Faces of Maastricht – Street fashion

I recently welcomed a friend who is about to start her studies in Maastricht, and as I was showing her around the city, she remarked, as if surprised: “People here are very good looking!”

After hearing her words I too started paying more attention to the way people were dressed in the streets of Maastricht and the outfits they were wearing.

Of course I had seen some expressive street fashion before – the crowds gathered in front of any faculty display a lot of creativity, whether hidden in subtle accessories or overflowing in an extravagant appearance. I always linked this to the fact that students inspire each other, and that originality is typical of a young environment.

But then I started noticing that other age groups in the city were also part of the same game of inventiveness and good taste, it wasn’t just the students.

That’s when I decided to start taking photographs of street fashion, in order to put together an overall portrait of the people one can comes across in the small city of Maastricht.

And what else could capture the inherent charm of the topic than a vintage Japanese analog camera that I found in a thrift store?

Because I had to look through the objective to take the photographs, I must admit that I found it quite difficult to accurately estimate distances, which explains why some of the pictures look like they were cut.

The people portrayed here welcomed my request to photograph them with a smile, somewhat flattered that I had liked something about their outfits so much that I wanted to preserve it on film.

Akwasi A. is an artist at Maastricht’s Theatre Academy Maastricht. He runs his own music project (http://www.zwartlicht.net/). “People all around me inspire me to dress the way I do”, he says.

Wanda van der Kleij is a 64 year old volunteer worker whose favourite color is black.

Ellen Kriekels came from Sittard to enjoy a day of shopping in Maastricht.

Adriaan Wings is an 18 year old art student, who claims to be inspired by anything that is not “in fashion” right now.

G. Pruijser is 63 and was born in Maastricht. He wears his favourite items in his wardrobe regardless of season or trends.

Sharon (right) is a Dutch student in European health, and is inspired by the fashion shops that her parents own. Kristel (left) is a medical student. “H&M inspires me”, she says smiling.

Ingrid, 30, works in a ladies’ clothing store. When it comes to picking what to wear, she feels inspired by the collections or the catalogues she finds in the store.

Maureen Herben and Joes Minis are two 17 year old students. They say their style is pretty similar, a combination between urban classy and dandy. They both like basic clothes and dark colors.

I couldn’t help stopping 31 year old My Themh Lam on her way to the supermarket and asking her if I could take a photo of her green coat.

C. Banser-Mullers was a bit reluctant to pose for my Yashica, but I finally managed to persuade her, with my very poor Dutch skills. I simply could not pass by and not take a photo of her matching accessories.

Clinical research associate Mrs. Hadewych, first told me she was 34, but then discovered she had badly translated her age into English. It turned out that she’s 44, but I would have never doubted the first option! She finds her style by watching TV, and especially listens to tips from Dyanne Beekman. Sometimes she is inspired by combinations that she sees on shop window models. “Maastricht is a great town for shopping,” she says.

Rasie Hamers is 66 and had a story for almost every item she wore: “”I got this skirt from India, and the hat I bought in Maastricht six years ago, and I still love it! When I like something, I buy it! I also like to go to the second hand shops in the north of Limburg.”

Winfried, who was born in the German city of Duisburg, moved to Maastricht 40 years ago.

Making this photo-reportage has made me reach the same conclusion as my friend: people walking in the streets of Maastricht are good looking indeed! The images might not resemble those of a typical fashion magazine, but I think that my analog camera added some glow to my photo-reportage. It was an exercise I enjoyed doing. It was like putting together pieces of a fashion puzzle. I plan to do it again!

By Catalina Goanta

Catalina Goanta, the eternal Master student sailing from one UM Faculty to another.