She studied at the Art school in Breda, graduating cum laude (with distinction) in 1991.

With the aid of a government grant, she launched, two years later in 1993, her first collection of items under the fashion label Undressed, heralded at the time as a new approach to designing lingerie.

A store was briefly opened in New York from December 2008 to March 2009[1] and in Utrecht at the end of 2008.

The newest of these locations, Uplift Intimate Apparel, opened in 2017 in Carmel, Indiana, and carries a wide variety of her styles.

Estilo established marlies|dekkers sales in 2009, and the Australasian relater Myer carries this brand.