Hurray, I am creating outfits with clothes I already possess. From the wide white trousers to the blue shirt and from the white boots to the blue and gold bag…they are all treasures in my wardrobe.
The wide white trousers were the ones I could never style. After I found the perfect boots to go with them, I created at least 5 good outfits by changing the top. You have recently seen the trousers with a long green coat in this post. Some outfits I like better than others and you always want to wear the best, don’t you?
Further on in this post you will see the trousers with just the navy blue top.
Ron was my photographer and the Watertorenplein (water tower square) served as a background. Amsterdam used to get its water from this pumping station.
Below: These are the buildings surrounding the water tower. I stole the photo off the internet. Beautiful brick buildings with an ugly white tower in the middle. That lovely little octagonal tower in the middle housed the steam boiler until 1940.
Below: I had tucked in one side of my shirt a bit too high as I discovered later on.
The details: long blue shirt by Bellamy Gallery, wide white trousers by Essentiel Antwerp (two years ago), white boots by Unisa (a gift from my friend Jilske two years ago), the irresistible blue and golden bag was a sales score last year and is by Dries van Noten.
Below: For variation I added my infamous ‘Paris necklace’ (see the story of that unjustified purchase in this post). The shirt is tucked in properly now.
Below: These snakeskin printed earrings are a present from my friend Marianne quite a few years ago. They brighten up my face.
Below: Behind me were new buildings with a lot (and I mean A LOT) of green against the facade. That doesn’t just grow there. The architect must have intended it to be sort of hanging gardens. I love it.
Below: We headed inside Café Restaurant Amsterdam, which is situated in the former engine room of the pumping station, built in 1897. You can read more about the history here.
Below: It is a very impressive building.
Below: And they serve excellent cappuccino. This is the WANTED photo you saw as a preview last week.
Below: Better. See my contented face because of the cappuccino? The shirt is off in this photo and the necklace replaced by a pearl one.
Below: Ron secretly took a close-up of the boots.
Below: One of the big engines in the middle of the restaurant. This top is a lucky find at an outlet. I only grabbed it off the rack to have something on while trying a denim jacket. The pearl necklace with beads of lapis lazuli is a find at an artisan market in Paris years ago.
Below: Behind me the side of the engine and a closer look at the sleeves of the top.
Below: The engine without me.
Below: Then there was this fountain (?). Ron stated you couldn’t see it with me in front of it. Sorry girls, for photobombing all the interesting sights.
Below: Just kidding. Of course I took a photo of the fountain itself. It is 3D. I suppose it was there because it has something to do with water? No idea.
Below: As we had a second cappuccino, I spotted this beautiful woman and asked whether she would mind being featured on my blog. She was very kind, laughed and said it was OK.
What happened in my life this week
A lot of things happened but I have few photos of it.
Saturday was a Shopping Saturday without shopping.
Sabine, Anke and I (the three of us form the Shopping Saturday ‘group’) saw each other again after a long time and decided to use all our time together to chat. Our husbands were pleased we didn’t come home with lots of new stuff haha. Just joking. We are all women with our own income and we pay for our clothes and shoes ourselves. Never an argument about buying too much. Even so, I am often feeling very ashamed about my incessant shopping and smuggle bags into the house. Not that Ron would make a nasty remark, it is just shame about my own behaviour. Now I know for a fact that a lot of women smuggle bags into the house, which stupidly, makes me feel united in sisterhood.
Anyway, we had a great afternoon and took lots of photos which you will see next week.
Sunday we visited my bonus daughter and her husband. We meant a short visit just for coffee, but we stayed for dinner. Nicky had made a delicious soup. Lovely day. Of course we talked a lot about the new house and about decorating it.
We discussed about going to Paris at the end of September. That plan fell through a couple of months ago when we saw the contamination rate rise in France. Now the code for France was yellow and we decided we would go. Nicky had hung on to the hotel reservations so all we needed was train tickets and a nice home for dog Watson for four days. (The plan was aborted again on Thursday when we heard on the news that the Pfizer vaccine’s protection rate was down to 75% with the Delta mutation. These are very uncertain days.)
On Monday I went to see mum. Nothing special, we chatted and I brought dinners Ron had cooked. She only has to take them out of the freezer and put them into the microwave.
Also on Monday dog Watson was trimmed; his hair was finally ready for it. He isn’t as Muppet-looking-cute anymore; instead he looks very athletic, which he is, see below. His tail is down as I tried to get him into a position to photograph so he suspected something unpleasant was going to happen. As a matter of fact, he wasn’t that wrong. Both his ears are infected. He gets medicine in his ears every day for a week. As soon as he sees the blue medicine boxes on the table, he shoots back inside. We have to do it outside as he shakes his head fiercely afterwards and half the medicine is flying around (we fear). The vet asked Ron whether Watson swims a lot. Ron answered: “Swims a lot??? You bet ya, I would have been better off buying a goldfish.” haha.
Tuesday nothing happened and it rained. I was going to meet Marjolein but we both didn’t want to spend a day in the rain, so we rescheduled. Instead I got to know my Photoshop Editor programme a bit better, applying all the lessons Kitty taught me. I still need guidance, but Rome wasn’t built in a day either. At least I can edit my photos for the blog as I used to do in Lightroom. The biggest disappointment is deleting unwanted objects from a photo. I never realized that you do not just remove the object. You have to replace it with something else, some pixels taken surrounding the object. This is sort of cloning to me and I just wanted undesirable objects in a photo, like a dustbin, to magically disappear. Not that simple it seems.
Wednesday I visited the hairdresser. As the salon is across the road from kpa.haarlem I popped in and had a sort of strategy conversation with Karlijn. At the end of the afternoon Kitty returned a dish (I gave her my left-over dessert last week) and she tried on some of my clothes that were on the OUT pile. They all fitted her and she liked them. Win win situation. As we were chatting, I found out that my missing coat was left in her house. I was about to ring a few friends.
Thursday was another busy day. Collecting boots from the cobbler and returning socks to Marianne. I had repaired holes in the heels for her. Yes, I know how to do that; you never expected that from me, did you? I stayed only a few minutes before heading to the dental hygienist and after that the dentist. Everything was fine and my teeth are nice and clean again. At noon I brought my lovely multicoloured shirt to the seamstress and she will repair the rips. Rushed off home to eat and be ready for Marcella of laradesign.nl. We created another Instagram reel and she helped me with something in Photoshop Elements.
Below: Marcella in a new jumper and new trousers, looking very good.
Below: Close-up of her earrings.
Below: I wore my eyelet kind of shirt. Easy outfit but the shirt gives the jeans outfit a bit extra (I think). Link to original post with cream trousers.
Below: As Watson is featured a lot on this blog, I thought it was time to show you my cat Sophie (named after Sophie Tucker). She looks lovely but she is not always very pleasant to me. Now that I am at home a lot more, she is warming up to me.
Friday the pedicure ‘did’ my feet and gave me bright red toenails for the last time this year as my next visit will be at the end of September. I don’t expect to walk bare toed anymore then. In winter I am lazy and never paint my toenails.
In the afternoon I had a very cosy meeting with my former colleague Erna. It was finally nice weather again so we could sit on a terrace. We chatted the afternoon away and of course I forgot to take a photo.
Anyway, this is what I was wearing (link to original post).
I had to rush home as we invited friends Georg and Marla to dine with us. Ron fried sole and it was delicious. He also made a liquid crème brûlée which was utterly delicious.
Let’s see what next week will bring.
Greetje
I adore the simle dark blue top on the white trousers! It really suits you!
Hmmm… I like it but it is rather classic and my normal style isn’t classic.
I am sorry to hear Watson has an ear infection. My Scottish Terrier would always hide after a trip to the grooming parlor. Embarrassed I think. Your cat, Sophie, is what my animal rescue friend calls a “Torti.” (Tortoise shell) The cat that lives next door is also a Torti. Her name is Brenda Lee and she visits me every day and I love it. Cute outfits. I especially love the one with the long striped tunic, white jeans, and metallic sneakers. Very chic!
p.s. Covid is surging in our small community too. My husband and I will get the booster shot soon.
Watson’s ear infection is gone; the medicine helped. And yep, I have a tortoise cat. Wished I had a cuddly cat.
Thank you for the compliment on the long striped tunic. It is totally something else from my normal style, but I like it and it is so comfortable.
Oh, you are already getting a booster shot? A third shot? Our government is still “thinking about it”.
Your posts are always a delight, so refreshing, thank you. Kate.
I should thank YOU Kate (and I do), for reading my blog. Creating the posts is my hobby which I enjoy very much. But you always want somebody to read it too. Getting compliments for it, makes me feel proud.
I’m so glad you found boots for these trousers, as they make your legs look a million miles long! You look so good in these crisp shirts with the half-tuck – they look silly on me. Ron’s pics are great – the sneaky shoe pic is awesome. Lovely architecture, although ivy growing on bricks will eventually deteriorate and destroy the brickwork – it should never get that overgrown.
Aw, pretty Sophie! She is a lovely kitty. Glad you week is going well, Greetje! I never feel guilty about my purchases!
An item can sit in your closet for ages and never get worn because of not having the right piece to wear with it. I’m glad you found tops to go with those trousers because they make your legs look a mile long!
Poor Watson! I hope the medicine gets rid of his ear infections. I had no idea you had a cat! She is a lovely tortoiseshell.
The biggest ‘problem’ was the height and type of shoe with these trousers. Once I found the boots, the upper part was less of a problem.
Watson’s medicine works very well, his ears are much better now. We keep on giving him the medicine for a couple of more days (advice of the vet).
I have had a cat from when I was 27 and moved to Amsterdam. The curtains in the bedroom moved at night and I saw a mouse climbing them. So I took two kittens in the house. The smell alone will get the mice running. When I lived at home as a child we always had a cat too. I am very much a cat lover.
I ADORE THE WAY YOU WRITE!
I HAVE TO SAY I LIKE THE FIRST VERSION OF THE TUCKED IN SHIRT BETTER!
WHAT WAS THE DIFFERENCE MAY I ASK?
LOVE THAT RON WAS SNEEKY AND SNAPPED YOUR WHITE BOOTIES UNDER THE TABLECLOTH!BEAUTIFUL BUILDING WITH THE OLD MACHINERY!
YOU DO KEEP BUSY!
LUCKY YOU THAT RON COOKS!
I HAD PFIZER………..SO YOU ARE TELLING ME I MUST BE GOOD AND STAY PUT!
WILL THIS EVER END?!!!!!!!!!!!
The difference was that in the first photo I tucked in the shirt more. In the other photos I let the tucked-in bit of the shirt hang over the waistband a little more.
I am indeed lucky with a man who cooks, especially because I suck at it and I don’t like it. The two go hand in hand of course.
Pfizer is the best vaccine you could have gotten. Only they are discovering now that the 88% protection it gave is down to 75% when it concerns the Delta mutation. Pfizer still protects best of all the vaccines but it is not 100% full proof. And it doesn’t end very soon.
Today a very delicate and soft look, I like it. The long shirt is very nice and the pants look comfortable and soft. How beautiful your earrings. The green upholstered building is fantastic. The look with the top, without the shirt, is also very elegant. I love your casual look with jeans, sneakers and a printed shirt, it’s very nice.
That is a lot of compliments. Thank you. I am always very pleased when you like my styling.
Huge applause for styling something from your closet!! I knew you could do it!! Those pants are truly fabulous!!
You did surprise me with the darning the sock heels thing. Do you knit too??
XOXO
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
To think these wide trousers are in my wardrobe for two years and hardly got worn. I just couldn’t style them. The right boots did half the trick.
I knew I would surprise everybody with my sock mending haha. But no, I do not knit. I know how to, but after two rows I am bored, asking “Is it finished yet?”
A lovely Sunday read, as usual! I feel for you on the cancelled trip. The uncertainty of the whole pandemic really takes a lot of fun out of travel, but I know we’re lucky to have that problem.
I’d love to hear more about your mending skills! I’m curious what type of thread you use and if you use any “tools” like a darning egg or not. My very favorite, no longer made, socks have sprung a hole. They are a thin wool blend. I’ve really enjoyed the “visible mending” I’ve done during the pandemic, but that was all on denim or flannel, just using a cotton sashiko thread. Any tips appreciated!🙂
I agree with you, we are lucky to have this problem with travelling. I can think of many worse.
Mending…hmm. I am by no means a seamstress. Quite the contrary, but I did learn a little at primary school.
I should have used a wool thread as the socks are wool but I didn’t have any, so I used normal (grey) thread. I go around the hole with stitches that secure the hole and prevent it from getting bigger. Then I go criss-cross over the hole and pull it a little bit but not too much. The black piece I have sewn on top of the hole I have fastened with different stitches: two times on the outside and once on the inside. The inside is important because you don’t want to put your foot in and get a toe caught in the hole. I didn’t have an egg for heel mending so I used a hard case for glasses. Worked pretty good.
Great outfits – I love blue and white together! The dark blue top under the blue shirt is particularly nice.
Poor Watson and his ears. Our dog Jade hates going to the vet. We took her on Friday for a checkup, and she had her usual breakdown.
Have a great week.
It is such a classic and easy combination, isn’t it? Just like black and white. The dark blue top under the blue shirt was ‘styling by accident’.
Watson is going to the vet this afternoon and is as good as gold there. The vets love him as he lets them do everything they want, while wagging his tail.
Good luck with poor Jade.
Another fun chat this week. I love those white trousers, they are the perfect length with the boots, and the length that I prefer to wear. I hope you do get an enjoyable visit to France. I have friends who are comfortable travelling and some who are not going anywhere, so it is a mater of being comfortable in your decision. We are getting another week of hot and humid, so wishing you a pleasant week until the next post.
To think these trousers have been in my wardrobe for two years and hardly got worn because I couldn’t style them.
We are not going to Paris, we chickened out.
The weather here in the Netherlands is perfect this week. About 21 degrees C (70 F I think), sunshine, a bit of clouds and very little rain.
Another lovely post. I especially like the last outfit — the blue-and-white dress over pants. And again I am struck by what great shoes you have!
That blue and white dress was a steal on a holiday in Spain. Mind you, it is pure polyester so not many people would like that. It doesn’t bother me (much).
Shoes are my Achilles’ heel. They make or break an outfit. Especially in summer, when I get blisters even looking at shoes, I am always searching for the perfect pair that don’t.
Indeed we chatted the Friday afternoon away on a lovely terrace with the nicest cakes of Haarlem, which somehow we managed to resist! We definitely have to return.
Ps 1 hopefully Watson recovers soon. Ps 2 your cat has such a cute face!
Today I was in that coffee and tea restaurant again. And again I resisted the cakes. I am still on water and no sweets which is really difficult, especially when it is your mother’s birthday.
Watson is recovered but to be on the safe side, we continue his medication for a couple of more days. My cat might have a cute face, her behaviour is quite the opposite. She doesn’t like to be stroked and she does like to put her claws in me.
Nice ensemble, blue and white. Not very fond of extra long chemise, more “soigne” with the navy top and lapis necklace. A better balance for you. Love the red shirt with jeans, and the blue long dress with pants under. Quite cool!
Came across a picture of a most unusual cat. Will try to find it and send it to you. It’s rather amazing what G-d keeps creating these days. Most imaginative!!
Ah, well, you see the trousers with the extra long chemise is what I call ‘a relaxed style’. Something of “I don’t care what people think, I am my own woman”- kind of style. The outfit with the navy top and lapis necklace is more classic which I try to avoid really.
The red and white shirt with jeans is a no-brainer of course and I am surprised you like the blue long dress with pants. That last outfit is out of my comfort zone but I like it a lot. And it is very comfortable of course.
Saw your mail with the very unusual cat.