Shopping my own wardrobe again. Let’s see… the lemon yellow trousers you will remember from three weeks ago with the multicoloured shirt and from the time with my white summer jumper. Last year I combined the shoes from Marks & Spencers with a snow leopard jacket. The green kimono tunic is ancient, bought in 2013 in Rome from an artisan seamstress. Wore it in this post with black 3/4 trousers and in this post. Which leaves the bag and the necklace. The bag is a couple of years old, seen before in this post with my boyfriend jeans and lime coat. I keep it because of its unusual colour. The necklace has never been worn. I had it custom-made by a bead shop but thought it was too dowdy. I am not a modern designer, that is for sure. With this outfit it is a bit matchy matchy, but I don’t mind that too much.
Loes and I tried a few tips and tricks the lady in the camera shop in our neighbourhood taught me.
Below: Trying out the camera focus method on Loes. The tips seem to work. Loes had on another pretty dress.
Below: Now, how about focusing with distance behind the person you photograph? Yep, not bad either. Loes is wearing my other necklaces haha.
Below: Loes got the hang of the focusing thing as well. This photo below shows you why I am not using hair soap anymore. I thought it would add volume to my hair and it did a little bit, but my hair went all stringy and funny. Back to my shampoo. Never mind, nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Below: Loes spotted this gap between two houses with two little arches. No idea why they are there.
Below: On our way to another spot, I am adjusting my necklaces.
Below: With the small lens Loes took this “bokeh” shot. I added three necklaces to the one with the yellow beads: two pearl necklaces and one gold chain. I am not sure yet what I prefer: just one or the pile. Notice the change of bags. This black bag with the green piping adds another colour and makes the outfit more interesting (I think).
Below: Close-up of the black bag. It is second-hand and didn’t cost much. Bought it in Haarlem at Vintage tassen en sieraden, Gierstraat 83. I found a small green one there as well (click to this post to see more photos of the shop).
Below: As we had turned the corner into that lovely street with trees, we saw this beautiful building called Rosorum. It used to be a hospital but is converted into apartments for elderly people. They can get care here as well if they want. And it is very expensive. They have a chef cooking lovely meals every day, classic concerts, the lot. Not for the likes of me.
Below: They have steps. I dared to sit down with my clean clothes. Risky.
Below: Like in last week’s post a cat joined us and this one wasn’t shy either. Trying to fight my bag. We had to stop him (or her).
Below: The cat followed me around.
Below: This photo shows the wide sleeves pretty good.
Below: Another lovely house. What a great neighbourhood.
Below: The third option: no necklaces but the lime yellow mini bag worn cross body. That way the yellow of the bag has the green top as background and not the yellow trousers.
Below: You might have noticed my bracelet in above photo. It is a birthday gift from my friend Marianne. The one who cannot seem to stop giving.
Below: Bridge! Something to cling to so you know what to do with your hands.
Below: We saw this dog chasing his ball in the water. Unfortunately the tips and tricks for focusing failed here.
Below: Close-up of the shoes. Very comfy. Thank you Marks & Spencer.
As usual we ended the shoot in a coffee place. As soon as we walked in I knew they would have superb cappuccino and I caved. I had one and indeed it was terrific. Worth the sin. Once coffee per month is still sticking to no coffee, right? I have to say that indeed the headaches have been absent for a couple of weeks.
Below: Loes staring at ??? who knows.
What happened in my life this week
Saturday was pretty much a lazy day, did nothing special.
Sunday our friend Arine visited for the day. She lives down south. We had a lovely lunch at Meneer Frans, where I frequently go. Such a nice place.
Below: a crappy but happy shot of Arine and Ron.
After lunch Ron took dog Watson for his afternoon walk and Arine and I went into town. Below you see a photo taken by my friend Froukje who spotted me while sitting on the terrace across the street. Arine just received a phone call from her dad.
We did something cultural as well: visiting the Saint Bavo church in the centre of town. It has the same name as the cathedral (more about that in this post), which confuses tourists a lot.
Arine brought a present: this lovely mini vase. So cute.
Monday and Tuesday: worked hard and did overtime. This is the last week before the advertising campaign will be up and running. Lots of last minute stuff.
Wednesday: my day off (I work 4 days of 9 hours) but it wasn’t really. Worked in the morning and in the afternoon, but did have lunch with Sylvia of 40PlusStyle, who is back from holiday. We forgot to take pictures, so I took a bedroom photo of my outfit. Wearing my white polka dot dress from Essentiel as a jacket over black 7/8 trousers, my black A.F. Vandevorst sandals and a new burgundy belt with gold studs.
Thursday: hard work and overtime. Heard that my mother’s iPad went black and wasn’t working anymore. I call in the help of a friend of my mum who was kind enough to visit her the next day to give the iPad the once over. And she fixed it! I sent her a bunch of flowers as thank-you. Her willingness to help saves me money (no new iPad for mum) and time (she lives an hour’s drive away).
Friday: worked and rehearsed my presentation for the kick-off of the new advertising campaign.
Greetje
Hair soap
great look, the combination of yellow trouser with green top is fabulous!
Anything bright has my love or gets my attention 😉.
Greetje
I totally love this outfit on you, top to bottom. The shoes are very good with it. I wish I ran into that many cats when I go out. I love a good bokeh effect, and you got some good shots. As always, the architecture is stunning.
Thanks Melanie. I live in an old country and an old city. Lots of lovely backgrounds. But nothing compared to Italy.
Greetje
Love the bold citrus colours in this outfit. I’m envious that cats show up when you take your photos – if that happened to me I would just end up taking photos of the cats. Shelley
We do end up taking photos of the cats haha. I only show one or two, killing the rest of my darlings. There are always a lot of cats in the city.
Greetje
I love your blog!! Your style is so accessible and your wardrobe just gorgeous. I am amused that cats are drawn to you when you shoot pictures. That has happened twice now. I covet your new burgundy belt with the studs…so cool.
I wonder whether the cats are drawn to me or me to the cats. I love cats. In the post about the blue and white striped dress there was another cat curious about my bags.
The burgundy belt was a find I couldn’t resist. Browsing the internet… and down the rabbit hole.
Greetje
great outfit, those lemon pants are pure happiness 🙂
It took me a while to style those trousers with something else than my white jumper, but I am getting there. I created three outfits so far. Not bad. Especially not for someone who isn’t that good in this area.
Greetje
STUNNING AS USUAL!
You are very kind Elizabeth.
woww, such a fabulous color combo, love it!. The shape and color of your kimono top are both amazing!, really cool!. And I love your brilliant accessorizing!, the cute yellow bag and the black one too!. I prefer a bunch of necklaces, but also love the look without anyone.
And cats look really friendly!, love them!
besos
Hello Greetje,
I have been following you for a couple of months now (after our little email chat about height and proportions-so kind of you to answer my cheeky questions!). I really look forward to your weekly posts and love your style and flair. And suddenly am keen to visit Haarlem! It looks like my kind of place : )
Have a lovely week x
Well Lynn, Haarlem isn’t beyond your reach I think. Depends where in the UK you live. The ferry between Newcastle and IJmuiden for instance is fast for people from the north. (No idea where in the UK you live.)
I am glad you are enjoying my posts. That is my purpose with this blog: to entertain.
Greetje
I live in the north, not far from Nikki of “Midlifechic”. I think a flight is more on the cards for me than the ferry, though….just a bit more than an hour’s flight from northern airports to Amsterdam and doable for a long weekend. Haarlem definitely on the list for a visit!
I agree, that was my thought as well after my ferry journey haha. Send me an email if you are planning the weekend.
Isn’t your hair on point? You are looking especially fabulous lately!
I love the lemon/lime outfit, all the ways you’ve styled it.
I’m really impressed you are putting together such great ensembles without shopping. The environment thanks you too.
Suzanne
http://www.suzannecarillo.com
Yes, I am getting better and I am more conscious about my shopping behaviour. (Thanks to you and Michelle Tyler.)
I am not at your level yet, but I hope I will get there, as you are so right. If it is 27 degrees Celcius at the North Pole, my goodness there is something very wrong and there is hardly any time left to correct.
It also makes me proud creating an outfit all by myself and not with the help of a shop assistent.
Oh boy…this look is REALLY GOOD!! The “bookended” green kimono and sexy green shoes make a very sophisticated statement Greetje. Something in your eyes tells me that you’re getting a little extra joy out of this citrus look.
The architecture is splendid but I’m far more entertained by your accessories and I think my favorite is that last combo with the small yellow bag.
Most people prefer the black bag. The combo with the small yellow bag worn across my body has a drawback: it wrinkles and rumples my top. Of course for the photo I smoothened everything.
Greetje
Hey…always enjoy your Sunday chats and “travelogue”😄…always lovely places. Especially got a kick out of the black cat this week in some sort of scuffle with your bag! Love black cats 😄
Actually the cat was grey. You should have seen him: ferociously attacting that bag, clawing with his hind-legs haha. I had to rescue the bag.
These colors look so great on you! My favorite is with the multiple necklaces and the black/green purse. It gives more interest. I love these posts. I get a feeling of getting to know your country as well as you. I gave up caffeine several years ago for stomach reasons, but it helped with headaches, too. Now a few cups of Italian roast decaf a day and I get the taste fix without the health problems. Brava to you!
I think you are right, the outfit with the black bag and multiple necklaces is more interesting. Another reader suggested I could add black shoes as well. Hadn’t thought of that (sometimes I miss the obvious haha).
Giving up coffee is hard for me and I am very proud for doing it. I hope I can get back to at least two cups a day in the future.
Greetje
These colors go so well together. Nice photos, too.
Thanks Ally, I will pass the compliment on to my photographer Loes. We both don’t know much about photography but it is fun to learn.
Greetje
No coffee?? Wut? What did I miss? Who are you and what have you done with Greetje??
Great combo! I like all of your versions. That top is MY color, though I can’t wear those statement sleeves as well as you do. Fabulous all around!
I know! No coffee is such a punishment for me. I am trying to figure out whether my headaches come from my liver not being able to get rid of all the garbage. And coffee is garbage for your liver. September 6 I hope to hear whether it worked. And I have another possible solution up my sleeve: jaw physiotherapy as I clinch my jaws so much. Apparently that could be the cause as well.
Enough about that.
Glad you like the outfit. That particular shade of green is hard to find but I love it. Statement sleeves like this are easier for tall women like me, I know.
Greetje, if you don’t have one, ask your dentist about a custom mouth guard to wear while you sleep. I’ve been wearing one for years and I’m so accustomed that I prefer wearing it to not.
I think I will be getting both: a mouth guard and a wire across the back of my teeth. To keep them in place as we positioned them so beautifully now.
I love this outfit! I’d wear the entire thing, top to bottom! Green and yellow are so fabulous together, perfect summer outfit my lady. xx
Thanks Lisa. The great thing is that I came up with this outfit myself (and not a shop assistent) AND all items are from my own wardrobe. This is a new path for me.
This makes me want a pair of green shoes ASAP!! (yes, i have a shoe addiction)!!
OXOX
Jodie
You too ?? 😂😂. I saw Nikki of Midlifechic with these last year and I ordered them immediately.
We can just call ourselves enablers!!!
LOL
XOXO
Hi Greetje from Northern California! Love reading your Sunday stories.
I agree that the black bag as a third color grounds the outfit. But, I like all the looks. Those shoes are fabulous.
And I love the locations too. I feel like I’m on a little travelogue. Interesting that cats have gotten the word about your photo shoots. Do they assign different cats to follow you around? 😉 Haha.
Thanks for doing this. It really makes my morning. 🙂
Yes I do think the cats are on a schedule. We keep seeing cats on our photo shoots. Of course, as a cat lover, I take pictures of them.
Glad you like my blog. It is a pleasure to make a different post every week.
Greetje
I like the black patent bag better than the yellow. You could also then swap the shoes for black ones. Isn’t fashion fun!
That is a good idea Susan, black shoes. Hadn’t thought of that yet. And I have some lovely pairs.
Greetje