Lots of new items in this post like the houndstooth trousers, the purple jumper (sweater) and the black earrings. You will see a close-up of the earrings further down. I know all these new things are not very sustainable. What can I say? Nothing in my defence.
In the past I have had an orange and a yellow jumper by American Vintage and I loved them. However, after a few years wear, they lost their luscious vibe. The fact that I washed them in the washing machine (and not on the wool programme), probably has a lot to do with that.
As I passed the American Vintage shop in Amsterdam a month ago, I decided to go in and I scored two new jumpers: this purple jumper and a yellow one. I love colour in winter. In principle this neckline is a good one for me, but I would have preferred it to be more narrowly fitted. Perhaps I can solve it by wearing a black tank top underneath it with the straps showing.
Loes was my photographer that day and the weather was grey, very grey. No rain, so I am thankful for that, but a little bit of sunshine would have brightened up the photos.
What was nice, was the street we chose. All the people who live there, decorate the outside of their house and the street with greenery. I love what they do.
Below: This is one end of the street. Photo taken from the middle of the street. Notice the lamps and ornaments they have hanging above the street.
Below: And this is the street from the middle to the other end.
Below: I particularly liked these lamps.
Below: And this angel.
Below: And here is Loes in a houndstooth dress and scarf with a beautiful, colourful coat. Her boots were new and so very comfortable.
Below: I was ‘hiding in the bushes’. The trousers are by Mads Nørgaard, a Scandinavian brand. I bought them at my trusted supplier for lovely clothes, kpa.haarlem. These trousers were taken in at the back by my seamstress as trousers don’t fit me in that area.
Below: On our way to the cute green street, we passed this building with the strange letters on the facade, spelling De Aker. I only found this out, after posting the photo on Facebook asking for help. It turned out that ‘De Aker’ means a particular kind of bucket, one that is cylindric and was used to hoist water up from a well. The Wikipedia explanation of De Aker is in Dutch so if you don’t speak Dutch you will have to use Google Translate.
All I could see was the green door. Green doors are perfect as a background for my blonde hair.
Below: I was wearing my Max Mara coat from years ago, bought in the outlet in Turin.
Below: These people apparently were still in a Halloween mood, which is really not something we celebrate.
Below: I like these old things; a door, way up high. It was used to hoist up anything to store upstairs. So I suppose this must have been some sort of a warehouse in the old days.
Below: Cute little house. It is now part of a restaurant.
Below: Now that is what I call a front door. The sticker on the letterbox indicates what kind of unsolicited leaflets and papers you’d like to receive and what not.
Below: One last photo of how green the people make their street.
Below: Loes and I went for lunch in a restaurant, adjacent to an almshouse court. So pretty.
Below: Statue in the courtyard.
Below: They had a bench, which we used. Of course we did.
Below: A close-up of the earrings, this time from Baublehaus. They are made from polymer clay which means Anne (the designer) can create almost anything she wants. These black ones are from her Art Deco collection and they are very light-weight.
What happened in my life this week
There is some lining fabric left of my new bespoke coat and my seamstress is making me a scarf from it. I am curious to see whether that looks good as the coat is really at its best without a scarf. Alas it is wool and very prickly wool at that, so I really need something in my neck.
Of course there was the weekly visit to mum. Ron joined me that time. He did the shopping, trimmed the firethorn in the garden and make mum laugh with his wit.
Below: Mum in blue.
Below: Close-up of her pearl brooch. She said brooches were old-fashioned; I brought her up to date as they are hot.
Below: I was wearing this outfit. Link to original post. The top and the skirt are both Essentiel Antwerp. The skirt doesn’t look like much in this photo but it is nice. Wearing the same black earrings from Baublehaus as just shown.
This week I did visit the eye doctor and it took a long time. My appointment and the ones before me, ran for a long time, but she was very competent and that is what is most important. Result so far: I do have cataract, which doesn’t surprise me at all. I do not have macular degeneration. YAY. And she needs to do further research to see whether or not I have glaucoma. The glaucoma indication on the photo could also be a disturbance created by the cataract. My next appointment is set. I secretly giggled when she said to me: “OK, your next appointment will be on the 10th of December”. No discussion, no question as in “Does this day suit you?” No, just the simple announcement. It wasn’t a problem though.
As I had had drops in my eye to widen the pupil, my eyesight was terrible when I left the building. I had asked an assistant two days before, whether I could drive afterwards and he had said: “Yes, no problem; I don’t see an indication that you will have drops in your eyes.” He needs to go back to school.
At the suggestion of the eye doctor, I had coffee and lunch in a restaurant before going home. After that my eyes were still not too good, but I could drive.
I want her to operate on the cataract as soon as possible as it bothers me a lot. Before I do that, I want to try the ‘One-Eyed Jack’ method with contact lenses. It means, one eye (lens) will be to see in the distance and one eye (lens) will be for reading. At the moment I have multi-focal contact lenses. The lower part of my lenses is for reading. The lenses stay in place because they weigh down. That is OK with me now, but it is not really comfortable reading for a long time and I don’t think they can put these kind of lenses in my eyes. They can, however, apply the One-Eyed Jack system. I want to try and see whether my brain can handle this before the operation. It would be rather nasty if I find out my brain gets confused AFTER the operation.
I had a Facetime conversation with Susan of Une femme d’un certain âge. Always so nice to talk to her. She recently bought some awesome new jackets, tops and a pair of boots which are so stylish.
Marcella dropped by and we explored a new way of selling her earrings. I might be straying with Baublehaus earrings but Lara Design is still my ‘main supplier’ haha.
Below: Marcella with some new earrings which you can pull through your earlobe piercing. You can switch the pearl for a lilac or a graphite ball. Me likey.
On the one day my agenda was empty, I suddenly had a sample sale from a Dutch couturier to go to, Mart Visser. As one does… A sample sale of his ready-to-wear clothes, not his couture clothes. Even so, the man knows how to give garments a good cut and applies this to his ready-to-wear clothes as well. As soon as you put it on, you feel the quality. I went together with my Instagram friend Janna of @timelessstyle.nl.
Below: Janna took this photo at the Mart Visser sample sale. Wearing my Denham jeans and my yellow American Vintage jumper. This is the same jumper as the purple one above. Leopard booties from Eijk Amsterdam and my Chloé Marcia mini crossbody bag. Underneath I wore a blue bodystocking. Always handy at sample sales, I thought, but it wasn’t necessary as it was pretty chic in this place with proper dressing rooms.
Below: A tiny video of me trying on a top with matching cardigan. I did buy the top but cardigans and me, we aren’t a match.
Below: The staff was very helpful in taking photos of us. We were allowed to remove our masks for the photos but we did keep our distance.
Below: Yes, Janna and I were successful.
The nasty thing this week were aching muscles in my back and neck. One night I couldn’t sleep because of the pain. Had to take a pain killer and a sleeping tablet. My physiotherapist is working on it; I already had one session and next Monday I will have a second one. When I am at home I have one of those electric heated cushions on my back and neck. Oh well, it will pass.
Friday I visited Antoinette whom I hadn’t seen for a long time. She used to be my hairdresser, way back. As a matter of fact, she gave me a make-over in 1995.
Below: Antoinette, who lives on a large ship. Incredible that she has two grown-up children, she looks the same as 20 years ago. You can imagine that we had lots to talk about.
And that brings us to the end of this week. The weather is cold, rainy and miserable at the moment.
Greetje
I’m glad to hear you don’t have glaucoma. I just had my annual eye exam, and a visual field test as I am at risk for glaucoma, but so far, so good. My eyesight isn’t good but I’m glad I can still see with eyeglasses!
Loes’ coat is such a beautiful colour – I love seeing people wearing coats in colours other than black. Of course, that said, most of my coats are black 😉 You have so many lovely jewel-tone sweaters.
Yes coats in many colours and jewel-tone sweaters… they are my favourite. Having said that, my two favourite coats, the ones I wear most of the time…are black haha.
Great photos, as always! I love your beautiful purple sweater and the colourful coats you and Loes are wearing. I hope all goes well with your eyes. A TV presenter friend of mine wears one contact lens when reading the news so that he can read scripts and the autocue. My eyesight is so bad that it would give me a migraine! I think I need reading glasses or varifocals.
Emma xxx
http://www.style-splash.com
Poor Emma. Yes dear, we all have to face the day we need reading glasses haha. Look upon it as an accessory and splurge on multiple frames. Ask Lizzy for advice.
And thanks for all the compliments.
Lovely photos You really rock the jeans. Thanks for the time you dedicate to making your blog so nice and fun to read.
Well thank you for reading the posts every week and for commenting. That makes blogging a whole lot more fun. It is a hobby you know, not work.
You certainly do keep busy, Greetje!
I’m totally in love with that street you did your photoshoot on. It’s absolutely stunning! And so is your purple jumper—one of my favourites colours!
Hugs
Suzy xx
So I did well with this post? I am very pleased. Thank you.
I love your photographic reports, I love getting to know your country better. And, of course, I love seeing you in purple and gray, a very successful combination aesthetically. The oversize sweater is beautiful and I really like the pattern of your pants. And how beautiful your fuchsia coat! And how pretty and elegant your mom in that blue sweater. And, in the end, the jeans! Jeans with yellow look fantastic to me, you look gorgeous. I love Amsterdam, this street is beautiful.nt
So many compliments. Josep-Maria you make me shy. One little note: the photos were taken in Haarlem (as so often), which is a town 30 minutes by car and 20 minutes by train from Amsterdam. So, very close.
Stunning purple top, chic cut pants. white boots!! Great combo. you can also find a great scarf with the right color combo to cover your neck in the dead of winter.
Loes looks sharp. the same for your mom.
Many of my acquaintances complain that when shopping, they hardly find anything yet, when I go shopping a find everything and then some!!! I don’t need anything, but I want everything!! That’s really bad!
Beautiful black earrings, but a little too funereal for me. I imagine the old Queen Victoria coveting them.
Last year I had both cataracts removed, one eye for long distance the another for near. The brightness I experienced afterwards was almost overwhelming. Glorious indeed, never realized what I was missing. No need of glasses, unless doing very delicate work with my necklaces, or going to the opera and being pretty far from the stage. otherwise, no need of glasses for reading, driving, computer work, etc…anything really.
the alley shots are indeed glorious. should all city planners create such architectural wonders. I can imagine all the American cities ghettoes be transformed this way!! it can be done here, if we would only have people governing with their brains instead of their “ass…s!!!
Thanks for the many compliments. Of course not all streets are like this over here, but I just don’t put them on the blog haha.
I am like you, I always find something and no, I don’t need anything and yes, I want everything. Sooo bad.
I had to laugh over your comment on the black earrings. They are created with the Art Deco time in mind, so that is after Queen Victoria already died. Anyway, I like them.
I am beginning to look forward to my eye operation. The prospects are very good by the sound of it.
I’m surprised that there is so much greenery at this time of the year. Is that typical? Here in South Dakota all the trees, bushes, etc. are bare. Not a spec of green anywhere.
I have no idea really. Autumn (fall) is here, but yes, the temperatures have been rather mild for this time of year, so perhaps the bushes are slow in losing their leaves. Or the people have all chosen types that stay green all year round. I am terrible with plants, flowers and trees, so I wouldn’t know.
The jeans pics at the sale are great – I envy your long legs! Love the purple jumper – one of my favourite colours but I prefer tops more fitted as I’m short. That green street is fantastic – they must all try to outdo each other! Have a great week and good luck with your eyes.
I think the people in the street have a communal goal to make their street the cutest street of Haarlem.
You need fitted tops as a petite and I need big ones as I am tall. We are all different and have to adjust accordingly. Knowing that my legs are my assets, I put the emphasis on them heh heh.
Hi Grietje,
I’ve had my cataracts done, also with one eye with a long-distance lens and other with a short distance lens, and my brain worked it out almost immediately, no problems. The only thing was, I used to do a lot of sewing and other close work, and found that now I can’t without reading glasses, which I wasn’t expecting. I was given a questionnaire by the eye surgeon on what I liked to do, but I didn’t realise that the new lenses would make such a difference to the close work. But otherwise it’s been great. Good luck!
Regards, Amanda
Oh hahaha, you wrote ‘Grietje’ instead of ‘Greetje’. That name is even more old-fashioned over here than Greetje.
Thanks for the tip of ‘close work’. I will inquire after that, but I think I still want the one-eyed Jack. So nice to be able to read the labels in the supermarket.
Enjoyable post, as always. Such a pretty street to use as a photo background! I must say I love the outfit you wore to the sample sale. I like the ombination of yellow sweater, leopard boots and leather belt with your jeans. You look tall and lean and chic 🙂
So many compliments in one comment. You make me shy. Jeans are my thing and I know that my legs are my assets, so I put the emphasis on them. The way that big yellow sweater sits, with tucking it at the front, it creates a very nice body shape.
You, your mum, Loes and Antoinette – you’re all doing such a good job of wearing colour! It really does make a difference psychologically, doesn’t it? I bought some things this weekend too , although mine were secondhand. I would LOVE to go to a designer’s sample sale – I’m envious!
Good news on your eyes re: macular degeneration, but sorry to hear about the cataract. I hope the two new contacts will resolve this somewhat and that you can get surgery quickly, Greetje.
Cataract happens to all of us as we grow older, so I am very phlegmatic about it.
The designer in question created mainly for women with a different life than mine. So many pretty things, pretty dresses. That made it harder to find something. On the upside: he had samples in all sizes, from the smallest to the largest.
Funny thing is that I bought two black and white items and one brown haha. Nothing bright.
Wow – beautiful green street, gorgeous purple sweater, and your mom in blue – wonderful colors this week! Thanks for brightening the day. Have a great week.
Bright colours is my game. When I found out what a difference it makes to my appearance, I am very careful with non-bright colours, although I sometimes succumb. And thank you for the compliments.
Wonderful Sunday afternoon read — thank you. Re the near/far contact lenses, don’t give up until you’ve tried at least 2 weeks of daily wear. I was about to accept my brain couldn’t adjust, and voila, it did. But a PS: Make sure your dominant eye is given the distance lens. My doctor assumed it was my left, as I’m left-handed — but I’m right-eyed. Switching made all the difference for me.
Oh, that is a good warning. A friend of mine said my brain would know within 24 hours. After what you told me, I will have more patience. Also thank you for that dominant eye warning. I think that it the left one, but I will have it checked.
Your pink(?) coat is wonderful for a dull day and such a lovely street. Had my right cataract removed two weeks ago and the left scheduled for Wednesday. What a difference, everything is so bright but downside, so many previously unseen, by me, wrinkles.
Hahaha… the wrinkle,s, I have heard that complaint before, but I think my magnifying mirror is tough enough.
The pink coat is my “cheer-me-up”coat.
It was so fun to catch up with you! That purple color is fabulous…and so is the yellow. Is that a stitched crease on the front of the trousers? I like that detail, and it adds a little structure and a nice vertical line.
Tell Loes I covet that fabulous nubby coat she’s wearing. 😉
That “green” street is SO pretty! I’d want to live there, but would have to pay better attention to my gardening than I do now.
Hope all goes well with your eyes!
It is always nice talking to you.
I had to walk to my wardrobe to see, but yes, it is a stitched crease on the front.
I will forward your compliment to Loes. She is a petite like you.
When I cycled through that green street, I immediately thought: “Yes, this will be my next background” heh heh.