Being on holiday in my own country means I have more time to do photoshoots with one of “my” photographers. This first (holi)day I went to Amsterdam with Loes and wore bright pink trousers. They are second-hand from Kat & Ko and as you know, I love bright colours. All the other items in this post are from my wardrobe, apart from the gifted bag.
I am getting better and better at shopping second-hand and shopping my wardrobe but am less fond of having to put EVERYTHING back. To my delight the results of my styling trials and errors are pretty rewarding. In this post you will see 1) the shirt worn with a belt, 2) without a belt and with sneakers, 3) without a belt and with high heels, 4) with a lemon yellow top and blue slingbacks. Not bad for wardrobe shopping, right?
In the above photo I am wearing a long baby blue shirt and a blue tie-belt, both by Bellamy Gallery, still one of my favourite brands. They are sustainable, not expensive and they offer surprisingly good items. When I see something of Bellamy Gallery on a hanger, I am not always convinced it will look nice. Then, when I put it on, something miraculous happens. Looking good!
The black and white patent leather slingbacks are ancient. If you want a closer look at them, click through to this post with my yellow/black&white dress. The bag is another present from my friend Marianne, who just cannot stop giving me presents. This one was for my birthday and as usual spot-on.
Before we continue the report of this day, please know that Elizabeth has published a whole post about me on her blog The Vintage Contessa where I answer a lot of questions. Elizabeth is a very flamboyant woman, living in a gorgeous house in California with a big garden. Married to an Italian with two grown up sons, the dogs and a pet pig, she has adopted the Italian way of living. I call her the Necklace Queen although Accessory Queen would be more adequate. At the end of each month both Elizabeth and her friend Cindy Hattersley portray a different woman in their series Ageless Style. I have seen the women that feature and I am very honoured to be Elizabeth’s June woman. Please check them out. Awesome blogs.
Below: We started in Amsterdam at café Van Zuylen, on the corner of Torensteeg and Singel. Loes is just walking towards their terrace on the bridge across the canal.
Below: Loes enjoying a nice cup of coffee and the beautiful weather. I am so lucky with this weather during my holiday.
Below: Of course I didn’t walk around Amsterdam on my high heels. These sequined sneakers by Essentiel Antwerp from two years ago, are a lot easier.
Below: The necklace is made by my friend Suzanne Carillo who has a blog bearing her name and she sells vintage clothes in her Etsy store.
Below: Passing this magnificent building near the Dam square which used to be the post office. It is now a shopping centre called Magna Plaza.
Below: There is a shop in the centre with just ducks. Lots and lots of ducks.
Below: With the shirt worn loose but with high heels.
Below: Amsterdam centre has an enormous number of terraces, like any big city. Wherever a chair fits on the pavement, there is a terrace. This is pedestrian only area, so you can walk on the street.
Below: The buildings are beautiful near Dam square but because the streets are so narrow, it is hard to photograph the buildings.
Below: How about some colour??? You need your sunglasses for this outfit. This is so very me.
Below: Oh so very bright 😆
Below: Head to toe. Wearing a blue suede belt (ancient) and blue patent leather slingbacks. The ones I bought in Turin a couple of years ago. The yellow top is also nice with my blue and white striped trousers, as in this post.
Below: Did a “head to toe” photo of Loes. Since I always take a photo of “my” photographer, both of them usually wear something nice as well haha.
Below: Checking out the menu of a restaurant for lunch. The restaurant looked so cute but they only had pancakes and we didn’t want that.
Below: Then I stopped this lady in the street and complimented her on looking terrific. She confessed to have lost a lot of weight recently (indeed a lot) and really appreciated my compliment. It is so easy to make someone’s day. Just say out loud the compliment you were thinking. I think this is a really good look. Note the matching cool sneakers!
Below: Some pictures of Amsterdam for those who love that.
Below: See that mural at the top of the building?
Below: Close-up of the mural. As close as I could get it.
Below: All the houses on the canals are so pretty.
Below: Arriving back at the bridge over the canal Singel where we started. This statue is of Multatuli, a famous Dutch writer. His real name is Eduard Douwes Dekker (1820-1887). He was best known for his satirical novel Max Havelaar (1860), which denounced the abuses of colonialism in the Dutch East Indies (today’s Indonesia). He is considered one of the Netherlands’ greatest authors.
Below: Time for lunch. Did you notice Loes’ haircut?
Below: And a close-up of my lovely little blue bag.
Sunshine, friendship, holiday, Amsterdam and shopping your own wardrobe: a great cocktail.
What happened in my life this week
Friday was my Do-Absolutely-Nothing day. And I didn’t.
Saturday: visiting the event Sail in Scheveningen (near The Hague) with Marjolein, my friend who lives there. Took some pictures which you will see in another post. A sort of miscellaneous post.
In the evening Ron and I had dinner at our friends’ house (Georg and Marla). On the menu was steak. Yummy steak. They both cook like chefs.
Sunday: to the beach with Ron and dog Watson. Which was relaxing although a puppy pulling and digging wasn’t. After lunch on the beach we had a quiet afternoon and evening. It was boiling hot, nevertheless I had the dryer on for the beach towels and also ironed for an hour! It surprised me that I didn’t melt. Yep, below a photo of me in bikini, I don’t care if I show all my imperfections. Wrinkles everywhere etc. Still, why not wear a bikini? Had to hold Watson on the lead all the time. He doesn’t know yet what STAY really means.
Monday: rising very early to meet Katrien in Amsterdam at 9 a.m. She is over from South Africa, where she lives, only for a couple of weeks. Always so nice seeing her again. As she has to catch up with lots of friends, she had three appointments that day haha. I left her at 11 and met Sylvia of 40PlusStyle at the station. We shopped for a dress in the air-conditioned department stores to no avail. Left earlier than planned as Ron has done his back in and I wanted to help him with dinner and Watson.
Tuesday: photoshoot with Kitty. As usual ever so nice.
Wednesday and Thursday: away to the east of the country for two days with my BVA girlfriends. It isn’t Spain but still lovely to spend time with each other. You will get a full report in another post.
However, there is a shadow hanging over Ron and me. From Wednesday morning we’ve known that the life of Ron’s best friend is hanging by a thread. He is in hospital and I won’t report on it any further as there are other people involved. Burning candles for him every day and Ron is supporting the family. Please don’t comment on it. I know you are sympathetic, but I cannot reply. It is just that if I want to keep this section of my blog honest, I cannot keep this back from you.
Friday: quiet day at home and out for dinner with husband and neighbour/friend Froukje.
Now hop over to The Vintage Contessa for my ageless style on her blog and to Cindy Hattersley blog to see her Ageless Style woman: Linda V Wright.
Greetje
This was the first time that I’ve read your blog….I enjoyedit! We will be in Amsterdam for a couple days before we start a river cruise through Holland, Germany,and Austria. We will be there mid-sized July. Any suggestions about what we should do on our 2 free days? Any suggestions would be appreciated!🌞
I am very glad you enjoyed my blog! At the top navigation you will find the tabs Amsterdam and Haarlem. You can browse through there. I have to say that it is too hard for me to give you advice as I don’t know what you like. I like shopping in lovely little (or quaint) shops. In a nice area. For that you go to the 9 streets area. If you like fun science you go to Nemo. There is the ships museum (Scheepvaartmuseum). Or if you are there on a Monday, the Noordermarkt is fun with lots of fabric and vintage for sale. Same market on a Saturday is fun.
Greetje
Thanks for your help! 🌞 Excited about our trip!
Have a lovely time and I hope the weather is nice.
PS…I’m always a shopper! My husband is an avid sailor so the ship museum sounds great!
He would love it, as the Netherlands was one of the great sea powers. Don’t miss it if you are in the Netherlands. Haarlem is a short rail trip from Amsterdam and a very different feeling. Noordermarkt has great organic produce and cheese on a Saturday. As for your friend, I’ll just extend my sympathies as we went though the same thing with a friend recently.
Thanks so much!
I am a subscriber to la Contessa’s blog and was absolutely delighted to see that you were featured! I thought that it was very interesting and informative and I loved learning more about you Greetje!
You continue to wear such happy summer color combinations and I love the pink pants even more with the bright yellow top. I also think your OBI belt looks wonderful on you as it cinches your waist so nicely.
Your bikini photos reveal that you are confident about your self and that’s always beautiful. You look very attractive Greetje. You also look tan so I’m guessing that you’ve been to the beach a few times this season (?)
What a lot of compliments!! Thank you. I was honoured that Elizabeth chose me as “her June girl”.
The bikini photo is in the post to let the readers see that it is OK not to be perfect. So I have wrinkles! So what.
The tan.. hmm no I do not go to the beach very often. I go for a tan bed session of 20 minutes each week from mid March to mid May. After that two times two hours on the beach and tan bed session every two/three weeks keeps me tanned the whole summer.
Greetje
That bold pink and yellow outfit is SMASHING!
Looks like a brilliant stay-cation but I understand you are off to London right away. Have a great time and thanks for the shout-out : ) It always puts a smile on my face when I see someone wearing something I made for them.
Suzanne
http://www.suzannecarillo.com
Yes, I am in London with Lisa The Sequinist. We met Susan of Une Femme as well today. Having a jolly good time.
Your necklace is still very good.
Greetje
Beautiful photo’s and glad you are having lovely weather for your holiday from work. The Bellamy Gallery sell some lovely things, I had a quick look online – I remember while back you had a lovely white shirt from their collection. Never think twice about wearing a bikini, you have a fabulous figure that many would envy – hey ho none of us are getting any younger but we should have praise for our bodies for bringing us to this point in our life. Hope you enjoy the rest of your time off x
I have to say that I am far more content with my body than when I was young. Of course there are more wrinkles but I look past them in the mirror and think : “Not bad for a 65-year old woman; heck, not bad for a woman of any age”.
See how content? And whether it is true or not, I don’t care. I am feeling happy.
Greetje
Wonderful styling and photos. It’s so nice to keep up-to-date with your day to day life. I hope you’re enjoying London (wonderful weather!)
Yes, everybody who knows me and wants to keep in touch, can read my blog haha.
Indeed the weather is brilliant here in London.
Looking great. Love the bright colours.
Regards – Jill stylishatsixty
http://Www.stylishatsixty.wordpress.com
The two bright colours together will get me noticed when I walk into a room haha. I don’t mind. If I want to be more “quiet” I can put the blue shirt on.
Greetje
The bright colours you’re wearing in the bright Amsterdam sunshine look glorious! They suit you so well, especially the yellow.
I really love the print on Loes’ dress, which is surprising because I don’t usually like florals, but it is such a cool vintage print! What a perfect summer day you had; you deserved it! xxx
My whole three weeks holiday it is splendid weather. I am so lucky.
Looking good as always! Can’t wait to see you tomorrow!!!
I am on my way dear.
great pink trousers styling! And absolutely why not a bikini?! thanks too for telling us about Multatuli.
Bikini is less stressful now that I dropped weight. But the wrinkles remain
I loved all the ways you styled these bright pants, but especially the look with the yellow top, it created such a fab contrast.
It is nice to have a choice. One day you feel more like “shouting” with your clothes and on other days you want to “quiet”.
Greetje
THE PANTS, THE SHOES, THE CAFES, THE MURIEL THE UPDATES ON WHERE YOU ARE FEATURED THIS WEEK ALL BEAUTIFUL and ENJOYABLE!
OFF to SEE if any NEW COMMENTS have POPPED UP!
THANK YOU for BEING YOU and being willing to BE MY VICTIM OF THE MONTH!!!!!
I ADORE YOU!
XX
I would hardly call myself a victim for being featured on your blog haha.
I will pop over to see the comments as well. But I am off to London for three days, so I might be a bit slow.
I look forward to your posts each Sunday. You always brighten the day!!! Loved reading the interview with you. I like knowing about the people I follow. I like that you are shopping your closet.and thrifting. Most American bloggers think they have to have new clothes for every blog and who of us can afford it? Take care and have a good week! Looking forward to your next post ! PS Will you have more posts after you retire? That would be great!
That is so nice to hear Janice, thank you for this comment. I am in the fortunate position of having a full-time job that pays well, so I can afford more than most people I guess. But it is not sustainable and I agree that you don’t have to have new clothes all the time. So I try to shop my closet more often. Unfortunately the second-hand market in the Netherlands is really not nearly as good as it is in the USA or Canada.
I have to disappoint you, there won’t be more posts after I retire. I intend to find another job with less stress and less hours, but I do want to continue working. And I don’t want to spend more hours behind a computer. As I don’t want to go commercial either, I will keep my blog as it is.
Greetje
I am disappointed, but understand. I have been retired since 2003 and worked for awhile. Now I just volunteer for 4 hours some weeks. We like to travel and want to as long as health permits. Thanks for answering.
You see, we both aren’t travellers and my husband is already retired and not looking forward to having me around all day hahaha. No problem of course if that is what I want. We’ll see. I will take at least half a year to think about what to do next.
I so look forward to your blog post every Sunday, I love your style, your sense of humor, and your lovely photographs. Thanks so much for all your work on the blog!
Comments like yours make me so happy. Thank you Cynthia. It isn’t work for me really. I so enjoy the process of creating another post.
Greetje