A coffee with Vita Hennemann
Welcome to the Lepelclub Journal! To begin, who is Vita?
i’m Vita, 28, living on the canals of Amsterdam with my boyfriend Kevin and our little dachshund, Totti. I’m someone who genuinely gets excited by fashion every single day, whether I’m designing a shoe, putting together an outfit or discovering something inspiring online. And the fact that I now get to inspire other people through something I’ve loved my entire life is probably the best part of it all.
You live in Amsterdam; what do you love most about the city, and where can we usually find you on a free day?
To me, Amsterdam means being close to almost everyone I love, while constantly being surrounded by inspiration. My best friend, who I lived with for eight years, recently bought a house literally 150 meters from ours, which, if you know us, was pretty much inevitable. Apart from my house, I would say I spend most of my time there.
I love the romance of Amsterdam: the old canal houses, historic details and the way people here embrace the beauty of things that have been around for generations. I’m especially drawn to interiors that mix that old-world charm with something more modern, a combination you’ll find throughout our own home as well.
Despite all the buzz and chaos of the city, Amsterdam feels incredibly cosy to me. I’m a real homebody at heart, so as much as I love having the city right outside my door, I’ll choose a night on the couch with Kevin and Totti over going out pretty much any day of the week.
How did you find your way into fashion and design, and eventually become Head of Design at POSA?
Fashion has been my biggest love for as long as I can remember. As a kid, I could spend days drawing outfits on model figures, and later I became the friend who styled everyone, came along on shopping trips and had to approve every new purchase.
Still, for the longest time, I never thought I could actually work in fashion. I somehow believed you needed to be an amazing illustrator or graphic designer to even enter that world, so I chose a broader path. After graduating, I started my career as a headhunter in the legal field, something I genuinely loved, but fashion always remained my creative outlet.
Things changed when I met my boyfriend Kevin, founder of POSA, when he decided to expand the brand from men’s into women’s footwear, I started helping with the collections alongside my full-time job. After a year of juggling two jobs, they asked me to join them full time, and today I’m Head of Design at POSA, which still feels surreal to say.
Around the same time, my friends had been telling me for years to start sharing my outfits online. About a year ago, I finally thought, whatever, I’ll just post what I love and see what happens. Within weeks, some of my posts started taking off, and suddenly I was connecting with people who shared the same love for fashion from all over the world.
I know it’s a cliché, but for me, it was the support of my closest people and their trust that gave me the final push. I am forever grateful for that.
How would you describe the POSA aesthetic in three words?
That’s a tough one, I would say: Italian funky chique.
Where do you usually find inspiration when designing a new collection?
Honestly, my inspiration comes from all over the place, if you saw my screen time, you’d probably gasp. I can spend hours scrolling through Vinted and Vestiaire Collective; I’m a true treasure hunter at heart. I’m especially drawn to vintage pieces and old designs, and love imagining how they can be translated into something that feels modern, yet classic and a little funky. I think that mix of vintage nostalgia and contemporary cool is where most of my inspiration comes from.
What’s your favorite part of the design process, from the very first idea to seeing someone wear the finished shoe?
I think combining worlds, from trends going on, to mixing it with a classic shoe, everyday shoe. But my heart literally skips a beat when I see someone out and about wearing POSA’s, that feeling never gets old.
Is there one pair of shoes you think every woman should have in her wardrobe?
A Boat Loafer, without a doubt. It’s the perfect piece to make completely your own, dress it up or down, switch the laces, add beads and give it your own twist. It might just be the most versatile shoe in our collection.
How would you describe your own personal style?
I think I’m a jack of all traits, I can switch from girly chique, to funky cool every day. The best thing to me is combining classics with more outspoken designs, I think that would be the red thread in my outfits.
We have to ask about Totti, your adorable sausage dog! What does a perfect day in Amsterdam with her look like?
She is my life, I think I can genuinely say I live for her. My perfect day would start with a slow morning, followed by a walk to my best friend who lives just around the corner. From there, we’d take Totti to the Amsterdamse Bos for a long walk and end the day having dinner at friends who also have a puppy. The two of them would play for hours until they completely wear each other out and eventually pass out, which to me, is pretty much the perfect day.
And in true Lepelclub Journal fashion: how do you enjoy your coffee?
Coffee is my absolute non-negotiable, all day, every day. My go-to is an extra-hot latte macchiato with Oatly No Sugars. In summer, make it iced with lots of ice and a glass straw. Such a small thing, but it genuinely makes my day.
