“At the age of 2, I was already wearing my grandmother's oversized dresses and heels. Fashion has always been in my blood.” Lonneke Nooteboom, stylist and founder of online platform Style My Day, is a busy jack of all trades. She is active online on her successful Instagram account Lonneke Nooteboom and next March her first book will be published, the bible in the field of fashion and lifestyle. But who handed Lonneke the Bible with life lessons and career advice? In short: who was her wheelbarrow?Text: Mical Joseph
Image: Lonneke Nooteboom

What was your very first job?

“When I was fifteen years old I worked at the very first Sting in the Netherlands in Tilburg. It was fun to work there at that time and I really looked up to the full-time clothing salespeople. As a young girl I already aspired to a career in fashion. My father mainly produced company clothing, this had nothing to do with it fashion to make, but were mainly dust coats and overalls.”

“My father's best friend worked at a large purchasing group for fashion retailers. He traveled all over the world and met so many people. I hung on his every word when that friend talked about it and decided to go in this direction too. After my studies, I worked for my father as a buyer and also flew around the world. After I met my current husband, I joined his ready-to-wear company for women's clothing for ZARA, Mango and H&M, among others. I started working as Head of Styling.”

How did you end up in your current job?

“Due to an operation when I was 40, I had to take it easy and I had a lot of time to think during recovery. I asked myself: what do I want in life and what else do I aspire to? From being an unknown stylist, I started working online and made myself visible by showing my style. This became online fashion and lifestyle platform Style My Day. A huge success in no time with many followers, which I sold last year. ”

“Leontine Borsato also started following me and this is how we came into contact. I organized a lunch in honor of the 1-year anniversary of my platform, which Leontine was also present at. We got along well, became friends and have been shopping together a lot ever since. I also do the styling for John Ewbank and Kelly Weekers, among others.”

Who was your wheelbarrow in that?

“My father and husband gave me opportunities. During my time at my father's company, I traveled the world and became a buyer. My husband gave me the opportunity to develop myself creatively. These have been wheelbarrows, but I left both of them because, in addition to 'daughter and wife of', I wanted to see who I was now and what I could do without them. Where I am now in my life is something I did myself.”

“My grandmother was my greatest source of inspiration. She always had the most beautiful clothes and bags. My grandmother gave me a basket with all her old things. As a young girl I always dressed up with clothes from that basket. When she became extremely demented, my grandmother no longer recognized us, but she still shouted: 'Where is my red lipstick and where is my Chanel bag?'

What is your greatest passion in your profession?

“I'm a people person. I love making people even prettier and happier. Dressing people one-on-one: that's what I was born for. I also really enjoy the fact that I have my line at Fred de La Bretoniere, that I am launching an exclusive guest-designer collection for Shoeby in March and that my first book will be launched on March 7.”

Who else would you like to dress?

“I would like to dress Queen Maxima. Not because I think she has no style, because the queen has fantastic style, but I think we can work very well together. If you dress the queen, you must go offline and no one can know about it. So if I ever go offline, people will know what I'm doing! Linda de Mol is also on my wish list. I admire her and think she is the most fantastic TV woman, but in terms of styling it could really be a little better.”

What has been your biggest learning moment in your career?

“I learn every day. This may sound cliché, but no two days are the same. What I have taught myself in recent years is that I am constantly pushing my own boundaries. I really recommend taking the plunge. Yes, sometimes you fall, but you always get back up.”

What advice would you give to your 18 year old self?

“Failure is allowed. It does not matter. Try everything you aspire and dream of. I was always very nervous before attending lectures, fashion shows or masterclass seminars and I would ask myself: 'Why do I want this? Why am I doing this to myself?' This also applies to Koffietijd, which is of course live television: 'What am I doing to myself and can I go home please?' But by doing I learn and I have really grown. "

Have you been a wheelbarrow for someone?

“I work closely with my team of young girls. I always have employees and interns who I guide and help with their dreams. For some I have been a wheelbarrow in their further careers. What I like is that my children do not actively follow me on Instagram and do something completely different. Two of my three sons go to Nijenrode Business University and have much less interest in the fashion industry. One of the two sons who attend Nijenrode has now been studying at the University of Athens for six months. They also achieve their goals on their own.”