Online addict

Hello there party-peeps, 

I think many of you are at a family dinner party tonight and I hope you're enjoying yourself! I had a Christmas party with the family as well but I'm just soooo full of all the food that was on the table, I'm genuinely feeling sick right now! Butttt, I felt the need to blog so here it goes...

I posted this picture on Instagram this moening (@charisvanlooveren). If you ever see me, I'll probably have a face like this on the picture. It's the standard VL-face aka resting bitchface.

I'm actually wearing 2 of my favorite brands on this picture! Let me tell you all about them... 

So let's start with the sweater. I bought it from the online shop of Stradivarius. It's one of my favorite brands for sure! They have soooo many things and the models who are posing on the pictures to show the clothes, are always perfectly styled! You can't really see it on this picture but the knitted sweater is dark grey and the sleeves are quite wide. The sweater is not very long so you do have to look out for a tummy-show ;). Stradivarius has a really young, quite rock'ish style for affordable prices! Buttt, no store here in Belgium. But who minds a little online shopping from time to time? 

The asecond brand that's one of my favorites is Boohoo. It's an online store but they have everything you need! I was looking for a long coat for quite a while now. When I saw this one, I was already convinced but I always look for a better buy (some habits are hard to break) but obviously I couldn't find one which I liked better so I just ordered it and I couldn't be happier with it! 

There is one thing you need to know about Boohoo before spending aaallll your money (really, you can!). The sizes are quite small sometimes and it's better to buy one size bigger than you normally have. I noticed this with my first purchase, everything I ordered fit quite ok but one size bigger would have been better. I tried to send it back but it would have cost me quite a lot in comparison to the value of my order. So from that moment on, I always ordered one size bigger and now it's always the "right" size. 

 

The pants I'm wearing are from H&M. I love that the length is just above my ancle. This way I can wear them formally or really casual with some sneakers. 

PS, also take a look at my shell-bracelet from @b.antjes I got her Instagram from a friend because I wanted a bracelet like that for a long time already. I ordered 5 bracelets at once and when I look at them, it makes me think of better times by the seaside. 

I bought the shoes on Zalando. They are Reebok Classics. See, I was looking for new white sneakers and alrhough I like Stan Smith, everyone has them so I like to avoid buying them. I went on Zalando and I found these babies. I think they are so awesome! Can't wait to wear them in summer! 

This was all I had to say for tonight actually. And my white wine is getting warm so I'm gonna keep it at this. 

Merry Christmas loves, have a good one! 

Love, 

Charis x

Showing my true colors

Hey boys & girls,

I don't know what your perspective is on blogposts, but I always like to get to know the person who is behind them. That's why today, I'm letting my guard down. I want to tell you a bit more about myself, something really specific about me actually... about my 5 tattoos. When you get a tattoo, you get them for a lifetime. So you really have to think them through before you get them, that's why I think they really represent me. So here we go, these are my stories (I'm kind of nervous actually). 

I got my first tattoo when I was 17 years old. There was a guy I knew who was willing to tattoo me. If I look back on it, I should have waited because it looks like SHIT (to say the least). I was a big fan of Nicole Richie at the time and she had a tattoo with a bow and her name underneath and I thought it was really pretty. I had my doubts whether I should post a picture from this tattoo because I'm really embarrased to show it to anyone. But hey, if you want to let your guard down, it's all or nothing so here it is...

It's so messy and he tattood over my birthmark and I heard that's really risky. Anyway, I'm so glad I have it in my neck and I can cover it with my hair! I'm thinking about getting a cover-up but I don't want a big ass tattoo in my neck. It's been on there for almost 8 years so I'm not really in a rush you know...

After I got that fucked up tattoo, I already had something new on my mind. I was about 18 or 19 years old when I got my second tattoo. You see, my parents are divorced and my brother has always been the person I turn to whenever things go wrong, whenever I have a turning point in my life,... He was also the person I listened to when mom and dad didn't understand. And because of that, I wanted a tattoo for my brother. He has been playing hockey for so many years so I wanted a tattoo that had to do with ice hockey and I wanted his name on it as well. 

Someone I knew from when I was younger - Jan Vanderoost - just opened his tattoo shop called Blackout Tattoos which is located in Vorselaar. I texted him on Facebook with the idea I had for this tattoo and a couple of days later he invited me to come to his shop to see the design and get the ink done. 

I can't tell you how surprised I was when I saw the design! I knew what I wanted and I had this thing in my head, but when I saw his drawing, everything just fit perfectly. I got a helmet, 2 sticks and Kevin's name. It's the biggest tattoo that I have and I still love everything about it (unless when I fight with my brother, then I want to cut it out of my skin)

I remember when I just got it and I asked my dad to stop by Kevin's house (my parents never knew when I got a new tattoo btw). I can still remember Kevin's face when he saw it! He was at home with a friend and the friend as well was pretty impressed by the details that Jan put in the tattoo. It's unreal how good he captured Kevin's helmet on my skin. 

Since that day, I knew I didn't want anyone else tattooing me, and no one ever did. 

My third tattoo is my least favorite one, just because of the story behind it. On April 16, 2011 one of my best friends died in a car crash. I was devastated by the news! I wanted to get a tattoo especially for her but I didn't know what to get. I was thinking maybe her name, maybe her nickname, but then I remembered a conversation we had at school. She dared me to get a tattoo of the caterpillar she was always drawing in AAAALLLL of my books from school. So then I knew what to get. On May 15, one month after the accident, I got that little thing on my body.

I got it on the inside of my foot, right under my ancle. That way, it gave me the feeling that she was walking with me, didn't matter where I went, she was there. When I wear sneakers, the caterpillar pops out and I adore it so much! It makes me think of her every day, that she drew this and to have it on my body just means so much to me! 

I got my fourth tattoo not so long ago. I have had it for a bit less than a year now. It's also a tattoo for someone that died but meant quite a lot to me. I'm not gonna say much about this because not a lot of people know the purpose behind this tattoo.

This tattoo says "Can't fight faith <3". I remember in one of my favorite series called The OC, Seth Cohen said the words "Can't fight faith" and I always thought about those words ever since. You seriously can't change what's on your path. What's meant to be will find its way. I knew I was getting this inked one day, I just didn't know when. Apparently the death of someone beloved was the reason for this. The little heart behind it, refers to the texts we always send to each other. He was the only guy I ever sent these little hearts to. After a couple of years we got back into contact and we were laughing with our stupid hearts after every message but if I look back on it, those little hearts meant the world to me. <3

This last tattoo I got is the same as my favorite blogger "Josefine Haaning Jensen". 

It says "This too shall pass". To me, it means that whenever something good happens, keep your feet on the ground, because great success doesn't last forever. But on the other hand, it also means that when something bad happens, it won't always be that way either. It's so important to remember myself and that I stay focused and sober with everything I do. I got it under my wrist so that when I wear a watch, I can still see the tattoo. 

So, these were my tattoo stories. And please remember, think before you ink! 

Love, 

Charis XO

Thrashed my Sunday

Hey guys, 

I just woke up on the couch, I'm exhausted! December might be my favorite month but it's filled with a lot of busy days! I only have like 3 days off this month, no joke. That's whyyyy I treated myself to some presents last week, I mean, I deserve it, riiight??!!

I have always liked cozy and oversized clothing! And that's what I found when I bought this Thrasher sweater online! When I was young, and I mean like 10 years old, I wanted to be a skatergirl, for real! I wanted to be able to do "a kickflip" or "an ollie" so bad! But back then I was afraid to fall so I always practiced on the grass... When that didn't work out, I started to play ice hockey. Getting shots to the head was far more easier and safer than skateboarding... "ugghhh"

It's actually a guys sweater, and I bought it in the same size that I normally have in girls' sizes, so -> oversized is what it is. I combined it with a pleated skirt from H&M. And my wonderful cut out booties from Stradivarius. 

When I shopped the boots at Stradivarius, there was this girl who was wearing them with a pleated skirt. I thought it was really cool, but I didn't know how it would turn out on my pictures. That's why I also took pictures with some pants on, from Zara. 

The outfit looks so different with the pants than with the skirt! Now tell me, which style do you like best? 

Oh yeah, and before I forget, look who came to take a look through my shoe. It's a tatto I got when one of my friends died in a car crash. The shoes are just made for this little caterpillar! Walking with me, step by step. 

Goodnight,

Charis x

Hatty birthday

What's up sleepyheads,

I hope you are all doing just fine? Is this weather cold enough for you? I know it shouldn't get any colder for me, I'm literally freezing! I'm going to do a little throwback on an outfit from a couple of weeks ago because it's too cold to be posing in a tshirt right now you know...



In my previous post, I told you about my early birthday gift from my boss, right? If your answer is not "yes", then go read it right now!!

Sooo, welcome back ;) now that you know about my birthdaypresent, I want to tell you a bit more about it.




Blissful Tris was founded by a wonderful lady named Patricia. She has a what we call "boho-chic" style. She would even look good in a plastic bag, you know, that type of people. She organised a 2-day market to introduce her products (must-haves) to everyone. The cute little market was held at Wijnhuis Vinhmm here in my hometown.

Everything was installed on the terrace so you didn't just get to see a shop, you also got sort of an experience, let's call it a feeling, due to the cozy atmosphere which came with the terrace. She brought everything: pillows, sheepskins, candle lights, jewelry, woodpixels, clothes, headbands,... everything you can think of when someone says "boho".

Aaanndddd she also brought these hats. My head is quite round and thick, I might even call it chubby (don't laugh) so I look quite good with a hat (if I may say so myself). I became instantly in love with this black beauty and so my boss bought it as a let's say 60-days-too-early-birthdaypresent. I was really happy with it and I'm wearing it quite often I must say.

This is Patricia on the picture. Do you know what I mean now with boho-chic and that she would look good in just anything? Now that we got that cleared out... If you are interestes in throwing a home party from Blissful Tris yourself, you can always contact her through Instagram (@blissful_tris). Remember, Christmas is just around the corner, if you need a special gift... my birthday is right around the corner too by the way ;)




I'm also wearing my tshirt from Pull & Bear, which is cut out on my shoulders (really cool, obviously). The sparkling pants are from Calzedonia. They're leggings and I love to wear them, they just leave a little sparkle everywhere (for real...). The boots are Zara and the jacket is from Forever21.



PS: what do you guys think of my hair on the pictures? This is my natural hair, without extensions. I got my extensions back in a couple of weeks ago but I had a little Britney Spears moment last week and I cut my extensions to the same length as my natural hair. I'm still going to have them in for about 2 months but I have my doubts if I would want extensions again after... Let me know!

Love,

Charis x

Furry Sundays

Hey boys & girls, 

It's been a while since I blogged and I feel quite guilty about it. That's why I made a promise to myself: from now on, I'm going to dedicate my Sundays to at least one blogpost, starting today. 

I don't know if you have noticed but the days have become more chilly than last week. Like seriously, I need to scratch the ice of my car every morning and I'm not liking it! 

So today was the day I got my fox fur out of the closet again. I know a lot of people have an opinion about this coat, either positive or negative. But, I really don't want to start the discussion on that topic.  I love my fur coat and it's so warm and fuzzy, perfect for these temperatures (and worse). 

I don't know if you joined in on some "Black Friday"-shopping last week but I couldn't resist. I bought these new booties and these necklaces at Forever21. I'm still sad that the store was closed down in Antwerp, but thank God for online shopping! 

I topped the outfit with some jeans I ripped and cut off myself from Zara. And I also couldn't resist the sparkling black little v-neck from H&M which was on sale as well (I'm a great saleshopper btw). The hat is from Blissful Tris, an early birthday gift from my boss. Blissful Tris has some really nice boho-inspired stuff and you can invite her for homeparties, go find her on Instagram! 

I don't know if you have noticed, but I'm wearing glasses on the pictures. I've been having really bad headaches for the last couple of months and I think it might be from sitting behind my desk/computer all day. So I went to Hans Anders to get my sight measured up and they provided me with not one, but two glasses who measured up to my needs. I do feel like I'm a nerd now but if it will help me with my headaches, I will be so thankful! 

Enjoy your evening and don't forget to place your shoe next to the fireplace, it's almost Sinterklaas' birthday!!

PS, only 27 days until mine yaaayyy

Kisses, 

Charis