Look, the fact that I am such a huge shopaholic is all my stylish mom's fault. It all started with my name: I am named after Coco Chanel, who was originally called Gabrielle. The name my mother also carries. Gabrielle (my mom) taught me everything about aesthetics as a child: beautiful fabrics, good brands, and the power of combining expensive items with something from H&M, for example. Shopping together (feel free to call it stocking up) is really ‘our thing’. In between, we have a coffee, and at the end of the day, there is usually a very substantive dinner where we talk for hours about the meaning of life. Oh yes, and whether Aunt Beps has cheated or not, of course. Shopping with mom is very cozy and nice, which is why I’m taking her with me this weekend to Antwerp. A nice coincidence is that my mother, unlike my boyfriend, has the patience of a saint when it comes to taking a hundred million ‘spontaneous’ Coco photos. With a selfie of the two of us in between. Antwerp has very chic shops. I find the Flemish generally a lot more elegant than us Dutch. So I want to look très vogue stylish, but we hop from one shop to another, so there has to be some practicality involved. How are we going to do that?

An intern just told me that he or she (identity must remain strictly confidential) was recently in a trendy shop in London. He or she tried on an extremely expensive sweater and only realized upon returning it that the whole thing was smeared with his (yes, men wear it too) or her BB Cream. Oops. Out of shock, he or she ran out of the store like a true antelope. Fortunately, the salesperson was too slow. To avoid such scenes, I will hold back on bronzers, powders, and foundations. A little bit then. I’m going for the Pro Longwear Waterproof Foundation from M.A.C that stays put extra well and can also be used as a concealer. This time I’m only wearing mascara, also a waterproof one from Chanel. I’m going to shop for at least eight hours, so for my lips, I’m using the 16H Provocalips lipstick from Rimmel. And now, the essential product for a day of shopping: the Make Up Fixer spray from Kiko. This keeps your makeup in place all day, and the can fits right in your bag, so it’s great touch-up material. How I love Kiko.  

Look, you’re trying on and taking off a hundred million things, so static hair is the last thing you want, but the first thing you get. During shopping, a simple ponytail is a smart choice. If you still want to go for loose hair like I do, then this Moroccanoil cream is a must. It gives your hair a nice shine and says au revoir to static hair. Merci!

I’m not saying I prioritize comfort over style, don’t worry. Still, there are plenty of clothing items that are both beautiful and easy to take off. For example, take the all-time classic wrap dress from Diane von Furstenberg. I bought one two years ago for a baptism and have never had such a comfy dress. If this doesn’t fit within your budget, you can also go for a nice denim dress from &Other Stories with a zipper in the front. That last detail is important, you understand that. And as fun as it is to arrive with towering heels, we are going to stylish Antwerp after all, even though we’re not going to do that. Wow. I can stroll around all day in espadrilles and if it gets warm, a Roman sandal if this

is also a nice option. Definitely with a zipper at the back, duh.

Okay, now that I have the look, I’m going to mentally prepare for which shops I’m going to visit and how I’m going to tackle all the goodies in that store. Because I can only take one item. Or maybe two… “Maaaammm?”