About last night

Amayzine Look of the Year Awards 2015

It was a short night. And a long day. We had decided some time ago that we wanted to organize an award show. An evening with lots of vavavoom outfits (we immediately had the first headache on our hands), a beautiful location, our friends from the industry (that was easy because our friends are always up for a party) and awards for people who really have talent.

On speed dial with Naomi

There are so many people who have international fame but are not famous here at all. Ilham Mestour, for example. She does hair for the biggest shows and is personally flown in by Naomi Campbell to ensure the perfect look. If Naomi has an important dinner, Ilham is sitting a few chairs away. With a brush and a hairspray in her Prada bag.

A party = a job

Those people, they needed praise, eternal fame, and lots of champagne. Easier said than done. Because organizing a party is quite a task. Thank goodness Deborah was there: a real producer who organized our party down to the last detail.

The royal balcony

It became a dinner in the small hall of the Concertgebouw. In the large hall, our television colleagues held The Evening of Film Music, so after our award ceremony, our group could move to the royal balcony (we don't settle for less, you understand) to listen to the film music from Sophie’s Choice, A Single Man (my favorite), and E.T. I'm definitely going to rewatch that movie this weekend.

Is there enough food?

“We have 86 spots on the balcony and max, max, max 120 for dinner,” said producer Deborah. No problem, I thought. Surely many people will leave after dinner and 120 people should be manageable. I immediately asked how many RSVPs we had. “Now 118,” said punctual Annick. Exactly at that moment, an email popped in. Whether those two important guests could still join. Of course. There are always people who cancel at the last minute.

Not so last night… “Honey, I thought I had confirmed?” wrote Maik de Boer. “I’m coming!”. And Lizzy van der Ligt found out that her email had never been sent. But she was happy to come. At one point, Deborah came to tell us a bit worried that there might not be a plate for everyone.

Little goat wig

It all turned out fine, but it was packed. Sarah Keller from Paparazzi Models, her Mo Karadag creative director, Micha Emmering from Micha Models, and of course Freek Koster from Touché, our famous friends Anouk Smulders, Olcay Gulsen, Vivian Reijs, Marvy Rieder, Carolien Spoor, Toprak Yalçiner, big stylists Marije Goekoop and Martien Mellema, fashion elite Harriet Calo, Peggy Weijergang and Carlo Wijnands, the management of RTL 5 and that great team from Endemol that has been making Holland’s Next Top Model for so many years. Of course, our Fred (who won the Man of the Year award) and Jort Kelder, whom I am very fond of, but who wore a small goat wig next to his hand-blown jacket tonight.

The award goes to

And who all won then? Fred van Leer was named Man of the Year for his exuberant looks where he combines classy with street. And of course for his funniest jokes. Olcay Gulsen won the Look of the Year because she effortlessly merges sexy, business, and fashion. When Vogue arrives, I immediately zoom to the fashion series of Marije Goekoop. What she creates is art. So an award. And we would love an exhibition of her work in our studio. The girls from PUP Magazine won the award for Creative of the Year. And Annemarie van Dijk, who is committed to the well-being of other models with her foundation Cleanse, can call herself Model of the Year. Ilham, as mentioned, Hairstylist of the Year and Elles Nijkamp, the makeup artist of Daphne Deckers, Ellemieke Vermolen and yes also of the most important woman in the country received the award for Best Glamsquad of the Year.

And then it was time to dance. First in the Mirror Hall and then at the society De Kring. There we immediately brought the average age down by twenty years. It must have been a great sight. All happily dancing fifty-somethings with three lively Amayzine editors in between. When I left, Lies and Jet were still in a split hanging from some lamps. You’ll hear those stories on Monday. And now, coffee…