You might think it makes me look like a layer cake but I find this tiered ruffle skirt fantastic. It is by Hope Fashion UK and it is still available at £95 but the stock is low. Here is the link to the skirt. Although I take a size 14 in waist, I ordered the slim (size 10-12). It has an elastic waistband and it fits beautifully.
It was late afternoon on Wednesday the 18th of December when I tried to order the skirt on Hope Fashion’s website. I had problems with my password logging in, so I sent an email with my Dutch phone number for help. Half an hour later a sales lady of Hope (with a terrible cold, the poor dear) rang me, solved the issue and promised to send the skirt straight away. She did warn me that due to the large number of packages to deliver, the post might not bring it before Christmas, perhaps not even before New Year. I didn’t mind much as I wanted the skirt anyway. To my utter surprise it arrived the day before Christmas. I think Hope Fashion gave me excellent service. (This is not a sponsored post; Hope didn’t pay me and they didn’t give me the skirt. It is just a very good company, run by women with a big heart.)
The first time I saw the skirt, was in the summer on Nikki’s blog: Midlifechic. Loved it then but was really sold on the skirt when she wore it later in the year.
Below: Nikki of Midlifechic. I combined two photos of her in a collage which doesn’t do her justice but leaves some room for me to shine.
As you can see, I just copied her by adding the bright pink jumper.
Loes and I did the photo shoot at the Haarlem railway station, which is in Art Nouveau style. The history of this railway station is a nice read. It was built to accommodate the first railway in the Netherlands between Haarlem and Amsterdam. I have also used this station in 2014 as background for my leather jogging trousers. You don’t mind, do you?
Below: This is a chic way of telling the arriving passengers in which town the train has stopped.
Below: Entering the station was a bit of a giggle as Loes had forgotten to bring her public transport card, so she couldn’t go through the security gates to the platform. She had a solution for that: she stayed very close to me as I went through the tourniquet. We shuffled like penguins. Nobody stopped us.
Below: A beautiful sign that says “Waiting room 3rd class“.
Below: First I “waited” on the platform. These black suede boots by IRO need another spray of black as they give off an old and tired vibe. Mind you, I haven’t worn them much.
Below: The sun was shining so brightly, I needed sunglasses.
Below: As I felt more of a First class passenger in this outfit, we went to the other side of the platform to the 1st class waiting room.
Below: Lots of beautiful wood and cut glass.
Below: The waiting room for “first class” passengers (anybody can sit here these days), isn’t too shabby.
Below: One of the waiting rooms has been turned into a gift shop. Always handy if you have forgotten to bring something.
Below: A Christmas star was still hanging from the ceiling.
Below: Little plants in a hanging pot, very cute.
Below: And many, many candles.
Below: Great station. See the “balcony” on the left?
Below: Close-up of the balcony. I wonder what these little rooms were for.
Below: The necklace and the bracelet are made of rubber and a find at a market in Amsterdam. The jumper is old.
Below: As we were about to leave the platform, we saw this tile art.
Below: Majestic is the word I was looking for.
Below: Bye station.
Below: Part of the station from the outside in bright sunlight.
Below: Loes and I went for a drink in a restaurant at the back of the station, called Vooges Centraal. As we arrived, a band was practising for a life performance that evening.
Below: I took a photo outside of Loes in her new coat.
Below: And indoors of her fun and very well coordinated outfit.
Below: Found a nice lamp again to show you.
Below: This time I remembered to ask the waiter to take a photo of Loes and me. These waiters have an entirely new job description nowadays.
What happened in my life this week
Saturday: did all sorts of shopping. Saturday is my favourite day of the week; I just love the atmosphere in the city on this day. After all my shopping I had lunch with friends Misja and Anja. You will see the post on that next week. A cold was starting to raise its ugly head.
Sunday: had to stay in bed until 2 p.m. as my cold was really bad. As I had nothing planned I thought it would be best to rest as long as possible. This way my body could dedicate all its energy to fighting the cold. Got up in the afternoon and pottered about.
Monday: I got up to go to work and then decided to work from home. Why give this cold to my colleagues, right? I was still sneezing and sniffling. Printed the application form for my pension and asked Ron to co-sign it, waving his right to benefit from my pension if I die before he does. I figured he already has enough money and this way I get more while I live. He signed, the darling.
Tuesday: Went to the plastic surgeon in the afternoon to check my repaired earlobes. He was very content and said I could get them pierced again. Of course I immediately set the wheels in motion. One of my colleagues gave me the address of a good piercing shop. She said they were far more precise than jewellers. The shop got back to me and said I could come round but warned me that in their opinion 3 1/2 months after surgery was too soon. Damn. I will give it until the middle of April before I go to them. The earlobes feel and look good but the scars haven’t disappeared completely yet.
Wednesday: fitness class of course and in the afternoon a photo shoot with Kitty. After the shoot we went for the usual coffee in a restaurant. As we were snuggling by the fire, we decided to extend our visit and have nibbles and drinks. I arrived home later than expected and husband Ron didn’t feel like cooking. He felt very much like going out for steak at Loetje (a restaurant famous for its steaks). Although I didn’t want to spend money this month on extras like going out to dinner or buying expensive stuff, I succumbed. The steak and fries were delicious and I put on extra weight from all the calories that day.
Thursday: a small fire in the parking garage at work caused a total evacuation of the building. And I was wearing high heels! Had to go down three stairs and walk quite a long way to the meeting point. My knee is not OK with these things. After an hour we could return. In the meantime we hit a restaurant and had coffee. No need to stand outside in the cold.
Friday: working from home. My lunch appointment with a former colleague was postponed by her (she woke up with a headache). In the afternoon I fetched sushi which we ate at our friend’s house. All very hunky dory. Wore this:
Greetje
That train station is a beautiful place for a photo shoot. I love a good ruffled skirt and that is a stellar one. Sorry to hear you had a cold; hope it’s gone now and you feel as good as new. Shelley
I am indeed feeling good as new. I have always been in love with tule skirts, the wide ones, but never found one which ticked all my boxes. This ruffled skirt comes close.
Greetje
You wear that skirt very well, and I like it with the bright pink. (Knowing how tall you are, I think I’d have to pull it up to my armpits not to step on it…) Always nice to hear about good customer service too.
That train station is fantastic! What beautiful architecture and design!
Hahaha, yes you definitely would have to remove some layers. I thought you would like the train station. It does remind me a bit of Paris.
Ooh, I love this wonderful tiered skirt – it looks awesome with the bright pink jumper! I will have to try that with my own black tulle skirt. The train station…just, WOW, that is one gorgeous building. So many details to take in.
I hope you are feeling better, Greetje! I agree with going to a piercer – they will do a good job of your ears when they are ready to be redone.
I thought piercing was a brilliant solution of my colleague. I wasn’t convinced the jeweller would do a good job.
When I saw your black tulle skirt from New Year I thought about this skirt which I had just received.
Who knows, you might in the future come over to Europe (Amsterdam) for a holiday and I can show you the Haarlem station in person.
Greetje
I’ve been to that train station in Haarlem several times, it was so nice to see it on your blog! The outfit is lovely, I bet the tiered skirt moves well when you walk.
I’m pleased you’re over your cold. I’ve had one as well, so I fully sympathise with the sneezing and sinuses malarkey.
I love the word malarkey. Never knew how to spell it. Glad I have been able to give you sweet memories with the station in this post. You should really come over again haha.
The tiered skirt is like wearing nothing. Better even as it doesn’t show lumps and bumps.
Such fun to do the shoot in this historic spot – loved that AND the great outfit!
Thanks Anne. Well, you have seen the station with your own eyes, so I guess it was memory time for you.
Greetje
Love your photo shoots…so many beautiful places to see and enjoy. And, something about you wearing denim jeans👖 and 👢boots ; a great look indeed!
Yes, I am a jeans girl at heart. And luckily the Netherlands and especially Amsterdam is all about jeans. It is like a uniform haha.
Greetje
As usual, you look great. Love the skirt, but I could not wear it because my hips are too big. Plus, I cannot wear heels so the proportions would be off. Your hair looks fantastic in these photos! Also, I love that lamp you showed. so unique!
We all have different body features to “hide” or to emphasize. My hips and bum are very small, so I always look for items which are especially good for that “flaw”.
You have to emphasize the things that are beautiful about you. And “hide” the bits you don’t like.
My hair has improved since I am using my husband’s “fixing stuff”. Amazing difference.
Greetje
Nice skirt and great with the boots! The Haarlem station is very special, we took lots of photos of it in 2018 when we were last there.
Liked the yellow sweater and jeans also!
Ah sweet memories for you. It is indeed a beautiful station. I hope you liked the Netherlands when you were here.
Greetje
Love the Netherlands! I’m married to a Dutchman, born in Baarn. We lived in Amersfoort in the early 1990s and have been back a few times, always special.
Just yesterday my son and daughter-in-law were talking about how nice it was to visit the small town of Paso Robles in California because they could walk around from hotel to restaurants and wine tasting places. I said, yes, like many cities in Europe. They have never been.
The US, especially California, made a huge mistake many years ago by not allowing living and businesses close together. That forced homes to be built out. Everything is so far you must drive everywhere. Our closest store is more than a mile away, in Amersfoort we had one across the street! We don’t have bicycle paths in very many places so we are stuck with having to drive cars everywhere. The train system here isn’t convenient, doesn’t get you to where you need to go, you need a car from the stations.
We have lots of sun and my body needs that so trips to the wonderful cities of the Netherlands are for special get aways. Haarlem one of the special cities!
With a Dutch husband I bet you will be visiting the Netherlands again. You can enjoy the rain haha. Never mind, as you say, lots of little coffee places and restaurants and shops to hop to, all very close by.
I do love my country for that. As for the lack of sunshine… yep, that is too bad.
Oh, yes! We will visit again. I changed the song title to, “I left my heart in Amersfoort,” they can keep San Francisco.
It was all sunny when we visited in September 2016 and May 2018. We stayed in Haarlem and Amersfoort for a few days each when we visited.
I always want to say Holland, it is so much more romantic than the Netherlands. 🙂
I totally agree, Holland is more romantic. Let me know when you are here again. We’ll have coffee.
Gorgeous skirt! I also read Midlife Chic and previously admired the skirt on Nikki. I love the way you paired it with those black suede boots 🙂
It is such an easy outfit to wear. The elastic waistband of the skirt makes it perfect for dinner dates. And the good thing is: you don’t have a tummy in it. Usually when I have a skirt with an elastic waistband, my tummy is sticking out. Not in this one.
Greetje
Lovely photos at the station, Greetje. Hope are a great company; really nice people to deal with and everything is made in Italy (I think). Such good fabrics, too. I have a couple of pairs of their trousers and I can thoroughly recommend them.
I also really like your final outfit with the sunny yellow jumper and jeans. It looks both comfy and stylish and that gets a big thumbs up from me!
I met the founder of Hope and a few staff members at a bloggers gathering a couple of years ago. They are indeed very nice people, very dedicated.
The outfit with the yellow jumper is indeed very comfortable. The older I get, the more comfort I want. Although I still wear high heels a lot and you cannot call that comfort haha.
Greetje