Thank God It's Friday
Anke de Jong
Compared to Anke, even a bottle of champagne seems a bit dull. Anke is a fountain of goals, actions, plans, ideas, and wishes. While many would struggle with the editorship of ELLE, for Anke, that is just the starting point. There could easily be a podcast and TV appearances added to that. Her latest achievement: the book If I can do it, you can too, which has been in stores since yesterday.
Dear Anke, congratulations! If you were to give your life a score today, what would it be and why?
“An 8.5. Every day I wake up and I just feel excited. I only do things that I enjoy and that give me energy. My inner circle is healthy, I feel happy, and everything is going well. Just need a nice guy.”
And yesterday your book saw the light of day. How amazing!
“That is a dream come true. I got the idea from Daniël Verlaan from Wie is de Mol, with whom I have become very good friends. He said: ‘I think you should write a book.’ I didn’t want to write only about career or just about fashion. During WIDM, I received so many responses from women who echoed my phrases, like: ‘We’re going to do it this way, and if someone has a better idea, I’d love to hear it.’ Then I thought: that’s my sweet spot: dressing just a bit better and standing up for yourself a bit more. That’s what I want to write a book about.
“The book is about people who inspire me, and I interview them about work, highs and lows. And I ask what they wore at those moments, and what the power of clothing is. For example, Merel Westrik talks about failure and that it’s not a big deal as long as you get back up. I asked people what they wore at those moments and how their clothing gave them strength.”
Who all is in the book?
“Igoné de Jongh, Elina Grothen, Bobbie Boermans, Jurre Geluk, Elodie, Vivian Hoorn, but also Giny Boer, the CEO of C&A, and Susan Lenderink, CFO of Ajax. Frida Boeke, from Eva Hoeke's podcast, Kelly Weekers from Cosmopolitan, and Karin Swerink, my magazine mentor. Hanna Prins, the leader of Extinction Rebellion. It’s really a coffee table book; I worked so hard on it because I wanted to write it within a year.”
Okay Anke, back to this column. It’s Friday at 5 PM. Where are you, what are you doing, and is there something in your glass?
“There’s always something in my glass at that time! That’s really the moment for me to have drinks with friends at Marathonweg. I always start with a glass of bubbles and then chardonnay. The fuller, the better. It might be that I’m having a drink today at the Amstel Hotel, because I had my book presentation there yesterday, so I can catch up with Jochem from the publishing house and family and friends. I chose the Amstel to launch my book because I’ve previously held big parties there for Glamour, and I lived around the corner. It’s an iconic place. But definitely with fries and champagne. The fry bags are even made from the cover of the book and there’s no dress code.
“I treated myself to the most beautiful jacket I’ve ever seen: a Proenza Schouler. I wanted it for a long time, saw it on the CEO of Rhode (of Hailey Bieber) in The New York Times. Kelly, my colleague editor from Cosmopolitan, eventually found it on The Outnet.”
What does an average Anke weekend look like?
“Walking through Amsterdam, exercising (BodyBase reformer and yoga with my sister), as few appointments as possible, drinking a lot of wine, and making no plans. And if possible, horseback riding in Friesland or on Terschelling. I also love visiting my family in Friesland.”
Suppose earthly matters like time difference, flight shame, money, and travel time don’t exist. What does your ideal weekend look like?
“Then I would start Friday with a wine tasting in Cape Town, Saturday lounging on the beach in Costa Rica, and Sunday shopping in Tokyo. And then back to Amsterdam, because I love Amsterdam.”
What do you like to read and listen to on the weekend?
“I listen to my own podcast to approve it: Zogenaamd Succesvol, the Volkskrant, and I’m currently reading Long Island, which I got from Kristien van Dillen, my agent.”
Which podcasts are your favorites?
“I enjoy listening to the Zelfspodcast by Sander and Jaap, and we have an ELLE podcast: Front Row, and I also like listening to Monica Geuze and Kay Gorgels. During the week, I listen to BNR every day, because then I’m informed and a better conversation partner.”
Does Sunday have a different vibe than Saturday for you?
“Yes! On Saturday I’m really out and about, and on Sunday I’m cocooning and without my phone. This Saturday I have a signing session at Rinsma, a clothing store where I worked for a long time. On Sunday I’m doing NH Radio for my book.”
WWhat’s on your list of restaurants you must and want to visit?
“Verlan Amsterdam on the Prinsengracht, I’ve heard good stories about it. And further Trees, Zoldering, Maud on the Bilderdijkstraat for cheese fondue, no-nonsense, I prefer that over a star restaurant.”
And then Monday. What time does it start again and what are you going to do?
“Then I’m always at the office for a long time. Now, after all the book printing, back to full ELLE days. I try to do all the meetings and answer questions so that everyone can get to work the whole week.”
Anke's podcast, Zogenaamd Succesvol, is available on all channels, and her book If I can do it, you can too is for sale at Bruna and Bol.com, among others.
