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Hello! I have a very special surprise for you tonight (well ok tomorrow, hopefully you’re doing something more interesting on a Saturday night than reading my blog : )

I have my very first blogger interview, with the lovely Annebeth from The Styling Dutchman! Not only do I constantly find myself drooling over her amazing style, I really admire the way she uses her blog to speak out about important issues, like she did here, one of the first posts I ever read of hers, and one of the reasons I keep going back.

So, as you can imagine I was thrilled to get the chance to interview Annebeth and learn more about her, her style, and a bit of cultural knowledge as well (oh, and find another sleep-appreciator)! So, without further ado, onto the interview:

Q: Can you share a few tidbits about yourself?

Hi! I’m Annebeth. I was named after my two aunts, Anneke and Betteke (which basically means little Anne and little Bet in Dutch). I used to hate my name when I was younger because it’s such an “old” name, but I love it now. I actually feel sorry for all those girls who have run of the mill names. I have never met anyone with the same name as mine, so my name is really “MINE”.

I have one younger sister and two older brothers. I live with my boyfriend, whom I’ve been with for 7 years now. I fully intend to grow old with him. I love movies, videogames, food and music. I’m a huge Lady Gaga fan, but I also love Pink Floyd and The Misfits. I used to have short, bright red hair back in my punk days. I have too many cats and too many clothes.

Q: When did you start blogging and why did you start?

I first started blogging on chictopia, back in the summer of 2009. I had been reading other girls’ styleblogs for months and I have always loved fashion. I was always considered “the stylish one” among my friends, and the idea to join in on the fun started forming in my mind. I started “safe” on chictopia, because I thought I didn’t have that much to contribute to the internet that wasn’t already there. But posting on chictopia really boosted my confidence and helped me get a clear view on my style, my writing and my personality.

I started my own blog in February 2010, to further explore my style and writing. But my main drive was honing those styling and writing skills to have something to offer when I’d enter the jobmarket. I was dreaming of a job as a stylist or fashion journalist and I knew everybody and their uncle wanted a job in the fashion business, so I thought I’d get a leg up from all those other aspiring fashionistas by having a blog on my resumée :)

Q: You always mix colors and patterns in such a fun way! Will you share a few of your secrets to creating such great vintage looks?

First of all: thank you!! I’ve grown into that mix and match style bit by bit, I used to wear lots of black or solid color + black, until I started to realize that mixing colors, textures and prints would create a much more sophisticated, unique and interesting look.

My number one tip for my fellow dress wearers: DON’T just reach for the basic black tight as a companion to your pretty dresses. Try a neutral color: brown, a deep burgundy, a faded rust, oatmeal, navy: create a look with depth where every piece has a role to play!

Second tip: an easy way to start printmixing is to either wear different prints in the same color, or similar prints (preferably a big print and a smaller print) in different colors.

Third Tip: just do it :) as long as every piece is beautiful, I’m 100% sure that your personal sense of style will guide you towards a beautiful look.

Q: What item or items in your wardrobe could you not go without?

Without a doubt, the ring my boyfriend gave me for our five year anniversary, this one:

I had been swooning over flower rings since I saw this one romantic scene in Disney’s Robin Hood where Robin slides a flower ring on Maid Marianne’s finger (watch from 1:02), and I finally found my perfect flower ring online at Alex Monroe’s webshop. I can really recommend them to you guys: their designs are amazing and the customer’s service is amazing, every piece is custom made and unique, but still surprisingly affordable!

Q: You study Communications right? What made you decide to study this?

Yep, I study communication sciences. My initial plan was to study Law since that’s what is expected from intelligent teens in our society, but the older I got the less that whole concept appealed to me. It would depress and frustrate me to work in that rigid world day in day out. I had an epiphany when I chose communication sciences. It’s a perfect mix of social sciences and the media, a very good intellectual base for a future journalist or blogger :)

Q:  What are some of your favorite things to do when you aren’t busy studying?

Uhm BLOGGING and everything that goes along with it: outfits, writing, tumblr, twitter, emails… it takes a lot of time, but I love every minute of it. Also, eating/cooking for sure! And cuddling/joking with my boyfriend, watching cooking shows and sleeping. LORD knows I love sleeping.

Q: Do you feel that your style changes a lot with the seasons or is it based on other things? What are you looking forward to wearing this summer now that it’s warm(er)?

I feel my style evolves with my mindset. I’ve been wavering between rockier, androgynous styles on one hand and retro, feminine outfits on the other hand for years, and right now I combine the two by focussing on the 50s-60s-70s to create a cohesive look that focusses on casual femininity. Casual and practical for my tomboy side, feminine and elegant for my girly side.

I’d describe it as retro collegiate style. I guess it’s no surprise I’ve evolved into a collegiate style since I’ve been going to university. I need flat shoes because I walk a lot, a practical coat like a trench or a parka to shield me from rain and temperature shifts, and I need a good satchel for my books and laptop. I combine those needs into a retro collegiate look to keep both practicality and style in check! I’m really rambling on, but what I’m trying to say is that I think my style is a result of where I am in life and where I want to be in life, ending up somewhere in the middle. For summer I’m looking forward to continuing the way I’ve been dressing lately, no crazy plans in my head! :-D

Q: What are your favorite songs at the moment?

THE NEW LADY GAGA CD!!! Scheiße is my number one fave right now, it’s an amazing feminist anthem and a party song rolled in on without being righteous or simplistic. It doesn’t rub its message in your face. For explanation, read the long, 8th Gaga Stigmata comment here the one about agency and the fake German! :-D

Q: Why did you move from the Netherlands to Belgium? What was the most difficult thing to adjust to?

My parents have always been looking for their place in the world. They used to have a boutique in Holland, but my father got sick and tired of the commercialism and my parents basically decided to spend the rest of their days living a more spiritual life in the Belgian Countryside! :-D

Hardest to adjust was just how different people are around here. Dutch people are much more straight forward and communicative, Belgians are more subtle and more polite. Dutchies come across as arrogant and loudmouths to Belgians, while Belgians sometimes seem almost childlike in their way of communicating and their choice of words. So yeah, the communication was the hardest part without a doubt. I was quite a small girl when we moved here (just 5-6 years old) so it was very confusing to me how some words meant something different here than in Holland.

Update: Got a bit more info about Annebeth!  Her name is pronounced “ah (as in ah merica) nnuh (as in “the”) beth” and she

“still would love to be creative and somewhere writing about fashion, but not JUST fashion. I want to write about more meaningful things too, my ultimate dream would be to start a feminist magazine for teenage girls: not treating them like “just” girls but like intelligent, promising individuals with their own worth, respecting them instead of belittling them like many magazines do.”

Ok, hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I did! If you’re not already following Annebeth’s blog you’re really missing out! A huge thanks again Annebeth for taking the time to answer my questions and give us such interesting answers!

Thanks for stopping by,

Dusana