Questions with Bibi van der Velden

Who do you listen to? For breakfast some classical music and as I am a child of the 90's, I love house music

What is a cause near to your heart? I’m an ambassador for sustainable gold mining. We endorse sustainable goldmines in Africa and South-America.

What is your favorite color? Green, always been green since I was a kid but evermore so because we are so involved in sustainability and nature.

Describe your ideal evening not working. Hosting a dinner with large group of friends, having long conversations at the table and the night unexpectedly turns into dancing until late.

Describe your favorite outfit. I love combining casual clothes with clique statement pieces such as my silk jackets with old Japanese antique embroidery and gemstones. This combined with baggy jeans and sneakers, a lace top, and of course jewelry.

Do you play any sports? Yes, I like a lot of different sports not really one in particular but whatever fits the moment such as surfing, skiing, boxing, yoga, horseback riding (I like a lot of different sports). I even like golf.

What’s your favorite drink? Ice cold Corona or a gin and tonic with Hendrix gin, cucumber, kommer and lime with a few drops of imoen paar druppels angostura bitters.

Do you have any pets? Not at the moment. However, we have a zoo in the planning.

What is your most indulgent treat? Nothing specific, just as long as it involves chocolate.

What is your most loved neighborhood spot? The Huyschkaemer in Amsterdam, a bar serving exactly what you feel like, cold Corona’s, gin & tonics and Asian snacks.

How do you order your coffee? I rarely drink coffee, but I have a few every once in a while- than it’s a latte macchiato with coconut milk.

Any advice for the youths of our country? With everything going on politically in the US but also the rest of the world, people are more and more focused on individuality, but never forget to stick up for each other. And on a more personal level find what inspires you in life and get your teeth in it, and never let go.

What is your favorite jewelry look? I love to mix match jewelry. I always wear estate jewelry mixed with vintage finds. I also wear a lot of jewels from other designers and also from myself and even combine shells my daughter finds on the beach.

Is there such thing as wearing too much jewelry? No. But I always try to down dress it, the bigger diamond, the scruffier the clothes.

What is your favorite kind of shoe? Even though I have a shoe fetish, I practically never wear heals, preferably something flat. If you look at my closet it’s a mix of colored sneakers, killer heels and embroidered sandals. I would call myself a shoe comedian.

What is your favorite book or type of writing to read? The Poetics of Space from Gaston Bachelard. I practically always read before I go to bed. It’s a mix of biographies and literary novels. I’m loath to self-help books.

Mountains or beach? Beach in the summer. Mountains in the winter. I love to ski and surf. Apparently, there is an Japanese Island where you can do both- it is high on my list.

Silk or cashmere? Cashmere

Paris or New York? NY. The city that I was born in and still love to visit often.

Coffee or wine? Wine

Do you live by any mantras? Just get the job done, I hate inefficiency.

What do you always carry with you? My sketchbooks

What is in your purse or backpack? Sketchbooks, pencils, tape measure, and unfortunately, I can’t survive without my phone

What is your most cherished possession? I wouldn’t say my kids because I don’t regard them as a possession. As I’m a collector by heart filling in one answer is difficult. But if I have to choose, I would say the good luck silver dollar from my father who passed away, always wearing it his pocket. It’s completely worn down because he was rubbing it all the time.

Do you have a nick-name? This will probably get lost in translations as it comes from a Dutch rhyme: ‘Bibelebons’: Boms.