It's spooky season, and what’s truly frightening is how fast the year is slipping by. October in Amsterdam always comes with a particular kind of energy: the calm before ADE’s chaos, the return of jackets and routines, and the collective craving for something new.
This month, change is everywhere: in the streets, in the headlines, on the runways. From waves of protests sweeping around the world, to Michelin whispers surrounding some of our favourite restaurants, and a season of debuts that has everyone talking (Blazy at Chanel, Duran at JPG: yes, it’s happening), we’re taking it all in.
Closer to home, October also marks two very special moments for us. You can expect the third installment of ways of working, our collaborative workshop series together with Pre-reserved. On Saturday 11th, Maya Detiger will be hosting Intertwined, a jewelry-making workshop at Studio eF7.
Then, we’ll be ending the month with a bang (and a bite): hosting a Halloween party with Lunch concept store at Contra. The theme? Dinner. There are limited spots so consider this your heads-up.
In this month’s Cheat Sheet, you’ll find what’s feeding our minds, playlists, carts, and appetites, alongside the full lineup of what’s worth leaving the house for, and a little surprise.
Consider this your monthly companion: equal parts city guide and cultural dispatch.
Xx, Aa
What keeps us informed
Rallies for Palestine: Last Sunday, over 250,000 people took to the streets of Amsterdam, urging the Dutch government to take a tougher stance against Israel’s genocidal actions in Gaza. The October 5th Red Line protest proved to be one of the largest in a wave of Gaza protests across Europe last week: from the UK to Spain and Italy crowds of several hundred thousands protested Israel’s interception of the Sumud flotilla and demanded an imminent ceasefire in Gaza. Although the Dutch government has been slowly expressing its stance against Israel, imposing travel bans, considering bans on imports, and re-thinking arm exports, its position still lacks resolve.
Gen-Z’s protest takeover: In other protest news, Gen-Z has been leaving a mark - with youth-lead demonstrations,stirring action across the globe, sometimes dissolving, and even deposing governments, like in Madagascar and Nepal.
Amsterdam’s new stars: Back in Amsterdam, the Michelin announcements just came in and two of our favorite restaurants, Choux and CUE were awarded their first ever stars - Keep on shining (and dining)! ✶⋆.˚★
A season of fashion firsts: We’re still unpacking our bags from our little getaway to Paris, where we got a glimpse into the SS26 collections and munched, sipped, and danced our way through the weekend (more on that later ;). As we experienced our very own first Paris Fashion Week, it closed out a highly-anticipated fashion month marked by many firsts. From Demna’s widely expected Gucci collection to Netherlands’ own Duran Lantink’s controversial Jean-Paul Gaultier debut, this season was a spectacle of fashion at its finest. Here’s a quick cheat sheet to this season’s firsts:
Nicholas Aburn’s AREA showers us in confetti
Dario Vitale brings sexy back to Versace
Demna puts family first at Gucci’s cinematic debut in Milan
Simone Bellotti bores us at Jil Sander
Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez play with form and color at Loewe
Jonathan Anderson courts the Dior lady
Louise Trotter takes us through a car wash of our dreams with Bottega Veneta
Duran Lantink flashes us with a hairy exposée at Jean Paul Gaultier
Miguel Castro Freitas finds a new use for nipple piercings at Mugler
Pierpaolo Piccioli is confused at Balenciaga
& finally, the stars in the Chanel universe get to shine again, thanks to Mathieu Blazy
What we’re reading
It’s reading season! From non-performative self-help (epiphanies guaranteed), to articles that left us pondering and wondering, here’s a selection of what we’ve been wading through.
Toni Morrison’s ‘Sula’
Michael Singer’s ‘The Untethered Soul’
Yukio Mishima’s ‘Spring Snow’
Rachel Grace Almeida’s ‘The Great Regression’ on Resident Advisor
Tiana de Haseth’s ‘If we can have sex, we can talk about STIs’ on Aa
Matteo Wong’s ‘The Most Reviled Tech CEO in New York Confronts his Haters’ on The Atlantic
What we’re listening to
What we're watching
From cult classics to new releases (and the occasional rogue YouTube deep dive), here’s what’s been keeping us entertained lately.
Jennie Livingston’s ‘Paris Is Burning’
Mike Nichols’ ‘The Graduate’
Paul Thomas Anderson’s ‘One Battle After Another’
Christophe’s ‘Why Korean Sunscreen Disappeared’
Don’t gatekeep! Like what you’re reading?
Spread the joy, forward this cheat sheet to a friend
What we’re shopping
From our latest Vinted hit list (you better move quick) to the winter upgrades taking over our skincare cabinets, here’s what’s been sitting in our carts, or at least, we like to think so.
AM.PM Nourishing Face Oil 38.50€
Dior by John Galliano heels Size EU40 180€
The Perfect Vintage Leather Jacket 180€
Pat McGrath Labs Blush Colour Balm in Forbidden Fleur 33€
Bababoys Whatsapp Sticker Longsleeve 70€
IDEA Here I Am Cap €49.95
What we’re eating and drinking
From hydration hyperfixations to our favorite meal in Paris (find our Paris guide here), this is a beautifully chaotic mix of the bites and drinks that have been bringing us joy. After all, taste develops through the mouth, and a little curiosity never hurts the palate.
Matcha Coconut Water at Hoi Tin Café
Chicharòn en Escabèche at Tarantula Paris
Sesame Milk Tea with Boba at Laïzé Paris
Pistachio, Pandan, Passionfruit Choux at Café Caron
& finally where we’re going:
October is here, and she’s booked and busy. Consider this your companion for navigating the month’s chaos: concerts, parties, openings…
For our ADE picks, head to our ADE Cheat Sheet (Map coming soon), your survival guide to the year’s most overwhelming week.
We’re also marking the month with some of our own happenings: from Ways of Working 03 with Maya Detiger to A Dinner Party Halloween at Contra (You’re getting an exclusive announcement right here!).
In other news: our friends at Mizuno are giving away a few spots to their invite-only ADE party, HOUSE OF UKIYO, think Japanese DJs, ramen, and an open bar. To enter, send us an email answering this very important question: What’s your ultimate soundtrack for a night in Tokyo?
Best answers win, and yes, effort counts.
