Nothing as easy to style as a black linen dress, or any black dress really. I bought it at my favourite address: kpa.haarlem, again because Karlijn, the owner, modelled it on Instagram. I knew immediately that this was an ideal dress for me with the full skirt, the sleeves and the lapels. In the background of the photo above you see part of the Haarlem Stadsschouwburg (theatre), specifically the new part. More about that later. The bag hanging from the flagpole, indicates a teenager has passed his or her secondary school exam.
Kitty and I had quite some time to spend on the photo shoot, which resulted in many photos (brace yourself) and many stories. I used different accessories and different shoes to show you how you can keep varying your outfit with a black linen dress. It is like a blank canvas.
Below: First styling it with striking earrings. The ones from Lara Design which you saw before in this post. Wearing my blue sandals from kpa.haarlem. (Première of these sandals in this post.) They go with anything.
Below: Styling number two: with a pearl necklace from Max Mara. (See more of the necklace in this original post.) Standing at one of Haarlem’s many canals. (I still favour my Demellier London bag.)
Below: View to the other side of the canal. Haarlem is a picturesque town.
Below: Styling number three: with a green brooch by Sylvia Blickman. Last week you saw an orange brooch by her hand. At the time I couldn’t choose and bought both. My usual solution for this dilemma (spoiled bitch that I am).
Below: Not a nice photo of me, but I bet it will make you laugh.
Below: Fourth styling: with a golden bird brooch from Claudia Roskam.
We arrived at the front of the theatre and Kitty tried her hand at a photo that included my reflection.
Below: Close-up of the bird brooch.
Below: Fifth styling: with yellow sandals and a yellow brooch. Husband Ron bought me these sandals years ago in Antwerp (Belgium). The heels are very high but I do love them. He also bought me the brooch, which is made by two Dutch designers, twin sisters: Spijkers & Spijkers.
Below: Close-up of the sandals.
Below: Close-up of the brooch.
Below: The front of the theatre. This is the old part. It was extended at the back a couple of years ago.
Below: A shot from below.
Below: We turned the corner. This is the left side of the theatre with the new part added on to the old building (bottom right). You either hate it or you love it. I love it, the glass and tiles create a waterfall.
Below: Close-up of the glass and tile ‘strips’.
Below: This lovely little canal is to the left of the theatre. I am chatting with the guy in the boat which he bought only two weeks before. He was cruising up and down this little part of the canal and we were wondering why. Our photo shoot wasn’t that interesting, was it? No, indeed, it wasn’t. He was waiting for his gorgeous girlfriend to arrive and join him in the boat haha.
Below: Sixth styling with another brooch (gift from my mum for a birthday) and with the same yellow sandals, only I removed the kiltie.
Below: The yellow sandals without the kiltie. Kitty made me climb on to this tree stump. It felt very wobbly.
Below: Close-up of the sixth styling’ brooch, taken at home by me.
Below: Looking at the cathedral (see more about the cathedral in this post and in this post).
Below: When we turned round, we saw this cosy place at the side of a fish stall. How cute.
Below: Such a cosy seat.
Below: The back of the theatre, the newly built part.
After the shoot was done, Kitty and I cycled into town (1 minute away) and had a lovely lunch on a terrace. Forgot to take a photo of it and I forgot to take a photo of Kitty all together. So self-centred; I have to do better. After lunch we cycled home through the ‘Leidse’ neighbourhood, where a heart-warming action was going on. Here is the story.
Below: At the former bathhouse (see for more photos this post) hung a rainbow flag and that flag was taken down and burnt by people, who apparently weren’t very broad-minded.
Below: The neighbourhood was infuriated and collectively printed rainbow window posters and bought 200 rainbow flags which are now hung throughout the whole neighbourhood. They want to show their support to the LBGTQ community. Applause to these supporters.
It was such a lovely day.
What happened in my life this week
Saturday: photo shoot (above) with Kitty. I had worn the black linen dress once before and taken a mirror photo. The scarf is to cover up the fact that I had a ‘bad hair day’. I think it doesn’t suit me at all but some of my friends were raving about it. See for yourself below.
Sunday was Father’s Day. Nicky and her husband Randolf came to spend the day. Below you see the gifts they brought; new clogs and a home-made apple pie for Ron. Peonies for me as a belated Mother’s Day present. So nice.
Below: Having a lot of fun at the midget golf. The best score on the board for adults was 37. My score was 77, the lowest score of ‘our team’. I suck at this game.
Below: Ron and me. Aren’t we sweet?
Monday the builder fixed the hinges of the cellar door and we had an elaborate chat while drinking coffee. A welcome distraction as it was a rainy day. All I did was blog work.
Tuesday Ron invited me to have lunch at the beach. Why not? The weather was sunny again. Only when we arrived at the beach the sun soon disappeared. Never mind, it was nice anyway.
Below: I wore a second-hand jacket by Ralph Lauren. Bought it at a lovely second-hand store in Leiden, called Lionheart Vintage Boutique
Below: Dear husband took this photo of me at the beach. Orange and gold earrings by Lara Design.
Below: In the afternoon Ron put new plants into the garden, as he is “in competition” with the gardener whom I hired haha. Ron agreed to it but doesn’t like it one bit.
Wednesday. Yay, the museums are open again. Together with our friends Georg and Marla we visited the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam, specifically the exhibition ‘Here to stay‘. Afterwards we had a delicious and elaborate lunch at Restaurant Brasserie Van Baerle. In the evening we settled for just a sandwich. Money wise and weight wise, I am going downhill.
Thursday Ron surprised me by taking photos for another blog post and again in Amsterdam. Yay. You will see them in two weeks.
Friday was a quiet day. I only went into town to inquire at Karlijn’s shop what she thinks of her upright clothes steamer. I am thinking about buying one and getting rid of the iron and ironing board. Before I do that, I need recommendations. I also picked up my repaired watch.
That’s this week, dear readers.
Greetje
That dress is indeed a good style on you. I like it with the brighter colored brooches and accessories. It’s a great “blank canvas.”
What an interesting addition to the theater. Some people don’t like mixing modern and ancient architecture, but it can be done very well, which I think they did here.
Love the flowers, the LGBQT supportive neighborhood, and the laughing photo. That’s the Greetje I know! And I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who sucks at mini golf, haha!
There were a bit too many photos of the dress I think, but readers commented before that they didn’t mind as long as the backgrounds were different.
I got a suggestion to wear different belts as variation. The idea is good but on me…hmmm…having a short upper body and a bit of a belly this can be a very bad look. I am having trouble with belts (especially elastic ones) already. Having to keep pushing them down all the time.
Great classic dress, fabulous shoes! I personally like the scarf. You and Ron are so lovely together. Van Gogh Museum is a favorite memory of Amsterdam. Thanks as always for the smiles.
Oh, I made you smile. Lovely. Mission accomplished. ANd thank you for the compliments. I am not to keen on the scarf but will give it another try.
Yes, Ron and I are really good together, for nearly 33 years now. We were lucky to find one another.
How surely you already imagine, I love to see you in this black linen dress. Nothing is more feminine and elegant in simplicity than a beautiful shirt dress.
I love the chosen accessories. Earrings, brooches, different shoes (I’ll take the first option) … And I loved your hairstyle, you look gorgeous.
You are such a loyal friend. And for such a long time. I knew the dress would suit your taste. I thought you would like the yellow sandals more than the blue ones, but I was wrong.
Love the black shirt dress and all the styling — you look great wearing it. Also love the rainbow flags!
Ah, I am glad this post went down well. I wasn’t sure whether it was perhaps a bit too much of the same. So thank you for your feedback.
I think the yellow accents with the black is my favorite but I like all the looks. And the photo of you and Ron on the bench is very cute. As for the khaki RL jacket, Ralph is always a good idea. Classic.
Ralph is like Paris haha, always a good idea. I think I will try and wear the yellow sandals more often, but being so high it is tricky.
Beste Greetje,
Erg leuke linnen jurk, maar wat jammer dat je voor zwart gekozen hebt. Dat is voor jou een kleur die je nou juist niet moet dragen. Past niet bij je huidskleur en je haarkleur. Een mooie naturel/anthraciet/rood/blauw zou perfect zijn. Verder vond ik de styling met de schoenen (geweldig!, maar wat een palen) en verschillende broches erg leuk. Hoop dat je niet beledigd bent.
Nou.. ik heb niet zozeer voor zwart gekozen, de jurk was er alleen in het zwart en ik was zo verliefd op het model. Je hebt overigens gelijk, zwart is niet mijn kleur, noch wit, noch zwart/wit. Wat jammer is want zwart/wit is mijn meest geliefde combinatie. Zo chic.
Ik heb geleerd om deze kleuren wat te verzachten met iets kleurrijks vlakbij mijn gezicht. Kleurrijke oorbellen, broche, sjaaltje, ketting. Werkt dit altijd en in voldoende mate? Hmmm.. nee, matig zou ik zeggen.
Je hebt me zeker niet beledigd, daar is veel meer voor nodig. Ik vind het zelfs erg prettig als een lezer(es) eerlijk is. Daar heb je wat aan. Maar die eerlijkheid tref je echt alleen bij Nederlanders aan hihi.
De gele schoenen hebben inderdaad palen van hakken. Zit- of showschoenen. Niet om ver mee te lopen. Ze zitten best comfortabel, maar ja, het blijft hoog (au mijn rug, au mijn voeten).
Overigens in ‘naturel’ ook een hele foute kleur voor mij, net als camel en beige.
A very chic black dress, a “robe manteau”. Very versatile.
Great yellow sandals and the various brooches. Your mothers gift is in the style of what one expects from Chanel. Beautiful.
You look quite chic with the hair bandana. You can start accessorizing outfits with various bandanas. Ulla Johnson, a NY designer, made quite a few knotted hair bands using very colorful cotton. They sold very quickly here. i have one of them and my daughter is eying it!
The two of you look lovely. he’s a keeper!!
Haarlem is a handsome city indeed. Great architecture and oh, those canals. A must stop for me next time I’m in the Netherlands!
I do love my brooches, I have so many of them. The brooch my mother gave me was even better when I got it, as it had coloured stones in between the arms as well. It was quite old (vintage?) and when I put it on the first time, one of the stems, holding a coloured stone, broke off. unrepairable. The only thing I could do was breaking off the other three as well. A shame but that’s the risk of vintage.
The hair bandana and I don’t agree. I don’t like the look.
Husband is indeed a keeper. Such a lovely man.
And yes, you should stop in Haarlem when you will ever be in the Netherlands (again?).
Love this post! Love all your outfits and I think the scarf is lovely on you. While I rarely use an iron and ironing board as I love my steamer, there are some items that require an iron, such as collars and seams on a cotton or linen shirt.
After some decent research I have decided that a steamer is not for me. I love ironed clothes and I have a lot of cotton and linen.
The scarf around my head seems to have lovers and haters. Unfortunately I am a hater.
Love the black dress. You look so elegant in it in all the stylings. I really like the green brooch too – it looks like a shooting star! What about styling the dress with different belts? That might be fun.
I have to say that my favorite outfit is the jeans and RL jacket. I have a similar jacket from Old Navy. I used to wear it a lot, but since the pandemic, I haven’t been going out very much. Hopefully that will change.
Thanks, as always, for being a bright spot in. my Sunday.
All my best,
Anne
Well…all the stylings… It really is the same dress, worn the same way each time but with different jewellery and shoes haha. No ‘shirt over dress’ stuff or so.
Your idea of belts is a good one, only I have found out (just recently and I am 67…duh) that belts are tricky on me. My upper body is short and my tummy is sticking out a bit. Before you know it, the belt is high up, making me look pregnant.
I even had it with this black belt but those photos didn’t make it to the post. Obviously not.
If you like jeans and jackets style, you have come to the right blog as that is my signature style. Hopefully I can bring more bright spots in your Sundays in future.
I highly recommend an upright steamer, Greetje! Mine is by Rowenta and is the “Master Valet Roll & Press” with a pull-down screen for getting creases if you want them. I recommend the screen as it gives you resistance when you’re steaming to make the clothes nice and smooth. Imagine: it’s heated up and ready to go within 2 minutes, and you can steam a garment in less than a minute! I use mine nearly every day. It was not cheap (under $200 on sale) but worth every penny.
Now, this wonderful black dress! It is such a good style on you – really suits your body and frame. I used to have a very similar one, and I just got bored with it. A plain black dress is not for me! I love it with the yellow sandals – the wee kiltie is so cute!
Wonderful pictures – that new addition to the theatre took my breath away. What a great way to integrate the old and new. Hooray for Pride rainbows, mini golf and picnics at the beach. You and Ron are so cute in that pic.
Have a good week, my dear friend!
Nope, the steamer is off my list. It doesn’t get my clothes (cotton shirts) as crisp as I want them to. I needed closet space which is why I looked at it. Fast ironing is also nice, but no.
I can so imagine you getting bored with a plane back dress haha. You are far more ‘out there’ than I am.
Thanks for the word kiltie. That is what I was looking for. I am going to edit it on the blog.
Ron and I are indeed cute in that picture haha.
My daughter loves her steamer but says she still needs her iron for a few pieces, so maybe don’t be in a hurry to get rid of yours until you’ve used the steamer for awhile.
I have gathered enough information now to know that the steamer cannot replace my iron. I love crisp clothes and I don’t really mind ironing. So the steamer is off the list.
Love this post as usual Greetje. What a nice dress and the combi with the very lovely yellow shoes..mmmmm
Thank you very much my dear. I really appreciate your compliment as I know you are honest. The yellow shoes are show stoppers and the word ‘show’ is what is means: they are for show. Impossible to walk very far on them.
I love the black dress and all the different brooches, but especially the green one…and the picture of you laughing is the best.
I really enjoy the surroundings and architectural highlights that you share with us…a trip to Amsterdam in the spring is high on my bucket list! Perhaps we’ll make that trip in early 2023. The glass and tile on the theater is beautiful!
Ha, we have another “I like the new extention” lover. You either hate it or love it. Amsterdam will be pleased that I am increasing the number of tourists haha (not).
So far, the tourists are only trickling back. There is still room. If Covid doesn’t come back, this will soon be over. Well, I rather have a lot of tourists than Covid.
Love the yellow shoes, love the scarf in your hair, and I just have to tell you I love my upright steamer. In fact, I even bought a travel one for when we go on vacation. The only time I use my iron anymore is for sewing/alterations.
Now I will admit, that I don’t think the steamer makes my clothes quite as “crisp” as the iron, but I’ve gotten over thinking I need them as wrinkle free as possible. I mean, heck, I sit in it for 5 minutes and it’s not as crisp anyways. Besides, I’m trying to embrace wrinkles. Both in my clothing and on my face, LOL
OXOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
You are so much more advanced than I am. I love crisp clothes and I don’t really mind ironimg. Well, it is not my way of having fun, but it isn’t my most dreaded job either.
I have inquired about the upright steamer and for me, this thing is not going to do it. Embracing the wrinkles in my face is something I have mastered but not the wrinkles in my arms.
Beste Greetje, kan je eens melden aan je vriendin Claudia Roskam dat haar Etsy shop niet te vinden is? De link op haar Instagram account leidt nergens toe , en ook niets via haar naam. Groetjes
(a golden bird brooch from Claudia Roskam. See her Instagram account for more brooches: werkt niet)
Je hebt gelijk, de link werkt niet en ook als ik rechtstreeks naar Etsy ga en haar account zoek, krijg ik niks. Ik heb haar een mailtje gestuurd en in mijn post de zin met link naar Instagram verwijderd. Hartelijk dank voor je waarschuwing. Geen idee wat er aan de hand is.