When you buy a garment, you really never know whether it is going to be a favourite or not. Only after a while you notice that you grab a particular item time and again. Like this maxi dress.
My friend Claudia gave me the dress when we were on holiday in Spain. She didn’t want it anymore and I was immediately taken by it. Turns out you can just sling it in the washing machine, hang it up and it needs no ironing. Oh bliss. It is so airy and easy to wear. I love it. Now that it is hot in the Netherlands, I am wearing it all the time.
Loes was my photographer and as she rang my doorbell, she cheerfully said: “What is the location?”
I didn’t have a clue but started the car. Then the country estate of Duin en Kruidberg crossed my mind. It has been the location for another outfit too but I am sure you can’t remember that.
Below: Or do you recognize it? If you have clicked on the link to their website, you’ll see it in the sunshine and in the snow. Beautiful. They host many events and that same day we went, a wedding was taking place.
Below: The hall inside. I call this grand.
Below: One of the big rooms where you apparently can dine. Loes on the right.
Below: Above the fireplace.
Below: View from the back of the house, overlooking the big pond.
Below: We even got a glimpse of the happy couple as they were being photographed.
Below: Then I saw this fellow. Although time has taken its toll on him, he was still a handsome devil.
Below: OK, I know I am getting saucy now. I just had to check him out. What are you hiding, fellow?
Below: He also had a great bum. Dirty old woman approved haha.
Below: Yep, approved.
Below: If there is a swing, I’ll be on it. Which is surprisingly because as a child I used to get nauseous on a swing.
Below: Loes. That cobalt blue is a great colour for her.
Below: Loes was especially funny that day. She cracked me up.
Below: Close-up of the silver shoes, which you have seen before in this post with the cognac coloured trousers.
Below: And a close-up of the brooch and green peridot earrings.
Talking about a lot of photos! I just couldn’t choose. And trust me, I had many more.
What happened in my life this week
Saturday Ron and I had a relaxed morning at the beach, walking Watson. Early afternoon I had coffee with Misja of the blog MisjaB (see below). She is a stylish dresser, even wrote a book about it.
In the evening we had friends and neighbours Froukje and Petro for dinner. Ron prepared Boeuf Bourguignon and it was fantastic. I did the rest.
Sunday was mum day. And I am glad to say that the wound on her heel has finally healed. Of course she still has to be careful as it is a weak spot, but it is healed. YAY.
Below: Mum playing Rummikub with me. She just had her hair permed.
Monday was a quiet day again. Lots of household chores like defrosting the freezer. Glad that is out of the way. Got some fresh flowers that were dead cheap; 40 flowers (2 bunches) for EUR 10. I filled three vases. A few days later I got a big bouquet of flowers from our next-door neighbour for looking after their house during their holiday. Such a lovely sight, all these flowers.
Tuesday I saw Katrien. This is a different Katrien than the one you have seen before. This Katrien was also a colleague but from a longer time ago. She now lives in South Africa and was over for a short period. I loved seeing her.
Below: Katrien. You cannot find a lovelier person. And ever so intelligent. Now she is also a great photographer. You can follow her work on Instagram. Her IG name is @katrien21.
Below: A bad selfie of Katrien and me. All selfies are usually dreadful. But it is a nice memory. I was wearing my atypical suit.
We went to an exhibition of Saskia Boelsum. Saskia photographs an object and then severely edits the photo to get the vibe she wants it to have. When she is done, it looks like a painting.
Below: An example of Saskia Boelsum’s work.
Wednesday Marjolein was again so kind to take blog photos. It was really warm (31 degrees Celsius) so I discarted my original outfit idea for something more weather appropriate. As always it was a great day with her; lots of laughter.
Below: The square in The Hague where we had lunch. We imagined ourselves to be in France.
Thursday I met Janna of @Timelessstyle.nl on Instagram. We had planned to “do a corporate photo shoot” at the Amsterdam business centre area. I used to work there for years. Although a dress code was never required at my (advertising) department, I quite like corporate clothes. I also like Victoria Beckham’s line of clothes (a lot). Her clothes to me, are sharp, sleek and feminine.
There are still enough “corporate” clothes in my wardrobe but as it was scorching hot again that day, I came up with something else than a little black dress.
Below: Janna of @Timelessstyle.nl was already into the corporate spirit(s) haha.
Friday was a quiet day. I need those days, if only for blogging.
Greetje
It was so nice to be able to spend time together again. Loved the outfit you were wearing that day and your green dress in this blog. Actually almost every outfit you share with us. It’s not for nothing that we used to call the fashion police at work and get your approval of new outfits first thing.
Hahaha…yes, I got that title at the office although I never acted as police. You may consult me but I won’t give unsollicited advice about an outfit. Too dangerous. Thank you for your compliments, much appreciated. Until we meet again.
The dress is lovely and looks so comfortable. The fact that it was a gift from a friend makes it even more special. The photos with the statue are such fun!
I’m so glad to hear that your mum’s foot has finally healed!
100% comfortable. As a matter of fact, it feels like an old-fashioned nighty (and looks a bit like that, but hey that’s fashion for you). As it is 30 to 33 degrees C these days, the dress gets a lot of wear.
Glad you liked the photos with the statue heh heh.
Next Monday mum and I will go to hospital to check the heel. I so hope (for her) it is the final check.
That green dress is fantastic on you, Greetje! That picture of you laughing is perfect. I covet your silver shoes – I love them and would totally wear them. So much fun seeing you with all of your friends.
Yay for mum’s foot being healed, and very nice perm. Your game looks interesting – I play a lot of games, but don’t know that one.
Thank you dear Sheila. Laughing always makes people more beautiful, don’t you think?
My silver shoes are still available I think, but it is too difficult to buy them when you live so far away.
You don’t know Rummikub? It is like a cardgame but you have more options. Well, you are smart enough to find details on Google, so I won’t bore you with them.
Happy post as always, from grabbing a handsome bum to good news about your mum, with a lovely dress into the bargain!😉
Fortunately for my readers, I lead a pretty happy life. If something goes terribly wrong I will probably report on that as well and lose a lot of readers. Because who wants to read misery stories? If we want that we can read the paper or watch the news.
For now life is happy, so the blog is happy. It is nice to be able to send something uplifting into the world.
I love the dress on you. I can’t believe that it looks as good on someone else. Also love the interaction with the ‘gentleman’. It reminds me of some fooling around I did with a bronze bull’s privates at the Peggy Guggenheim museum in Venice. Sometimes we can’t resist! Glad your mum is healed. I’ve been really sick with an aggressive infection so your blog is like a return to the sunlight.
Being pretty tall has its advantages. I giggled when I read about the bull’s privates, which reminded me of shenanigans with some girls and a Greek statue in a ladies toilet in Milan.
Sorry to hear you have been so sick. Hope you are recovering now.
I love this dress, it’s beautiful and it looks fantastic on you. I love this soft print and the design with this simple pattern. The accessories are cute. The place chosen for the photo session is beautiful. I love the brooch that is better appreciated in your close-up, although that does not deviate me from appreciating, as always, your beauty in these close-up photos.
You lovely man. I so appreciate your comments. They lift my spirits and add to my self confidence.
I laughed out loud when I saw the photos of you with the statue! My husband asked me what I was laughing at. “Oh, nothing,” I replied.
You and Loes both look amazing. So g;lad your mom’s wound has finally healed 🙂
I am glad I could make you laugh. That is so the goal of my blog. At the same time I was a bit afraid that the joke would be perceived as raunchy and wouldn’t go down well. But as there is nobody to punish me and it is my blog, I just went for it.
The green dress looks like a perfect choice for hot weather: bright, cheerful, and nothing clingy! 😉
LOL at checking out the statue’s “junk.”
Indeed, nothing clingy, one of the great features of this dress.
I wasn’t sure whether my raunchy jokes would go down well, but hey, it is my blog, I can do whatever I want.
Love that green dress, I’m still looking for something like that.
You are very photogenic and your scenery is lovely.
I was looking for a dress like this as well. To take with me to Spain and I couldn’t find anything. Then Claudia said “Don’t bother; I will take one with me for you and I am sure you will like it”. Bingo.
I don’t think I am very photogenic, I just learned how to pose (and throw away 98% of the photos haha).
Love your beautiful green dress and the photos at the estate – really gorgeous – thanks for taking us there.
Have a good week.
I look forward to visiting you and your stylish friends each week. I especially love the “travelogue”. I visited Amsterdam in 2018 but hope to return to see the places you’ve featured; all so lovely.
Of course I only show the nice places, you get that, right? There are enough ugly spots too. The trouble with the Netherlands is that you can never know what the weather is going to be like. And Amsterdam in the rain isn’t much fun. No city is, really.
I am glad I can bring you some fun with my blog posts.