In this series, MACCAPANI’s most inspiring women—writers, fashion icons, chefs, designers, and other extraordinary LADY MACCA—share their unique relationships with fashion and what inspires their choices when dressing for the world. |
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Hello Lady Maccas,
This time, we are joined by Julia Khan, founder of Feisty Feast.
Moving between food, travel, and creative direction, Julia has built a practice centered around gathering people together. What started around her own dinner table has grown into a creative project spanning events, collaborations, and community.
We spoke about dressing for movement, the connection between food and fashion, and the role hosting plays in creating spaces where people feel seen, welcomed, and at ease.
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What do you aim to achieve or express when you dress for the world?
Because I live in Amsterdam, you have to be practical since you’re always on a bicycle. I want to feel freedom in my clothes, but I also want to feel a sense of ease and possibility.
I can jump on my bike, walk around the city, and go to meetings; the Macca Bag is perfect for this too. I need durable things for my everyday life.
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Is there a particular item of clothing you own that you're personally attached to? If so, can you tell the story behind it?
I’m very attached to many of my clothes. I have a lot of my mother’s pieces that I feel emotionally connected to because I always loved her style.
When I was little, my sister and I would always go through her wardrobe, and I got these beautiful 90’s nightgowns she had from Laura Ashley. They’re among the pieces I treasure most in my closet.
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Your world balances beauty with ease so naturally. Do you think fashion and food share a similar language of self-expression?
For me, with cooking and the way I present food, I always want the highest quality ingredients. And when you work with beautiful ingredients, you don’t need to overdress or overcomplicate them.
That’s what I try to do with both my cooking and the way I dress. It’s about having quality pieces you can play with and build from, such as the Tie Up Dress, which is a great base to have.
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Feisty Feast began around your own dinner table and evolved into something much larger. What first drew you to creating experiences through food?
I really have to give credit to my parents for that, especially my father, because he’s a Portuguese immigrant and food was always his way of expressing love and sharing his culture with us. I grew up surrounded by hosting and gathering, while my mother was always very supportive of women and community.
Feisty Feast originally began as a dinner series bringing women together through food and conversation, with each evening centered around a different theme.
I think it all came from the way I was raised.
I’m naturally very curious and love meeting new people, and for me food has always been one of the most powerful ways to connect people and make them feel seen.
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Hosting is often described as an art. What do you think makes people feel truly at ease around a table?
I think if you feel calm, prepared and confident in what you’re doing, your guests will feel that too. For me, it’s important to feel prepared and comfortable with what I’m serving, but most importantly to stay relaxed.
If you're confident in yourself, hopefully your guests feel that as well.
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You’ve cooked and hosted in so many different places across Europe. How does travel shape your palate and creative process?
I’m a very spontaneous and curious person, so I love discovering new things through travel and incorporating them into the menus I create. It’s all very intuitive. I don’t always work with fixed menus for my projects. It’s really an endless discovery because you can never completely master food, so the world around me constantly inspires me.
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Which Maccapani item do you feel most connected to?
I love the Petal Skirt because it makes you feel very free. It’s perfect for summer, elegant, and I really love it. It’s cheeky and sexy. |
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What kind of Lady Macca do you feel you are right now?
I feel more relaxed right now. I’m a Lady Macca of contrasts because I feel relaxed but also constantly in motion.
I have so many projects coming up in June and I’ll basically be traveling for four weeks straight. This Lady Macca will be all over the world.
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