Of course this combination is the easiest of all: white trousers with a blue top. To make it a bit more interesting I threw in two more colours: red and yellow. If you are a loyal reader, you will recognize the trousers, bag and shoes. They have been featured a number of times. The yellow necklace and belt as well, but they are older. (You cannot see the belt very well in the photos. Sorry about that; I wasn’t paying attention.)
I am trying to create more outfits with nearly the same components. The blue silk top is new in the sense you haven’t seen it before (I think). It is by Bellamy Gallery, one of my favourite sustainable brands. Great products, very transparent and very reasonably priced.
Loes and I chose the picturesque area of Haarlem called ‘Vijfhoek’ to take the photos.
Below: The yellow belt is showing a bit better in this photo. I either have to wear it a little more loosely or choose a different yellow belt as this one rides up.
Below: Here is Loes in a lovely dress. The colour of the bike makes a great combination. It isn’t her bike, just one that was ‘parked’ in the street.
Below: As we walked on, we saw the entrance of an almshouse which has already been background for a post in the winter of 2015. More information about this almshouse in my winter post of December 2015.
Below: I love how people ‘decorate’ the front of their houses like this. So cosy. Or as we say: ‘gezellig’. The heat or autumn makes these flowers look less pretty.
Below: Inside the almshouse courtyard, is this big wall with ivy, just begging to be used as background.
Below: Right… we gave in to the begging.
Below: This is a photo with the big ivy covered wall behind us, overlooking the courtyard.
Below: The houses themselves.
Below: In front of one of the houses were a little table and chairs.
Below: Couldn’t resist it…and nobody chased us away.
Below: How about this for a little pond? Cute, right?
Below: We continued our trip to one of my two favourite coffee restaurants: Het Koffiekantoor this time. And again I had a pastel de nata. Have to think of my weight but this is such nice pastry.
Below: The girl that took our order was kind enough to take a photo of Loes and me together.
What happened in my life this week
Saturday. I have no recollection of this day. Oh…now I remember, I cycled into town to get serum for my hair (expensive stuff from Balmain) as my hair felt like rope. I don’t really believe in these serums but I had to do something. Surprisingly it worked really well. The centre of the town was packed with people as there were jazz concerts on the main square and the Saturday market stalls had moved to the side streets. As it didn’t feel COVID safe at all, I immediately cycled home again after I got my serum.
Sunday. Had to go to the hairdresser to have my fringe cut. It was much quieter in town, but as I have to get a grip on my spending, I went straight back home again after the cut. Perhaps I should take a crucifix and garlic with me when I pass shops. Wore this Essentiel shirt below (link to original post with jeans and sneakers plus link to original post with these pink sandals):
Monday. Exercises first. Then, on our way to my mum’s house to celebrate her 92nd birthday, we picked up the big cake we ordered. My brother and sister-in-law were there as well, so it was a nice family day. Wore my RIXO London dress as it was a festive occasion. (Link to original post.)
In the evening I had a long phone conversation with a friend whom I hadn’t seen for a long time.
Tuesday. Did a lot of chores like ironing, bookkeeping, cleaning the house, ordering pharmacy stuff, going to the dry cleaner etc. so I was happy I could cross so many things off my list. I love crossing off items from a list.
In the morning a lovely lady who designs earrings, facetimed with me to create the perfect colour, size and shape earring. She sells lightweight earrings on her site but I couldn’t find the right combination. Turned out you can customize your order. As my left earlobe is still not fully healed yet I will have to wait with showing it, but I can give you a link to her website anyway: laradesign.nl. The site is not in English yet. She is working on it but she does ship internationally. Wore this easy outfit that day. Link to original post jumper and link to original post flared jeans.
Wednesday. We were going to have new solar panels installed on the roof as the ones we have (16 of them) are from 1995. However, the storm François was really hitting the coast, so they just unloaded the panels and said they would make a new appointment. Very wise.
In the evening I had dinner with my friend Neiske in Amsterdam. She is a very intelligent and sweet woman. Well, really, all my friends are. It is a good thing I did my exercises again in the morning. All this eating out. Wore this (link to original post):
Thursday. Had a jolly day with two of my five BVA girlfriends. Marijke and I took Marianne to the shopping mall of Amstelveen as it wasn’t very warm and Marianne needs a lot of warmth. Therefore no outdoorsy stuff. We had lunch and coffee and saw a lot of shops but didn’t buy anything. One exception: Marijke bought a little bag for her daughter in the sale. We were quite proud of ourselves. We were so busy chatting that I forgot to take any photos. Sorry. The girls looked their best again.
Below: Wore this easy outfit. Link to original post.
As I drove back home, Ron was on the phone and he suggested we would eat out: steak at our favourite restaurant. You cannot refuse to go out for dinner with your husband, now can you? But it is getting a bit much haha.
Friday. Sorry girls, again I had lunch. This time with my friend Maurits. He was best man at our wedding. I have quite a loud laugh and I laugh a lot. Maurits is exactly the same in this area. We both can bring the house down. One time, years ago, we had dinner at an Italian restaurant and were crying in our napkins with laughter. The people at a table next to us, offered us coffee as they had to laugh so much because of us. You get the picture, right?
Below: Maurits.
I wore something you haven’t yet seen on the blog, so you are only allowed to see a glimpse.
Simple dinner that evening. Tomorrow I will do my exercises again and hop on the scale to see whether my weight needs ‘adjusting’.
Greetje
Oh, so many great outfits here, Greetje. You know I covet that wonderful dress, and I recognize your white booties from the Vancouver blogger meet-up (can you believe that was 5 years ago??). I am envious of your ivy wall backdrop.
I’m like you: when my husband suggests dinner out, I’m a “yes!” every time!
Love Loes’ dress, and how thoughtful of all those people to make their houses so photogenic for you, ha ha!
Hope this week is going well for you!
Wouldn’t I love to do that blogger meet-up again ! It was such a warm experience. And I laughed my head off.
“My” ivy wall backdrop isn’t really”my” backdrop. I have to cycle to this place.
I do agree it is very thoughtful of all those people to make their houses so photogenic. And especially for me. So kind.
This week has started pretty good, so I am confident it will continue this way. Wishing you the same.
Very cute combination of primary colors. Good outfit.
Confession: I’ve admired your hair-style for years. I’m growing my hair longer now and although I’m not sure I can duplicate your style before retiring, I’m gonna play with it along that vein. Thanks for the inspiration!
You have no idea what a fantastic compliment that is. Copying my hair style. I have thin hair and there is not a lot of it. With the big help of my hairdresser who cuts it in a way it looks as if she adds hair, this hair-style is really the only style that works. It is not always this nice as it sometimes goes flat with wind and dampness but a bit of back-combing helps a lot. Wishing you every success with it.
I will add my admiration for Maurits’ style – his eyeglasses are very cool and I like the bold print shirt!
I like the mix of primary colours with the white pants. I really like the bright yellow top with those dark wash jeans – your legs look miles long! You always look so put-together and I am such a slob these days.
I try and dress nice every day because I think it influences the way I feel about myself. And I am also afraid that if I don’t dress up every day, it will go downhill with me. Quickly.
The fact that I have committed myself to showing my OOTD in my Sunday blog post helps as well. Although it is also very restricting. I don’t want to wear the new stuff or a new combination if it hasn’t been on the blog yet. I will have to show less OOTD per week to ‘solve’ this. (If these are your ‘problems’, you have none. Right?)
I think you wear so many colors so well. I am always interested in the mix and match you do with the colors and jewelry. The jeans and white pants are very cute.
I giggled at the comment about not remembering what you did on a certain day. I feel that way alot in the Covid months.
I can’t say it’s my favorite outfit, but the clothes and accessories are beautiful and make up a very successful Tommy look. Also, white and blue are colors that I like a lot. For me, you are a girl with jeans or beautiful dresses, but this top is beautiful and the pants fit you really well. I love these photos of your country, one of my traveling dreams. Your close-up at the end of the post is beautiful, you look gorgeous! I really like the looks at the end, some very much.
I can understand this is not a favourite outfit for you, but you are still very generous with your compliments. Thank you.
Travelling to whichever country is not something we will be doing any time soon. Alas.
The close-up at the end shows me without my smile but not in a bad way. Which is why I wanted to share it. Also to show I don’t hide or photoshop my wrinkles.
Nice outfits. Loved the yellow jacket and the cool sneakers! Mauritz is a cool KAT!! Interestingly, while in Amsterdam last year I observed a gathering for a wedding. I noticed the men outdoing the women in the
Cool Factor! Quite fit and handsome too!
I think I can agree with you. The women in Amsterdam are relaxed in jeans and the men make a bit more effort. Generalizing of course.
Thanks for the compliments. I forwarded your comment on Maurits to him. He appreciates this.
What a gorgeous man Maurits is! Please thank him for brightening my day!
PS. Your blog is a ray of sunshine. Thank you!
I will sure tell Maurits your compliment. He will very much appreciate it. And I fully agree. Thank you for your lovely compliment about my blog. So nice of you.
I approve of the added yellow and red to this outfit, a nice “garnish” and so cute! I really like that orange cardigan on you too. And do I spy some familiar necklaces at the end??? 😉
Lots of great outfits in this post – thanks! And I am so jealous that you get to go to your hair stylist. I haven’t had mine cut since early March! It figures that I finally found someone who gives me the world’s best cuts, and now I can’t see her here in Northern California. My shoulder-length fine curly hair is starting to look kind of witchy – oh well…
I especially love all the color you wear. It is inspiring. My favorite this week is the outfit with the pants with the stripes. Looks sporty in a sophisticated way.
I echo the previous comments that mention your marvelous sense of style. Every time you show that red bag From Midlife Chic, I kick myself that I didn’t buy one!
I always giggle when I read a compliment like my sense of style. Usually the styling is done by the shop assistent/shop owner. But I will admit that I created this outfit myself (so proud).
As for the bag, I know Nikki is awaiting designs and prices for new bags. She is hoping to bring the tote again although in a slightly different design and in winter colours. Then in spring in lighter colours. But everything is not definite yet. Keep an eye out. I will too.
All your outfits are so stylish!
As the French say: Nobless oblige. If you start a blog about outfits, you have a ‘duty’ to show stylish outfits, right? But believe me, I get a lot of help. Especially from shop assistents/owners.
I particularly enjoy reading your blog now as I will be retiring in October. You are inspiring me to stay well-dressed and active.
It gives you joy and self-worth when you keep being well-dressed. And self-worth or self confidence gets you places. Mind you, COVID-19 stops me from getting to all the places I want to go to, but still, I cannot really complain heh heh. Wishing you happy retirement.