Camila (25) is waiting for her chicken panino on the ground floor of the Langeveld building. She stands with her legs crossed, swaying slightly. She doesn’t immediately stand out, yet she clearly has a different air about her. With a philosophical, dreamy look and a sleek, distinguished coat with just a hint of lace peeking out.
The panino isn’t ready yet, so she has time to talk about her outfit. She’s wearing black ballet flats under her long, ecru linen skirt with lace details. She explains that she bought it during a trip to her home country, Brazil: “It’s handmade by a rural community in the northeast.”
Winter coat in the tropics
Her coat is also from Brazil. She got it from her boss when she worked at a modern art museum. “She was a hippie, so she didn’t cling to her possessions”, Camila says. Besides, what use is a winter coat in the tropics?
Camila is often inspired by the artists she encounters through her work and her studies in arts management. At the moment, she’s assisting a flamboyant Greek gallery owner. “She has a massive mane of curls that falls to her waist. When she really dresses up for an exhibition opening, it’s just wow, something special. I’m much more of a minimalist.” Camila doesn’t need to stand out; she dresses like the white walls on which artworks shine. Her bit of extravagance is her Versace glasses, which have a round cat-eye shape. The Versace Medusa logos on the sides are hidden beneath her curtain bangs.
With her Erasmus Mundus master’s, Camila has studied in several cities. “I dressed best in Lisbon”, she thinks. “Because of the warm weather, I could wear my nice summer clothes.” Her style changed in Paris – less colour and new brands she discovered there. “There was more pressure, people judged faster. You really couldn’t walk around in athleisure there.” Here in Rotterdam, she hasn’t discovered the local look yet. It feels more relaxed, though, she can get away with wearing sweatpants here.
Best compliment you’ve ever received? “That I’m elegant. When I hear that, I feel like they recognise my intention. I try to craft my appearance with care, but I don’t see myself as a fashionista.”