Prix Napret
The ironic coincidence was that the day after Marie Claire's Prix de la Mode, I had an appointment at the Akasha spa of the Conservatoriumhotel for a three-day detox (more on that later) because I was immediately hooked up to a champagne infusion upon entering.
Veuve Clicquot was one of the partners of the party and from a very reliable source, namely myself, I know that editor-in-chief Claudia Straatmans is a bubble queen. She is happiest when on Saturday afternoon (at the end of the afternoon, mind you) the snacks are on the table, she plays a game with her husband and daughter, and she pops open a bottle of champagne.
The Prix has the slogan where high fashion meets high culture and then you quickly arrive at the Rijksmuseum as a location. Last year it was Carré, the year before that the stage of the Stadsschouwburg, and before that the Spiegelzaal of the Concertgebouw. Name a place of great cultural value and Marie Claire celebrates its annual party there.
I wrote all that I (oh shame, oh shame) had only been to the Rijksmuseum for parties since the renovation, but last night we were allowed to stroll past the Night Watch. With a glass of champagne in hand and without feeling an elbow from a tourist in your side. That was already the first highlight.
During the evening, Dutch masters were commemorated. Old masters who surrounded us but also the younger masters from whom we have so much in fashion. I wore one of them, Mart Visser. Our other national trophies Jan Taminiau, Iris van Herpen, and Claes Iversen were honored for their work. The difference between the awards was not entirely clear to me and I also heard whispers that all these people had already won a prix before, but who really cares? They are artists who need to be cherished and you can win an Oscar multiple times, right?
Marie Claire is made for Smart and Amazing Women. A pretty successful example is Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, our first female Minister of Defense. Her excellency, as one of her first acts, rented the ties from the official car and ensured that her driver always had a couple of spare tights in the official car. She won the award in the category ‘Think smart, look amazing’ and sat comfortably at the table in her signature jacket dress and with her royal hair. The thought that we were protected all evening by her military men was a highly amusing thought. And I also got to take a picture with them.
Of course, of course, of course the award for Model of the Year had to go to Maartje Verhoef. But getting Maartje to the Netherlands is not that easy. After walking in the Prada Men’s show (I know, this sounds very strange but sometimes women also walk in the men’s show), she flew to Amsterdam. With her mother and second mother (agent Micha Emmering from Micha Models) she was practically glowing.
It concluded with an international award to the designer Massimiliano Giornetti for Salvatore Ferragamo, a very nice man with whom my dearest table mate Harriet Calo and I chatted for a long time about Italy, fashion, and working in the month of August.
No, I do not forget my friends Lieke and Jetteke from Lexmond. They were here together to collect the award for Best Dutch Jewelry Collection from the stage. And rightly so. Their Lexmond vs Lexmond jewelry was too beautiful. Although the most beautiful accessory next to their Alaïa dresses (“Mr. Azzedine dressed us especially for tonight“) and their men (”So nice that we can be here together as a group of four.“) was the intensely happy and proud smile at each other, there on stage. ”Jet has been one of my greatest loves my whole life and she inspires me every time.” Said Lieke with a tear in her voice. The evening lasted long and fortunately sparkling Claudia also provided a bottle of fizz for the road. Or for the morning after. And now on to the detox!
Photography: Hélène Wiesenhaan
