you are almost on your chair. It’s pretty much like squatting a LOT of times in a day! Go get that beautiful round booty girls!
3. Happy Nights = Happy Body
This one is pretty easy and super logical… You literally have to dance your ass off! Go to some awesome parties and go wild! Bootydrops are pretty much the same as squats you know… just sayin’. Side note: if you drink too much alcohol it will kinda kill your muscles so try not to drink too much.
4. Tiptoe Stairs
Go get those beautiful calves! Whenever you walk up a stairs, all you have to do is to step with your toes instead of your complete feet and it will train your muscles! So stop using the escalators and elevators… Go for beautiful legs instead.
5. TV Stretching
Chilling all night long in front of the TV with some snacks? Awesome! Instead of sitting like a normal person, try stretching: it lengthens the muscles which will eventually make them slimmer. You won’t get bored with the stretching since you’re being entertained by the TV, what’s not to like?!
There you go! I hope you guys enjoyed reading my tips and that you will actually try some of them. Obviously you won’t get ripped with these mini-workouts, but for me it actually works great to keep my muscles toned, even when I have ups and downs in my workout schedules!
Did you like these tips? Let me know and I will try to come up with more! Do you have some cool workout tips to share yourself? Help a sister out and comment down below!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
Sporty Monday: The Reason why HIIT Workout doesn’t 'work out' for Models
Published Date : October 12, 2015 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
Nowadays HIIT Workout – High Intensity Interval Training – can be found anywhere and is considered as one of the most efficient ways to burn fat. I also did HIIT Workouts for a long time in order to get the ‘perfect’ model measurements, but got more and more frustrated as the time was passing. I was sporting three to four times a week, following a HIIT Trainings program made by a professional coach… why wasn’t this working?
Of course, I had an amazing endurance. Beautiful abs and tight arms and shoulders where also visible. However, the area around my hips and thighs didn’t become skinnier like the rest of my body. At first I thought that perhaps I was doing something wrong during the workout, or maybe I just had to keep on working. A perfect body needs time… right? After training for half a year I came to a model apartment in Milan and one night I was talking with a few of my roomies. Soon they told me I was crazy that I was following such an intense trainings program. They told me that it’s way better to go fast-walking or biking for a few hours each day in order to get a slimmer body, something of which I thought wouldn’t burn enough calories – especially compared to HIIT Workout! After that conversation I decided to do some research and figure out how I could optimize my workout routine.
The Answer
Actually the principle is very simple: pretty much all the coaches are in love with HIIT Workout. You burn lots of calories, boost your metabolism, improve your endurance and strengthen your muscles. However, this last point is exactly the reason why HIIT workout doesn’t work for most of the models. Indeed, my fat percentage was very low in the period that I did HIIT workouts, but my muscles grew so much that I even gained some extra centimeters. The annoying thing about this is the fact that muscles are much harder to get rid of than fat, which brings you into even more troubles. Models barely have fat so the only thing they can achieve with HIIT workout is the gaining of muscles, not good!
Another notable point is the fact that models that are trying to lose weight often barely eat any calories and carbs, which will result in overloading their nerve system once they complete such an intense workout. The less you eat, the less energy your body gets. If you are going to force yourself with HIIT workouts your body will overload and it can damage your muscles. Canadian sprintcoach Charlie Francis describes this process as a cup of thee – everything can be poured into the cup until it overflows. HIIT Workout is a no-go for girls on a diet! Do you want to learn more about HIIT Training? Click here and here for two interesting articles.
But Then What?
As my wise roomies already said: bike and walk regularly! This helps burning calories without pressuring your muscles, which will make sure they won’t grow more. Something which I also find very important is a good stretch after workout: this is not only vital for cooling down, it will also stretch out your muscles so they will stay long and lean.
Do you think your legs are already too muscled and you want to slim them down asap? It sounds cliché but the best you can do is Yoga or Pilates! Personally I had no clue on how to start with yoga; I travel so much so I wasn’t able to take classes. For me the 30 Days Yoga Challenge was a fantastic solution. Every day you follow instructions of a yoga teacher on YouTube for 20 minutes, who shows you several exercises for varying muscle groups. After the 30 days you will know all the basic movements and you can easily do them on your own!
Besides the cardio and yoga it’s also essential to regularly do some power training for the rest of your muscle groups in order to keep your body in top shape! After my cardio I usually spend 30 minutes on abs, chest, back and arms. This doesn’t have to be intense like a HIIT Training. After all, you are not supposed to be mega muscled!
A model has lots to think about when it’s about her body, and a suitable workout is definitely a part of it! I hope I was able to help some girls get to their model measurements with this article. If anyone else has more great ideas please share your knowledge with the rest of us, comment down below!
Spread the Love,
Lynn
P.s. this article got translated from the Dutch original, which I wrote for Modelworkout. I got so many request that I’m sharing it in English with you now!
Spot me in Hunkemöller shops!
Published Date : October 18, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Model Stories
Did you already see me? Starting from this week I will be all over the Hunkemöller shops in 16 different countries, OMG pinch me! Some months ago I already did the shoot, with no one less than amazing photographer Paul Bellaart… you know… the guy who usually shoots with Doutzen Kroes.
I’ve already been spotted a couple of times but I didn’t see it myself yet. I think I’ll go to the Kalverstraat in Amsterdam this saturday to check myself out. Will anyone else be there? In case you don’t have a chance to go check out a shop: I’m sharing all the pictures from the shoot down below!
I’m in love with the ‘Helmuth Newton’ vibes, what about you? :)
What’s your favorite shot? Let me know! Also: send me a message if you spot me one of these days. I’ll be sharing some of your pictures on my Insta Stories!
The new year just started and I already have some great news: I am featured in Fashionista Magazine this month! In between all the big Dutch bloggers such as Lizzy van der Ligt and Anna Nooshin, there is me. Can someone pinch me please?
This month it is all about the social queens of the internet! When Fashionista Magazine contacted me 2 months ago, they gave me two options: be one of the 5 rising stars they are featuring this month, or get my own feature with a private story about a side of blogging which is often not talked about. What do you think that I chose?
Surprise! I went for my own personal feature. Not only because that would give me more pages in the magazine, but also because I think it’s an important topic that should be talked about more. You see, 6 months after I started my blog, I got to the edge of a burnout. I happen to know that lots of professional bloggers suffer from anxiety, burnouts and high amounts of stress due to the high level of competition and heavy workload. This is why I decided to speak up and show the world that, even though our lives are pretty awesome, they are not perfect. In the article I speak about how social media causes us unnecessary stress and how I learned to deal with my insecurities and anxiety: currently I am perfectly fine and very happy with my work as a blogger – just in case you were wondering.
Curious about the article? Make sure to get your copy of Fashionista Magazine while it’s still in the shops! For the non-Dutch speakers here: would you like me to translate the article for you? Let me know!
Badass. Oldskool. Hiphop. There are no other words which describe the AW16/17 Collection from Krizia Robustella better. The designer takes us back to the 80’s and 90’s with ‘Black Street’: a tribute to the streets of New York. On the sounds of ‘No Diggity’ the models parade over the catwalk like true rappers, sunglasses and (faux) fur coats included. Move over hipsters, the gangsters are back!
Krizia Robustella describes her own style as “Sport Deluxe”, with which she tries to merge comfort with luxury. Most of her designs are inspired by sportswear with wide fits and flexible materials, but are simultaneously mixed with luxury details such as (faux) fur and leather. Besides the graffiti tags and the watercolor effects, the signature print of this collection is created by Nicasi Torres: the illustrator that provided the black and white portraits as a print for many of the designs. In ‘Black Street’ we can see a variation between jogging pants, mesh dresses, oversized sweaters, sporty leggings and crop tops with matching high-waisted pencil skirts. My favorites of the show were the tight graphic leather dress and the oversized fur sweater dress: both have a beautiful color scheme and are fun to wear!
Furthermore, the overall styling of the collection is done very well with sneakers to emphasize the street style, and the hat with sunglasses to create that ‘badass rapper’ feeling Krizia Robustella is going for. Fun details are the fur hats and bags as accessories, which are the cherries on the pie of ‘Black Street’. This young designer has a vibrant vision, which is very clear while watching her collection rock the runway. Isn’t it fascinating to see how oldskool inspirations can become young and fresh in the right hands? I’m a fan Krizia, and definitely looking forward to seeing more of you!
Check out some of my favorite looks of the show down below, would you wear any of her designs?
Spring Fashion Editorial: Are you ready for these Trends?
The sun is starting to show his face, the sky is getting blue, temperatures are rising and there is lots and LOTS of new spring fashion to discover!
Not that long ago I had a photoshoot with Ramon Marques for a spring fashion editorial, and I LOVE the results, so I just wanted to share them with you :)
Boohyah, who else loves the Rock Princess vibes?!
The stylist Mireia Rovira did a great job on the combination of unexpected elements, which I think is so important if you want to create a unique style! As you can see we will be having lots of yellow this spring. Alongside with shimmers, floral prints and statement accessories! What do you think, are you ready for these trends?
A little bit of surrealism never hurt nobody, right? ;) Fun note: the stylist made the cap herself because she couldn´t find what she had in mind… 10 points for creativity!
Anyways, I hope you guys like the pictures! What have you been up to lately? This week I will be very busy with meetings for new exciting collaborations, and also I will be working on organizing a trip back to the Netherlands! Salone della Moda (Rotterdam Fashionweek) is coming up by the end of this month and I will be there! Also I will be running around Amsterdam for some days, so if you want to meet me, leave a message! Now I´m going to get dressed and WORK IT at the gym, because taking care of your body also has to happen in between all the busy work work work stuff :)
I’ve been super happy all week already, do you want to know why? It’s MARCH! that means that it’s almost Spring! And let’s be honest, here in sunny Barcelona it’s definitely already feeling like it – Today I was even able to go outside with just a thin faux-leather jacket, can you believe it?!
Anyways, with the temperatures rising and the warm sunshine coming back, I was in the mood for a Spring outfit with warm colors. Bordeaux Red is still a super popular color for 2016, but I traded the knits for a pastel pink floral print. I love that the wide shirt is comfy casual but still feminine, and it fits perfectly with my beige 3/4 trousers! My full outfit is from the Spanish brand Cortefiel, a shop where you will find me regularly here in Barcelona, because they are awesome :)
Earlier that day I was really happy to be invited by the brand CND to get a manicure and a masterclass about nailcare. It was a blogger event to introduce their newest Spring/Summer colors for 2016, and it was so much fun! The ladies taking care of me were the sweetest and I had the hardest time picking a color since they were all so beautiful: in the end I went for a shimmery oldpink with a hot pink nailart detail on my ringfinger, what do you guys think?!
This was the first time I tried Shellac so I am really excited to see if it actually works – you know, that nailpolish that stays on for 2 full weeks and is very hard to remove. They even gave me a special product with instructions so I will be able to take it off in 2 weeks, along with lots of other care products and 2 colors from their collection, I’m the happiest girl in the world :)
Another thing that I wanted to share with you guys: as you might have read in my previous blog, I am currently dealing with a little burnout so my March is all about experimenting with getting better. So here is an update for you guys now: I noticed that sometimes I started reacting quite cynic & pessimistic to friends and people I work with, which makes me dissapointed in myself because thats NOT who I am at all. BUT now comes the good news! Since music has a huge influence on me, I decided to make a Spotify playlist called ‘Happy Therapy‘: filled with upbeat, badass, fun and happy music, to which I listen everytime I go to meet someone in order to brighten up my mood. Guess what? It works like a charm!
Since I started listening music before my meetings I’ve had so much fun and laughed more than I might have done in the past few weeks combined. So there you go! Maybe you would like to hear I am doing better and maybe it will work for you too!
Remember everyone: the seasons are changing, everything is getting warmer and brighning up. Let’s do the same! Show kindness, make someone’s day, appreciate what you have and don’t be too hard for yourself. Ups and downs are a part of life, just make sure that you always keep looking up :)
Lots of Love and see you soon <3
Lynn
P.s. Thank you Luis Lau, for making these fun pictures with me! You’re the best
SS16 Agnes B - Dressing the Everyday Woman
Published Date : October 6, 2015 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : The Styling Files
Before the show starts, the public gets to see a short film introduction in order to celebrate the 40 years’ existence of the Fashion House. “I want to make clothes that can be kept for a lifetime” she states. Her designs are known for being classic pieces: suitable for any time or season. This typical French brand tributes its SS16 collection to the beauty of the everyday woman.
The show opens with two beautiful models walking together in long, simple dresses. They are holding a cup of tea and a baguette as if they just got their breakfast. The next looks resemble a businesswoman on her way to work: black & grey blazers and pencil skirts in combination with long coats and handbags. Later on, the designs get more casual and ready for summer.
There are a couple of graphic black & white designs with the iconic horizontal stripes Agnes B became known for. Furthermore, it is visible she has a weak spot for straight lines and soft materials: comfortable yet super stylish. She uses classic fashion pieces and gives them a twist with bright colors, new cuts, interesting combinations with other clothing pieces or with adding details such as buttons or zippers. Some of her favorite pieces are trench coats, straight trousers, blouses and blazers.
To emphasize the natural beauty of the everyday woman, Agnes B choses for a natural make-up look, it’s not necessary to get all dressed up! The hairdos are also simple and straight forward yet elegant. By selecting a wide variety of models she also wants to show that everyone can be beautiful: any age, any race, any size… anyone! Agnes B sends out a great message to all of us, which is truly inspiring.
What we also like about the Agnes B show is the fact that any of the looks she creates, you can in fact completely put on and walk straight out of the door. She thinks everything trough: clothes, accessories and shoes. Furthermore, the energy is upbeat, it’s fun! It’s clear the models are feeling comfortable in their outfits and that they are having a good time (we even saw some smiles!), the music creates a good atmosphere and the looks are classic but impressing nevertheless. The quality of the material, the perfect cuts, the timeless charm… Agnes B made her 40 Years Celebration one to remember!
SS16 John Galliano - Back to British
Published Date : October 5, 2015 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : The Styling Files
After being out for a while, it is finally time for the return of John Galliano to the worlds fashion capital, Paris! The SS16 Collection is inspired by his roots in Great Britain, as we can see several references to British history, as well as to modern London. John Galliano portrays a unique mixture of statuesque uniforms with British rock and intimate lace work.
As the models walk down the runway we see lots of blazers and trousers with strong lines, creating a powerful and edgy feel. The cuts are perfectly tailored to the female body and the materials follow flawlessly. On the other hand, we also see a lot of delicate transparent lace with subtle embellishments. These inherently feminine designs are edged up with Brit-inspired caps, flat shoes and a badass attitude. Other notable designs are romantic cocktail dresses with a deep V-neck, several Brit-inspired checkered suits, and long organza dresses which flow beautifully over the catwalk. A returning motive is the use of polka dots, which can be found in most of the outfits.
The use of color is mainly black & white. However, there are several color accents such as beige, blue, army green and bright orange. John Galliano manages to create a coherent overall style by playing with these color accents throughout the presentation. The make-up and the hair are very neutral with an emphasizes on brushy brows, probably in order to don’t make the looks too feminine. After all: John Galliano is going for subtle Brit Rock.
While John Galliano is commonly known for his over-the-top carnavalesque flamboyantly eccentric style, this SS16 collection was more subtle and can immediately be taken to the streets. A piece of London was present in Paris today, and the lovers of British fashion will be standing in line for this unique collection. Welcome back John Galliano!
P.s. My article was originally published at Modelboard Magazine. Check it out for all of my PFW Fashion Reports!
Staycation? Roadtrip!
Published Date : August 1, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
Who doesn’t love a good old roadtrip? You and your friends, on adventure to find beautiful new places. Since I am not going on vacation this year, I decided to do a couple of roadtrips instead. Spain is a beautiful country, and actually I haven’t seen THAT much of it yet. Sure, I’ve been to all the touristic places and cities, but what about its secret treasures? Time to explore I would say :)
Me and a couple of friends got a car and drove to a very small place in the south of Catalonia called Toll de l’Olla. After we parked the car we walked for around 30 minutes in the woods before we found a hidden waterfall… which looked beautiful!
Photo by Naelia Salas Amner
It took us quite some climbing and jumping over rocks till we made it there, the river is beautiful but so slippery! I even got some blue spots on my feet right now… But hey, if you want a roadtrip adventure, you gotta work for it right?
Photo by Naelia Salas Amner
Sometimes it just feels great to go back to basics and enjoy nature in its purest form. Not only did I see a bit more of the country I live in. I also got over one of my fears: jumping from big heights! #GoMe
Photo by Naelia Salas Amner
Yep, I was definitely proud of myself, hahaha!
Are you on a staycation, or considering a roadtrip? DO IT! It’s actually so simple, but it feels like such an adventure. Search on Instagram or Google for a beautiful place that’s within 2/3 hours driving from your home, gather some friends, and GO! I promise you… it’s worth it :)
Lots of Love,
Lynn
Storytime: How I became a Model
Published Date : May 3, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Model Stories
After my blogpost “5 steps: How to become a model” I suddenly realized that I never told you how I actually became a model myself! It might not look like it now, but when I was younger, I never even thought about becoming a model. So how did that happen? Keep reading!
When I was 15 years old and I was in high school, living a normal teenage life. A friend of mine wanted to become a photographer and he spent most of his days shooting landscapes and industrial areas, until one day he wanted a new challenge: a model. He asked me if I would like to join him on a roadtrip and make pictures together, so of course I said yes! We spent the full day making pictures, and surprisingly enough, we got lots of great reactions!
That’s when we started to make more pictures and eventually I got noticed by other photographers. I suddenly got e-mails asking if I would like to shoot with them, which surprised me because I still didn’t consider myself as a ‘real’ model. However, I figured it would be fun and I started shooting more and more, getting better every time.
Eventually I got contacted by a couple of agencies, but unfortunately they weren’t as good as they said they were. So I continued shooting on my own, contacting photographers that I liked. Every new shoot became more professional with full teams, interesting locations and better photographers. For me, modeling was a way to be creative, to look at the complete picture as an art and I made it my personal challenge to make the pictures more beautiful every time.
By this time I was already in university, combining some small model jobs with school to pay for my rent. I started thinking about travelling around the world and after I graduated, I stayed in several countries working as a model as an excuse to visit those places, best decision I ever made :) I guess… once I started working with international agencies on a fulltime base, is when I called myself a ‘professional model’.
It might not be the job I had in mind when I was younger, but working as a model has taught me more than I would have ever imagined. I’ve seen insane cool locations, met the most interesting people and created memories that will last for a lifetime.
Do you want to be a model? Make sure to read my blog with 5 steps, and also make sure to read Demi’s blogposts on modeling. She is the best!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
Storytime: How I met my Spanish Boyfriend!
Published Date : February 14, 2018 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
Happy Valentine’s day guys! Guess what? I’m sharing a special story today! Me and Alex have been together for more than 6 years and we get this question all the time: how did we meet? Little spoiler alert: we met while I was still in high school, can you believe it?! It’s a fun story that I enjoy telling everytime, I hope you enjoy hearing it!
What do you think about how we met? Do you have a cute story as well? Send me a message!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
Summer Fashion! How to wear Swimsuits as an #OOTD
Published Date : July 3, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : #OOTD, The Styling Files
Swimsuits as fashion statement? We are all fan of stylish swimsuits, but did you ever try to make outfits with them? With some of my fav swimsuits of Hunkemöller I created 4 different looks for all occasions: get ready for the next summer fashion trends!
Sporty
First of all, black on black is always a good idea! Combine it with cool sunnies and a pair of sneakers and you’re good to go. Going out for a jog or a hike is super comfy with a swimsuit because the material is so flexible, you can even jump into a lake or a pool right after you finished to cool down;)
Casual Chic
Going out for a nice stroll on the boulevard or out to dinner? An elegant swimsuit might be the perfect match for you! Look for a classy neckline & color and combine it with a skirt or a culotte. My favorite colors for a chic outfit are navy blue and beige, add some cute sandals with heels and your outfit is done!
Festival
A blog about summer fashion cannot miss a festival look! I love fun fashion because it allows you to get creative and a little bit silly. This colorful print swimsuit works perfectly with an oversized denim jacket and shorts. To add some extra fun I added happy socks with white sneakers: who else is getting 80’s vibes? The finishing touches are the watermelon shoe candies, my colorful sunnies and to top it off a casual bun in my hair.
Oh yeah, did I mention I love fun fashion? I created a bonus look for you guys! To move from 80’s to 70’s just change the denim for flared trousers. Also I love this long vest, which moves amazingly in the wind! And did you know that detailed sleeves are totally in trend this year?
Party
It’s time for the last look of the day already! Swimsuits are in fact super awesome to wear while partying because they are so comfy. I chose for a black swimsuit with a deep V-neck in combination with a midi skirt, et voila: it looks like a dress! Add some cute high heels and your look is already done :) A big plus: if you are on vacation partying and you want to jump in the ocean after the club, you won’t have to ruin your clothes! Gotta love summer fashion
That was it already! Are you guys ready for summer fashion? I sure am! Let me know if you like the looks and if you want to see more :) Enjoy your vacay everyone!
Since I became familiar with the concept of Sunday Brunches I’ve been hooked. I mean. Weekend, food, good vibes. What’s not to love? Even though my (very small) hometown Heerlen doesn’t have brunch parties, me and Alex still went out for a lovely date. Nothing too fancy, but we had a great time! This is what I wore to a casual brunch date:)
We decided to go to Mijn Streek, a modern restaurant on the 5th floor, which looks out over the city. I ordered a super delicious salad and we spent our midday chatting together, playing with our camera, eating and enjoying the views. Often I find these kind of dates so much more fun than organised dates: expectations always lead to irritations or disappointment. A casual date without plans is always relaxed. Exactly the way I like it.
Btw, did I already tell you guys about my personal goals for 2017? Besides my professional goals, I am also aiming to learn more about Yoga and to work on the way to become a vegan. Instead of going cold turkey, I will spend all year on educating myself on the nutrition that our bodies needs to be healthy while cutting down on animal products. Would you be interested to know what I find out? Let me know and I will dedicate some blog posts to it!
What is your favorite brunch hotspot? Who’s in for a date?! :)
Published Date : September 27, 2015 Author : alexas Categories : BlondieTV, Life & Travel
One month ago I posted a question on Facebook, reaching out to you guys to ask which challenge I should take on in order to celebrate the launch of my blog.
Well… here we are! My blog is launched and I couldn’t be happier so it’s time to celebrate! Even though I gave you guys four options to choose from, it was quite clear most of you wanted me to do the same challenge: The letting my boyfriend do my make-up challenge!
So there you go guys…. Enjoy!
Do you have any other cool ideas for challenges that I should take on? Let me know in the comments below!
Love,
Lynn
Super Salt: 8 ways to use salt for your beauty regime
Published Date : September 24, 2015 Author : alexas Categories : Beauty Guru
Did you know that our bodies contain the same concentration of minerals and nutrients as sea water? It’s no wonder that sea salt is often used to balance, protect, and restore the body & skin. Now that we will have to miss the salty ocean for a while (bye bye summer!), it’s time to learn a bit more about how to use salt in our beauty regime. I did some research and found some cool head-to-toe tips for you guys, enjoy!
Before you start with DIY beauty treatments, first it’s important to understand the difference between sea salt and ordinary salt! You see, Sea Salt is loaded with minerals such as calcium, sodium and potassium, which play a very important role in our skin’s health. When the mineral balance is off this will result in symptoms such as dryness, dullness and irritation. Especially now that the colder, dryer weather is setting in, it’s perfect to use sea salt to get your minerals back in balance.
1. Anti-Dandruff Scalp Treatment
The Facts: Salt loosens and removes the existing flakes while stimulating circulation for a healthy scalp. It also absorbs excess oil and moisture in order to prevent fungal growth and prevent the root of dandruff.
The DIY: Sprinkle one or two teaspoons of salt on your scalp. Then massage your scalp gently with wet fingers for 10-15 minutes (or even better: let someone else do it for you!). Wash and condition your hair and tadaaa! Immediate results.
2. Balancing Mask
The Facts: Just like salt, also honey has anti-inflammatory properties which help to soothe the skin and calm down breakouts and irritation. The combination of these two ingredients helps to balance oil production and retain hydration.
The DIY: Mix four teaspoons of raw honey with two teaspoons of finely ground sea salt to make a spreadable paste. Apply the paste evenly to clean, dry skin and leave it for 10-15 minutes. Before you rinse off the paste, soak a washcloth in warm water and gently wring it out. Lay the warm washcloth on your face for 30 seconds. Then use your fingers to softly exfoliate in circular motions while rinsing your skin thoroughly with warm water.
3. Facical Toner
The Facts: As we know now, salt helps to deeply clean your pores, to balance your oil production and to prevent bacteria that originate breakouts and acne. Use this toner once or twice a day to keep your skin balanced.
The DIY: It’s easy! All you have to do is to mix 1 teaspoon of sea salt with 2 cups of water and 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar and put it in a spray bottle. Make sure you are moisturizing your skin well while spraying it on your face… et voilà!
4. Eye De-Puffer
The Facts: Sea Salt soothes the skin and absorbs excess moisture, exactly what you need to get rid of those puffy eyes!
The DIY: Mix salt & hot water and apply this to cotton pads. Gently place the soaked pads to the area around your eyes to instantly smooth and reduce the puffiness.
5. Chapped Lips
The Facts: For most of us, the cooler weather in the autumn months translates to dry, chapped lips. The rough texture of salt makes it an excellent scrub to remove dead skin and to smoothen the lips. Vaseline is a great moisturizer and protects damaged skin.
The DIY: Mix two teaspoons of salt with one teaspoon of Vaseline and gently massage the mixture into your lips in order to remove dead skin. Take a damp washcloth and remove the mixture . Now put some extra Vaseline on your lips to get them in perfect condition and you are good to go!
6. Relaxing Salt Bath
The Facts: Salt absorbs dirt and toxins which cleanses your skin’s pores deeply. Salt’s mineral content helps to restore the protective barrier in skin and helps it hold hydration. The magnesium in sea salt may also help reduce water retention (i.e., bloating) in the body!
The DIY: It couldn’t be easier! Add one-third cup of sea salt to a tub filled with warm water and move it around till the salt dissolves. Relax in the bath for 15-30 minutes and enjoy!
7. Hand Scrub
The Facts: Just like the lips, also your hands get more dry as soon as the colder months kick in. Making a scrub with sea salt will stimulate the circulation of the skin and to balance the moisture. Using olive oil will give an amazing hydration boost and will help to protect the skin.
The DIY: Mix 2 teaspoons of sea salt with 1 teaspoon of olive oil and use the mixture to gently scrub your hands for 5 minutes. Wash your hands with soap to get rid of excess oil and then apply a hand crème. Immediate and super soft results!
8. Nail Brightening Treatment
The Facts: Salt does not only soften cuticles and skin, it also strengthens the nails. Baking soda and lemon reduce yellowing and stains in order to make the nails look brighter and healthier.
The DIY: Mix 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice with half a cup of warm water in a small bowl. Soak your nails in this mixture for 10 minutes and then scrub them with a soft nailbrush. Rinse your hands and apply a hand crème.
Thank you Donald Trump
Published Date : January 23, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Get inspired!
Thank you, Donald Trump.
For inspiring millions of women to
Step up their game and
March for their rights.
We wouldn’t be as eager without you.
Thank you, Donald Trump.
For inspiring millions of women to
Enlighten their flame and
Open their eyes
Now we can finally see the truth
You reminded us that
“Support”
Is better than
“Competition”
And that
“Kindness”
Doesn’t rule out
“Ambition”
You reminded us that
We can all reach out and make this world a place
A place ruled by equality, with respect and with grace
Women and Men
Like Yin and Yang
Working together to fix all the cracks
Not blazing abroad these “alternative facts”
Our actions
Speak louder than your words
Our voices
Are here to be heard
Our bodies
Gladfully called ‘ours’
Our minds
An unstoppable force
We are more than
the boxes you like to place us in
Or the pussies you (would like to) grab
We are better than
The color of our skin
Our power comes from within
Not from daddy’s lap
We are greater than
The most powerful man on earth
Because we stand together, outreaching any map
So once again
Thank you, Donald Trump.
For making us women more united
Stronger than ever
We are reminded
We’re in this together
I am proud to be
what you like to call
A nasty woman
A woman
In charge of
Her own choices
Her own body and
Her own life
Oh yes
I am most definitely
Proud to be
A woman
By Lynn Quanjel
It always makes me so happy to hear… “I always love your photos! How do you do it?“. I can already tell you now: it takes more than a pretty face to get cool pictures: it’s all about a good concept and the right execution. Last week in Barcelona I organized an amazing fashion editorial, and I will take you guys through the process step by step! *Warning* This is quite a read because the organisation of this shoot was a rollercoaster.
Pre-Shooting
Step 1: The Concept
Before you do anything at all, first come up with a cool idea. What do you want to create? I have been walking around with my idea for years already: I always wanted to do a fashion editorial inspired by Catalan Art Nouveau – you know, those Gaudí buildings. I spent an hour searching on Google and Pinterest to find inspiration pictures for my moodboard.
Note: the moodboard is only inspirational, it doesn’t mean you should copy it! For example: even though I absolutely adore these pictures, I would personally choose for more modern and romantic styling to create a nostalgic yet stylish feeling. Powerful, colorful and feminine. Those are going to be my spirit words during the shoot.
Step 2: The Team
Now that you know the vibes you are going for: who could be able to make your vision become reality? Which photographer fits the moodboard style? Do you know someone that can give you the right hair- and make-up look? And obviously: for a fashion editorial you NEED a stylist! Make sure you find one who totally understands what you are going for.
What if you don’t have the resources for a professional team?Keep in mind that professionals will give you the best results, what could you give them in return? Another service or money is always considerable. In case you want to try it on your own: make sure to direct your “photographer” to the style you want, check out some make-up and hair tutorials to master the look you have in mind, and spend a good amount of time checking magazines and shops to find the clothes you need.
Once you have the team together: make sure you guys all agree on the same date and time to prevent any miscommunication. We decided to shoot on Saturday next week, so we have 7 days to prepare everything.
Step 3: The Location
If you want to go for a simple option all you have to do is find a wall et voilá: you are good to go. Otherwise I suggest you do some thorough research on the location you have in mind: make walks through the city, go through countless pinterest accounts, blogs and google streetviews till you find the perfect spot.
To start I literally googled “Gaudí Architecture” and checked the Wikipedia page with all of his buildings, which I checked one after the other. First I looked which ones would fit with the concept, and then I checked which ones where within an acceptable reach in order to narrow down the list of options. Once I had my list ready I decided to make it a fun sunday with Naelia (the photographer) by walking through the city to scout locations. Here’s an important tip:
NEVER scout locations on a sunday, if the building is owned by a company you won’t be able to ask anyone for permission to shoot there. #fail
Luckily there where so many options that it wasn’t a problem in the end. On sunday evening I managed to narrow down the list to 7 locations. Once you have the list of locations make sure to contact all of them in order to ask for permission. Especially when it comes to private or historical locations. After mailing and calling for some days we ended up with 6 locations since Casa Mila asked €1500,- for 1 hour of shooting on their rooftop #ouch.
However, there was also some good news! Casa Batlló offered me to shoot at the location without any other people at 7 in the morning, SO COOL. One thing: it wasn’t possible on saturday, so I made the appointment for the next monday. That might have been for the best though: I decided to split up the shoot into 2 days: saturday we will be shooting the locations that are outside of Barcelona because then Alex can bring us there by car, and on monday we will shoot the locations in the city center. This will prevent too much rushing and stress on the shoot dates.
Step 4: The Styling
Communication with the stylist is vital: make sure she knows exactly what kind of looks you have in mind and which vibes you want to transmit. The rest is easy: trust her to do her job.
Pfiew, the hard part is done! Or that’s what I thought. It turned out the stylist had a family emergency and had to go back to Madrid. DRAMA. WHO IS GOING TO DO MY STYLING. OMG. I have to be honest: I panicked. I contacted all the stylists I knew in Barcelona but all of them were already busy that week, obviously. However, I simply refused to let my dream shoot slip away so I decided to get out of my comfort zone and do the styling myself (I am a blogger for Christ sake… I should be able to do this stuff). I started checking out local designers and PR agencies to see if they had anything that would fit with the style of the shoot, and then I simply started calling and mailing everyone who made the cut – I literally spent 2 days and €30,- on prepaid to get collaborations with the right brands. It was totally worth it.
After picking up all the designs that I thought would fit well with the concept, I spent one night matching all the separate designs into outfits and later on connecting each outfit to a specific location. For this I paid attention to how the structures, colors and materials would connect to the architecture.
Step 5: The Make-up & Hair
For muah’s I would say exactly the same as for the stylist: just make sure they understand what you want and trust them to do their job. I like to make a special moodboard just for make-up and hair so there isn’t any misunderstanding possible.
But again… luck was not with me this week: also the Muah cancelled due to a family emergency so there was even more stress! I asked around to all the Muah’s I know in Barcelona but since it was so last minute none of them where available arghh.
Lesson of this week: Make sure you always have a plan B, C, D, E, F,G, H, I… pretty much all the letters of the alphabet.
Both of the muah’s we scored were super last minute: like literally 1 day (or night) before the shoot I was able to find someone that would be able to give me the quality I was looking for. Stresslevel: 100%. Relieve: 110%.
Step 6: Logistics
Once you have all the team together, make sure all the dates, times and locations are perfectly clear to everyone. Also think very well: is there anything specific you might need? For example: I will be carrying around a lot of expensive designer clothes so I need special plastic covers and bags to make sure they don’t get damaged. An assistant to help you carrying the stuff could be even better. Some of the locations are inside so the photographer has to take some extra lights or a reflection screen in case needed. For some of the shots the model or the photographer has to stand from a higher position, so we should try to take a ladder or something similar for that reason. All in all this process went rather smoothly (for a change).
Shoot Time
Step 7: Art Direction
Luckily the preparation process is the most work. During the shoot you have to keep track of the results and make the necessary adjustments if you don’t find them suitable to you concept yet. Check – Adjust – Improve – Repeat.
Step 8: Logistics (#2)
Do you have a place to park the car? Is it possible to carry all the equipment and clothes with the team or do you need someone to help you out? What time do you have on each location and is it bound by opening hours and/or busy times? Just make sure you are prepared, and even if you find some surprises along the way: the best way to handle them is to react fast and be flexible.On monday morning we got the bad news that there had been a problem with our permission for Casa Batlló: instead of 7am we were only allowed to enter after 9am. Instead of sitting on our pretty asses for 2 hours we started shooting in front of the building and inside the building next to Casa Batlló, which turned out to be amazing pictures!
After Shooting
Step 9: The Selection
And here comes to moment to kill your darlings: all the beautiful pictures you shot have to be eliminated one by one until you have around 10-15 pictures left (depending on the amount of looks you shot). First start with a rough selection: deleting all the pictures that are vague, have bad lighting or are obviously unflattering. After that I like to work with a star-rating system: each time you pass a picture that you like, give it a star. If you’ve gone through all the pictures you repeat the same process with all the pictures that already had one star, and pass on to the 2nd round if they get 2 stars. Repeat until you reach perfection.
Step 10: The Editing
Take a good look at the moodboard and pay attention to what kind of editing style was used there. Once you choose a specific ‘filter’ so to say, all you have to do is be cohesive. Let’s trust the photographer with his/her skills on this one shall we!
Here are already some quick results! The full fashion editorial will be online tomorrow, make sure to check it out :)
The fashion season is starting again! Last time, I had an amazing week full with fun experiences, and I cannot wait for the upcoming shows. Preparing yourself for a fashion week is absolutely necessary, a thing which I learned from going to fashion weeks for quite some seasons already. I decided to team up with 7 amazing bloggers to write down The Ultimate Prep Guidelines for Fashion Week… Get Ready!
Here are the babes joining us at Who is that Blonde today:
Bunch of style experts? Check! Together we created 20 style guidelines which will leave you completely prepared for the fashion season. What to wear to be noticed by the streetstyle photographers, how to prepare your outfits? Style tips and practical tips are all set up. Keep reading!
1. Choose outfits that don’t need killer heels, running around Paris will make you go crazy! “Take flat shoes with you in your bag!” Larissa and Amanda suggest. If it’s up to Lily: “Über all the way”.
2. One of my tips would be to narrow down your essentials to your bag-size. But if it’s really not possible (clutches can be super cute for your outfit obviously), take a cotton bag with you. It will look like you just scored it at a brand presentation and you just got from there. Iris and Marlot couldn’t agree more with this one!
3. Is it your goal to get spotted by streetstyle photographers? Wear something that’s in trend that season. All of the girls agree that it’s the best way to get featured in magazines because trends are the topic that magazines want to tell their audience about.
4. Me, Amanda and Marlot swear by layering: if you have a lot of shows/ events in one day, you don’t want to wear the same in all the pictures. Choose your outfit wisely by selecting several layers which you can add or take off, like that you can completely turn your look around!
5. Your outfits don’t have to be from expensive designers, as long as you look stylish! Fashion fades, style is eternal. And btw… we always still have vintage don’t we? <3 Iris adds: if you cannot afford designer items, you can also borrow or rent them!
6. Lily has a great tip for catching the attention: work your statement pieces! Even if you are rocking the minimal look, with bright colors or funny details you can perfectly finish off your outfit.
7. “If you visit the shows, make sure to wear something from the designer that’s showing” Larissa states. “In case you don’t have anything from the designer, at least try to wear something in his/her style” Marta adds.
8. All the girls state how important it is to collaborate with brandsfor cool looks. It’s a win-win! You get a cool outift to wear, and they get promotion – maybe they will even offer to pay you for it.
9. Amanda is the prepared stylist with very practical tips: “make sure to go through your outfits at home so you know exactly what you will be wearing and how you will combine it with accessories. Make pictures of the selected looks so you don’t carry around unnecessary clothes.” During fashion weeks you always travel a lot, so it’s very important to don’t pack more than necessary. 10. However, Amanda and Marta also explain that it’s important to always pack 1 extra look in case you don’t like one of your other looks anymore, or perhaps it got dirty and you need an emergency outfit. Always. Be. Prepared.
11. Larissa got a good pracitcal tip for us: “Never forget to take your business cards with you! You will meet people that will want to contact you”. Networking is everything in the fashion world, especially during the fashion weeks.
12. Me and Marta know how to catch the attention of the streetstyle photographers.: before really ‘walking into the scene’ we carefully check out where the photographers are located, to make sure we pass by them. Once one of the photographers starts to make pictures, the rest will follow soon enough.
13. Amanda does her researchon the creative directors of the brands, the hotspots of the city and the interesting fashion people, to be prepared in case she meets them or has to choose a meeting place.
14. “Fashion Week can be quite hectic so it’s important that you know how to handle stressful situations and stay calm“, Taria-Ann explains. I mentally prepare myself for possible situations so I know how to deal with them later on. Preparation is everything.
15. For me it’s very important to not just have gorgeous looks, it’s also important that you can share it with the world! Do your research on beautiful shoot locations and make sure you take your time to shoot your looks.
16. “A total look is more than your outfit, also pay attention to your total look“. Lily always pays attention to every detail of her look, for example: hair, make-up, nails and accessories.
17. “Bright colors and textures always pop out more than neutral colors – obviously” Taria-Ann states. If you want to catch the attention, make sure that at least one part of your outfit pops out. Also, get out of your comfort zone! Go for more bold choices and experiment. People like it.
18. In autumn: make sure you score a beautiful coatwhich can work as your fashion statement. Like that you won’t have to freeze in order to show off your outfit.
19. Be nice to the photographers, they are doing their job! If they like you, it will also be more likely that they remember you and automatically start photographing you the next time they spot you. I actually made a couple of great friends because I took the time to stop and make a small talk with them every now and then.
20. Taria-Ann gets practical: arrange your accreditation as far ahead as possible, so you have enough time to prepare your outfits and your schedule. In case you are going to multiple cities you have to book your flight tickets and hotel rooms, so you need time to prep. Also: make sure to get some extra sleep and take care of your skin, you don’t want to look bad in the pictures now do you?
Do some of these tips surprise you? Do you have some tips of your own that you want to share? Who else is going to a fashion week this season? Leave a comment!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
P.s. If you liked this post, make sure to also check out my vlogs of Paris and Madrid Fashion Week!
The 4 ways I deal with Negativity
Published Date : August 2, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
Have you ever found yourself in the position where you felt really down because someone said something mean? Have you ever been in a situation where your positivity was crushed into the ground by lack of motivation? Well, let me tell you one thing. I certainly have been in those situations. And I’m sure you have been as well. Sometimes It’s hard to stay positive whilst surrounded by negativity. So, I present you: 4 tips to deal with negative thoughts (and people).
1. Tap into Love
If you’re on Instagram (and a lot of you probably are), you probably had comments on your pictures that you didn’t like. Obviously that’s annoying. Even if there are hundreds of nice comments and one ugly one, you’ll remember the nasty one. My tip: try to stay focused on all the good stuff people are saying to you. Read the nasty com ment and realize that they’re the one being insecure. They are doing this because they’re jealous and because they can’t control their insecurities. If a comment really bothers you, think about all your friends, family and other supporters. They love you and they’re the ones who are important.
2. Positivity is Contagious
There are a lot of different people in this world. Sometimes you meet people that have a negative energy around them (you know what I mean?). I call these people: the whiners. They always find something negative to say. I give you an example:
Person A: So the food is good here don’t you think?
Person B: Yeah but the wine is awful and the weather is shit.
This may be a small example but I hope you get the point. Well, it’s really exhausting to be around those people. You give them energy and they TAKE it. It’s hard to deal with, but it is possible. Try to lift them up by staying positive things. Give the right example because positivity is contagious!! If you stay positive, it will have a domino effect.
3. The Law of Attraction
If the circumstances are not ideal, it’s hard to stay positive. If one annoying thing happens and you let it make you sad or annoyed, the negative energy will overflow you. The secret to not letting that happen to you is NOT rocket science. It is all about the LAW OF ATTRACTION. Let me explain: positive thoughts attract positive actions. Don’t think about what you want to achieve. Keep focused on everything that you WILL achieve. You can achieve everything you want if you have the courage to believe in yourself.
Of course, you can feel a bit down every now and then, but immediately think about WHY you are doing what you’re doing and what you’re goal is. If you don’t feel happy about your life, then CHANGE it. Even if this means you have to make radical changes. Life is too short to even do something you don’t like for one day. Do stuff you enjoy and positivity will come. Because let me tell you this: positive minds are really attractive.
4. Use a Chalkboard
Sometimes, when your goal seems really far away, it’s hard to find the motivation. I have a really good tip for lack of motivation. Buy a whiteboard. Okay, so let me explain this. Not a long time ago I had a conversation with a really good friend. We both had a lack of motivation and we were discussing ways on how to become motivated again. So he told me he bought a whiteboard… I asked him what to do with it and he explained.
For starters, write 5 goals you will achieve at the end of the year and 1 goal you will achieve in 5 years. Attach motivation photos of the goals and positive quotes that will help you stay focused on them. Make a picture of yourself of the first day (which CAN be today) and attach it to the whiteboard. Then, make a picture every month and attach it next to the one from the first day. Repeat this every month by leaving the first day photo and changing the every month photo. So you can see the change getting bigger and bigger.
You may think this is only for people who want to gain or lose weight or become more muscular but this is not true. In every photo you will see and feel the change you made inside. Everyday when you wake up, you will see your goals and all the photos and quotes attached and you’ll realize why this day will be the next great one in line for reaching your goal: why you’re doing what you’re doing. FOCUS, you can DO this!!
I hope you got motivated by this blog. Let me know if you’re buying a whiteboard today.
The 5 Streetstyle outfits that worked best during fashion season
Published Date : March 15, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : #OOTD, The Styling Files
Fashion season is over! As you might remember, some months ago I shared a blog on how to prepare best for fashion weeks, so I decided to follow my own advice. You know, just to see what happens. After Amsterdam, Madrid and Lisbon fashion week, I listed the 5 outfits that worked best for the streetstyle photographers, let’s check them out!
#5: Beachy Stripes.
Stripes are a HUGE trend right now, combined with cool jeans and transparent booties, this look is completely streetstyle worthy. But hey, maybe the shoot location helped too?
#4: Holographics
Yaassss, can’t get enough from holographic pink! Mesh combined with holographic and fishnets is BOOM! Sexy but badass, definitely a popular look for fashion week.
#3: Showstopper
What better catches the attention better than a showstopper design? There are 1000’s of people visiting fashion week, so this sure as hell makes you stand out. People thought that I was a celebrity, which got me a lot of media attention.
#2: Pink Only
All pink outfits were one of the most popular trends of this season. But the real secret behind this outfit is the selection of excellent items: all of them are awesome on their own, which makes the complete look #goals and shop-worthy.
#1: Cap ‘n Corset
And last but not least: the most successful outfit of my fashion season! It got me features in awesome magazines such as Vogue, Elle, Grazia, Glamour and Telva… wow! Not only is it perfectly on trend (cap/ corset/ fishnets/ trenchcoat), it also has that effortlessly cool vibe. The biggest plus for me: comfy sneakers and a cap to hide my tired face. This outfit is WINNING!
This was my Top 5 for this fashion season, which is your favorite look? If you want to read more tips on how to prepare for fashion week, click here.
Lots of Love,
Lynn
P.s. If you liked this blog, make sure to check out my outfits from Madrid and Amsterdam Fashion Week
The 5 Things I Loved to Learn during the 7DayRecharge Week
There is this saying… “What you Focus on, grows” and I couldn’t agree more! The 7DayRecharge program made me realize that I should spend more energy on positive experiences instead of the negative ones. I have a tendency to become disappointed in myself when I fail at something, which makes me jumpy and frustrated. Now I’ve learned to remind myself: “Grow your positive development, you don’t want to waste your energy on negativity”. Also it’s great to share this with the people around you because you will get lots of extra positive energy from them in return!
2. Bedtime Yoga is the best thing ever
Before the 7DayRecharge week, I never found Yoga something for me: I am too energetic, impatient, I can barely sit still. The morning yoga was okay, usually I don’t have time because I have to get to work, but it was a nice way to get your day started. However, I absolutely LOVE the bedtime yoga! After a long day of work and running around it felt great to give my body some well-deserved stretching and let it come to rest, my ‘cooling-down’ of the day so to say. Usually I am still too busy thinking about work and I have a hard time falling asleep, or I am too exhausted and I fall asleep immediately, but my night rest doesn’t feel that great because my body is still stressed. With bedtime yoga my body and mind get balanced out so I will be able to enjoy my sleep more, being more fresh for the next morning!
Extra tip! Something else I’ve learned regarding to bedtime yoga, in case your mind can’t stop thinking about work: Ask yourself “Do I really need this right now?” If the answer is no, it can wait till tomorrow, consciously decide to let it go and continue to focus on your breathing. Slowly but surely you will be able to ‘peel off’ your thoughts till you reach a peaceful state of mind.
3. Secret Addictions you didn’t realize existed
Before I started the 7DayRecharge I never realized how addicted I was to coffee and chocolate. It’s almost unconscious… going for coffee with friends, getting a coffee at work, grabbing a quick coffee on your way out in the morning to fresh up your mind. Without realizing I drank around 3 cups of coffee each day! I learned this the hard way the 2nd day of the Recharge Week when I got some serious withdrawal symptoms, not that fun I can tell you! I’m still having a hard time not grabbing some chocolate or candy as a small snack but I hope those cravings will soften soon. Anyway, my point is: think very well about what you are eating/ drinking. Is there something unhealthy you might be unconsciously addicted to?
IT’S CALLING ME
4. Priority and Highlight Lists
Each night before going to bed I had to write down the highlights of my day, which made me realize I had quite some good moments and appreciate them more. It gives you a positive boost before going to bed, it’s great! Besides that, I also had to write down my priority list of ‘To-Do’s’ each night for the next day. The fact that you do it the night before gives your mind some extra peace because you don’t feel stressed you might forget something. Also during the day it’s nice to have something to hold on to in case you are feeling chaotic, it gives your day some extra structure and focus.
5. Celebrate your Success: small or big
Usually when I achieved something I don’t really celebrate it because I am already thinking about my next step. The thing we pay more attention to is when we fail in something because it makes us disappointed, which is not good! Because of this Recharge Week I learned to take some time to appreciate my success, either small or big. This way you emphasize positive energy and gain more self-confidence. After the celebration you will be all pepped-up to rock your next success even harder! “Count your Blessings” darlings
The 7DayRecharge Experience
Published Date : April 21, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : BlondieTV, Life & Travel
The VLOG is out guys! In the end of March, I followed the 7DayRecharge Program out of curiosity: is it possible to change up my lifestyle? The program states that it hands you practical tips to improve your lifestyle on long terms… so of course I had to find out whether that was true! I already wrote a blog on my 5 favorite things that I loved to learn during the 7DayRecharge Program right after I finished it. But now I will be telling you if it really DID change my life, now that it has been 3 weeks later. Check it out and let me know what you think!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
The app that changed my (Instagram) life
Published Date : May 10, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Business Hacks
I’ve already been posting quite some IG tips which all help to improve the quality of your pictures (f.e. how I edit my pictures), but I haven’t spoken about the overall feed yet. Last month I discovered this new app which honestly changed the way I present myself on Instagram. Curious yet? Keep reading!
No matter how pretty your pictures are, if your feed looks messy, people will still not want to follow you. I started to have serious stress about posting pictures because I was always worried they wouldn’t match my feed, posting became a burdenand I even started to slack because I didn’t want to think about it anymore.
But then, last month happened. I found an app which made my Instagram fun again, and brought me back to the reason why I enjoyed IG in the first place: creativity and inspiration. With this app you are able to upload lots of pictures and move them around like an IG puzzle until your feed looks perfect.
I seriously enjoy spending one hour playing with several photo options and positions because I like to be creative with visual effects, and in the end I have Instagram pics scheduled for the rest of the week! No more posting stress for me!
So what is this magic app?? You might wonder. Later I realized that there are multiple apps who help you organize your feed, but personally I use (and love) the app ‘Planoly‘. Go give it a try!
Are there any other Instagram questions you might have for me? Let me know and I will write a post for you!
Published Date : January 22, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Get inspired!
It has been a while since my last Arty Farty Fashion Friday so I have set my eye on lots of new amazing inspirations and creative souls! I’ve been reading this book which makes me crave to start drawing again: The Art of Fashion Illustration. It’s a beautifully designed book divided into two parts: the Emerging Masters and The Icons. Today is dedicated to the first part, let’s take a look at some of the newest fashion illustration stars!
Audria Brumberg
With her very detailed and extensive production process, it can take Brumberg up to a week to create an illustration. Her style includes both realistic model figures (photography) and abstract patterns (sketching in nature). She draws every single piece of the illustration separately and then manipulates them digitally till they come together in a final work of art.
Her advice: “Constantly look at what other designers are doing and develop good taste. Follow design blogs and study the campaigns of fashion designers to develop an aesthetic and eye for good work.”
Sarah Hankinson
This Australian artist is mainly known for her focus on lines and contrast in her illustrations. “The use of a beautiful line can make an illustration”, she says. Her strong lines are contrasted by her colorful watercolor splashes which make the drawing pop. Later on she manipulates her drawing on photoshop to create clear focal points and make the illustration more visually appealing. “I try to make each piece a balance of light and dark, thick and thin lines, empty and full space.”
Her advice: “Although it can take a while to reach success, she says if you have the motivation to push and market yourself work will come.”
Pippa McManus
One of my personal favorites is in the book! This amazing illustrator is known for painting women on a monochromatic acrylic background with the focus on the woman’s hair and eyes. When she creates an illustration she goes through what she calls her mental rolodex of past fashion editorials and shows, choosing various reference images from pieces that she loves.
Her advice: “I absorb things I see quickly and sometimes subconsciously. So if I only look at designer’s creations and models, I’m much more likely to turn that into something of my own rather than draw from other illustrators’ techniques and styles.”
Yaeko Abe
Abe is one of fashion illustration’s newest talents. The artist from New Jersey began to illustrate professionally in 2012! His style is still developing but his line drawings reflect a simplicity which is not often seen in fashion illustration. Abe often uses different types of ink pens, and later adds colors with markers before adjusting the final piece in Photoshop. “Being loose and spontaneous is my favorite way of drawing,” he says.
His advice: “Keep on illustrating and utilize all your time. Also, be polite to even the meanest of clients.”
The Art of Fashion Illustration: The Icons
Published Date : February 26, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Get inspired!
In my Arty Farty Fashion Friday of last month I spoke about Emerging Masters in the world of Fashion Illustrations. Now it’s time to get to The Icons which are shown in the book I have been reading: The Art of Fashion Illustration. Since the concept of fashion illustration is still relatively young, these illustrators are the classics which made way for all of the future artists to come, to put fashion illustrations on the map! Let’s check them out
Samantha Hahn
The style of Samantha Hahn is known for a feminine mix of delicate lines with a variety of lush and vibrant watercolors. Her aim is to make her illustrations look effortless with an efficient use of lines and shapes, which she later enhances with Photoshop.
Her advice: “At first the illustration world seems vast and you have to find your point of entry and carve out your niche in the market. Through trial and error and willingness to accept rejection and learn from it (…) I found my voice. Once you are situated firmly in the industry, work will beget work. (…) Instead of spending a huge portion of my time trying to get work, I spend it doing projects that more clients will see. When your work is published it’s like a public vetting. Clients find you and see what you can do and believe that you will perform well for them as well.
Stina Persson
This artist may be one of the most well-respected and widely known female illustrators. She works in many mediums and her techniques include drawing, painting, collage and – when necessary – the computer. “I love working with color and it comes to me easily, which is why I do lots of watercolor: Of course, I also love the rawness and edginess of ink, as well as the structural feel of collage”.
Her advice: “Take any job you can get. But never work for nothing. A client will never pay for something they earlier got for free, no matter what they promise”, she says. “Develop a personal style and seek inspiration not from illustrators but fine artist”.
Nuno Da Costa
Nuno da Costa is known for his ‘Nuno Woman’ and he says she is growing and maturing as he does. “She is strong and vulnerable, modern and classic, with an edge to her. She is complex and contradictory, as we all are. I’m learning to let go, to let her and my work go – to be not so perfect,” Da Costa explains. He often works with scanning several layers of materials over each other: pencil, gouache and watercolors are his favorite for this process.
His advice: “Beginning illustratosrs should not judge themselves too harshly or compare themselves to others. Illustration isn’t about who draws best, it’s about finding your own voice, your own language. It sounds cheesy but it’s so true; it’s not our job to be anyone else, we just have to be the best ‘self’ that we can. (…) know that rejection is temporary and part of the process, and that one day you will look back and understand why things happened the way they did. Use rejection as fuel to get you from A to B”.
Caroline Andrieu
Passionate and impatient, Caroline Andrieu usually uses colored inks or just simple pencils in her work. She likes to finish an illustration the same day she starts it. “I’m not very patient. I have to be in the same mood all the way through the process.” She also likes to give herself a challenge by working mostly with ink in her illustrations, she explains: “I like that you can’t erase it, that you have to deal with your mistakes, with the stains. The ink actually gives a lot of strength to the pictures.”
Her advice: “Be passionate. Fashion illustration is evolving every day, more and more, and I am glad to be a part of it”.
Instagram, one of the social media we cannot avoid anymore! It’s a dynamic pool of creatives, fashion, bloggers, brands and so much more! It might be confusing at start: who should you follow? That’s why I am sharing some of the Best IGers which I am following and personally LOVE!
Courtney loves to “Play dress up in NYC” as she likes to say it herself. She is my favorite IGer because her feed is always happy, colorful, upbeat and positive. Her personality shines from the screen and her Instagram is incredibly cohesive. Oh, and let’s not forget to mention her flawless sense for style… Cheers to you Courtney!
This Swedish blogger/ Photographer might have the most cohesive Instagram feed that I have EVER seen! As you can see in the pictures she loves the grey tones and definitely knows how to capture light while being flawlessly fashionable. I love to follow her because she doesn’t only share beautiful images, but has great creative inspirations as well!
Aimee Song, perhaps one of the world’s biggest bloggers at the moment, and she deserves it! Her feed is full of a mix between casual daily wear and super stylish outfits which make you reconsider your own wardrobe. Aimees Instagram is lovely because you get a close look in her daily adventures while travelling around the world, perfect for daydreaming.
Another Swedish blogger! Kenza Zouiten is one of the diehard beauties that started blogging before it became a hype and is currently the biggest blogger of Scandinavia. Her feed is a combination of her travels, modelwork and blogger collabs. I love her because she is not only seriously gorgeous, but also has a great personality! She likes to post selfies with weird faces, personal behind the scenes shots and continuously expresses her gratitude towards her loyal followers. No fame attitude to be found here, don’t change Kenza!
Travels, colors and wearable fashion. If you need any inspirations for your #ootd, Jules has some great ideas to keep it simple yet stylish. Furthermore, I just LOVE to watch all the amazing locations she visits and the beautiful photos she always makes! With 3 million followers she ranks as a worldwide top blogger along Aimee Song, definitely one to check out for inspiration!
Do you have any ‘Best IG’ers’ which I should be following? Let me know in a comment below!
This Sunday it’s time for Valentine’s Day again! Even though I believe you should be sharing your love every day of the year, there is nothing wrong with celebrating the day of love with your other half, am I right? I always hear my friends complain that Valentine’s Day is simply a commercial day from society to earn some extra money, so that’s why I came up with five creative ways to show your love while keeping it Low Budget. Can you guess which one will be my present for Alex?
#1: DIY Reasons why I Love You
Simple and Sweet: all you need for this gift is a deck of normal Cards and lots, lots, LOTS of Love! Write down a reason why you love your soulmate on each of the 52 cards in the deck, and bind them together like a little book. What is a better way to show your appreciation then literally telling him/her? And even better: if you don’t have a lover this V-Day, this gift could also perfectly work for your BFF or Mom: everyone deserves love! I found this cute Pinterest idea while checking out ‘Everything Sunny Always’, where Hannah explains about her present:
“I filled the deck of cards with 52 reasons why I love my wonderful husband. This is only a fraction of why I love that man. The list is eternally long. But for this project I narrowed it down to 52.”
Isn’t that the MOST romantic thing ever?!
#2: Love all year long: 52 Planned Date Nights
As I said before, showing your love shouldn’t just be happening on Valentine’s Day, so what better gift is there than a promise for a year filled with fun/romantic/cute/crazy dates?! Make a little coupon book with 52 pages on which you write down date ideas for every week of the year. You don’t have a cute coupon book, or no time to make one? You might as well use the Deck of Cards like ‘Reasons why I Love you’! If you have no inspiration for 52 dates you should check out ‘101 Creative Date Nights on a Dime’ from The Thinking Closet, she has more than enough ideas for you! Have fun:)
#3: A Special Breakfast in Bed
Who doesn’t love breakfast in bed? A small gesture to start someone’s day with a smile. I found this adorable idea on ‘Reclaiming Provincial’: a heart-shaped egg in crunchy toast! This literally couldn’t be easier since all you need is bread, butter and an egg. It’s recommended to first bake one side of the toast before cutting out the heart shape and then bake the egg inside the toast with the sunny side up. You can easily customize the breakfast with nice details such as hot coco, fig jam, cheddar cheese, ham, a fruit salad… champagne? Get creative!
#4: Treasure Hunting
Okay so if you have a bit more time to prepare for Sunday, why not make it fun? Leave little notes around the house with reasons why you love your other half, including some tips on where he/she can find you today! Or what about making it a quiz, and the first letter of each answer will explain where to go next? It’s all up to you!
What about meeting up at the place where you had your first date? Or go to that movie you’ve been wanting to see? A walk at the beach with a bottle of wine, or a picknick in the park? Is there a museum/ city/ concert your partner has been wanting to go to? This is your chance for a nice surprise!
#5: Last Minute DIY Crafts
Ups! You’ve been way too busy the past few weeks and you didn’t have time to prepare something special for V-Day (or let’s face it… you completely forgot). Don’t worry, there are lots of easy and fast ways to make your soulmate smile this Sunday. Here are some cute Pinterest ideas:
Did you already have plans for this Valentine’s Day ? Let me know what you will be up to!
The challenge bucket list at ULTRA Festival in Croatia
Published Date : July 16, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
If you love going to festivals as much as I do (and let’s face it, who doesn’t?), keep on reading. The past few days I was at Ultra Festival in Croatia. And wow! I didn’t expect it to be this amazing. My friends and I decided to go not that long ago. We just thought: F*ck it, let’s do this!
If something is healing for the soul, it must be spontaneous crazy decisions. Sometimes we get so stuck in daily routines, the same mindsets and activities, that it’s good to shake it up every now and then. I was tired of this Dutch weather anyway, so Croatia it is. The festival lasted three days, but we only went to two of them. Which honestly, is more than enough! Ultra is super intense (I’m pretty sure I slept around 5 hours all weekend), but it was an amazing experience to have. Everyone is very connected, the music is awesome and there are so much positive vibes… definitely something we should have more of in the ‘normal’ world. Everyone should lift each other up 24/7, just imagine how awesome would we be then:)
Anyways, I decided to make this festival even more fun than it already is: I decided to give myself 3 challenges to complete. Not only do challenges bring you out of your comfort zone, it also connects you to people you’d have never met otherwise. You should give it a try too, it was so much fun!
1. Ask a random stranger to sit on their shoulders while dancing
It was incredible to see how easy this challenge was: everyone was so easygoing and spontaneous. Plus: you have much better views on the DJ ánd you make new friends. That’s a win-win, I would say.
2. Sneak backstage to see the concert from the point of view of the DJ
This challenge was a bit scary, but I actually managed to get next to the DJ! Taking a risk and doing something weird may be questioning at first, but I felt so alive! No words :)
3. Go a day without a phone
I think we all agree that phones sometimes can make you feel lonely even though you are so connected. Personally, I’m super addicted to my phone so it was very hard for me not to take it with me to the festival. But think about it: we spend hours and hours on Facebook and Instagram. Imagine how much time you loose while watching your screen and how much you are missing in the “real” world. Enough reasons to accept this challenge and go to this festival without a phone for one day.
I asked my friends to make photos of me with their phones to capture the moments I had that day. If you want to know how I experienced it, read my next blog and I will tell you all about it!
Will you try out a bucket list the next time you go to a festival? Keep me posted!
Lots of love,
Lonneke
P.s. If you liked this post, make sure to also check out Lynn’s blog about Pinkpop Festival
The First month of Who is that Blonde: How did it go?
Published Date : October 23, 2015 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
Hi guys!
Wow, it’s unbelievable how time flies… it has been exactly one month since the launching of Who is that Blonde! As you might have noticed I didn’t sit still these days, let’s see what I have been doing and check out the progress I made!
It all started on my birthday, during the day I had quite some stress with the launching of the website but eventually everything was arranged and I could enjoy an evening filled with family and friends, they were such a great support! Not long after my birthday it was time to start preparing for Paris Fashion Week…. So much outfits to style! I wouldn’t have made it without my stylist & PR manager Senna Kabbaj, thank you lady <3 Paris was hectic but so much fun! I met very interesting people and saw many new inspiring collections, I can’t wait till it’s time for the new Spring/Summer Season :)
After Paris I had two weeks filled with shoots and meetings with friends & family for my final goodbyes because I was about to move to Barcelona! With three suitcases and two bags I arrived to my favorite city in the world and was greeted by my most favorite person: Alex, my boyfriend! After four years of a long distance relationship it was finally time to move in together and start a new adventure, I couldn’t be happier!
And here I am sitting now, in our new adorable apartment, 15 minutes from the beach, writing about my progress to you guys. I just checked Google Analytics and I am super proud to already have gained almost 2000 unique visitors in my first month! Barcelona apparently is a great place to be for bloggers since there are fashion events every week, so I am very curious to see what the upcoming month will bring for me… subscribe to my newsletter and join my adventures!
Holaaa everyone! Losing weight properly is really important. Today I wanted to share my history with food, and how I began to feel good in my body. Since I’ve become a model, people have told me to be careful what to eat, and to stay in shape in order to get jobs. Naturally, as a young girl, this is what I thought: I’m too big; my hips are too wide, my ass is too big and my legs are too muscular.
Each job has requirements
But let me put this clear: THEY never said I was too big. They only said: hey, for this industry, it’s important you fit in the clothes, that you look healthy, happy and fit. Compare it to someone working in the stock market saying to a newby: hey, for this industry, it’s important you are persuasive, and you can convince people with your extreme good social skills. Or someone working in the music industry saying to a singer: hey, for this industry, it’s important to go to parties to socialize, but don’t drink a lot and don’t go out every week since you have to be careful with your voice, practice singing everyday, and try to learn piano as well. I just want to state the fact that every job has its requirements.
Losing weight, dieting
But of course, as probably every beginning model in this industry, I wanted to lose weight. As soon as possible I wanted to have the measurements required to do jobs and travel the world. So i started dieting. From eating a lot of eggs, yoghurt and vegetables, to drinking shakes for a few days, to eating every bad food ever made but still be at 2000 calories so I’d still lose weight.
I’ve never starved myself, I ate a lot, but I still tried tons of (protein) diets. Of course I lost weight, because I burned more than I ate. But, could I keep it up? no! Of course not! Because every diet ends. I lost weight, but i gained weight as soon as I started eating “normal” again. Anyone hears something familiar;) ?
My secret.
So what is my secret now to have this body?
Let me tell you the secret of my diet: I am not on a diet.
I eat everything I want, when i want.
Rebels inside
When I started dieting I told me self I couldn’t eat pasta anymore because it had so many carbs. I didn’t even like pasta that much before I was a model, but when I ‘was not allowed’ eat it anymore I started craving it. Which is weird, since I didn’t liked it that much before. but it’s because you ‘may not’ eat it, you want to have it. Imagine saying to a toddler; you may not go upstairs. What will the toddler do? You guessed it… he will try to walk up the stairs. They want to be a rebel. It’s in our nature that we are attracted to the things we aren’t allowed to have.
NO DIET
Then there was this moment in my life when I decided: I can have everything I want, when I want. And at first those were things like: fries, burgers, pasta and pizza, because i wasn’t ‘allowed’ to eat it for a while. But soon i felt really bad in my skin. I didn’t feel healthy. I started realizing, that the food we put in our mouth is the main reason how you feel (and look). So I bought books which were full of information about what people define as “healthy” and why. What are the reasons that make vegetables a healthy product? What are the pros and cons of every food. I needed to know all of this in order to know what to eat, but also how much I should eat of it. I started to making lists like: Which products are healthy? What of those healthy things do I really enjoy eating? But also lists like: What do I really like what isn’t that healthy, and what amount should I take from it in order to feel satisfied, but it would still be healthy to me. I also started to make a list of things that my body had a weird reaction to. Like stomach pain, nausea or heart rythm disorders. Which resulted in me going vegan because of the hormons in animal products. I feel SO much better without ‘em.
My favorite things to eat
Since it takes a lot of time looking everything up about food, I will give you my absolute favorite things to eat. Which are really (semi) healthy.
Nuts. I eat a lot, like A LOT of them. They have a bunch of calories, but please stop looking at calories. They’re just numbers. If you eat healthy you shouldn’t worry about them at all.
Pumpkin. I can not tell you how in love I am with pumpkin. I put 400 grams in the oven covered in olive oil with curry powder and salt and every bite makes me so happy. (Jeske if you read this, if we marry, our love for pumpkin should be in our vows)
Spinach. I love to put this raw in my smoothie with: pineapple, blueberries, avocado, cucumber, and coconut water. But also to wok it in (plant based) butter, with some ketjap sauce and sesame seeds for diner. Also: try covering it in olive oil, salt and pepper, and putting it piece by piece in the oven. This is how you create spinach crisps. yummmm
Olives. Especially the ones with loadssss of garlic.
Nakd bars, Nut Bars by zonatura. I always carry them in my bag wherever I go.
Dark chocolate, oreo cookies. When i’m about to have my period I can probably eat half a bar. And oreo cookies are for whenever haha.
Corn waffles.Yes please!!! With peanutbutter and jelly, or just with nothing. I could eat them all day.
Soy cappuccino. I don’t like to eat in the morning, (don’t tell me that’s bad, because I eat a shitload of vegetables during lunch to compensate) so normally I just have breakfast with a soy cappuccino.
Dried figs and dates. You can seriously wake me up in the middle of the night if you feed me this. Always carrying this with me in my bag as well.
French fries,especially after a night out…… and without mayonaise, they’re not that unhealthy ;)
I hope I convinced you to NEVER ever begin a diet.
Just have a healthy or semi healthy lifestyle, and you will get the body you want.
Anyone has some tips about really nice tasty but healthy food? Please feel free to share:)
Lots of love,
Lonneke <3
ps. If you liked this post, make sure you also check out: me going vegan.
The Importance of Personal Branding (Part 1)
Published Date : March 28, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Business Hacks
Everyone is familiar with brands nowadays… Coca Cola, Nike and Apple are three great examples of successful branding strategies which guarantee top sales on a global level. What is it that makes people want to buy the latest IPhone, even if they still have a perfectly functioning mobile device? It has something to do with the image that Apple managed to create throughout the years: an image of technical development, popularity, quality, hype and performance. Even though there is not even a review out on the quality of the newest IPhone yet, people will automatically assume that it will be an amazing Smartphone because it’s from Apple. And they need to have it. Which brings us back to the topic of this article: just like these huge multinationals, also people can create a brand, an image which they radiate to the outside world, a.k.a. their personal brand.
So what does it mean to be a Personal Brand?
Forbes Magazine explains the concept of personal branding perfectly:
“Your personal brand should represent the value you are able to consistently deliverto those whom you are serving. This does not only mean self-promotion– that you should be creating awareness for your brand by showcasing your achievements and success stories. Managingyour personal brand requires you to be a great role model, mentor, and / or a voice that others can depend upon.”
Of course you have to promote yourself and create (personal) brand awareness in order to get more career opportunities, but there is more to being a personal brand. If you imagine yourself as a company, promotion would be the job of the ‘marketing department’, not the job of the ‘strategical manager’ or the ‘executive manager’. By creating a personal brand, you must embody all the aspects of a real company. This might sound quite overwhelming, but in fact it shouldn’t be much more complicated than defining who you are as a person (personally and professionally speaking) and act accordingly, consistently.
What are the benefits of Personal Branding?
“Personal branding is about deciding to take an active role in the direction of your life. You benefit from creating a personal brand because it allows you to self-manage your life and stop depending on others to do it for you. Your personal brand helps you make the most of what you’ve got to offer.”
Personal Branding for Dummies explains in a very clear way why creating your own personal brand is beneficial. First of all, it is very empowering to decide who you are, what your unique promise is, and who you want to share it with. By looking at your strengths and qualities you get a huge confidence boost. Besides, personal branding also minimizes your weaknesses: it’s in our nature to want to improve our weaknesses, but by crafting your own brand, you can determine whether you really need your weakest skills at all.
Once you start ‘living’ your personal brand, you validate that you can be trusted to your target market, which increases your credibility and will make it more likely to get more customers (returning, and new ones!). Comforting is the fact that you have a unique combination of work experience, life experience, and personal characteristics that create the foundation for determining your specialized niche. If you focus your niche on a market segment that you know well and that you enjoy, it won’t be hard to stand out and proof your expertise! By defining yourself and your market you will be able to become known in the market of your choice and start building your own legacy.
Personal Branding success requires communicating your message to the right people – not necessarily to the entire world. Building a strong personal brand helps you interact with your target audience in a clear, consistent way that quickly becomes familiar. That consistency builds trust in your target audience, which allows emotional connections to form. Differentiation will help you stand out from the crowd of competition and get noticed faster. By differentiating yourself from the competition people will remember you and come to you in case they need your services.
Last but not least, a great benefit from creating a personal brand is the focus it creates. By creating a clear understanding of who you are, what you do best, who you want to work with, and how you want to use your talents, you also know what you don’t want in life. You will know better which opportunities to take and which offers to say ‘no’ to. You learn how to focus on what is really important to you. This will result in reinventing yourself and the tools you use in your professional life, which will make you work more efficient and safe you lots of time.
This was the first article on Personal Branding! Now that we established that it is in fact super important to start working on our own brand, it is time for more! Next week I will be publishing a blog on how to define your personal brand and how to manage it.
Lots of Love,
Lynn
The looks that I would wear straight from the catwalk of Lisbon Fashion Week (or stuff that is just really cool)
Published Date : March 22, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : The Styling Files
Fashion weeks are always though in some way… so many awesome looks that you want to wear, but they won’t come out until next season yet! A week ago I was in Lisbon for their fashion week and I definitely got shopping fever there. Here are some of the looks I would pluck straight from the catwalk – or looks that are simply awesome. Can you guess which ones I would wear?
Let´s start with some of the most FUN designs that I spotted on the runway:
Micaela Sapinho
Micaela Sapinho
David Ferreira
David Ferreira
David Ferreira Rita Afonso
Another interesting trend is the oversized/ deconstructed look, love it or hate it?
Carolina Machado
Alexandre Pereira
Rita Afonso
Ricardo Andrez
João Oliveira
Dino Alves
There were also some awesome looks for the cool kids among us…
Rita Carvalho
Rita Afonso
Filipe Faísca Rita Carvalho
Luís Carvalho Filipe Faísca
But also more than enough elegance that brightened the runway… what would you prefer?
Luís Carvalho
Luís Carvalho
Luís Carvalho
Luís Carvalho
Dino Alves
Valentim Quaresma
Who knew Lisbon had such cool designers, am I right?! Which outfit would you want hanging in your closet?
Lots of Love,
Lynn
P.s. If you like this post, make sure to also check out my Highlights of Amsterdam and Barcelona fashion week!
The most popular blogs of April
Published Date : April 30, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
How time flies! After the top blogs of March, it’s already time for the best viewed pages for this month. So, in case you missed them: here they are! To be honest, I was quite surprised about the results, will you take a look with me?
Even though my portfolio has been getting regular visits every month, it somehow made a huge peak in April, and I didn’t even add new photos yet! Maybe I should?
This article was by far the most popular of the month. Models and food… who doesn’t have questions about that combination? Should we ask Demi to give us more insights?
Did you miss any of these blogs in April? In that case: you’re welcome! Let me know if there are any topics you would like us to write about more. We love to share <3
Published Date : June 28, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
For those who follow me on my social channels already know it: June was a month of change for me! I said goodbye to my jetset lifestyle and moved to Amsterdam for a new challenge. A job! A lot more exciting things happened this month, and of course I blogged about it. These were the most popular ones:
Because I got this new job, I unfortunately have a bit of less time to spend on my blog. Luckily this amazing lady is stepping in to share her journey towards happiness with us!
Yes, my main adventure this month! I moved to Amsterdam to start my new life. I teamed up with Desenio to work on some cool interior looks, making my new house a home :)
Me and these awesome girls organized a photoshoot together. Secretly just as an excuse to finally have the sleepover party we all dreamed off… best day ever!
I’ve been getting lots of compliments on my Instagram, which is obviously super awesome. However, I do think the worlds needed a small reality check. Social media aren’t the same as reality! Hence, a blogpost filled with funny fail photos.
Well, this sums up my June pretty nicely! What was your favorite blog?
Lots of Love,
Lynn
P.s. If you liked this post, make sure to also check out the most popular blogs of April and May!
The most popular blogs of March
Published Date : March 29, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
This month I started to pay more attention to my Google Analytics, you know, just to have an idea what kind of blogs you guys like to read. I already had a guess, and it turned out I was right! Do you have any idea which blog is the most popular? Let’s do a countdown!
I already had an idea this blog was going to be popular. You guys always ask me and Demi about our workout routine! Should we start posting more about sports? Let me know!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
The most popular blogs of May
Published Date : June 4, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
May may may, you have been quite busy haven’t you? Not only did I travel a lot, I also had some life-changing news which I just HAD to share with you guys. Did you already see the most popular blogs of last month? Keep reading!
It’s been a while since I wrote something.. That’s because I’m undergoing some radical changes in my life. One of those changes is something which I would never ever expect myself doing. And above all, I really hate going with the hype. Hypes are most of the time blown up, as if it’s some kind of faith that you totally have to follow because bla bla bla. But this is different. So, here it is, the most radical change in my life so far:
I’m
going
vegan.
Yup. I know. Don’t stop reading. Let me explain.
What The Health
A couple of years ago I already stopped eating red meat. I don’t really like it that much, plus I read that it’s not that good for your heart etc etc. I really like chicken though, I was a chicketarian (does that word even exist?).
But a couple of weeks ago, I watched this documentary: What The Health? (I highly recommend watching it) and I was shook. I instantly wanted to stop eating all meat and animal products (like eggs), and consuming dairy products. This might surprise you; but the main reason isn’t because I think the meat industry is terrible, it is though, but that’s not the main reason I’m going vegan.
Health issues
I have a real problem with my heart, it’s not working as it’s supposed to. They’ve investigated it and I can’t explain what is wrong exactly because they used expensive words that are really interesting to play hangman with. Anyway, they said it’s harmless but it still can be really annoying. Besides the fact that my heart can be an asshole sometimes, my hormones aren’t really doing great either. All together my body is making me have these symptoms: I’m tired, a lot. My skin often dissapoints me with an outbreak of acne that makes me really insecure. My stomach hurts almost everyday and my heart is making weird beats at the weirdest moments, which makes me feel like I can’t breath, which results hospital visits.
I did some research, and it appears that you can decrease these symptoms by eating the right foods. I already ate healthy (I thought) but I was still eating chicken and fish. However, all of the hormones and medicine which they give animals in order to not get diseases and stuff like that, makes meat incredibly UNHEALTHY. Not only meat, also fish. Did you know that you shouldn’t eat fish that often because you can get mercury poisoning? All these hormons and medicine (antibiotics!!) they give animals: WE are putting that in our mouths. I don’t even want to get started on all the pus in cowmilk. (gross) So indirectly, WE are taking hormones and medicine every day, by eating meat! You can imagine, that’s not good for our bodies at all. There are loads of studies (and I’m talking about thousands) that have linked eating meat with heart diseases, hormonal outbreaks and diabetes. And there is proof, that people who have stopped eating all animal products, don’t have these diseases anymore.
So I thought, let’s give this a try. It will be really difficult, because I really like chicken and cottage cheese. And I will probably make mistakes by accidently eating something that has milk or an egg in it, but that’s okay. Going vegan doesn’t happen overnight. You have to be extremely motivated. But I will do anything to have an amazing skin, a healthy heart that doesn’t bother me and not being tired all the time so I can do everything that I love to do!
You are probably full of questions about veganism and probably you’re wondering: what’s left that I CAN eat while being vegan?
Published Date : August 23, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Business Hacks
This is going to be a short blog, but I just had to get these thoughts out! I’ve been working in the media – and fashionworld for almost 10 years already and sometimes I’m still stunned by some people (no one in particular, just a general observation). You see, In the media -and fashionworld it is easy to find it: arrogance. What is it with becoming succesful that makes people think they are better than others? Here’s one important reason why the really succesful people don’t get arrogant:
Before I start, please note: there is nothing wrong with looking back and realizing what you have achieved so far. It is good to be proud of yourself! However, what I really can’t stand is people who suddenly start treating you differently or get crazy expectations for collaborations just because they had a couple of good achievements. Doing so, they don’t realize about a couple of very important factors:
1. You never know who could be a useful contact for you in the future. Maybe they will score a super cool job, but since you treated them like shit they will make sure not to work with you anymore.
2. Once you become ‘difficult’ to work with, companies won’t come back for more. Sure, maybe now you are getting a lot of jobs, but as soon as the word is out that you are terrible to work with, companies will think twice before contacting you again.
3. You are a professional, act like one. Why would you act different just because you are good at your job? The reason why you’ve been getting successes is because you worked your ass off to get where you are. Don’t let a bad attitude ruin that. Just keep in mind: the companies /people you are working with are your clients, and customer is king right?
What I’ve noticed in the creative industry so far is that most of the really succesful people are always very professional, humble and ambitious: they always look ahead and realize that there are still many steps to undertake in order to keep growing. They are proud but realize that there is still a lot more work to do and that customer service is essential for growth. A big network with happy contacts is an essential way to keep getting more cool jobs and to get that ‘like factor’ you need in order to get recommendations.
Next week I will write a blog specially dedicated to this: what do succesful people do RIGHT? I’ve been working with Sanoma for a while now, and I’ll share what I’ve learned about brand collabs with freelancers/ influencers so far. If you have any specific questions let me know and I’ll make sure to answer them!
Hi there! What a long time ago, can you believe it?! Sorry I haven’t been around for a while, but the truth is, I haven’t had the time! I’ve been super busy being a bosslady and working on my very own empire :) For the past few months I have been building up a new company called Social Nomads, of which the website launched in September.
So what is it about? It’s a social consultancy focused on helping others understand the world of social media and influencers better. There are still a lot of companies that don’t understand how to use influencer for their own campaigns, which makes the collaborations not as efficient as they could be. Also influencers often don’t know how to deal with companies so there are constant misunderstandings. I see it as my personal task to fix all of that. Of course I haven’t been doing it all by myself, Alex has been amazing all the time!
So what’s next for this blog? Probably I will be writing small updates every now and then but in case you want to see daily updates you should hop over to my Instagram! I consider my captions as daily little blogs so if you want to keep reading it would be a pleasure to talk to you over there!
Last but not least, do you want to get EVEN CLOSER to me and actually hang out with me every day? I just started looking for an intern, which is a really exciting and big step for me! Hop over to the vacancy for more information, and make sure to send me an e-mail at info@whoisthatblonde.com if you are interested!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
The reason why influencers need to stop competing NOW
Too often I read interviews with influencers, where they refuse to answer questions about their negotiation tactics, rates, or other type of ‘blogger business’ things. All I can think at those moments is like… girlll really? We are all struggling here, what happened to female support?
Before I start, let me get one thing straight: no influencer is the same. Everyone has their own signature look, style and vibe. When a company is looking for an influencer to collab with, they will probably choose you because they like the way you present yourself. The fact that everyone is unique, is also the reason why you shouldn’t feel threatened by other influencers. If a brand decides to go for a bohemian girl, they wouldn’t have chosen me anyway. If a lingerie brand looks for an influencer, they will most likely contact me instead of the bohemian girl. That’s how business works.
One of my favorite blogger babes: Carolina from Foodie-ness! One of the happiest and kindest people I know :)
Second of all, many times I’ve heard influencers complain about how brands send ridiculous requests or react rude. But I think many influencers don’t realize what brands must endure. So many unprofessional bloggers sending bullsh*it e-mails, which creates a very bad image of influencers in general – which keeps brands from investing in us. For the sake of keeping our honors high, it would be SO much better if we would all just be more honest and open about how it’s best to talk to companies and how to negotiate. The overall market will be respected more, which will also result in higher rates and more jobs.
Which brings me to my last point: right now, there are so many brands that are literally taking advantage of the fact that bloggers are not open about their rates. This is the reason why they are able to send these ridiculous requests: because they know that there will be less experienced influencers that will say yes anyway, because they don’t know what is ‘normal’. If there would at least be like a general guideline for influencers to follow, we would have a much stronger negotiation position towards brands. More and more companies will realize that they have to put aside budgets for influencer collabs, which will result in more jobs with a fair rate. Isn’t that what we all want?
Of course, it’s complicated because we are working in the creative sector and it’s hard to define rates: the amount of followers, unique visitors and engagement rates are complicated variables. Nevertheless, the influencer world is growing continuously so it’s about time we start working on some sort of regulation. We are in this together, let’s grow together. Who’s with me?!
The reason why kickboxing is the best workout for women
Published Date : October 1, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
Hiiii there:) If you follow me on instagram you might have noticed I have a new hobby:
kickboxing.
This sport has recently become very popular around women. Women powerrrrrr!
It’s a really good feeling walking around in a shad neighborhood knowing you can really kick someones ass if they are bothering you. As women, we’re not only cute, smart and beautiful. We are strong too!
We are strong and we can defend ourselves, we don’t need men for that. Kickboxing is a really good way to exercise. Keep on reading:)
First of all, did you know kickboxing is a really old sport? They were already doing it in the Old Kingdom of Egypt! Only men were alowed to do it though. Thank god we don’t live in the Old Egypt anymore. Kickboxing can give you so much: I gained a lot of self-esteem. Being able to defend myself, is for me the main reason I’m doing it. Besides that, it’s a dynamic work out, that makes you use almost every muscle in your body. After every training I feel exhausted, but sooo satisfied.
I recommend going to kickboxing classes to learn the techniques. I am going to a class only for women. Badass women that is. We kick each others’ asses, but we have mutual respect and thoughtfulness towards one another.
If you’re not feeling like taking it to classes, you can buy a punching bag and some gloves and start trying out some moves. Let go of frustration, it really helps. Trust me.
Who else has experience with Kickboxing or any similar sport? Share some tips!
Lots of Love,
Lonneke
P.s. If you liked this post, make sure to check out my blog about me going vegan
The Reason why we’ve been Treating our Make-up all Wrong
Published Date : March 2, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Beauty Guru
Guestpost by professional Make-Up Artist Milla Kramenstretter!
As we all know, make-up is superfun to buy. All those pretty colors and cute packages can be very hard to resist. And adding a new lipstick to your collection can also lighten and brighten up your day. But by owning a massive collection of beauty products it’s easy to fall into a familiar and common problem: A box full of ‘junk’ that past its time. Expired make-up can cause irritation to the skin and cause break outs, and can even lead to an infection of the eyes!
To give an insight on the make-up expiration date see the quick guide below:
Product
Expiration date/period
Mascara
2-4 months
Liquid and gel eyeliners
2-3 months
Eyeliner pencil
18-24 months (by sharpening eye pencils regularly, use you will automatically remove the top layer and clean them)
Cream eyeshadow
6-12 months
Powder eyeshadow
24 months (powder based products have the longest lifetime)
Powder blush
18-24 months
Cream blush
6-12 months
Fixing powder
12-24 months
Cream foundation and concealers
6-12 months
Liquid foundations and concealers
3-6 months
Liquid lip gloss and lipstick
3-4 months (after opening)
Lip liner pencils
18-24 months
So how should we check the Expire Date?
Next to the guide above, you can find information on almost every cosmetic product’s package, indicated by a small sign with a bottle, a number and a big M. This sign informs you how long you can keep using your product safely after opening it. My personal advice is to throw away the products which you touch with your fingers or with which you make regular eye- and lip contact even faster. Examples are mascara, liquid gloss and liquid concealer
How you should take care of your Make-Up
Another useful tip from my side is to clean up the jar, box or make-up case (wherever you store your items) regularly. Furthermore, it’s also important to protect the outside of your cosmetics with a cleaning tissue, so you won’t have anything sticky and glittery in between your goodies.
Besides, I think it’s very important to keep your brushes and make-up tools clean. At cosmetic stores you can buy a spray that’s especially made to clean your brushes. It’s easy to use and after you sprayed them you can wipe them off with a towel or tissue (till no more colors come out of the brush). I usually do this, on a daily basis: in between the shoots with models/clients while at work. If you don’t clean your brushes regularly this
Another smart move in case you are using your tools and products on yourself: on a longer term (for me: every day when I got home) I would use some gel cleanser, or even dish washing soap, to wash each of my brushes by the running water. Pay attention to don’t let them swim in the dirty water!
The Cleaning Process
I put some cleanser in my hand, take the brush in the other hand and make gentle circling movements with the brush in the cleanser gel till all of the color and fat goes out of the brush. Finally, I rinse away all the residues with running water. If necessary, repeat this several times. When the brush is clean and color-, fat- and soap free, make sure to turn the hairs of the brush back to their original shape before laying it down to a clean, dry towel. Here they can dry for a couple of hours or during the whole night.
I prefer not to store them, wet, standing in a mug because they will lose their shape. Keep in mind that synthetic brushes dry faster and that brushes of real hair need extra time to take good care of. A wet brush is difficult to use if you want to have the make-up properly done, so make sure they dried up well before using them again!
If you want to get more tips and tricks, or if you just like to know about my favorite products, don’t hesitate to contact me! :)
Like every other girl I used to love wearing make-up before I became a full-time model: bye bye dark circles, hello pretty cheekbones! Am I right? Every now and then I did some shoots and I absolutely LOVED to walk around with the shoot make-up for the rest of the day because I felt so pretty. However, as soon as I started my full time modelling career after university, I quickly started to understand why the rest of the models I was hanging out with were never wearing make-up.
The very first – and the most obvious – reason is the fact that when you are working in another country and you are going to castings all day long, the casting directos want to see your most natural self: like a blank canvas which they can still shape to their specific needs. If you are already wearing make-up to a casting it might be harder for them to imagine what you would look like with a different type of make-up. The same counts for clothes by the way: we always have to wear the most basic outfit, preferably black because it makes us look skinnier.
Second of all, if you are a part-time model (like I was while studying) it surely is lots of fun to wear beautiful shoot make-up all day long. However, when you have to deal with all these layers of chemicals on a daily basis, it’s not that fun anymore. After 2 months of being a full-time model I started developing a light version of acne, which I still didn’t get rid of. Note: photoshoot make-up is much heavier than daily make-up because the flashes of a camera make the make-up less visible – which the make-up artist has to compensate for with heavier make-up. Every time my skin is finally calming down, I have another shoot of which the make-up makes my pores clog up all over again. So that beautiful make-up everyone would be jealous of? Not all that great. I promise.
Last but not least, since it is our job to have a good skin (and look good in general), models tend to be more aware of how to take care of themselves. Not only when it comes to workouts and food, but also definitely skincare. We know very well what will happen to our skin in the future if we don’t treat it right, so we start with prevention much earlier than most of the girls. Make-up is in fact quite damaging for the skin and will make your skin get older quicker, that’s definitely something we don’t want to happen any time soon! By not wearing make-up in our free time we try to compensate for all the shooting hours we are wearing heavy make-up. Hopefully that will keep our skin younger for a bit longer.
So the next time you see a tall, skinny girl dressed in black and wearing no make-up… I can assure you she is a model! Did you already know these reasons? Will you start wearing less make-up from now on? Leave a comment!
The Science behind Skincare: SkinCeuticals Event & Review
Published Date : October 19, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Beauty Guru
To be honest, I wouldn’t call myself a ‘beauty guru‘. After all, I’m so used to make-up artists doing the work – and the fact that I barely wear make-up in my free time – that I never really bothered to really get into the whole hair and make-up thing. However, when it comes to skincare I sure as hell do my research. Especially because I got such a sensitive skin after becoming a full time model (read more about it here). Anyways, that being said, let’s get to the main topic of this blog: last week me and some other bloggers got invited by SkinCeuticals to visit them and to learn more about the scientific story behind skincare. Am I very nerdy for getting excited about that? #maybe #sorrynotsorry
Did you know that:
There is this thing called ‘oxidative damage‘, which arises when the skin is exposed to (for example) UV, Infrared, pollution, smoking and/or stress?
This oxidative damage can destabilize molecules, which damages healthy skin tissue? That is the reason why we get spots, wrinkles and pigmentation!
Our skin naturally has antioxidants to neutralize the oxidative damage. But because nowadays there are much more damaging elements (more pollution/ stress/ smoking etc.) it is not enough anymore?
One of the most studied antioxidants is Vitamin C?
In 1989 Dr. Sheldon R. Pinnell found a way stabilize Vitamin C, which has been a breakthrough for the skincare we know nowadays?
I certainly learned a lot during my visit to the SkinCeuticals event! It feels great to understand better why our skin changes, but also how to work on improving my skin from now on. The products of SkinCeuticals are based on antioxidants in order to strengthen the skin’s natural protection towards oxidative damage. I was very excited to hear that they will give us a small goodiebag so we can try out the products – and see if we notice a change in comparison with other skincare products.
Review
When I’m unpacking the goodies I am happy to see that the instructions couldn’t be easier. SkinCeuticals has a very clear philosophy on how to support skin-health: Prevent – Correct – Protect. Let’s go through the details of each product quickly:
Prevent: with a high concentrate of Vitamin C SkinCeuticals wants to prevent the oxidative damaging of the skin. They gave me Phloretin CF Serum, which supposedly works better for the mixed-to-greasy skin type.
Correct: a re-texturing activator makes sure that your healthiest skin is on the top layer, which not only makes your skin more resistant, but also gives it a nice and healthy glow. This product also corrects existing skin problems such as pigmentation, redness, wrinkles, and so on.
Protect: the Ultra Facial Defense day cream has a SPF50+ factor, which protects the skin from UVA and UVB rays.
While enjoying a sunny Sunday morning in Generator Amsterdam I decided to go for the full-on Spa feeling with a nice hot shower and, skin cleanse (you need a clean skin before applying the products) and as a fun factor: white towels in my hair and around my body, just like in the movies. I am sorry for the not so charming pictures, but no-make up was allowed during the beauty process! But hey, we’ve all been there right?
The first impression: The products were easy to apply. The Ploretin CF Serum smells a bit weird – indeed more like something medical rather than the usual scented beauty products. I really do think that these products might actually be able to improve my skin-condition: in all my years as a professional model this is actually the first brand that has that much medical research behind its products, so they must know what they are talking about… right? If I don’t put any make-up on in the hours after the application my skin stays quite shiny, which shows that it keeps hydrating my skin pretty much all day long, that’s a plus!
One week later: I have been using the products of SkinCeuticals each morning and night now, just as they recommend. My skin is much more hydrated than it was one week ago – I don’t have any dry spots. Also some of the blemishes I had seem to recover more quickly than usual. However, since it is just one week it is hard for me to know exactly how well the products are working. I am supposed to get my period next week, which usually means that I get a lot of little bumps on my skin, which grow into spots. Now I also have some, but it doesn’t seem to be that bad. The re-texturing activator feels rather oily and I’ve been wondering if this will result in clogged pores – but so far so good!
I will keep trying the products of SkinCeuticals for the next 3 months and I will get back at you guys for my final judgement! Is anyone else familiar with this brand? What is your opinion? Let me know!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
The secret to creating perfect curls that last all day
Published Date : November 22, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Beauty Guru
Okay I’m going to be honest with you guys. Personally, I don’t even know how to hold a curling iron, BUT some days ago I was getting the most perfect curls done at Salon B and I asked Yvette WHAT IS YOUR SECRET. Soooo…. she told me! Here are the juicy details, keep reading!
The first step – also the most important step – is often overseen by most people. So take your notebook! Before you even touch our curling iron it is super important to prep your hair. Which means a combination of a heat protector and a product which will add more structure to your hair such as volume powder. We all know what happens when you curl your hair whilst having soft hair. That’s right. It’s gone in 1 hour (now I finally know what I did wrong all those years).
Once you prepped your hair (don’t be shy with the products) it’s time to start ‘building’ the volume of your hair. Step 2: It’s time for a good blowdry session! If you hang upside down you will get more volume in your hair so give it a try.
Hair completely dry? Good! Now it’s time to grab your curling iron. Here’s a list of tips:
Tip #1: To create a natural effect, don’t use a curling iron which is too small but neither too big because then the curls will barely show. However, you can work with bigger plucks of hair.
Tip #2: When you curled a pluck of hair, make sure to let it cool down for a couple of minutes before you go through it with your hands.
Tip #3: Are your curls wearing down? Add some teaser styling dust (The Insiders) to create extra structure or simply use a hairspray to fixate your curls after a long day.
Now that I know these handy tips, I will soon give it a try to curl my hair myself! Would you like to see a Youtube video? Let me know!
Published Date : December 7, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Get inspired!
Isn’t it the hardest thing finding cool gifts for the people you love? You want to make them happy but you are worried that they might not like what you’re getting them. Does this sound familiar? To me it certainly does… This month I’ve been doing quite some research on nice gifts for my family & friends so I feel like I’m an expert now lol. Check out the Gift Guide I made, you can thank me later :)
We all have had one of those days: your hair isn’t doing what you want and your skin decided to become sensitive overnight. Yes, an off-day sucks. But you can still feel beautiful in those days! Here are 5 tips, keep reading!
1. Make a list!
This might sound lame, but make a list with the things you like about yourself. Maybe you have beautiful big blue eyes, a gorgeous smile or a cute nose. If you can’t come up with anything: ask family and friends and you’d be surprised about what they have to say. If you have an ‘ughh’ day, just keep this list in mind.
3. Do fun stuff
On our off-days, all we want to do is hide in our fluffy pajamas and stay in bed. Don’t! Work your most fashionable outfit and go out with friends, this way you beat your insecurity and have an amazing day while doing so! And even better: your friend will be there to make you feel better with compliments, that’s what friends are for <3
3. Beauty comes from within
Everyone has their own qualities, inside AND out. That’s something very important to help you realise that looks aren’t everything. Cliché but true: beauty comes from within. Think about what makes you a beautiful person, and you will shine brighter on the outside.
4. Wear something special
From a beautiful lingerie set to a pair of funny socks. Wear something for YOU. Give yourself the attention you deserve and you will feel instantly more special and beautiful.
5. Fake it, till you make it
Everyone loves to feel confident, but it’s not as easy as it seems. Sometimse the solution is very easy: fake it! By pretending you’re confident and that you’re feeling great, you actually trick your brains into believing it. It might take some practice, but in some situations it really helps. Stand tall and proud, my darlings :)
Published Date : November 21, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Model Stories
“Wow, your life is so fun! Shooting new pics every day!”. I hear these things quite often and it’s true: I love my job! However, most of the time models aren’t on set: we are running from castings for days in a row in order to score some jobs. Of course we have to look perfect in order to make a good impression, this is what we take to castings.
1. A big bag: preferably as bit as possible. We are running to castings all day long so we need to take quite some stuff with us. 2.Portfolio: a book with our best pictures. Usually these are in A4 format (that’s why we need the big bag) in order to show the high quality of the pictures. Based on your portfolio the client can decide whether you suit the job or not.
3. Heels: the fashion world likes tall models, so of course we have to look as tall as possible! Since it is impossible to run around on heels all day long, we take them with us in our bag.
4. Composite cards: these are the businesscards for models. Our agencies often give us new cards to hand out during castings. On these composite cards are 2-5 pictures, our measurements, height and other physical characteristics. These cards help the casting directors to go through all the options before making their final decision.
5. Snacks: since we are on the road all day long, it’s a smart move to take some food. Fruit, raw veggies, rice waffles and nuts are favorites for models. Personally I’m a fan of Sultana cookies, but since they are less healthy I don’t take them with me that often. Drinking lots of water is good for the skin and the cleansing of your body, so you can imagine that all the models are drinking liters of it! An absolute must-have for casting days.
6. Phone: where would we be without our beloved smartphones? Not only do we receive our castings via our mail, also I wouldn’t even be able to find all the casting locations without Google Maps, which are scattered all around the city. Being able to listen to music while waiting in castings is also very nice (don’t forget to take your headphones). An external battery and your charger are definitely necessary on a casting day.
7. Touch-ups: running around a city isn’t very helpful for looking charming. That’s why models take a lot of ‘touch-ups’ with them in their big (and heavy) bags. I always take my tangle teaser brush, mineral powder from Clinique, lip balm from Elizabeth Arden, deodorant, perfume, foundation, and if it fits my anti-frizz gel from John Frida.
Pfiew, that’s quite a heavy bag! Just think about this: why do you think models are so skinny? It’s a true workout running around with a weight like that for days in a row…. who needs the gym right? ;p The next time you see a tall girl with black clothes, a phone in her hand and a huge bag, take a look: perhaps it’s a model on a casting day!
Published Date : January 3, 2018 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
I know I know, I’ve been talking about it for a long time already. With my busy schedule setting this up took much longer than expected and to be honest, I still feel like I have a lot to learn, but I figured: new year, fresh start. So this is happening, NOW!
You must be wondering what the hell I’m talking about. Or maybe you already figured it out. TODAY is THE day that I am launching my fresh new YouTube channel! I’ve been working on creating videos, practicing my editing skills and learning everything about YouTube in the past few months (which is also the reason why I wasn’t very active on my blog in December) and now it’s finally time to share it with the world.
I really enjoy writing, but I also really enjoy watching videos, so I decided that for 2018 my new challenge is going to be YouTube. Because if I enjoy watching videos, it would be SO cool to be able to make them! It would be great to look back at them and remember all the fun things I’ve been doing.
So you must wonder: what is my YouTube Channel going to be about? Since I always like to try new things, broaden my horizon and take on challenges, this channel will be all about that. Every single week (Wednesdays at 8am, which means my first video is already online AS WE SPEAK) I will be posting 1 video where I will be trying something new or something weird. Like the New Years Dive that is coming online next week or maybe even goat yoga? Anything is possible!
I will be taking suggestions from my viewers, so if you have a good idea make sure to go to my YouTube channel and leave your comment!
Don’t you just love the rush? Packing your bags, getting into the car and just go somewhere random? When Alex visited me during the holidays we wanted to take the most out of our time together (gotta hate long distance relationships), so we took off for 3 days. Off to adventure! P.s. Make sure to read till the end: I saved the best for last <3
The first stop on our roadtrip was the German city Trier, which used to be one of the capitals of the Roman Empire. Beautiful architecture, facades and colors!
The main square is directly connected to a long shopping street which ends into one of the oldest remaining city gates.
PINK WALLS #yasss
A nice old man offered to make a picture for us, finally a pic where are together!
A small coffee break to warm up. It was SO cold there my toes were freezing off.
Since this city is just 40 minutes driving from Trier, we figured we could continue our little adventure with visiting another country. It’s a super small city so you really won’t need more than 1 day, but it’s fun to have seen it and to add an extra country to your ‘visited’ list. We walked around for 5 hours and I am pretty sure we passed by the same spots 3 times, just to give you an idea of how small it is haha. But the views are pretty amazing though!
Selfie!
Doesn’t he have the cutest smile? <3
Views on the castle and the bridge of Luxembourg city! It was very misty that day, but it gave a mysterious touch that I really loved.
A quick stop at the Chocolate House for a warm lunch and a snack! Fun fact: they are located in one of the oldest buildings of Luxembourg which still has its original structures, and it has views on the royal palace!
In the evening we drove back to Trier to have a Cheese & Wine tasting in Das Weinhaus, which was located in front of the house of Karl Marx.
The red wine was my personal favorite!
Yum, the perfect ending to a perfect day. But off to bed early because tomorrow we had another adventure planned :)
Day 3: Eltz Castle
No no no, this isn’t the castle yet. This is where we had to park our car because the rest of the route was for pedestrians only. Of course I was super smart that day when I figured to wear HEELS. I don’t know what I was thinking. But the heels were new and I just wanted to wear them because they are super cute #womenproblems.
We had to walk down a winding road down the hill for about 2km (may I repeat: on HEELS) before we could arrive to the castle. During this walk we really got thinking… To get to this place we had to drive for 1.5 hour through endless farm roads and small little towns. Why on EARTH would this famous beautiful pinterest fairy-tale castle be hiding in the middle of nowhere, tucked away in a deep valley? I couldn’t help but dreaming about stories of hiding princesses, I think I might have seen too much Disney when I was younger. Or like… the last year #guilty #frozen #yassss
Turned out there were some other Dutch people walking down the road too! Obviously I couldn’t help myself when I saw they have a ‘ Samson’ dog (you Dutchies know what I’m talking about)
And finally: There it was!!! The promised fairy-tale castle for which we conquered all these little farm roads and mountains. It turned out to be closed (it’s only open from April-August apparently) but I didn’t mind. We were almost the only ones there, which gave me the chance to really dream away with the beautiful views without being bothered by too many tourists trying to take pictures – now I could be the only annoying tourist that wanted to take 10000 pictures lol.
And it wasn’t just the castle, what made it even more magic was the fact that it was deep down in a valley, surrounded by beautiful nature as far as the eye could reach. Most of the people that were around were in fact hikers that were passing through the area via walking routes.
The perfect end of a perfect trip, I couldn’t be happier! Now Alex is back in Spain already, but I hope we will have another great adventure the next time he comes to visit me. Does anyone have suggestions for us? Which places are roadtrip worthy? Let me know!
Published Date : May 7, 2017 Author : demijonk Categories : Model Stories
We have to admit .. sometimes the gym seems really far away and the step to working out is just too big. Days go by, a week, maybe even another week. Getting back into a workout routine can be really difficult, this is why I’ve set up these tips to help you to get back into the exercise habit!
Going back to the gym means having a healthyway of life. I only enjoy working out in times I feel good and comfortable in my own skin. Try to avoid junk food, eat more fruit and vegetables and of course drink a lot of water. This helps you to feel healthy from the inside and eventually motivates you to jump back into your gym routine.
Find a good workout buddy! If there is someone waiting for you, you are less likely to cancel. This tip works best for me, because it’s easy to skip a workout if no one will notice it. But if you made an appointment with your friend, sister or roomie you don’t want to disappoint them. Share your fitness routine with your workout buddy and keep each other motivated!
What also works for me is to make a schedule. Mark on your calendar the days you have been working out. For example, a red X so you have an overview if its been too long since you went to the gym. Make a guideline for the month so you planned every workout in advance.
Some people skip their workouts because they think it’s boring or don’t know what to do or where to begin. In this case the best thing you could do is to attend the group lessons. It’s not only fun and effective but also works as encouragement, because the instructor will give you the extra push when you need it. With a wide variety of classes to choose, boring workouts will never be a problem again.
For that extra bit of motivation, grab a picture which shows your bodygoal. This could either be one of yourself when you were better in shape, or from someone else. When you don’t feel to confident about yourself or not motivated, just grab that picture and work for it! Your body is unfortunately not going to transform into that summer body by itself!
At the end the easiest way is simply not to stop. It doesn’t matter if it’s only once a week, but avoid the long breaks. Happy working out!
Top 12 Skincare questions answered by Image Skincare Professional
Published Date : July 27, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Beauty Guru
Let’s face it, all of us are obsessed with our skincare because everyone wants to have a good skin, myself included! For the past 3 years I have been very happy with the products of Image Skincare – which were recommended to me by my dermatologist – and 2 months ago they sent me 2 products to try out: Iluma exfoliater and eye cream. Obviously I was super happy with the products, and I decided to take my chances now that we got in touch: I was going to ask them EVERYTHING I wanted to know about skincare!
1. What is the best night time skincare routine?
In the night our body recovers, so does the skin. It is important to use products that nourish and repair the skin during that period. Every skin needs something different, this depends on the condition and the age of the skin.
2. What is the best way to minimize acne scarring?
Acne scars are the biggest fear for people who suffer from acne. It is always better to prevent than to cure, so if you see the first signs of acne, handle right away. Due to tailor-made skincare products for home use and skin treatments in the salon that make the skin thinner, reduce inflammation and slow down oil production, you no longer have to accept acne. Important advice: don’t touch or scratch the skin, this increases the chance of scarring and inflammation of the skin.
3. What is the best method for maintaining a balanced skin?
A balanced skin has maximum protection and is the most beautiful skin you can have! Hydration of the skin is one of the most important methods. As soon as there is a lack of moisture, the skin will create solutions in order to compensate, such as creating tallow. As a result of moisture deficit, we often see an itchy skin that is painful and eventually will become allergic to all kinds of skincare. Make sure you get proper advice for what is good for your skin. The IMAGE Skincare experts give personal advice and create tailor-made treatments.
4. What tips do you have for women dealing with adult eczema and acne?
For eczema, there are other tips than for acne. For middle-aged women who experience eczema, there may be other causes such as hormonal factors. The best tip for eczema is to keep the skin oily. By doing this, there will be no itch stimulus so you don’t scratch. Use shower products based on oil, don’t shower too much and try to nourish the skin with products containing ingredients that work on the Langerhans cells (skin’s immune system), such as the Vital C line of IMAGE Skincare. Hormones often play a role with adult women who suffer from acne. It is important to provide proper skincare and bring balance to the skin. IMAGE Skincare has a new product developed specifically for acne, the Clear Cell Restoring Serum. This serum brings balance to the skin, so the acne skin that is often dehydrated, no longer produces tallow. This anti-aging serum hydrates the skin for 48 hours and refines the pore structure.
5. What is the best way to eliminate darkness under the eyes?
To reduce dark circles under the eyes, it is important to live healthy, eat good nutrition and sleep enough. Last year, IMAGE Skincare launched an eye cream that illuminates the skin under the eyes, while the pigment decreases. This product also lifts, firms and hydrates the skin under the eyes.
6. What is the best way to minimize pores?
To refine the skin structure and minimize pores, I recommend a daily skincare at home with acids and retinols, in combination with peeling treatments. This will generate the best effect for the long term.
7. How often should we exfoliate our skin? And what is the best way to do it?
This depends on the skin. If you exfoliate the skin as IMAGE Skincare does, it creates cell renewal which improves the quality of the skin. Exfoliation is also important to ensure that the skin is not closed, because you don’t want to keep dead skin cells by tallow on the skin. The products that you use after exfoliation, will efficiently absorb into the clean skin. IMAGE Skincare exfoliates the skin every day with the cleanser products, but it also nourishes and protects and that is a must! Personally, I don’t think it is good to exfoliate the whole year at high intensity so don’t use products which are too strong.
8. What are the best preventative measures for aging skin?
The sun is a determining factor in the degree of skin aging. The best remedy is to start as early as possible with sun protection, you will benefit at a later age. Also, it’s important not to smoke and have a healthy lifestyle. When you use a proper “diet” for the skin with products, we can quite successfully slow down the aging of the skin as long as possible.
9. How do we select the right moisturizer for our skin type?
Take a good look at your skin. Is it oily? Dry? Does it need moisture? Or is it very sensitive? Depending on your skin type, you select a product. If you have an oily and blemished skin make sure to get an oil-free moisturizer. If your skin is sensitive and dehydrated you should go for a richer moisturizer.
10. How often should we switch up our skincare routine?
The skin changes and ‘behaves’ differently each season. When it is cold outside, we put the heater on. Hydration is very important in that case. In the summer, protection and restoring is very important. If you look at skin improvement at IMAGE Skincare, we adapt the skincare to what is needed at that time, so that’s why our methods are very specific and tailor-made.
11. What is the best way to treat a blemish?
A blemish is caused by a bacteria on the skin. Blemishes or inflammation can be caused by tallow build up or blockages. It is important to keep the skin thin with a good exfoliant, so that the dead skin cells with tallow can be removed. In addition, nourish and protect the skin with antioxidants for a better defence. If there is an inflammation, I would advise to use the Clear Cell Clarifying Lotion or Clarifying Clear Cell Masque from IMAGE Skincare. It contains anti-inflammatory ingredients that attacks the first signs of a blemish.
12. What is the best way to remove make-up?
The best way to remove make-up is with a lot of water. I wouldn’t advice cotton pads.
Wow! After almost 2 months of touring around Europe, I finally have time to take a breath and look back at everything that I’ve been doing. I have to say… it’s crazier than I realized. To sum everything up I made a small selection of the stuff that I’ve been doing, a compilation so to say. Let’s check it out!
For starters: there were SO many shoots during this tour, for C-Heads Magazine and Point Seven Mach Magazine among others. A nice mix between fashion, lingerie and lifestyle I would say, here are some of my favorite shots. Which one is yours?
And the pictures didn’t go unnoticed! I was super excited to be reposted by many big magazines, influencers and brands such as Brandy Melville & Marlies Dekkers.
During Fashion Weeks I didn’t go unnoticed either: here you see a selection of publications in magazines such as Grazia, Elle, Glamour and El Periodico. They spotted me for my streetstyle outifts
And last but not least: I got to meet some amazing people that I’ve been looking up to for years already! The cherry on my tour-pie :)
Tadaa! A short yet powerful compilation of an amazing experience. I learned so much about the fashion world, got to know great people and visited beautiful places. An experience no one is going to take away from me anymore :) Now it’s time to get ready for the holidays, enjoy quality time with my family and friends, and take a small break. See you in January fashion world!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
P.s If you liked this compilation, also make sure to check out some of my tour vlogs!
Published Date : January 28, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
Ciao Bellas!
While I am travelling around for some Fashion Weeks, I thought it would be a suitable moment to share a post with a travel that I did last month. Right before going home for Christmas, me and Alex first went to visit my beautiful friend Carmen in Verona! Sweet as she is she tried us to show as much as possible of the area as possible in the short time we were there. Let’s check some of the pictures we took on our trip!
Our first way we drove to Venice to spend our day wandering around the streets of the historical city center…
I have to say I was quite surprised by how decayed the city of Venice was, very surprising since it’s such a touristical city. You would think the government would try to keep it in a good shape to improve the economy… right? It did have a certain charm though… and besides it was very obvious that the waterside was in a much better shape. And beautiful it was indeed!
To get back to the car we had to take a Ferry which immediately gave us a cheap tour over the water while enjoying the sunset. A perfect end to a perfect day :) We went to sleep early because we were exhausted from running around Venice all day long, and of course we needed our energy for the citytrip of the next day: Verona!
Our first stop in Verona was the house of Julliet. Since Romeo & Julliet is my favorite Shakespeare story, I obviously needed to see it! Yes yes, I know it’s a fictional story. But the city of Verona created this landmark in order to honor Shakespeare and his amazing writings, and besides, it’s a great hotspot to get more tourists to the city. Win-Win right? Fun fact: there is a statue of Julliet below her balcony and apparantely it gives goodluck if you touch her boob, as you can see on the picture it completely lost its color from all the people touching the statue! What I loved most about Julliets’ house is the entry hall, with walls covered in love declarations from couples visiting, it almost looks like modern street art!
While strolling about the packed streets of Verona I could totally imagine the love story of Romeo and Julliet happening here. The architecture is beautiful (and in a great shape by the way), the little shops scream romance and the streets still remind of historical times. Nostalgia and beauty surrounds this city, why didn’t I ever think of visiting before? It’s a shame I couldn’t make more pictures but it was starting to get dark and the streets were so busy that it was almost impossible.
Before going home we made a small stop at the top of a mountain to check out the views over Verona… see for yourself: they are breathtaking
Italy is a wonderful country with a rich history, I hope to see more of its treasures later this year! Does anyone have recommendations for me to travel?
Wanderlust consumed her; foreign hearts and exotic minds compelled her. She had a gypsy soul and a vibrant hope for the unknown. -D. Marie
The Railroad Track is Miles away,
And the day is loud with voices speaking,
Yet there isn´t a train goes by all day
But iI hear its whistle shrieking
All night there isn´t a train goes by,
Though the night is still for sleep and dremaing,
But i see its cinders red on the sky,
And hear its engine steaming
My heart is warm with friends i make,
And better friends i´ll not be knowingñ
Yet there isn´t a train i wouldn´t take
No matter where it´s going.
A wanderlust that doth unfold
of tales heard
of tales told
of yonder there when i was old
to ye
to see
to be in awe for ever more
to rest rest thy bones upon a shore
and whisper in the wind
that I am home
“She is free in her wildness, she is a wanderess, a drop of free water. She knows nothing of borders and cares nothing for rules or customs. ‘Time’ for her isn’t something to fight against. Her life flows clean, with passion, like fresh water.” ― Roman Payne
“And we laugh and laugh and all I know is at this moment I feel like I can do anything I want and be anyone I want and go anywhere on the globe and still call it home” ― Kirsten Smith
Where are you going this Summer?
Travel Tips: 10 Things I Learned Travelling Across Europe
Published Date : November 9, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
In September and October, I traveled all across Europe: from Madrid to Amsterdam. It was an amazing adventure that I wouldn’t want to have missed for the world! During my Europe Tour, I saw the most beautiful places, met great people, and learned more than I could have imagined. Here are 10 Travel Tips I learned!
1. Bring your camera everywhere
You never know where you might end up during your wanders in a city, so make sure you can snap a picture! However: make sure that you don’t just see the place you’re visiting through your camera lens. Be in the moment and experience it in all its beauty.
2. Always have a small etui with you for practical essentials
While packing, unpacking, repacking and running around countless of train stations, airports, metros, and so on. I noticed it is quite useful to have one little etui with all of my travel essentials such as: my passport, lip balm, headphones, business cards, a pen, travel tickets, chewing gum, foundation and a little bottle of perfume. I never lose this etui because I am always carrying it around, and I always have what I need within a hand’s reach!
3. The best things happen when you don’t expect it
Of course, you can partly organize your trip so you are sure to see the highlights of the city you are visiting. But make sure to give yourself some free time to really experience the city: wander around, get lost, talk to locals, walk into random pretty buildings. ENJOY! You never truly know a city until you get lost in it.
4. Try to speak some of the local language
Locals will be super excited to see that you are making an effort to speak some words in their language as it is a sign of respect and enthusiasm towards their culture. Not only is it fun, they will most likely make much more effort to assure that you are having a pleasant stay in their city/ country.
5. Always try local specialties
This isn’t only really delicious (most of the time), people love it when you open up to their culture and will be more than willing to tell you all about it. The best way to educate yourself while travelling!
6. Conquer your fears and/or insecurities
While you are travelling, you might be forced out of your comfort zone every now and then. Try to embrace it as much as you can! Travelling is there to broaden your horizon, try new things and grow as a person. You might surprise yourself.
7. It’s okay to be alone
During my tour in Europe I met a lot of amazing people, but I also had to spend quite some time on my own. This is the perfect occasion to learn how to be comfortable on your own, and to find out it has perks! No more waiting for anyone, you can decide yourself what you are visiting without having to make compromises, and you are much more likely to connect to locals.
8. Be spontaneous (say YES)
While visiting several cities, I often got invited to meet up with people, try out a new restaurant, check out a part of the city, visit some events, and more. Even though I was quite tired from all the travelling and running around, I still managed to say yes to most of these offers. Why? Because you might have the coolest experience ever! Okay sure, it wasn’t that great every single time. But some of the best experiences I had during my tour were because I decided to put my fatigue aside and go on another adventure. Carpe diem guys, carpe diem.
9. Pack lightly
Here’s something I had to learn the hard way: don’t overpack, which is quite hard if you’re a blogger and visiting 6 different cities with different climates and activities. Halfway the tour my biggest suitcase broke due to the weight, which made my travels highly uncomfortable. I do have to say: I definitely got some extra biceps from carrying around my stuff.
10. Don’t be afraid to ask for help
While travelling to unknown places, it is not more than normal that you might get lost. Or that you experience any other problems for that matter. Locals are surprisingly helpful towards tourists, and it is another way to connect with them! Believe it or not: I’ve met some of my best friends because I asked them a question in the streets of their city.
Isn’t travelling the best thing ever? I started travelling on my own since I was 14 and I’ve never looked back! Some of the life lessons you learn while travelling you won’t be able to learn in any other way, for which I am eternally grateful.
What are some of the best travel tips that you’ve learned while travelling? Share your thoughts!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
Travel Trends: Boutique Hostels
Published Date : November 20, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
For years I considered hostels as cheap places where you have to share your room with lots of people, low hygiene and not enough space. However, while touring around Europe for the past 2 months I collaborated with Generator Hostels in 4 different cities and I got a completely new view on hostels.
First I’d have to explain myself better though: I discovered that there is a new type of hostels growing rapidly all around the world which differentiates itself from the typical ‘backpacker’ hostels that we all know. They are stylish, clean, have an amazing service, reasonable prices, good food, and lots of private rooms. I wouldn’t call it a hotel but it’s not a typical hostel either… It’s a Boutique Hostel.
As I said before, I stayed with Generator Hostels in 4 cities: Paris, London, Amsterdam and Barcelona. The thing I loved about these places is that they have some serious relaxed vibes with their beautiful public areas and lounge facilities. Everything is designed with the city as its inspiration, which gives every location a unique look.
So why do I think that Boutique Hostels are going to be the next big thing? The answer is simple: they have the best of both worlds. The luxury and style of a hotel with the prices and the vibes of a hostel. Generator Hostel is just an example for this phenomenon since I experienced it firsthand, but boutique hostels are starting to pop up everywhere!
This was my favorite room: look at those views! Generator Amsterdam has a park as it’s garden, isn’t that lovely? I loved this location so much that I decided to organize a shoot here for C-Heads Magazine. You can check out the results here.
In Generator Barcelona I got the penthouse for a few days! I invited over some girlfriends to make some awesome pictures, you can check those out as well: click here. Btw… a hostel with a freakin’ penthouse?! Sooooo cool
Breakfast in bed in Generator Paris. Boutique hostels often offer much more services than the typical backpack hostels.
What I loved about Generator London was the fun and urban design style, which fits perfectly with the city vibes.
Have you stayed in a boutique hostel before? Or would you consider it next time you go on a citytrip?
Lots of Love,
Lynn
P.s. If you liked this blog, make sure to check out these ones!
I was seventeen when I moved abroad for the first time, to London for a short period, all by myself. Since then I’ve lived in and traveled to several other countries, sometimes where I knew people, sometimes not. I would like to tell you guys my story, share why I highly recommend traveling / moving abroad on your own and in which ways it changed me as a person.
Very first time
My first time abroad for work wasn’t really a big deal or scary for me, because I already knew London pretty well and the city isn’t very different than Amsterdam (and there is no language barrier, which helps a lot!). Although I was quite nervous about the place I was staying – with a guest family… It felt kind of weird and awkward for me to be honest. I felt like I was interrupting their life and that the children (who were around the same age as me) didn’t wanted me to be there. I wasn’t feeling comfortable with eating in the dining room at the same time as them and was afraid to wake them up if I came home late. This resulted in mostly eating and spending my free-time in my bedroom which made me feel kind of lonely.
The second time when I went back to London I stayed there again, just because it was easy during fashion week because I knew the neighborhood and such things. I felt more comfortable during my stay this time, also because I got used to living there and I worked a lot. After those two weeks I never stayed there again and always stayed in the same beautiful model apartment from my agency.
Although my experience with staying with a guest family wasn’t the best.. When I look back at it, I feel like it is a really good decision from my agency to place young models with guest families instead of a model apartment. Not only because it’s more safe, but also because you have someone that keeps an eye on you and whom you can talk to if there is any need to. London still has a special place in my heart and every time I go there it feels a bit like I’m coming home.
First shoot in London by photographer Grant Thomas, I was really insecure and had no idea what I was doing.
Friends
Of course it’s easier to make friends who share your language and habits, but try to challenge yourself and step out of your comfort zone! After almost three years of traveling by myself I can say I am really good in building friendships. I was so scared at first to meet people that I had only spoken to on Instagram or to ask someone to hang out with me that I didn’t know. But once you’ve done it and you had good experiences (which I’m sure you will have), you can be very proud of yourself! It feels great to have friends from all over the world. I experienced that during my time abroad I became friends with amazing human beings whom I normally at home would never even talk to.
Making friends in a new country is harder for some people than it is for others, especially when foreign languages or cultural differences are involved. But the only way you’re going to get better at a foreign language or learn a culture’s customs is to surround yourself with it. My American and English friends are one of the main reason why my English has improved this much, because of them I still extend my vocabulary every single day.
Try not only to invest in relationship with others, but also in the relationship with yourself. Give yourself a mission, keep a diary or journal, try something you’ve never done before and get lost in the city you are in. Say yes more often and accept the opportunity to try new activities and explore adventures.
When you move abroad solo, you only have yourself. You have to figure things out on your own and set up your new life alone, even if it’s only for a short amount of time. Luckily there are plenty of ways to make friends when you are abroad, but you have make the effort yourself. Moving alone can be scary at first, especially if you’re more of an introverted person, but once you realise you can do it your self-confidence will definitely grow. When you only have yourself to rely on, you’ll realise how strong you are.
“Allow yourself to be proud of yourself and the progress you have made. Especially the progress that no one else has seen.”
Grow
Moving abroad has allowed me to lead a life of adventure, find confidence, made me a stronger person. It allows you to gain a different perspective on life. Basing yourself somewhere for an extended period of time will really allow you to understand life from a different point of view. It will give you an opportunity to grow in ways you didn’t even know that you needed to. Be the best version of yourself!
It’s the best opportunity to learn or extend your knowledge of a different language. No better way to learn, than to surround yourself with people who speak the language fluently and you HAVE to be able to speak it as well.
My most important advice: trust your instinct with traveling by yourself it all comes down at trusting your instincts.
The beauty of solo traveling: you get to know yourself very well. You will learn exactly what you want and don’t want. I learned that I’m an extrovert. I learned to just trust my intuition. You don’t have to keep anyone elses wishes in mind. What’s better than that?
You might be afraid of traveling on your own, but push through it and it might be the best decision ever made! If you really want to move abroad, you will find a way to do it. Trust me, the exhaustion and extra hard work will be 100 percent worth it in the end.
Love,
Demi
P.s. Planning a trip ? Make sure to also check my packing tips blog.
Today I felt like sharing some awesome fashion inspirations from a Tumblr account that I have been following for a while already. The account is called ‘Your Daily Milk’ and they always share amazing fashion photography, perfect if you are looking for Moodboard Pictures! This one is for the photography lovers… enjoy:)
Feeling the need to get creative yet? I sure feel like setting up an amazing photoshoot after seeing these amazing inspirations !
Upcoming: Very Exciting News!
Published Date : September 30, 2015 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
Today is the last day of my official ‘Launch Week Celebration’, it was amazing! I hope you enjoyed reading my articles as much as I loved writing them. It would be great to get some feedback from you guys, which blogs did you like and which ones do you think still need some improvement? I like to imagine we are making this journey together so please get in touch with me!
This brings me to the next subject: I am super happy to share some exciting news with you… my next steps as a young fashion blogger! Just one week after the official launch date, ‘Who is that Blonde’ is going to the Paris Fashion Week as a Fashion Reporter, YES I KNOW IT’S SO COOL. When does the Paris Fashion Week start you ask? IT STARTED YESTERDAY ALREADY
Yes that’s right, I’m in Paris right now with a huge suitcase filled with fabulous outfits. I will be sharing my streetstyle looks on my blog every single day so if you need some cool fashion inspirations… I got you girl. Interested in the reports of the shows I will be visiting? They will be posted daily on Modelboard Magazine. At the end of the fashion week I will also post a recap of all the highlights on Who is that Blonde so you won’t miss a thing!
Wish me luck and ‘Au Revoir mes Chéries’ !
Avec toute ma tendresse,
Lynn
Valentine Giveaway: YSL Lipstick
Published Date : February 1, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Beauty Guru
Happy February!
Valentine’s Day is coming soon and Love is in the Air! Even if you haven’t found your other half yet, there is nothing wrong with celebrating the power of love with the people close to you :) And most importantly: love yourself! I thought well about my giveaway for this month and I figured it should be something which will make anyone happy, regardless of their relationship status. Introducing my Valentine Giveaway: the Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Couture Mats Lipstick. Quite a ‘mouth full’ isn’t it? ;)
Either you’ll be seducing your boyfriend this Valentine (or getting the perfect present for your girlfriend with this lipstick), partying all night with your best friend, or having a nice family dinner for some good old quality time. This lipstick will look beautiful on you no matter what you’ll be doing!
Yves Saint Laurent is known for its lipstick classics which looks good on any skin-color… do you want to find out if that’s true? All you have to do is tobe subscribed to my newsletter, nothing less and nothing more!
In exactly one week I will announce the lucky Valentine Giveaway winner, perfectly in time to arrive before Valentine’s Day! Does anyone already have plans? I would love to hear about them!
Lots and lots of Love,
Lynn
P.s. Thank you for the beautiful Photography Thomas Moke!
VIENNA CITY GUIDE with tips from locals
Published Date : August 30, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
I’ve never been to Vienna for, but I always wanted to. As a former culture student I NEED to see the city of music! That’s why I got really excited when I was invited by Boutique hotel Stadthalle and the tourist office of Vienna to come and experience their beautiful city. However, WHERE TO GO?! I got in touch with a local blogger and she showed me around all these days, so get ready for some serious tips!
My arrival in the morning was pretty perfect: I had a lovely breakfast at the garden of my hotel before going out to explore! Yes, I was very hungry lol.
The first thing I realized when I got to Vienna was the temperature. Who knew that Austria was THAT hot?! I melted away so me and Bianca (my sweet blogger friend) went to get vegan ice cream. So cool!
This place is very small, but loved by the locals. It is Mario Bros themed (you can even game inside!) and the pizza is seriously delicious. The secret? They make the pizza from sourdough.
This is a more touristy location, but still worth a visit. It is located right next to a beautiful park AND a butterfly house. I KNOW RIGHT! It used to be an old glass house, it has beautiful high ceilings and palm trees growing inside. The botanical vibes are high here.
These two hipster places are only 100m away from each other (held by the same owner) and are THE breakfast hotspots for the locals. Located in the 7th district (also known as the artsy area), there are no tourists to be found here.
Again a very chill local hotspot. Vienna has no beach? No problem! This bar is next to the river and literally created its own beach on their terrace. Perfect for drinking cocktails while watching the sunset with your feet in the sand <3
This is one of the touristy spots I’m recommending. For one simple reason: it is SO pretty! It is in the middle of the historical city center and is surrounded by astonishing architecture. Definitely not a bad place to have a coffee after a long city walk.
This is the rooftopbar of the 25hours hotel, just on border of the city. You have great views on the old historical buildings. Also, they have cool hipster interor and great wine.
This rooftop is literally right next to the St. Peter’s Church, with its beautiful turqoise colors<3 It’s a great place for drinks and sunsets in the summer!
This is a touristic monument located in the garden of Schönbrunn Palace. It doesn’t only look like a temple of the gods from a distance, once you walk up there, you have amazing views over the palace and the city.
A.k.a. The Sisi Palace! I went super early to this place to avoid hords of tourists and it was an amazing experience: the architecture, the baroque gardens and the views. Fun fact: did you know that princess Sisi even got her own Zoo right next to her gardens?
These 2 houses are a bit out of the centre, but still walkable. I just HAD to see this! A completely different sight than the rest of Vienna and very fun to look at.
From all the parks/ gardens that I saw in Vienna, this was definitely my favorite one. Everything is super colorful with thousands of flowers, it’s not too touristy and it’s perfect for a relaxing walk. Fun fact: in the night there is also a club that opens up at Volksgarten, which is the #1 party place for locals!
THE HISTORICAL CITY CENTRE
There are too many beautiful buildings to all call by their name. So what you should do is just literally spend 1 or 2 full days wandering around the historical city center and you will see all of them! Here are some of my favorites:
Another beautiful palace right next to the city centre. The inside is a museum and did you know that the famous painting from Gustav Klimt ‘The Kiss‘ is located here?!
When I asked Bianca where I should go shopping for better summer outfits, this is the first place she recommended to me. It’s a very long street with dozens of shops. From local designers to the typical shops such as Zara and Mango.
Since my hotel was located in the 7th district, Bianca also showed me around here. The 7th district is known as the ‘artsy’ area, so this is the place where you will find all the young designers, conceptstores and vintage shops!
This is THE most popular vintage shop of Vienna. The place where all the bloggers go for their best looks AND have some amazing lunch while they’re at it. Yes, they also have a little restaurant too, in case you shopped too hard and need a rest. Can this place be any more perfect?? #hipstersunite
BOOM! A full on city guide with everything you need to know in Vienna. It’s that kind of city where it doens’t matter where you are walking, beautiful buildings are everywhere. Need any other tips? Let me know and I will write them in another blog!
Save the date: the 29th of November I will be participating in a vintage fashion show in collaboration with Marktplaats in Amsterdam. More than 40 fashion -and lifestylebloggers will be showing their ‘creative chic’ outfit, which will be up for sale afterwards! In case you would like to check out all of our styles – and do some vintage shopping while you’re at it – make sure to come over.
Why is this fun? Because women should spend more time recycling their closet: it doesn’t only keep it more organized, with the money you earn from small sales you can buy new (and better) outfits. Go sustainable fashion!
I am super excited that I was invited to join this event, and I can take 3 of you guys! Marktplaats lets me give away 3 VIP Tickets + a Meet and Greet, so make sure to leave a comment on my blog or my Instagram to get a chance of winning! Let me know why you want to come and the 22nd of November I will announce the winners :)
Last month I was shooting in Dubrovnik for Hunkemöller and it was so much fun! Since I posted travel tips for Hvar and Split last week, I figured I might as well share the most beautiful place I visited while I was in Dubrovnik, with a fun vlog on the side. Also, I will post some of the pictures of the shoot, so you can see what turned out to be the final results!
Okay so this is the place where we lunched and shot the above picture. IT IS THE BOMB. Those beds are the dreamiest thing ever and the food is delicious. You cannot imagine how hard it was for me not to rage all over the lunch because I still had to shoot in bikinis for the rest of the day lol. So here is my favorite tip for Dubrovnik: Beachclub Copacabana. JUST LOOK AT THESE PICTURES OMG
Another part of the shoot was at our hotel: Valamar. Especially the breakfast and the pool are super nice, but the interior is quite simple so not necessarily ‘instagrammable’. It is relatively far from the city center, which can be a problem on one side, but on the other side it’s super relaxing because you really do have that ‘away-from-everything-vacay’ thing going on there. Perfect if you need to chill :)
As for the city of Dubrovnik: literally EVERYTHING is beautiful around there so I definitely recommend just getting lost in the city and enjoy the hospitality of the people.
The main square is beautiful and there is an awesome ice cream shop where we celebrated the end of our shoot.
Unfortunately I didn’t really have time to visit ‘hotspots’ in Dubrovnik city because we were there just for one afternoon shooting non-stop, so I definitely need to go back in order to do more research <3
Also, for the Game of Throne fans: there are a lot of scenes shot in Dubrovnik, so if you’re a fan you should definitely do one of those guided tours where you go to see all those places! I wish I could have done that SO badly lol. #Khaleesi4Life
Here’s the result of ‘pretending to make a selfie while actually filming for the vlog’ picture haha. I was actually quite scared because I couldn’t look at the stairs while walking down. Thankfully, no one fell down! #professionalmodels #iknowright
THE END! Hope to be back soon Dubrovnik <3
What did you guys think about my vlog? I literally just bought a camera 1 week ago and I’m planning on making more videos. What kind of videos would you guys like to see? Let me know!
P.p.s. If you liked this post, make sure to read my travel tips on Split and Hvar – here I had some more time to check out hotspots haha.
VLOG: 5 Days in London
Published Date : December 14, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : BlondieTV, Life & Travel
London was an amazing experience, I wish to be back soon! From shooting beautiful lingerie, to hanging out with my long lost roommate… London had all the feels <3
Make sure to subscribe to my youtube channel for more of my videos! Do you like them? Make sure to let me know, because I have no idea if I’m doing this right haha. Any tips are more than welcome!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
VLOG: Adventures in Amsterdam
Published Date : December 21, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : BlondieTV, Life & Travel
From pampering myself to working more than 10 hours during a photoshoot for Hunkemöller. Amsterdam is the final stop of Who is that Blonde on Tour and it was a crazy ride!
VLOG: an amazing event with Passage BCN & Italia Independent
Published Date : June 22, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : BlondieTV, Life & Travel
Vlog Alert! As you might have already seen on my Instagram last week, I collaborated with Passage BCN again for a follow-up event on the bloggers night! The 4 bloggers that won the last design competition are now competing with each other: who will get their sunglasses produced by Italia Independent? The event was such a great success that it got a full page in the national newspaper the next day, couldn’t be happier :) You can check it out here
It was amazing to see that the event attracted many highlights from the fashion world. First of all Lapo Elkann himself paid a visit: the owner of Italia Independent. Others that enjoyed passing by Passage Barelona were inter alia the chairman of Mango, a Spanish TV Actress, the owner of Rabat, Illustrator Jordi Labanda, TV3, and many Spanish top bloggers!
I decided to make a vlog to show you how my day went: from building up the location to all the amazing people that came… enjoy! :)
Me with Lapo Elkann, the owner of Itaila Independent!
VLOG: Catwalk Class, Photoshoots and B-day Celebrations in Barcelona
Published Date : November 14, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : BlondieTV, Life & Travel
Oh Barcelona, can you be more wonderful? During my tour I vlogged for 1 week in Barcelona to give you an idea of what I’m up to on a daily basis. Catwalk Classes from Hernando Herrera, going behind the scenes of my photoshoots, birthday celebrations at Mamarosa Beach Restaraurant and more!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
P.s. If you like this, also make sure to check out my other Tour Vlogs: Madrid and Paris!
Guess who is the newest Ambassador for Hunkemöller? This girl!
It´s Vlog time! Last week I was invited for my very first Ambassador Day, I´ve been a huge fan of Hunkemöller for many years so you can imagine it was still feeling quite surrealistic that they invited me! The event took place in a super stylish beach bar in Zandvoort, a beach town close to Amsterdam. When we arrived we had a lovely lunch and afterwards I joined a brainstorm session about the newest sport collection, where we were able to give our opinions. I think it´s so cool that Hunkemöller will actually use that feedback to improve their designs! Can´t wait to see the results :) After the brainstorm session all of the ambassadors got into hair and make-up for a photoshoot in the latest bikini collection, I will post some pics down below!
The reason I chose this bright pink limited edition bikini from Hunkemöller is because I love the design of the top, AND I look tanned in this color without being tanned yet! As a person who needs all summer to work on her tan I desperately need a bikini like this!
The shoot was lots of fun but very cold because the wind was so icy! I didn´t care though: I was having too much fun with finding more beautiful locations haha. Nevertheless I was quite relieved when it was dinner time so we all could warm up with some delicious food provided by the beach bar. To end the day we all got an ice cream for the way back to Amsterdam – yasssss – Thank you Hunkemöller!
P.s. What did you guys think about my vlog? Would you like to see more videos like this? Let me know and maybe I will start doing more Behind the Scenes & Lifestyle stuff!
The first stop of Who is that Blonde on Tour is finally online! Last month I was in Madrid for the fashion week, and I have to say that I was really surprised by the quality of the event.
Hanging out with Mariska Vermeulen from Fashionista Magazine, visiting dozens of fashion shows, experiencing an authentic Tapas Tour, going Backstage, and more! Check it out on the vlog now :)
Lots of Love,
Lynn
VLOG: My trip to Berlin with Hunkemöller
Published Date : September 25, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : BlondieTV, Life & Travel
Not that long ago I went on a trip with Hunkemöller to Berlin, because they were going to announce who was going to be the new face of my favorite lingerie brand…. Doutzen Kroes! I am VERY happy with this choice, and the beautiful collection they created together. Did you already see it? In my vlog you can check out a little sneakpeek of the designs, the beautiful Doutzen, delicious snacks, and a quick tour through Berlin. Thank you SO much Hunkemöller, for letting me join this amazing experience!
Published Date : February 26, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : #OOTD, The Styling Files
Two weeks ago I got some last-minute – yet exciting – news: I was invited to fly over to Spain for Madrid Fashion Week! The last time it was an amazing experience, so of course I said yes. I was a bit stressed about my outfits though, because I just used some of my favorites for Amsterdam Fashion Week, what to do?!
As a true blogger, I dived into my previous blog “The 20 Ultimate Prep Guidelines for Fashion Week” to get some inspiration, surfed the internet to research the newest trends, and eventually I ended up at the airport with 2 suitcases filled with fashion items LOL #bloggerlife. It wasn’t in vain though: I was super happy with my looks, and so were the streetstyle photographers! Let’s take a look at the trends I was rocking for Madrid Fashion Week, shall we?
Day 1: Badass Babe
I literally had a super early flight, directly a photoshoot in the hotel as soon as I arrived, and then had 20 minutes to get ready for fashion week. As you can imagine: I wanted to go comfy. That’s why I went for the most comfy outfit I had in my suitcase: Adidas sneakers and a cap to hide my tired face. Perfect.
So how many trends can you find in this outfit? Any guesses? If you guessed 4: you won! haha. Right now the fashion world is going crazy over caps, corsets over shirts, trenchcoats and fishnets. Together they form a casual yet stylish look and the magazines absolutely loved it!
Fishnets: a random sexshop (I swear, they have the best fishnets lol)
Shoes: Adidas
Day 2: Romantic yet Comfy
The Pajama pants! Who doesn’t love to walk around comfy during long days? No more getting home and taking of your pants to wear your pajamas, because you’re already wearing them outside. I’m a fan. I combined the soft blue pants with a light pink ruffle blouse, which is the second trend of this outfit. The pastels and breeziness of this outfit made me dream of spring already: we are soooo close #hanginthere
Lately the thin scarf has been making a huge comeback. I never really was into it, but then when I gave it a try I suddenly understood: it made me look SO much more chic without any extra effort. I kept the look monochrome with a grey ruffle sweater and a black velvet pants. Add a classy burgundy bag and pretty mules and you look très chic.
As you might have realized, I am in a pink phase right now. So I was reaally happy when I realized that all-pink outfits were becoming a thing. The ruffle blouse, pleated skirt and laced ballerina shoes are super girly, but because I combined it with a satin bomber, the look gets a more casual vibe
Note the details: pink glitter socks in my shoes! Definitely a very popular streetstyle trend right now, just like the laced-up shoes. And I just had to share the picture below with my sweet blogger babe Susana: LOOK AT HER SWEATER.
As you can see: I really did my homework on current trends! But I have to be honest, it wasn’t all me. I figured I should share my secret with you guys so we can be stylish all together. You might have already noticed that a lot of my items came from Zalando, that’s because I recently discovered their newest web feature: an editorial space where they explain everything about the newest trends and how to wear them. I can honestly say I spent a full day going through their articles before I decided my final looks, and it was totally worth it! No, they are not paying me to say this, I am actually really excited about it because sometimes even I find it hard to keep up with the trends as a fashion blogger, and this feature makes my life a little bit easier haha.
Anyways, what do you think about the current trends? I think my favorite Madrid Fashion Week look is either the 1st of the 4th. Which look is your favorite? Leave me a comment!
Published Date : June 15, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
“Why can’t I have more discipline??” I wonder to myself while working my ass off in the gym. For the past 3 weeks I had been travelling so I didn’t sport and didn’t eat healthy… it was time to compensate.
I mean… what do you do when you are in lots of events with so much good food? How can you possibly say no? And don’t even get me started about spending time in my mom’s house, she knows exactly what kind of food I like, and she makes sure I’m getting plenty of it. Just to make sure I’m not getting too skinny, THANKS MOM lol.
Anyways, now I’m back in Barcelona and back on track! I’m trying hard to go to the gym three times a week and I eat salad and veggies every single day. I’m promising myself to work harder on my discipline because in July I will be travelling again for 2 weeks straight… will I be able to control myself? Challenge Accepted!
Now if you’ll excuse me… I’m going to grab myself a carrot :P
Lots of Love,
Lynn
Weird American habits | European view
Published Date : October 22, 2017 Author : demijonk Categories : Life & Travel
While living in New York I found a lot of differences between America and Europe. They have a lot of habits that we as Europeans find really strange and will never understand. No matter how many times I visit New York, there are a few things I will never get used to.
Tipping One of the most annoying things, they interrupt you every three minutes while you’re in a restaurant eating your food. Don’t be fooled it’s not because they are just being friendly, they are reminding you in their ‘subtle’ way that you need to tip them. Tipping here is mandatory, which I find really weird. I used to think of tipping as a reward for exceptional service. If I have to pay at least 15% extra, then include it in the bill!
Taxes The prices you see on the price tag or menu is not what you are paying in the end, they fool you (again ?!). Next to the tipping, you also have to pay taxes. I just don’t understand why they don’t include it into the price, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. I would like to know how much I really have to pay, so I don’t get surprised at the check out.
Free refills
I have never experienced this anywhere else, free unlimited refills ?????? Sometimes when your glass is nearly half full they will already refill it to the top. Surprisingly there are still people who order a large cup, why …. I now understand why obesity is such a big problem in the United States. They also serve really big portions, most of the time when I order a starter it’s already enough for me (doggy bags are great!).
How are you?
I’m not exaggerating if I tell you that I hear “How are you” more than 30 times a day. They use it here as a way to say hello, they don’t care about the answer. The funniest part, they don’t even wait for you to answer if you are okay. They already know that you are going to answer ‘great’ or ‘good, thanks’. Nobody wants to know how you really are.
Drinking age & drive age One of the many things I don’t understand is that you are allowed to drive when you are sixteen, but have to be twenty one to order a alcoholic drink or go to a club. I mean.. does that sound logical to you?
Coffee obsession
We’ve seen it in every movie and I always wondered if it would be the same in real life. But guess what, it is .. Everyone is running around with coffee all day every day (and why is everybody in a hurry?!). In the morning there’s a huge line in every single coffee place. And again, when you order a normal sized coffee, it is as big as your head.
Despite all these things I (and probably a lot of Europeans) don’t understand about the Americans, I love New York and definitely want to visit more cities in the United States!
Published Date : September 23, 2015 Author : meganmedia15 Categories : BlondieTV, Get inspired!
Hi there!
Welcome to my blog ‘Who is that Blonde’! I am so excited to finally launch my blog and I am super excited to have you here!
So you must wonder, WHO is this blonde?
My name is Lynn Quanjel. I’m a proud Dutchie | International model | Blogger | Food and Fashionlover | Crazy Animal Lady | Master in Arts and Culture | Salsa Student | World Traveler and Adventure Seeker
Believe it or not, I didn’t grow up with my model looks, nor a good taste in style! On the inside I’m still the geeky girl that was wearing braces in high school and was messing up… well.. pretty everything. But thank god puberty, a proper education, and my model career helped me out to become the more confident lady I am nowadays!
I am far from being a picture perfect Barbie, but you know what? I think that’s great! I understand everyday struggles because I’ve been there a thousand times; I wasn’t fashionable, I had never touched a fitness machine in my life, I didn’t know anything about make-up. Hell, I didn’t even know how to braid my own hair! But guess what? I LEARNED it and I learned so much more cool stuff about fashion, art, travelling, creativity and more!
With this blog I will share everything that I’ve learned throughout the years in order to make YOUR life easier (you can thank me later haha!). I want my blog to inspire you, I want you to learn how to believe in yourself and that with some determination and creativity you can get a long way!
Do you want to be in on all my tips and get inspired? Subscribe to my newsletter HERE. You won’t miss out on anything, and besides, you are automatically in the running for my awesome monthly giveaways, how cool is that?!
A big kiss for now and see you soon!
Love,
Lynn
P.s.
This simple but gorgeous outfit is inspired by the Kim Kardashian look and can be found in the Bershka!
What happens if a Vegetarian eats meat?
Published Date : October 9, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
It has been a long time since I ate meat. Actually, I was always a big lover of meat, but I decided become vegetarian 2 years ago: for my own health, and to make a statement against animal abuse. However, I wouldn’t want to call myself a strict vegetarian: it is ridiculous to push yourself from one extreme to the other in 1 week I think. So for a couple of months I still ate chicken every now and then. Now I still eat fish 2-3 times a week, but no meat. Slowly getting used to being a full vegetarian and maybe even vegan sometimes. Anyways, I think it’s safe to say that meat is currently out of my system. Which brings us to my story.
The other day I was shooting a ‘Goodmorning’ series in a hotel, and I asked the kitchen to prepare us a pretty breakfast which would look good in the pictures. Since I usually always eat yogurt with fruits for breakfast, I totally forgot that perhaps they would give me something else. So yeah, you can already imagine: they proudly presented me an English breakfast at the door… bacon and sausages included. This brought me to a big dilema… If I eat this, I go against my own principles because I don’t want to hurt animals. But then again, if I don’t eat this, it would feel like the poor thing would have died for nothing. So I decided to make sure it wouldn’t, and make it an actual experiment: what would happen if I would eat meat again after such a long time?
So as you figured, I took a couple of bites from the bacon and the sausages. The first thing I realized was quite surprising for me: in all the years that I ate meat I was always CRAZY about bacon, but now I was eating it and I actually wasn’t that impressed with the taste anymore. Not too long after that, I suddenly started getting a stomach ache, one quite hard to explain. You know how your stomach kinda blows up when you ate something bad? I was getting nauseous and bloated. It was as if my stomach was having a hard time processing the food I just ate, as if the injected hormones and antibiotics were attacking my body. Do you know what it feels like when you stop eating something unhealthy for a while (like bread, sugar, chips, etc.) and then suddenly you try it again? This was exactly how that felt like. This experiment made me realize how toxic meat actually is for us: if you eat it on a regular base your body gets used to it, but that doesn’t mean it’s healthy for your body to deal with such toxins each day!
This is definitely something of the last century because people managed to produce meat faster and in bigger quantities by using antibiotics and hormones. So yes, proteins are important for us – and if educated well, you can find those in many other products which are not meat. However, with the current mass production of meat companies use so much terrible chemicals, that meat is doing more harm than good nowadays. I am not saying everyone should suddenly become vegetarian, but let’s start with eating a bit less meat and being more aware of what you put inside your body.
Lots of Love,
Lynn
What I eat in a day (as a model)
Published Date : April 2, 2017 Author : demijonk Categories : Model Stories
Lately I’ve been asked a lot what I eat in a day, so I decided to write a blog about it! I picked a random day as an example to show you guys what I eat, but obviously I don’t eat the same things everyday. Most of the time I eat pretty healthy, but I definitely don’t count my calories. I also think you have to treat yourself sometimes. This is also the main reason why I think I’m able to stick to my healthy eating pattern.
Before I leave home to go to the gym, I always eat something like a granola or protein bar. My favorites are the ones with fruit and nuts and I even make them myself sometimes. At this moment the only thing I drink is a glass of water, and I will fill another bottle to bring with me. I always eat my proper breakfast when I’m finished at the gym, because I don’t like to do a workout on a full stomach.
So when I come home Its finally time for a full meal, and I’m always really exited for breakfast. I am seriously already thinking about breakfast when I’m going to sleep the evening before ;). Most of the time my breakfast consists out of a bowl of Yoghurt (0% Greek Yoghurt) with granola. I just discovered the granola from ‘TLANT’: it’s my favorite so far! I tried their crumbling coconut and shocking chocolate, they’re both delicious (and gluten free). I like to add some blueberries, a few mixed nuts and sometimes a little bit of honey to it.
It’s lunchtime! Today I chose to eat wholegrain sesame crackers with two different toppings. One with egg, chicken filet, mushrooms and some roasted pine nuts. The second one has ½ avocado and mozzarella cheese with pesto on top. I’m seriously obsessed with eggs and avocado, so every day I eat at least one of these two (and as you can see sometimes both). I used some pepper and Italian spices to make it a little spicier and I eat cucumber on the side. I try to avoid bread as much as possible.
When I have an early lunch, I usually eat an afternoon snack or two before dinner. Normally I like to have some oat cookies or nuts (unsalted), but I ran out of these. So today I ate an apple with cinnamon and some grapes, also not bad ;).
I’m not a vegetarian (I used to be), but i don’t eat that much meat. However, when I DO eat meat, I always choose chicken. So today for dinner I ate grilled chicken with vegetables.
Let me know if you guys are interested in some of my recipes, so I will write a blog about it !
Published Date : October 24, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Business Hacks
A writer’s block. Everyone must know what I’m talking about: those agonizing days when you have to write something but you just cannot find the right words – may it be for a school essay, a blogpost or a personal letter. I definitely had my fair share of blocked days, and let me tell you one thing: staring at your screen for hours won’t get the text done. I can almost hear you thinking… “No sh*t smartypants… so then what should I do?” Over the years that I’ve been writing I picked up a couple of tricks myself, keep reading!
1. Embrace It
Keep reminding yourself: you are only human! You cannot function perfectly 24/7. Usually when people have a writer’s block they are very hard on themselves because they feel like they are failing on something that is supposed to be easy. Let me tell you something: sometimes it is simply not that easy. Sometimes it flows, sometimes it doesn’t. That’s out of your control. You might as well chill while you wait for the blockage to pass.
2. Do Stuff
I am pretty sure that we can all agree that angrily staring at your screen for hours won’t get you anywhere, right? So instead, decide to use your time better by getting out. Get some fresh air, visit a friend, go to a museum, make a walk. Literally… anything. Not only will it give your mind a break from the frustration, it will hopefully also inspire you for some great new content.
3. Go Offline
In case you didn’t read my blog about “How the Internet is killing your Creativity” yet, this might give you some more insight. The bottom line is: when your brain is so busy soaking up all the impulses we get from the internet, it doesn’t have time to work on its own ideas and thoughts. So give your brain some space to think by going offline for a while, it will do magic!
4. Make Notes
Usually when I feel like I have a writer’s block I have a lot of random words or ideas in my head, but I can’t seem to connect them to each other. What I do is: writing down all the loose thoughts in my notes app, and let it go. After some days I take a look at all the notes that I made and often I start seeing patterns, or the words give me inspiration to think further towards complete new ideas. Super useful!
Does anyone else recognize these writer’s block issues? Do you have any tricks yourself that work? Let me know!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
When your hotel in Madrid is too pretty not to shoot
Published Date : March 8, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Model Stories
I’m not gonna lie: being a blogger and a journalist has its perks. When I was invited to come over to the Madrid Fashion Week, the International Press office arranged a room for me in a beautiful, new hotel. As soon as I found out that I was gonna have an amazing room, I set my mind to it: I NEED pictures here! And there was a bigger plus: me and Daniel Perez-Cuadrado (better known as Dani Paperboat) could finally shoot together! Let’s look at the results:
Just to give you an idea of how the shoot went: I just arrived to the hotel from a very long (delayed) morning flight, and we had 2 hours before I had to go to the opening of the Fashion Week. We took 30 mintues to scout locations and fix my make-up (as far as my face was fixable lol) and then we got started! The first stop was the bedroom, showing the cozy bed and window-corner with pretty views.
Channeling my nerdy side. Sweater from Modemusthaves
2nd stop: the reception. It was an absolute pleasure to shoot here because the room existed mainly out of huge windows, which gave a beautiful lighting. Here I am wearing one of my favorite Fashion Week outfits, which I in fact didn’t show in my post about ‘outifts in Madrid’. The reason: I wore this outfit to the opening of Madrid Fashion Week, which was in the evening, and all the pictures were terrible. The coat I’m wearing is from the Dutch courturier Addy van den Krommenacker, isn’t it the best thing ever? <3
Last stop: the spa! Something we didn’t wanna miss of course ;)
For those who want to know which magical hotel I’ve been staying at: it’s the Barceló Torre Madrid Hotel.
After the spa I quickly had to get ready for the opening show and managed to shower, do my make-up and change my outfit in just 20 minutes (!!) Pretty sure I deserve an award for that hehe.
Do you like the pictures? If you have any other tips for me about beautiful hotels please let me know! Always looking for new shoot locations :)
Published Date : September 13, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Beauty Guru
Ever since a hairdresser burnt off my hair 2 years ago, I’ve become paranoid about my haircare. I have a quite extensive beauty routine and lots of products which I apply in the hope they will help my hair recover faster. Right now I got to a selection of items which I gladly use every week, keep reading!
Before you continue reading my list, I want to start by saying that none of the mentioned brands are paying me to recommend their products. Some items I bought myself, some were gifted. Truth is, from the dozens of products I’ve tried in the last 2 years, these are the ones that made the final cut to my ‘favorite list’ because they are GOOD. However, please do keep in mind that every hair type is different, so what might work for me, doesn’t have to work for you. If you have damaged bleached hair, this might be a good blog for you :)
This is a spray that I use in the summer. As I mentioned in this blog about better summer hair, your hair needs just as much of UV protection as your skin! It gives my hair a nice shine without getting greasy and it prevents my hair from drying out in the sun.
This is a convenient mask when I’m travelling because it’s relatively small and compact. Also the odds of leaking are low because of its balmy structure. Plus: it’s pretty cool how it turns into liquid as soon as you touch it.
Since I bleach my hair, it’s nice if it actually keeps that white-ish glow. This shampoo & conditioner have hydrating properties, as well as a hint of purple to correct yellow tones.
This might be my favorite serum of all times. I apply it every single time after I wash my hair and it makes it very soft while drying up. Since I started using this serum, my hair has become increasingly stronger. Note: you can only buy it from your hairdresser.
I scored this serum at a L’Oréal Sale at their headquarters not that long ago. I’m still not 100% if it really works but I do have the feeling that my babyhairs (aka the hairs that break from the bleaching) have been growing longer instead of breaking off again. So I will continue to use it, hoping one day those babyhairs will be normal hairs again.
Since wet hair = easily damaged hair I try to wash my hair only once or twice a week (read more details here). Therefore I use this dry shampoo when my hair starts looking greasy. Perfect finished look PLUS extra volume :)
I’m sure there are many better masks than this, but this mask has a great price-quality balance which makes it perfect for weekly use. I use conditioner and a mask everytime I wash my hair and leave it in for around 5 minutes. Maybe if I’m rich one day I’ll start using the masks from Sebastian haha.
I really NEED anti-klit spray for brushing my hair because otherwise it would break off too easily. To be honest, I think any anti-klit spray would work, but I just like this one for some reason :)
Now that we established the products I use every week: I DON’T use things like hairspray, salt spray or heat spray because I try to reduce my products only to things helping my hair to recover from all the bleaching. I never use a hairdryer, straightner or curler – yes sure, sometimes I would like to have wavy hair, but trying to learn how to make waves (I seriously never even tried before) would already be hurting my hair too much, so instead I learned how to braid :) Also: sometimes I go to bed with mostly dry, but still a little bit damp, hair and do an updo of 2 buns, which results in wavy hair in the morning. Problem solved!
What do you think of the products I use for my weekly haircare? Do you have any better suggestions for me?
Lots of Love,
Lynn
P.s. If you liked this post, read here about how I keep my hair soft & healthy
Who is that Blonde goes Skiing for the first Time!
Last week I was in Andorra with Stoke Travel and the winner of my March Giveaway, it was incredible! The first day I was absolutely terrified but the second day I got so much better already! Alex and Adri convinced me to take on the blue slope with them, which was like a huugee step for me considering the day before I only managed the baby slope and the green slope.
During the evenings we had fun hanging out in our hotel rooms and a nearby bar, it’s incredible to see how much internationals are attracted to Andorra! Thank you everyone, you all made my experience so much better!
All in all I am super proud of myself for facing my fears, pushing my boundaries, and learning new things while doing so! In the end it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be, which just proves once again that your ‘ limits’ are defined by your own mind, not by your actual capacities. Remember that darlings!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
P.s. With these amazing surroundings in Andorra I couldn’t help myself but to do a mini photoshoot with Alex! Thanks for the beautiful clothes Passage BCN :)
Who is that Blonde On Tour!
Published Date : January 16, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Life & Travel
Hey there guys!
I’ve been preparing all month for what will be coming for the next three weeks: I will be going on tour to the Fashion weeks in Amsterdam, Paris and Barcelona! While you are reading this blogpost I am most likely in an airplane on my way to the Netherlands with a huge suitcase full of beautiful outfits. Don’t worry, I will be sharing all of them so you will get an overload of fashion inspiration!
Anyways, the reason I’m writing this blog is since this is my opportunity to actually meet some of you guys since I will be travelling around! I will write down all the dates, send me a message if you would like to meet me!
Amsterdam 16-19 January
Paris: 23-29 January
Barcelona: 1-5 February
I would love to hear what you guys will be up to these dates! See you soon maybe?
Lots of Love,
Lynn
Winner Giveaway: Guess Clutch worth €225,-
Published Date : January 14, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : The Styling Files
Hello there lovelies!
The Giveaway Week passed and I received great messages and comments, thank you so much! I hope I am making the start of someone’s New Year extra sparkly with this beautiful Guess Clutch worth €225-!
Congratulations… Tess Luijten ! I will be looking forward to see pictures of you rocking that clutch, I’m sure it will look amazing on you!
For the others out there: don’t you worry lovelies! Also in this year I will be doing giveaways every month so keep an eye out! Also I would love to hear from you guys: what kind of giveaway would you like to see? I will try to make it happen! Comment down below <3
I’m sorry I was out these days and everything was a bit more late than expected, I was incredibly busy with my modelwork so I didn’t have time for the blog unfortunately. But I guess it’s a good sign that I am working so much here in Barcelona, so I am super happy :)
Also I was finally able to meet up with the winner of my Michael Kors Giveaway, she lives in Spain as well so it was great to be able to give it to her in person, she loves it!
I will post a blog next week on what else I have been doing, I can already tell it was LOTS of fun! Here is a small hint, it involves this beautiful girl right next to me! You can find her on Instagram to see more of her pictures: @xoxchristel. She was visiting me for a couple of days and we captured our strollings on video, can’t wait to share it with you guys!
Anyways, it’s about time I let you guys know who won the OROGOLD Giveaway of this November: The Orogold 24 Karat Peeling worth €170,-! I tried it myself and I am absolutely sold, so I hope you will enjoy it….
!!! Eline Vrancken!!!
I will contact you by mail this weekend so check your inbox:)
Guess what?? Every month I am giving away a cool gift to someone who is subscribed to my newsletter to say thank you for following my blog, I really do appreciate it! If you want to be in the running for all of my giveaways as well, all you have to do is subscribe to my newsletter. It’s so easy! Besides, you will also get my newsletters with the latest blogposts, exclusive sneakpeaks, discountcodes and mini-giveaways!
See you soon lovelies, I’m feeling the inspiration and I have lots to write about! <3
Winterdips and Glitters
Published Date : December 18, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : #OOTD, Life & Travel
For a while I allowed myself to feel sorry for myself, I really do hate the cold and I was missing Barcelona and my sweet boyfriend. But now it was time to step up my game! What better to fix a winterdip than some glitters? Nothing, if you ask me (okay maybe some hot coco would be nice too). I sent a message to my friend Christel, put on my cutest glitter look, and we went together to Den Bosch for a Girls Day.
Later it turned out that lots of my friends were feeling the same as me, which made me feel better about myself. But hey, that’s what friends are for right? Everyone who I haven’t been able to meet for the past year because I was in Barcelona, was now within 2 hours reach. So I toured through the whole country visiting all of these amazing human beings. Now I feel like my battery is all charged up, I’m ready to be excited about Christmas!
With my favorite Christmas album on repeat (Christmas by Michael Bublé – just in case you wondered) I helped my mom decorate the house and prepare the menu for Christmas. My family doesn’t know it yet – and I hope they won’t read this blogpost until after Christmas – but I decided to have some experimentation fun… I’m going for a vegan dinner menu this year! No, I’m not vegan (yet). I just like to try new things. I really wonder if my family is going to notice if it’s vegan – usually they always make jokes about me because I like to eat super healthy and vegetarian, so now who’s the one laughing muahaha. I’m pretty sure they will love it though: the dessert is a huge chocolate cake with fresh raspberries! Yummmmmmm <3
Anways, that’s enough chatting for today! In short: don’t feel bad if you’re having a winterdip, we’re all victims. And make sure to enjoy your holidays, no matter where and with who you celebrate it :) In case of doubt: add glitter <3
Work it Wednesday: 7 Tips to Instantly Improve your Writing
Published Date : May 18, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Business Hacks
Over the years I’ve always gotten lots of compliments on my writing, but I don’t think it came natural to me. To be honest, I absolutely SUCKED before going to college. Now when I read back my old essays from my 1st year at university, I cannot help but cringe. So how did I develop my skills you must wonder? It couldn’t be easier: I was simply forced to write a LOT of essays, and at a certain point I came to develop a personal style which people seemed to like.
That being said: I mean people in general, not my teachers at University. They always said that I wrote ‘too accessible’, a critic of which I never understood why that should be a bad thing. OMG! I write in a way that people can actually understand me instead of using lots of confusing academical words that no one likes. WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME!
At that time, I hated the fact that I had to write 2 essays per week, but now I couldn’t be more grateful for developing such a great skill! People always ask me for tips but I never really knew what to tell them because for me writing became such a natural thing: I never thought about using special tactics or anything like it. However, lately I have been paying attention to my writing process to see what I do to improve my texts, and I found 7 tips for you guys!
1. Write. A LOT:Okay so this one I already gave away, but I figured I should mention it anyway. It totally makes sense really: how do you expect to become better at something if you don’t practice? Start writing and pay attention to the elements in your texts that you like. Make sure to use those elements more often in your texts and voila! You developed a personal style.
2.Read out Loud: When I am not sure whether a sentence sounds smooth, I read it out loud. Does something sound weird? Change it till it sounds good. This can be quite a puzzle sometimes, but it definitely results in higher quality texts.
3. Make short Sentences: It is very important to keep in mind that the average attention span of humans nowadays is pretty much the same as that of a goldfish. Keep your sentences short, otherwise their attention will drift. Did you just notice that the first sentence was much harder to read than the second one? Yep, point proven ;)
4.Use your Interpunctions Right:Using interpunctions at the right moment will definitely help you make your text more readable. I like to consider them as attention guides: now that I placed a colon in my sentence, you are paying more attention because you assumed I would write down a conclusion, didn’t you? Comma’s and dots are vital to make sure your sentences get too long; we don’t want our readers to loose attention after all. Last but not least I love to make side notes while writing – by adding a ‘hyphen’ I create extra dynamics in my texts.
5.Write like you are speaking to your audience: A text becomes more fluent when it feels like you are speaking to someone. Maybe you’ve already noticed that It creates more dynamics in a sentence because it feels like you are interacting, don’t you think so?
6.Don’t get complicated to sound smarter:In order to endeavor the implementation of a fractious erudite confabulation, one must consolidate many myriad and nominal words: a gratuitous pursuit for the haughty rabble among us. I think this one speaks for itself… doesn’t it?
7. Edit over and over:Once you’ve written a text, it is highly recommendable to read it over a couple of times. You will find that some phrases don’t sound as nice as you imagined, or that you made a spelling mistake, or perhaps that you missed some interpunctions: it’s all possible, because we are all human! Even better: let someone else read your text and use their feedback to improve yourself, that’s the best way to learn! For the record: I read and changed this little text more than 10 times while writing it – just to give you a slight impression :)
So that were my 7 writing tips to improve your texts! Were they useful for you? Do you recognize some of your own techniques in there? Would you like to learn more about writing? Let me know!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
Work out like a Model with ModelWorkout and Hunkemöller!
Published Date : April 20, 2016 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : BlondieTV, Life & Travel
Hey guys!
As you might remember, a while ago Hunkemöller gave me the cutest workout outfit ever so obviously I had to test it! The written review is already on the blog, but now you can also enjoy a ‘tag along’ workout video with Modelworkout! I asked Paultje Column from Modelworkout to show me a full body workout which is not too hard to do by myself and will give me a fit body for summer, so here it is guys… You think you can keep up?! As you can see in the video I am most definitely NOT the biggest workout hero myself so don’t be shy and give it a try. Let’s get this ‘Operation Bikini’ started! P.s. I also have a Surprise Giveaway for 2 of my newsletter subscribers, so make sure to keep reading! If you weren’t subscribed yet,make sure to do it now so you are up in the running for my future giveaways!
Besides, I also took advantage of the opportunity to ask Paultje some questions about his career as professional coach and trainer of models. Read the interview down below to learn more about his tips for getting that perfect body!
1. How long have you been training models? And why is it so different from training other people?
I’ve been training models for three years now, prior to that I mostly trained athletes, dancers and the average Jane. It is and it isn’t different from training other people. When someone comes to me, they have a specific goal that I will help them achieve. With models, the fashion models that is, the goal is to be thin, not muscular, not even toned. It demands a different way of training because we need to lose cm’s not kilo’s. For example I do not do any weight training with models because that will increase their muscles. Great for people who want to loose fat and be toned. For models it’s a no go!
2. So if we want to look like models this summer, what kind of workout would you recommend us?
I prefer models to train with bodyweight. If I ever use any tools it would be dynabands or not much more than 2 kilo dumbells. Most of all I let them walk, for like over 45 minutes a day. Some girls really don’t like to do that but it burns the calories. Now the girls who do the runway are on a very strict diet, some girls are natural skinny but most of them eat raw and dry and workout quite a lot. Now if you want to become the skinny version of yourself first think if it’s a healthy goal. We are all different but if you don’t have to run the catwalk there is no need for such a strict way of living. But if you must, the way you eat must complete your workout. And of course I prefer you to do one of my Model Workouts!
3. What is your top three of recommended dishes to eat when you are trying to lose weight?
Don’t drink your calories (skip smoothies just eat fruit)
Eat your vegetables
Eat less meat or just no meat at all
Those were more commands hahaha. Have a proper breakfast, like yogurt (non-dairy) with fruit. Make a good veggie soup! Eat less meat, your body takes so long to digest it. Besides stop it with the excessive animal cruelty, your body really doesn’t need so much meat. Skip the evil stress in your body. So get your protein going from the likes of spinach, kale and broccoli.
4. What is the biggest myth when it comes to working out?
Besides losing weight on a specific spot it would be that everything works for everybody. It just doesn’t, it really is an individual thing. Most important will always be finding out what kind of workout you really like. Don’t tell anyone but doing something you like might make you stick to it!
5. What is your favorite exercise and why?
That would be exercises on the step with a bit of choreography and high speed or some boxing, not on someone’s face though. I really like high intensity and cardio because that really motivates me.
6. Do you think yoga is beneficial for a good body? Why?
Yes and no and yes and no. I’m schizophrenic when it comes down to yoga. Let me explain, I tried every version of it, multiple times. It’s really not my thing and I thought it would be considering me being a former ballet dancer. I just can’t. Now I do believe that others can benefit from yoga. I mean everybody is different, you and me could absolutely hate soccer but for someone else that would be just perfect. The same with yoga, very good for people to be mindfull, to stress out and stretch out.
7. A question for the lazy people among us, how do you motivate yourself to exercise when you don’t feel like it?
Well make a promise to yourself, set a goal and work for it. Once you start skipping you tend to skip a next time with 150% change. Now I could be a total bitch and just say look at yourself in the mirror, that should get you up and running to the gym…. hahaha
8. How often a week should we go to exercise and how long?
Uhm darling the minimum is 45 minutes consecutive every day of the week. But do more, we were not born to sit!
9. Do you have favorite workout accessories?
Besides buying new sportshoes? For me not really, I do prefer sleeveless tops though, no sweaty armpit marks for me. Such a horrible sight. Now there are accessories I keep with me
in all of my bags and those are hair elastics. I mostly train girls and they always forget them so ever since I’ve been the supplier of elastics to model hair!
10. Is there anything else we should know about secret workout/food/model body tips?
Yes be smart! The secret is to educate yourself and don’t just believe everything.
Thanks for all the info Paultje! Did you guys learn something you didn’t know yet? 2 of my newsletter subscribers will get the chance to learn even more. Modelworkout was so kind to sponsor 2 Pro Memberships for 2 months! Congratulations….. Sanne van Poortvliet & Sylvie Kasten! I hope you guys will have a great time and learn a lot! Don’t forget to share some tips with me :)
Lots of Love,
Lynn
Workout like a Model with Demi
Published Date : March 13, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Model Stories
Me and Demi get questions alllll the time about our workout routines, so let´s share! Last month Demi was in London, where she worked out with Russel from Skinny Bitch Collective – an expert on workouts for models. Starting from minute 2:30 you can see her very intense workout routine, do you think you can keep up?
For more of Demi’s videos make sure to check out her YouTube Channel :) If you would like to see more model workout videos let us know!
Lots of Love,
Lynn
You CAN sit with us: looking for a new contributor!
Published Date : May 28, 2017 Author : lynnquanjel Categories : Business Hacks
Lately I’ve had a lot to celebrate: I reached 50K on Instagram, had a lot of amazing trips, got a PA and landed my dreamjob! Things have been going great for me… so great that I’m having a hard time to keep up with writing articles for Who is that Blonde. Do you like writing but don’t feel like starting a blog of your own? Keep reading!
After the great success of adding Demi to the team, I figured it would be awesome to get a second (or third?!) contributor. Do you know a lot about modeling, fashion, career and/or travel hotspots? Do you have time to write 2-4 blogs per month? Do you like to have fun in a badass girlsquad? Send me an e-mail!
Tonight I will be celebrating NYE at the
4. Use Keywords 
with lipstick. However, I’ve noticed that my lips look much more natural when I first apply the lipstick and then the lip liner. The lines become softer and blend in better with the color… give it a try!
pattern or apply glitter polish in varying strengths to achieve a faded effect. My personal favorite is the 
After drinks and pics it was time to join the rest of the Hunkemöller crew! One big happy family :)
Thank you for all the great answers! I love your work and I will definitely keep following you for more, are there any exciting projects coming up for you that we should stay tuned for?
The evening started off with a lovely small dinner at 
Around 1:00 we got little busses to drive us to Mad Fox, where we pretty much danced our booties off till 5am! When I got home, I insisted ordering an XL pizza because I refused to have a hangover on my birthday but obviously I couldn’t finish it…. so it was also my breakfast! #pizzaforbreakast #hellyes
My eye fell on a couple of 
Picture above: the awesome interior with views on the open kitchen in the back! Picture below: a quick picture with ladyboss Ronit Stern, the creative brain behind the restaurant and the general director. Thanks for the lovely evening! 
After choosing our favorite scents – mine were Orange Blossom with Peony & Blush Suede – we got a little hand/arm massage with those fragrances. I spent the rest of the day smelling my arms, which looked kinda weird, but it was just SO good! 
After our Fragrance Combining experience with Jo Malone London, me and the girls went for a drink in the city, and of course we had to take some pictures together!
Btw, what do you guys think of my outfit? I was wearing my new shirt from 
There are so many ways our hair gets damaged during summer. “The best advice?” 
1. What is the biggest compliment you ever had? 
1. What do you like most about your work?
As you can see I am channeling my inner 70’s with this gorgeous all black outfit! I was wearing an amazing velvet suit with a long blazer and flared trousers from 
Also check out some phone snapshots of the Guo Pei show and the snacking adventures with 
This season Chanel experimented 
Photocredits: Andrew Barber (@
The upcoming Spring and Summer season emphasizes the eyes! If you feel like getting more creative than the aunatural look, try some color or a graphic eyeliner. On the runway I saw many bright colors such as yellow, orange and gold: very warm and summer-ish indeed! What I love about this trend is that the color doesn’t just stay on the eyelid: it is applied at the side of the face as well, right above the cheekbones. The graphic eyeliner also gets more extreme with smudgy, long and thick lines. it’s perfect that these eye-looks are supposed to look a bit nonchalant and messy: if you mess up with your experiment you can still pull it off ;)
Good news lovelies! Today I was able to shine in one of the designs by 
Who ever said that tutu’s are just for Ballerina’s? It’s so easy to turn it around into a modern look for the classy ladies out there! I went for an all-black outfit with my ‘Cool Girls Club’ 
As my wise roomies already said: bike and walk regularly! This helps burning calories without pressuring your muscles, which will make sure they won’t grow more. Something which I also find very important is a good stretch after workout: this is not only vital for cooling down, it will also stretch out your muscles so they will stay long and lean.
Another thing that I wanted to share with you guys: as you might have read in my previous blog, 
Before the show starts, the public gets to see a short film introduction in order to celebrate the 40 years’ existence of the Fashion House. “I want to make clothes that can be kept for a lifetime” she states. Her designs are known for being classic pieces: suitable for any time or season. This typical French brand tributes its SS16 collection to the beauty of the everyday woman.
On monday morning we got the bad news that there had been a problem with our permission for Casa Batlló: instead of 7am we were only allowed to enter after 9am. Instead of sitting on our pretty asses for 2 hours we started shooting in front of the building and inside the building next to Casa Batlló, which turned out to be amazing pictures!
The festival lasted three days, but we only went to two of them. Which honestly, is more than enough! Ultra is super intense (I’m pretty sure I slept around 5 hours all weekend), but it was an amazing experience to have. Everyone is very connected, the music is awesome and there are so much positive vibes… definitely something we should have more of in the ‘normal’ world. Everyone should lift each other up 24/7, just imagine how awesome would we be then:) 
7. 
The main square is directly connected to a long shopping street which ends into one of the oldest remaining city gates.
me is to make a 
a picture which shows your 
