The black/cream dress and the black/cream zigzag skirt were not the only trophies I acquired from Spain. I also bought something colourful. It was meant to be worn as a dress. I even had the seamstress add two buttonholes at the bottom to make it a better fit.
Then, when I showed it to Ron, I said “There is something wrong with this dress but I can’t put my finger on it”.
He could.
The proportions weren’t right. Because the dress is so wide, it made my legs look like skinny pins.
There was nothing else to do than to add a pair of trousers. Always THE solution for a dress which is too short, although this time that was not the case. I opted for monochrome white as the colours of the dress are ‘loud’ enough (see above).
That monochrome column effect got lost when I wore the dress closed (see below).
Below: I could have bought the matching trousers too and even the camisole but found it too overwhelming. I know it is a trend but it was wearing me instead of the other way around.
My friend Marjolein took the outfit photos for this post. We had planned to shoot at a lovely spot in The Hague. Alas, it rained all day or it drizzled (just as bad for my hair if not worse). By the time I had to go home the rain stopped. Typical.
So we opted for a shopping mall with a lot of light. Not a very inspiring environment, but Marjolein had her creative hat on as you will see.
Below: Marjolein loves purple. I took a photo of her in front of a big LOVE sign.
Below: Sitting on a big plant pot with a tree growing from my head. Nevertheless I like the photo. I had permission to wear eye make-up again but in the photo below you can hardly see that because of my hooded eyes.
Below: Happy face. The earrings are by Lara Design which is no surprise, I am sure.
Below: When Marjolein asked me to show the width of the dress/jacket, I forgot to check my collar. Still no stylist out there who wants to help??
Outfit details: bag is Essentiel Antwerp, top is old and was my mum’s, trousers are Denham, the jeansmaker. Shoes from a Dutch shoe shop (Paul Noyen). Dress/jacket is made in Italy without a brand label.
Then we did a series of escalator shots. We managed to take photos without any other people in it, which was hard as it was very busy.
Below: Going down, looking up.
Below: Going up, looking down haha.
Have you noticed I’m wearing bright fuchsia pumps in the escalator photos instead of the white ones? I bet you didn’t. Below is a close-up. Not a very sharp photo but it is all I’ve got as I switched back to the white ones quickly. The heel is easier and Marjolein liked those more.
Below: Marjolein with her vest open, revealing a black cat on her T-shirt with the text “So what?“.
Below: Close-up of Marjolein’s gorgeous sandals. Of course with purple nail varnish on her toes.
Below: The rain had stopped and even the drizzle wasn’t too bad, so Marjolein quickly took a shot outside where the light is always better. I think this is a beautiful photo. Mind you, it was the 7th shot as I kept forgetting to hold my tummy and stand up straight haha.
Below: We had a cappuccino in a café called Petit Paris, to end a short afternoon together. Next time well meet we plan to have more time.
We liked this ‘Eiffeltower’ on the board of Petit Paris.
What happened in my life this week
Didn’t do an awful lot on Saturday. Just bought flowers at the market.
Sunday both Ron and I visited mum. Ron took a photo of mum and me (below) and yes, I will continue to show photos of mum as I got so many pleas haha.
It is a terrible iPhone photo, very harsh. I have no idea what happened to the colours. Perhaps because the orange sunshade was down? We are laughing because Ron was joking around by telling mum she had something on her nose (not).
I wore my cream maxi dress which you have seen a couple of times (link to original post), and because the photo above doesn’t bring out the colours of the lovely Lara Design earrings, below a close-up.
Monday I finally did my fitness exercises again. Because of cataract surgeries, I had to be careful and refrain from that. Of course I loved not having to do them as I am a very lazy so and so. But my body (and weight) needs these exercises. It took me all morning as I didn’t have anything else to do that day. Did some minor gardening, some grocery shopping, that kind of work. It was bloody hot (around 30 degrees Celsius) and we Dutch aren’t used to that. We mostly see rain. My trip to Spain had prepared me well though.
Below: A video of our garden in the summer and of the back of the house. I managed to combine two videos in Photoshop Premiums Elements, uploaded it to YouTube and got a link for my blog. I am proud of myself.
When I went out cycling as part of the exercises, I did some shopping and wondered why my eyesight wasn’t as good as it is. I blamed it on the sunglasses being too dark only to find out at home, I was wearing my reading glasses hahaha. How stupid can you get?
Tuesday the optometrist checked eye number two: 100% vision. And the little wound in my eye had healed. YAY.
I also had a consult with a plastic surgeon that day to have my eyelids done. Never mind the many wrinkles and the spots on my legs, I can live with those, but these hooded eyes are really getting to me. They feel heavy as if there are weights on my eyelashes which is actually the case, surplus fat and skin. We’ve scheduled it for the end of September as I want there to be some time between the cataract operations and the eyelids operation. Call it vain if you want. I call it possible.
The rest of the day I hardly moved and stayed in the house as it was 37 degrees Celsius. Our house is old (1904) and the high ceilings keep it rather cool in warm days. Nevertheless I turned on the air conditioning in the bedroom with the bedroom door open. After all, hot air rises. We don’t have air conditioning in the rest of the house as that has never been necessary. If climate change is catching up on us, that might very well change. If you haven’t seen our house (living room) and you want to take a peek, click on this link.
Wednesday Marita and I met for coffee at Café Volkslust in Haarlem. Doesn’t she look good? Lovely red and white dress. I am wearing long earrings with a glass pendant at the bottom and sunglasses again as this was the last ‘no eye make-up’ day. (Link to original post with this dress.) We both like red lippies.
Thursday I got up on at the ungodly hour of 6 a.m. as I had to leave the house around 8 to go to mum, load her and the wheelchair into the car and drive to the hospital. The doctor checked the wound and it is healing fine. We were so pleased. Next check-up in two weeks. So here is another photo of her with a cheerful top, taken that day. Next Sunday I cannot take a photo as my brother and his wife will be visiting her instead of me.
After dropping mum off at the hairdresser, I continued my way to The Hague to meet Marjolein and do the shoot for today’s outfit post.
Friday Loes and I had a photo shoot for next week’s post. We thought the camera wasn’t working properly and I couldn’t figure out why that was. I hardly know where all those buttons on that thing are for. Long story short: there wasn’t anything wrong with the camera; only a bit too much light and movement. The photos are beautiful and you will see many of them next week.
I will leave you with a quote by Roald Dahl which I found on Nikki’s blog Midlifechic and I couldn’t agree more.
“If you have good thoughts, it will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.”
Greetje
That is a good quote – it applies to you and your mum! You are both so lovely! Congrats on everything healing properly for both of you too!
I agree with Ron – that man has a good eye! I have a similar dress that I’ve started wearing open like a duster because it just doesn’t look right otherwise. I love your mall pics – so fun!
Thank you for your congratulations. We hope mum will be completely healed soon.
As for me, I am searching for reading glasses the whole time. Other than that, my eyesight is terrific.
So nice, not having to wear contactlenses anymore.
The mall photos turned out a lot better than we initally thought. You never know.
What a good idea to wear the dress as a jacket. It looks good with the white. I am glad to read your eyes are healed but I do love the sunglasses you are wearing with the blue and white dress.
I had to apply the trick of wearing a dress with trousers often as a lot of dresses are just a tad too short. Especially the dresses of Sportmax, a brand I love but don’t often buy as they are expensive.
The sunglasses I am wearing with the blue and pink dress are a Spanish brand, although I bought them in Italy.
The brand is Kaleos and you can find them online: https://kaleoscollection.com/en_US/
The type is Casewell, but they have several shapes of that and all just a little different.
Those drooping eyelids can eventually effect your vision, so after all you’ve been through with the cataract surgery, why risk that?
Fabulous look, using the dress as a jacket/kimono! And your house and garden are lovely.
I’m so happy to read your mum’s wound is healing at last!
Those drooping eyelids can also give me headaches and I have had enough of those, not to long to get them back.
I was a bit disappointed that I couldn’t wear it as a dress but this option looks good, I agree. If you look in the mirror and you don’t like what you see, there is something wrong, right?
Mum and I can’t wait for the heel to be completely healed.
I love the print on the dress that you wear over the pants. I liked the option of wearing the dress buttoned up, the print looks much better. I really like your close-up with those beautiful earrings, and also the back photo of the dress, it’s so cute. I love your garden terrace and your house, I like your home.
We have a warm and friendly home, which is cool in the summer. I love our house.
When I saw the close-up, I thought you would like it.
I know that the pattern of the dress looks better when the dress is closed, which is why I wanted to wear it as a dress. Over trousers I find it too long to wear it closed (also, my bosom makes the top bit quite broad).
Love this on you, especially as a jacket. The white balances out the bright colors. I agree that the white pumps look better; the pink ones match the belt and earrings and are a bit much. With a yellow or blue belt maybe…Brava for the video. It’s fun seeing the garden and back of house. I had eyelid surgery when i was 45 and it has lasted 32 years. The folds were touching my eyelashes and the opening was/is wonderful. Love your mom’s top.
The white does indeed balances out the bright colours. I tried a green top underneath it and that was really not nice.
I do love the pink pumps with these trousers, so I will come up with another outfit including these two items. But not too matchy matchy, I understand (grin).
I had my eyelid surgery when I was 40 and I am now 68, so I’ve done well, although not as well as you haha.
Greetje, the outfit is stunning. I love the bold colors on you. I look forward to hearing about your lid lift as I am considering having it done.
Your Mom is so cute and glad to hear she is healing.
All the best, Gitte
Bold and bright colours suit me much better than pastels. You will have to wait a while for my lid lift. I postponed it to the first week of October.
Mum and I are very much looking forward to the day the heel is finally all better.
I love the way you styled the dress as a long jacket over a column of white. It looks so cheerful and fresh and the pattern is not overwhelming at all.
I’m so glad to hear that your mum’s wound is finally healing. That’s such good news!
Over a column of white the dress/jacket isn’t overwhelming, I agree. But with the same trousers, it was quite a different story.
Mum and I are very pleased about her healing too. About time.
Gorgeous outfit — one of my favourites so far. Lovely photos of your mom, too. So glad to hear she is healing well.
I’ll be interested to hear about your eyelid surgery as I have the same issue. One eye is droopier than the other, especially when I am tired. I don’t think this surgery is vain — it is self-care.
Really? One of your favourites? Wouldn’t have thought that, but thanks.
My left eyelid is also droopier than the other, but that doesn’t matter. My surgeon (female) will of course do both haha.
Self-care! I’ll stick to that. I had to postpone the operation to the first week of October.
I couldn’t love this outfit more! The colors are gorgeous and so you. You really hit the jackpot on your Spain trip with so many great finds, but this is my favorite.
It’s been hot here, too, in Northern California. No hotter than normal, but more very hot days in a row without a break. Today I woke up to a weird pinkish light coming through the windows. The first smoky day of summer has arrived. At least it isn’t a fire close to us, it’s smoke from the fire near Yosemite, two hundred miles to the south.
Thanks for the compliments Wendy. You are right, it is very much me (LOUD haha).
As for the fires and the smoke…gee, 200 miles to the south and you get the smoke? That is incredible.
I am hoping with you that you will not get fires.
Comment from my hubby : he really likes the picture outside. Best pic ever is what he says.
What a lovely compliment (to you as well). I have more good photos but I will admit that this one is in the top ten. Please say thank you to him.
You’re such a good style problem solver! The dress looks great worn as a jacket, and it would probably also look good with jeans as well.
Glad your eyes are healed and that your vision is so sharp. Don’t feel bad about not realizing you were wearing your reading glasses. I’ve done that same thing.
Hope you have a good week and that things cool off. I hate hot weather!
Oh good, thanks for letting me know about wearing reading glasses by mistake. I am in the good company of another nutter hahaha. (Pardon my joke.)
We will have another two days of pretty hot weather, then a couple of days of normal summer weather. Forecast after that is unreliable.
Love the term nutter and am proud to be one!
So am I.
It looks excellent as a “duster” (the US name, which amuses me because a duster is something we clean the house with). I like your attitude to the eyelid surgery. It’s possible! Go for it.
I know, the difference between UK English and US English is sometimes hilarious. Like the word ‘pants’.
Having worked for a British company for 2 1/2 years and having had a Scottish boyfriend, I am going for Queens English.
With the dress open, it has the kimono-look! Looks good om you. Good to hear your eye surgery went well
And kimono-look is always good for me. I have many tops/jackets like that.
Yep, perfect eyesight. I just cannot read anymore. Need reading glasses all the time.
I agree, the dress looks best worn open as a long jacket. It’s a really fun print, can see why you went for it!
The colorful Lara Design earrings are really stunning!
Was wondering how you were doing with the heat. Glad your house stays cooler.
Gosh, you are always quick to reply on my post.
This print is typically me, isn’t it? LOUD hahaha.
Lara Design does these earrings with a tortoise bouton but I had Marcella change that to a white one as I use that more. I will admit that it is classier with tortoise.
We are doing fine with the heat. I believe it is only 21 degrees C at your place, isn’t it?