Right…a dress for a change, one that I am not sure about. I’ll tell you up front, this green maxi dress is a second-hand bargain with the tags still on it (€27), although not really expensive when it was new. It came with a belt in the same velvety fabric which made the dress look really frumpy.
I bought the burgundy boots (which sometimes look purple and sometimes brown) because of the manageable heel and the pointed toe. It is a brand I had been eying for a long time and never bought a pair because they always have a high heel. These burgundy ones were created with a low heel, exclusively for the shop where I bought them (foof in Haarlem). Being elegant in low heels is pretty difficult, so I jumped at them, especially when she said this was the last pair in my size.
The belt was a purchase from years ago; never worn. It was before I realised that I have a short torso (and big boobs, although I did know that LOL). Wide belts are wrong for me. My waist is only 1 or 2 cm high and then immediately widens at the ribs. A wide belt moves up and settles underneath the bosom after sitting down; a ridiculous sight. I am wearing it lower with this dress, more on the hips. Of course it means that you have to check that darned belt every second to see whether it still sits right. Annoying.
Below: Marjolein was my photographer, again dressed to upstage me haha. I mean this in a very loving way; I so appreciate it when she dresses up. I especially admired her boots.
Below: She took me to a chocolate shop called De Bonte Koe. Oh my, this was a treat.
Below: Marjolein bought me a cappuccino with a bonbon. The bonbon was delicious, the cappuccino sadly not. Being a proper barista is a skill. Nevertheless, the presentation was nice and different: with a chocolate spoon.
Below: I got to choose a box of chocolate as a present from Marjolein. Oh, that one, and that one and that one.
Below: They didn’t last very long. Three days later the box was empty. Soooo good. (I did share.)
Below: Marjolein was no fool and bought a box herself as well.
Below: The shop’s name made us burst into a song. “Sugar and spice and all things nice. Kisses sweeter than wine…” (the Searchers in the sixties; a pop group wearing suits and a tie).
We both don’t mind making a fool of ourselves in the street haha.
Below: A closer view.
Below: We were in an area in the Hague called Naval heroes. In the Piet Hein street to be exact. There is a big discussion going on about naval heroes in the 17th century. In the old days they sailed the seas, conquered and colonised countries and brought back exotic merchandise. Nowadays we put question marks with their names, as most of the times they were in fact murderers and rapists. Even when I was at primary school, I wondered what people in the countries they sailed to, would think of our 17th century heroes. I already knew at that age they would look at them entirely differently.
Our Piet Hein was at least against making people slaves, that’s something.
Below: Fun ornament. Haven’t got a clue what and why. It looks like a person dressed in clothes from centuries ago, seated on a tram. Weird.
Below: We passed this gorgeous house. I adore curved windows. This stems from the Art Nouveau period.
Below: Beautiful necklaces for sale; love the right one. The whole street was full of tantalizing shops. But I didn’t give in; I was strong.
Below: We continued to a little market square which would have been so much nicer if the sun had been shining. I am sitting on a stone turtle.
Below: Close-up of the new burgundy earrings from Lara Design.
Below: A few days later, we celebrated my brother’s birthday and I wore the green maxi dress with a black belt and black boots. I had my hair cut the previous day and it is rather short.
Below: My nephew’s wife Natalie is a photographer and I shamelessly took advantage of that. Even though we were supposed to be celebrating my brother’s birthday, I dragged her outside and ask her to take a few photos for my blog. Like Kitty, she knows how to profit from sun, trees and autumn colours.
Below: I love to add a third colour to an outfit, so I kept the orange bag. The burgundy earrings are replaced by orange earrings (by Lara Design as well).
Still, I am not convinced I like the dress. The black belt doesn’t stay put as it slips in either direction, away from the middle. The burgundy belt problems I have explained above.
On top of that, the neckline is very high and that is never a good idea when you are big breasted. It is rather snug in that area.
Too many “problems” with this dress, if you ask me.
What happened in my life this week
As there are also days in my life which are quite boring, filled with household chores, fitness exercises and such, I have decided not to “report” on a day-to-day basis anymore. Which is asking more of my writing skills. We’ll see how this develops.
Let’s start with mum. Ron and I took her to the hearing aid man and he adjusted her hearing-aids. I further installed and explained her new telephone.
Below: Mum while Ron made her laugh.
My brother’s birthday was a good opportunity to see the whole family again. He has a son and two daughters who all got married and have children of their own. The noise of all these people (plus a few other family members as well) together in a room was deafening. But so delightful.
Below: me trying to find some information on my iPhone for a family member.
Below: This is Natalie, my photographer, my nephew’s wife. I love her, she is so nice, wise, daring and relaxed. She has had the guts to change profession three times, while having three children. And every time it is a success. She is a pistol.
Mind you, we are very lucky with all family members, by marriage included; they are really enjoyable.
A couple of appointments got cancelled which gave me time to sew loops on a pair of trousers which kept falling down. Something which often happens with trousers that have an elastic waistband.
I got invited to a farewell party by my old company which was sooo nice. I hadn’t seen my colleagues after my retirement (1st of April 2020). In the meantime there had been another big reorganisation and many of them are leaving the company. That’s why there was a big farewell party. Also for the people who had left the company during the Covid period and never got a proper send-off.
Below: About 60 colleagues having a good time. The guy in front, taking the selfie, was the marketing boss. It is an iPhone photo, taken indoors, hence the poor quality.
Below: Another poor quality iPhone photo. I chose this outfit again as I always feel good in it. (Link to original post of this outfit.)
Below: There was a photo booth for taking silly pictures.
On the left: Arian and me; on the right: me, Christel and Erna. I worked with them for years. Sweet memories.
Of course I miss them like hell. The banter, the laughter, it was always fun. We did work hard as well, in case you are wondering. But it is behind me now, no use in crying over spilled milk. My retired life has many, many perks too; I wouldn’t want to go back (as if they want me haha). Mind you, they were all very sweet to me, telling me they miss me and especially my loud laugh.
Ron and I ended the week with a lovely dinner in Amsterdam, together with our friends Georg and Marla. Below: I wore this outfit (link to original post).
Greetje
The green dress looks nice enough on you in the pictures. I do understand your doubts though. It’s good enough but not great. That, together with your doubts, maybe should lead to the decision to let go of it?
Yep. I gave it away. No use in hanging on to things you are not going to wear because other things look better.
The dress and boots combo is just super Greetje and I also like the yellow jacket outfit too!!! Are they leather trousers tucked into the boots hun!!!
HUgs,Paula B,XXX
Thank you for your compliments on the dress and boots. I didn’t feel good in it and gave the dress away.
The yellow jacket outfit is a winner and yes, the trousers are leather and the booties suede.
I forgot to say that you look smokin’ in the yellow jacket with a column of black! You are an inverted triangle body shape, I think. V-necks are your best neckline, and pencil skirts or slim pants. You are slim enough and tall enough to wear almost anything, but not quite everything. Lucky you! Goodbye, green dress.
Thank you very much. The yellow/black outfit is one of my favourites (but I have many favourites haha).
I have indeed an inverted triangle body shape and yes I can wear a lot and not everything. You are dead right here. Good assessment.
Your dress would be perfect for me: I have small shoulders, a long torso, a high waist and my favorite colour is green. I have a longish neck and have decided from looking back at old photos that crew necklines are my jam; v-necks look ridiculous on me (why oh why did I wear them?). The A-line skirt is right up my alley. So this will be someone else’s enchanted dress, if you resell it.
I never resell. I always give it away. There are a lot of women I know or other people know, who are less well off than I am, so it gives me more joy to give my clothes to them.
Yay! Happy friends and their friends!
The party was great, good to see you again! As for the green dress, why don’t you add loops in the waist, so the belt stays in place? And stay away from green benches when you wear your green dress 😉, not sure who’s the star in that picture 🤣
It was indeed great to be at the party.
Loops are not going to help as the black belt turns sideways, not up or down. But I won’t have to worry about that or about green benches as this dress is on its way out. Failure.
Not a fan of the green dress – the neckline is too high, giving you a lot of “acreage” above your breasts. Neither belt quite works with it, but the skinnier one is better, I agree. I love how hard you tried with it, though! This is a dress I would pass on – that crinkled velvet(?) reads very fusty to me. Get rid of it!
Marjolein’s outfit made me gasp out loud – she looks fabulous! And how sweet of her to fill you up with chocolates! Your mum is radiant in purple, and so nice to see your lovely relative (and nice of her to take your pic!).
I loved seeing you hanging out with your colleagues – I know that loud laugh! 😀 The yellow blazer outfit is FABULOUS! That’s how you do it, folks.
“Acreage”… funny!! A new word for me.
Even if I fail at styling an outfit, I will still show it if I have the photos. After all, we learn more from our mistakes than from our successes, right?
“Fusty” is another word you taught me. Thank you.
My colleagues told me they miss my loud laugh LOL. It is quite a volume, I agree.
Everybody loves the yellow blazer outfit (and Marjolein’s outfit), which is the very proof that the dress has got to go.
We are a similar shape from the short waist up, Greetje.
I have to be strict with myself to never buy any belt that is over one inch wide, as a short waist, wide belt and boobs do not not mix, as you know.
I do love Marjolein’s blue boots though.
I agree. I bought this burgundy belt before I knew that I had a short waist and a short torso. Pretty late in life, but better late than never, right?
Get rid of the dress 😛
You are so funny. And honest. I will get rid of the dress, but first I am going to try it underneath my black leather button-down dress. See whether that works.
To break up the high neck on the green dress, perhaps you could wear a couple of longer necklaces. That might create a sort of false V-neck shape and add a focal point to the middle part. I think Yvonne’s idea of topping it with a sleeveless vest/jacket is good too. Having said that, IMO the other two outfits are much more ‘you’ – especially the bright jumper and trousers.
Loved Marjolein’s outfit and would totally wear it! I have several things in that bright blue shade.
Your mum looks really classy in purple, the outfit suits her colouring really well. Have a fun week!
I need a belt with this dress otherwise it is really shapeless. And long necklaces with a belt aren’t nice in my opinion.
But I could do long necklaces which are sort of medium long. You are right about the false V-neck shape.
I am going to try Yvonne’s idea with a black leather button-down dress. If that doesn’t work, the dress will go.
Glad Marjolein inspired you with her blue outfit.
Mum knows what colours suit her.
You may not be keen on that dress, but you do look lovely in that colour of green.
I do like green although I prefer the shade to be a bit more vibrant, more saturated. Which is why I added the earrings. They are near my face and (hopefully) prevent the draining effect of the soft green.
I love this blog – not even sure how I stumbled upon you but I love you, your outfits, how you share your day, and the backdrops are stunning.
Chantal, you just made my day. Thank you very much for all your compliments. It makes blogging such a lovely hobby, getting comments like this.
I have been reading your blog for a few years too and I very much enjoy it. Your beautiful photos have made me add Amsterdam to my list of places to visit in the near future. I live in Scotland so not so far to travel. Your beautiful outfits are all so fashionable and carefully put together it’s a pleasure to have them pop into my inbox every week!
What a lovely thing to read for me. Thank you very much for taking the time to comment.
I have a very soft spot for Scotland as my best (late) friend Patricia was from Dumfries. When I used to hang out with her all the time, a little Scottish slipped into my English accent. Loved it.
I hope I can keep on amusing you for a long time.
Hi Greetje,
Have you thought of wearing that dress with a fitted sleeveless black suit vest – I bet that would look amazing.
Wishing you a wonderful week ahead,
Yvonne
xxx
I do not have a fitted sleeveless black suit vest and I will not buy one either as that is a tricky garment for me.
But I do have a black leather button-down dress. If the sleeves fit (or I can cut them off), your suggestion might just save the green dress. So I will try it. Thanks for the tip. If it doesn’t work, the dress will find a new home.
Not so keen on the dress….but love love love the orange bag!
Thank you for your honest feedback and I totally agree with you. The green dress is out and the orange bag you are going to see more of.
I agree with Susan. The dress looks nice, but somewhat ordinary and you are anything but ordinary! Such a contrast with the yellow blazer outfit, where you pop. Love Markolein’s blue boots. Send me a pair! Hugs from California.s
Thank you for that compliment (anything but ordinary). So lovely.
The green dress is on its way out as it should evoke compliments like the yellow blazer outfit and it doesn’t, so out it goes.
I am afraid that if there were another pair of blue boots like Marjolein’s you would have to fight me for it. I have a 38 1/2 size in Europe.
Looking at the first photos, I thought maybe a group of longer necklaces might work better than a belt ( I hate having to fuss with anything I’m wearing), but then came those two brightly colored outfits and your face just lights up! I think Susan is right that the color doesn’t suit. It’s a shame because it looks so soft and comfortable and has those pretty sleeves….maybe if you dyed your hair red? (Just kidding!)
Thanks for adding some color and cheer to my Sunday.
Beautiful green dress however i really liked the yellow and black outfit you had on. Very becoming!
Ah…you see…I want a similar reaction on the green dress as on the yellow and black outfit. And the dress just doesn’t get that because it is not good enough. It will have to go.
I think the dress looks great on you but I prefer it with the black boots & belt. I love the wine shade of boot and belt but just not with this dress. Maybe the black belt would look better if same size as the wine coloured one! The only thing that I don’t care for is the neck of the dress….I wonder what a scarf would add to this.. I am loving the boots and jacket that your friend is wearing..
The size of the burgundy belt is rather a problem, so I wouldn’t want to copy that problem to a black belt.
But it doesn’t matter, the green dress is on the give-away pile. Not good enough.
The dress is pretty, but I think it’s a bit too “soft” for you (both the color and the fabric).
Love the funny photo booth photos!
I tried to “up” the softness with the earrings, but the dress just doesn’t give the wow result I am after, so it will go.
Oh my! I am in love with that green dress! You wore it very well and I liked both belts, but favored the black one the most.
Your tailor can add thread belt loops to keep the belt from moving.
Your new boots were a smart move! I have a pair I ordered that I haven’t tried on yet.
I don’t know how you resisted all of the cute shops! I don’t have an area that is filled with a variety of unique shops! Durn!
I’ve done quite enough and ordered several beautiful jackets, to complete outfits, not outer wear.
Your mother looked beautiful as always!
I’ll email you some pictures.
Well Cathy, there comes a day that you MUST resist cute shops. I have cute shops in my area all the time and I have been visiting them a bit too much. Time to withdraw.
That dress was made to sit on that bench, in front of that store, on that day. Perfection!
Forgot to say how stunning I thought Marjolein was in the blue — how much I loved the chocolate shop — and how taken aback I am every time I see you put your gorgeous bags down on the ground!! OMG!
You are so right about Marjolein in the blue.
And you are right about putting bags on the ground. I do try to avoid that but so far I haven’t had any damage (I hope these aren’t my famous last words…).
Hahaha, funny. It is about the only thing the dress is made for, so it will go to another home.
I absolutely love the yellow and black outfit in the final photo. I like the green dress on you too. It looks very comfortable, but if you don’t feel your best in it, then it probably isn’t for you. I do love Marjolein’s blue boots and oh my, that chocolate shop looks wonderful! I’m diabetic, so I wouldn’t be able to indulge, but I probably would cheat and have one tiny taste!
I want outfits that have the wow factor of the yellow and black outfit. The green dress hasn’t so it will go.
And yes, I also love Marjolein’s blue boots.
I like the green dress. I think it could even be nice for the Holidays. And your hair looks great! I retired February 2022. I also miss my coworkers, but wouldn’t want to go back to work. It was time!
I agree, I wouldn’t want to go back to work, although sometimes I think “for a few hours a week…why not?”
The green dress is just not good enough.
Love, love, love the yellow and black outfit. So chic! Your mom looks lovely in purple 🙂
And with this compliment I know that the green dress is going to somebody else LOL. Thanks for the honest feedback.
Mooie foto’s in het bos,prachtig hoe het licht door de bladeren valt.Geel is prachtig bij je en met het sjaaltje lijk je nog langer. Mocht je broer dat leuke paarse stoeltje zat zijn….ik opper t maar,je weet maar nooit.Je weet t he van mij,sucker voor paars. Je moeder staat t ook erg mooi!
Hahaha, dat stoeltje is net nieuw, maar ik zal het in mijn achterhoofd houden en alvast doorgeven aan Anke.
The yellow and black is stunning. So chic.
It pains me to say that I do not like the green dress at all. The only thing I like about this outfit is the model.😕
Hahaha, thanks Linda. The dress is on its way out. It should get the same review as the yellow and black outfit and it doesn’t.
Ja ik begin de lastigheid voor jou met de jurk te begrijpen
Zoals ik ook vaak heb, een jurk kan mooi zijn, maar is t ie mooi is soms weer wat anders
Met pijn in m’n hart doe ik ze dan weg
Maar dat gele jasje : plaatje !
Kijk, die jurk zou ook “plaatje” als commentaar moeten ontlokken. En dat doet hij niet. Dus moet hij weg.
I’m not a dress person either, but I love seeing you in them! Your styling is always fascinating.
Have a great week.
I really like dresses and they are easier to style (for me) than skirts. But this dress is not going to last very long in my wardrobe.
Love the green dress on you Greetje, I cant ‘do’ dresses, trousers always seem to look more. streamlined. OMG those necklaces! To die for!
All of your looks are wonderful, keep inspiring usxx
Thanks Linda, but I do think I will give the green dress away.