As I have so many clothes, I decided it was ridiculous to buy a Christmas outfit this year. Surely I could create an outfit from the stuff in my wardrobe? The answer is yes I can, but I am still not sure what top to wear on this festive skirt. You can help me decide, there is still time. (This wide blue skirt made its first appearance on the blog in a spring version.)
Below: My first try, prompted by Selina, my blog editor who asked me “what will you be wearing this Christmas?” My answer was: “No idea” and I dived in my wardrobe. The blouse is black with yellow polka dots, the top underneath purple blue. I thought this was quite nice but both Selina and husband Ron voted against it.
Below: Second try met both their approval. This golden top is by Max Mara and totally second-hand for a very small price. A bit dangerous as it is rather tight (any lumps and bumps showing?) Nevertheless, I thought I was done. Then after a few days I started to doubt. Was the top not too dark? Was the belt not making my upper body look too short? Was a short white pearl necklace perhaps better than the gold necklace? Did I need another top after all? I decided if I did, a gold colour would still be best.
Then I suddenly remembered my other golden top which is rather shiny and not too wide. I thought I hit the jackpot.
Below: Ron was kind enough to document it for you (although he hates it and swore never to take my photos ever again).
Below: A few more photos and I would have a Christmas blog post. YAY. Ron asked me to light the candles for a nicer picture.
Below: Artistic angle.
Below: The outfit with the candles lit. Not that much difference haha.
Below: Close-up of the Christmas tree with me in the corner.
Ron went out to walk the dog while I uploaded the photos for this post. Rats… would the outfit not have been nicer with the blue belt? The light was rapidly fading…
Below: After adding the belt I tried to take my own picture in the hall mirror. Not very good.
So I quickly went next-door and woke up my neighbour who was taking a nap (poor girl). Although she was still half asleep, I asked her to take a picture outdoors in her garden. (I am ruthless when it comes to blogging.) She was kind enough to take a dozen or so.
Below: In the neighbours’ garden with the belt. I had to erase the evidence of being out in the cold if you get my drift. For these kinds of things I do use Photoshop.
Below: Which one would you advise me to wear? I think my preference is the top right one, but with a short pearl necklace, although I still like the blouse with the yellow polka dots as well. The difference between the bottom two outfits is the belt.
What happened in my life this week
It has been a busy weekend and week.
Saturday: I did the “try-out” of my Christmas outfit. In the evening we went to friends to celebrate Marla’s birthday. They are very good cooks and the food was delicious, as usual. Everything was fish or made with fish. Ron brought a dish as well. It was such a nice evening.
Sunday: great day for me as we went to my favourite jeweller. The ring I usually wear no longer had my love and my other antique ring wasn’t to my taste anymore either. I wanted to sell them back to the shop, pay some additional money and leave the store with one, big, more modern ring. I succeeded but the “pay some additional money” is an understatement. I took it out of my pension savings. This ring is something I wanted for years and it is my retirement reward for 49 years of continuous fulltime working. Ron suggested it might not be such a good idea to flaunt it on the internet as not to attract thieves.
Monday: normal working day with my usual fitness class in the early evening.
Tuesday: meetings in the morning. Quiet working day. Then in the afternoon I discovered I missed a message from Sara, my British friend who lives in the USA. She was already in the Netherlands for 4 days and this Tuesday was her last day. As my workload is hardly heavy this week, I left the office to meet her and her daughter at a restaurant. The photo below doesn’t do Sara justice. Sorry Sara. After drinks we decided also to have dinner together.
Below: Sara took this photo of me entering the restaurant.
Wednesday: a smooth photo shoot with Loes, always a pleasure. In the evening Ron and I went to the movies again. For years we haven’t been to the movies and now three times in one month.
Thursday: the day started with a Christmas breakfast at the office. As I am gradually gaining weight, I was determined not to eat anything, only to drink water. Failed miserably by the look of ham/cheese croissants and thick yoghurt with fruit. Why not some chocolate in the afternoon as well? In the evening I managed to eat half a mackerel which was in the fridge. No self-control whatsoever.
Friday: got on the scales first thing in the morning: ouch, there was the punishment for my indulgence the previous day(s): gained more weight and had regret after the fact. Worked from home and in the afternoon created this blogpost. It wasn’t a nice day as I had a giant headache, bordering on migraine. Took 4 pills and went to bed for a nap. To bed in our new bed: new mattresses and new spiral bases were delivered that afternoon. It felt like heaven. Hope it will be as good as I think it will be.
Wishing you a fantastic Christmas, you lovely readers. I will continue my posts every Sunday, but just in case you miss next week’s post, I wish you a Happy New Year too.
Greetje
I love the top right combination and the shiny top too. The lariat necklace is lovely with it. New jewellery…now that is exciting! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas!
Emma xxx
http://www.style-splash.com
Thanks. I went for the polka dot blouse with a dark blue top underneath (for warmth and because it is see-through).
The jewellery is exiciting for me. I love what I got.
Have a lovely New Year.
Greetje
The gold shiny satin top is definitely the best one; it matches the classic elegance of the skirt, and the warm colour is wonderful on you. I am wishing you a very Merry Christmas and I wish you well to wear your new ring. That is SO exciting!!! xx
I thought the same about the shiny satin top but when I saw the photos I didn’t like it that much anymore. And it creates strange shadows that make my boobs look very funny. I will play with this skirt some more today as I want to wear it tonight.
The ring and I are having a great time haha.
All the very best for Christmas and New Year to you too. May 2020 bring what you want.
I like the gold fitted top with the skirt the best – as I mentioned in my IG comment, the fit is very flattering and it lets the skirt shine as the star of the outfit. Wishing you a lovely Christmas Greetje! Shelley
Thanks Shelley, wishing you lovely Christmas times as well. I agree with your choice of outfit for me. Have to check whether there aren’t too many lumps and bumps showing in this top 😉
Amazing skirt. And you chose well with the top. Holiday outfits deserve a little sheen to sparkle.
I still have the idea I haven’t found the exact right top yet but I think I will choose the gold fitted top with a pearl necklace instead of the gold necklace.
Greetje
I love the skirt and think all the combinations look good, but my favourite is the top right. Thank you for your lovely blog and best wishes to you and yours for Christmas and the New Year. Sue x
Thank you Sue, for your advice, your compliments and good wishes. A very merry Christmas to you as well and a happy new year.
Greetje
Gorgeous skirt! I think top left blouse, then top right second. The cream silk top doesn’t do the skirt justice IMO. Can you try a top in a shade of blue which is a great color for you.
I do have a sequinned top in blue which was my first choice but decided against it as it was too monochrome. It needed a great belt to break up the blue which I didn’t have. I am still very much in favour of the blouse as well. Definitely not the “cream silk top” (it is actually soft golden).
Greetje
What a gorgeous skirt and so flattering on you! The top choice is difficult, though. I like the light colored top for its shimmer and color, but think the shape (or maybe it is the higher neckline) of the polka dot top is more flattering…..If I had a magic wand, I’d try a light-colored shimmery lace blouse with a high neckline and leave off the belt. Maybe you could try the light-colored top with a pile of shorter pearls or gold beads?
Thanks for letting me play with your beautiful wardrobe. My holiday outfit will be jeans and a top…maybe I’ll go crazy and add a necklace, ha.
I need that magic wand as I do not have a light-coloured shimmery lace blouse. I do however have a lot of pearl necklaces. That will perhaps lighten things up a bit. As I wear jeans a lot, I wanted to go all out for Christmas. It sounds like you will have a relaxed Christmas. Have fun.
Greetje
I love the look of the upper right combination on you! The pearls would be lovely and adding the belt might make just make the outfit perfect. Holiday Greetings from St. Paul, Minnesota!
The upper right combination already has the belt on it. I will get my pearls out and see whether that makes the top right outfit a bit lighter.
Greetje
Hi Greetje,
I vote for the top right but the outfit looks much better with the belt! However, you look lovely in all the outfits. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a healthy prosperous New Year!
Jayne in Canada
Thanks for your advice Jayne; I agree the skirt needs the belt. All good wishes for you as well.
Greetje
Have you tried a different necklace with the top and maybe different shoes?
The different necklace is something I still can do, I have many of them. Different shoes would be a problem. Do you think they are too classic?
Greetje
Hi Greetje, I vote for the top right had corner outfit – looks the most flattering to my eye. However, I LOVE the striped outfit you are wearing – really suits you, looks modern and I like the sleek silhouette. Happy Christmas to you too from the Black Sea. Lise
Ha, that is unexpected… voting for my striped shirt dress. I suppose the blue skirt isn’t modern the way I have styled it for Christmas. I liked the skirt better with a black and white striped shirt, but that isn’t very Christmassy. I may have to rethink this.
Greetje
I like the second hand Max Mara top with the short pearl strand as the best outfit. The skirt is really gorgeous and needs a top to do it justice – maybe go shopping -ha ha
Hahaha Bonnie, don’t say shopping to me. I am already so bad in this area. Thanks for your advice.
Greetje
I like the bottom right followed by the top right. On the other hand, you look great in all of them! Happy holidays from a fan in Northern California!
How lovely to have a fan. Thank you for commenting. It brought a smile to my face.
Greetje
Polka dots👍 Happy Christmas to you all
Thanks for the vote Jane. I think you and I are alone in liking the polka dots blouse, haha.
Greetje