A special visitor dropped by our pop-up store yesterday! A reporter from the Belgian newspaper De Gentenaar joined us to follow one of our pamper sessions. The make-up brushes were ready, the atmosphere was warm, and the result? A beautiful report. Thank you, De Gentenaar! You can read the full article below.
"Just because I’m ill doesn’t mean I have to give up on myself."
Wednesday afternoon. The first autumn storm has passed. It’s still cold, but now and then the sun breaks through the clouds. In the Rosette la Vedette pop-up store — offering hats and scarves for anyone who has lost their hair due to chemo — Ingrid from Lochristi is being fully pampered by make-up artist Katarina. A light foundation, carefully drawn eyebrows that look completely natural. “Just because I’m sick doesn’t mean I have to let myself go. On the contrary, looking good is more important now than ever.”
After cancer, Wendy started designing special headwear
Rosette la Vedette originally started as an online shop, founded by Wendy Rosseel, who went through cancer herself. Unable to find beautiful and affordable hats in regular stores, she began designing her own pieces together with her mother.
Since then, many women — and more recently, men — have found their way to her webshop. And early this month, the shop became a real pop-up space too. In a building on the outskirts of the city, on Poolse Winglaan in Sint-Denijs-Westrem, customers can try on hats and scarves for an entire month.
“I’ve had women arrive here with half their wardrobe,” says Wendy, “just to check if the colours match their outfits. In general, I’ve noticed that people dare to choose more colour once they can actually try things on. In that sense, this pop-up has already been a big success.”
"I was shocked by how different my face looks without lashes and brows"
Ingrid, enjoying every moment in the make-up chair, wholeheartedly agrees:
“As soon as I heard this pop-up was coming, I knew I wanted to join one of these pamper sessions. I’ve lost my hair since this summer, but what shocked me most is how different my face looks without eyelashes and eyebrows. Drawing them on again is not that simple. You often see women quickly draw a line while waiting on a terrace for their coffee, but I want a natural effect — I didn’t choose to lose my brows. Katarina has already given me great tips: using the HEMA eye pencil, and applying darker eyeshadow on the outer corners than the middle — it really opens up the eyes.”
Keeping spirits high during chemotherapy
Sandra from Antwerp, who has just started chemo and still has her hair for now, listens closely. “If you want to leave, just say so,” she jokes to her husband on the other side of the shop. “But I feel like I can learn a lot here.”
When Katarina finishes, Ingrid proudly admires herself in the mirror.
“I think you should go out tonight,” Wendy teases.
“Why not?” laughs Ingrid. “Dinner at my place tonight — I’m making red cabbage with sausages. Everyone is welcome!”
Everyone laughs. The people who walk through this pop-up often still have a long, painful, exhausting road ahead — but even so, they keep their spirits up.
See more before & after photos of Ingrid, Will, Leen and Sandra >>
