BERLIN

31.7.12

NIKE'S ROMANCE OF RUNNING

My persuasion can build a nation, endless power our love we can devour. Who run the world? We! Nike's 'Romance of Running' is a party. It's a celebration of running. I mean, what's more fun than running like a doe on your favourite music, in your most stylish sportswear and sharing this directly with your friends all over the world? I know, almost nothing. So there we go: Game On World, Romance of Running and Run Mokum. Say what? Don't freak out. Read this sporty-spice post carefully and become part of the Nike+ world. Gee, this sound so much fun!


Game on World is Nike+'s campaign centered around their renewed app. Once it all started with a chip in your running shoes, but with the renewed app the chip has left the building (or in this case: sneaker). Just simply start the app, run and do your thing. Nike+'s app is awesome: it motivates, records your run and it also ensures you to do your utmost during your run. Besides the fact you can share your run on social media, you can also get the best out of yourself by comparing your results with those of others. Can you already feel that battle-kinda-thing coming through? I just love it.




The Romance of Running is part of this new Game On World campaign and to demonstrate the running's romance they took five Dutch celebs aka influencers who love to run: Arie Boomsma, Pepijn Lanen, The Flexican, MC Melodee en Saar Koningsberger. Apart from each other they sorted out their very own route. All routes are in Amsterdam, tell their own story and talk about favourite places in Amsterdam. Think of one's first home, the first spot they went partying, favourite park spots, favourite terraces and more. I did my thing at two of these running romances. One with one of my favourite DJ's The Flexican and one with the adorable, bubbly and energetic presenter Saar Koningsberger. Especially the last one was lots of fun. Saar showed us her definition of Amsterdam while running around town with a bunch of guys and dolls.








Of course we must do all of this in style. You've got swag? We've got more! At all runs Nike provided its romantic runners with panache outfits from head to toe including the brand's new LunarGlide 4+ running shoes. Always good for the picture and lovely for its runners. A big thanks to Nike for the panache outfits!




Run Mokum is also a part of Nike+'s Game On World. All through Amsterdam you will find big blue pillars, where you can take your own pics, upload them and hashtag your photo with #RUNMOKUM. The ones with the coolest picture per pillar will get his/her own pillar with elan photo for one week. How awesome is that? Game on to that photo and snapshot yourself while running.


Last but definitely not least there was a par-té. A black tie kinda one. Sorry? Nike and black tie? Yes, and I'm lovin' it! The party was held at the balcony of Pavilion Vondelpark and was there to celebrate Nike+'s new app and to open the Romance of Running Expo. An exhibition with beautiful art-pieces made by Dutch artists Bonne Reijn, Job Wouters, Jonas Lund, Cata Pirata and Pinar & Viola. All art-pieces are inspired by the five Romance of Running-stories of the influencers who ran their route. Pieces of art you have to see, feel and hear yourself varying from a musical-heart-beat-treadmill to a huge box with coloured lights and park sounds and music. The exhibition is at Amsterdam's most beautiful park, the Vondelpark. To be precise at the Vondelpark Pavilion (the old Filmmuseum) from the 28th of July till the 24th of August. Definitely worth the visit!








Nike knows how to do it good and makes running more than only working out. They know how to make it a game, how to get the best out of yourself and how to link a story to your very own romantic running route. I'm a big, bigger, biggest fan of this campaign and hopefully they will spread this lovely thing all around the globe. Find greatness and GAME ON WORLD!

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26.7.12

FOUR THE NEW STORE I ADORE

One, two, three, FOUR. As there was a growing demand for a men's store with cool high-end labels in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, the Azzurro Fashion Group decided to come up with an international store with, exclusively, labels to die for. Voilà: FOUR Amsterdam was born. Amsterdam is doing good with its men's stores, but with this new addition we are definitely putting our mark on Amsterdam as a men's fashion capital.


Yes, we got some stylish men in our city, so bring it on with some amazing men's stores. I mean we have to dress ourselves sharply, don't we? Oh yeah, I'm considering myself as a stylish man by saying 'we' in the last sentence, I am aware of that. Well, it would be weird if I wouldn't consider myself stylish talking about men's fashion and style and doing my thing on this blog, don't cha think? But I won't deviate, as this post isn't about me, it's about FOUR Amsterdam, the new store I adore.


FOUR knows what stylish men want: not only one look, but more looks. The store exists of 240 square meters spread over three levels of what I call 'The Men's Heaven of Fashion'. Brands vary from Tom Ford and Raf Simons to Neighborhood and New Balance. So tell me what you want, what you really, really want. I will elucidate the store's superb grouping in the following sentence. The ground floor is selling 'cool fashion' with premium labels as Mark McNairy, Neil Barrett and Marni, the top floor sells more 'tailored roughness' with heavenly high-ends as Balenciaga and Alexander McQueen and the basement knows how to make it 'street-style' with brands as Momotaro and Mr. Bathing Ape. I know, it sounds almost to good to be true. Well, it actually is.






As if all of this isn't enough, FOUR has more to offer. I'm talking about gadgets, accessories and more. What? More again? Yes. The store created a concept that complements the customer's life style where you have to think of exhibitions, launches, specials collaboration with designers and who knows what else. All of this in an eye-catching three floor connected metal frame designed by JSPR and with a booming VOID sound system so that DJ's can bring us the best beats while shopping.


Altogether we can say Amsterdam's level of panache-ness has been increased with the advent of FOUR. A new store is there in all its glory and I likey like it!

Photos by Marjon Hoogervorst | F-O-U-R.com

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22.7.12

INDIVIDUALS BY AMFI AT AFW

A sturdy parade of swag and coolness came down the runway when the Individuals by AMFI showed their SS13 collection at Amsterdam Fashion Week. An intensively strong show, amazing designs, lots of awesome use of materials, some mysteriousness and cool beats.


Desert warriors who met mysterious nomadic tribes who flaunt through the sands of the African dessert on their way to reach their beloved final destination with a bit of Star Wars on the side. That's what came to my mind during the show. No people, I'm not ready to go to the nut-house. I know it is kinda hysterical, but it really looked like that and in my opinion that's something good. Real good. Individuals by AMFI keeps surprising me. They come up with a stronger collection each year. Where their AW12 collection existed of a force of blacks and grays, this collection is lighter in colour and much more lively.




The SS13 collection is called 'Roots' and is a follow-up of Individuals' AW12 collection, which you can strongly see. Because of the use of more colour and some amazing styling, the SS13 collection looked even better than the AW12 collection. There were lots of unexpected combinations in references, material and design, which I totally love. Especially the use of colour took me. The colour wasn't necessarily surprising, but it really is a palette I love: white, black, camel and bourdeaux.






I saw some amazing eye for detail which manifested itself in lots of jewellery which was the cherry on the cake at this show. By adding jewellery, the collection looked younger and more layered. It actually completed the story's collection. Besides the jewellery, the well-made hooded leather jackets caught my eye as well. Can someone arrange one of those for me right now? Thanks! I loved the fact the show started out dark with heavy music and ended in white with almost total silence.






The whole concept of the show was perfection and it is way too bad that they haven't got some men's wear. I will be the first man in line to gallivant in one of Indivuals' wondrous designs. Keep it up young creatives of the Amsterdam Fashion Institute, you're bringing us awesomeness!

Photos by Melody Lieftink | BackstageFashionReports.nl

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