My friend Katrien gave me this black Vivienne Westwood blouse. She never wore it and thought I might like it. And I do. It took me a couple of hours to style it, while sending photos to Katrien for feedback. We both liked this skirt and these shoes best with the blouse.
Kitty and I chose a particularly windy day to do the shoot. The sun was shining but it wasn’t warm and I got blown off my feet a couple of times. My hair is wind-swept as you will see. As long as the wind is coming from behind me, I don’t mind. Wind in my face, blowing my fringe away from my face I hate.
Below: We started near the stairs of the Court House. It was supposed to be wind-free at that spot. Indeed, not too bad.
Below: Court House. As it is a narrow street, you cannot stand back very far.
Below: I decided to climb the stairs and got literally blown off the stairs. I grabbed the rail.
Below: This is the street the Court House is in (the Jansstraat). You can see it isn’t very wide. Nice view of the big Saint Bavo church in the middle of town.
Below: We decided to move across the road, hanging onto a lamp post, with a bicycle already down. I had taken my fake fur coat out of winter storage again.
Below: One wall of a secluded parking place was covered with green, my favourite background. I am wearing tights, without toes, by Wolford. They look a bit “old lady”, a bit grey, but it was too cold for bare legs. I know the British go bare-legged often, even in winter, but not me.
Below: On the other wall was this scene of Haarlem, defending the town against the Spanish. With our female hero Kenau on the battlements. Read more about her here.
Below: As we walked on through a gate, we found ourselves in a little park, called Wijngaardtuin. Don’t try and pronounce this as you will break your tongue. With this cute house overlooking the park.
Below: This statue is called Meeting. Apparently there are statues in every park.
Below: But the best thing was the swing. It was begging to be used. I still know how to do this.
Below: We continued with a close-up of the blue earrings. These ones are from Ador by Ayesha.
I chose blue earrings because of the blue, sparkly velvet patches on the blouse.
Below: I changed the outfit with another skirt, different earrings, adding a yellow belt and yellow socks. No idea what you think of it. You will probably either love or hate it, nothing in between.
Below: In front of a very old map of the province Noord-Holland (north of Holland, although actually north-west Holland). It dates from 1575 when there was more water than land.
Below: Close-up of the socks. I hate those tights.
Below: And a close-up of the yellow earrings, by Lara Design. You have seen them before.
Below: From where we were standing, we had a beautiful view of the Saint Bavo church.
Below: Kitty told me where to stand to take this (iPhone) photo of her. She said: “That way, you will get a piece of the church in the background.” She’s got ‘the eye’.
Below: Despite the wind and the cold, we decided to have a drink on a terrace. You saw a photo of that last week as well.
Below: We had ‘bitterballen‘: crunchy deep-fried meatballs. Typical Dutch treat with drinks. You can dip them in mustard if you want.
Below: When we got back in the parking garage, our hair was like this haha.
I was amazed how well the photos turned out. All to the skills of Kitty.
What happened in my life this week
Visited mum on Saturday and upscaled the size of the letters and the cursor on her computer as her eyesight is not too good. No photos.
Sunday we had such a lovely day with sunshine. We went to Ron’s allotment garden and bonus daughter (previously known as stepdaughter) and her husband joined us. It was a jolly nice day. Ron tried to make sandwiches with a device that you put above the open fire of his outdoor fire place. That didn’t work out too well, but it tasted good. Nicky made a coco cake on a paraffin stove. Yummy. Not a crumb left. I only took a photo of part of the garden with dog Watson on the left, drinking from the pond. Forgot to take photos of ourselves. I was in the moment.
Nicky said she thought my pink croc print ankle boots by EIJK were the best she had ever seen (see this post). But that she would never pay so much money for a pair of boots. As it happened, the last pair of those boots were in the sale and they were Nicky’s size. I saw this as karma and secretly arranged that the boots were sent to her. I do love a surprise gift.
Monday was again a lovely day. It is really summer now. 25 degrees Celsius. Did a bit of sunbathing in the garden in the late afternoon. In the morning I visited the physiotherapist as my knee, really my whole left leg, is playing up. Another visit next week, but it is already a bit better.
Had a phone call with a woman I met through Instagram: Timelessstyle. I met her in real life once (scroll down in this blog post). I was very interested in all her photo shoots and she filled me in with the details.
Tuesday Ron and I took Watson to the beach. I walked along the shore in my bikini at 10 o’clock in the morning. Summer finally started.
Of course Watson was a happy dog and we had cappuccino and smoothies on the terrace afterwards. I do like being retired.
In the afternoon I cycled into town to check the shoes that were ordered for me in the right size. They fit like a glove and were super soft, although a bit too warm now that the temperatures are so high. That never lasts very long in the Netherlands. Also found a pair of silver pumps with a low diabolo heel, tango style. They were in the sale and felt lovely. I am a bad, bad girl. Luckily I got notice from the tax people that they will be transferring my refund this week.
After the shoe spree, the girl of the shoe shop and Karlijn of kpa.haarlem (which is next-door) and I sat in front of the store and had ice coffee in the sun. Nice.
Wednesday was another great day. Friend Janneke came for coffee and strawberry cake and I had lunch in a restaurant (Het Gemaal) overlooking a river with friend Marja. Everything in the shade. Again, forgot to take photos. In the moment people. But I do have a photo of the view from the terrace:
Thursday I joined Ron at the beach after visiting the pedicure. He had been walking Watson together with his friend Vania and her dog Ziggy. They met last year at the beach and the dogs are so fond of each other that from time to time they meet. She is a very adventurous woman. I admire her spirit and fearlessness. We had lunch on the beach terrace, but (you guessed it) no photos… In the afternoon I finished the book about the 7th Sister.
Friday I got my second Pfizer vaccination. Yay. Ron stayed home to receive the repair man who fixed one of the sun screens. Apparently the guy from the air-conditioning had squeezed a drain pipe underneath the sun screen. This made it malfunction as it is electrically operated.
That day I took Marianne to the same terrace as where I was with Marja on Wednesday: Brasserie Het Gemaal in Halfweg. Such a lovely place with very kind staff, great food and great views. Now that it is possible we have to make the most of it. And I took photos guys!
Below: Het Gemaal is Dutch for water pump station. This is the old building (now museum) next to the restaurant.
Below: Marianne, stylish as usual in orange with pink and some awesome necklaces. This woman knows how to dress.
I had put on an outfit I wore a couple of years ago. See the original post when I visited Alkmaar with Sylvia. I was determined to wear the sequinned sneakers again and couldn’t find them anywhere. I haven’t swapped the winter shoes for summer shoes yet, so had to search through boxes and go up and down a ladder. Finally on the last shelf I had not inspected yet, there they were. And it was sooo hot in my little room with the sun blasting.
Below: I am having fun with the young guys next to me. One of them said he didn’t mind being photographed with me but I replied that people might start thinking I am a dirty old woman haha.
Below: Marianne and me having a scroppino (or sgroppino as the Italians say) and apple crumble cake with whipped cream. Better check the scales again tomorrow.
Below: Close-up of Marianne’s cheerful leather summer bag.
It was a jolly nice week again.
Greetje
Sounds like you had a lovely week. I’m sorry the pink boots didn’t fit your bonus daughter – it was so nice of you to order them for her!
I would also vote a “no” for the socks, but as you said, it’s fun to experiment with different looks. I think if the shoes were not so “dressy” the socks would be cute with them. I would try them with those strappy, light blue sandals you were wearing in a more recent post.
Thanks for the encouragement but I am done with the socks haha. Perhaps only underneath trousers.
LOVE the outfit with the striped skirt – how funny that we both wore Westwood this week! I didn’t realize that the stars were fuzzy and blue, so thank you for the close-up. I am not a huge fan of the yellow socks with the shoes – it’s just not my taste – but I love the addition of yellow in the outfit overall. I do admire that you TRIED something different! Yay!
What a lovely surprise for your “bonus daughter”! She’s going to love the pink boots! I can’t wait to see your silver flamenco shoes! I spent my income tax return on prescription sunglasses…now I have to wait for them to be ready!
It is not an outfit which I will be wearing a lot in my retirement days, but I do like it a lot myself.
The yellow socks outfit isn’t my style either, but sometimes you have to try something out of your comfort zone. I tied a scarf around my head the other day (bad hair day). I thought I looked like a cleaning lady but a very stylish friend of mine was raving about it.
My bonus daughter got a huge disappointment as the boots didn’t fit her. Such a shame.
My tax return is going towards a very expensive repair of my Cartier watch. To speak with Simon and Garfunkel: I said a lot of words you never hear in the bible when I got the quote. But that watch is my favourite one so I said OK. Ugh. The saying is true: don’t touch what you cannot afford.
I love your striped skirt! It seems that it is a precious fabric. The blouse is also a real cutie. How fun to see your hair blown by the wind, you look great.
Great about the bull and the flamenco dancer in the Spanish flags in battle! Caspid clichés come a long way.
I don’t like those yellow socks, I think the first proposal is much more elegant. But I love your close-up with the yellow earrings!
As always, beautiful photos of your country.
I thought you would like this outfit, well at least the first one. The second one with the yellow socks is not what I like either, but I wanted to create something out of my comfort zone. Sometimes you get something really nice and sometimes you fail.
Clichés have become clichés because it happens so many times. Don’t forget, this is an artist’s impression. the lady on the battlements (Kenau) wasn’t a slim lady either haha. The days of war with Spain are long gone. Thank goodness.
Oh yes, and what a lovely thing to gift your friend with those boots!💕
The gift was for my bonus daughter. Unfortunately, they didn’t fit, so she had to send them back. Such a pity.
My husband and I had our first taste of bitterballen while spending a few days in Amsterdam before a river cruise two years ago. I loved your beautiful city!
The outfit with the striped skirt is fabulous, but I like both looks. Thanks so much for your fun, newsy posts!
As you loved Amsterdam, you must have had good weather when you visited. Not always the case in this country. But when the sun is out, there aren’t many better places.
You are in the minority with liking the second look (with the yellow socks). I actually don’t like that style either but I wanted to go out of my comfort zone. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.
Glad you like my posts, their very much to create.
It was late June, and we had beautiful weather, sunny but not too hot. Rather like our weather here on the central coast of California. 😉
Yes, we do have sunshine too and you were lucky enough to get that. Then Amsterdam is soo beautiful with all the trees.
Thank you for the wonderful post – part fashion, part travelogue. I’m envious of all the lovely restaurants and shops you have nearby. Have a good week!
The pleasure of a post is entirely mine. I love to create them. But I do love the compliments, like yours, too, I will admit. It stimulates me.
As I am a city girl, I want to live in a city. It means shops and restaurants are always nearby. I couldn’t live in a village.
That blouse looks fabulous on you – especially with the striped skirt. You look very flash 🙂
Have a wonderful new week Greetje.
xoxo Yvonne
http://www.funkyforty.com
Don’t I just haha. Haven’t got anywhere to wear it to, but in future that will change. Has to be an event without food as the pencil skirt is pretty tight.
Hi Greetje.I LOVE the outfit with the black and white striped skirt hun and those shoe/boots are divine!!!!
Hugs,Paula,XXX
Thanks a lot Paula. It is rather an elegant outfit, I agree.
Of course, the black with stripes is a winner!! The other one looks matronly, the yellow detracts and the little fishnet socks, well, better left for teenagers!!
Great, wind swept photos.
Marianne looks grand, she’s channeling late Escada with orange and pink!!
Splendid locales as usual. You and Kitty make every locale a winner!!
Great going.
Trust you to say like it is haha. As a matter of fact I agree with you about the second outfit. But I decided to try something out of my comfort zone. Oh well, tried and rejected.
Wind swept photos can be fantastic. With me that is as long as the wind comes from behind me. From the front it is terrible.
Marianne and I agree on orange with pink. I used to have a great top with cardigan in pink, orange and red. Unfortunately I developed too much stomach and it was very tight.
Kitty is such a good photographer. I thought the photos would be crap (not because of her skills but because of the wind). I was so pleasantly surprised when I saw them.
I like the black blouse with the black and white striped skirt. Very attractive. Kitty does take such nice photos. I’m glad you got your second vaccine. Such a good feeling to have protection. Have a great week.
Yes, that first outfit was a no-brainer. Pencil skirts look good on me and the blouse is so unique and delicate, I love it.
Kitty is an excellent photographer and I am so lucky she takes my photos.
Coming Friday it will be a week after my second vaccine and I should have full protection of the virus. Yay.
Greetje, all I can say is wow. Just wow. Your first outfit looks exceptional on you. It is all the things I love: feminine, elegant, modern, sleek and original.
The simplified color scheme also adds some understated drama. And the overall proportions are perfect for you.
If you ever need a publicity shot of yourself, I hope you would consider using the second photo in your post. I’ve been following and enjoying your blog for years, and to my eye, it is one of the best photos I’ve ever seen of you.
Best regards,
Jay
The second photo?? Tsss… I would have chosen the first one. Thanks very much for all your compliments. This outfit (the first one) is something I won’t wear too often now that I am retired, but who knows what the future will bring. I do like it a lot. Pencil skirts are good on me.
Hope you will be enjoying my blog for many more years to come.
I like the first outfit with the striped skirt best. The second one is okay except for the socks. I agree with Susan that they would look fine with pants, but definitely not with a skirt. As always, I enjoyed the locations in your photos. So different than what we see here on the Canadian prairie. Also, that’s a great photo that you took of Kitty!
I like the first outfit best too. Susan is right, the socks would look nice with trousers (preferably jeans) but I wanted to try something out of my comfort zone.
Yes, Haarlem is surely different from the Canadian prairie haha.
I love the blouse with the striped skirt. so elegant. did not like it with the white skirt or the yellow socks. I am really in love with the red white and black (or is it blue?) sweater. I would definitely wear that! glad your weather is warming up. Here is Florida it is already 90 degrees F.
The cream skirt with the yellow socks is one of my try-outs. To see how it would go down haha.
The red, white and blue (it is blue) is a cotton top, not a sweater and it is by COS. Only from a couple of years ago.
We are now having lovely summer weather. Finally.
Wow – that first outfit is fantastic! I agree with Cynthia – so chic! I didn’t think I’d be a fan of the yellow socks in the second outfit, but they are thin enough and pale enough that they are kind of cool.
Usually I am only casual chic, but I can do chic. Especially with a pencil skirt and they suit my figure best. Now that I don’t work in an office anymore, you don’t see me in pencil skirts much.
Things (outfits) will change I am afraid.
I am not too sure about the socks. I think I agree with Susan and I should keep them for wearing them with trousers. But I don’t know. I was hoping to look cool haha. So I am glad you said that.
Loved the location photos and all your outfits, specially the first literation! Very versatile outfit.
Your weather has been much like ours, …30 degrees for 3 days, dropping back to 13 tomorrow.! Yikes, although the pending rain is always welcome.
What inspiring locations to wander through with good friends, I look forward to all your posts!
Glad you enjoy my blog. It is getting harder each time to find good locations. So, I might do them all once more. Like the ones I did in winter, I can now do in summer. I bet you wouldn’t recognise it.
You look gorgeous in the new blouse and striped skirt. The shoes have me drooling because I cannot wear heels that high anymore. They really do make your legs go on and on. I love getting your weekly round up of what you are up to and the beautiful scenery. Congrats on getting your second dose. It must feel good. Ours are still way behind but soon.
I have to say, these shoes are one of the few pairs of modern shoes I have. They are reasonably easy to walk on if the surface is flat (not in Haarlem) but I always get blisters in them when it is warm. Mind you I get blisters in any summer shoe.
I am glad you enjoy my blog that much. That is so good to hear for me, the creator.
And yes, the second dose does feel good. I had no side effects and by this Friday I should be completely protected. (Well, not from a bus hitting me of course.)
Your posts are always such a treat! That’s a very good top. I like it with the striped skirt (nice subtle pattern mix!) and bet you could wear it with your wide white pants too.
I’m in the “no” camp on the yellow socks, at least with a skirt. 😉 They’d be fine peeking out from underneath pants, though.
Marianne is wearing one of my favorite color combos…red and pink!
And how nice of you to get the boots for Nicky!
Unfortunately they didn’t fit. Bummer.
Well thank you for this compliment: a treat, my my. I am flattered. You know I didn’t even notice this was pattern mixing?
Thanks for the tip of the wide white pants. Hadn’t thought of that. I will try it.
And I totally agree with you about the socks, but I thought, I would give it a try and see what happens.
Thanks again for all the beautiful location photos. I love the first outfit the best — so chic! And those shoes are gorgeous.
Thank you. I am not too keen on the second styling either, but I have learned that what I like, not always is what other people like. So I kept my opinion to myself.