First off, how are you? And what is your current state of mind on this day?

HI there, I am doing great. It is early in the morning and I just finished my second coffee and I am even considering a third.

We’ve been living in a pandemic for over two years now and we’re just getting out of it. How did you go through it? And has the pandemic changed you as a person?

It was a very rough 2 years. Definitely in the beginning all my jobs where getting canceled one by one and doing nothing is really not my cup of tea. I got confronted with myself, with too much time on my hand I was spinning into a negative mindset. We had plans just before CO-VID to move to the States, but all the plans had to change of course. I gave birth to my beautiful daughter this year, which has changed me the most. I think everything gets into a new perspective of what’s important and what’s not. It made me spin out of the negative and appreciate all the small things.

Every artist has personal principles in art. How would you describe your work and what principles do you hold onto in your styling?

For me, styling is to create a fantasy. I want to create a dream. I want to create a story. I think it is important to not be afraid to try and create. Don’t let boundaries of what is normal hold you back and be free in your own expression.‍

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As a stylist, you play around with colors, shapes and textures. What do you look for in a look? And what makes a look ‘finished’?

I think balance is very important. We can go big with shapes, color and texture, but we have to be careful not to overdo it. I always style with my emotion, when something is done I feel it through my bones.

The role of a stylist is often underestimated as the photographer gets credited the most. But what makes a good stylist in your opinion? And how does a stylist stand out?

I think that everyone in the team has to be evenly credited. I don’t believe in hierarchy, because when one thing isn’t working, the whole picture isn’t working. The model, the hair and make-up, everything has to be on point.

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Take us through the styling process. How do you approach each look you create? And what does the assembling process look like?

The process always starts with a moodboard, the story you want to tell. From there you go into requesting looks and when you get your final confirmation the process really starts. I close my eyes and I start to imagine how I want to portray the look, how do I create this illusion of beauty. I start combining looks, and creating pieces that will add to the story.

In a team of a photographer, art director, makeup artist and more, how do you find balance with your vision? And what is the biggest challenge in collaborating together?

First of all I think there should be trust in each other. We have to be able to let each other free in your process, else you get limited and create something you are not standing behind. Of course if something doesn’t work in the picture we can change it, but I think we have to be able to open our minds to the ideas of others. When we can do that we can create something extraordinary. 

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If you can tell an artist’s emotions and thoughts through their work, how would you say your works represent you as a person?

I think balance is one of the most important things in styling. This is also the case in my personal life.

In general, what has shaped you the most in becoming an artist? And what elements in life inspire you in your work?

I think in the beginning I had struggles with really becoming myself. Not be limited in people's views like ‘this is too glamorous’ or 'your work needs to be more clean’. I think it was a real challenge to stick to my own vision and let the demons go. When I finally did that I started to grow as an artist. I get inspired a lot by art. Beautiful paintings, movies or even music. 

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Looking back at your works, what projects were the most challenging and why? And which project was most personal to you?

I had a shoot with Albett Watson in Paris. He is an amazing photographer who was the biggest in the 90s. For this shoot I had to arrange everything, from studio lights to location buses, to dinner for the whole crew to models... I did the whole production for 2 big shoots and besides I could not forget the styling. But in the end it was all worth it.

How would you describe your creative journey throughout the years? And how have you evolved?

I think the more you work the more confident you get. I think throughout the years I stopped being afraid and got confident in myself as a stylist. I was making bolder choices and felt free to create. If something doesn’t work it is not the end of the world, at least we tried.

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Has your experience in the fashion industry made you look at fashion differently? If so, how?

How we view fashion is very personal. Someone can love your work and the other doesn’t understand what you are doing. I think that is the beauty of it all. Fashion is not a science,  it is not measurable. Fashion is emotion.

How do you balance your work with your personal life? And what is key to that balance?

Definitely with having a newborn daughter this can sometimes be a challenge. I think I have learned to only take on the jobs that are really interesting. One week I am only working full time but the next I really make the time for my daughter and husband.

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What do you think are current challenges the world is facing? And how are you dealing with it?

Oh wow, this is a big question. The world is having so many challenges at the moment. I think we are seeing that life can change so quickly. We have seen this with the pandemic, but we also see it with the war in Ukraine. Life is very fragile and unfortunately we can’t control it. I am having a very hard time with the war in Ukraine. I feel very out of control, and so afraid for everyone there. I wish I could do more.

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What are you working on next?

The upcoming 2 weeks I am very busy with commercial jobs, from campaign shoots to big beauty brands. I am so happy that since the beginning of 2022 everything is back to normal ‘work wise’.