What started as an Instagram account for sharing her love of vintage grew into The House of Anna: a platform full of vintage finds and styling inspiration. For Anna, being bold means following your own path, taking on things that feel daunting, and daring to choose what feels right. We spoke with her about vintage, building a business, a style of her own, and her dreams for The House of Anna.
What does being bold mean to you, personally?
I think of the word autonomous: doing something on your own strength, making it happen, and feeling confident and steady in that.
When do you feel at your strongest?
In two moments. When I am doing something that gives me so much energy I light up. And in the moment after I have done something I found nerve-wracking, and I have felt that I can handle it.
Where does your love of vintage come from?
From my dear mum, who already found the best vintage and second-hand clothes for me when I was little. And from my grandmother's collection, from beautiful vintage coats to a Burberry scarf and pearl necklaces.
When did you decide to do something real with that, with The House of Anna?
It was when my boyfriend and I did our yearly tradition at the end of the year: a small moment of reflection with a glass of wine, to look back and look ahead at what we wanted to work towards. I wanted to share my hobby and my love of vintage, and inspire other people with it, so I decided to start an Instagram platform. Easy to begin, and without a big goal.
"I wanted to share my hobby and my love of vintage, and inspire other people with it."
You share a lot of inspiration and information about vintage, and you give styling advice. What do you want people to take from that?
Above all, that vintage and second-hand is a much better choice than always buying something new. On all sorts of levels: you have something unique, you spend less money, and it is more sustainable too. I also want people to know that finding nice items does not have to be difficult at all.
"Finding nice items does not actually have to be difficult at all."
What do you like most about helping people discover their own style?
Mostly the confidence I see in them at a certain point. A style of your own is your own for a reason. That person glows, and you can tell straight away whether they feel good in what they wear.
"An individual style is your own. You can see it when someone feels good in what she wears."
What are you most proud of right now with The House of Anna?
Oh, I think I am most proud that I have done so many things I had never done before, and that I went for them, on my own. I am a perfectionist to my core, and I had to learn to let that go while building HOA. The women I meet inspire me, every one of them. And I am surprised, every time, by how many good collaborations come my way.
"I am a perfectionist to my core, and I had to learn to let that go."
Which choice has shaped where you stand now with The House of Anna?
The choice to start on TikTok and make videos. My reach grew because of that, and I met people I am glad to know.
What do you still dream of reaching with The House of Anna?
In the end, a shop or studio of my own, where I can give all the beautiful vintage finds a place, next to my styling service, which I can keep offering.
Alongside The House of Anna, you also work at NJi. If we have this right, you combine these two worlds. What is that like for you?
It is fun, and it is also a search for balance. Before this I worked in youth care for just over four years as a behavioural scientist. It was a job I cared about, and a tough one, with a lot of responsibility. HOA became a welcome counterbalance, so I could get out of my head.
Do you see yourself doing The House of Anna full-time in time, or do you like combining both?
I have just switched jobs, so for now I want to combine them. But I do not rule out doing HOA full-time. I would love that.
Sometimes being bold lives in the small things. What is a small but brave choice you made recently?
The choice to cancel big pop-ups I had planned. In the moment, that does not feel like a good choice at all. Afterwards it gave me space, and it brought me a lot of other good things. And the most important part: listening to yourself, and taking that seriously.
Who is a woman you admire for her courage, and why?
My own mothers. They had a lot of courage in choosing each other, at a time when that was less accepted.
What would you want to give women who dream of more, but hesitate?
From someone who always weighs everything, overanalyses, and works it out in her head: if something gives you a warm feeling, even when it also feels daunting, do it. I like this quote: 'Just make it exist first. You can make it good later.'
"If something gives you a warm feeling, even when it also feels daunting: do it."
Lastly: what is your favourite piece of Eline Rosina jewellery, and why?
Oh, that is hard, because they are all beautiful. A piercing with a small Diamond. Timeless, beautiful, tough, and chic. Feeling bold is shining, like a Diamond.
