Sometimes you get lucky, like with this black and white blazer by Mart Visser. For those who don’t know, Mart Visser is a well-known couturier from the Netherlands with a side collection of ready-to-wear. My Instagram friend Janna of @timelessstyle.nl and I visited a sample sale in his showroom. And that is where I found this blazer for a bargain price. I like the elegance of the design and the craftmanship. When you put it on, you immediately feel it is well-made.
As Kitty was pretty busy, I asked Ron to be my photographer again and he took me to Amsterdam. That was really nice as it gives me the opportunity to show you a different town than Haarlem.
Below: We parked underneath the town hall which has this amazing statue rising from the floor.
Below: Walking towards the centre there are numerous canals and drawbridges. The weather was grey which is a shame; just goes to show that the Netherlands in the winter is mostly grey.
Below: Passing the Amstel. I did want to show you a photo but boy oh boy, it does look a lot better when the sun is out.
Below: In the Staalstraat we saw this pretty window and were wondering to what they had attached the red Christmas balls to. When we looked closer we discovered it is a bicycle. It is the window of a hairdressers by the way.
Below: We were near the ‘Oudemanhuispoort’. In the passage behind me are usually book stalls but they were closed (which never happens). If you want to see really nice photos of it, click here. Only the text is in Dutch so most of you can only look at the pictures.
I am wearing my Salvatore Ferragamo second-hand coat, which I wore two posts ago without the belt. It is equally nice belted.
Below: From the Oudemanhuispoort you can step into this courtyard of the University of Amsterdam. Again, the link to Oudemanhuispoort shows you nicer photos.
Below: Walking up to one of the grand doors of the building. The first photo of this post was taken with these doors as background.
Below: Even though it isn’t sunny, I think this photo is really nice.
Below: It pays off to look up when you are in a city. Elaborately ornamented buildings.
Below: Another pretty building.
(Once you are finished admiring the building, look in the righthand corner and then look at the photo below it.)
Below: On the posts, protecting the pedestrians from the cars, two saddles were mounted LOL.
Below: The red brick of the building is a good background for my blonde hair. I am wearing black snakeskin print pumps from EIJK Amsterdam.
Below: Close-up of the pumps by EIJK Amsterdam.
Ron complained that the outfit was rather dark, the weather was dark and the backgrounds so far were dark too. He wanted to see some colour.
Below: His wish immediately was fulfilled. A beautifully decorated bicycle in front of a tattoo shop. I will admit that the teal green with the black and white is rather subdued, not my usual style. The trousers are from the Max Mara outlet in Turin. (Link to first post with these trousers.)
Below: I had also chosen these new earrings I got from Marcella of Lara Design for the ‘work’ I did for her. Next time I will wear different earrings with this outfit as I think the chain is fighting with the lapels of the jacket. They will be nicer with for instance, my boat neck orange jumper.
As you can see in the photo above, the black ball is round. The photo below shows you there is a little gold-plated bead which acts as a stopper. You can slide it on and off the chain and the higher you push it up the chain, the longer the chain will be at the back of your ear and the shorter it will be at the front. This way you can play with the length. For fun Marcella had also added one bead above the black ball. You can choose from many colours and use it on just one earring or on both.
Below: Here is a close-up. The gold-plated bead (stopper) is behind my earlobe.
Below: This is a fun little alley with a nice restaurant (Zeppos café), and very colourful. However, Ron had accidently touched something on the camera and it changed settings. The photo turned out very dark with odd colours.
Below: They did have chairs for me to do the ‘sitting’ pose LOL.
Below: Trust the camera to be working better as Ron took this photo of me, trying to pull my top down a bit.
Below: We had lunch and Ron wanted to take a photo through the window of the restaurant with me standing in front of the shop across the road. This shop sells all sort of delicious food. I stood quite a while in front of the wrong shop window, not hearing my phone ringing (Ron). Then when it dawned on me, I walked to the right window, only to ‘look like a surprised rabbit’ Ron said afterwards haha.
Anyhow, I still think the photos made for a nice post.
What happened in my life this week
Saturday we knew the country was going into serious lock-down the next morning for (at least) 4 weeks. I phoned the hairdresser to advance my appointment to that Saturday. Usually this is impossible, they are always fully booked. But because I wasn’t the only one with this wish, all the hairdressers came to work that day, even when they were on holiday. And my hairdresser Inge also came and cut my hair, on her day off, no less. Saved.
In the early evening our neighbour Annelies treated Kitty and me at Kitty’s place. We had French cheeses, pear, nuts, grapes, trout mousse, bread, soup and perhaps more. Below Annelies on the left and Kitty on the right. It was a thank-you meal for styling her and taking photos back in September.
We also had something we had never eaten before: Yacon, apple carrot is the simple name. It is very juicy, sweet but not very sweet and a lovely snack. Ron was already to bed when I came home.
Sunday I visited mum, wearing this outfit below. Not the best photo and not the best outfit with my blue top (link to original post with the blue top). My styling is not always a success. I didn’t take a photo of mum as she was wearing one of her blue jumpers again. I told her I couldn’t show that jumper on repeat. You might think she only has 4 jumpers. And she has soooo many more. LOL
Monday my friend and former neighbour Anja visited me (see below). She has moved to Spain and was in the Netherlands with her husband for a couple of weeks. Disastrously she caught the Covid virus, despite her two vaccinations. As she arrived in the Netherlands, she had to go straight into quarantine for a week. Fortunately she wasn’t very ill and Monday she was negative for 3 days in a row. She got the all-clear and we had a lovely couple of hours. Bummer of course that we are now in lock-down. It wasn’t a problem for us to see each other and we kept our distance.
When Watson came back from his walk, he stormed into the living room when he heard Anja’s voice and jumped onto her lap. Clearly he remembers her; she is that sod that always allows him anything haha.
Below a photo of the two of them in a quiet moment. Most of the times he is all over her, trying to lick her face which he is absolutely not allowed, yuck. If you click through to Anja’s Instagram post, and swipe to the left, you will see two photos of Watson misbehaving on her lap.
Tuesday Marcella and I created two little videos and discussed a few Instagram possibilities. We hadn’t done any videos for a few weeks and I had nearly forgotten how to create one. I had to Google a lot and found out that Instagram had changed their algorithm strategy. They are favouring videos over photos from now on; they want to go from a photo app to a video app, competing with TikTok. Rats !!!
Below a bit too close up, but this is one of Marcella’s ear party designs. A set suitable for someone with multiple piercings.
That day I also made a briefing for my bonus daughter in case I die. She wants to know my wishes for my funeral and whom she has to inform. Not the nicest task but of course she is right. Got it on paper now.
Wednesday I picked up my new trousers from the seamstress who had widened the waistband. Her walled garden was perfect as background for a photo shoot, so I asked Kitty to meet me there. Apart from the shoot, the three of us also had a very cosy and pleasant afternoon chatting and drinking tea and coffee.
In the evening I watched two episodes of Emily in Paris. Totally over the top, no reality at all, but lovely to watch and enjoy. No violence, no thrill.
Thursday Famke of next-door came to teach me about Instagram videos. You need a teenager for these things. She has didactic skills so it only took her about 50 minutes and I had the answers to my questions. In the afternoon I want back to the seamstress to pick up the trousers as I had forgotten to take them home the day before. That’s what you get when you just babble on.
I had a cappuccino with Karlijn in her shop (at the back) where she is assembling orders that come through on Instagram and her website. A lot of clients pick up the clothes at the door, but she is also cycling through town to deliver the orders. I picked up one order which was pretty far away and brought it for her by car. Merry Christmas.
Friday I had to take my ‘One-Eyed Jack lenses’ back to the shop as my brain just couldn’t grasp it. After 8 days it was still bad, so I packed it in. If everything goes as planned I should get my money back. Fingers crossed.
In the afternoon I had an appointment with the camera man but when I arrived at his shop, it was closed. Perhaps something happened; he didn’t have my phone number. We’ll see next week.
Our neighbours and friends Froukje and Petro came for drinks and dinner and we had a wonderful time.
I so hope you will have had a great Christmas time. If not, do not despair and think of Annie:
“The sun’ll come out tomorrow
Bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow
There’ll be sun”
Greetje
Hello, You
Love both outfits, very nice indeed. And LOVE the pics of Amsterdam, especially the church one and the violinist. Now, is he sinking or rising? Discuss and defend! I think he’s rising because of the way the tiles are cracking, but who really knows? That book-selling place you mentioned, I’ve bought books from there when visiting! As for Zeppo’s, I’ve already checked its menu and decided to try and eat there next time I/we’re over. See you there, eh?
I’m sorry about your latest lockdown: not good. As for testing, we’re lucky in the UK as home testing kits are available, free, from local chemists (pharmacies) – when they haven’t run out! But they are useful as you can imagine.
You and Ron and your Mum stay safe.
Happy New Year!
And a very happy New Year to you too.
If the circumstances allow it and you are over in Amsterdam, be sure to send me a message that you are coming.
The testing kits aren’t for free here, but they are still available. About € 70 for 25 tests.
And I agree that the violinist is rising (indeed because of the way the tiles are cracking). Rumour has it that this statue was made by our Queen (now princess) Beatrix. But it is never confirmed.
Such lovely photos. Wow!
That was a short but sweet comment Linda. Thank you.
That is a gorgeous jacket, Greetje, and it looks awesome with the dark green trousers – so classy! I like all the building pictures and seeing how folks in Amsterdam decorate.
Sorry to hear about lockdown (again) – we aren’t there (yet). Happy Christmas, and all the best to you, Ron, Watson, mum, and all your lovely friends!
I was pleased with the jacket and the fact it was reduced too. Our lockdown isn’t too bad as a lot of shops have just shoved a counter in the entrance and sell from there. But of course there are less people in the street, so it is less lucrative for the shops. And not being able to drink coffee inside a restaurant sucks too. For the rest… I can live with it.
Wishing you all the best for 2022 as well.
I hope that your lockdown doesn’t last very long. Here in Canada, the number of Covid cases is increasing rapidly, so while we aren’t in lockdown, my husband and I are being very careful and not going out much. Interestingly, we live only a short distance from Cynthia, who commented above, so the extreme cold keeps us indoors anyway.
I love the teal colour of your featured outfit and it looks lovely with your polka dot jacket.
Luckily lock-down is mild here as many shops just put a counter in the doorway and sell from there. Like in the old days when the shop keeper had to get the goods from the shelves behind him or her. Only not being able to sit inside a restaurant for a coffee is rotten of course.
I still think that the teal and the black and white is a bit of a gloomy combination, but a lot of people disagree.
Merry Christmas Greetje, Love all the outfits but the one you dont like – the blue jumper looks gorgeous, love those pants! Yes her in the Uk I have been watching Emily In Paris for escapism – and Selling Sunset for the beautiful houses! Glad you got your priorities right – your hair!
Funny, there are more women, including my bonus daughter, who really like that outfit which I don’t like. I never know how people are going to react.
And yes, my hair is my priority as it is my Achilles’ heel.
I hope you and your loved ones had a Merry Christmas. I love this seemingly (new to me) trend of decroating bikes for the holidays. It looks so gorgeous and friendly. I hope the orchides on the bike are fake and not real. Seeing the beautiful Dutch red bricks is always a pleasure. Your earrings and the multiple earring set are so pretty. Sorry to hear that you are all locked down again. Thanks goodness we so far had only one (the initial lockdown). However, -30C for weeks in a row feel almost like a soft lockdown. Stay in style and a Happy New Year.
Yes, you are right, minus 30C is as good as a lock-down. You don’t say: “Why don’t we go to town and do some fun shopping” haha.
I was saying to my mother this evening that I found most shops were closed on the Monday after the Christmas weekend. She laughed and said: “Hello, we are in a lock-down! Shops are closed.” I had totally forgotten LOL. That is also because most shops have barricaded their entrance with a counter and are selling in the doorway. They found a Covid-safe way of selling stuff.
And yes, the flowers on the bike are very fake.
Wishing you a happy new year too.
I love your blazer, it is beautiful and original. She combines wonderfully with your green pants, in a sober and very elegant look. I love your photos of Amsterdam, a city that I have always dreamed of being able to travel. Your coat is beautiful, of a magnificent elegance, it fits you wonderfully. The photo of the canal with the boats is beautiful, what a beautiful place! Beautiful your earrings and beautiful you with them in the foreground. Anja is always so beautiful …
Well…this was a post to your liking. If you ever come to Amsterdam, be sure to let me know and I will show you Amsterdam. Or at least part of a day (you might get tired of me really soon in real life LOL).
I think your mom should be featured in each post in her blue jumper of the week. 😂 Let’s see every last one of them!
Yacon is new to me, so thank you for the link. Who knew a fashion blog could be so educational?
Glad you were able to get a hair appointment before the lockdown. I think we all learned the value of our hairdressers in maintaining good mental health in the early days of the pandemic.
I’m curious if you have easy access to rapid at-home COVID tests. Here in the U.S. we struggle to find them in drugstores and they cost about $24 for a box of two.
Hope you had a lovely Christmas.
I will feature mum often, but probably not every week. Had to laugh about that comment.
Everything you see, read and do can be educational, every interaction offers that possibility. I just ramble on and sometimes it is useful haha.
It is not too difficult to order at-home COVID-tests. You will have to search a bit, especially because you want government approved ones, but it can be done. I got a link from Anja and it took a week to get them delivered which was mainly the ‘fault’ of the post being so busy in the Christmas and lock-down period. I paid € 68 for 25 tests, so I think commerce is overdoing it a bit in the US.
We have had a lovely Christmas indeed and I hope you can say the same.
Again – so enjoy your posts here in the States! I cannot wait to feel free to travel again! You bring a little bit of your beautiful country to me every week! Thank you for that!
It is entirely my pleasure Monica. Creating a blog post every week is quite a bit of work, only it isn’t work but a hobby. I enjoy every aspect of it.
Thank you for reading and writing such a nice comment.
Lovely photos as always. Here in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, we have lots of snow and the temperature is -28C. I love looking at the greenery and flowers in your posts. That first out fit is stunning — love the teal with your new jacket!
Minus 28C??? Oh my goodness, how do you survive outside? Lovely that you think my black/white/teal outfit is nice (even stunning). In hindsight I thought it was a bit gloomy.
I think all your photos in this post are terrific. And YOU look terrific in your outfits, even the one where you said the styling was off….not so! As a former stylist I think it was terrific. Wonderful Post!
xo Merry Christmas
Oh goodie..you are a former stylist. I am very flattered that you follow my blog. When I say my styling was off, I know I can look much better and I always want to go for the best, never the “this is all right”. Perfectionist is what I am.
Merry Christmas to you too.
I do like that jacket, and think it will work with a lot of things in your wardrobe!
I’m so sorry you’re on lockdown now, but glad you got in a hair appointment. 😉 Hope things turn around soon. I LOVE that photo of the canal with the reflections on the water. It looks so peaceful.
To be honest, I am not so sure whether the jacket will work on many things but I will have to give it a try.
I am very pleased with my hair colour and hair cut. I will survive this lock-down haha.
The Amsterdam canal photo is a really good one, I agree.