Fashion portraits is a format dedicated to our amazing WdKA community and their colorful, diverse and unique styles. We captured their outfits and asked them about their style, relationship to fashion, sources of inspiration and more. Scroll down to read/ see for yourself and get inspired!
Interview: fashion student Betina Mendes
Photography: inhouse journalist Julia De Roo
Design: inhouse designer & graphic design student Ilse Oudheusden
"I can make my own stuff, and when people ask “Where did you get it?” I can be like ah, I made myself."
- Femke Hemelaar (21), Audiovisual student from the Netherlands.
Femke’s style in 3 words: Funky, Unique and Flowy.
Today at first i was only thinking about wearing the blouse, but then I was cold so I threw a vest but then I was still cold so I had to throw a jacket over it, and that was basically it, I was just cold.
Clothing and personal style let me express myself, and it’s like a creative outlet for me, it allows me to be very creative. I can make my own stuff, and when people ask “Where did you get it?” I can be like ah, I made myself.
Being in school definitely affects my personal style. Now with the first years again, I get so inspired and end up wanting to buy new clothing. Also, I have ADHD and just get sick of things very quickly, so I end up getting sick of my fashion style very quickly as well. I change almost every month, and people here inspire me so that’ll usually affect it in some way.
"For me, fashion is mostly about feeling comfortable."
- Anne, Photography student with an ‘Art and culture management’ Minor from Groeningen/ Utrecht.
Anne’s style in 3 words: Baggy, Different (everyday) and Jewelry.
For me, fashion is mostly about feeling comfortable, it’s all about expressing how you feel each day. A lot of the time i just want to be in my comfy clothes, so I’ll just go with something baggy, but today i was feeling more feminine I guess, so I wanted to try a dress. It’s about showing how you feel and expressing your mood.
I’m actually late today because of this outfit; I put it on, and because I normally don’t wear a lot of dresses it felt almost scary to wear it. I only have like, three dresses and they’re all quite long, almost to the ankles, but I got this from a friend yesterday and really wanted to use it because it’s quite pretty.
I even took it off thinking “oh I’m not gonna wear this” because it shows more than I’m used to, but when i put something else I really wasn’t feeling it so I put this back on.
Around two years ago when I was still in high school, I felt like the people there were really small minded, so I looked way different, with long hair and all. In the end I just shaved my head and it was really not acceptable there, but here in art school I really feel like I can wear what I want and I can look around and see people wearing super different stuff which also inspires me.
"I get really inspired by people’s outfits here in school, which is why I also started my instagram to take pictures of students."
- Juhyun, Audiovisual student from Korea.
Juhyun’s style in 3 words: Active, Energetic, Sensitive.
Today I went for a really comfortable outfit. After I finished putting it together I felt like I look a little bit like a carpenter.
To me, fashion is another way to show my character. Not only my personality but also my ideas and thoughts.I get really inspired by people’s outfits here in school, which is why I also started my instagram @campus_code to take pictures of students. This way I hope other people can also look at everyone’s looks and take inspiration.
"When I dress up it always matches the mood I'm feeling that day."
- Tobias Rucka, Fashion Design student from Slovakia.
Tobias’ style in 3 words: Color, Pattern, Crazy.
When I dress up it always matches the mood I'm feeling that day. Either that or, sometimes I'll have something new that I really want to wear out so I'll just try to find all the best combinations. For example, I'll have the same pants for like three to four days and just trying different outfit variations with them so I know what works and what doesn’t.
This morning i just thought “oh I haven’t worn these pants in like a week and a half, so might be good to try them on”. After that I just matched the sweatshirt to it.
I think my style definitely gives off a positive energy because of the colors. I also think it communicates positive thinking, i’m just this extravagant guy walking around.
"I think clothes can communicate whether or not you are approachable to other people."
- Julian Spanbroek (20), Product Design student from the Netherlands.
Julian’s style in 3 words: functional, personal, plain.
In the mornings, how I dress myself depends on how I feel. If I don't feel like going crazy, I'll wear a mostly black outfit. Also I had a presentation today, and usually when I have those I don't like to wear too many colors, so it doesn’t distract people from the work that i’m trying to show. I really believe in ‘uniforms’ for myself when i’m doing something like this, also when i’m going into stations since they can get super dirty. Other days, when I do feel energetic or happy I'll wear more colors, but this usually happens naturally, I don't really think about it.
I think clothes can communicate whether or not you are approachable to other people. As for inspiration, I’ll of course take stuff from around me, but I usually try to dress for myself instead of others, so mostly for my own purposes.
"I think it’s impossible to separate my personal style and the things I make, you can’t have one without the other."
- Viam Mrázik, Product Design student from Slovakia.
Viliam’s style in 3 words: functional, comfortable, waterproof
I think it’s impossible to separate my personal style and the things I make, you can’t have one without the other. Even when you try making things that are outside of your zone, it will have a sparkle of you.
I’ll usually feel better when I feel like I have a good outfit. Like when I bought this jacket, I was immediately like “yes, this is great, let’s take this baby out.”
This morning I was just hoping that people wouldn’t notice that I've been wearing these trousers for the third day in a row. I was even repairing my bike yesterday morning so it’s all messed up. I’ll usually choose my pants depending on what I’ll do that day, like if i’m working at the stations I’ll try to wear a lot of pockets. These ones are my go-to comfy pants.
This jacket that I’m wearing reminds me of when hunters go into the forest in a camo suit, I feel like I’m wearing the same but for the city, this is the perfect camouflage.
I’ve been focusing a lot on fashion for the past two years, more than I ever have, so it means quite a lot to me. In a way, I still feel like I don't like fashion that much, but I really geek on the utility side of it, stuff with lots of zippers and multifunctionality; I like when something that was produced with only function in mind is still visually appealing.
"Being here in school really influences me when I see all the people in really nice outfits, it gives me a lot of ideas."
-Iga, Audiovisual student from Poland
Iga’s style in 3 words: It’s, very, messy
I always pick out my outfits, really everyday, even if it’s just a sweatshirt and pants there’s always at least a little bit of thought behind it. I tend to take it kinda seriously, or I mean, not necessarily “seriously” but I really enjoy thinking these things through.
Today I felt like going for loafers and these classy pants that have a little bit of a detail, with quite a nice eye-catching belt. I also wear this hat quite a lot because it brings a little bit of a hip hop vibe and I really like that. I take quite a lot of style inspiration from music.
I wishIi knew what people think when they see my style, but I’m usually going for “cool but comfortable”. Style is one of the biggest ways of showing your personality, and being here in school really influences me when I see all the people in really nice outfits, it gives me a lot of ideas.
