The summer of Lotte

Spring is starting, summer is being unlocked. In the category of anticipation and hopefully inspiration, I asked all our editors and other colleagues for their best holiday memories and plans. Today it's the turn of our beauty editor and art director Lotte van Scherpenzeel.

Spring is starting, summer is being unlocked. Where are you going on vacation this year and why did you choose this place?
At the end of April, a due date for a little baby boy is prominently marked in my calendar, but that doesn't stop the plans to go abroad. On May 28, we are flying to Tuscany for a three-day wedding of one of my best friends. Quite exciting with a newborn of a few weeks, but luckily my mother is coming along to help us. And that's not all, because at the beginning of July we are heading back that way for a wedding of friends, but we will immediately attach a few days of vacation to it. Where in Italy we, as a new family of four, will settle down is not entirely certain yet, but we are going by car, so we can go in any direction. And if it works out, we would also love to head towards Puglia this year. May has a really nice house there, and it would be the fourth time we stay there, and I can tell you: it's a party every time.

Zoom in on that perfect evening. Where are you sitting, what’s on your plate, and who’s at your table?
A perfect summer evening can be two very different evenings for me: being together with a large group of friends, wine and delicious food in abundance (good bread and tasty fries as a side dish would come in very handy), good music that feels just a bit too loud later in the evening, but makes the night outside last a little longer is one of them. Ideally, there is also dancing, can't wait for that. I also love barbecuing in my parents' garden with family, where all the cousins play and laugh in the inflatable pool we set up ourselves with slightly too cold water. In the Netherlands, keeping such a pool warm is impossible, but that's what makes it extra cozy.

Are you the type that plans-books-and-fixes everything or do you let it come to you a bit? What is already fixed and what is still open?
I prefer to plan as much as possible: knowing what to expect is quite nice when we talk about where we are going, where we are going to eat, that kind of thing. How the day unfolds between breakfast, lunch, and dinner doesn't matter to me. It's only fun if it takes an unexpected turn.

Is there still a bit of movement or is vacation for you really ‘rest in place’?
Just waking up and swimming laps is the ultimate holiday feeling for me. No matter how cold the water is, you feel so fresh all day. That's often the only workout I get on my holiday. Okay, fine: wandering through a city makes me happy too. Does that count as exercise?

Have you thought about your summer wardrobe? What’s going in the suitcase and how do you put your outfits together?
Ugh, no, not at all. Right now, I'm mostly in a pregnant bubble with a belly so big that I can barely see my toes when I stand up straight. But I'm sure that will change quite quickly once the baby is here. I've already seen enough beautiful dresses at Massimo Dutti. What always goes on holiday with me is an oversized white cotton blouse; you can do anything with it and it's nice for both day and evening with a small heel or another pretty sandal underneath.

Is there already a summer 2024 playlist made and which songs are definitely on it?
I almost never make a playlist, I just like a song (very lazy). I'm scrolling through my favorites on Spotify, and what makes me very happy are Sodade by Césaria Evora and Bonga by Mona Ki Ngi Xica (Pablo Fierro Remix).

Is there already a stack of books ready? If so, which books are you taking with you?
No, unfortunately. At most some magazines, but I always regret it when I'm on holiday and haven't brought anything.

Then a few either-or questions.

Bikini or swimsuit?
Since I became a mother: swimsuit. Not because it's necessary, absolutely not, but I feel more comfortable in it.

Cocktail or mocktail?
I would love to say cocktail, but my plan is to breastfeed (if it works), so I think it will be a combination. By the way, I'm really looking forward to a cocktail now, like a nice gin mule.

Museum or beach club?
Absolutely the beach club: wonderful when good music is playing and if the location allows for a little dance.

Location recidivist (returning to the same place) or adventurer?
If a place is nice: absolutely return, but I also always enjoy discovering new places. I don't have a special preference, but with children soon, returning is secretly quite nice, I think.

Book or E-reader?
A book.

Make a photo book or save everything on your iPhone and never do anything with it?
Save everything on my iPhone. Even the failed ones, resulting in having more than 20k photos in my album.