Fashion activist
Janice Deul (1962), was born in Rotterdam and lives in Leiden since her study Dutch Language at Leiden University. She works as a freelance lifestyle journalist for glossy magazines and newspaper NRC. Janice: “I am particularly fashion activist. As such, more diversity in fashion and magazines is very important to me. On my platform Diversity Rules, I show that there is more than ‘young, blonde, white and slim’. I am also co-author of a book about frizzy hair, it’s called Little Black Hair Book.
Style with a bit of humor
“I’d like to radiate individuality, creativity, and power. And a little bit of humor, if possible. I always had a clear idea how I wanted to look. Actually, I was a tomboy (and I’m still are). I didn’t want dresses and skirts when I went to elementary school. In high school, I also dressed differently than my classmates. When I was sixteen, I went to school in my disco outfit. When I went to college I was very neat, ladylike: in skirts and often in muted tones. About fifteen years ago it changed: I choose often color, a more glamorous outfit and later prints. Now I’m going back to uni.”
Every day is a party
“In my family, we are all ‘smart dressers’ and like to do something about our appearance. That is because of my mother, who is always dressed very stylish. Sometimes, people ask me if I’m going to a party. From my mother, I learned to make a party of every day. Since my nineteenth I wear my hair braided. Always up and/or out of my face.”
New and vintage
“I don’t have a favorite designer. Quality and authenticity are important to me. For a special occasion, I like to wear clothes of Samaa Roseboom, a friend of mine who is a designer. Moreover, I have always had a fairly androgynous body, but in recent years my body became more eh .. .. curvy. Size 42 is the most common, so difficult to find. I like to buy vintage shoes, bags, and jackets. This jacket I bought in Cologne last year. This dress is also vintage, bought at Vintage Island in Leiden.”
Ring by Bruno da Rocha
“I happen to live in the best shopping street of Leiden. At Omnia Fausta, I buy quite a lot. They sell nice, special brands. Also at Vriendinnen mode I shop regularly. And at Rinda Refuge for beautiful accessories. My favorite garment is surely my leopard print trench coat. I bought it seven years ago in a vintage shop in Amsterdam. My tip: Shop around and don’t be afraid to try something completely different. I look in vintage stores, in beautiful boutiques,and in the big department stores. I wore men’s pajama pants,and I also have accessories from the toy store.”
Together with Janice for our ‘selfie’
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