Grinning like an idiot. That’s me most of the times. Suffering severe cold temperatures in this green print T-shirt dress. Yes, T-shirt dress. Nothing warm about it. Standing in this wind-free corner it wasn’t too bad, but there were other moments when the wind was freezing and my skin had goose pimples. Even Ron, fully dressed with coat, got back in the car afterwards and said: “Oh let’s go home immediately, I am freezing”. You can imagine how it was for me. I did wear a skirt and T-shirt from Bellamy Gallery underneath it, otherwise it would have been too cold.
My outfit of this week is thrifted at Kat & Ko in Haarlem. They have good stuff. The dress was €18,95 and the orange bag by Jill Sander was €18,00. OK the boots were retail price. I have to save my money until I have paid back my “loan” to my saving account. Going to a second hand shop and scoring like this, is my way to survive this period, which is going to last till May.
Below: Right, let’s get this show on the road…
See what a grim look I have on my face when I don’t smile?
Below: The boots are the ones you saw in this post with the wide trousers. There is a small green width in the middle of the dress with a drawstring. You pull the dress up to a comfortable height and then drape the top part over the string. In this photo below you can see the string. Never in a million years would I have thought I could wear such a dress. Thinking it would really show my tummy. Surprise !! It doesn’t show any lumps, bumps or belly. I have no idea why not, but gladly accept this wonder.
Below: We started near arch windows at a random building. Charlie, our dog, photobombed. As usual.
Below: Isn’t she adorable? The breed is called Korthals Griffon, Dutch of French origin. They are hunting dogs and usually larger. Of course Charlie never caught anything because we avoid that. She is very fanatic about mice under trees, but before she can dig them out, we move on.
Below: Outfit more closely. I decided to wear the chain necklace with the dress to avoid a bare neck. The watch is a present from my husband years ago.
Below: Moving to another background and fixing the hair.
Below: Details. Jill Sander bag. I am really pleased with this bag; it is beautifully made and a great vibrant colour. The bracelet is from a Spanish stall at the beach, chain necklace from an artisan market in Paris.
Below: We decided to try some green background and a bohek photo (blurry background). “Come on Charlie, work with me. Face the camera.”
Below: Nope. Dog is clearly thinking “I have no idea what you want from me, woman.” My nose has gone a little red from the cold.
Below: A walking photo is aways nice.
And with this I end today’s post. No idea what next week will bring. Having some knee trouble at the moment, but it is already diminishing. No high heels for a while (rats!!). Although I could always last a photoshoot on heels.
Greetje
well you were wrong, I did read your blog after dinner! t looks fantastic, better than when you tried it on in the shop now that you have styled it up. Welcome to the world of ‘second hand clothes shopping’, great thing about it is, that you need to use your styling sense, you don’t always get the ‘full’ look with one purchase, it takes time, and effort but eventually you can achieve a stylish look for very little money. I’ve been doing it for a long time, and rarely buy new clothes ( can’t afford the inflated Geneva prices for a start!) great, Leave the credit card in the freezer for a while, keep on thrift shopping!
Approval coming from you my stylish friend, is highly appreciated. As is your sarcastic humour. I am sure some of my outfits will meet that humour.
As for the need to style thrifted clothes myself… I call that hard work.
Well there, you see what happens when you’re on a budget. You get more creative. I think this is a great look and both excellent buys. Great to read that you’re able to stick to your budget. Hope your knees recover soon.
Yes, restrictions do get creative juices flowing. When you have to, you do it. Actually, I am not even supposed to buy second hand , but I failed at going cold turkey. The knee will get betterover time, I am sure. Thank you for your concern.
Greetje, you are such a hoot! I love your humor, as well as your style.
Now you see, a comment like yours confuses me. I read my post again and think “what was funny about it? Nothing was really funny… but you love my humour. That puzzles me.
Hi Greetje,
I’ve been following your blog for quite a while, but have never commented until now.
That dress is lovely and the bag is FANTASTIC !! I do most of my clothes shopping at thrift stores. I see NO reason to spend humongous amounts of money on brand new clothes. It’s like buying a brand new car: by the time you drive it out of the dealer’s shop it’s already lost a lot of its value. Used cars are much smarter – and thrifted clothes, too.
And just so you know – I am not at all a miserly person. I just like to get as much as possible for my money. Full retail prices are TERRIBLE: everybody (the manufacturer, the wholesaler, the retailer, the tax man) gets your money. And they would love you to keep giving them your money, every year, every season. Like my Grandma always used to say: “better in your pocket.” My money, she meant.
Your fashion and style sense are great, your blog too. I also like it when you show us pictures of other Dutch cities. Please show us more thrifted fashioin from now on.
By the way, why hasn’t Dan (the pretty cute) been posting lately? I hope she’s well.
Big hug,
Mary (American living permanently in Innsbruck, Austria)
Hi Mary, thanks for taking the time to comment. I really appreciate it. In essence I totally agree with you on buying second hand, especially with cars. I have always bought my cars two to four years old. Exactly for the reason you wrote. Only my last car is new because my husband insisted and paid half of it (I was not going to argue with that 😊). Second hand clothes.. I don’t mind it at all, quite the contrary as you pay little and when it fits and looks good, the difference in price is in your pocket as your Grandma said. Only… 1) I am not very good in styling, contrary to what everybody believes. A lot of styling is done by friends or shop assistants. 2) There aren’t many good second hand shops in The Netherlands. Most of them are actually crap. The shop where I bought these items, is better, but still not as good as the ones in the USA or Canada. Dutch people are different I think. No idea. 3) I get annoyed when I see something nice and it is not in my size. 4) I definitely do not have “the eye” for spotting a good find. So I cannot promise you that there will be a lot more thrifted items on the blog. On the other hand, I do have to live on a budget for quite a while (overspending, your Grandma would frown on me). Perhaps I will get better at thrifting. As to Dan, nothing is the matter but she is really busy and has given blogging little priority. Too much going on which needs her attention. But all good.
Hi Greetje,
Thanks for taking the time to reply. Well, if there are not many thrift shops in the Netherlands, that’s plenty reason enough for not thrifting. Yes, you do need the right thrift shop! You might even think about starting one yourself…
And contrary to what YOU say, I think you are very good at styling.
Keep up the good and a big hug from the snowy Alps !
Mary
Just want to add…It’s nice to see others having to budget. I’m on a spending fast for a year. I did not get myself into any trouble with spending, but wanted to take back my life for a bit. I have also been wondering about Dan.
You’ve discovered my trick – when I’m not supposed to be spending any money on new clothes, I will go thrift shopping, and because the price is so much lower, and I am recycling clothing, I don’t feel as guilty 😉
The dress is a good shape and colour on you, and the bright pop of orange of the bag looks great with it.
Charlie is such a cutie! You need to work on her posing skills with you – maybe Suzanne’s Pug Zoe could give her some pointers.
That is a good idea, I will ask Zoe to give Charlie some posing lessons haha. Yes thrifting is rapidly becoming a favourite pasttime.
What a lovely outfit. I am an avid thrifter, so I know what you mean when you say it is good to find a nice outfit at a great price. That orange bag is such a pretty contrast and a nice blast of color in the cold, dreary months. – Amy
http://stylingrannymama.com/
That orange bag is my real trophy. I am so pleased with myself for spotting it. Is is clean and lovely cream canvas with orange on the inside.
I’m so impressed Greetje! This dress fits you beautifully and the colors are very flattering. You always claim to know little about styling but I think you need to give yourself more credit. You clearly know what looks good on you and your tastes in handbags, jewelry and other accessories are true to YOU. Getting ideas and suggestions from other sources is something we all do to simply inform our OWN choices. As you adjust to new ways of finding fashion you will continue to define your look in different and authentic ways. YOU are what keeps me coming back to your blog for more Greetje. Embrace your evolving style because we love you!!
Ahhh… you are always so sweet in your comments. You could make me conceited. No, just kidding, I will never be. It takes me ages to come up with a good outfit. And a lot of sighing and sometimes bad language. Nevertheless “I will overcome!” 😘
Love your outfit — the necklace is a great accessory, as is Charlie 🙂
Yes I thought the bare neck needed something and this necklace isn’t pretty. i thought the dress woukd be better off with something “rough”. Charlie is indeed the best blog post “prop”.
Hi Greetje. I love the big, orange bag. It’s such a sunny and warm colour and one can do with a bit of warmth and sun in Dutch winters, right?! I feel for you being so cold during the photo shoot, but the result are awesome, as is your outfit. Great combination! Love, Lieske
All for the good cause. Standing in the freezing cold to get nice pictures for the blog. Buying second hand because I have overspent. It all serves a purpose 😇. I am particularly proud of spotting the orange bag. Trophy!
Maybe a sneaky treat in your hand to coax your co-star into line? 😉
As for this outfit, well you know how I feel about it already….but I’ll say it again, ahhhmazing! I’m so proud of you Greetje, getting such incredible second-hand bargains. Although I feel you’ve let the cat out of the designer bag now. Kat & Ko will be overrun with bargain hunters, thrifters & vintage lovers from across Europe!
I am sure, there will not be a line of new customers blocking the door haha. I am not that much of an influencer.
What a great look, hurrah for thrifting. I am a great fan of charity shops myself and pop in most weeks.
Your Jil Sander bag is fabulous! Really, that vibrant orange is perfect balanced with the darker shades of your outfit. Ron’s photography as usual is top notch.
I too have been wondering about Dan, pleased to hear all is well and hope she reads that we have been missing her.
I will make sure Dan will hear of you inquiring. Our charity shops and second hand shops aren’t too good here, but this one does have some good stuff. As I have proven.
The dress looks great. Love seeing Charlie too.
The fact that the dress looked good on me was a total surprise. Charlie is the best “prop” you can have for blog photos.
Hello Greetje, I’m not a big lover of animal print, I think it’s a difficult print and that can sometimes be seen even tacky. But, sometimes, some women and some designers manage to give it a very elegant and discreet air. This is your case, the design of the set is beautiful and the stamping, too! I love seeing you with these sets in which the skirt plays an important role, because I see you very elegant and very feminine, without the need of proposals too daring. This set is harmonious, balanced, discreet (even with the animal print) and very elegant. I like this a lot.
You are right, animal print can look very tacky. We had a TV series in The Netherlands (“reality” show) with two women who wore animal print all over and they were dead common. I tried to balance it. To tell you the truth, I hadn’t even recognised the print as leopard till after I bought it.
As for dresses and skirts… if I haven’t worn them for a while, I hear you and Dan in my mind 😂.
You don’t need to suffer for your blog – seriously – wrap up warm!! (although you look lovely and the orange bag is to absolutely die for). I love everything about your outfit and the photos apart from the fact you all froze – not good! Stay warm!!!!
Next time I will look for an indoor place with big windows for some daylight. Glad you like the photos though. I did not suffer in vain 😊.
Well I’m impressed : P
You might find that you begin to enjoy shopping thrift. I wasn’t a super quick convert at first either. Like everything in life it requires some adjustments and getting used to. Once you are hooked, like me though, the allure of regular retail is much less. It’s a way of continuing to enjoy fashion while helping the environment and saving cash. Win win all around I’d say, especially when you can look this good doing it!
You’ve discovered the power of the pattern. That is what camouflages bumps and lumps. Why do you think I dress in patterns 90% of the time? Ha ha!
Suzanne
Ha ha ha.. it is not just the pattern, it is also the way the dress is cut. Not that this was ever an expensive piece (by no means). It just happened to suit my body shape. Anyway, I still have a few more months to go on a budget and I already scored another hit at the same thrift shop. A black and white leopard jacket. Long and stretchy. Fits me like a glove and looks very good. €40. I know I am supposed to not spend anything but I am having problems with that. Obviously, as I am an addict. Perhaps thrifting will be the solution. Who knows?
Love this thrifted outfit so much. The Jil sander bag is such a rich accent as well as a wonderful pop of color. Your boots are gorgeous, and outfit score is very high! Congratulations on the bargain too. You may find yourself soon addicted to this way of shopping. 👏💨💚
Happy new week ahead. Loved seeing Charlie too!
Now take a tip from Charlie and wear a coat outside.BRR.
❤️❤️❤️
Elle
https://theellediaries.com/
If I were to wear a coat outside every timeI needblog pictures, things would get boring very rapidly. And you are right, I might get addicted to thrift shopping. Although… hmm.. don’t know yet. At the moment it is a necessity.
Oh no, my last post was all coats, I hope it is not boring!
Second hand shopping in Manhattan is the best… one day you will join me…
❤️❤️❤️
Elle
https://theellediaries.com/
Your coats post was anything but boring. You have a great collection.
Greetje I love that dress on you, the pattern, colour, shape all work well for you.
What a find!
Lucky me, right??? Have been wearing your fuchsia bag a lot.
Wow! You did well with your purchases. It’s a great look. When I saw your dog I recognised the breed, as a family on my street has two of them……..I hadn’t ever encountered these beautiful dogs before.
There are only 600 of these dogs in The Netherlands. And indeed there is a family link to this breed in America. They are very sweet. Well, at least ours is. She is just not thatnice to other female dogs. A case of jealousy?
It’s a really great looking dress and the orange bag is a perfect accent. Really nice shape/style on the bag too! Hey, we’ll be in Paris first week of June… 😉
Well darling you will not see me in Paris I think as I am going to Spain in June (13 to 22). But do keep me posted. You never know what I can manage. Or you two could perhaps take the train to Amsterdam when you are dead certain that the weather is sunny. And if Ron isn’t busy we can do that boat tour after all.
I wouldn’t mind a trip to Paris. I’ll be there in June. Perhaps I can persuade you to go together (or we can go another time)
I will get in touch with you by mail.😘
I absolutely love the preloved stores!! The treasures you can find are amazing!!
And this entire outfit is proof—it’s fabulous on you Greetje!!
OXOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
I have to say that you have a lot more to choose from in the States and in Canada than in The Netherlands. But luckily there are some good ones here too.
Adorable! You are looking stunning in this dress. I am obsessed with these styles. I want this t-shirt dress for me. Thanks for sharing.
I wish I could give you an online link to a shop who sells it, but alas…. it was a thrift shop find. I never thought it would look good on me, surprise, surprise.
That dress, I’m so happy that wearing this has opened up a whole new styling galaxy for you when you’re shopping too. It looks fantastic on you! The bag adds a fruity punch of colour, which I love.
You have found so many thrifting scores lately. Excellent way to get through your other spending freeze and beyond. Your photos with Charlie make me smile every time. (So this is where you first mention your sore knee. I am so behind!)
You probably are a busy bee Melanie. I noticed you were way behind in replying to the comments on your own blog as well. And I thought: “Poor soul, she is probably swamped with work”.
On the other hand, that is not a bad thing. The bacon needs to be brought home, right?
Adorable! You are looking stunning in this dress. I am obsessed with these styles. I want this t-shirt dress for me. Thanks for sharing.
I wish I could give you an online link to a shop who sells it, but alas…. it was a thrift shop find. I never thought it would look good on me, surprise, surprise.
That dress, I’m so happy that wearing this has opened up a whole new styling galaxy for you when you’re shopping too. It looks fantastic on you! The bag adds a fruity punch of colour, which I love.
You have found so many thrifting scores lately. Excellent way to get through your other spending freeze and beyond. Your photos with Charlie make me smile every time. (So this is where you first mention your sore knee. I am so behind!)
You probably are a busy bee Melanie. I noticed you were way behind in replying to the comments on your own blog as well. And I thought: “Poor soul, she is probably swamped with work”.
On the other hand, that is not a bad thing. The bacon needs to be brought home, right?
You’ve discovered my trick – when I’m not supposed to be spending any money on new clothes, I will go thrift shopping, and because the price is so much lower, and I am recycling clothing, I don’t feel as guilty 😉
The dress is a good shape and colour on you, and the bright pop of orange of the bag looks great with it.
Charlie is such a cutie! You need to work on her posing skills with you – maybe Suzanne’s Pug Zoe could give her some pointers.
That is a good idea, I will ask Zoe to give Charlie some posing lessons haha. Yes thrifting is rapidly becoming a favourite pasttime.
well you were wrong, I did read your blog after dinner! t looks fantastic, better than when you tried it on in the shop now that you have styled it up. Welcome to the world of ‘second hand clothes shopping’, great thing about it is, that you need to use your styling sense, you don’t always get the ‘full’ look with one purchase, it takes time, and effort but eventually you can achieve a stylish look for very little money. I’ve been doing it for a long time, and rarely buy new clothes ( can’t afford the inflated Geneva prices for a start!) great, Leave the credit card in the freezer for a while, keep on thrift shopping!
Approval coming from you my stylish friend, is highly appreciated. As is your sarcastic humour. I am sure some of my outfits will meet that humour.
As for the need to style thrifted clothes myself… I call that hard work.
Well there, you see what happens when you’re on a budget. You get more creative. I think this is a great look and both excellent buys. Great to read that you’re able to stick to your budget. Hope your knees recover soon.
Yes, restrictions do get creative juices flowing. When you have to, you do it. Actually, I am not even supposed to buy second hand , but I failed at going cold turkey. The knee will get betterover time, I am sure. Thank you for your concern.
Greetje, you are such a hoot! I love your humor, as well as your style.
Now you see, a comment like yours confuses me. I read my post again and think “what was funny about it? Nothing was really funny… but you love my humour. That puzzles me.
Hi Greetje. I love the big, orange bag. It’s such a sunny and warm colour and one can do with a bit of warmth and sun in Dutch winters, right?! I feel for you being so cold during the photo shoot, but the result are awesome, as is your outfit. Great combination! Love, Lieske
All for the good cause. Standing in the freezing cold to get nice pictures for the blog. Buying second hand because I have overspent. It all serves a purpose 😇. I am particularly proud of spotting the orange bag. Trophy!
Love your outfit — the necklace is a great accessory, as is Charlie 🙂
Yes I thought the bare neck needed something and this necklace isn’t pretty. i thought the dress woukd be better off with something “rough”. Charlie is indeed the best blog post “prop”.
What a lovely outfit. I am an avid thrifter, so I know what you mean when you say it is good to find a nice outfit at a great price. That orange bag is such a pretty contrast and a nice blast of color in the cold, dreary months. – Amy
http://stylingrannymama.com/
That orange bag is my real trophy. I am so pleased with myself for spotting it. Is is clean and lovely cream canvas with orange on the inside.
I’m so impressed Greetje! This dress fits you beautifully and the colors are very flattering. You always claim to know little about styling but I think you need to give yourself more credit. You clearly know what looks good on you and your tastes in handbags, jewelry and other accessories are true to YOU. Getting ideas and suggestions from other sources is something we all do to simply inform our OWN choices. As you adjust to new ways of finding fashion you will continue to define your look in different and authentic ways. YOU are what keeps me coming back to your blog for more Greetje. Embrace your evolving style because we love you!!
Ahhh… you are always so sweet in your comments. You could make me conceited. No, just kidding, I will never be. It takes me ages to come up with a good outfit. And a lot of sighing and sometimes bad language. Nevertheless “I will overcome!” 😘
Maybe a sneaky treat in your hand to coax your co-star into line? 😉
As for this outfit, well you know how I feel about it already….but I’ll say it again, ahhhmazing! I’m so proud of you Greetje, getting such incredible second-hand bargains. Although I feel you’ve let the cat out of the designer bag now. Kat & Ko will be overrun with bargain hunters, thrifters & vintage lovers from across Europe!
I am sure, there will not be a line of new customers blocking the door haha. I am not that much of an influencer.
What a great look, hurrah for thrifting. I am a great fan of charity shops myself and pop in most weeks.
Your Jil Sander bag is fabulous! Really, that vibrant orange is perfect balanced with the darker shades of your outfit. Ron’s photography as usual is top notch.
I too have been wondering about Dan, pleased to hear all is well and hope she reads that we have been missing her.
I will make sure Dan will hear of you inquiring. Our charity shops and second hand shops aren’t too good here, but this one does have some good stuff. As I have proven.
Hello Greetje, I’m not a big lover of animal print, I think it’s a difficult print and that can sometimes be seen even tacky. But, sometimes, some women and some designers manage to give it a very elegant and discreet air. This is your case, the design of the set is beautiful and the stamping, too! I love seeing you with these sets in which the skirt plays an important role, because I see you very elegant and very feminine, without the need of proposals too daring. This set is harmonious, balanced, discreet (even with the animal print) and very elegant. I like this a lot.
You are right, animal print can look very tacky. We had a TV series in The Netherlands (“reality” show) with two women who wore animal print all over and they were dead common. I tried to balance it. To tell you the truth, I hadn’t even recognised the print as leopard till after I bought it.
As for dresses and skirts… if I haven’t worn them for a while, I hear you and Dan in my mind 😂.
The dress looks great. Love seeing Charlie too.
The fact that the dress looked good on me was a total surprise. Charlie is the best “prop” you can have for blog photos.
Wow! You did well with your purchases. It’s a great look. When I saw your dog I recognised the breed, as a family on my street has two of them……..I hadn’t ever encountered these beautiful dogs before.
There are only 600 of these dogs in The Netherlands. And indeed there is a family link to this breed in America. They are very sweet. Well, at least ours is. She is just not thatnice to other female dogs. A case of jealousy?
Love this thrifted outfit so much. The Jil sander bag is such a rich accent as well as a wonderful pop of color. Your boots are gorgeous, and outfit score is very high! Congratulations on the bargain too. You may find yourself soon addicted to this way of shopping. 👏💨💚
Happy new week ahead. Loved seeing Charlie too!
Now take a tip from Charlie and wear a coat outside.BRR.
❤️❤️❤️
Elle
https://theellediaries.com/
If I were to wear a coat outside every timeI needblog pictures, things would get boring very rapidly. And you are right, I might get addicted to thrift shopping. Although… hmm.. don’t know yet. At the moment it is a necessity.
Oh no, my last post was all coats, I hope it is not boring!
Second hand shopping in Manhattan is the best… one day you will join me…
❤️❤️❤️
Elle
https://theellediaries.com/
Your coats post was anything but boring. You have a great collection.
Well I’m impressed : P
You might find that you begin to enjoy shopping thrift. I wasn’t a super quick convert at first either. Like everything in life it requires some adjustments and getting used to. Once you are hooked, like me though, the allure of regular retail is much less. It’s a way of continuing to enjoy fashion while helping the environment and saving cash. Win win all around I’d say, especially when you can look this good doing it!
You’ve discovered the power of the pattern. That is what camouflages bumps and lumps. Why do you think I dress in patterns 90% of the time? Ha ha!
Suzanne
Ha ha ha.. it is not just the pattern, it is also the way the dress is cut. Not that this was ever an expensive piece (by no means). It just happened to suit my body shape. Anyway, I still have a few more months to go on a budget and I already scored another hit at the same thrift shop. A black and white leopard jacket. Long and stretchy. Fits me like a glove and looks very good. €40. I know I am supposed to not spend anything but I am having problems with that. Obviously, as I am an addict. Perhaps thrifting will be the solution. Who knows?
You don’t need to suffer for your blog – seriously – wrap up warm!! (although you look lovely and the orange bag is to absolutely die for). I love everything about your outfit and the photos apart from the fact you all froze – not good! Stay warm!!!!
Next time I will look for an indoor place with big windows for some daylight. Glad you like the photos though. I did not suffer in vain 😊.
Greetje I love that dress on you, the pattern, colour, shape all work well for you.
What a find!
Lucky me, right??? Have been wearing your fuchsia bag a lot.
It’s a really great looking dress and the orange bag is a perfect accent. Really nice shape/style on the bag too! Hey, we’ll be in Paris first week of June… 😉
Well darling you will not see me in Paris I think as I am going to Spain in June (13 to 22). But do keep me posted. You never know what I can manage. Or you two could perhaps take the train to Amsterdam when you are dead certain that the weather is sunny. And if Ron isn’t busy we can do that boat tour after all.
I wouldn’t mind a trip to Paris. I’ll be there in June. Perhaps I can persuade you to go together (or we can go another time)
I will get in touch with you by mail.😘
Hi Greetje,
I’ve been following your blog for quite a while, but have never commented until now.
That dress is lovely and the bag is FANTASTIC !! I do most of my clothes shopping at thrift stores. I see NO reason to spend humongous amounts of money on brand new clothes. It’s like buying a brand new car: by the time you drive it out of the dealer’s shop it’s already lost a lot of its value. Used cars are much smarter – and thrifted clothes, too.
And just so you know – I am not at all a miserly person. I just like to get as much as possible for my money. Full retail prices are TERRIBLE: everybody (the manufacturer, the wholesaler, the retailer, the tax man) gets your money. And they would love you to keep giving them your money, every year, every season. Like my Grandma always used to say: “better in your pocket.” My money, she meant.
Your fashion and style sense are great, your blog too. I also like it when you show us pictures of other Dutch cities. Please show us more thrifted fashioin from now on.
By the way, why hasn’t Dan (the pretty cute) been posting lately? I hope she’s well.
Big hug,
Mary (American living permanently in Innsbruck, Austria)
Hi Mary, thanks for taking the time to comment. I really appreciate it. In essence I totally agree with you on buying second hand, especially with cars. I have always bought my cars two to four years old. Exactly for the reason you wrote. Only my last car is new because my husband insisted and paid half of it (I was not going to argue with that 😊). Second hand clothes.. I don’t mind it at all, quite the contrary as you pay little and when it fits and looks good, the difference in price is in your pocket as your Grandma said. Only… 1) I am not very good in styling, contrary to what everybody believes. A lot of styling is done by friends or shop assistants. 2) There aren’t many good second hand shops in The Netherlands. Most of them are actually crap. The shop where I bought these items, is better, but still not as good as the ones in the USA or Canada. Dutch people are different I think. No idea. 3) I get annoyed when I see something nice and it is not in my size. 4) I definitely do not have “the eye” for spotting a good find. So I cannot promise you that there will be a lot more thrifted items on the blog. On the other hand, I do have to live on a budget for quite a while (overspending, your Grandma would frown on me). Perhaps I will get better at thrifting. As to Dan, nothing is the matter but she is really busy and has given blogging little priority. Too much going on which needs her attention. But all good.
Hi Greetje,
Thanks for taking the time to reply. Well, if there are not many thrift shops in the Netherlands, that’s plenty reason enough for not thrifting. Yes, you do need the right thrift shop! You might even think about starting one yourself…
And contrary to what YOU say, I think you are very good at styling.
Keep up the good and a big hug from the snowy Alps !
Mary
Just want to add…It’s nice to see others having to budget. I’m on a spending fast for a year. I did not get myself into any trouble with spending, but wanted to take back my life for a bit. I have also been wondering about Dan.
I absolutely love the preloved stores!! The treasures you can find are amazing!!
And this entire outfit is proof—it’s fabulous on you Greetje!!
OXOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
I have to say that you have a lot more to choose from in the States and in Canada than in The Netherlands. But luckily there are some good ones here too.