Embrace the power of perseverance

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Embrace the power of perseverance

by marlies dekkers

This season, get your winter glow on in my 'Polaris' Couture Collection, designed for Snow Queens and Polar Princesses. I printed my own 'knitting' pattern, inspired by the eight-pointed North Star, onto the smoothest, recycled microfiber fabric in heart-warming cabernet red.

Reveal your excellent taste!

Marlies Says

Reveal your excellent taste!

by marlies dekkers

Many legendary stories told by male Arctic explorers 'forget' to mention a very important detail: the help they received from women and indigenous people, essential to their survival.

Set your dream on fire, and burn!

Marlies Says

Set your dream on fire, and burn!

by marlies dekkers

Camped out on the drifting ice of the Arctic Ocean, the members of ‘Metelitsa’ - a Russian all-female team of ski enthusiasts and explorers - slept with knives underneath their improvised pillows. “When the ice cracks and starts drifting towards the open sea, we cut open our tent and jump out," one of the women wrote in her diary. She added: "If we're lucky enough to have somewhere to jump."

Dare to be different

Marlies Says

Dare to be different

by marlies dekkers

Arctic explorer, society 'it-girl', wartime secret agent, fearless polar bear hunter... with lipstick on. American heiress Louise Boyd (1887 - 1972) was as brilliant and unique as a snowflake*.

Heroines of the ice

Marlies Says

Heroines of the ice

by Marlies Dekkers

"Can't you just use AI? Or at least shoot in a warm studio with fake snow?" My friends love the idea of this season's muse: the brave, female Polar explorer. But to literally follow in her footsteps for our campaign photography? Insanity. Yet here we are. Deep in the Arctic circle with only a few minutes of daylight left. At -19°C, every second counts for our lingerie-clad model Aneta, who is shivering in the snow. The huskies jumping around her are too restless to stay in the shot. Should we stop? This is crazy! But all of a sudden, she picks up a puppy and starts to cuddle it. The rest of the pack soon falls under her spell, and through my viewfinder I see a radiant woman, thriving despite - or perhaps because of! - the cold. A winter goddess.

The feminist fairytale behind the star of the norwegian sweater

Marlies Says

The feminist fairytale behind the star of the norwegian sweater

by Marlies Dekkers

I have always loved a cozy, handknitted sweater. And nothing quite says: 'bring on the winter!' like a traditional Norwegian 'snowflake' pattern: the perfect combination of comfy, crafty and classy. But did you know that woven into this ancient design is a fairytale of hope and female empowerment? Pour me some hot cocoa and I'll tell you the story...

Dare to impress

Marlies Says

Dare to impress

by marlies dekkers

They call her the 'Queen of Arctic Expeditions' and 'the Female Robinson Crusoe', but all that single mom Ada Blackjack (1898 -1983) ever wanted was some money to support her sick son.

Pole to pole

Females Forward

Pole to pole

by marlies dekkers

Even though there are no new continents to be discovered, you can still unlock your inner explorer. Think about it: how often do step out of your comfort zone? When was the last time you had an adventure? If you've been living your life on automatic pilot, NOW is the time to challenge yourself. Sounds scary? Duh, that's the whole idea! Here are seven 'micro adventures' to shake up your day-to-day (so you are ready to one day shake up the world):

The art of giving

Marlies Says

The art of giving

by marlies dekkers

Good, you love to give. But do you know how to be present for the present? This holiday season, let's truly master the art of giving by learning how to receive with joy.

Release your feminine power

Marlies Says

Release your feminine power

by marlies dekkers

Do you feel like your juiciness could use a boost? Then awaken your senses and unlock the power within your pleasure. After all, a juicy life is sustained by self-love and sensuality. Warning: it will get sticky!

The power of pleasure

MD Friends

The power of pleasure

by marlies dekkers

Since bursting onto the scene in 2010 with her delightful apple vibrator, Dutch sexpert Rianne Swierstra has been unwavering in her mission: to seduce women to take a bite out of the forbidden fruit of sexual self-knowledge and become juicy powerhouses. High time to high-five this fellow feminine feminist and have a Zoom chat about the power of pleasure in all its juicy forms.

Breaking the ice

Marlies Says

Breaking the ice

by Marlies Dekkers

The badass women exploring the Ends of the Earth did more than plant flags and fight frostbite. By daring to go where no woman - or man! - had gone before, these Polar pioneers showed us that yes, we too can achieve the unthinkable!

An arctic dream

MD Friends

An arctic dream

by marlies dekkers

Following in the footsteps of the fierce female Polar explorers who inspired this season's collections, we ventured into the Arctic Circle Tromsø, Norway - for our campaign photography. Thanks to our partners, a work trip became the adventure of a lifetime. But did we see the Northern Lights?

My muse and I

Marlies Says

My muse and I

by Marlies Dekkers

'Here we go!' I said, psyching myself up as I stepped out of the sauna into the snow. It had been on my bucket list for ages: traveling to Lapland during the magical winter months. After years of heart-stopping Wim Hof ice baths and spontaneous naked-rolling-through-the-snow sessions in my back yard - my neighbors must love me! - I felt prepared for the cold. But as my wet feet started to literally stick to the snow in the - 23°C night, I realized I wasn't. There's cold, and there's COLD: the kind that is simply unimaginable.

Into the unknown

MD Friends

Into the unknown

by marlies dekkers

Sadly, there is no step-by-step manual for living through and coping with breast cancer. Every person or path is different. But when Dutch actress and writer Isa Hoes was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021, she started writing a tender, moving and shamelessly honest account that has become a must-read for anyone whose life has been touched - directly or indirectly - by cancer. "I started wondering: have I been living my life to the fullest? And honestly, the answer was no."

Dare to dream big

Marlies Says

Dare to dream big

by marlies dekkers

"No, you cannot major in geology. You should be learning how to cook," the American explorer and scientist Ursula Marvin (1921-2018), now known as one of the women who has reshaped science, was told by her professor at the start of her academic journey.

And so.. The adventure begins

Marlies Says

And so.. The adventure begins

by Marlies Dekkers

All my work as a feminist designer is inspired by muses. Powerful female icons from past and present. Although women have been marginalized for centuries, archetypes of female power have always been there. Through my designs, I bring them to you. To help us shape the world of modern-day feminism.

travel far enough to find yourself

Marlies Says

travel far enough to find yourself

by marlies dekkers

Many legendary stories told by male Arctic explorers 'forget' to mention a very important detail: the help they received from women and indigenous people, essential to their survival. A great exception is Taqulittuq (1838 - 1876). This translator and guide - both female and indigenous - was so brave and skillful that her story simply refuses to be erased from history.

Woman in pole position

Marlies Says

Woman in pole position

by marlies dekkers

Putting a flamboyant, female stamp on the male-dominated world of polar exploration, Bernice Notenboom (1962) is a breath of fresh - or should we say 'frozen'? - air. The first Dutch woman to conquer the South Pole on skies and the second one to climb to the top of the Mount Everest, Bernice's fondness for the cold matches her heartwarming openness. "A male explorer with children is praised for being a fun, adventurous dad, while a female adventurer is a selfish mother."

Lucky Clover

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Lucky Clover

by Marlies Dekkers

She is known as 'the Elvis of gardening' and one the world's greatest horticulturists - male or female! - but when Gertrude Jekyll started her career in the 19th century, successful female gardeners were as rare as four-leaf clovers.

My muse and I

Marlies Says

My muse and I

by Marlies Dekkers

"She reminds me so much of you," my lover said, as he proudly handed me a book with on its cover a matronly Victorian lady, staring at me sternly through her coke-bottle glasses. Hmm, was this his idea of a romantic gesture? As soon as I started reading the book - a biography of British gardening legend Gertrude Jekyll - I realized it was a very romantic compliment indeed! Like Gertrude, I sculpt my vision through color, shape and texture; but where I work with fabric, she used flowers, plants and soil to create her magical gardens.

Let's dig in, soil sister

Marlies Says

Let's dig in, soil sister

by Marlies Dekkers

"Frumpy and not very sexy," my friend, who likes to call herself a 'career tiger' declares. Clearly, she is not crazy about this season's gardening theme. "Plus, is it even feminist?" she adds, as she takes another sip of my homegrown herbal tea. (We're in my garden, ironically her favorite spot). First of all, I think gardening is very sexy. The artistic self-expression, the self-sufficiency in a world of broken systems, the sensuality of sinking your fingers into moist soil - quite the opposite of frumpy! And feminist? Well, I could actually understand her skepticism. Dismissing domesticity, the women's lib movement of the 1960s instilled the idea that 'real' power could only be found on the work floor, as far away from the kitchen and garden as possible. Meanwhile, stereotypical expressions of femininity - heels, lipstick, lingerie - were replaced with unisex denim dungarees: the uniform of a 'real' feminist.

Vixen, not victim!

MD Friends

Vixen, not victim!

by Marlies Dekkers

On Cancer Survivor Day, we celebrate those who have fought cancer and won, while bringing hope to those still battling this terrible disease. With 'Cancer Vixen', Marisa Acocella's powerful, colorful and often hilarious cancer memoir, the American cartoonist has created a life-affirming gift for women on the front lines and beyond: a Sex and the City type tale of a woman kicking cancer’s butt - in killer heels! - that inspires hope and some healing laughter. "The word is vixen, not victim."

Dare to flourish and shine!

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Dare to flourish and shine!

by Marlies Dekkers

“Love is like a butterfly, a rare and gentle thing," Dolly Parton once sang, and we wholeheartedly agree. However, we also believe that you can either wait around it, or get off your ass and make it happen.

Let your juices flow

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Let your juices flow

by Marlies Dekkers

When life gives us lemons, we make lemonade. But what if we didn't wait to be handed lemons? What if we grew them ourselves? Imagine planting your own seeds in your own garden, nourishing them with your own sweat and love, and then - literally! - picking the fruits of your labor. In this case, a juicy, sun-drenched lemon. What better symbol of your self-sufficiency?

Female gardeners, Gardenista

Marlies Says

Female gardeners, Gardenista

by Marlies Dekkers

All my work as a feminist designer is inspired by muses. Powerful female icons from past and present. Although women have been marginalized for centuries, archetypes of female power have always been there. Through my designs, I bring them to you. To help us shape the world of modern-day feminism.

Health is Wealth

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Health is Wealth

by Marlies Dekkers

Believe me, I know how easy it is to get caught up in the rat race; skipping nights to make deadlines, pushing myself beyond my own limits. But everything changed with this realization: if you don't feel well, you don't do well. I saw people around me spending their health to gain wealth, and then having to spend their wealth to regain their health. I decided to avoid that trap. One of the godmothers of modern-day luxury, Coco Chanel, once said: 'The best things in life are free. The second-best things are very, very expensive.' Here are a few of my favorite affordable luxuries that help me slow down, recharge and look amazing. Yes, mademoiselle Coco, the post-stroll glow is the new Chanel 'it' bag.

Dare to dazzle!

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Dare to dazzle!

by Marlies Dekkers

Did you know that Marie-Antoinette, the glamorous French Queen known for her pink puff dresses and sugar-spun hairdos, had a 'dirty' hobby? To escape the rigid rules and prying eyes of the 18th-century royal court, the fashion icon created a lush, secret garden that became a feminine oasis in the stern, symmetrical garden landscape of Versailles.

Why woman grow

MD Friends

Why woman grow

by Marlies Dekkers

'Why women grow' by Alice Vincent is a magical book. Reading the British gardener and writer's inspiring stories of soil, sisterhood and surviving enabled me to plug into an amazing community of gardening women, without ever having to leave my own garden. But the strongest connection I felt was with the writer herself. Like Alice, I am a self-taught urban gardener who didn't grow up gardening (even though we both had grandmothers who loved botany). And like Alice, I've learned since then that we grow through growing things. Time to have a heart-to-heart with my 'soil sister'.

Perfect poolside paradise

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Perfect poolside paradise

by Marlies Dekkers

Imagine yourself immersed in pure luxury. Sipping a poolside cocktail, surrounded by lush tropical gardens, you admire your sizzling curves and the way your gorgeous Marlies Dekkers swimsuit matches the crystal blue ocean, just a few sandy footsteps away. As you slip into the pool with a blissful sigh, you smile. You are - literally! - swimming laps in luxury.

Spend the summer in style!

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Spend the summer in style!

by Marlies Dekkers

You may already be familiar with my fabulous Holi Vintage collection with its playful, stylish stripes, laid out in a unique pattern to celebrate your female curves and timeless beauty.

Smell your forbidden flowers and feed your fantasies

Marlies Says

Smell your forbidden flowers and feed your fantasies

by Marlies Dekkers

Do you want to live fully? To unlock your potential and make your dreams come true? Then dare to awaken your senses. Engage with the world through the 'antennae' of your soul. Wake up and not just smell the roses, but also see, touch and perhaps even taste them. With these tantalizing Awaken Your Senses collections, I'm inviting you to discover the twisty paths, hidden bushes and forbidden flowers of your sensuality. This season, let's get wet and wild in your secret garden.

It's time to dig in, you grow girl!

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It's time to dig in, you grow girl!

by Marlies Dekkers

From iconic factory girl Rosie the Riveter's 'We can do it' coveralls to the 2nd wave feminists' badass denim bibs; no item of clothing is as practical as it is symbolic - and sexy, if we may add! - as dungarees. A woman wearing them is ready for action. She's ready to grow her own Garden of Eden. And she's not afraid to get her hands dirty while doing so.

The female gardener

Marlies Says

The female gardener

by Marlies Dekkers

From Greek garden goddesses to Victorian horticultural heroes; from Medieval weeding women to Insta gardening celebs - the female gardener has had many different faces. But besides her green fingers, one thing never changed: her burning desire to create her own Garden of Eden.

A pocket full of freedom

Marlies Says

A pocket full of freedom

by Marlies Dekkers

Perhaps you wore one as a toddler, playing with mud in your backyard; perhaps you rocked one during the nineties, getting down and dirty to badass girl bands like TLC and Salt-N-Pepa. Well, time to dig up your favorite pair of dungarees, because this practical-yet-sexy style classic is hotter than ever. But how did a farmer staple transform into a feminist symbol and even a fashion icon?

Roll up your sleeves and get sweaty!

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Roll up your sleeves and get sweaty!

by Marlies Dekkers

Are you ready to roll up your sleeves and get sweaty? To get down and dirty in the soil? For women, the word 'garden' has always been a verb. We don't just sit in it, it's something we do.

Dare to take a bite out of life!

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Dare to take a bite out of life!

by Marlies Dekkers

When God created us, he put us first in a garden: the Garden of Eden (which, I suppose, made Eve and Adam the first gardeners!). After we got banned for eating the Forbidden Fruit - not an apple but a juicy pomegranate, according to scholars - we would forever try to recreate paradise: our own Garden of Earthly Delights.

The secrets of my straps

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The secrets of my straps

by Marlies Dekkers

Framing your beauty, they reshaped the lingerie industry and are still empowering women after 30 years. What is the story behind my iconic straps?

Blown away

Marlies Says

Blown away

by Marlies Dekkers

Some places blow you away. No matter how much you've travelled, no matter how often you've seen the pictures on Instagram, being there opens your heart, blows your mind and lets your spirit fly. All your senses jolt wide awake. Are you ready to turn your wildest dreams into crazy adventures? Then come with me. Let's go where we feel most alive.

Like a prayer

Marlies Says

Like a prayer

by Marlies Dekkers

Once upon a time, a little German girl named Hildegard had a brilliant, wonderful vision. Floating down an a golden orb, God appeared to her, and she was a beautiful woman. The girl was shown a world where women shone like diamonds, free to follow their heart. Deemed crazy, bedeviled even - the fact that she also insisted the cosmos was vulva-shaped didn't exactly help - the girl was sent to a monastery. When Hildegard von Bingen finally dared to write down her proto-feminist visions at 42, she changed our world forever.

Dare to become your own 'Carita'

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Dare to become your own 'Carita'

by Marlies Dekkers

For Hildegard von Bingen, the body was the temple of the divine. Rejecting cruel customs such as self-flagellation and the traditional Christian denial of physical pleasures, she instead advocated wellness for the body and soul and celebrated her femininity as a bride of the Divine. Why cover up and bow your head in shame when divinity itself is your lover?

Sexual on your own terms

Marlies Says

Sexual on your own terms

by Marlies Dekkers

It is time to reclaim lace and rebrand it as an empowering fabric. It is complex, layered and incredibly mutable. Yes, lace is a lot like a woman herself.

Giving, a brilliant lifehack

Marlies Says

Giving, a brilliant lifehack

by Marlies Dekkers

It's no secret; I'm a sucker for the Holiday season. For me, one of the biggest thrills of this period - besides turning my entire house into Santa's Shangri-La and taking over Spotify with my endless Xmas playlist - is how people are more open to giving and sharing. And although I live for Christmas shopping sprees in London with my daughter, I'm not just talking about buying gifts. I'm talking about being generous with your time, your talents or even just your smile. There's a saying I love: giving is not just about making a donation, it's about making a difference. Giving is an art.

Hildegard for president

MD Friends

Hildegard for president

by Marlies Dekkers

What on earth can we learn from a mystic German nun who lived nearly 900 years ago? Much more than you think! Just ask Mary Sharratt, the American award-winning writer and Hildegard von Bingen expert who channeled the badass nun for her phenomenal novel 'Illuminations'. "What Hildegard would do if she were alive now? I say: Hildegard for president!".

The soul is symphonic

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The soul is symphonic

by Marlies Dekkers

Once, there was an angel, adorned with bedazzling jewels. His name was Lucifer, and he was the brightest of celestial beings. But when he was cast into hell, his precious stones - bright yellow citrines, glowing amethysts, sparkling sapphires etc. - rained down upon the earth.

Greening power

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Greening power

by Marlies Dekkers

Having spent thirty years (!) literally bricked into a dark abbey cell, Hildegard von Bingen always sought out the light.

Holistic health guru in a habit

Marlies Says

Holistic health guru in a habit

by Marlies Dekkers

Intermittent fasting, mindfulness, a diet of organic and seasonal food; these hot 'wellness trends' have actually been around for ages. Yes, literally ages: almost 900 years ago, a German nun had brilliant visions of holistic health that have the power to transform the way we live today.

Hildegard von bingen and I

MD Friends

Hildegard von bingen and I

by Marlies Dekkers

Putting a flamboyant, female stamp on the male-dominated world of polar exploration, Bernice Notenboom (1962) is a breath of fresh - or should we say 'frozen'? - air. The first Dutch woman to conquer the South Pole on skies and the second one to climb to the top of the Mount Everest, Bernice's fondness for the cold matches her heartwarming openness. "A male explorer with children is praised for being a fun, adventurous dad, while a female adventurer is a selfish mother."

You are divine

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You are divine

by Marlies Dekkers

This season, we shed a mosaic stained-glass light on Hildegard von Bingen: a woman so multi-talented and influential, we're not afraid to call her the Leonardo da Vinci of her time.

Dare to shine your brilliant light

Marlies Says

Dare to shine your brilliant light

by Marlies Dekkers

All my work as a feminist designer is inspired by muses. Powerful female icons from past and present. Although women have been marginalized for centuries, archetypes of female power have always been there. Through my designs, I bring them to you. To help us shape the world of modern-day feminism.

Dare to be a vision

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Dare to be a vision

by Marlies Dekkers

A rainbow-colored Tree of Life with jeweled apples, a singing cloud bursting with the light of a thousand suns; just reading about Hildegard von Bingen's visions is hallucinogenic experience!

The art of giving

Marlies Says

The art of giving

by Marlies Dekkers

I'm writing this with a big smile on my face and a heart bursting with joy: this year, we are celebrating 30 years of marlies|dekkers! Inspired by the Dutch art of giving on your birthday - 'wie jarig is, trakteert' - this fabulously festive issue of feminine|feminist is my anniversary treat. Like everything else I've created in the past three decades, it's fueled by my desire to empower you, to dare you to dream, grow and be. My gift to you.

Close your eyes

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Close your eyes

by marlies|dekkers

Close your eyes for a second. Imagine a place where you can feel, see, smell, hear and touch freely, without any limits. A place where all your senses are awakened in a sensory orgy. Where your soul becomes one with the stars. Now, open your eyes. Pack your bag. We’re going to an outdoor festival.

Bringing females forward

Females Forward

Bringing females forward

by marlies|dekkers

It’s no coincidence that the abbreviation of our Bringing Females Forward program is BFF – it was initiated to give women across our value chain the confidence to become their own BFFs and give themselves permission to fly. The saying ‘empowered women empower women’ in action.

All for the sisterhood

Marlies Says

All for the sisterhood

by marlies|dekkers

Boss bitch, feminine feminist, body positive pioneer; over the course of the past 30 years, Marlies Dekkers has been called many things. Proud to call her my dear, dear friend myself, I sat down with the Anniversary Queen to toast to three decades of trailblazing, but also to explore the many wonderful ways she has shaped the world we live in today.

A piece of me

Marlies Says

A piece of me

by marlies|dekkers

Celebrating a milestone like a 30-year anniversary is the perfect moment to reflect back, look forward and party like it’s 1999 – or 1995, in my case. How fitting that in the run-up to my own celebrations, my life and art became the subject of a powerful performance in a party-like setting (a church converted into a 90s club for the night). In a dramatic monologue, Dewi Reijs played me so skillfully that I felt like seeing my life flash before my eyes at times! I sat down with the multi-talented actress to find out how she pulled it off.

Let me dance you a story!

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Let me dance you a story!

by marlies|dekkers

“Let me dance you a story,” you say by placing your hands on your hips*. And so, it begins. Widening your kohl-rimmed eyes, you stretch out your arms, shaking them like feathers. You are a peacock, proud and majestic. You are channeling the shape-shifting magic of Indian dance. With a dramatic twirl and quivering fingers, you begin to change again. Holding our breath, we watch your foot slowly trace a large arc on the floor. Then, in an explosion of energy, you begin stamping both feet, faster and faster, your ankle bells jingling with each move. You are a woman on fire now, a wrathful goddess. You are dancing the divine!

It takes two to tango

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It takes two to tango

by marlies|dekkers

He focuses his gaze on you. You look up. He raises an eyebrow. You nod. As the melancholic sound of the bandoneon fills the milonga*, you walk straight into his arms. Let the passion play begin!

The hidden language of the soul

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The hidden language of the soul

by marlies|dekkers

No music. Just the sound of your breath. As you inhale, you reach up with your hands, your legs rooting downward, your bare feet gripping the earth. As you exhale – aaah! – you release it all in one writhing movement: your shame, fury, passion and lust. You start to dance, twisting and twirling, jumping and stomping, each movement flowing from the rise and fall of your breathing. You are a force of nature. A woman. Let them hear you moan and shout. Let them see you sweat and bleed. Your body is your voice now. And you’ve only just begun to tell your story.

More than a mother

Marlies Says

More than a mother

by marlies|dekkers

We are mothers, yet sometimes we have to be more than mothers to become steppingstones for our children. But are we ever ready for the next step ourselves?

The power in our blood

MD Friends

The power in our blood

by marlies|dekkers

Having assisted over 4000 women in childbirth – she once joked that her office was the vagina – legendary Dutch midwife Beatrijs Smulders knows a thing or two about feminine power. Luckily for us, she is sharing her wisdom and life experiences in ‘Blood’, the juicy first installment of her autobiographical trilogy. I talked with the formidable feminine feminist about love, power and sex in the age of Pornhub and Tinder. “YOU make the rules.”

Ballet is a woman

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Ballet is a woman

by marlies|dekkers

At first, the spotlight blinds you. Then, as the music swells and fills your heart, you start to move towards it, like a flower blooming towards the sun. Dancing with poise, precision and power, you claim and shape the space around you with your arabesques and pirouettes, with the graceful arc of your wrist. Reaching for the sky en pointe, you infuse every moment with meaning and grace. You don’t just hear the music, you feel it. And as the ballet crescendos towards a climax, and you float in the air during the final grand jeté, you realize: you don’t just have a body, you are a body.

The Charleston is more than a dance; it’s your drug.

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The Charleston is more than a dance; it’s your drug.

by marlies|dekkers

Rebel, rebel, kick up your heels and flap your arms! Bouncing to that ragtime rhythm and searing trumpet, you trot like a fox, claiming the room. Why stay on the dancefloor when you can jump on the table? You want it all and you want it fast. Spurred on by the cheers of the crowd, you lift your skirt to show off your undies with a series of high-kicks and shimmies. “Watch me, world!” Twisting faster and faster in a whirlwind of flying fringes, you feel so high. The Charleston is more than a dance; it’s your drug. An addictive taste of freedom.

Shake your lemons, donna!

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Shake your lemons, donna!

by marlies|dekkers

Give it mambo!” the orchestra leader shouts. As an orgy of trumpets and bongos explodes, you break away from your dance partner and shimmy to the middle of the floor. This is your moment. Surrendering to the Afro-Cuban rhythm, your feet move at a dazzling speed. Channeling your inner Italian vamp, you swing your hips, teasingly tracing your curves with your hands. As you imagine Sophia Loren cheering you on – “Shake your lemons, donna!” – you throw your head back and laugh. No other dance makes you feel this juicy and alive. No other dance makes you fall this crazy in love with yourself. It’s the magic of mambo!

Dance, the muse and I

Marlies Says

Dance, the muse and I

by marlies|dekkers

Dance is a muse with many different faces. One of the great joys of my life is to have been moved – quite literally! – by so many of them. Doing ballet, jazz dance and ballroom dancing, I practically danced through my childhood and teenage years. But it was as a majorette, strutting in front of the local marching band in my micro miniskirt, that I felt just how empowering dance can be. Twirling my baton to the different rhythms, I became the rhythm. Losing myself in the music, I found myself. And with every step of my black go-go boots I felt: this is my moment. It is mine. Try to stop me; you can’t! I am dancing my destiny.

Brazilian Samba – Goddess Yemanjá

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Brazilian Samba – Goddess Yemanjá

by marlies|dekkers

As hypnotizing African drums mix with the sound of waves and shells, a fire starts to burn in your loins, making you gyrate your hips and move your feet, faster and faster. Such joy you feel, unleashing your sensuality with each shake; such explosive power! Your smile is bright, your sweaty skin sparkles with glitters. Wearing little more than sequins and feathers, you twirl around like a peacock. All eyes are on you. You are desire. And as you dance towards a frenzied climax, your heart bursts open, welcoming that ancient African goddess power. Odoya (greetings), Yemanjá, Goddess of Samba!

Odoya, Yemanjá!

Marlies Says

Odoya, Yemanjá!

by marlies|dekkers

All my work as a feminist designer is inspired by muses. Powerful female icons from past and present. Although women have been marginalized for centuries, archetypes of female power have always been there. Through my designs, I bring them to you. To help us shape the world of modern-day feminism.

Dance trough it!

Marlies Says

Dance trough it!

by marlies|dekkers

This is an invitation. An invitation to join me in my celebrations, to dance to the beat of our wildest desires.

Read the story of Nannette, breast cancer survivor

MD Friends

Read the story of Nannette, breast cancer survivor

by marlies|dekkers

“Hair, even if it’s a wig, can give you the strength to carry on.”

“Hair has always played a huge part in my life. Having been born into a family of hairdressers, it was only natural that I became one myself. My mother and I used to proudly wear our hair in beautiful long ponytails; a family tradition to celebrate our femininity. You can imagine how devastated we were when my mom got diagnosed with cancer and lost her hair. Trying to find her a decent wig only made things worse. “Please promise me to do something about this, Nannette,” my mom begged me with tears in her eyes after another failed visit to a wig shop.

Read the story of Renate, breast cancer survivor

MD Friends

Read the story of Renate, breast cancer survivor

by marlies|dekkers

“I realized that my beauty isn’t in my breasts or hair, but in my inner strength.”

“The first time I cried during this whole process was when I asked my oncologist: “Am I going to lose all my hair?” Sure, my main concern had been my boobs, but thinking of hair loss, it really hit me: I am sick, this is real. When shortly after the first chemo cocktail I discovered a bald patch, right in the front along my hairline, I decided to take matters into my own hands by shaving off all my hair. It may sound weird, but it actually turned into a beautiful, precious evening. My twin sister, my son and my partner all took turns shaving off a lock. I wasn’t allowed to see anything till it was done, but walking towards the mirror afterwards, I suddenly froze and turned around. I was terrified. Gently, my son took me in his arms and said: “Mama, you look stunning.” I took a deep breath and faced the mirror. Wow, he was right! I looked beautiful. Strong, like GI Jane. I loved it.

The eyes of the 80’s nightlife – Cleo Campert

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The eyes of the 80’s nightlife – Cleo Campert

by marlies|dekkers

You know what they say: if you remember the 60s, you weren’t really there. Similarly, if you have a lot of party pictures of the 80s and 90s, you weren’t in the right scene. The visitors of Club RoXY, the epicenter of Amsterdam’s nightlife explosion, were simply too busy revolutionizing art, music and fashion to take photos. Luckily, one woman was there with two cameras, a curious heart and a sharp eye.

Made for prowling – a short history of the leopard print

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Made for prowling – a short history of the leopard print

by marlies|dekkers

Once reserved for royalty, the sexy, wild yet sophisticated leopard print is now a favorite of both fashionistas and feminine feminists. But like the prowling leopard herself, that magnificent Queen of the Night, these spots cannot be tamed so easily…

The ears of 80’s nightlife – Joost van Bellen

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The ears of 80’s nightlife – Joost van Bellen

by marlies|dekkers

As one of the very first to preach house music, he touched our souls with his sounds. But as the ringmaster of the 80s and 90s club scene, Joost van Bellen also helped shape art and fashion into what it is today. Time to get down and dirty with my favorite DJ and find out why the spirit of the ‘Golden Age of Nightlife’ is more relevant now than ever.

The senses of vision and touch

Marlies Says

The senses of vision and touch

by marlies|dekkers

Are you ready to awaken your senses? To get your (creative) juices flowing to the rhythm of a throbbing beat? Let’s pump up the jam and get seriously sexy and sweaty together! With these collections, I am inviting you to dance into a year of celebrations with me: the 30th anniversary of marlies|dekkers! To start, let me take you by the hand to the birthplace of my brand: the booming club scene of the late 80s and early 90s. Representing the senses of VISION and TOUCH, this is where I started sculpting the sensual shapes that would inspire and define several generations of feminine feminists.

Worn by women, made by women

Females Forward

Worn by women, made by women

by marlies|dekkers

‘Women-owned businesses’ may be a hot topic right now, but from the beginning – over 25 years ago! – Marlies had a very clear goal: to make a product for women, by women. A product that would not only empower the women who wore it, but also the women involved in making it. Since then, we have built a number of precious relationships with women all along our supply chain, based on mutual love, respect and empowerment. Time to put the spotlight on five heroes of our ‘empowerment chain’.

Dare to shine – Fit & Style Appointment room

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Dare to shine – Fit & Style Appointment room

by marlies|dekkers

I love the hustle and bustle of the holiday season; the shopping, decorating, meal planning and parties. But let’s be honest, it can get a little stressful, especially after a long, busy year. You give, give, give to others, but how about YOU? Ho, ho, ho! Time to stop for a second and invest in some self-care. Whether you’ve been naughty or nice, you deserve it!

Beyond the legend – Carolyn Burke

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Beyond the legend – Carolyn Burke

by marlies|dekkers

She was a model and photographer, muse and reporter, sexual adventurer and domestic goddess. Yet Lee Miller’s stunning beauty has made it difficult to evaluate her work in its own right, according to biographer Carolyn Burke, who made it her mission to reveal the woman behind the legend. “Writing her story, my heart broke several times.”

Singles Day 2022 – You’ve got this!

Marlies Says

Singles Day 2022 – You’ve got this!

by marlies|dekkers

All the single ladies, listen up! Now that we singles have become the majority in a lot of countries, it is high time to stop feeling singled out. On Singles Day, let’s celebrate our freedom and independence by sharing all those solo milestones that make us go: ‘You’ve got this!’.

Anniversary cruise collection: Couture reimagined as swimwear

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Anniversary cruise collection: Couture reimagined as swimwear

by marlies|dekkers

I can barely believe it myself, but soon, we’ll be celebrating the 30-year anniversary of marlies|dekkers! We sure weathered some storms throughout the years, but you know what they say: you cannot control the wind, but you can adjust your sails. To make a head start with the celebrations, I’ve designed a very special, limited-edition swimwear collection which combines my love – read: fetish – for maritime uniforms with my obsession with details.

Dare to go out with a bang

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Dare to go out with a bang

by marlies|dekkers

There are stars, and there are superstars. And then there are people like Lee Miller; burning so bright, with such explosive energy, that they can easily be called supernovas. Whatever Lee Miller did – in love, life or art – she did with a flaming passion, starting with her dreams.

Queen of Reinvention

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Queen of Reinvention

by marlies|dekkers

A Queen of Reinvention – not unlike Madonna – Lee Miller went through a number of amazing transformations in her life. But when she became a war correspondent in 1942, she really found her calling.

Lee Miller par Lee Miller

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Lee Miller par Lee Miller

by marlies|dekkers

‘They had style, they had grace, Rita Hayworth, gave good face’. When Madonna sang those lines in ‘Vogue’, she could easily have been singing about Lee Miller. Yes, the American beauty was born with incredibly photogenic features, but she also knew exactly how to work the camera and embody every modern woman’s ideal.

The master of illusion

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The master of illusion

by marlies|dekkers

“Is Lee Miller a man or a woman?” Lee chuckled whenever she heard that question. Born Elizabeth Miller, ‘Lee’ wasn’t just a nickname; it was the name she had choses with care when she established herself as a professional photographer, hoping to confuse prospective (sexist) clients about her gender.

Through Lee Miller’s viewfinder

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Through Lee Miller’s viewfinder

by marlies|dekkers

As one of only six accredited female combat photographers, Lee Miller shook up the world of photojournalism with her unforgettable war pictures. But even before that, her beloved camera – a heavy Rolleiflex – was her passport to the world.

Take or make freedom

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Take or make freedom

by marlies|dekkers

“If I need to pee, I pee in the road; if I have a letch for someone, I hop into bed with him.” It was a given for Lee Miller: of course women should have the same social and sexual freedom that men have been enjoying for centuries!

Lee’s lovey lips

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Lee’s lovey lips

by marlies|dekkers

Lee’s lovely lips were an emblem of her power. Tall, untamed and mouthy, the Amazonian American loved to speak her mind and was known for her loud, raucous laugh. Immortalized by her lovers, her lips also became a symbol of sensuality.

Who sees who?

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Who sees who?

by marlies|dekkers

Who sees who? Often called one of the most beautiful women of the 20th century, Lee Miller was used to being gazed at. Look deeply into Lee’s eyes however, and you see her power as a muse to turn the male gaze back onto itself.

FW22 Couture collection: Arasaid

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FW22 Couture collection: Arasaid

by marlies|dekkers

Who was Lee Miller? The multitalented icon and artist was many different things to many different people, but I like to see her as a 20th-century renaissance woman who did everything with a burning passion and a bright, rebellious soul.

The many lives of Lee Miller

Females Forward

The many lives of Lee Miller

by marlies|dekkers

From the cover of Vogue to the bathtub of Hitler; feminine feminist Lee Miller’s life story is like a movie with many unbelievable plot twists. But behind the icon and queen of self-reinvention was a woman of flesh and blood – fierce and flawed, damaged but defiant. A woman like you and me. “I looked like an angel, but I was a fiend inside”.

Electric & electrifying – my muse Lee Miller

Marlies Says

Electric & electrifying – my muse Lee Miller

by marlies|dekkers

All my work as a feminist designer is inspired by muses. Powerful female icons from past and present. Although women have been marginalized for centuries, archetypes of female power have always been there. Through my designs, I bring them to you. To help us shape the world of modern-day feminism.

Dance through transformations and challenges

Marlies Says

Dance through transformations and challenges

by marlies|dekkers

When was the last time you danced? A few weeks ago, while I was shooting the campaign pictures for the Nightlife Edition of our Awaken Your Senses collection in an empty nightclub, I suddenly noticed I was shaking my stuff. It was a sensual, groovy little dance; a spontaneous celebration of life.

Lee Miller & I

Marlies Says

Lee Miller & I

by marlies|dekkers

Are you afraid to bluff? Don’t be! Sometimes, in order to fulfill the potential of all your amazing talents, you gotta fake it till you make it. (Just like the boys have always shamelessly done). Finding inspiration in the bravura of the legendary, multi-talented Lee Miller, I learned from the best.

More than a biological mother

Marlies Says

More than a biological mother

by marlies|dekkers

To me, mother is a verb. It’s not something we are. It’s something we do. It’s about planting seeds and nurturing dreams and bursting with pride when we’ve helped others blossom. So, this Mother’s Day – biological mother or not – let’s celebrate the Mother Earth in all of us!

Mother Earth, Father Sky

Marlies Says

Mother Earth, Father Sky

by marlies|dekkers

Like our ancestors who worshipped both Mother Earth and Father Sky, I stay grounded by watching the stars. But what can astrology tell me about my career and leadership skills?
About 15 years ago I became interested in astrology. Based on the premise ‘as above, so below’, this endlessly fascinating science analyzes the marriage of Mother Earth and Father Sky. In other words, it looks at the relationship between patterns in the sky and phenomena on earth. I believe that studying your natal chart – the astronomical snapshot of the sky taken at the moment and from the position you were born – can provide you with precious tools to express your natural gifts, in many different areas of your life. So, when renowned ‘astro–economist’ Han van Straaten suggested a reading of my chart, focusing on my career and leadership skills, I jumped at the chance! Here are some highlights of the insightful ‘soul map’ he made for me:

Inspired by Mother Earth – Have you heard the call?

Marlies Says

Inspired by Mother Earth – Have you heard the call?

by marlies|dekkers

Have you heard the call? The call to venture into the unknown and meet your tribe in an ecstatic celebration of love, music and nature? Whether it’s a full–moon party on a tropical island or a deep–desert dance fest, the party starts as soon as you decide to drop everything and follow your heart. Travel light; you only need to pack the essentials. With some great swimwear, like my own fashionable yet durable bikinis and bathing suits, you’re ready for any type of action!

Ancient Indonesian beauty secrets

Females Forward

Ancient Indonesian beauty secrets

by marlies|dekkers

I don’t remember if it happened while I was blissing out during a Balinese beauty treatment or when I was floating in a divine infinity pool* on Nusa Lembongan. But at some point during my holiday in Indonesia I realized: this is where the goddesses themselves come to get pampered! Long before ‘self–care’ and ‘clean beauty’ were even a thing, ancient Indonesian wellness remedies and treatments were passed on from generation to generation, based on the magic and bounty of Mother Earth. The great news? You don’t have to get on a plane to experience them! From the healing massage and herbal scrub to the skin–boosting elixir; do try these at home for a great summer glow. Just don’t forget the most important ingredient: a gentle smile that shows your gratitude to Mother Earth.
* You can find the pool and a number of gorgeous, beach-front villas at the heavenly Beach Shack at Sandy Bay. A must-visit!

Women’s Day

Females Forward

Women’s Day

by marlies|dekkers

(Eco-) Feminism in numbers
I once saw a woman wear a badge with a very catchy slogan: ‘Destroy the patriarchy, not the planet’. As radical as that may have sounded, she made a great point: there is definitely a connection between the exploitation of women and the exploitation of Mother Earth. To quote Ana Sandoval, a land defender and feminist activist from Guatemala: “In the end, all the struggles have the same objective: the defense of life.” This Women’s Day, let’s celebrate both feminism and the green movement for fighting hand in hand to protect and empower the voiceless. Here are some poignant statistics to inspire you. Happy Women’s Day!

Valentine’s Day – Rebel at Heart

Females Forward

Valentine’s Day – Rebel at Heart

by marlies|dekkers

For some people, love grows slowly. “Like a beautiful flower, opening its petals one by one,” they’ll swoon. How peaceful that must be! When I fall in love, it’s the opposite of peaceful. Flowers blossoming? More like fireworks exploding! In my face! As soon as love hits me, I see the world through rose–colored glasses. Everything looks more brilliant, more beautiful, more alive. Normally a minimalist, I now go for anything pink, gold and glittery. And I’ll break more than just style rules. For my love, I’ll break any rules. My rebel heart has woken up.

Merel Krielaart

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Merel Krielaart

by marlies|dekkers

To me, Merel Krielaart is the ultimate real-life Mother Earth. Traveling, living, and working with her colorful family, this Dutch-born beauty has turned her bohemian lifestyle into a hugely successful brand: World Family Ibiza. On top of that, Merel is one of the hottest grey–haired beauty icons of the moment. I wanted to find out: what is this earth mama’s secret?

Political animal – Marianne Thieme

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Political animal – Marianne Thieme

by marlies|dekkers

Having founded and led the world’s first Party for the Animals – there are now 19 chapters worldwide – Dutch politician and animal rights activist Marianne Thieme (49) is one of Mother Earth’s brightest and bravest representatives. But what fuels this feminine feminist’s fire? The clue can be found in her choice of swimwear…

Goddess Freya

Females Forward

Goddess Freya

by marlies|dekkers

Is it a plane? Is it a bird? Oh, it’s something much more exciting, the most glamorous sighting you’ll ever see: goddess Freya, racing her golden cat–drawn chariot through the sky. She’s blindingly beautiful, and boy, does she know it. Throwing her head back in laughter, she shakes a trail of spring flowers from her cascading locks. When she cries in extasy, her tears turn into pure gold. If you’ve got it, flaunt it! Some days, she turns her magical cloak of falcon feathers into wings to jet through the sky, other times she rides a boar, rumored to be her human lover in disguise. Speaking of lovers, there are so many! “Men, they are just too delicious,” she says rolling her eyes, then flashing a blinding smile. Not war god Odin, but Freya, the fearless leader of the Valkyries*, has the first pick among the brave warriors who died in battle. The chosen ones are welcomed in Freya’s magnificent hall, the rest go to Valhalla.

Running against the biological clock – Cynthia Monteleone

Females Forward

Running against the biological clock – Cynthia Monteleone

by marlies|dekkers

Running on the tracks in her signature Wonder Woman outfit, a red hibiscus behind her ear, multiple world champion track athlete Cynthia Monteleone looks like a bona fide superhero. And indeed, during the indoor world championships in 2019, the track star accomplished something seemingly supernatural: in 400–meter sprint, she broke her personal record set 24 years ago! How did she do it? In her book, ‘Fast over 40: a memoir and training guide’ Cynthia tells us all, but I was lucky enough to have a one–on–one conversation with the anti–ageing icon.

Goddess Melissa

Females Forward

Goddess Melissa

by marlies|dekkers

Who run this mother? Girls, of course, but let’s not forget about the bees! According to the latest ‘buzz’, bees pollinate nearly three quarters of the plants that produce 90% of the world’s food (!), but our ancestors already realized how essential these magical golden creatures are to our survival. There have always been Bee Goddesses; voluptuous Anatolian divinities wearing beehive–shaped tiaras and feisty Hindu honey goddesses with a venomous sting. Yet nobody adored them as much as the ancient Greeks who had a cult of bee goddesses, nymphs and priestesses – an entire ‘hive’! – all sharing the same name: Melissa.

Goddess Nüwa

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Goddess Nüwa

by marlies|dekkers

The body of a snake, the spirit of a tigress, the power to create life. Meet long–haired beauty Nüwa, aka the Chinese Mother Earth. Creating animals and humans out of clay and controlling all the elements, this beloved serpent goddess had powers that equaled and even surpassed those of any male god. And, like any woman, Nüwa loved to surprise. A proto–feminist icon with a twist in the tail.

Goddess Xochi-Quetzal

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Goddess Xochi-Quetzal

by marlies|dekkers

I sometimes wonder: how different would our lives have been if, after committing the original sin, only Adam would have been punished? What if Eve would have been allowed to stay and party in paradise, having sex with whomever she pleased? Would women have been freer, more sexually liberated? Would we have had more fun?

The Goddess Connection – Bettany Hughes

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The Goddess Connection – Bettany Hughes

by marlies|dekkers

Was God once a girl? For the award–winning historian, author and broadcaster Bettany Hughes, this question was the start of a ‘magical history tour’ to uncover the hidden stories of the feminine divine. Through her series and books such as ‘Venus and Aphrodite, history of a goddess’, the British professor shares the kind of insights that may just wake up your inner goddess.

Goddess Lalita

Females Forward

Goddess Lalita

by marlies|dekkers

In ancient times, earth goddesses ruled the world. With the emergence of patriarchy around 1500 years ago, however, they were dethroned in all but one place: India. In Hinduism, goddess energy, aka ‘Shakti’, is considered the foundation of life itself – the creative force that is responsible for the creation, nurturing and destruction of the universe. With a wild and heartfelt passion, this feminine life force has been worshipped throughout the ages in India in the shape of goddesses, as diverse and colorful as the real–life women who inspired them, from graceful Durga to fearsome Kali. Of all the Hindu goddesses who embody love, Lalita (‘She who plays’) may be my favorite. In a playful yet passionate way, she urges us to love: ourselves, each other and perhaps most importantly, the earth.

Green heart, feminist soul

Females Forward

Green heart, feminist soul

by marlies|dekkers

When feminist ideals meet environmental goals, beautiful things can blossom. I believe this season’s gorgeous Mother Earth collection is the ultimate proof of that. But how did we make it happen?

Celebrating our sensuality

Females Forward

Celebrating our sensuality

by marlies|dekkers

Once upon a time, women were divine, and so were their juices. Whether it was our milk or our blood or that beautiful liquid known as ‘nectar of the gods’; we flowed freely and without shame, our feminine powers lourishing. Now is the perfect moment to reclaim those powers. Let’s become forces of nature again! Are you ready to tame the shame and join the juicy revolution?

Goddess Kupala

Females Forward

Goddess Kupala

by marlies|dekkers

The story of Kupala, the Slavic goddess of summer solstice, is an ironic love story. How else to call a love tragedy that has been inspiring a wild annual celebration of love and sensuality for as long as people in Russia and Eastern Europe can remember?

Goddess Asase Yaa

Females Forward

Goddess Asase Yaa

by marlies|dekkers

Did you know that each zebra’s stripes are unique? Just like no two human fingerprints are alike, no two zebras have the same stripe pattern. Asase Yaa, Mother Earth of the Ashanti people of Ghana, loves us all: humans, animals, and plants. And whether we have stripes or spots, leaves or limbs; she loves us all equally. From her womb, she gives birth to us. Into her arms, she takes us at the moment of our death. Want to pray to her? There are no temples for Asase Yaa, no priests to serve her. You go to a field, kiss the soil, fertilize it with your tears. She’ll hear you. She is earth itself.

Inspired by Mother Earth

Females Forward

Inspired by Mother Earth

by marlies|dekkers

My muse for this season, Mother Earth, has many names and faces. But one thing is beyond question: she is beautiful. Breathtakingly, mind–blowingly beautiful. ‘A beautiful, warm, living object’ is how Apollo– program astronaut James B Irwin described her, claiming that seeing the earth from above ‘will change any man’. Over 2000 years earlier, the ancient Greeks considered her a robust, ‘broad– bosomed’ beauty and called her Gaia, a poetical form of ‘gē’ meaning ‘earth’. (You may recognize the root ‘ge’ from words like geology and geography). On Greek vases, we see a full–figured Gaia rise from the earth, representing everything that lives. She is loving and fearsome at the same time, just like mothers have appeared to their children since the beginning of humanity. She is the creative/destructive energy of life itself. The message is clear: you don’t wanna mess with this’big momma’!

Goddess Gaia

Females Forward

Goddess Gaia

by marlies|dekkers

The French like to say that God created women, but the ancient Greeks knew better: it was woman who created the gods. Well, perhaps not exactly a living breathing woman like you and I, but the great mother of gods and people, animals, and plants, personified by earth itself. The Greeks liked to describe her as ‘broad–bosomed’ and ‘many–flowered’; an ‘all–nourisher’ and ‘all–destroyer’. To them, she was the ultimate goddess of raw, maternal power. She was worshipped in caves and by springs where her life–giving water burst forth like milk from breasts or menstrual blood. They called her Gaia: the one we are born from and fed by, but also the one we return to when we die. The original Big Mama.

Rob Peetoom – Hair guru with a mission

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Rob Peetoom – Hair guru with a mission

by marlies|dekkers

Having empowered women since 1969, Dutch hairstylist Rob Peetoom has definitely earned a place of honor in this magazine. Although he may seem like a bundle of contradictions – a feminist patriarch, a trendsetter who goes beyond trends – Rob’s vision is straightforward: if a woman looks good, she feels good. Good enough to take on the world! During a lovely conversation on Bali, where Rob and his team styled the amazing hair looks on these pages, the maestro shared his wisdom and yes, some great hair tips.

You go Goddess

Females Forward

You go Goddess

by marlies|dekkers

Modern–day issues require new, modern–day goddesses. Who else to pray to for your dream job, body confidence or an internet–breaking Instagram post? Meet the up–to–date divinities who can help you become your sassiest, sexiest, most successful self.

The self-love show

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The self-love show

by marlies|dekkers

I live and breathe feminine feminism. With each of my designs, but also through a number of empowering side projects such as ‘The Self–Love Show’: a series of intimate, animated conversations on Instagram Live with feminine feminists from all walks of life. The subject? You guessed it, self–love! Because after all these years, I know one thing for sure: self–love is the key to unlocking potential. Your own potential, but also that of the women around you. So, let’s inspire each other! Let’s lift each other up! Here are some nuggets of self–love wisdom to get your started. Enjoy!

Goddess Inanna

Females Forward

Goddess Inanna

by marlies|dekkers

What if we loved our vulvas so much, we would applaud each time we looked in the mirror? Well, get ready for some 6000–year–old sex– and body positivity in the gorgeous shape of Inanna, Sumerian* goddess of love, sex and political power! ‘The lady of the Largest Heart’, Inanna was called by high priestess Enheduanna, the earliest known author of written literature. She is described as stunning, flanked by lions, dazzling with gold and jewels, and then there was her incredible vulva… “When she leaned against the apple tree, her vulva was wondrous to behold,” the priestess writes. “Rejoicing at her wondrous vulva, the young woman Inanna applauded herself.” You go, goddess!

My muse Gaia – the original Big Mama

Marlies Says

My muse Gaia – the original Big Mama

by marlies|dekkers

All my work as a feminist designer is inspired by muses. Powerful female icons from past and present. Although women have been marginalized for centuries, archetypes of female power have always been there. Through my designs, I bring them to you. To help us shape the world of modern-day feminism.

Mother Earth and I

Marlies Says

Mother Earth and I

by marlies|dekkers

Mother Earth and I weren’t BFF’s from the beginning. Our relationship grew in stages, like the rings of a tree, into a beautiful, soulful, if not turbulent marriage. Looking back, studying our tree rings, the saying ’through thick and thin’ comes to mind. There are thin rings, created during ‘lean’ years when I largely ignored Mother Earth, while the thick, robust ones are the result of us getting up close and personal. Sometimes a little too personal… Like during a hardcore survival trip in Sweden’s wilderness when I was 16.

Mother Earth’s ‘Comeback’

Marlies Says

Mother Earth’s ‘Comeback’

by marlies|dekkers

“Your muse for this coming season is Mother Earth? Seriously?”. Going by my friends’ and colleagues’ reactions, you would believe that this was the most shocking thing I had done since designing and wearing my ‘bare–butt dress’. “Isn’t it a bit hippie-dippie?” some would ask delicately, while others bluntly branded the subject ‘unsexy’. I couldn’t blame them. While our ancestors saw Mother Earth as the ultimate manifestation of fertility and creativity – read: the very first sex symbol – centuries of patriarchy have tried to tame and scandalize the raw, female power she symbolizes. They almost succeeded. Almost!

Amanda van Effrink

MD Friends

Amanda van Effrink

by marlies|dekkers

I’m all about pink and glitter, Jeanne de Clisson had a thing for black and red. But even though I’ve never killed anyone – thank god! – Jeanne and I have more in common that just a strict color scheme.

Sioejeng Tsao

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Sioejeng Tsao

by marlies|dekkers

There was one moment during my transformation into Cheng I Sao that I looked in the mirror and saw my ancestors. It was so intense! Like an out-of-body experience, except I was still very much there. Because I was carried by the love and fighting spirit of all the strong women that came before me.

Laura Reijling

MD Friends

Laura Reijling

by marlies|dekkers

When people see me up on stage, twirling my pasties, they find it hard to believe that I have fears and insecurities. But I do! I just don’t let them stop me. Growing up, I was much more of a ‘good girl’; trying to fit in, giving in to my fears. Then, one day, out of the blue, I signed up for a dance audition. Which was pretty crazy, because I had never danced before! I didn’t get the job, but I found my passion. I woke up my inner pirate that day.

Tess Maylo Blom

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Tess Maylo Blom

by marlies|dekkers

I had a rocky start. Born a month early, I spent a week in an incubator, struggling to breathe. But my mom says I was a born fighter. ‘Maylo’ is my second name; it means ‘winner’ in Hawaiian. I still fight for what I believe in; I never mindlessly follow the crowd.

Esra Önsöz

MD Friends

Esra Önsöz

by marlies|dekkers

I am a warrior. I have been one for as long as I remember. I work hard for my goals, no shortcuts or distractions. Even though I did gymnastics for years, I didn’t start dancing till I was 15. One day, during an audition, I was told I was ‘a typical gymnast and would never be a dancer’. “Okay,” I said to myself, “it’s ON!”.

Sigrid Boersma

MD Friends

Sigrid Boersma

by marlies|dekkers

I may not have 200 Roman ships and 20.000 legionnaires after me like queen Teuta, but I know what it’s like to feel trapped and attacked. Too many women do. But we have one very important weapon: our voices.

Beertje van Beers

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Beertje van Beers

by marlies|dekkers

As a writer for this glossy, researching all the badass female pirates was incredibly inspiring. Having felt like an outsider most of my life, deciding early on to write my own rules, I could relate to each single story of swashbuckling defiance. But Victorian streetfighter Sadie the Goat was my favorite, and how excited I was to step into her lace-up booties and kick some ass!

Margriet Planting

MD Friends

Margriet Planting

by marlies|dekkers

There was a moment during my transformation into pirate queen that I looked in the mirror at my belly – I was exactly 27 weeks pregnant – and started laughing. Grace O’Malley? Grace O’Belly, rather! The setting couldn’t have been more spectacular; the dramatic sky, the wild sea. It was like an Elizabethan sea battle painting come to life. But to really get into the role of a savage she-pirate was a little harder than I thought.

Jody Vivian

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Jody Vivian

by marlies|dekkers

All it took for me to become Anne Bonny was putting on her pirate coat and boots. It was like an instant transformation! You see, except for the killing and setting everything on fire, I’m actually a lot like her. A modern-day pirate.

Mo-Yccia Hanley

MD Friends

Mo-Yccia Hanley

by marlies|dekkers

The first time I saw a picture of model Winnie Harlow, I was shocked. Here was this gorgeous woman, with the same skin condition I have: vitiligo. And she was totally owning and working it! I was just going through a difficult period; I was 12, 13 years old and desperately wanted to be ‘normal’. Every day, I thought: “Why can’t I be like the rest?”. But Winnie showed me how to take something that makes you different, and use it to your advantage. Just like pirate Jacquotte Delahaye with her flaming red hair.

Freedom

Marlies Says

Freedom

by marlies|dekkers

How savage are you? Do you chart your own course, even in the middle of a crazy storm? The glorious female pirates in this magazine are savage for sure, but they weren’t all born that way. Each of them reached a point where they felt they HAD to break free. The universe was telling them: do it, NOW!

Anne Bonny: the original Lady Liberty

Females Forward

Anne Bonny: the original Lady Liberty

by marlies|dekkers

By shaking off society’s rules, legendary female pirate Anne Bonny inspired many generations of women to take their destinies into their own hands. But could anyone ever have imagined that this ‘swashbuckling savage’ would become THE symbol of feminism and freedom?

Pirate Queen – Raise your rebel flag!

Marlies Says

Pirate Queen – Raise your rebel flag!

by marlies|dekkers

All my work as a feminist designer is inspired by muses. Powerful female icons from past and present. Although women have been marginalized for centuries, archetypes of female power have always been there. Through my designs, I bring them to you. To help us shape the world of modern-day feminism.

Anne Bonny & I – My Pirate Life

Marlies Says

Anne Bonny & I – My Pirate Life

by marlies|dekkers

Growing up, I never belonged. But even though I got bullied and often felt lonely, deep down inside I already knew: forget fitting in, I was born to stand out! So, I proudly wore my make-up and heels to school and played by myself; an outcast in the courtyard. Let them call me a ‘freak’ and a ‘weirdo’; I entertained myself by fantasizing what my life would be like once I was free. One thing was for sure: I was going to be legendary. And it would happen by nurturing exactly that which made me stand out.

Pirate fashion – Hunting for fashion treasures

Get Dressed

Pirate fashion – Hunting for fashion treasures

by marlies|dekkers

Upcycling, unisex dressing, mix-and-match; with their wild and eclectic looks, pirates were so much ahead of the fashion curve that they can still teach us a thing or two about breaking and rewriting all the fashion rules.

Anne Bonny – ‘The Pirate Queen’

Females Forward

Anne Bonny – ‘The Pirate Queen’

by marlies|dekkers

A glorious, red-haired wrecking ball, Anne Bonny was born to break all the rules. Rejecting a society that treated women as weak, the Irish-born badass created her own, roaming and robbing the Caribbean during the Golden Age of Piracy with her (lesbian) lovers, becoming the most famous female pirate of all time.

Jacqotte Delahaye – ‘Back from the Dead Red’

Females Forward

Jacqotte Delahaye – ‘Back from the Dead Red’

by marlies|dekkers

Once upon a time, in Haiti, there was a girl with hair red as fire. ‘Jacquotte’ she was called, and she was as badass as they come. Her mother died in childbirth and when her father got brutally murdered, young Jacquotte was left alone to care for her disabled brother. What job opportunities were there for adventurous, strong-willed girls in the 17th century? That’s right, not a whole lot. And so, Jacquotte became a pirate. Even better, she became a feminist heroine.

Three modern pirates

Females Forward

Three modern pirates

by marlies|dekkers

They may not wear eye patches or have a parrot on their shoulder, but these modern-day she-pirates are making waves and shifting paradigms, in the same swashbuckling spirit as the pirates of yesteryear. Watch out, world!

Pirate women – Laura Sook Duncombe

MD Friends

Pirate women – Laura Sook Duncombe

by marlies|dekkers

“Where are all the female pirates?” For American writer Laura Sook Duncombe, it started with a simple question which became a quest to dig up and share the incredible stories of ‘the princesses, prostitutes, and privateers who ruled the seven seas’. The result: the ultimate guide to swashbuckling women throughout the ages. “It’s a myth that pirates buried their loot. Their stories are their real treasure.”

Cheng I Sao – ‘Madame Cheng’

Females Forward

Cheng I Sao – ‘Madame Cheng’

by marlies|dekkers

From prostitute to powerful commander; this is the incredible story of Cheng I Sao – not only the most successful pirate (male or female!), but also the most badass ladyboss in history. Born close to the water in modern-day Guangzhou, the young Shi Yang understood early on that pearls don’t just lie on the seashore; you have to dive for them. And so she did!

Jeanne de Clisson – ‘The Lioness of Brittany’

Females Forward

Jeanne de Clisson – ‘The Lioness of Brittany’

by marlies|dekkers

In the mid 1400s, French sailors who saw blood red sails emerging from the fog knew it meant one thing. They were about to die. After all, noble-woman-turned-pirate Jeanne de Clisson built her notorious ‘Black Fleet’ for only one reason: to avenge her husband’s death. And in this, she showed absolutely no mercy. Blood for blood.

Grace O’Malley – ‘She-King of the Irish Seas’

Females Forward

Grace O’Malley – ‘She-King of the Irish Seas’

by marlies|dekkers

The feminist folklore of Grace O’Malley begins in her childhood, when she begged her chieftain/pirate father to take her along on an expedition to Spain. When he refused, saying ‘her hair would get caught in the ropes’, Grace chopped off her mane. Bam! From now on, she was known as ‘Granuaile Mhaol’ , Irish for ‘Grace with the cropped hair’.

Happy Singles Day – You’ve got this!

Marlies Says

Happy 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!’.

Sadie ‘The Goat’ Farrell – ‘The Queen of the Waterfront’

Females Forward

Sadie ‘The Goat’ Farrell – ‘The Queen of the Waterfront’

by marlies|dekkers

Some girls want to be princesses when they grow up; Sadie Farrell had a different dream: to become a pirate, and the meanest one at that! Growing up in the crime-filled slums of Victorian New York, Sadie knew how to throw a punch. Described as ‘slight of build, but mean and vicious’ (surely a euphemism for ‘skinny bitch’) she became a ruthless mugger at a young age and even developed a legendary signature move: headbutting her victims in the stomach. It earned her her fighting name ‘Sadie the Goat’.

Happy Singles Day – You’ve got this!

Marlies Says

Happy 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!’.

Ilham Mestour: Hair Queen with Pirate Roots

MD Friends

Ilham Mestour: Hair Queen with Pirate Roots

by marlies|dekkers

Royalty and celebrities like Queen Máxima of the Netherlands and Naomi Campbell trust her with their hair and she could easily paper her walls with all her Vogue, Elle and Harpers Bazaar covers. But at heart, Dutch-Moroccan hair stylist Ilham Mestour is, and will always be, a pirate.

Spreading the (self-) love!

MD Friends

Spreading the (self-) love!

by marlies|dekkers

I live and breathe feminine feminism. With each of my designs, but also through a number of empowering side projects such as ‘The Self-Love Show’: a series of intimate, animated conversations on Instagram Live with feminine feminists from all walks of life. The subject? You guessed it, self-love! Because after all these years, I know one thing for sure: self-love is the key to unlocking potential. Your own potential, but also that of the women around you. So, let’s inspire each other! Let’s lift each other up! Here are some nuggets of self-love wisdom to get your started. Enjoy!

Sayyida al-Hurra – ‘Pirate Queen of Morocco’

Females Forward

Sayyida al-Hurra – ‘Pirate Queen of Morocco’

by marlies|dekkers

She wasn’t called Sayyida al-Hurra at birth. It was a title she would earn, based on her fearlessness and fierce intelligence: ‘Lady who is free and independent’. But it was thanks to her badass pirating, that she would forever be known as the ‘Pirate Queen of Morocco’.

Princess Alfhild – ‘The Pirate Princess’

Females Forward

Princess Alfhild – ‘The Pirate Princess’

by marlies|dekkers

This is a story of a princess in an ivory tower… with a twist! Because this princess, rather than ride off into the sunset with her prince on the white horse, became a formidable Viking pirate, leading a fleet of rebel pirate girls.

Anne Dieu-le-Veut

Females Forward

Anne Dieu-le-Veut

by marlies|dekkers

Anne Dieu-le-Veut’s incredible story? It’s all there in her ‘nom de guerre’*: her spirit, her creed, her life. ‘Dieu-le-Veut’ means ‘as god wants it’, meaning that when Anne wanted something, her will was so strong, it was as if the gods themselves wanted it too! Born Marie-Anne Dominique du Pres in 1661 in Brittany, France, we may assume that her early years were not exactly smooth. When we first read about Anne, she is being taken ‘off the streets’ and deported to the Caribbean. This was part of a program that imported prostitutes for local French buccaneers, hoping that they would give up pirating and settle down as farmers with their new wives. Well, when she arrives in freebooter heaven Tortuga, farming seems to be the last thing on feisty Anne’s mind.

Stranger fictions

Marlies Says

Stranger fictions

by marlies|dekkers

Who are you in your parallel life? A queen, a CEO, a swashbuckling pirate? This holiday season, let’s do some ‘space-time’ traveling and get ready to manifest our wildest dreams.

Mary Read – ‘Mark Read’

Females Forward

Mary Read – ‘Mark Read’

by marlies|dekkers

Being a pirate is all about bending the rules, and for Mary Read that very much included gender rules. One half of the dynamic, swashbuckling Pirate Queen duo of Mary Read and Anne Bonny (see Couture), this warrior woman excelled in not one, but two male-dominated careers: the navy and piracy. She fell in love with both men and women. And she identified sometimes as a woman – Mary – and sometimes as a man: Mark. Centuries before the terms ‘feminism’ and ‘gender fluidity’ were invented, Mary was living them. Ferociously.

Own your spots with German fashion model Widget

MD Friends

Own your spots with German fashion model Widget

by marlies|dekkers

Meet Widget: international model, modelling-coach, medical academic and total powerhouse! Widget did an incredible photoshoot in my Peekaboo leopard collection and I just fell in love with the images. Flirty, fun, fierce and feminine; Widget shows us what it looks like to feel comfortable in your own skin. She reminds me of a gorgeous leopard, totally owning her spots!

Own your spots with Rui Jun Luong, founder of Asian Raisins

MD Friends

Own your spots with Rui Jun Luong, founder of Asian Raisins

by marlies|dekkers

Ontmoet Rui Jun Luong, multidisciplinair ontwerpster met een missie: inclusiviteit. Rui Jun beschrijft fotografie als “een manier om haar observaties vast te leggen en uit te drukken”. Ze groeide op in Nederland en zag weinig Aziatische mensen om haar heen. Nu onderzoekt ze thema’s als identiteit, diversiteit en inclusiviteit met haar werk. Als oprichtster van de ‘Asian Raisins’ Aziatisch racisme awareness community streeft ze naar de eliminatie van (onbewust) racisme en discriminatie. Alleen dan kan iedereen veilig en trots hun rechtmatige ‘spot’ in de samenleving opeisen!

Own your spots with Jasja Heijboer, owner of Ace Agency

MD Friends

Own your spots with Jasja Heijboer, owner of Ace Agency

by marlies|dekkers

Martin Garrix, Don Diablo, Yellow Claw, Sam Feldt, Lucas & Steve, namen uit de muziekindustrie die je waarschijnlijk kent. Ontmoet de power babe achter de schermen: Jasja Heijboer, eigenaar van Ace Agency in Amsterdam. Als internationaal boekingsmanager vertegenwoordigt Jasja de toonaangevende DJs in de elektronische muziek, ze zorgt ervoor dat alles geregeld en georganiseerd is voor hun optredens over heel de wereld. De muziekindustrie staat nog steeds bekend als grotendeels gedomineerd door mannen, maar Jasja is één van de vrouwen die overtuigend haar plek erin opeist. Let’s find out how she owns her spots!

Own your spots with body positivity-guru Ellie Sweet

MD Friends

Own your spots with body positivity-guru Ellie Sweet

by marlies|dekkers

Posting underwear-selfies on Instagram; for Ellie it’s normal day-to-day business. The goal? To promote having a positive attitude towards your body, with all its ‘flaws’ and ‘imperfections’. If anyone can teach us how to own our spots, it’s Ellie! Time for a chat.

Black magic

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Black magic

by marlies|dekkers

‘Black magic woman’, ‘whore queen’, ‘witch’; just some of the names thrown at Cleopatra throughout the centuries. It’s the oldest trick in the book: knocking down powerful, sexually confident women by labeling them witches and sexual predators. Surely Cleopatra must have used black magic? Well, Cleopatra definitely cast a spell, but of a different kind: she bewitched with words.

Power dressing now

Get Dressed

Power dressing now

by marlies|dekkers

Power dressing? Hey, why not learn from the best? Forget pantsuits and muted makeup; flamboyant, fiercely feminine Cleopatra is back as a power-dressing icon, and we are here for it!

Turn up the self-love this Valentine’s Day

Females Forward

Turn up the self-love this Valentine’s Day

by marlies|dekkers

Whether you are single or not, celebrate this Valentine’s Day by starting a life-long romance… with yourself! To get you inspired, I am sharing some nuggets of self-love wisdom from our Self-Love Show, a series of fun, lively conversations I had on Instagram Live with some of my favorite feminine feminists. Get ready to turn up the self-love!

100% that goddess

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100% that goddess

by marlies|dekkers

A few years back, Rihanna posted a picture of her latest tattoo: the Egyptian goddess Isis, spreading her magnificent wings under the singer’s breasts. “Goddess Isis – Complete Woman – Model for future generations,” the badass singer wrote.

Ful medames recipe

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Ful medames recipe

by marlies|dekkers

According to some sources, there was always fava beans soup or stew served at Cleopatra’s table. More than two thousand years after the last Egyptian Queen died, these beans are still the core of Egyptian cuisine. Nationaal food ful medames is a stew, soup or dip, often mixed with garlic, tahini (sesame paste), lemon and olive oil. Find out how to make it yourself!

A reversal of the laws of nature

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A reversal of the laws of nature

by marlies|dekkers

“Have any of you seen the Nile? Well, you can spare yourselves the journey; she carries it in her eyes,” Julius Caesar, clearly besotted with Cleopatra and her endless violet eyes, declares in the 1963 Cleopatra movie extravaganza. A little later, the Queen of Egypt herself (Elizabeth Taylor) tells general Marc Anthony (her real-life lover Richard Burton) that she carries the fertile Nile in other body parts as well: “I am the Nile.”

Work it, slay it, pin it and say it!

Females Forward

Work it, slay it, pin it and say it!

by marlies|dekkers

Do you consider yourself a Feminine Feminist? Do you believe we can have it all? And are you ready to say it loud and proud? Then get right to the ‘point’ with these empowering pins!

The celestial Queen

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The celestial Queen

by marlies|dekkers

More than merely little points in the sky – ‘petit points’ – Cleopatra used the stars to manipulate the present and anticipate the future. In tough times – plague, famine, war – the stars helped her lead her people and come out stronger than before. The fated sky was Cleopatra’s compass and guide. The ‘Celestial Queen’ is even believed to have commissioned the stunning starry ceiling of the Dendera Temple: one of the best-preserved ancient diagrams of the cosmos, featuring the Egyptian gods as signs of the zodiac.

Mysteries of the past

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Mysteries of the past

by marlies|dekkers

“With her voice, like an instrument of many strings, she could pass from one language to another,” Greek biographer Plutarch gushed about Cleopatra, noting that the Egyptian queen spoke no less than 9 languages. Even though Cleopatra was born in Egypt, she was about as Egyptian as Elizabeth Taylor. Her Macedonian Greek family, the Ptolemies, ruled over Egypt for centuries, but Cleopatra was the first and only Ptolemy to bother to learn the language of the 7 million people who called her their queen. A gesture of respect and a great political move: she was able to communicate directly with her troops.

Feminine superpower

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Feminine superpower

by marlies|dekkers

What does female rage look like? Until #metoo, we had nearly forgotten, after centuries of being told to suppress our anger and bury it under a smile. But in ancient Egypt, it had a name and a face: Sekhmet, the fierce lion-headed sun goddess, who was forged from the fire rays shooting from Ra’s eyes. Wearing a sun disk circled by a cobra on her head, bad-ass Sekhmet burned bright in her flaming dress, creating deserts with her fire breath. And as the official patron of pharaohs, Sekhmet taught Cleopatra not to fear her own rage, but unleash it to scorch and sear her enemies. She showed her how to roar.

the Queen of Summer

Marlies Says

the Queen of Summer

by marlies|dekkers

Like a mighty snake, the Nile river slithers through the driest desert land with its life-giving waters, creating a lush strip of paradise along its banks: Egypt. Not surprisingly, the Egyptians called their land a ‘Gift of the Nile’ while their most magnificent female pharaoh, Cleopatra, will always be known as ‘the Queen of the Nile’.

More than a mother

Marlies Says

More than a mother

by marlies|dekkers

For nine months Zilver was part of my body, but as soon as I held her in my arms, I realized that my task as a mother was to give my daughter wings. Even if that meant she would fly away from me someday!

Making it easy being green – Dieuwertje Damen

MD Friends

Making it easy being green – Dieuwertje Damen

by marlies|dekkers

Besides being head of product & design, Miranda Martinez is the green conscience of my company. When we started over 25 years ago, our mission was clear: to make beautiful products with an empowering message in a way that does not harm people or the environment. Sustainability may be a hot topic right now, but it has always been part of our brand’s DNA. And thanks to Miranda’s passionate endeavors, we are now taking it to the next level. Time for a chat with the female founder who is helping us with that process, Dieuwertje Damen of Rainbow Collection.

Summer of love 2.0

Marlies Says

Summer of love 2.0

by marlies|dekkers

The Summer of Love may be more than half a century behind us, but hippie culture with its ‘multi-culti’ influences is hipper than ever. Going deeper than just using a retro filter, our Instagram generation is embracing hippie values such as wanderlust, free love and clean eating. And guess what? It may be exactly what the world needs now. Excuse us while we kiss the sky!

Twisted sisters – Kaat Bollen

MD Friends

Twisted sisters – Kaat Bollen

by marlies|dekkers

How can we have better sex? I talked with delightful Belgian psychologist and sexologist Kaat Bollen about slow love and porn, about reclaiming our bodies and starting a sexy sisterhood. “Your brain is your largest erotic organ. Keep it stimulated!”.

Hair everywhere, don’t care

Marlies Says

Hair everywhere, don’t care

by marlies|dekkers

To shave or not to shave. Actually, that is not even the question. The question is: can we celebrate female body hair, wherever it is or isn’t?

A language of symbols – Karen Hamaker-Zondag

MD Friends

A language of symbols – Karen Hamaker-Zondag

by marlies|dekkers

From astrology-based dating apps to Instagram ‘astro babes’ with millions of followers; astrology, that ancient study of the connection between heaven and earth, seems hotter than ever. It wouldn’t have surprised Cleopatra, who relied on the planets and stars as her guides. And it certainly doesn’t amaze world-leading Dutch astrologer Karen Hamaker-Zondag, who nevertheless warns against hypes and shortcuts: “Astrology is not a form of spirituality. It is a language you have to learn.”

Fixing the funding gap for female founders – Janneke Niessen

MD Friends

Fixing the funding gap for female founders – Janneke Niessen

by marlies|dekkers

You know the saying, ’empowered women empower women’? Well, investor, serial entrepreneur, technologist and innovator Janneke Niessen is the personification of that motto. I sat down with the Dutch feminist powerhouse to discuss the gender funding gap and how to fix it.

Fiercely feminine – Kaouthar Darmoni

MD Friends

Fiercely feminine – Kaouthar Darmoni

by marlies|dekkers

She is the link between ancient Arab goddess wisdom and Western feminism, between the head and the body, between Cleopatra and you. When it comes to Feminine Feminism, I cannot think of a more dazzling and delightful role model for women’s empowerment than Dr. Kaouthar Darmoni (PhD). During our exhilarating conversation, the university professor and goddess dance coach let me experience hands-on – or should I say hips-on? – how women unleashed their feminine power 4000 years ago. “It’s about taking back ownership of your vagina, your body, your self!”

A sacred symbol

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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’.

She came in colors

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She came in colors

by marlies|dekkers

Like a rainbow scarab, Cleopatra came in colors. A multi-faceted woman – goddess, queen, mother, lover – her iridescent shades varied depending on the angle and point of view, always changing, always magnificent. A crisis leader pur sang, Cleopatra’s colors shone brightest during times of trouble.

When women ruled the world – Kara Cooney

MD Friends

When women ruled the world – Kara Cooney

by marlies|dekkers

When it comes to women in power, we’ve come a long way, right? Or perhaps not so much? I talked to feminist Egyptologist and archaeologist Kara Cooney, author of ‘When women ruled the world’, about female power, then and now, from Hatshepsut to Hilary. “Cleopatra was the slut that needed to be shamed for many generations.”

Cleopatra: Drama Queen or fearless female leader?

Females Forward

Cleopatra: Drama Queen or fearless female leader?

by marlies|dekkers

She was born in 69 BC in Alexandria, and when she passed away 39 years later, Queen Cleopatra VII had ruled Egypt for 22 years with more courage and charisma than most male leaders before her. A shrewd strategist, a skilled diplomat and a dazzling self-promoter, she had been the last and greatest Egyptian pharaoh. With glamour and grandeur, Cleopatra had claimed her role in world politics, controlling nearly the entire eastern Mediterranean coast at the height of her power.

Cleopatra & I

Marlies Says

Cleopatra & I

by marlies|dekkers

“Now, that’s how you make an entrance!” I told my 10-year old self when I watched a voluptuous Elizabeth Taylor roll out of a carpet and onto the floor with stunning sass and self-possession in the movie ‘Cleopatra’ (1963). Liz, or Cleopatra – they became interchangeable to me – was about to lose it all and had smuggled herself into Caesar’s palace to beg for help. But of course, this bad-ass b***h didn’t beg but demand, casually stealing the Roman general’s heart while she was at it. Within a few minutes, I made a second mental note: when life drags you down, don’t be a drag, be a queen!

Crown yourself

Marlies Says

Crown yourself

by marlies|dekkers

All my work as a feminist designer is inspired by muses. Powerful female icons from past and present. Although women have been marginalized for centuries, archetypes of female power have always been there. Through my designs, I bring them to you. To help us shape the world of modern-day feminism.

Dare to be a comeback Queen

Marlies Says

Dare to be a comeback Queen

by marlies|dekkers

Some periods are so dramatic and life-altering that even though you can’t even fathom the outcome yet, you already know in the depth of your soul: we will forever speak of before and after. As I write this, we’re in the midst of a revolution, accelerated by a pandemic: people in face masks are marching the streets. Just like the women who started the MeToo movement and the Swedish teenager who told the world: ‘Our house is on fire’, they were tired of waiting for change. And so, they became the change.

Happy New Year!

Marlies Says

Happy New Year!

by marlies|dekkers

What a year it’s been! While many of us are eager to start 2021, I would like to take a moment and look back at a year that shook us all, but still left me with gratitude and hope in my heart.

’tis the season to sparkle

Marlies Says

’tis the season to sparkle

by marlies|dekkers

If you are like me, you cannot WAIT to kickstart the festive season by filling up your house with fresh, fragrant greens and sparkly decorations. With every shiny ornament I hang in my tree, I say a little prayer of gratitude for all the love and friendship in my life. And with every touch of gorgeous red, I honor one very special lady… Eve!

24 hours of Christmas bliss in London

Marlies Says

24 hours of Christmas bliss in London

by marlies|dekkers

“If things happen anywhere, they happen in London,” Queen of Crime Agatha Christie once said. Well, London is never more happening than during the Holiday season, when my favorite city is transformed into a magical, fairytale-like lighting spectacle. From scoring sexy stocking fillers to scarfing down scones at the Ritz; here is how my daughter Zilver and I like to spend 24 hours in London’s Christmas wonderland.

Singles Day 2020

Females Forward

Singles Day 2020

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. On Singles Day, let’s celebrate our freedom and independence by sharing all those solo milestones that make us go: ‘You’ve got this!’.

HALLOWEEN: How to turn terror into a treat

Marlies Says

HALLOWEEN: How to turn terror into a treat

by marlies|dekkers

It was a perfect day to die. Laying on the tracks, all my senses were heightened: I felt the cold metal in my neck, the blood trickling down my chin. I smelled the damp earth. Suddenly, a crippling fear crept up from deep inside my belly. What if this really was my last moment on earth? What if I died right now? I looked up at the crisp autumn sky one last time. Then I closed my eyes and descended into my deepest fear.

A heart for women – Angela Maas

MD Friends

A heart for women – Angela Maas

by marlies|dekkers

By putting women’s hearts on the map, ‘cardiofeminist‘ Angela Maas has saved many lives while fighting sexism in the medical field. As the pioneering professor in cardiology for women likes to say: “Men and women are equal, but when it comes to cardiovascular disease, treat her like a lady.

A world of wanders – Marcel Wanders

MD Friends

A world of wanders – Marcel Wanders

by marlies|dekkers

From his famous ‘knotted’ chair to in-fl ight tableware and multi-sensory hotel interiors, Dutch designer Marcel Wanders’ creations are not just smart, but also fun, fantastical and romantic. (He even designed a fabulous pregnancy testing kit!). Through them, he has touched the hearts and minds of people worldwide for over 30 years, including mine. Time for a heart-to-heart with ‘the Lady Gaga of design’.

Read the story of Maysa, breast cancer previvor

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Read the story of Maysa, breast cancer previvor

by marlies|dekkers

“Even though I am in pain today, at some point I won’t be in pain anymore. This won’t be the defining factor of my life, it’s just a small chapter. When women make this decision, I want them to remember that.”

Read the story of Erin, breast cancer survivor

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Read the story of Erin, breast cancer survivor

by marlies|dekkers

“There’s a lot of emphasis put on women and how they look, equating their value with where they measure on the scale of physical beauty and perfection. Sometimes, with all the changes that happened to my body, I don’t know where I fall on that scale anymore. I have to remind myself to throw out the scale.”

Read the story of Sarina, breast cancer previvor

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Read the story of Sarina, breast cancer previvor

by marlies|dekkers

“For every test that I had, I felt this fear and constant anxiety that they would find something. And I’m not going to be here for my little girls if they find something. Now I feel like whatever happens in life, I did what I could do, and I’m just going to live.”

Read the story of Aleena, breast cancer survivor

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Read the story of Aleena, breast cancer survivor

by marlies|dekkers

“The doctors are trained and taught statistics, but you know your body. Don’t let somebody that can’t feel what you feel, tell you what you know about yourself. That’s huge for me because I experienced it with the ultrasound technician. Had I listened and went home, who knows how far along my cancer would have been?”

An erotic experiment – Ype de Boer

MD Friends

An erotic experiment – Ype de Boer

by marlies|dekkers

Think you know everything about sex? Think again! For his must-read book ‘The erotic experiment’, Dutch philosopher Ype de Boer took off on a journey to discover strange new sexual worlds, freeing our erotic minds along the way.

Read the story of Casey, breast cancer previvor

Females Forward

Read the story of Casey, breast cancer previvor

by marlies|dekkers

“In some ways I feel like having surgery has made me accept my body more. I have all these scars, the illusion of being able to be perfect has been shattered. So I can either accept that, or I can hide away. I would rather learn to accept it.”

#FEELITONTHEFIRST

Marlies Says

#FEELITONTHEFIRST

by marlies|dekkers

Most breast cancer patients (almost 75%!) have discovered the disease themselves. Early detection is incredibly important to be able to prevent needing very heavy surgeries and treatment. That’s why team marlies|dekkers is here to remind you to #feelitonthefirst!

The story behind my care bra for breast cancer survivors

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The story behind my care bra for breast cancer survivors

by marlies|dekkers

Breast cancer awareness has always been a cause very close to my heart. And from the beginning of my brand, I have had conversations with breast cancer survivors who told me about their struggles, needs and wishes. Since comfort and support is in the DNA of all my designs, I often received very positive feedback from these women about my collections. But I wanted to know more. A few years ago, after a meeting with renowned surgical oncologist Jean Klinkenbijl, I decided to organize a special get-together for my team and a group of (ex-)breast cancer patients. That evening, I discovered that out of the 15 women present, 14 women had their needs met by my regular designs. Not bad, but not enough for me. I knew what I had to do: design a special prosthetic bra.

Jumping into the unknown

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Jumping into the unknown

by marlies|dekkers

One itsy bitsy spider bite was all it took. To be more precise: one lethal bite from the notorious Greenback spider, found only in the Iraqi Desert. “Murderer, Baghdad…” her uncle had whispered with his dying breath, and now she found herself 3000 miles from home. The air in her room was thick with sexual desire and the sweet scent of jasmine. As the Adventuress looked up from her map to glance over at the beautiful bronze body asleep next to her, she realized something. She had never felt more alive.

One of the wild ones

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One of the wild ones

by marlies|dekkers

“Baby, don’t-cha know that it’s rude, to keep my two lips waitin’ when they’re in the mood,” the Socialite sang, kicking up her heels. Darling, what a roll she’d been on! Paris, London, Rome… And everywhere, the same routine: champagne, caviar, diamonds disappearing into her suitcases. Oh, she knew he was watching her. But the diamonds were already in Moscow, and she was about to pull a Colt out of her stocking. Foolish boy. “In the mood,” she sang and laughed out loud.

Bossy and we know it – the face and future of female leadership

MD Friends

Bossy and we know it – the face and future of female leadership

by marlies|dekkers

From Cleopatra to Sheryl Sandberg; women have proven again and again to be excellent leaders. Yet there is still a worldwide gender leadership gap. And how about those deeply engrained stereotypes? I was interviewed by Caroline Glasbergen, successful Dutch entrepreneur and female business coach, who asked me: ‘What does female leadership look like?’

Exhilarating masquerade

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Exhilarating masquerade

by marlies|dekkers

A wig, an exotic accent, a fake passport; not much was needed for the Charlatan’s exhilarating masquerade. Oh, the freedom she felt once transformed! Shameless and above the law, she took what she wanted: your money, your job, your husband. But tonight, for the first time, she had almost taken someone’s life. Looking in the mirror afterwards, she was startled to see the mask staring back at her. Had she gone too far this time? Lost herself completely? With trembling fingers, she tried to take it off…

Time is the best killer

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Time is the best killer

by marlies|dekkers

It was 11 o’ clock on a December evening and her finger was on the trigger. Silently stalking the streets, summoning the shadows, she was about to commit her 16th murder. A faint smile appeared on her face as she remembered her first time. At only 10 years old, she had coolly washed the blood off the kitchen knife afterwards. A natural born killer. And now, death had become her living. She took a deep breath, and with a movement both swift and serene, the Assassin aimed…

The shadow of our smiles

MD Friends

The shadow of our smiles

by marlies|dekkers

Murder, she wrote. And very successfully! But in her brave writings, bestselling author Saskia Noort – aka ‘the Dutch Queen of Suspense’ – goes beyond murder. Giving a voice to female fear and shame, she dares to touch on subjects such as sexual violence and victim blaming. “A lot of people say: ooh, I could never kill anyone! But have you ever been beside yourself with anger?”

You’ve asked for it

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You’ve asked for it

by marlies|dekkers

He gasped when he saw the first flash of lethal red lace. She smiled, pulling the zipper down a little further. “You are perfect,” he said. “My Venus.” The fool. She was nobody’s Venus. She was a devil in a blue dress, a red-lipped rebel with a cause. And he was a goner, caught in her web. “Tempt me,” he moaned. Hmm, why not have a little fun before the final, fatal stroke? “You’ve asked for it,” she said, and with a cat-like shrug, the Temptress let the dress slip from her shoulders.

Girl power? Political power!

MD Friends

Girl power? Political power!

by marlies|dekkers

Who really run the world? Well, although women are more socially engaged and activist than ever, it’s still the straight white men who rule the political game. Enough of that, political scientist Julia Wouters says. “Politics are too important to leave to men.”

Finally – the Archeologist

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Finally – the Archeologist

by marlies|dekkers

“Finally,” the Archaeologist whispered as the most magnificent face she had ever seen emerged from the dust and the darkness, transcending centuries with its golden radiation. Could this really be it? The final resting place of Cleopatra, Goddess Queen of ancient Egypt? All of a sudden, a rustling sound. She didn’t believe in curses, but she knew that this gilded shrine could easily become her own tomb. Without turning around, she placed her hand on her gun.

Writing 101 – How to slay captions, Agatha-style

Marlies Says

Writing 101 – How to slay captions, Agatha-style

by marlies|dekkers

If you have a social-media account – and who doesn’t? – you are a publisher, a marketeer and a writer. Yes, in this content-driven world, we are all writers. But how can you find your voice? How to best tell your story? In one single caption? Well, let’s ask the best selling novelist in history.

Never tell all you know

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Never tell all you know

by marlies|dekkers

Her typewriter, plenty of black coffee, her mind filled with murder. Ah, such bliss! As the Crime Writer started typing, words spilled onto the page like drops of blood from a fresh wound. There they were, the usual suspects: the vamps and vicars, the perverts and poisoners. A murder, a method, a motive. All of a sudden, a vision flashed, then vanished. But when she opened her eyes, it was there on paper: “The mystery of the missing crime writer.” Enraptured, she continued to write…

Sherlock who?

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Sherlock who?

by marlies|dekkers

A swift movement in the dark, a stifled cry, an overturned chair. A crime, but no clues. “Oh, but there are always clues, chéri,” The Detective said with an enigmatic smile. Making eye contact with every suspect in the room, she took a magnifying glass out of her immaculately tailored trench coat. “It’s not enough to merely see; one must observe,” she declared. Then, briskly: “But first, let’s have a nice cup of tea, shall we?”

A coup de foudre

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A coup de foudre

by marlies|dekkers

A coup de foudre, it had been. “Cheers, beautiful stranger,” he had said, clinking her champagne glass. That’s when she fell. Madly. Deeply. And she continued to fall, hard, after he told her he had met someone else. But no more. She caught sight of her own face in the glass. There was absolutely no remorse, no sorrow as she poured the vial of cyanide into his sparkling champagne. “So long, beautiful stranger,” the Poisoner whispered.

From trench to trend: the trench coat

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From trench to trend: the trench coat

by marlies|dekkers

For over a century now, the trench coat has been the ultimate ‘it coat’. But how did this military garment, first worn during WWI by officers in the trenches – hence the name! – become one of the ultimate icons of androgynous chic? A short history of a feminist style icon with a sexy twist.

Destination Fall|Winter 2020

Marlies Says

Destination Fall|Winter 2020

by marlies|dekkers

Did you know a woman’s heart is very different from a man’s heart? But that the male body is still the norm in ‘modern’ medicine, costing many women their lives? For this issue of Feminine Feminist, I interviewed ‘cardiofeminist’ Angela Maas who has been fighting sexism in the male dominated medical field for the past 35 years. The secret of her steadfastness? Her femininity. “I didn’t want to lose my ‘softness’,” she told me. Angela also treated herself to some permanent makeup – eyeliner and eyebrows – to always look and feel her best, even during a 4 am emergency surgery. Angela’s personal interpretation of ‘Feminine Feminism’.

Dare to use your imagination

Marlies Says

Dare to use your imagination

by marlies|dekkers

All my work as a feminist designer is inspired by muses. Powerful female icons from past and present. Although women have been marginalized for centuries, archetypes of female power have always been there. Through my designs, I bring them to you. To help us shape the world of modern-day feminism.

Camilla Läckberg: Queen of everything

MD Friends

Camilla Läckberg: Queen of everything

by marlies|dekkers

With over 24 million copies of her crime novels sold in more than 60 countries (outselling even Stieg Larsson in her native Sweden), Camilla Läckberg is often hailed as ‘the New Queen of Crime’. But with her sexy, bold and unapologetic lifestyle, she also reminds me of another Swedish icon who doesn’t live by anyone’s rules but her own: Pipi Longstocking. “I’m not afraid to dream big.”

Mystery girl Agatha Christie

Females Forward

Mystery girl Agatha Christie

by marlies|dekkers

Imagine Agatha Christie, and you probably see her most famous female detective, Miss Marple: a neat old lady, snowy white hair, tweeds and pearls. Don’t be fooled! The woman who sold 2 billion copies of her books in 104 languages – outselling even the bible and William Shakespeare- lead a life filled with passion, fast-paced adventures and the wildest plot twists. “I had the firm conviction that, if I went about looking for adventure, adventure would meet me halfway.”

Agatha & I

Marlies Says

Agatha & I

by marlies|dekkers

There I was in my silk evening gown, steaming up the windows of the Orient Express with a handsome stranger when we heard a bloodcurdling scream. Just that morning, I had poisoned my husband on a Nile steamer after solving a gruesome murder at an archaeological dig in Mesopotamia. Quite a day, I dare say! Especially for a 9-year old girl in a small town in Holland.

Empower women

Marlies Says

Empower women

by marlies|dekkers

Our brand is on a mission; we are here to empower women and spread the feminine feminist message.

Sustainable solutions

Marlies Says

Sustainable solutions

by marlies|dekkers

We commit to use our expertise to create and find sustainable solutions for our products and introduce sustainable innovations in cooperation with other experts in the industry.

Transparent

Marlies Says

Transparent

by marlies|dekkers

We will be transparent about the steps we take to reach a positive impact on environmental and social aspects of our supply chain. We will share our long-term goals and plans with you online.

Fair & Equal

Marlies Says

Fair & Equal

by marlies|dekkers

To us being fair & equal means that human rights are respected and promoted within the company and its supply chain.

Van de krabbenmand naar sisterhood – Milou Deelen & Daan Borrel

Females Forward

Van de krabbenmand naar sisterhood – Milou Deelen & Daan Borrel

by marlies|dekkers

Mijn doel, al sinds ik meer dan 25 jaar geleden begon met het ontwerpen van lingerie, is om vrouwen zelfvertrouwen te geven. Maar ik heb gemerkt -en waarschijnlijk jij ook- dat vrouwen de neiging hebben om elkaar in plaats daarvan naar beneden te halen. Roddelen, beoordelen, slut shaming, noem maar op. Feministische schrijfsters Milou Deelen en Daan Borrel merkten dat ook, en besloten om er onderzoek naar te doen. In hun gloednieuwe boek ‘Krabben, van vrouw tot vrouw’ vergelijken zij vrouwen met een mand vol krabben, die proberen uit de mand te klimmen en daarbij elkaar naar beneden duwen. Waar komt de term krabbenmand vandaan, waarom doen vrouwen dit nog steeds, en hoe zit het met mannen? Ik mocht Milou en Daan alles vragen.

YOU GOT THIS

Females Forward

YOU GOT THIS

by marlies|dekkers

It’s safe to say that our lives have changed over the past few months… BIG TIME. Contrary to the freedom that we were used to, we now find ourselves restricted. The world that we live in is changing, and so we have to change our ways. But remember that we are all facing the same challenges. Let’s connect and support each other with understanding, inspiration and motivation. We’re in this together, and we’ll get through this together.

Miljuschka’s wonderful watermelon salad

MD Friends

Miljuschka’s wonderful watermelon salad

by marlies|dekkers

This watermelon and coconut salad recipe by Dutch kitchen goddess Miljuschka instantly makes me feel like I am having lunch at a tropical beach. Close enough! And the best part? Making it takes only 15 minutes.

Behind the scenes: hairstylist Bianca van Zwieten

MD Friends

Behind the scenes: hairstylist Bianca van Zwieten

by marlies|dekkers

Meet Bianca van Zwieten: professional hairstylist and total boss babe. She has over 20 years of experience in hairdressing, and 10 years of experience as an International Session Stylist in fashion. During these years she has won the most prestigious hairdressing award in the Netherlands, The Hairdresser of the Year Award, at the Coiffure Awards gala. She also won the third prize internationally in the Global AIPP awards held in London. Bianca’s work can be seen in magazines such as Elle, Vogue, Marie Claire and Grazia, and… on the runway of my FW20 fashion show!

Perfect with all your imperfections…

Marlies Says

Perfect with all your imperfections…

by marlies|dekkers

Do you feel quite vulnerable on the beach? No wonder! Just think about it: you’re laying on your back, surrounded by strangers, and you’re wearing something minuscule that, just a few hundred meters down, on the boulevard, you wouldn’t be caught dead in! Simply put: the beach has its own set of rules. So when I started designing swimwear, I felt I needed to crack that code. Off I went, on a tour of different beaches in different countries, trying out different states of undress. (And yes, that included an exciting afternoon on a nudist beach.)

feminine feminism in numbers

Females Forward

feminine feminism in numbers

by marlies|dekkers

Who run the world? You, me and Béyonce have known the answer to that question for a very long time: girls. But has the rest of the world caught up yet? When we look at the state of women’s rights, we see a mixed bag of victories and setbacks, we see a whole lot of discrepancies. Girls get better grades than boys, but get paid less once they graduate. Women play the leads in Hollywood movies and Netflix series, but are still underrepresented in world politics. These numbers and percentages show: we’ve come a long way, but still have far to go. But they also show this: no matter what you throw at a woman, she will rise. I believe that 100%.

Women’s Day 2020

Females Forward

Women’s Day 2020

by marlies|dekkers

My favorite day of the year: International Women’s Day. The day on which my mission, to empower women, is actively being pursued by millions of women -and men- worldwide. On this day we celebrate what we have achieved, and we look forward to the future of (feminine) feminism.

Booty building

Marlies Says

Booty building

by marlies|dekkers

One of the perks of working out 5 times a week, besides a healthy body and mind, is having a great booty. A booty so great, in fact, that I didn’t hesitate to show it off during my own catwalk show the other day! I asked my trainer and booty icon, Canadian dancer Samantha Newman, to share a highlight from her BOOTYBUILDING101 classes.

Keto curious?

Marlies Says

Keto curious?

by marlies|dekkers

The fact that I feel bikini-confident all year round is, of course, a nice bonus. But for me, the biggest payoff of following the keto diet is the way it optimizes my health and gives me tons of energy.

Super (skin) food

Marlies Says

Super (skin) food

by marlies|dekkers

‘If you can’t eat it, why put it on your skin?’. I pretty much live by this beauty adage. After all, with your skin being one of your body’s largest organs, anything – and I mean anything! – you put onto your skin will end up in your bloodstream.

Podcast by the pool

Marlies Says

Podcast by the pool

by marlies|dekkers

I LOVE a good podcast. When done well, it is both informative and relaxing. On top of that, the intimate quality of it can make me me feel like I am having a really good talk with a very clever friend.