Loes and I set off to a city beach in Haarlem, called Oerkap on a sunny day to document this cream jumper. It was just the right temperature for it. Apparently I am a woman of contradictions as I like this cream jumper just as much as I liked last week’s colourful outfit.
This city beach is built with leftover scrap material and it looks the very opposite of chic. Here are some photos. It is built right below the main train track, next to two big bridges.
Below: This railway bridge is opening.
After this summer everything is going to change as the owners bought the big factory building next-door from the city council and they are going to renovate everything from top to bottom. As the photo below clearly shows, that is rather necessary.
We arrived a little early and the gates were still shut, so we decided to take photos of my new raincoat in the neighbourhood. I wanted a really nice raincoat, not one that you put on when you are on your bike. But definitely with a hood. And nice raincoats with a hood are very rare, which meant I had to spend rather a fortune on it. Found one at Max Mara in Paris.
Below: My new Max Mara raincoat, with the belt fastened. The annoying thing is that the belt is really long. I like the sight of it, but it takes minutes before I have it straight and not twisted. Any tips?
Below: The back of the raincoat. There are deep slits at the sides.
Below: I can also wear it loose without the belt. I still have to find a way not to lose the belt or have it dragging across the ground. Again, any tips? The earrings I am wearing are fine with the jumper but too long for the coat. The little scarf is from Comptoir des Cotonniers which I bought in Paris together with Susan of Une femme d’un certain âge. The brown is nice and practical but I want a bit of bright colour near my face.
The coat looks really stylish with the collar up, which I didn’t show you properly (aagghh). Draw-back of that high collar, as my friend Marianne predicted, is that you get lipstick stains on it (which already happened).
Let’s continue with the cream jumper. Bought at Lab Women’s Clothing. It was a matter of love at first sight. The material is tricky; the jumper looks as if it is woven with ribbons. I have to be very careful with jewellery or I will snag the threads. Trust me to choose something like that.
Below: I like the silver crossbody bag with the outfit as it is adding interest.
Below: The back of the jumper and a view from one of the terraces on another bridge and the river Spaarne. The high heeled pumps are remarkably comfortable.
Below: Loes pointed at the tables and benches and said “You can sit again”, haha.
Below: And there was another sitting opportunity. Here I have ‘fluffed’ up my hair again.
Below: I made Loes climb on a bar stool.
Below: Close-up of the green earrings by…(all together now:)…Lara Design!
You can clearly see the ‘ribbon structure’ of the jumper.
Below: Before we went home again I took this photo of Loes underneath the canopy, creating a rippling effect of light and dark on her.
What happened in my life this week
Saturday was a golden day. Ron and I drove to Amsterdam, my darling city which I love so much. We used to always go to the Noordermarkt (Northern market) or Lindengracht and stay there the whole Saturday morning. It means that if you go by car, you are nearly bankrupt as Amsterdam charges you €7 per hour to park.
This time we didn’t stay too long but enjoyed it tremendously.
Below: Having the best apple pie of the universe, freshly baked, still warm with real whipped cream, not that stuff that comes out of a spray can. Café Winkel43.
Below: The musicians playing at the market were really good.
Below: A video of me looking at the cheese stand and asking Ron (in Dutch) whether he would like some. He said yes and when I asked him “which cheese?”, he replied: “A lot”.
He took the video in portrait mode, so you’ll have to click on the photo to go through to YouTube to see it. So annoying. I did draw a ‘play button‘ on the photo LOL.
Below: They sell farmers food at the market, vintage stuff at flea market prices, clothes, jewellery, etc etc.
Below: And look what I found! Or should I say, what Ron spotted. The obi satchel is my own and it goes perfectly with the kimono. I love it.
It was a wonderful day. If I had the choice I would move back to Amsterdam but the real estate in that city is so ridiculously expensive, we cannot afford it. When I walk around there I get the sense of freedom; it is a vibrant city with a lot of humour. Haarlem is a lovely and pretty city with no humour (sorry Haarlem).
On Sunday Ron and I both went to see my mum and we did all sort of little chores. We had a cheerful day with her.
Monday was another fun day as my friend Marjolein and I met in the old town Utrecht. Marjolein took photos of my outfit for my blog and I took photos of her. I think she was better dressed than I was haha.
Tuesday was a quiet day with a cancelled appointment.
Wednesday I drove to mum again as the surgeon was phoning in to know whether my mum had made a decision about angioplasty. Mum said yes and surgery will be within three weeks. Hopefully when there is more blood flowing through the veins of her left leg, the wound on her heel will heal. Fingers crossed.
In the evening I went for dinner with Helga. She just moved apartments and lives even closer to me than before. She is a warm and cheerful woman. Below: In an Italian restaurant.
Thursday I was very busy with tax stuff for Ron’s business. Gosh, there were some unpleasant surprises. Apart from that, nothing special happened that day.
Friday I switched the summer and winter shoes. As we have a small house, my winter and summer clothes are all in the same closets. I have no other storage room. But the shoes and boots are in a closet which is 3 metres high. Shoes I don’t need that season are stored way up high. It takes me about an hour and a half to switch them and I am sweating like a pig when I am finished. Not my favourite job.
In the afternoon Marcella of Lara Design dropped by and we created three videos.
Below: These are her favourite earrings.
Even though you have already seen a video, I am still ending with one. Again, annoying as YouTube is, you have to click the photo to see the video. There is an even bigger ‘play button‘ in the middle.
I think this video is too fast. Still learning.
Have a lovely week.
Greetje
I came across your vlog while laying sick in bed. Love all your clothes;exactly my taste although I’ll be 80 hopefully this year! My name was Greetje too till I was 12,then it became Margreet. Loved the photo’s from Amsterdam, used to work there 60 years ago for the PTT. Now I live with my husband from 56 years,just as long in Aruba, so no winter clothes for me and I HATE polyester. Too sweaty for 35 degrees!!Keep up the good work girl, groetjes uit Aruba.
How nice that my blog brought you some entertainment while you were sick. And age really doesn’t matter much. Just pick out those things that appeal to you.
I hope I can keep you entertained for a long time.
The sweater is very pretty but definitely a hazard if anything gets caught in the knit. I mentioned on IG how much I like the raincoat. I find it hard to know what to do with belts like that on coats, no matter how you tie it, it ends up looking messy. I love the Kimono – I have one too, and I need to get it shortened. I keep saying I will wear it out over a pair of jeans at some point but we’ll see if that happens. You have to be prepared to be noticed for sure.
That is a good idea Shelley, wearing the kimono over a pair of jeans. I will pinch that idea.
I don’t mind being noticed but I do not want to participate in a costume drama. I am not like the very lovely idiosyncratic fashionistas. I love how they dress and what they do, it is art. But it is not me. I am simpler.
Really like the cream sweater and denim. Beautiful shoes and love the shades.
Really, anything goes with denim. Which is probably why I wear jeans such a lot. I presume you mean sunglasses with “shades” LOL.
Hooray! I was so looking forward to seeing the MM raincoat! Still love it on you!
Your hair looks really good in these photos, and I like the sweater a lot. And that kimono is an amazing find, looks like it was made for you.
Hope your Mum’s surgery goes well and that it helps with the healing.
The kimono was probably made for a man as it is 6 cm too long. My seamstress will remedy that.
I keep my fingers crossed too that the surgery will help mum.
Suggestions for the raincoat:
– if it has belt-loops on the sides, tie the belt on each side. This means you have to determine how long the back section will be, but the coat will always tie up to the same tightness after that, and it will never come undone.
– that belt is so long because it’s meant to be tied like a sash, not done up with the buckle. That’s why the buckle is slippy – it’s not functional, just decorative.
I like your silver accessories in your outfit; that purse is lovely. Good luck to your mum on her angioplasty!!
Thanks for your belt suggestions. I find tieing the belt at the sides messy, the crinkle up, just as it does when you tie it like a rope instead of using the buckle. In the catalogue of the brand the belt is properly tied with the buckle, but that might have been the stylist’s idea when they shot the photos and not the designer’s idea. The Italian guy in the shop was a big fan of tieing it like a rope, but again, I find it a bit messy. Perhaps I will do that, I will see.
I was rather proud of myself in choosing that silver bag for the outfit; it made a difference. (Silly to be proud of such a thing eh?)
What a lovely raincoat, Greetje!
Sorry I haven’t been around much. I got Covid last week! Feeling much better now though xx
I think we will all catch Covid one day or another. Glad you feel better and don’t apologize for not being around much. I am the same so I get it.
Well, you know how much I like seeing you in your jeans, right? The cream sweater is nice and elegant and matches perfectly. I love your bag. The Max Mara raincoat is fantastic, despite the long belt. The earrings are really spectacular, a little long for my taste.
Fantastic kimono, it’s beautiful!
What do you think? Can I go out to the market dressed in this kimono?
Today trends and fashions are so heterogeneous that you can be dressed in any way anywhere, if you feel comfortable with that look. In my opinion, the kimomo is beautiful, it looks great on you and you can wear it anywhere, if you are willing to be the center of attention. LOL
I never mind being the center of attention haha. But in the case of the kimono the attention might be a bit overwhelming. I don’t think I want that, but who knows.
Hello, you…
Love the jeans and jumper outfit but have serious doubts about the raincoat. I mean: too long sleeves, waaay too long belt, and those side slits. Why? It’s meant to keep you dry, not let in drips! Sorry, but I can’t see anything to love there. Now, the kimino…perfecto!
That street market looked interesting. You’d have had to drag me away from that!
Sorry to learn that your Mum is still suffering. Sending her love and hugs.
Have a good week
Gee x
To tell you the truth, the side slits don’t bother me and the rain doesn’t drip on my clothes. Don’t ask me how that is possible.
Perhaps I bought the wrong size but this is a Medium and I always have large, so I thought I was risking it anyway. I like to fold back the sleeves, so I don’t mind that either. Let’s just say, we are all different, also in taste. Thank God for that.
The kimono needs to be shortened 6 cm otherwise I have to wear high heels underneath it. I wasn’t planning that.
Love your outfit — the sweater is gorgeous. Your new raincoat is stunning — I had the same problem with the belt slipping out of the loops and ended up using a safety pin to attach it to the back belt loop. I pinned it on the inside of the loop. Worked like a charm.
Love the sweater, bag, and shoe combo with the jeans. Great mix of textures, metallics, neutrals. I never belt coats unless they are slim cut; otherwise I look too big around the middle. With trench coats, I would loop the belt through the belt loops and tie it loosely in the back. LOVE the green earrings with the outfit, but they are long with the coat. Always a problem. Striking kimono on you! kudos to Ron. (I think you mean ‘sash’ not satchel, at least in Northern California speak.) Cheers.
You are so right, I mean sash not satchel. My editor missed it too. I will change it. Thanks.
I wore the belt tied in the back at first but Ron said the fabric was too bundled up. Perhaps I did it too tight. I’ll trie again.
And you are right about a big middle. I really need to wear something thin underneath otherwise my waist is big when I belt it.
I love the trench coat. I have seen the belt tied together in the back if you don’t want to use it. then it won’t drag on the ground. But I like the coat WITH the belt. Looks more stylish.
I haven’t decided yet what I like best. At first I wore it open with the belt tied in the back, just as you suggest. Then Ron said he didn’t like it like that as the fabric was all bunched up. Hmmm, we’ll see. I think it is more stylish too with the belt tastened but you need to wear thin clothes underneath it otherwise it doesn’t look nice.
Love this post, thank you. Re the trench: Are there belt loops? If not, you could have the sleeves shortened by an inch or two (I notice they are long), and use that fabric to create belt loops. Then just tie the belt onto the loops.
Thanks for the tip, but there are loops on the trench and I have tried tieing the belt onto the loops but I find it messy.
I got another tip and that is to secure the belt with little safety pins… that sounds good.
Wat n mooie raincoat,staat je super deze kleur.Ik haal mijn ceintuur naar voren door de lussen in de zijkant en dan terug van boven naar beneden achter de lus en wallah, de ceintuur blijft zitten.Dank voor je compliment, bloos.
Ik heb jouw methode geprobeerd maar vind dat toch niet mooi. Ik kreeg een tip met kleine veiligheidsspeldjes. Je weet, daar ben ik van.
Ron’s got his very own geisha! You look lovely.
Hahaha, I’ll tell Ron you said this. He’ll make a sausy remark, no doubt.
Hi Greetje, OMG that kimono!! Drop dead gorgeous!! Also love that handbag with the cream jumper. I agree with Elizabeth, I would just shorten the belt and be done with it. Ron is funny (about the cheese).Sounds like a fun week. Hoping the angioplasty works out for your dear Mum.
As soon as I put the kimono on and looked in the mirror at the market, I had the same idea as you: drop dead gorgeous.
Ron is always funny. He has a great sense of humour and makes me laugh every day. A very good quality in a husband.
Great sweater, and it looks really good with the jeans and heels. I actually like the trench better without the belt. Maybe that would solve your belt problem! The kimono is gorgeous.
Have a good week.
I haven’t made up my mind yet whether I like it better with or without the belt tied. We will see.
The kimono is now waiting to be shortened as I don’t want to wear it with high heels.
What a lovely kimono–good eye, Ron. Looks like such a nice market. As usual, you and your friends look so charming and positive. Thank you for sharing the spring sunshne!
It was a lovely week and I am always glad I can share that joy with the readers of my blog.
Greet, Je ziet er prachtig uit vandaag! En het was een leuk dagje Amsterdam, zo te lezen!
Dagjes Amsterdam zijn altijd leuk wat mij betreft. Ik had nooit weg moeten gaan uit die stad.
Dank voor je compliment.
Hi Greetje
Greetings from Souther California. You always look like you are having so much fun with your delightful friends. I especially liked the photos this week with the cream jumper–perfect. The kimono was a real find–gorgeous. I am interested in the white and blue top you are wearing while having dinner with Helga. Has it appeared in another post? When not wearing raincoat belted, tie the belt to the belt loops and just “add interest” by leaving the belt hang (-:
Thanks for another very enjoyable post
Patricia
I do have fun with my friends, that is not fake. I am a lucky woman. Thanks for the belt tip but I find that too messy.
The white and blue top has been on the blog several times. Here are the links. I adore the styling of May 2020, but I no longer have those gorgeous silver pumps. I gave them away as they are too high for my new pensionner’s lifestyle.
https://www.nofearoffashion.com/2020/05/31/silver-and-blue-silk-blouse/
https://www.nofearoffashion.com/2021/07/25/blue-and-white-top-with-yellow-trousers-in-amsterdam/
https://www.nofearoffashion.com/2020/07/12/white-block-heeled-sandals/
Love the trench coat..maybe have the belt shortened by a seamstress…
Ah, but you see, I like that long end dangling when I have the belt fastened. I will see when I get tired of it and indeed have it shortened.