Finally you get to see the blue and white floral jacket which I bought at Lionheart Vintage Boutique in Leiden. I was there about a month ago with my friend Katrien and told you that I bought something (second-hand) but you didn’t get to see it.
Today is the day it gets featured on the blog. The jacket is by Bandolera, a brand which went bankrupt in 2013. Somebody had sewn shoulder pads into the jacket, but when I took them out, it was very obvious they were never meant to be in the design. It fit much better without them. I have to be frank, husband Ron dislikes the jacket. Sometimes we are not on the same level as I quite like it, especially worn together with these wide leg white trousers. But oddly enough, I do get why he doesn’t like it.
Let’s move on. Kitty was my photographer again and we went to a park.
Below: A park with a gazebo. Isn’t it wonderful?
Below: It also had a pond but that was hidden between plants and bushes.
Below: We first started with some belt variations on my blue skirt. A small yellow belt, combined with my blue, white and yellow shopper which I bought years ago at the Max Mara outlet in Turin. A lovely bag. Perhaps it is rather matchy matchy, but I like that.
Below: With my beaded belt and the transparent green bag, both by Essentiel Antwerp.
Below: Over to the combination of the blue and white floral jacket with the blue skirt.
Below: A closer look at the jacket. It is mainly blue and white but there is some green in it as well.
Below: Of course I couldn’t resist sitting on one of the sphinxes
Below: Somebody or a group of people had put twigs and tape on the sphinxes. No idea why. Cult? Message? Mystique?
Below: There were more tableaus on and around the gazebo. Very strange.
Let’s go back to the jacket.
Below: I think the jacket looks best with the wide leg white trousers, a really good outfit. It is also a very nice photo, just like the one at the top of this post. Well done Kitty.
Below: Close-up of the white earrings I bought from Lara Design last week. They go so well with this outfit.
Below: An even closer look.
Below: One last look up to the sky through the roof of the gazebo and we were off to a restaurant.
Below: Kitty at the restaurant Het Wapen van Kennemerland (crest of Kennemerland), also known as De Stinkende Emmer (Smelly Bucket). I have told this story once before. This restaurant used to be the resting place for the fishermen’s wives, returning from the market where they had sold the fish. Hence the smelly buckets.
Again, a delightful day.
What happened in my life this week
A lot.
Saturday. Cappuccino with Marita at Vascobelo. She told me a story of her days at an advertising agency (we’ve both worked at advertising agencies and at ABN AMRO Bank). What she described was so funny that I roared with laughter and I can assure you, that is very loud. Everybody looked at us and I couldn’t stop laughing. Still grinning, we crossed the street to kpa.haarlem. Marita is as much a fan of this shop as I am. So far we haven’t bought the same things (yet) haha. Oops…that isn’t true, because as we were there, Karlijn (the owner) was wearing a white shirt that looked so good and Marita said, she had that shirt too and it was super. Long story short…now I have one too.
Below: Marita in a great dress which also came from kpa.
In the evening we had dinner at a restaurant near our house with our friends Georg and Marla. The food was nice and the wines were really good (so I am told, as I do not drink wine). At the end of the evening some music was played and the atmosphere started getting very jolly. The volume was turned up (there were only a few guests left who also seemed to enjoy it) and we had a good time.
Sunday I was supposed to visit mum but she was feeling under the weather and told me not to come. It was probably a mild flu (no Covid) and she is fine now. In the evening I had a jolly good time video calling with Susan of Une femme d’un certain âge for an hour. Always fun.
Monday Ron and I got our second shot of shingles vaccine. Afterwards we let dog Watson run around in the woods. We weren’t really dressed for that, even though I had switched my sandals for old shoes. A pair of white trousers is never a good idea when your dog is playing in the water and mud with 4 other doggies. Later that day, I had a hard time getting all the stains out. But stains or not, after the dog walking, we went for a drink at the same restaurant as I had been with Kitty (see above).
Below: Wearing the green oversized shirt that day.
Below: Our view from Het Wapen van Kennemerland. Beautiful cows.
Below: I have been wearing that green oversized shirt a lot. With a big necklace (above) and below with my new not-so-skinny jeans. I like this shirt even though many friends say it hides my frame. (Link to original post.)
Tuesday was the day I got my fringe cut just a little. The rest of the day I did my “blog work”. I was ridiculously well-dressed that day, especially for doing nothing. I had to take that skirt off in the afternoon; the two kilos I gained have obviously gone straight to my waist. (Link to original post.) The dots in the skirt are repeated in the earrings.
Wednesday Ron was sweet enough to do another photo shoot with me in Amsterdam. Yay. No photos yet of course, as you will see them next week.
Thursday. Busy, busy, busy, doing all sorts of errands. Then Marcella of Lara Design came for the weekly Instagram video, which went smoothly.
Below: Marcella as we were trying out jumpers in different colours.
She had brought a cake but I said NOOOO. That morning another skirt was very tight (see below) and it made me find that switch in my head to turn down everything but water and cappuccinos. (Link to original post.)
And that wasn’t easy as in the afternoon I went to a new bakery / coffee shop in town with Madelon, a woman I only knew from Instagram because we have a mutual friend. It was a very nice meeting and we are certainly going to repeat it.
Friday I met friend Peggy in Voorburg. I had on my pink trousers with green jumper (see this post) as I thought it would be rather cold. But no, the sun was out as if it was high summer. We had a nice lunch, did some clothes shopping and had some coffee. We both know how to keep the conversation going haha. With all that chatting I forgot to take a photo of her or of the two of us. Damn. After the afternoon coffee we decided to go back to one shop where we both had seen fantastic clothes only to find the shop had closed early!! Bummer. On the other hand, I don’t need more clothes and my money is tight, so this was probably a sign from above. It was great to see Peggy again. Such a lovely woman.
Next week is already fully booked with appointments apart from the Monday. How did I ever find time to work?
Greetje
I’m so surprised that your husband doesn’t like the jacket because it’s absolutely gorgeous, Greetje! I particularly love it with the white trousers! I would wear that outfit in a heartbeat!
I also love your skirt with the dots on it — shame it was feeling a bit tight. I have the same problem at the moment!! And I’be just eaten some chocolate cake !!
Hugs
Suzy xx
I have had myself in a (diet) grip for half a week and then “fell off the wagon”. Do I give in and have waist of the skirt widened (if possible) or will I try and get that blasted kilo off? I don’t know yet.
The floral jacket is very pretty and very stylish. I love the blue skirt, they are those skirts with my preferred length and volume. I like the yellow touch on the belt and on the bag, it’s nice and fun. Although I love the skirt, I also think that the outfit with the floral jacket and white pants is more successful. Precious earrings, precious necklace, you always choose beautiful accessories. I love the blue tulle skirt, it’s beautiful.
There were quite a few stylish outfits in this post, right? Glad it pleases you. And I agree that the floral jacket is best on the white trousers. I am still in doubt about the blue skirt. But perhaps that is because of the sneakers I am wearing with it.
What a beautiful outfit. The jacket is nice and certainly doesn’t need shoulder-pads which would be distracting. Great photo-shoot background, too.
Thanks. It all came together. The outfit, the background and the photographer. Made a nice post.
I really like your new jacket, Greetje! It’s a classic “jean jacket” cut, but with a twist in that abstract floral pattern. I think the scale of the pattern is a bit too large for such a small jacket (I would love a skirt in that pattern), but otherwise, it looks great on you – love the white pants with it. I like your alternate stylings of belts with the blue skirt – the match yellow is fun, and the bits of green in the other belt go well with the clear green bag.
I think kpa.harlem would be a dangerous store! I’m also finding some of my clothes a bit tight. Sigh. I’ll have to cut back on the chocolate. Again.
Your social life sounds very busy! It’s still work, even though it’s fun!
Glad you approve of these outfits. I am still not 100% sure about the skirt though.
kpa.haarlem is indeed a very dangerous store.
Watching my food intake for a week or so, has paid off. I am back on my desired weight. Mind you, I have been eating cocos cookies for the past two days, so I better check again.
I don’t regard my social life as work. Not at all. But it is busy, which means I have been neglecting your blog and that is not nice. My apologies.
The blue and white jacket looks so good on you. Good photos using the gazebo. You and your friends find the most interesting locations. Reminds me of an old favorite movie, “The Gazebo,” with Debbie Reynolds and Glenn Ford. It’s a fun mystery from the early 1960’s.
It is getting increasingly difficult to find new locations. So perhaps we will start all over again. I bet nobody can remember them anyway haha.
Hello, You!
Have only just read you this morning (Monday) as I was out on the razzle yesterday, and why not, even an old lady is allowed out now and then!
Now, here’s my (quite unasked for) forensic take on this week’s offerings, for what it’s worth.
The jacket: very nice, despite Ron’s objections. That said, perhaps he thinks it’s a bit top-heavy for your figure given the position of its pockets? I can have the same problem but hey, if you like it, what the heck? It still looks good.
Love the matchy matchy belt and shopper. Not too little, not too much, just right. Not so keen on the big green shirt: shades of the the Jolly Green Giant! I also think Daniella’s right about your sneakers. Clunk-y! They do you no favours. Look at how neat and all-of-a-piece you look in the gazebo photos when you’re wearing those nice white bootees/shoes. They’re part of the whole picture, not screaming, ‘Look at US!’ Now look at the photo of you in the centre of the gazebo…
I also agree with Daniela about kpa harlem; and I want Marita’s dress! I can never find the right long dress but she has with that one. Incidentally, I liked the little cartouche in your photo of her. I expect you noticed it, it shows her back view and you taking the picture. A nice touch, a bit like Marcella’s non-matching earrings!
Glad your Mum is feeling better and pleased you and Ron had shingles jabs. As my doctor said, “Have it! Shingles is horrible!”
But your blog is lovely!
The pockets were indeed the first things Ron objected against. The green shirt is an acquired taste, I will admit. Not everybody likes it.
The ‘long skirt and sneakers’ trend is one that I am still trying to embrace. For one it is fashionable and high heeled pumps (my preference) aren’t. And I don’t want to look outdated. But I am probably about your age if you call yourself an old lady and my old-fashioned brain is still used to high heeled pumps.
The fact that sneakers are so comfortable and suit my new life so much better, help to embrance the trend. But I get your point (and Daniela’s).
Kpa is a wonderful shop. I bought so many things there that if she was to stand in front of our house and would magically call all her clothes back from my closets, there would be a very big heap on the pavement.
I love the jacket. Those colors suit me well and they do for you, too. I really liked the way you styled it with the pants and skirt. Job well done!
Thank you very much Jeanette. The comments are so positive that I wonder whether people who don’t like it, hold their tongue. We will never know.
Great jacket. A la TOMMY BAHAMA here! On your way to Hawaii islands!
Great skirts, but it seems to me that you are trying too hard to add “the cool factor” with your snickers, that actually add ‘weight’ to nice ensembles. Perhaps, some lighter version of sneakers would do some justice to already a full ensemble!! my opinion. less is more!
KPA looks like my kind of boutique! great dress on your friend.
I think you mean sneakers when you write snickers? I am still trying to work out ‘the long skirts and sneakers’ trend. Going by the reactions I get in the street I am doing well, but I do struggle with it. I am from a generation that adds nice high heeled pumps with such an outfit. That is now considered very old-fashioned. Plus the fact that my life is not longer fit for high heels. So I am trying to embrace this sneaker trend for practical reasons too.
I don’t like long skirts and trainers either. I sometimes wear it on occasion on holiday with a limited wardrobe but it just looks so clunky and weird
I hear you and I get you. I often think the same, but I am starting to like it. Usually it takes me 4 years to warm up to a trend. Nearly there. But for others this will never work.
That’s such a great jacket! I like it best with the pants too, and think the green bag works so well. I like the long skirts with the sneakers too.
Usually I am quite a fan of long skirts but I am still trying to get my old-fashioned head around the sneakers with it. I am doing it, but I am not feeling it.
Love all of this week’s photos, especially the ones of you in the gazebo – very striking! I hope we will get to see your new white shirt from kpa haarlem in a future post.
Have a great week!
Yes Kitty knows how to take a photo. And that gazebo was such a good background.
The white shirt you will see in a fortnight.
I love the jacket! Maybe your husband does not like it cause it is a little bit short? Anyway, it looks great with those wide pants.
Best colours are the bright ones. Love,love the jacket, sorry Ron. Your new earrings are very easy to match. Your combi on the last shot, sorry I don’t like the combi. There is a lot happening at the bottom, ruffle of the skirt with the laces of the shoes. I think you can do better.
Thank you for all your compliments. As for the last combination (the black shirt with the yellow/black pleated skirt?) …hmm, I think it isn’t bad. There is no ruffle on the skirt, so maybe I took the photo wrong. Anyway, it might not be your taste. “Even goede vrienden” hahaha.
No, it wasn’t the length, it was ‘everything’, starting with the pockets. I mean what can you have against the pockets? I agree with you and will wear it with those wide pants (or trousers as I always call them).