Four years ago I bought my first pleated skirt, now I have five of them. This yellow and black pleated skirt is my latest buy and it will be my last one. After all, how many pleated skirts can you wear, right? (Although that question applies to my whole wardrobe as I have so many clothes haha.)
The owner of the shop kpa.haarlem posted a photo of her wearing this skirt on Instagram. Such images lead me up the wrong path. This is how my mind works: “Those Converse sneakers are already in my wardrobe, pleated skirts suit me…so hop, let’s go to the shop.”
Below: The owner of kpa.haarlem. The skirt is sold out but she has a lot of new beautiful autumn clothes in her store. (No, I do not have shares in her business, nor do I receive anything for mentioning her shop. She is just good.)
Kitty took photos of this outfit in the same hour as she did the blue checked pane trousers of last week. Killing two birds with one stone. And I totally forgot to take a picture of her. Shame on me.
Below: There was a lot of green AND yellow in the background when we took the photos in this street.
Below: When I bought the skirt, I also bought a black linen shirt with it, which you will see later. A yellow top was another obvious option. The only yellow summer top in my wardrobe is this loose jumper, which you have seen me wear with my grey trousers.
Below: As you can see, this jumper (sweater) has batwing sleeves and it is not easy keeping all this fabric tucked into the skirt.
Below: Of course I found the perfect yellow top for this skirt (more form fitting) the day after the shoot for only € 20 in the sale. Typical.
Below: Close-up of the vintage brooch with a silly smile. Does anybody notice the brooch or do you all think: “Gosh, she’s got big knockers”? As that was the first thing I noticed when I saw this picture haha.
My eyebrows were still very dark; they are lighter now.
The pleated skirt with a black linen shirt
I could have waited and used the styling of this skirt with the black linen shirt for another blog post, but autumn is approaching and I didn’t want to wait until next spring. The shirt has equally big batwing sleeves, but they don’t give me the same trouble as the yellow jumper. It stays put.
Below: Picking apples in our friends’ garden. Dog Watson is photobombing.
Below: The brooch is vintage. I had put on my yellow eye brooch but Ron advised me to go for this vintage one.
Below: Checking the shots Ron has taken.
Below: Our friends’ garden is nice and big. Ron photographing me.
What happened in my life this week
I haven’t had any comment last week about your preference for this section. Do you prefer it day by day? Or like I did last week? For now I will continue as last week.
It has been a week with the usual coffees, lunches and dinners. Like having a coffee with my former colleague Marita (below), cheerful woman. She wore a lovely dress and a beautiful vintage necklace.
We both love the kpa.haarlem shop and sure enough, when I went in there 15 minutes after we had said goodbye, Marita was in the shop haha.
Below: I tried on this jacket which Marita had found but I thought it deserved somebody with a smaller waist than mine. Lovely jacket though.
We were invited to dinner at our neighbours who have a marvellous house with one floor more than ours and beautifully decorated. You can see photos of their house on Ingrid’s Instagram account: “Op nummer 50“.
Below: The table setting as we arrived. The food was excellent as well. The company of course was the best.
Then there were drinks at friends’ Georg and Marla. Ron took the photos above (with the black shirt) in their garden.
Below: Marla. She hasn’t been to the hairdresser since February, so she put her hair in a ponytail. She is a very beautiful woman and always has been. When she was young she looked like a movie star.
Below: Close-up of Marla’s antique jet necklace.
As my left earlobe is still not healed, unlike the right one, I paid a visit to the piercer again (lovely man). He reassured me that it was just matter of time. The earlobe wasn’t swollen, there was no infection, it just needs more time to heal. And I am sooo impatient.
After my visit to the piercer I passed the Uniqlo store and scored an outfit for my mindfulness yoga. As usual at Uniqlo, the prices are low and the quality is high. Had trouble choosing between the colours of the tops; I chose the right one. Less bright but autumn is on our doorstep.
Below: I know it is a bit of an overload but I am going to show you 6 photos of an arcade passageway as it is so pretty. It is the Beurspassage, the passageway linking Rokin with Nieuwendijk in Amsterdam Centre.
Below: It says: “Take some Mokum with you”. Mokum is the slang word for Amsterdam.
Below: I had a cappuccino and a macaroon while sitting on one of these little benches.
This week was rather quiet so I had time to read a book. One about a Dutch housekeeper (later PA and manager) to English castle owners in the Scottish Highlands. The book is called Cliffrock Castle but that is a fictitious name to protect everybody’s identity. It is a true story that took place in this last decade. To us Dutch, English people and especially the ones that went to boarding school, are another breed. We Dutch are direct and speak our minds. The people the housekeeper encountered, were the opposite. They said more by not saying it than by saying it. She quickly learned how to interpret. Fascinating book. Very much Downton Abbey which makes it so unbelievable it was in this last decade. I don’t think the book will ever be translated as I am sure the English won’t be able to understand the Dutch struggle and find us very rude.
Below: Wore this outfit on Wednesday for about 1 hour before going up in flames. It is just a thin shirt and it was only 17 degrees C (62F). Apparently if they make a winter shirt, however thin, it is still a winter shirt. (Link to original post.)
Another exciting event this week was the final fitting of my stepdaughter’s wedding dress. With some minor alterations that day, it was fine and she could take it home.
The weather was getting better here in the Netherlands and on Friday I could pick up my friend Marianne for an afternoon at the beach. She hadn’t been there for a year so she was very pleased and she wore a shell necklace. Below: Marianne.
Below: One of my famous selfies…
I wore a white jumper with a new pair of red trousers. New to me that is, as it was a gift from neighbour and friend Froukje. As I was getting Marianne in the car to go back, a voice behind me said: “What a beautiful pair of trousers you are wearing,” The voice belonged to Froukje who was just arriving together with her husband. What a coincidence. We had a good laugh.
Next week is going to be very sunny, so I will enjoy a bit of late summer.
Greetje
Hello Greetje,
I’ve never commented before, but I am a many years reader of your blog. I’m 33, live in California, and so maybe not exactly your target audience per se. Your writing style and great photography are so fun. I had to comment this week, as I am a huge fan of pleated midi skirts and love this look! I also appreciate the Dutch education from your blog, as I recently worked with a woman from the Netherlands on a project at work. I found her directness very familiar and wasn’t surprised like some of my coworkers lol. I’ve been to Amsterdam once, loved it, and can’t wait to get back sometime post Covid. Kind regards to you and yours.
No, at 33 you are indeed not my target audience. I feel flattered. If you are a fan of pleated skirts, you will have seen me in a few these past years.
As for being Dutch, I can tell you, most other people than the Dutch have great difficulty with our directness. Glad you don’t.
Hope you make it back to Amsterdam one day. It is my most beloved city.
I love the pleated skirt. I love this feminine length and the pretty print. The color scheme of the look is gorgeous. With the black shirt I also like it, but I prefer the first option. I like your salmon leggings for yoga, they highlight your beautiful legs. Great photos and how always lately, a beautiful close-up.
If you were to ask me honestly, I would always prefer boots or high heels with a skirt or dress. But apparently it is really high fashion to wear sneakers with it. My eye is getting used to it. My mind still is not. Big advantage of sneakers is of course that you can walk on them a lot easier than on high heels. Thank you for all your lovely compliments. To think you follow me for 7 years now. You are a truely loyal reader.
Great outfit. Yellow is so sunny. And it’s fun to read a re-cap of your weekly activities.
Thank Ally. I agree, yellow is a sunny colour, which is why I use it often. And I am glad to hear you enjoy my weekly ‘adventures’.
The yellow pleated skirt suits you to a tee. Charming! Loved all the photos. The arcade looked just great.
I am glad I included all the photos of the arcade. It seems to be appreciated. Thanks for the compliments; they always make me glad.
I used to find pleated skirts to be very fuddy-duddy (old fashioned, dated) but a swooshy one will always win my heart, and now I have at least 4-5 pleated skirts. That yellow/black one is marvelous, and you look so good in yellow, Greetje.
Ha ha, as a fellow big-knockered woman, that made me laugh out loud! I popped over my husband’s shoulder while he was on Zoom the other night and ended up giving everyone a good shot of my boobs filling the camera lens. 😛
That arcade is amazing! What a beautiful place.
Don’t care about your format – it’s your blog, do what you want. Sorry to hear about your piercing still not healed! I’m currently waiting for my new glasses (now, 8-9 weeks since I ordered), and I’m just so impatient!
Take care, my dear! Have a fabulous week.
A big-knockered woman hahaha.. that is a phrase I have never heard. Most of the times I am all right with it. Sometimes when I cannot get them in a dress or the jacket cannot close properly, I am fed-up with them. But they are there, end of story. I am sure the men who L was in Zoom conference with, appreciated it. One of my friends walked behind her husband, engaged in Zoom conference, stark naked. Now that it the ultimate.
Being impatient is something we have in common. Not the best of things to be blessed with.
Hello,
Greetje I enjoy your posts in whatever format you choose. You never fail to provide a few moments of fun and inspiration. Your fashion choices, dealing with aging issues and trails through Amsterdam always lift me up.
The main purpose of my blog is to cheer people up, to make them smile or laugh. So I am glad I succeed with you. Makes my blogger’s heart sing.
Love the pleated skirt and the brooch stood out as soon as I saw the photo, I love both blog formats but think its easier to just discuss the week as a whole! Love Mariannes necklace too.
I love your style but also love your weekly story, I never read a blog just for the clothes I want to get to know the lifestyle of the person writing it too!
Keep on blogging Grettje, you’re good at it!
That is a wonderful comment you wrote. Nothing but praise. I have to watch it and not get too big for my boots haha. Anyway: thank you very much. I love blogging. Perhaps that is why I am doing so well. You are usually pretty good in doing something you love. The passion shows.
Another beautiful set of photos Greetje. I did notice the brooch. I think it tied the outfit together very well.
I think the current format works better. By formatting it this way, you can focus on events/experiences during the week that you most like to write about.
We have returned to summer in the UK today, so I hope the sun is shining in The Netherlands too.
Thanks for the compliments Carole and I agree with you about the current format working better.
A friend of mine told me that the brooch is nice but the outfit could do with a bigger brooch. I agree with her, so I am on the look-out.
And yes the sun is shining brightly here.
Hi Greetje, I am not a fan of pleated skirts (on me) but this one is super cute. I like the old format.
Wow, must be a truly good outfit if you go from not being a fan to super cute haha. Thanks. Unfortunately for you, I decided to continue with the new format because it gives me more freedom. Hope you will enjoy it anyway.
LOL – All Brits are like that not just us English. Having worked with the Dutch for many years the directness is something l’m used to and it may also have rubbed off a little as well! Still, the differences between nations is what makes the world so interesting.
I like the new layout and the old layout.
Best wishes.
I always liked the Brits and the UK. Not that I will ever emigrate, but if I would, I think I would choose England (the south) or Italy. Love both countries although I am firmly rooted in the Netherlands.
At work we had a list with three columns. The first column said “This is what the English say”, the second one said: “This is what the Dutch think is said” and the third one said: “This is what the English meant”. With examples as: “Good point”/ “Oh I am doing really well, he likes me”/ “Absolute rubbish”.
I agree with Colleen that the new format seems to flow better. That said, I’ll read and enjoy your writing no matter what the format. I love the first outfit the best, but I have no patience with tops that don’t stay put, so I understand the need to switch it out. That pleated skirt is so cute on you, especially with the sneakers! Pretty, fuss-free, and comfy shoes equals the perfect outfit in my book.
Thanks for the feedback and the compliments Wendy. Really appreciate it. Sometimes I look at myself and think: “All Star Converse sneakers? Really? At your age??” But then I just shrugg and get on with my life.
My retirement life will cause some adjusting in style I presume. Less pencil skirts and high heels (which I like very much as well). I cannot see myself walking around all day in the house on heels.
No one’s life is that interesting everyday so I for one would rather just read the highlights of your week, or rather those things that you think your readers might find of interest. I look forward to your posts. You have a wonderful use of color. I may not always think your styles would be for me but I’m fascinated by your bold choices and your candor about your beauty routines and what you do to keep up appearances at your age (same as my age!). And you make me laugh.
The new format works better for me too. I agree that repetitive boring things like ‘exercises’ aren’t worth mentioning.
Colour and especially bright colours make me look (much) better than black or white. But sometimes I don’t care and buy these colours anyway. I can always add colourful earrings.
My ‘beauty routines’ is a lovely way of describing all the things I had done to me haha.
The fact I make you laugh is the loviest compliments you could have made me. Thank you so much.
I think the pastel Uniqlo flatters you more. My rule of thumb is: If I put on a garment and I look at my face first in the mirror, it’s a flattering color. If I look at the garment first, it’s not a flattering color. Love your blog!
Your approach is totally mine too. I thought the darker colour flattered me as well and as autumn is approaching I chose that one. But perhaps I was wrong. So nice that you love my blog. Warms my blogger’s heart.
Hi Greetje. I enjoy your weekly posts so much. It is like a pleasant visit to the Netherlands. I think your new format flows more naturally and is easier to read. Thanks for sharing your beautiful wardrobe and your styling savvy.
I agree with you about the new format more naturally flowing. The old format was more staccato and repetitive. You thank me for sharing but I thank you for reading.
I prefer your updates by the day. And I love the skirt with the black top; really lets all the attention go to the beautiful skirt.
Well Maryellen, I think I am going to disappoint you with the format. I like the new format better as it is less repetitive on boring subjects and it gives me more freedom with my outfits.
Thanks for the compliments on the skirt.
Perfect skirt and black top!! Nice with yellow as well. the passage way makes me think of Milanos Vittorio Emanuelle passage way. superb in all directions. thanks for sharing.
I so know what you are talking about. That Vittorio Emanuelle passage way was AWESOME. Much bigger and grander than this one. Been there and put my heel on the bull’s balls haha.
And guess what… I asked a friend of mine to give me some styling tips (she is very good) and she said that my upper body was too short in my latest post about the baby blue trousers haha. She explained and now I agree with you.
Hi, Greetje! Love your new pleated skirt. I prefer the old day-by-day format but of course, will be happy whatever format you choose 🙂
For me, the new format feels better. The old format also showed what I wore every day and that felt restrictive. I didn’t put on new clothes because they hadn’t been on the blog yet. I don’t want to feel restricted so I think I will stick to the new format.
Hi Greetje, I love details so for me I like it more when you say what day and show us the outfit you wore that day. It is like reading someone’s else journal with their permission. hehe Thank you for making Sunday a little more fun.
I get your point but it was getting restricting for me to show an outfit every day. It was a new thing because I thought I would have too little content in COVID time. Turns out I don’t.
I also didn’t like to repeat boring things like exercises. I like your journal point haha.
I like the new format as well.
The jury is still out. No final verdict on the format haha. But I think it will remain the new one.
The skirt and the high tops are perfection! Always look forward to your blog on Sunday. I like the new week summary but either way works.
Thanks for the format feedback DeeDee. And for the compliments. I love it when a reader is actually looking forward to my blog posts on Sunday. So rewarding.
I always enjoy your posts. It’s been a good part of my Sunday reading. I do enjoy seeing your visits. That arcade was amazing. I live in rural Colorado. And, although September is the best month here, I enjoy all your traipsing through the Netherlands In every season.
I suppose my scenery is a lot different from rural Colorado. Glad to take you on a virtual trip. And thank you for teaching me a new word: traipsing.
Hi Greetje, I prefer the day by day format but it’s your blog! Lovely photos of you and the arcade. I liked the first yellow jumper the most. Lovely brooches.
Thanks for the feedback on the format Isa. So far I have two in favour of the old format and two in favour of the new haha. You say it is your blog, but of course I write it to be read. So the opinion of my readers is important. The new format allows me more freedom and less repetition of things like exercise. Funny you prefer the first yellow jumper. I thought the second one was better. I will have another look. Brooches…. I have a weakness for them and I have many.
I like the new format also. Giving us the highlights without doing it day by day. I love your new pleated skirt. Last winter in Nice, I saw many French woman wearing pleated skirts of all lengths. I have yet to find one that suits me. Hard to find when I’m not going into any stores at the moment -ha ha
I do think the black jacket looked good on you. But perhaps from the side it didn’t suit as well.
The new format allows me to skip the repeating dreary stuff like exercises.
Pleated skirts have been around for a couple of seasons now so I am well stocked (from before COVID). Sometimes I need to put an A-line underskirt underneath it to create a waist and a more hourglass figure. That is my trick with my body shape. But with this yellow and black one, an underskirt was too much.
The black jacket is a kimono/PJ type of jacket and my waist has more benefit from a structured jacket (of which I have plenty). As I am trying to spend less money, I left it behind in the shop.
Dear Greetje,
I’m Dutch on my maternal grandfather’s side so that explains why I’m so direct! Of course, I’m also English on that side as well so go figure!
I adore hearing about your week, seeing how you style your clothes, taking great pleasure in all those lovely pictures of Amsterdam and other delightful spots in the Netherlands!
If your aim is to entertain, well, I, for one, think you hit the bullseye every week.
In the USA, we’re still sequestering in place- – -in my case, Arizona, where the temps are in the triple digits Fahrenheit.
Thank you for sharing your hobby with me.
Gratefully,
CJ
Being Dutch and English will be quite a juxtaposition. I can hear the voices in your head arguing with each other haha.
You showered me with compliments and I am very grateful. It is nice to know my hobby is appreciated.
As for temperatures in the triple digits F…. that would kill me, I am sure.
Oh, that skirt with the yellow top and sneakers is perfection!! I just love this on you!
I love Froukje’s glasses, such a fun shape.
And that passageway…wow. Absolutely stunning!
You had me going back and forth through my post. I thought “Froukje?? Froukje wasn’t in this post, was she?” You meant Marianne haha. Thank you for the compliments dear Susan.
Have rarely seen you in black but you look striking and beautiful in it. Especially with the yellow skirt. You are lucky: most of us cannot wear black.
When I found out which colours suited me best, black and white were not included. Neither beige, camel, pastels and jeans colour. But sometimes I just don’t care and buy black or white anyway. Usually I try and liven it up by wearing big red earrings or so. But I have to wait until that stubborn left earlobe is healed.
Lovely photos and outfits. I like both formats, but think I prefer your day by day adventures.
Thanks for the lovely compliments and the feedback on the format. I think I will stick to this format for a while. I had the feeling I was repeating myself too much with the day by day format. Also a lot of non information like doing exercises.
Greetje, I really like the new format for your weekly adventures – a mixed bag of treats. What a stunning place is the Beurspassage, and your photos do it justice. I look forward to your Sunday posts.
Thanks for the feedback on my new format Gill. I prefer this as well. I hesitated whether I would put so many photos of the Beurspassage on the blog. But then I thought, if I like it, why wouldn’t my readers?
And I am also very pleased with your comment about looking forward to my posts. Thank you.
Hello you,
LOVE Marianne’s necklace!
Oops, sorry, I forgot, this blog is all about you, isn’t it? 😉 Yes, yes, my dear, you look as lovely as ever but what I’m really really interested in this that beautiful arcade. A-mazing! I am so missing Amsterdam right now so spend a lot of time gazing at the backgrounds of your photos, afraid you have to take second place. Oh dear, I’m beginning to sound like I’m Dutch and being rude. Too much contact with you, eh?
Suppose I’d better smooth any ruffled feathers: your new clothes are spot on, I particularly liked the black jacket outfit you tried on in kpa. You looked quite elegant!
Aha, now you have to decide if I’m being ironic or not!*
Take care now,
Luv
Gee
* Not.
Hahaha, you big tease. No, this blog is not all about me. It is all about entertaining you. The arcade is something my friend Anja discovered and when I passed it last week I was in awe.
I will gladly take second place to your enjoyment. And it takes a whole lot more (really a whole lot more) before you would be rude in my eyes haha. No ruffled feathers here.
Thanks for the compliment about the black jacket. I didn’t buy it as I have a lot of black jackets in my wardrobe plus it could do with a smaller waist than mine.