My friend Erna took the photos of these olive coloured trousers with a bright pink jumper. You have seen the trousers before in December paired with a cream jumper and I am still ‘shopping my own wardrobe‘. Nothing is new this time.
Below: We started at restaurant De Volkslust for coffee and my hair had gone down to its usual flat self.
Below: Erna and me. I know Erna looks like she is 35 but she is not. I won’t give away her age, but you’d be amazed. At least my husband was.
I was leaning on a stool which resulted in an odd pose.
Below: We went outside to continue ‘the shoot’ and I never noticed that the ends of my scarf were in sight. I had carefully tucked them away but evidently not well enough. That is why I don’t like scarves. They have this tendency to change their appearance.
The colour of the ancient jumper is this raspberry pink. Ron liked the black and white of the belt corresponding with the scarf, so I threw in the black and white checked tote for good measure. It was a present from Marianne years ago.
Below: Many bicycles and cars to ruin the sight of a beautiful quay. I cannot remember why I laughed but you know I laugh easily. Those trousers are sooo comfortable and I love the look of them.
Below: On the bridge over the canal. Little wooden stairs lead from the quay to the restaurant’s lovely terrace on the canal. You can just see one table in the right bottom corner of the photo.
Below: At another side of the restaurant Erna was taking photos when a couple of guys passed who told me I looked good haha.
Below: Erna had just finished a colour and styling course which she liked a lot more than she anticipated. She styled the blouse she was wearing with these three pairs of trousers. The ones on the left we bought together that day, the ones in the middle were the ones she wore that day and the jeans on the right are new, but she didn’t like the shoes with it.
Below: To make your wardrobe work for you, you have to try and combine clothes in multiple ways. Here she is with a raspberry jumper and two different trousers. She asked my opinion about the jumper: in or over the trousers. My preference was over with the trousers on the left and in with the jeans because she would otherwise lose the details of the buttons on the pockets. But with the jumper a bit over the waistband.
It was nice of Erna to send me all these try-out photos (I had asked for it). If you do the same with your clothes and keep the ones you like on your phone or your computer in an album, you can consult them if you don’t know what to wear. I do the same by putting a photo of every outfit I publish in my Outfit Gallery at the top navigation of my blog. So handy.
We had a lovely afternoon and will meet again soon.
On my way home I decided to photograph some nice houses. Nice for various reasons.
Below: Two posh houses, mirroring each other.
Below: Details of the house above. How about these sculptures?
Below: Typical Dutch houses. The bulbs in the grass were almost starting to bloom (difficult to see).
Below: And one last one. I liked how they all have striped balconies.
A bit of a short post but they cannot all be top of the bill. No highs when there are no lows.
What happened in my life this week
Ron and I went to town on the Saturday to have a coffee, a chat with Karlijn of kpa.haarlem (didn’t buy anything), look for a new nightie, sort out a ringtone problem at the Apple store and have lunch. I now have a new ringtone: ‘The Magic Flute or Die Zauberflöte, K.620 Act II Der Holle Rache’. A lot of ‘Oh ho ho ho ho ho, Oh ho ho ho ho‘ etc. It was a nice day, just the two of us and the sun shining. It seems like an ordinary thing but we do realise that we are very fortunate: still together and loving each other, both being in good health (if you don’t count my knee) and having enough money. We know this could end in a second so we are consciously enjoying it.
Below: Of course I visited mum, who wore a jumper I didn’t know but she claims it is old. She probably didn’t wear it much because of the low neck which is cold in winter. The problem is now solved with a roll neck.
I took mum to hospital for her eye injection and a check-up. The injections seem to help so the doctor has changed the intervals from every 4 weeks to every 6 weeks. After two times she will get another check-up to see whether that was a good idea.
I did another photo shoot with Loes at restaurant De Dakkas in Haarlem.
Below: View over the city from restaurant De Dakkas. I nicked this photo from the internet as it wasn’t such nice weather when we were there.
As a matter of fact, when I got up and looked out the window I saw hailstones followed by snow. Oh great (NOT)! So I opted for this restaurant as they have glass walls (‘kas’ = greenhouse and ‘dak’ = roof) which means lots of light. Plus WC, mirror and no wind. Ideal. My hair looked good all the time heh heh heh.
Marcella and I had a great shopping day in the fantastic town of Alkmaar. I am ashamed to say that I caved. I bought an oversized brown jumper to wear with my flared leggings as I thought the first brown jumper which I bought together with the leggings, were just a little bit too short. I like to cover my crotch with such ‘trousers’. I also bought a kimono jacket at a second-hand store with a lot of discount as well.
Now…my husband was taking me out to dinner that evening and I had said no to that because of my deplorable financial state. (We always split the bill as we both have roughly the same income and I am an extremely independent woman.) He offered to treat me to the meal.
Arriving home with two purchases is not exactly supporting my claim of not having money, is it? I snuck up the stairs to hide the bags and thought I had gotten away with it. Not so. He had spotted the bags and I split the bill with him haha.
97% of the times I am dead honest. Only sometimes I fib. I don’t really want to spend money on going out to dinner and we do that quite a lot. Dinner was OK, not splendid. The company (a.k.a. Ron) was terrific of course.
Greetje
Hahaha…that story about money and splitting the bill… Funny and adorable at the same time, how you two handle that.
I know. We are funny in that respect. It’s my fault. I definitely want to keep our finances separate.
Love the trousers & pink jumper on you! your Mom looks great too! Love it!
Thanks Lisa. This outfit is in my top 10 because I feel cool in it and it is sooo comfortable to wear.
What a lovely and perfect outfit. You look wonderful. I particularly love the photo of you laughing with your admirers.
Your weekly posts are such a bright spot. The obvious love and affection you and Ron share is as enjoyable as the fashion moments. The snippets of Dutch culture are an added bonus. And your family and friend musings with your Mum and others round it all out. Sheer delight! So thank you 🙂
Side note? My trans son is now considering university in your wonderful country. How happy and proud we will be if this comes to pass.
Thank you very much for all these lovely comments. I am blushing but it does make blogging so wonderful. Knowing that there are people who appreciate your ‘creations'(and I mean posts, not outfits).
The Netherlands is a reasonably safe country where the people are usually open minded, so your son will probably like it. I use the words ‘reasonably’ and ‘usually’ on purpose because although the majority is open minded, encountering the differently thinking minority can be frightening.
I love, love, love your first olive trousers outfit and would wear this in a heartbeat. Full disclosure – I have a similar pair of trousers despite being only 5 foot 3 and a half inches tall! I will now settle down and read the rest of your
– always delightful – post.
I am very glad you enjoy my blog so much. It is like fuel to me. As I have said to another reader, these trousers could also look good on a smaller person. It all depends and you have to look for the right one.
Yes, I too love the color combination. It comes across as a salmon pink color to me which is one of my favorites. But I’d never have chosen an olive color pants to team it with. Great choice!
The bright pink is a kind of red and the olive is a kind of green. Red and green are complementary colours in the colour wheel, so they go well together. If the bright pink comes across as a salmon pink, I think it must be because of the colour settings of your screen. It is far more raspberry pink.
Love the color combo, and the B/W accessories really set it off. You reminded me of my subterfuge with my husband: I would hide bags of new stuff for a while, then when I wore it and my husband would ask, “Is that new?”, I could say “No, I’ve had it for a while. oh, the games some couples play! Now a widow, I don’t have to hide anything I buy.
My husband found me out once for hiding purchases and he said: “What kind of relationship do we have that you feel the need of hiding them? Do I hit you or what?”
After that I didn’t hide much anymore. It is my own guild and shame really which makes me do it. Because yet again I have not been able to resist the siren call of buying.
I presume you’d rather hide your bags and have your husband back then being a widow. Sometimes life is cruel.
You looked very nice in your pink and olive green. I love the belt and scarf together! You can order a soft tape which is sticky on both sides called toupe tape. You can keep a blouse together which is showing your bra.
Thank Erna for the time to create those photos.
Your mom looks healthy and happy.
I know what you mean. The toupe tape I use is called Dress Tape. It just never crossed my mind to use it on my scarf, so thanks for the tip.
I absolutely LOVE the drape of your trousers and the fit of your sweater. They are perfection on your frame. Bravo!
There are many drapes and fits that look horrible on my frame, but I nailed it with this outfit. Thanks.
Also I like your phrase “I don’t have a retail figure.” Well put!! Few of us do!😂
And the retail clothes are getting more stupid every time. You’d think they do their marketing and KNOW that there aren’t that many women with figures to suit their designs.
I love this outfit! You’ve inspired me to break out a new bright coral sweater/jumper I recently bought. My favorite shot is of you responding to the men telling you how good you looked—sassy!!
My fantasy outing is to spend an afternoon at kpa.haarlem with Karlijn as my guide. You can come along to advise, and afterwards I’ll treat us to a coffee and that world famous Netherlands apple pie. (Assuming I’ve any money left!!) 😉
You and Ron are indeed fortunate, and you remind us all to appreciate the goodness (and the laughter) in our own lives.
Have a great week!
You have a very good fantasy outing haha. I am game.
As a teenager I had the fantasy of having 1,000 guilders to spend on clothes. Which, with my budget in those days, was like an endless amount of money.
Sorry I haven’t commented for a while, been very busy with work & various other things. Love the trousers (vicariously as I’m short and can’t really wear wide trousers) and especially the pink jumper. Oddly enough I’ve just bought a bright pink jumper from Sézane.
Erna and your mum are both looking good!
Have a great week!
I don’t know Liz. You say you can’t really wear wide trousers as you are short, but I have seen wide trousers on a tiny shop assistant once, with sneakers and she looked fabulous. Very laid-back. I have to add that she was also size 1 or 0.
As for not having commented for a while…no sweat, I don’t keep scores haha. But it is nice to see your familiair name again.
I concur! As a shortie (5’1″ on a good day), I adore wide trousers.
I can imagine. I think it often looks ever so good. The same with oversized blazers. I have to be careful or they make me look like a man, but petite women look cute in them.
I loved your outfit today. I will have to try my bright pink sweater and olive pants together. (I really do have items in the same colors as your outfit.) I love to wear the color olive since it brings out the green in my hazel eyes. One of my favorite colors to wear with olive is tomato red. (Hmm, olive and tomato – sounds like salad ingredients.) Do you ever wear red and olive together? I don’t recall if I have seen the combo on your blog. I bet it would be fabulous on you.
I think you are right, red and olive go very well together. Olive is a kind of green and green is the complementary colour of red in the colour wheel. I haven’t tried this combination but that is easily corrected.
Love the colors, and love the black & white with them. You are so much fun, and I always feel like you are my very fun tour guide!
It is my pleasure to be your tour guide. Thanks for the lovely compliments (which make me happy and shy).
My friend and her 4 year when antiquing, bought a few items but left them in her car when they got home. An hour later when her husband left in his car the 4 year old stood by the window and told his mom “ mom, dad is gone now we can take in your packages from the car.” How soon they catch on!!!
Thanks very much for telling me this story. It made me laugh out loud. I once read that far more than what you tell and teach your children, it is the example you set, that has the biggest influence. Good and bad.
Love the outfit Greetje, especially the length of the pants and how they fall over the shoes. Styled really, really well. I wear powder blue with olive a lot and it is also a good look, especially with your blond hair. Fabulous Post!
I took the trousers to the seamstress straight after I bought them. The waistband needed to be taken in a little bit and the hem of the trousers elongated a bit. I don’t have a retail figure, so I know I need to have them adjusted. And then I get comments like yours haha.
Powder blue sounds very good, but it is the wrong colour near my face (any pastel really), so I let this tip pass me by.
I love seeing you shop your closet as well as those wide leg pants styled very modern!!
I have these magnets that can hold ends of scarves so they don’t fly around. You should get some…I use them for a ton of things.
And I loved seeing different ways to wear the same thing with Erna. That’s exactly how it makes our closet so much bigger,
XOXO
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
This is a very good tip. I will search for scarf magnets.
Erna did a good exercise with her clothes. I need to continue this wardrobe road, but the flesh is weak.
Dag Greetje! I just ordered some scarf magnets, so have a tip: you might have an easier time finding them if you look for ‘hijab broche/magneet’ or ‘hoofddoek magneet’. I had never thought of that, that women who wear a hijab would use them to keep it in place. I’m guessing that if you went in a store that sells headscarves they may carry them as well. I’m not sure, as I ordered mine online. I do find them handy for keeping scarves looking a bit less sloppy! Love your outfit, it looks like you.
Oh…this is such a useful tip. I ordered a pair online straight away.
I’ve always been a fan of olive and pink, also olive and purple. You look great. Those pants are fantastic!
Have a good week.
Oh thanks for the tip. Purple! I have a lovely purple merino wool jumper, although I think the outfit needs something in a light colour to go with these two colours. A belt??
Sorry – you are asking the wrong person! I haven’t worn a belt for years. But what about a scarf? Not sure about the color though. Maybe a print that picks up the olive or purple? Maybe someone else could suggest something.
How about a scarf as a belt? I could use a fun print then as wel. Thanks Anne.
Hello You
Lovely outfit this week and lovely photos showing them. Good for Erna! Mama too, looks good. So glad her eyes are behaving.
As for money and sharing and going Dutch (love it!) I hate, hate, hate dealing with money in any way, shape or form so have always handed over mine to my husband who then sorts everything out. Ha! I can hear the gasps of outrage from here, but you know, it works for me and with complete trust between us it has never been a problem. And don’t think I don’t/won’t make decisions, because I do. I make my own life’s decisions and have no problem with that. So I’m not a complete waste of space, just a ‘little woman’ (old Brit phrase) who’s quite happy to leave money matters to someone who understands what’s what while I stay busy plotting the rest of my stuff. But good for you being so independent…respect, as they say!
Have a good week
Gee x
Ah… we are all different Gee and one isn’t any better than the other. I just always have had this urge in me to be independent. In everything. I left home when I was 18 and not because there was anything wrong with my parents or our relationship, I just wanted to be independent. And I wasn’t going to give that up when I met Ron. Besides, I am pretty good with finances.
Love the trousers very youthful, I mean that as a compliment as I know we are no longer trying to look anything other than our best at any age???? I see you go ‘Dutch’ with your husband it’s a good feeling.
Thanks Flora. Yes, I like to look current and youthful but I don’t want to try and look young.
Going Dutch with my husband is because I have always insisted to be independent. In everything, also in finances. I worked full-time all my life and paid my way. Although I have to say that in the first 20 years we were together, he paid for more than I did as he was earning insanely well. I made it a point to always be fair but should he divorce me, I have my own money. (Mind you, I don’t think he ever wants to divorce me, but more people have thought this…)
Those guys were right Greetje – You DO look good! Very flattering outfit. I agree, you have your priorities, rather spend your money on clothes than dinners at restaurants 🙂
Thanks Lise, I am flattered.
As for the dinners versus clothes…I have a little test. “What would you choose? A dinner worth €100 or €50 cash?” It separates the foodies from the others. I would always choose the €50 and have a sandwich, haha.
Pink and olive is such a good combo! Love the trousers, they look comfortable and suit you. And I like the sneakers with them.
The houses are so interesting, lots of big windows for maximum light, I presume.
I could wear these trousers with sneakers every day. It is in my top 10.
Yes, big windows for maximum light. In the sixties they used to build houses with a great big window at the front of the house and lots of glass (usually doors to the garden with side windows) at the back. To let in a maximum of light. It wasn’t a very creative way of building though. Rather box-like.
I chuckled about the 35 yrs of age 🤭, thank you for the compliment! But hey, at least you got the numbers right 😁. It was nice to catch up in Haarlem!
Hahaha..it is just a matter of in the right order.
See you soon I hope.