Normally I wouldn’t post a photo with such windswept hair but Misja, who took this photo, said it was total nonsense. Misja has her blog MisjaB and is a good photographer. As she can look differently and more objectively at me, I will take her word for it. This is the double-breasted jacket of my trouser suit. The suit that I couldn’t style as I told you a couple of weeks ago. Wearing both items separately is the only solution. You already saw the trousers with a jumper three weeks ago (at the end of the post) and here is the jacket combined with jeans.
I took a very old and colourful tie of Ron’s and emphasised the colour red with the (old) ankle boots. Misja made me turn up my sleeves for a more casual effect. The shade of red of the boots isn’t quite right in this photo above; the photos below show the colour better.
But let’s start at the beginning. Misja, Anja (Curly Traveller) and I met for lunch at café/restaurant Fortuyn on a Saturday. We form the Haarlem Bloggers, but the fourth member (Sylvia of 40+Style) was still in Singapore. Too bad.
Below: Anja arrived soon after I had claimed a table for the three of us as it was very busy. She was wearing a jumper (sweater) with birds..
Below: … and a matching ring with a bird.
Below: Misja arriving, well protected from the cold. Cute hat.
As we always do, we chatted, gave an update on what we were doing with our life and had lunch. Far too quickly we had to say goodbye again.
Below: Misja took this picture outside restaurant Fortuyn. (I am pulling a bit of a strange face.) This is the right colour of the boots.
Below: Misja is really good at styling, as you can see below. Every time I see her I say to myself “Why don’t I ever think of that?” Some people have the gift.
Below: Close-up of the brooch. The artist made this after Misja’s image. So good.
We said goodbye and I cycled back home with a stop at my hairdresser to have my fringe trimmed.
Below: This is the street, called Zeilstraat, from the big market square to my hairdresser.
Below: The beautiful old building where my hairdresser (Rob Peetoom) resides.
Below: Indoors where there is no wind… Ruby, my hairdresser’s daughter, was kind enough to take a few photos with my hair done nicely.
Below: And she took a few on the stairs. This one I like best.
Below: Took some more photos of lovely Haarlem around the Zeilstraat. The first photo below is the view from the hairdresser.
Below: And this is the building next door which used to be the post office. As you can see there are bicycles everywhere. It is like a plague in the Netherlands, but they are so handy with the short distances we have to cover.
Below: Going home on my bike I spotted the yellow house on the corner.
Below: Popped by my flower shop Jasmijn Bloembinders, to pick up the flowers I had bought earlier that day (such a nice shop)…
Below: …and fell in love with these little green vases; bought one.
Below: This is Brie, one of the sales assistants. The flower arrangements in the little green vases above are her handiwork.
Below: Another rather spectacular building.
Below: Passing this restaurant I took a photo of the impressive chandelier. The people on the right (total strangers) were waving at me haha.
Below: Next door was the entrance with more chandeliers hanging in the corridor. Love it.
And that concludes this post. A bit of everything and lots of buildings. Hope I didn’t bore you.
What happened in my life this week
Saturday: cancelled my appointment with the hairdresser as my hair was looking sooo good and the cut wasn’t due for another week. Only my hairdresser (Inge) was going on holiday. I rescheduled and Jaimy is going to cut it. She is good with my hair too. Did all sorts of shopping in town and in the afternoon had a photoshoot with Loes. Picked up my repaired sewing machine from the store.
Sunday: it was raining cats and dogs so I stayed in all day. Sewed loops on my legging so I can wear it with a belt and don’t have to hoist it up every 5 seconds. A disadvantage of having no hips.
Monday: normal day at work, nothing interesting to tell.
Tuesday: again a normal day at work. I am doing the odd jobs now. Like proofreading, making an add, small stuff. And I explained a few little tasks I used to do to a colleague who is taking over from me.
Wednesday: that was a lovely day. My friend Marjolein visited me and we hit town. She had bought me a lovely bunch of pink roses. As that was too heavy to carry around all day, I asked the owner of a store I frequent, whether she would hold them for me and I would pick them up at the end of the day (and she did). We had a very pleasant day and Marjolein bought a nice pair of trousers. I did take a photo of her in her lovely bright purple outfit but did such a bad job of it that I do not want to show that picture.
Thursday: easy start of the day, did a bit of work and went for lunch with my friend Maurits in the adjacent restaurant. Always nice to see him. I also met 3 colleagues that day whom I hadn’t seen for about 7 years so that was fun. In the evening tried to get 98 records back into my iTunes music library and failed. Let’s see whether I have them somewhere in a back-up.
On my way out, I saw a woman sitting somewhere in the office, wearing a great outfit. I plumped down on the seat opposite her to pay her a compliment… and it was Sabine haha. Trust her to come up with such a marvellous colourful combination.
Friday: working from home in the morning. Had a lovely lunch with my ex-colleague Katrien. She is very creative and made this marvellous puffer coat herself. Needless to say, she gets compliments left and right, even from strangers. I do have colourful friends!
Next week: orange snake print shirt and funny 25th anniversary photos.
Greetje
I love Katrien’s puffer coat! Your friends are very stylish and definitely not afraid of bold colours. That is a great photo of you sitting on the stairs. Shelley
I often wonder whether I look for directness and love for clothes/colour in friends. Not that I am aware of, but who knows what your subconsciousnessis doing.
I am making “grabby” hands at Katrien’s coat – it’s amazing! Love your outfit here, Greetje – the simple white shirt with Ron’s tie and the jacket – just perfect! Yes, to the cuffs flipped back like that too. Misja’s brooch made me laugh – it’s got boobs!
Is it starting to feel real, that you’re retiring? I have 10-ish years to go, and wow, do I want it!
What do you want? The 10 more years? Or the retirement?
Yes it is starting to feel very real. I am very concerned I might be bored to tears if I cannot find another job (less stress and less hours) or something else to do. I will also miss the jokes and laughter with my colleagues. But of course I welcome the free time and the sleeping in in the morning.
I will tell Katrien you like her coat as well. It took her a lot of hours to create it.
What do you want? The 10 more years? Or the retirement?
Yes it is starting to feel very real. I am very concerned I might be bored to tears if I cannot find another job (less stress and less hours) or something else to do. I will also miss the jokes and laughter with my colleagues. But of course I welcome the free time and the sleeping in in the morning.
I will tell Katrien you like her coat as well. It took her a lot of hours to create it.
A lot of gems in this post. First, your outfit is superb. so very you and I love the addition of the tie (you ARE creative!). Of course I totally agree with Misja on the hair too. Misja’s brooch is brilliant too. Of course it’s always good to see images of both Misja and Anja too. Miss you girls! And then there is the puffer coat. So gorgeous. The beautiful images of Haarlem make me miss the ‘gezelligheid’ although I’m happy not to have to deal with the cold weather…..How long to go before you officially ‘retire’?
5 weeks to go to my official retirement. I really have to find something else to do.
I am looking forward seeing you again this summer. Although I think the Haarlem Bloggers will have to miss Anja then. Depends on when she will move.
And the tie creative? Hmm, I think it is reasonably standard. That puffer coat of Katrien, now that is creative.
This is one of my favorite outfits on you! You have such a lovely long neck that the higher collar is very flattering.
Isn’t it funny how other people look at you? I don’t really like my long neck. And here you are, giving compliments about it. Thank you.
Could you ask your friend Misja where she bought the brooch? Is there a shop on-line? I understand the brooch was made especially for her but nevertheless, the artist might have some other brooches for sale? Thank you.
I will ask for you.
The name of the artist that made Misja’s brooch is: Moniek Postma. Via Instagram: moniekpp
First, WHOA, if Katrien ever wants to make those coats to sell, please tell her I’m her first order. I adore that puffer coat. Your tie and boots and blazer look fab. I’ve never seen you wear a tie before, but you really suit this look. Your hair looks great in all photos, windblown or not. Also, gaaaaaah! Those chandeliers! xx
We were talking about her selling the creations she made. It is of course a matter of “how much can you ask for it?” and “how much time does it cost her to make one”.
I never wear a tie as I don’t like clothes that are that high up. I hardly ever wear a turtle neck either. But I needed colour near my face and the jackets buttons up really high. Ergo.. the tie.
Chandeliers… Holland holds many of them. We are no France but we do have a fair share of these dust gatherers.
Love the outfit — so beautifully styled! I also noticed the gorgeous eyeglasses your friends wear — so stylish!
Misja and Katrien are both very into striking eyewear. If you have to wear glasses, make the most of it, right?
What a great idea to add loops for a belt. I also have no hips, will have to try that on a couple of things I have that slip. Thanks!
As you can see on the photo, I use strong ribbon for loops.
Good luck with your sewing.
Greetje
I love how you added to the tie to “tie” in the red boots! Nicely done. And I agree with Misja, some people pay big money for wind machines for that “windswept” look. It’s very natural. You look great!
Misja’s brooch is fabulous, and so is the colorful puffer coat. I’m just in awe of creative women.
Actually I did it the other way round: I added the boots to “tie” in with the tie.
My hair is always worrying me, as you know. So I am very conscious.
And I share your awe of creative people. Before I had my blog I tried to be creative as in making things: flower arrangements, paintings, gift wrapping. I sucked at everything haha.
Lovely double breast jacket. I also really like your red boots. Great styling.
Thanks Ivana. It is an old recipe: jeans, white shirt, black jacket. Always does the trick.