Or if I wanted to go to Ibiza with Danie and see her new collection? What do you think? Of course. Even if I had known at that moment that I had to check in at Schiphol at 04:00 (which I did, in fact), I would have said ‘yes’ immediately. Danie + new looks + the ever-pleasant party island = everything a fashion girl gets excited about.
Where is Patty Brard?
At that time, I didn't even know that Sylvie Meis, Renate Gerschtanowitz, Leontine Borsato, and Patty Brard would shine in a new ByDanie outfit. Patty is Patty is Patty, so she missed the flight (you can't ask a diva to be at Schiphol at this ungodly hour), but she made up for it by arriving fashionably late at dinner and sipping Moët until the early hours.
Sylvie and Danie
What I am quietly always proud of is that it was my beloved who once connected Sylvie and Danie. He led a project at MTV where Sylvie was the new VJ. To launch Sylvie at her very best, he asked Danie to do her styling, and just look at the amazing collaboration that came out of it. In the morning, I see them sitting together on a large lounge sofa for an interview with Grazia Germany. Two slender, lovely figures with great success. And of course, a wardrobe to drool over, because I want to steal everything, everything, everything from those two.
Champagne and gazpacho
For lunch, we are taken to La Paloma, which you must write down NOW. In the interior of Ibiza (which the Ibiza crowd thinks is the coolest place), there is a small restaurant where you eat, organic and divine, under the olive trees. Danie welcomed us, Sylvie showed the new makeup from Maybelline New York, and there was a pair of sunglasses for everyone that Danie developed together with Dick van der Niet.
A glass of champagne, a sip of gazpacho, and yogurt mixed with rose water and agave syrup for dessert, and everyone was ready for a free afternoon.
A bed with sangria
Nothing is better than catching up with an old colleague. So I walked with Ellen Litz, editor-in-chief of Beau Monde, to Talamanca beach, booked a bed and a jug of sangria, and decided that life was good.
Kristina fell down
Restaurant Ses Boques was the venue for dinner. No heels were clearly mentioned in the dress code. When we descended 25 minutes from a stylish mountain path and poor Kristina Bozilovic even fell down, we understood why. The ‘pain’ (wasn't bad at all) was immediately forgotten when we arrived at the most beautiful little bay ever. Lounge cushions, lanterns, a guy pouring us champagne, vongole, peppers, paella, paradise.
The best of Danie
In a tableau vivant, the models (who were quite stunning) showcased the three collections of ByDanie. Bohemian, Western, and Rock. Jos Bles, Danie's oh-so-charming and skilled father, came up to me and said that Danie has worked her entire working life towards this collection. “This is who I am,” Danie says afterwards with tears in her eyes. “Maybe a bit silly that I have to cry, but I have worked so hard for this. This is me.” That's how it is, Danie. It is completely you in the most beautiful version of yourself.
