We Wear: Heatwave essentials

Heat waves in Belgium really are the best. Sure, it's too hot to do anything other than lounging at or in a swimming pool/lake/your garden and clothes are just a necessary evil, which causes everybody to search for the most breezy garments. After a long work week, with only limited time spent playing in the sun, I was more than ready for the weekend. I vowed I wasn't gonna wear anything other than short shorts, bikinis, and shirts classified as 'not appropriate for the office'. The weekend was kick-started on Friday as I went swimming on my day off, followed by a barbecue and an open air party on what was apparently the hottest night EVER in Belgium. The next day was again meant for swimming, followed again by a barbecue and a walk to end the tiresome day(s), which explains my dime eyes in these pictures. On Sunday I did manage to go for a run, but afterwards I switched my running gear for a bikini and hung at in the garden all afternoon. In summary, the weekend was the perfect combination of party/relax, something only improved by the gracious appearance of the sun. 

Not only small eyes, but also fresh out of the shower wet hair and a general bored look on my face. Scratch the latter though, I was not at all bored, but just really, really satisfied. Onto the next heat wave. Please? 

  

 Currently listening to:

Death Cab for Cutie
Currently craving for (fashion wise or other):
A holiday

 

   

We Wear: Frozen in summer

I know, I know, I've been absent these past weeks. In my defense, I have pretty good reason as I was in the midst of finishing (really finishing) my PhD dissertation. As the final version has just been printed and everything is handled, I finally have a little more time on my hands! My doctoral defense will only be in September, so yay for summer! Also, I have been accepted to do a postdoc research year, so my groovin' researchin' days are far from over at this moment. 

Top, shorts, necklace: Primark - Plastic basket-bag: H&M - Sandals: Sister (Hasselt) - Sunglasses: Six

Now that you guys are updated on my life events and heard excuses for leaving you hanging dry, we can talk outfit. These pictures were obvious not taken this week (rain rain rain), but back when the weather was still gorgeous, hot and sultry. Let's be honest, on days like that, one does not need more than some denim cut-offs and an easy breezy top. And this top is especially breezy as it has this open back thing going on (forgot to capture that on photo though), which is also why I opted to wear a lace black bralette underneath. I actually bought the top and the shorts as a combination together in one and the same store; something I never do. But for a match made in heaven, I'm glad to make an exception. Secretly, I also bought the necklace at the very same instance. 

PS 1: The shorts are actually a whole lot more vibrant and neon, but the sun made it hard to capture it just right. 

PS 2: I recently saw the movie "Frozen" (I know, old news), and it is an absolute recommendation (I know, even older news). The soundtrack pretty much describes the feeling you get after finishing four years of work: 

 Currently listening to:

Let it go, let it go, here I'll stand and here I'll stay!
Currently craving for (fashion wise or other):

White, high-heeled sandals. I want to be real lady these days.

What We Wear Wednesday: Splash of neon

When you guys are reading this, I will have returned home from an AWESOME trip to Barcelona with my awesome little sister. At this moment however, I'm still in Barcelona, dead tired from our last day in this great city (shopping! sight-seeing! people spotting! laughing! sangria!) . I don't think I need to spell out how not talkative I'm feeling at the moment - and yes, that's a first. 

 Blouse: Sting - Bag: L&L - Pumps: Pimkie - Necklace, pants: Primark - Sunglasses: Vans

 

These pictures were taken a few weeks back (I think, but my brain is letting me down all of a sudden) by my - again - awesome little sister. I wanted to wear a monochrome black and white outfit, but couldn't resist spicing things up a little bit  by adding a few touches of neon yellow. In my opinion, neon is a win for wearing on sunny autumn days, although I think that the current weather in Belgium is far from that. That being said, I'm slowly getting into fall mood, as I've just enjoyed the last few days of summer here in Barcelona. The new clothes I bought here may have something to do with that. 

Currently listening to: 

The perfect summer tune: the entire album 'Save rock and roll' - Fall out boy

Currently craving for (fashion wise or other):
A massage

What We Wear Wednesday: Dare to do dungarees

Today I'll take you guys back to the old school. Remember those times when all you had to worry about was getting at the dinner table in the evening in time in order to not piss off your mom? Those times when around this time of the year friends came on play dates, tents were built, Barbie dolls lived a dream life, camps were set up in the woods/backyard, trees were climbed and intruders were 'shot' with a bow and an arrow. Yes, I'm referring to the wonder years: childhood. 

I remember packing my backpack with all necessities for an afternoon of survival in the forest (read: our backyard and more importantly the meadows and orchards that lay behind it). A little something to drink, a cookie, my binoculars and my drawing pad with a lead pencil was really all I needed. I would stay away for hours, pretending to be an adventurist and drawing things (both real things as imaginative, although I'm still pretty sure I saw a real gnome back then). 

From time to time, it is necessary to let that inner child come out and play. So why not dress appropriately when that time comes? In my opinion, there is nothing more of a typical outfit for me when I was a kid than dungarees, although I have to admit I was more into the skirt dungarees at the time. 

Converses on, longboard with and let's play! 

(And maybe I should get that drawing pad from under the dust and go seek more adventures.)

PS: Those who follow me on Instagram (@sneilorak) might have already noticed, but there were also some cows involved in this little adventure! 

Dungarees: New Look - Striped top, neon bra: H&M - Sunglasses: Vans - Shoes: Converse - Trucker cap: ? - Leather backpack: Morocco

 I'm really a kid, can't even dress myself properly 

P.S.: Listen to this great song as it is quite appropriate for today's post (Iron Chic - Timecop):
http://youtu.be/OrAKEJcPi9Q

What We Wear Wednesday: Moroccon dreaming

So I have been back from my last holiday for almost a month now (no worries though, the next one is already planned), and I'm only getting around to posting pictures about it now. Busy, much? After my holiday marathon and the obligatory attendances at several festivals (Graspop, Rock Werchter...), the time has come to get some serious work done. Luckily (sadly?), the weather gods have finally given in to summer! 

On this particular last holiday I went to Taghazout, near Agadir in Morocco. I had never visited a muslim country, and I have to say it was sooo much better than expected. We mainly went there to surf the shit out of those waves (talking big, you know how I roll) and it was GREAT! I really made some good progress, the weather was hot hot hot and we met some great, super funny people along the road. Win-win-win situation! Oh, and I jumped (a little) cliff, booya. First picture you see me jumping, last one you see me landing aka a big splash of hair and arms. 

Outfit-wise not much to tell you, I practically lived in my bikinis/wetsuit and every morning I found myself reaching again for denim shorts and a simple shirt (which is actually my go to summer gear on days I don't have to work). HOWEVER! I did manage to wear some real clothes every once in a while. I present you exhibit A: 

Dress: Stradivarius - Sandals: Sac d'Anvers - Backpack, bracelet: souks Marrakech - Denim shirt: Men's department H&M - Hat: H&M - Necklace: vintage - Sunglasses: Ebay

The dress is one of my Stradivarius buys from Porto and the backpack is a heavily bargained item that I bought in the souks in Marrakech. Can you believe the shirt was only 5 euros in the men's department of H&M? Big fat mental high five to myself. 

So do you guys have any holidays planned? Or festivals you're attending? And for the surfers out there, any good spots that are not too far away from Belgium that I should visit? The surf vibe is buzzing yet again. 

I'll leave you guys with one very breathtaking view of the ocean from our apartment and one very funny picture of a wave approaching me. 

What We Wear Wednesday: Feels like fall

This is what I wore to attend multiple family gatherings on Easter day. Not really what I intended to wear (a lovely crisp dress was laid out, but I shall not nag about the weather), but at least I've got my hair already in a springish mood. I went to the hair dresser to add some more blonde in my hair and here's the result. I'm pretty happy with it, although I'm already contemplating about turning it MORE blonde. But for now and if I re-dye the pink tips, it is a-okay!

At this moment I'm preparing myself (both mentally as physically) to go on a holiday to the US and Canada. Especially the whole 'flying-on-my-own-for-a-gazillion-hours' scares the shit out of me. Okay, not the shit, just a tiny shitty thingie. Anyway, I won't leave anything to chance and am preparing myself by reading, thinking about packing, checking websites... And I have to say that the nervous tickles in my stomach are finally making room for some butterflies of excitement. OHMYGOD, I'm going to the US! And to top that, also Canada! I will visit my friend Mary Ann and her boyfriend in Vancouver and will travel with them to LA and Palm Springs. Afterwards, I'll go to Seattle to attend a work-related conference. I'm looking forward to everything! And I can't wait to finally share some giggles with Mary.

More on topic of this outfit post, I obviously love it, otherwise I wouldn't wear it. The end. 

PS: Because my lovely sister was joking about getting credit for taking my pictures, here you go Liefel!

Coat: my mom's - Beanie: H&M - Necklace, dress: Primark - Shoes: Sister (Hasselt)