Carolien is struggling with her leave

I always look forward to all the holidays in December, and with this big belly, even more so. It's wonderful to listen to Christmas songs in pajamas, drink Christmas cookies and hot chocolate, and watch Christmas movies that you can now quote along with (Annie is a staple here). The tree is already filling up nicely with presents, and Otis asks several times a day if the presents can be opened yet. But so far, he has been able to hold back. Just need to score a silly pajama for the whole family, and we are completely ready.

Now that the final stretch has truly begun, I notice that my belly is growing day by day. I often get asked if I am on leave yet, but especially as a self-employed person, I find it difficult to really let that sink in for myself. We have a big fair in Paris at the end of January with Lemej, and I want to be as involved as possible in all the preparations and our new designs for next year. On days when I stand or walk a lot, I now use a nice belly band from Cellacare Materna, which provides extra support. It's really a huge recommendation if you have a lot of trouble with your lower back and pelvis. But the most important thing is, of course, to take the signals seriously and make sure to rest well.

Actually, I haven't worn heels since Otis: no idea why, but somehow my feet immediately protest... So the search for cool shoes with a small heel has been going on for a while. When I saw the collaboration of Lonneke Nooteboom with Fred de la Bretoniere, I fell in love immediately: the boots he designed are the perfect combination of tough, elegant, and... with a very modest heel! I called right away to reserve my pair, but they were sold out everywhere. Now, patience is not really my middle name, but for these beauties, I was willing to wait a bit. I almost sleep with them, but for the past week, they have been glued to my feet.

Nowadays, you don't count as a fashion brand if you don't engage with sustainability. Now, one brand is of course further along than another, but I appreciate that even the big fashion companies are more conscious about producing and choosing their materials. Of course, there are exceptions: there are brands that focus entirely on sustainability, and I admire them greatly: they stand for change and are committed to it 100%. I discovered Zazi Vintage, and besides the to-die-for jackets they make, the story behind the brand is super inspiring: they give vintage materials a new life and work with large organizations that ensure good and fair wages, funds for girls' education, and support local craftsmanship. The prices are presented very transparently on the site, and I find it beautiful to be able to follow the story behind the production from A to Z. Hats off to these kinds of brands that truly make a difference in the fashion world.