Lucy
Some years ago I spotted Lucy Bosscher (1962) for the first time. At that time she was working as a marketing/communications manager at The Hague Executive Campus. A remarkable, charming and fashionable lady. Since then, we have met more often, and every time I enjoy taking a picture of her. Last December, I met her again, now in this special combination: a colorful jacket, combined with a leather culotte and a beret. So it’s time for a few questions about her clothing and style.
Can you tell us a little bit more about yourself?
“I am one of those people who are impossible to define in one sentence. To make it simple: I am a linguist, connector, communicator turned Pilates instructor. I live in The Hague, I own Aspire Pilates in Koninginnengracht 28, an upscale boutique studio catering to the diverse community of international residents. Before setting up my Pilates business, I had a few different careers, lived in a dozen different countries. I must have been born to be a communicator. As long as I remember myself I switched between languages and helped people understand each other starting with my own family, which was a mini United Nations. So it is not surprising that my linguistic talents led me to Pilates. After all, Pilates is a method that teaches you to understand and develop the language of a body through mindfully focused movement. More about what I have done you can read here and here.”
How would you describe your own style?
“Definitely eclectic. I love structure, texture, accents, and colour. Though, I do wear a lot of blacks. Well, black served with the right accessories gives you infinite possibilities. I have gone through a multitude of phases ranging from bourgeois chic with pearls and Hermes scarves to edgy and hip of the Tom Ford era at Gucci, but now settled on being eclectic. It must be a reflection of my colourful life, different careers, and the countries where I lived. Accessories are important! I love well-cut, structured basics; defined waist, interesting shoes. I would always have a colour accent. I love trousers and waistcoats. I must have a dozen of waistcoats for all seasons.”
What attracts you in the style of others?
“Individuality. We live in such a homogenized world, that I really appreciate people, men, and women, who do not wear the latest fashions but have something on that tells me they have their own point of view. Gabrielle Chanel was like that in her time. And I admire that.”
Was your mother also interested in fashion and a stylish woman, just like you?
“My mother was a beautiful woman, she had black hair and piercing green eyes, like emeralds. And she always wore red lipstick. But it was my Persian father who had a distinct style. The French call it ‘allure”. He was always well dressed, even in impossible circumstances. He was the type of man who had a certain presence about him, always stood out from the crowd. He would buy clothes for me and my mother. I think it from him that I got my flair for fashion. And it is from him that I have a special understanding and appreciation of jewellery and stones.”
You live in The Hague now, does that influence your style?
“Yes, it has certainly had an impact on my style. People here dress safe, whether it is formal or casual. So subconsciously I think I tend to dress more low key than I would have done when I lived in Bangkok or Istanbul. The Hague had a clear impact on my shoe shopping. I am now a confirmed flat shoe convert. Why? I do a lot of walking in the city and when the streets are cobbled, heels do not work well. Also because of the climate, you tend to buy more inter-seasonal clothes here. I think I have now accumulated a whole collection of flat shoes and coats: summer; winter, and for in-between-seasons.”
Do you have a favorite designer?
“Yes, for me there’s no one like Dries Van Noten. Unique, signature style. Always evolving, and yet, always recognizable. I await with eager anticipation each new collection, men, and women. And each collection touches me on an emotional level. When I visit Antwerp, I always stop at the Mode Paleis, it is like a pilgrimage for me.”
Would you say that at this stage of your life you are now more, or less interested in fashion, style and the way you look?
“I think more than before because now it takes more effort to look good. I hate indifference I keep abreast of trends, but personally, do not follow them. Slavish following of trends deprives an individual of identity. And I am all about individuality. Quite another thing is staying relevant. For me, it is giving your own interpretation to the trend.”
Why is the way you look important to you?
“Because it is a factor that creates positive emotions and contributes to the quality of life and. If you look good, you feel good, you exude positive energy. The mood of the moment and the weather inspires my outfit choices. Sometimes when it is gray and somber outside, I would get some bright colours out, put lipstick on and venture outside creating my own colourful universe.”
“Be yourself everyone else is already taken”
Do you have any fashion and style tips for women over 50?
“You know the famous quote by Oscar Wilde “Be yourself everyone else is already taken”. So cultivate your individuality more than ever, stay relevant, stay curious, stay interesting. At a certain age, you have figured out your style, know your proportions and colours. So the rest is technique and maintenance. Have a good aesthetician, have a tailor to make sure that you wear well fitting clothes; take a make-up lesson from professional to update your look. And do not underestimate the value of lighting!”
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