The story of Sarah

What do you do in life ?

I work as a creative manager at Hutspot Amsterdam. That's a full-time job, so most of the time I am working. Even though this might sound a bit lame, I like my work so much that it often doesn't really feel like work work.

Can you tell us a bit more about Hutspot and your daily work as a Creative Manager?

Hutspot is a concept-store based in Amsterdam. The first Hutspot store opened in december 2012 on the Van Woustraat, exactly a year later we opened our second store on the Rozengracht. Since 2 months we also have a Hutspot bar next to our store on the Van Woustraat. Hutspot is basically a springboard for (young) entrepreneurs, designers and artists to get them on the market. At the stores you can find a barbershop, lunchroom, exhibit area and of course a shopping area. So from fashion to art. to books, to motorcycles, to furniture and cooking gear. Part of my job is being in charge of the online content; everything you see on Instagram, Tumblr, Facebook or our website is basically me. Besides that I'm also responsible for all our exhibitions, searching for new brands and making sure the stores look the way they do. A lot of my time goes into decorating and styling the stores.  

What is your dream for the future?

I really like to live in the present, for now I'm really happy and commited to my job at Hutspot. I see myself staying at and growing with Hutspot for the next couple of years. But of course, everyone has their ''big'' dream. Mine would be starting my own business one day with my sister Roos van Rij. We both have a great interest in interior design, movies, photography, travelling, creating an ambience (mostly visual). It would be awesome to start our own Creative Agency where we could focus on the above disciplines. We are always thinking and talking about it. I'm sure that one day we'll decide to go for it. But for now we work hard in silence and let succes be our noise!

Where do you get your inspiration from?
Mostly from travelling, movies, magazines and blogs. My favorite movies are: Rear Window, Leon, all Wes Anderson movies, Night on Earth, North by Northwest, La Haine, Brutti Sprochi e Cattivi and Mon Ocle! My all time 2 favorite blogs are

http://lassie.tumblr.com/ and http://republicofnowhere.tumblr.com/. I must say that the last one hasn't been updated for a while so hopefully after reading this they will ;). Favourite cities are Paris and San Francisco. Paris mostly because I'm a huge sucker for romance, architecture, the language and mostly the city has got a incredible amount of allure and style! 

How would you describe your style?
This might sound weird but I never ever read ''fashion'' magazines such as Elle, Glossy etc. I find myself spending a lot of time on blogs so I get the latest trends on my radar through that. But I don't follow the trends or anything, I just buy and wear what I like.
Is there a similarity with your style and decor?
I guess there is always a similarity with someones style and decor. Your home is a reflection of who you are, just like what you wear in a way.
What are your favorite brands?
COS, A.P.C., American Apparel, Rika, Isabel Marant and Norse Projects (I know this is a men's brand but I love love what they do and design, my new favorite sleeping shirt is from Norse and I ''stole'' it from the boyfriend).

What kind of music do you love? 

J.J. Cale, Geto Boys, New Birth, Mac DeMarco, Sampha, Onra, Stan Getz & Joao Gilberto, Bob Dylan, The Zombies, Velvet Underground, The Smiths, Tupac, African music, Chet Baker and of course my boyfriend's music. Especially the record How I Wish.

What is your morning ritual?
My morning ritual would have to be.. Snoozing twice, David saying "Sarah you have to wake up", me waking up, taking a shower and getting dressed. Then David and I eat a bowl of yoghurt or a croissant at Casa Brazuca, which is a random little place close to my house with the best fresh baked croissants. Also there's never a morning that goes by without a coffee somewhere with David (my boyfriend) before work. We love to have that little moment in the morning between leaving your home and arriving at
work.
What is your favorite midnight snack?
Popcorn!
With whom you would like to share a tent with in the middle of nowhere?
Bubba my boyfriend!
What is your favorite season?
Autumn, cause I'm an autumn child and I think it's the most poetic season of the year. The changing colours of the leaves and the leaves slowly falling off the trees, saying "summer is over, winter is coming". I must add that I also lololove summer. 
If you could give yourself a rockstar name, what would it be?
Give me a moment to think about that.
Do you want to spend the rest of your life in Amsterdam?
For now I love Amsterdam, but I certainly want and will live in Paris once in my lifetime.
What's your favorite hangout in Amsterdam?
My all time favorite hangout in Amsterdam is the Hortus Botanicus, they have a little lunchroom that's called the Oranjerie which just makes you feel like you're away in your own city.
5 things you really cannot live without?
1. David
2. Family
3. Movies
4. Travelling
5. Plants & Flowers
Is there any creative work of yours online?
Yes there is, I have a blog http://sarahvrij.tumblr.com/ but I haven't been updating it. I'm so busy blogging and Instagramming for Hutspot, I can't keep up my own. So actually to see my creative work for Hutspot you should check http://hutspotamsterdam.tumblr.com/ http://www.hutspotamsterdam.com/and follow Hutspot Amsterdam on Instagram for a daily update of Hutspot by me!

Photography: Roos van Rij @ The Lovers & Drifters Club.