This summer I was able to visit several shows of the Amsterdam Fashion week (also know as AFW). The fashion week which is held twice a year (January and July) brings the best of what Dutch Fashion has to offer together at one location. The AFW was held at the Westergasfabriek in Amsterdam and had fashion designers showing their spring/summer 2013 collection. Seeing that events are by invite only, I would always jump with joy when I get a ticket.
Bas Koster AFW Tickets
I think it always good to know your local fashion and AFW has done an extremely well in showing what The Netherlands has to offer in terms of fashion. One of their popular events during the AFW week is the “Lichting” show. Each of the eight Dutch fashion academy sends their two best and/or most striking graduates to show their outfits. AFW not only offers spectacular fashion shows but they also introduce a new generation of designers.
The Factory
Attending a fashion show is an undertaking in itself. The pre-show, the show, the after show. It can feel very intimidating for a fashion newbie like me. The trick is confidence, fake it till you make it.
Me and Mr. H .
And thanks to my partners in crime Miss. B and my fashion consultant Mr. H. I really had a good time. I remember those funny moments when I starting mingling and people kept asking me if I work in the fashion industry. Because I suppose one should only have tickets if they work in the industry. Well I might not well work in the industry, but with me contributing an average 40 percent of my yearly income to fashion I would say I deserve a ticket, so there you go.
Me and Miss B.
You know that stereotype that fashion people are so fake. Well now I know where it comes from. Some people are only interested in you if you let us a say a fashion journalist, fashion photographer etc. Should I even tell you that someone thought I was a party crasher. Say what?! Or when someone just could understand why someone without a fashion title would want to come to a fashion show. Well, you can read as many fashion magazines as you want but sometimes you just have to experience it. Nothing beats the real thing.
Bas Kosters was my most anticipated show, the tickets were sponsored by Soopl and I could not have been any more excited for his show. His collection is entitled Love, Fuck Yeah! I and can only describe his outfits as in your face. He means what say and say what he means.
Gestuz, came all the way from Denmark to show their collection, so I was looking forward to this show as well. Maybe it was because of my high hopes with Scandinavian designers. Who doesn’t like IKEA. But I was kind of disappointed with their collection. The collection I would say was the biker chick look made catwalk appropriate, but nevertheless they did give a good show.
The one thing I would never forget was when someone asked me, “what do you love about fashion” And while I love fashion, I have never thought to describe it. What I love about fashion is, that it is a way to express yourself. The shapes, the colors, the pattern, the material, everything. You are making a statement, maybe consciously or maybe not, but you are showing the world who you are.
Here are some pictures of other people who love the art of expressing themselves.
