A sacred symbol

A sacred symbol

by marlies|dekkers

Daily baths of donkey milk? Nah, as sexy as it sounds, it’s probably just another fabrication by the usual Cleopatra-obsessed ‘historians’. But if we are to believe Egyptian hieroglyphs, the Queen of Egypt had a much more fascinating beauty secret: the blue lotus. A sacred symbol of rebirth and healing, the flower was associated with the goddess Isis, aka the magnificent ‘Lady of the Holy Cobra’. Images of the gorgeous, electric-blue lotus were displayed prominently all over Ancient Egypt: on pillars, thrones, statues and even Cleopatra’s ceremonial headdress. The sweet, intoxicating scent of the blue lotus was considered especially divine and most cosmetics contained oil from the precious flower. If you could afford it – which the divine Queen of the Nile certainly could – you indulged in daily lotus baths. The aromatic water would first be poured over a statue of Hathor, the goddess of love and beauty who held the blue lotus as her sacred flower.

Knowing it was her job to impress and overwhelm, Cleopatra even used blue lotus perfume to scent the sails and draperies of her royal barge! Which makes extra sense now that we know that this heavenly flower contains euphoria-inducing chemicals…

Shop Space Odyssey Egyptian blue

 

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fall|winter 20 preview

Marlies Says

fall|winter 20 preview

by marlies|dekkers

In January, I presented my newest FW20 collection during a show full of dance and entertainment in Rotterdam. All my work as a feminist designer is inspired by muses, powerful female icons from past and present. And for FW20, my muse will be crime writer Agatha Christie. A few months from now, you will get to discover the collections, and see how they tell stories like Agatha’s thrilling books do..

Running for your life

MD Friends

Running for your life

by marlies|dekkers

Dr. Bram Bakker is a psychiatrist, a writer, a runner and a provocateur. With his many bestselling books and columns – and yes, even his own theatre show – he urges us to think outside the box when it comes to our mental health. Not crazy about popping pills? Bram shared some interesting alternatives with me, from throwing out our phones to running ‘till we puke’.

Peas & peppers instead of pills

MD Friends

Peas & peppers instead of pills

by marlies|dekkers

General practitioner Tamara de Weijer believes that we would feel a lot better if we hit the produce stand before we visited the pharmacy. “On a massive scale, we have been putting the wrong kind of fuel in our bodies.”

Singles Day – You’ve Got this!

Marlies Says

Singles Day – You’ve Got this!

by marlies|dekkers

All the single ladies, listen up! With single women rapidly becoming the majority, it is high time to stop feeling singled out. This Singles Day, let’s celebrate our freedom and independence by sharing all those solo milestones that make us go: ‘You’ve got this!’.