Another photo shoot in cold, cold circumstances, capturing the charm of this orange leather skirt. Husband Ron was the location scout and he found some marvellous backgrounds. Kitty was thrilled with these locations, which meant we had to drive to the harbour of IJmuiden. The harbour! Where the wind has free play!
You will see a lot of photos, all of the same outfit, some with and some without a coat. If I am boring you with too many photos, please let me know in the comments and I will reduce the amount next time.
Below: Ships in the background and I am still in coat and scarf, not doing too badly.
Below: The nose is slowly turning red.
Below: Marvellous background. As if they knew I was coming in my orange skirt. You have seen it before in this post when it was a lot warmer. I am laughing, because Kitty was telling me off for slouching.
Below: There is a very dangerous (oh la la) zip at the back which goes all the way up. Until today nobody dared to play a joke on me by pulling it.
Below: This is an example of slouching but believe me, there were many photos where the slouching was much worse. We had moved some 50 metres to a harbour building. We love stairs. The boots are a couple of years old and by IRO Paris. The texture of the tights matches the texture of the jumper.
Below: At the top of the stairs was a vista to the boats.
Below: A nice head-to-toe shot.
Next background was a bit further, to the very end of the harbour. A place where you got the wind from three sides, blowing in over open water. Get the picture?
Below: The statue of the stern fisherman was shat on by this seagull. There obviously have been seagulls before him. Do you think they take turns?
Below: A bench haha…a bench. MINE.
I put my orange coat on the bench to avoid getting dirt on my skirt. Apparently I wasn’t thinking as I wouldn’t have liked to get dirt on the coat either. Should have used the scarf to sit on.
Kitty managed to get the back of a passing ship in the shot. (Note: the lace at the back of the boots should have been tied.)
Below: I hoisted myself up there, yes I did. This time I sat on the scarf. As I was climbing up, a man called out to me: “Hey girl, put your coat on!” Haha. He was in full winter gear. I told him “No, can’t do; sacrifices have to be made for fashion photography”.
Below: One last photo, a close-up of the orange earrings. By Lara Design of course. With such cheerful earrings I can ‘neutralize’ the inadvisable effect of the black jumper on my face.
Ron has found more backgrounds amidst horrible conditions. Kitty loves those locations too. Life of a model is hard.
What happened in my life this week
Through my help, I learned about the cleaning cloths of IZI Clean. I had ordered a dozen cloths and took two of them to my mum, whom we visited again last Saturday (no photos this week). These cloths are fantastic for smooth surfaces. Did the outside windows at the back which was a first haha. You can use them damp without any cleaning products. Terrific. Gave two to Kitty, who immediately cleaned her whole house that evening. She was just as enthusiastic. So funny to rave about such a product, but hey, anything that makes life easier is welcome.
Last week I showed you my new jewellery cabinet and my little office. I thought I would give you some background on the paintings. They were painted by a female artist who is Down’s syndrome and this was the subject (a bookcase):
I think it is marvellous how she created these paintings from such a boring subject. I had trouble photographing them as I don’t have enough distance in my room.
Below: Remembering the photo of me in my grey bathrobe, made me decide to buy another one. As luck would have it, there was a leaflet in the mailbox of a young company called Jacqi, advertising this one. Blue with white. I say it is a huge improvement. Jacqi does ship internationally and they have 6 different bathrobes. I gave you the link, see for yourself. Next on the agenda are slippers.
Sunday Kitty and I did this shoot with my orange leather skirt.
I filled my Monday with a visit to the doctor for something minor. The circles under my eyes are really deep and red and people started to ask questions. The doctor couldn’t find anything wrong with me, which, of course, is a good thing. Met with my friend Yvonne and had a good chat.
Tuesday started with a phone call by Marcella, the owner of Lara Design, after which Loes came for a coffee.
Below: I took a quick shot of Loes, just before she went off to the hairdresser.
Then I drove to Marianne as she was celebrating her birthday. I only handed her a gift and will visit her this weekend. She has to spread her number of visitors, right?
Below: Marianne with my present in one hand and her phone in the other (I interrupted her phone call).
Assembled all the details for my tax return in the afternoon and did most of this blog post. Until I could watch Oprah with Harry and Megan in the evening. People will talk about this interview for decades.
Wednesday was a day out with Ron to the town of Amersfoort. Such a beautiful little town in the middle of the Netherlands. I could have photographed so many beautiful houses, but only took this one below.
On our way back we picked up a clutch I had given to Nicky (my stepdaughter) as my next-door neighbour Ingrid had asked me this question: “I think I need a clutch for my handkerchief and phone at the wedding. Where do you think I can shop best?” I told her: “In my closet!” I have a blue one and a yellow one. Plus the pink one I gave to Nicky. Now she could choose.
Thursday morning we slipped a single (one of those old fashioned records with just one song on either side) though the mailbox of our next-door neighbour. Ron found it through the Dutch equivalent of e-Bay. It was a very old and very famous Dutch song with the title: “Tomorrow I am the bride” by Willeke Alberti. He meant it as a little joke, but a couple of minutes later we could hear they were playing the song very loud. So funny. My husband has the best ideas.
I spent most of Thursday at the house of my friend Katrien. I had forgotten to take a photo, so I asked her to send me one. She is very creative and is going to make me a coat.
Below: Katrien. Don’t you just love her dress?
Friday was the day of my neighbours’ wedding. The groom had arranged a bubble gum pink stretch limo to take them and a couple of neighbours to the city hall. We were among the lucky ones to join in the limo, so I could wear high heels. The bride (who is practical) had said they would cycle to the city hall as it was only 5 minutes by bike. The rest of us didn’t think that was a good idea. High heels and flowers and such.
Below: The limo was a big hit. We had to take a few detours before we arrived here in the centre of town on the market square. It cannot go round all corners. Perhaps it is a daily sight in America but not here in the Netherlands. It got a lot of attention.
They married in the Gravenzaal of the City Hall, see below. Gorgeous. First photo is the view as seen by the wedding officiant, behind her table. Second photo is the view from the back towards the wedding couple in the front. What I wore you will see another time.
It was a splendid day. Cold but as we set off, the sun started shining and the rain fell after we were safely home again. Such a good day.
Greetje
Ron sure knows how to scout the perfect location; wow! Great photo series and no, of course not too many. You’re so entertaining that you never have to worry about that.
Great look and pictures.
That stretch limo is the bomb! I wouldn’t have minded that for our wedding. On the other hand…I loved everything about our wedding day.
I am really pleased with your compliments. Thank you.
And yes, your wedding was lovely. And warmer / better weather.
You’ve become a true photo model. You say it’s cold but you look totally comfortable. It’s very brave to go out in tights in this cold anyway. But…. you do look the part. Amazing outfit. Very sexy! And fabulous photos too!
Wouldn’t that be nice? A new career in my old days. Thanks for all these compliments. I will pass your compliments on to Kitty.
Stunning outfit! The orange and black looks so good on you. The title of this blog entry could be the name of a terrific novel.
Good idea Linda, I will start writing. Who doesn’t want to be a novel writer?
The shipyard was a great background for your skirt – love the matching colours. You are lucky you the gulls didn’t drop any “bombs” on you while you were sitting by that statue. Poor guy, I hope he gets cleaned sometimes!
They say that being shxt on by a bird brings you fortune… Hmmm. I doubt it. The statue had broad shoulders so I wasn’t worried.
Fantastic pictures, and definitely not too many (in fact, I thought, oh, she’s done!)! Love that orange and black outfit against the nets – Ron has scouted well, although he’s only looking with his eye, and not his sense for wind! I love the funny joke you played on the neighbours, and how lovely to participate in the wedding. A pink limo! I’ve never seen a limo that fancy and we do have a few of them around town in “normal days”. Getting married at City Hall has never been so fabulous!
Those bookcase paintings are lovely, and very cool – I would have them in my house.
Thanks for letting me know about your RSI – the curse of the modern age! I hope it (and your under-eye circles) ease up. Take care, my dear!
I can email you the rest of the photos if you feel deprived hahaha.
It was indeed so nice to participate in the wedding. We feel quite priviledged. We have all experienced it as a lovely day.
My RSI will probably ease up but will always remain a weak spot. The under-eye circles are here to stay.
Have a lovely week.
I love this skirt, Greetje! I love the color, the fabric, the design, the length … And, of course, I love how you combine it with that original black sweater, your fancy stockings and with the wonderful coat and scarf. It seems to me a beautiful proposal, somewhat sophisticated and with a touch of great elegance.
Wonderful to see you with your robe to walk around the house and your slippers, an intimate and natural vision of my friend. And the foreground … how always, beautiful.
Knowing that you read my blog, keeps me in dresses and skirts my friend.
The locale is fantastic. it does your ensemble”right”! What’s better than bright orange and black on a tall, leggy blond?!
Love the bookcase paintings, an accomplished artiste!
The house robe is beautiful and elegant. How long is it? I checked the site and loved the prints. Being only 5’3” (five feet 3 inches i may be totally engulfed, though!) Here, I love NATORI, a brand that creates robes that are very soft and warm in beautiful colors at fairly reasonable prices.
The architectural venues you choose to snapshot are a delight to an architectural buff. keep them coming.
We are somewhat returning to “normal”, here! were able to enjoy a splendid meal indoors at one of our favorite restaurants in the snowing mountains, where nobody was wearing a mask!!!! Pure enchantment!!
I measured my bathrobe. From the collar to the hem: 46.85 inch and from the middle of the waist loop to the hem 29.92 inch. But I have a large and I bet you will be a small. Why don’t you send them an email if you are interested?
We are not back to normal, not for a long time. Retail shop have reopened but can only serve customers by appointment. Vaccination is very slow due to little supply. Sigh.
I HOPE YOU DIDNOT GET SICK!!!
THE PHOTOS ARE STUNNING AS USUAL with the ORANGE NETS!
PINK LIMO’s NOT COMMON IN CALIFORNIA!!!!!!!!!
SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE LIVING LIFE AND BEING WELL………
TAKE GOOD CARE
XX.
Thanks for the compliments Elizabeth. Yes, I am doing fine. Life is still a bit boring, but I am doing much better than most people.
Hope you are doing OK too. I will hop over to your blog tomorrow. I am ashamed to say, I have neglected it. And no, I didn’t get sick.
What a great location, and as always, you look fantastic in orange. Love the coat & earrings together.
That city hall building is beautiful, and a lovely spot for a wedding.
It is getting harder and harder to find good locations, especially because you don’t want to travel for hours. I am glad Ron pitched in.
Our city hall is very old and looks so beautiful, on the inside but also on the outside. That is the advantage of living in an old city.
Vicarious travel to the Netherlands works for me as we are not going anywhere else! Love the pictures and your outfits so please don’t lessen them. And tell Ron his choice of background was perfect!
Thanks for the compliments and for letting me know the amount of photos was all right.
Yes, I have a whole “team” now, helping me. Ron often scouts (and usually picks windy places where my high heels sink into the ground…), Kitty is a brilliant photographer, Loes is my friend and neighbour who also makes lovely photos and Selina in London checks my writing for mistakes or for using the wrong expression in English. I would be nothing without them.
I don’t think you post too many photos, Greetje. I love them all. And you always have such great locations for your photo shoots!
I’m really loving those black tights, I do like it when tights or stockings have texture / prints. The orange is gorgeous too, I do love to see you in bright colours!
Hugs
Suzy xx
Yes, bright colours are definitely my friends. If it isn’t in the top, the bright colour has to be in the necklace, the scarf or the earrings.
I am glad you like the post. Husband did the location shoot, although he didn’t know there would be a boat with orange tassles on their nets. Kitty spotted them with her creative eye.
My special tights come from a socks and tights shop in Haarlem (Stemm Voetiek). The owner of that shop is brilliant at styling. I once brought her 5 dresses and at least 5 pair of shoes/boots and said: “I need something in between. What do you recommend?” She came up with such good tights, it made the outfits.
I love the orange coat and skirt, and of course the earrings. All the photos are fabulous. Please don’t think you have to reduce the number of photos you include in the blog.
I see it has been as windy in The Netherlands as it has been in the UK recently. Like you I have fine hair so I struggle to look in any way ‘polished’ when the wind blows.
Have a lovely week!
Wind and storm and hair…tell me about it. It is difficult, isn’t it? I am getting less obsessed with it, although husband and Kitty would probably burst out laughing if they heard this.
Thank you for the compliments and for letting me know you think the number of photos are OK.
Oh Greetje, you look just stunning in the beautiful orange outfit (in the most perfect of locations) and the same in that fabulous blue robe. You are definitely a terrific model. And as far as I am concerned there can never be too many photos. Lol!
If somebody would have told me 8 years ago, that I would be called “a terrific model”, I wouldn’t have been able to stop laughing. Not that I think I am ugly or that I have an inferiority complex, but I rate myself as very average.
I would love to be a real model, although sometimes the working conditions are tough. Showing winter clothes when it is summer and vice versa. As it was very cold when we took these photos, you could say I am in training haha.
Thank you for letting me know you appreciate the many photos.
I love your orange coat and your husband did an amazing job of finding just the right background! I’m quite new to your blog, so I’m curious about who Kitty is. I hope you don’t mind me asking if she’s a professional photographer or a friend who loves to take photos? Either way, she takes great pictures and it looks like you have a lot of fun together.
The wedding location is gorgeous. I can hardly wait to see what you wore!
Kitty is both a friend and a professional photographer. She is a woman of many trades. She trains people, often in technical stuff like Macintosh computers or Photoshop, she wrote a book for children, she is an amazing voice on the radio or for recording audio books. And there is more.
One August day we had another street party (she lives in my street) and as we were talking she said to me: “I would love to take your blog photos”. You could have knocked me down with a feather. I knew she was a professional photographer, so I never thought she would do my humble blog photos and for free! We developed a friendship from that moment.
How fun! Her photos are really exceptional!
This post was such a treat! I loved it all – including (especially) all the pictures.
Oh I am glad you said that. I wasn’t overdoing it then. Thank you for the compliment.
I think this has to be one of my favorite posts from you! The orange skirt outfit and the backgrounds, especially the one with the orange “tassels” on the nets, are wonderful. Your friends look very fashionable during Covid as well. What a beautiful hall to be married in. Marriage during these times brings so much hope for the future.
And that limo, my goodness. Funny story…my husband and I rented a limo to take my in-laws to a restaurant for their milestone anniversary. It pulled into their driveway early-before we arrived-and my mother-in-law called us asking why there was a hearse in the yard! Carol in VT
Whahaha… that was truly a funny story. Poor soul. Perhaps she thought : “Is there something I ought to know?”
Showing photos of my friends on my blog made me realize they are indeed fashionable. Perhaps I am attracted to like-minded people?
The photo shoot is a brilliant one. Sometimes it all comes together. I wouldn’t be surprised if a magazine steals the idea haha.
What a creative and effective photoshoot! Love the orange nets matching the orange skirt. You look amazing in that outfit — I especially love the boots. The wedding location is beautiful and I’m looking forward to seeing what you wore.
When we drove to the harbour I wasn’t too keen and had no idea it would end like this. The orange nets…of course it was Kitty who spotted them. She has the creative photographer’s eye.
Your skirt is gorgeous of course- but hope you don’t think it’s rude that the background just blew me away in those photos! And the color matching to the nets… it was just all so artistic!
Rude??? Quite the contrary, I think it is wonderful that you appreciate the work Kitty and I put into it. My outfit and me are just the inducement to read me. My blog isn’t meant to talk about clothes really, it is about entertainment. That slowely grew. You should see the first photos I posted back in 2012, hilarious. My husband did the location scouting and Kitty saw the creative possibilities.
Dag Greetje
WAt een mooie shoot echt geweldig !!
En een bruiloft wat heerlijk !
Ja, het was een mooie week. Wel toevallig dat het schip dat daar lag, van die oranje netten had.
Even though we may see more limos here in the US, I’ve never seen one that color – wow! Congratulations to your friends on their wedding. Here’s wishing them many happy years!
That bubble gum pink really stands out, doesn’t it? I think it was a bold and brilliant idea of the person who chose it.
Just love your orange coat and skirt, I used to wear the oranges and warm colours, but due to some treatment my hair has gone a steely bluey grey and the warm colours don’t suit so well. I think you were dicing with death sitting on the wall so close to the statue with all those seagulls about.!!!
They say if a birds shits on you, it means good fortune haha. I wasn’t feeling threatened at all.
When I turned blonde (I was a brunette) I thought that certain colours wouldn’t look good on me anymore, especially yellow. To my big surprise yellow still looks good. Perhaps it is not only hair colour but also skin colour?
Hi,
Absolutely love the skirt on you, the whole outfit . The coat is gorgeous too! Thank you for taking the pictures with those backdrops. It is nice to visit The Netherlands without leaving my house. 🙂
I have learned that the word for that is vicariously. As English is not my native language I am secretly a bit proud that I know this haha. It is my pleasure to entertain you.
Love your orange and black outfit and all your beautiful pictures. Thank you for sharing.
It is entirely my pleasure Lana. Thank YOU for reading my blog and paying me compliments. Much appreciated.