Talking about a garment which covers “all sins”, how about this oversized pastel green shirt? And it wasn’t for that reason why I fell for it. It is because it reminds me of the kind of thing an artist would wear to create a painting. It is fun and quirky (in my opinion). It really is a shirt dress called Steve but I find it too short on a tall person like me (5ft74).
The colour is tricky as any pastels tend to wash me out. Lara Design‘s earrings to the rescue. Amongst the load of earrings I have bought, is this bright fuchsia pair. I love this colour and it brightens up my face.
That Sunday late afternoon, Kitty and I went to an industrial site to take these photos. It used to be the place where the electricity for our city was produced and distributed. Now it is all run down which is a shame. What a waste of beautiful architecture.
Below: This building is now called Lichtfabriek (which means Light Factory) and is used for (music) events.
Below: Kitty at work.
Luckily our city council agrees that the buildings should be preserved and this whole area is getting a make-over, while still respecting the original architecture.
Below: See the glass bit behind me? They have attached it to the old building.
Below: You can see it even better on the photo below. The glass part sort of hugs the old building.
Below: They haven’t gotten round to doing all the buildings yet, but they will. The white round thing is for winding cables and it says ‘stroom‘ which means power.
Below: It makes a great background.
Now for the outfit: I bought the oversized pastel green shirt at…(you guessed it)…kpa.haarlem as well as the striped T-shirt. The stripes add more interest to the outfit, I think. The blush pink bag is several years old and by Sequoia. The bag appeared on the blog in this post and in this post.
The pink ankle boots are also several years old, by EIJK Amsterdam and very comfortable. They still sell this model, but in pink croc print there are only 3 sizes left: 36, 37 and 40. The successor of the pink croc is the Denis blush pink, very versatile as this colour goes with any other colour. Some Denis blush pink photos on the EIJK site look a bit orange, but they are actually pink, as in the photo with the woman in the gorgeous skirt.
Below: This is how the Steve dress shirt looks in the shop window of kpa.haarlem. There are still a few in stock.
Below: Kitty put me on this low road sign. We call this a ‘paddenstoel‘ which translates to ‘mushroom‘. The English word ‘pedestal’ is pronounced nearly the same as ‘paddenstoel‘. There must have been a connection in the old days.
Below: For the time being it is not the kind of neighbourhood you want your daughter to venture to. The shirt is heavily pleated at the back.
Below: Going up the steps.
Below: During the day it was safe to prance around.
Below: The sky was turning darker and darker. Was rain afoot?
Below: A few minutes later the sky cleared again.
Below: A gorgeous ‘bokeh’ (blurry background) photo. See the bows on my cuffs?
Below: Close-up of the earrings by Lara Design.
Below: In the car, ready to go home, Kitty photographed her right finger, her camera operating finger. It had turned white from the cold.
Below: Back at my place, nice and warm. Kitty blends in perfectly with the colours of my home. Cute jumper (sweater) with that zipper at the side.
It was a cold but fun and fruitful photo shoot.
What happened in my life this week
The weekend was filled with birthday stuff, not only mine but also Ron’s as his birthday is two days after mine. On Saturday we visited my mum as she cannot travel anymore. The easiest solution is to go to her. Usually my brother and sister-in-law join us but of course not this year. Which turned out to be a good thing as later in the week we learned that they both caught the virus, just a few days after their first vaccination. Poor things. I so hope they will only have mild symptoms and will recover soon. Very worrying.
When we were at mum’s I went through her button collection (see below). Like most people her age (and mine…) she has boxes filled with buttons. Mum even had buttons from her mother and her grandmother. She is not prepared to sew on any button anymore and gave me permission to take half her stock. They weren’t for me, but for my friend Katrien, whom you saw last week. Katrien popped by on Monday to give me a birthday present and was really pleased with the buttons.
Below: Katrien gave me this little tile. Isn’t it pretty?
On Sunday my stepdaughter and her husband visited us. They brought 4 Covid tests and we all used them. All negative. Yay. This meant we could be less careful around each other which was lovely. They brought a big apple pie, home-made and the best.
One of my presents, wrapping paper, caused a jolly moment. They ordered bespoke wrapping paper with my photo on it. Only my repeating photo was supposed to be small. Well…it was repeating all right, but small? No, not really haha. Killed myself laughing and I am definitely going to use it.
Tuesday I had a couple of hours Facetiming with Marcella of Lara Design to discuss the PR ideas Ron had come up with. We developed a friendship over my love for her earrings. A dangerous friendship as I get exposed to all the new earrings she comes up with and I insist on paying the full price. Friendship and business should be separated otherwise it will cause trouble.
Wednesday was a tiring day. Our parquet floor was to be sanded and treated with oil which means EVERYTHING had to be moved out of the living room. Small stuff in boxes, lamps, chairs etc. we moved upstairs and in the afternoon we got the next-door neighbour and a (young) friend of Ron to help us move the heavy stuff into the shed. That’s when you realize you are getting older.
After it is all done and dried, we have to move everything back again of course. Dog Watson is ‘on holiday’ in a doggie centre which he loves. Sophie the cat was locked into a room during the Wednesday otherwise she would escape through the front door into the street.
Below: I am pretty good at stashing away things. This is Ron’s upstairs man cave, now transformed into a living room with a dining table, comfortable chairs, side tables, lamps and even flowers.
Thursday was the day I had to give the parquet men coffee. And I had a very nice Facetime conversation for 2 hours with another friend called Katrien (very confusing I know). This Katrien, although Dutch, lives in South Africa.
Friday was an odd day. In the morning the parquet floor got its protective layer and it looks gorgeous. Has to dry for 26 hours. By the time you are reading this post we should be back into our living room. It was a delicate balance between keeping the living room door open to air and keeping the cat outside.
Below: Isn’t it lovely?
Friday afternoon I took a stepladder to Karlijn of kpa. as I didn’t like it one bit that she was climbing on a little wooden stool with that recovering ankle of hers. That stool was even dangerous for me. I had this stepladder spare so why not give it to her? I transported it on my bike but had to walk next to the bike. How do these people in China do that? They seem to balance their whole house on a bicycle and are still able to cycle. Anyway, I bet she is going to store it in a place that is difficult to reach and use the stool anyway.
We went out for French fries for our Friday dinner with ice cream afterwards. Ron didn’t want to cook in a small kitchen with the TV cabinet in the way.
See you next week.
Greetje
I like wearing oversized shirts too, but I stay away from pastels as they wash me out, even if I wear them with bold coloured jewellery.
Wishing you and Ron a belated Happy Birthday! The personalized wrapping paper is a very interesting choice of present. Your new parquet floor is beautiful!
Pastels wash me out too, so I also stay away from them. For this shirt I just fell and for me, I think I solved it with the earrings. But perhaps I haven’t haha.
Thanks for the good wishes, one can never get enough of those.
We are very careful with the parquet floor now; hoovering once or twice a day.
It’s kind of ironic but I have been looking at oversized shirts too. I agree that they remind me of artist smocks. You look good in it so I might try one too. Tunics are popular in the USA now.
Your floor is lovely.
Great outfit with the mint green shirt. It’s different from your usual bright colors, but I think it’s fun to wear clothes having different moods. I love Kitty’s sweater, my colors and style exactly.
I like hearing about your activities with your friends, too. You seem like such an outgoing, friendly person. I’d enjoy hearing how you make and keep friends. It just doesn’t come natural to me and maybe others.
Seeing the buildings, gardens, and canals is a treat, too. Thank you!
I agree, this pastel green is very different from my usual bright colours, but the earrings bring back the brightness haha.
Kitty’s sweater is ever so nice, isn’t it?
Making friends is a slow process, you cannot rush it. Being thoughtfull (not my best side) and having fun are the best ingredients for making friends. Keeping them is a matter of giving attention to them.
Remember the story about the Cherokee grandfather talking to his grandson about the mean wolf and the good wolf inside of him, battling with each other? The grandson asks: “Which one wins?” And the grandfather replies: “The one you feed.” I think it is the same with friendship. You have to feed your friends with attention, caring, listening and laughing. And lots of other things friends do.
Yes, have a go at an oversized shirt Linda; it is so easy to wear. Thank you for your compliments, both on the outfit and the floor.
The new outfit is really fun and relaxed looking, it is a great. Backdrop for you colorful a quirky jewelry. Th buttons would make wonderful jewelry. I have one piece of button jewelry I got at a boutique here in Northern California that I love. I wear it more than any of the nice gold jewelry I have. I will send a photo,. Is your friend making something with the buttons?
In Amsterdam we have a big button shop (I think the only one in Amsterdam). It is a gorgeous shop and they create all sorts of things with buttons.
Jewellery of course but they also glue them on big plant pots. If you want to have a virtual look-around, here is the link to their website:
https://knopenwinkel.net/index.php/nl/
My friend isn’t creating something with the buttons, but she is always designing and sewing clothes. Extraordinary buttons finish the garments.
I love wide garments, oversize. I love wearing them and seeing them on beautiful bodies like yours. The color is very soft and beautiful and the casual outfit is perfect and very well integrated into the old industrial landscape in which the photos introduce us. I love your earrings, which I see in the beautiful foreground.
And here am I, thinking you wouldn’t like it. Because it isn’t fitted and it isn’t really elegant.
You never seize to amaze me. But thank you for the compliments. Much appreciated.
That shirt is really quite refreshing isn’t it? It’s not the sort of thing we see very often. Needless to say, I really like it! I do like loose fitting shirts. And that backdrop was beautiful, perfect for photoshoots!
I’m totally in love with your floor, Greetje! When our new house is finally built, we are having tiles that look like parquet floor and I can’t wait!
I laughed at the wrapping paper too — brilliant!!!!!
Hugs
Suzy xx
I normally don’t buy things this oversized as they tend to look good on small, petite girls funnily enough. But I liked it on tall me as well.
The backdrop was half found and half luck.
Oh… you are having a new house built, how exciting.
Love that colour green Greetje and your floor looks fabulous.
I am also in the middle of organising renovations/repairs at home…it takes ages to get anything done!
xoxo Yvonne
I like that colour green too, but I am very glad the fuchsia earrings save me wearing the shirt.
Our renovations and repairs were planned quite rapidly, although we have to plann two to three months ahead as all the labourmen are soo busy. Good luck with it.
Thank you for your post. I have an oversized shirt I bought last year and have not yet worn. You have given me ideas for styling it. I hadn’t thought of wearing a striped t-shirt underneath. The background to your photos are very interesting, as always. It will be nice to see this area when they have finished the renovation work. Have a lovely week!
I bet this area will be effervescent, full of music, events, markets. At least I hope so.
Another easy way of wearing this oversized shirt is of course, on skinny jeans.
I love the “artist” shirt on you. I think both the earrings and the striped shirt underneath keep it from washing you out.
Your floor looks stunning!! When we replaced our floors they did it one room at a time so we just kept moving furniture around. Glad we won’t have to do that again!!
I very much agree with you. I need the striped shirt and the earrings. We only have one (living) room downstairs which has this kind of floor.
Upstairs we also have parquet floors but simpler and in desperate need of sanding as well. But the thought of moving everything there is too much for me.
Besides, the bed is a monster to move.
Lucky you to be able to carry such a gorgeous styled shirt. Well done.
The old building covered in glass reminds me of a gorgeous old stone building in New York City where they kept the first 3-4 floors and build a steel skyscraper on top of it!!
I hope that the vaccine and its antibodies will, hopefully, disable the virus’s virulence!!
Lovely and clever b-day presents.
Your parquet floor is gorgeous. Our house in Bucharest had these chevron style wood floors in every room with some gorgeous Venetian chandeliers above. I rarely think about it, but I get emotional when i do, i spent 20++ years there, so there are lots of memories. Here, in California, will rarely see this style of flooring, but when I remodeled my house here, I had the chevron wood floor installed in a very large library/study. I love it!!
Thanks Daniella. Yes being tall has its advantages. The New York building sounds smashing.
Good on you for installing a chevron wood floor in your house. It is rather custom in old houses like hours (from 1903). And we didn’t want to break with tradition haha.
No just kidding, we like these floors a lot. Sounds like you were upper class in Bucharest.
I like that new top, Greetje, but it’s a little too pastel for my tastes – even just a bit more green and I’d be on board. You’re lucky you have the height to carry it off – it would swamp me!
Great pictures – I love the glass added to the damaged brick. It’s a nice contrast of old and modern. I love when old buildings get preserved.
Sounds like things are getting more under control there – I’m still waiting for my first shot.
Oh, I agree with you. It is too pastel for me too. But the earrings save me with their bright fuchsia colour. I like pastels but usually they don’t look good on me.
I do have the height for this shirt, but you could wear it as a dress.
Today was King’s Day in the Netherlands. Bank holiday and before Covid big celebrations. Of course there were still people celebrating and not caring about distance etc. So I expect there will be a run on the hospitals within the next couple of weeks. And the hospital staff is already so exhausted, poor souls. So, getting things under control…hmmm… I don’t think so. We’ll see.
The opening shot is my favorite, with the misty background feel – and you look fantastic in this color. I like how your hair looks too. Great backgrounds, Kitty. And wonderful poses. Even the sky added an atmospheric mood.
Thanks Linda. Yes, it was a terrific photo shoot. Which is why there are so many photos in the post. I just couldn’t choose. And believe me, there were many more. Kitty always makes me pose naturally.
I disagree that I look fantastic in the pastel colour haha. But the bright earrings save me.
Wow, I really love the new glass on the old building. That’s beautifully done! And yes, your newly finished floors are so pretty. You must have a sense of satisfaction that something is perfect, at least for a while.
Yes, I do have that sense of contentment when things are (temporarily) perfect. Which is why I also enjoyed, arranging my drawers and having the closet and cabinet for my jewellery. If you tidy things up in your house, you also tidy your head.
Love your outfit this week! I like oversized shirts a lot. And, while I probably would have worn jeans, the white pants really elevate the outfit and tie the whole thing together. That’s why you’re the expert!
I’ve been wearing more pastels since I stopped dying my naturally black hair two years ago. They look better on me now with my mostly silver curly hair. I have a hooded sweatshirt the same color as your shirt so I think I will wear it today as inspired by you.
I hope your brother and sister-in-law’s symptoms are mild. It seems to unfair get the virus after your first vaccination. I’m sending good thoughts to all of you.
Hope you have a good week!
Hah, thanks for the compliment Anne, I will pass it on to Karlijn of kpa.haarlem. She told me to style it with white trousers. She is the expert. Often I don’t come up with outfits myself but the shop owner or shop stylist does. Or friends, or I copy a look. And sometimes I create an outfit myself, which always makes me so proud.
Thank you for your good thoughts for my brother and sister-in-law. They got it bad, but so far their lives don’t seem to be in danger, thank God.
I like the photo with the darkening sky. It could be a mystery book cover. Your posts are always so interesting!
Thank you very much Jean, that is so nice to hear. I will offer that photo to Suzy of The Grey Brunette; she writes mystery books for teenagers. And from this far and seen on the back you don’t notice my age haha.
What an interesting setting for your post this week–thank you for our visit!
It is getting harder and harder, finding new backgrounds which give the post a lift, but we will keep on trying. Thanks for the compliment.