The jeans that can last a lifetime: Carolien proves it

During my high school years, there were a few brands that you absolutely had to have hanging in your closet. If you didn't have them, you could often count on a disapproving look from the it-crowd who were dressed in a neoprene vest from Gsus Industries or a hippie jacket from Miss Sixty with Diesel jeans underneath.

Now, I never let that group dictate my choices and was stared at multiple times for my clothing choices (well, in hindsight, I can't blame them for those wide army pants with a net over them), but my closet definitely featured a few items from Diesel. And unlike all the other brands I loved at that time, Diesel has grown quite well with my fashion taste. Especially with the Diesel Black Gold line, my fashion-loving heart is often ignited: at nineteen, I stood for an hour in their flagship store in New York, my eyes fixed on a beautiful, bold leather bag with fringes, and then spent the rest of the week eating at cheap hotdog stands on the street.

Diesel continues to surprise me every season with a mix of sporty looks and fashion statement pieces. Last week, the beautiful images shot by Dennis Swiatkowski with the latest collection were exhibited. The raw locations and analog shots fit perfectly with the comfy outfits you want to walk away in immediately. Secretly (or well, not so secretly, as you all know by now), I am more into the bold items, and during a sneak peek of the fall/winter 2018 collection at the Diesel headquarters, my heart spontaneously skipped a beat: for the upcoming season, they have combined iconic archive items with historical and pop cultural elements, resulting in a collection that appeals to many different personalities. I went completely wild for the oversized fake fur coats and items that you can fully transform by turning them inside out or by zipping off a part. What I find so impressive about Diesel is that they cater to a very large market in the denim field, but continue to amaze the high fashion audience with their Diesel Black Gold line. I already have my eye on a few fantastic items, so it's going to be quite a bit of saving for this fall...