When you’ve found a trick, you can keep reworking it multiple ways, right? My white monochrome outfit with a colourful scarf was quite successful on the blog, although I still don’t know why. Recreating this styling combination, here is my blue monochrome outfit with an orange scarf, all from my own wardrobe. It is actually not a favourite of mine as the skirt enhances my tummy. Not something I like. Of course I deleted all the photos where my tummy was really visible and I am only showing you the flattering ones. Welcome to fake country LOL.
I chose an area in Haarlem where I photographed another outfit in January 2021, an outfit which happened to be blue and orange outfit as well. Talk about coincidence. That time the trees had no leaves as it was winter.
Loes was my photographer. We left early as rain was predicted around 11 a.m.
Below: The first thing we saw after parking the car was this bench. “Here you go”, Loes said.
Below: There are beautiful houses in this part of town. I love the way they let all the greenery grow. It is so much work to maintain.
Below: Loes with a gorgeous colourful shirt. Her neutral toned trousers drew the focus to the shirt.
Below: Beautiful little park.
Below: We used this magnificent front door as a background.
Below: And the door opening of the house next to it. The company that uses the premises had the door open, which we saw as a photo opportunity.
Below: Gates are also photo opportunities. By this time the owner of the company came to check us out. What were we doing there? I explained and all was well.
For more beautiful buildings, click the link to the old blog post, with photos of this area in winter.
Below: Close-up of the pearl with yellow gold bracelet. A vintage find and in perfect condition. The pearl necklace you have seen before, a gift from my mum.
Below: Gold ring with pearls, a gift from my friend Marianne. It isn’t easy photographing a ring on old hands but I think I did well.
Rather a short main story this week. You have to take it as it comes dear readers.
What happened in my life this week
Many lunches and cappuccinos with friends.
Cappuccinos and tea with Marcella (below):
Below: Lunch and some shopping with my old boss Tanja. Lovely woman. It started to get a bit windy on the terrace so we moved into the cafe.
Below: And a day with Helena who was kind enough to take photos for next week’s blog post. Our date was postponed twice (by me) and on this day mum had to go to the ear doctor. Ron took mum instead of me, so I could have my day with my friend. He is such a sweetheart.
Below: I love to have many fresh flowers in our house. These white roses are a week old, so they will be replaced, but they were dead cheap (€6 for 30 roses) and lasted a week. August is the month to buy roses.
Although my mum’s birthday is in August, my dad used to buy her chrysanthemums…”because they last such a long time…”. My dad was more practical than romantic haha.
Below: I also bought these cute flowers, €5.50 for 30. We Dutch love to get a lot for little LOL.
I had the three vases in different places in the living room but later decided that it was nicer to put them together as a group.
Ron and I had a lot of administrative business to tackle which I won’t go into any further, but it was worrying and stressful. Not everything is solved yet, but we are getting there. Kept us busy all week.
We both have also been going through our wardrobe and put a lot in the give-away pile. Room for new stuff.
Greetje
How interesting to see that book on your table. I’m also reading it here in Melbourne at the moment!
We all influence each other. I saw it with American bloggers and got interested. I will read the book again and hopefully it inspires me to create more outfits with what is already in my wardrobe.
I love the orange scarf as a belt, the colour works so well with the dark blue. I’m intrigued by the book – it looks like something I would enjoy reading. I follow Tziporah on Instagram…I might order it.
Emma xxx
http://www.style-splash.com
Orange and blue are a good combination. You can also see that in the post I did before in this area (there is a link).
I read the book and found it interesting but the clothes (and time and money spent on them) a bit too much. I do admire her for her creations and passion for getting dressed. She apparently managed well in times with less money too.
I am going to read it again, focusing on interesting combinations of styles, proportion and colours. Hopefully I’ll get some inspiration to style the clothes in my wardrobe in another way.
I enjoyed your outfits, as I usually do, but what really caught my eye was the last photo with the book-The Art of Dressing. I just bought that book for myself a few months ago and couldn’t put it down. Wouldn’t it be a thrill to have that woman’s wardrobe!
I don’t know Laura. Although Tziporah is definitely a style icon, I don’t think I could wear what she does. Some pieces I could and I think are to die for, but not everything. She is much more into dressing/clothes as I am. Even though that sounds weird haha. She sees dressing as her life purpose and I can understand that, but I wouldn’t go as far as that.
Mind you, if she should ring me and ask whether I want her wardrobe, I’ll scream YES.
If she does offer you her wardrobe, I’ll be happy to take whatever you don’t like…let me know lol
Hahahaha, that’s funny. Unfortunately you are in competition with a lot of women. I always give away clothes I don’t wear anymore. As I have so much, I never wear out my clothes which makes them desirable. Although they are sometimes not current.
Gorgeous outfit. Absolutely loved the orange with it. You looked so lovely x
Thank you Irene. I noticed that many people like monochrome outfits with a pop of colour. Although you cannot really tell from these photos, the skirt doesn’t do me any favours, so I gave it away.
I like monochromes, why are you surprised? And I really like blue and orange, and I think they combine well, it’s a modern and current mix. I guess you chose the photos well, but I wouldn’t worry about your belly, your figure is still slim and pretty. I love the backgrounds you chose for the photos, your architecture is beautiful. I love decorating with fresh flowers, your house must smell wonderful.
I was surprised because I didn’t think it was a particularly pretty outfit. Rather simple. I guess simple isn’t bad.
Our house does not smell wonderful as the flowers these days don’t smell. Only lilies do and they smell too much.
I love this outfit it’s so pretty the shoes are gorgeous. Shoes are my favourite wardrobe things, I have a few pairs but wish I had room for more. your friends outfit is also very colourful. I love the roses also. My Dad had 39 rosebushes at the last house he was in before he passed away. That’s where I learned to love gardening. Keep showing us all your colourful wardrobe and beautiful pictures I really enjoy them.
And you know? I bought the shoes in a charity shop for next to nothing. Never worn but only from H&M. Isn’t that funny. I quite like them as well.
Gardening is very relaxing I think. I am slowly learning.
I intend to keep you entertained for quite a few years Cheryl, don’t worry LOL.
Great Outfit and there is nothing like a pearl necklace to elevate a look. Terrific styling and I saw no stomach. I have one too but I don’t care. Lol.
I adore pearls but at the same time I am afraid of the ‘too classic’ effect. I liked them with this outfit.
The skirt is now with someone else and I deleted the photos where the belly was showing so much haha. You are braver than I am.
I LOVE the blue dress! So very nice. I have a little tummy and wear my blouses out, but you wear this well. I loved your pearl jewelry. Very nice. I know you will enjoy wearing it. So very nice to see your lovely friends. No shopping (laughing)?
I love the flowers you showed, but my allergies would keep me from breathing!
I’m still home. I fell down the stairs a week ago. The medical boot on my left foot is very soothing. That foot has a bone chip. The big knot is on my right shin, just below my knee. It is better and now that foot is black and purple. I’m having a problem staying asleep because my back is terribly sore. I am going back to the doctor about the soreness. The next check up for my ankles is on September 14th.
I miss working so badly. Some boots have been delivered to me I hoped will be comfort, but I can’t try them on! Two weeks for this after my cataract surgery. I’ve lost almost one third of my summer!
A lot of the ladies decorate for fall. I don’t unless it’s burgundy, navy, and cream. I don’t put out pumpkins, scarecrows, haunted houses and the like.
Have a good week!
Actually it is not a dress but a skirt with a top. I should have said so in my post. The photos where you can see that the skirt didn’t do me favours are destroyed haha. And yes there was shopping and laughter when I met my friends. Of course.
I am sorry to hear your health isn’t too good. From one thing to another. The boots are tantalizing you. Hang in there.
I love the blue and orange together, but am not a huge fan of the skirt – it’s just a big block of blue with no visual interest (don’t get me wrong, I still think you look great, just my personal nitpick of the skirt).
Lovely seeing you with your friends – I love that robe(?) you are wearing with Tanja. I just cleared out of a bunch of clothes too – gotta make room for more (especially since I had a big shopping trip on Saturday!).
I totally agree with you. Also the skirt gave me a belly (I deleted the photos where that showed haha). So, I gave the skirt away. But the exercise (styling from my own wardrobe) was good and the idea too. Just not the right items.
I wasn’t wearing a robe with Tanja but a jacket. You have seen it a couple of times before. I really like that jacket too.
Will go to your blog again on Wednesday when I have a bit of time again. I am curious to see what you scored.
I absolutely love this outfit! Reminds me of a beloved navy dress I once had, of the same elegant shape but with a lime green sash. I still have the sash but the dress has passed on — I would love to find a replacement. Did you make your outfit from a separate top and skirt, or is it a dress with interestingly different fabrics above and below the waist? In any case it is lovely and so wearable. I would be grateful to know where you found it.
It is a skirt with a top. The skirt is from a Dutch brand which has gone bankrupt (so sad as they were so sustainable) and the top I have found in an outlet for next to nothing. So sorry, I cannot help you with brands. It shouldn’t be too difficult to find a dress like it though, when you trawl the internet.
The blue with orange scarf is definitely a winner. Very attractive.
Funny you should say that. I gave away the skirt as I noticed it showed my belly too much. Well, in photos I have deleted haha. But the idea is good.
I like the dress with sash, but I love the jacket you are wearing in the photo with Tanja. It is always great to see your friends — thanks for sharing.
The dress is actually a skirt with a top. Not really my favourite outfit, but it is good too experiment with stuff from my wardrobe. The jacket I am wearing in the photo with Tanja is such a good piece. Really colourful which is what I like. I also wear it on a white column (top and trousers) for a more summery look.
This look is smashing on you. A very feminine look. Maybe you could fiddle with how you are belting.
Well, this is a good exercise but it is not a look which I think is nice. Nevertheless thank you for your compliment. I love feminine looks but I feel that the long blue skirt is a bit too much and it also showed my belly. The latter not in these photos of course. I deleted the bad ones haha and gave away the skirt to someone else.
I really like the navy with the orange sash..The navy shade really seems to be a colour you wear well and suits your colouring….also neat with the gold sandals!
While blogging for the past ten years, I did learn a few things about styling an outfit to make it more interesting. Different colour shoes is one of them. A bag which does not necessarily matches your shoes is another. Both things aren’t easy for me as I am a matchy matchy person at heart. Also having a colour styling consult helped me a lot too. I now know what colours do what for me. Which doesn’t mean I don’t wear the ‘wrong’ colours near my face anymore, I just know the tricks how to soften the bad look (colourful earrings, a colourful scarf).
I am sorry. I don’t care for the blue dress with the orange scarf on you. I think it makes you heavy through the mid-section – WHICH YOU ARE NOT!
I must have missed a week – which I can’t believe because I read your blog faithfully every week on Sunday. But what happened to you Mom? She was one of the reasons I looked forward to your blog. She reminded me so much of my Grandmother.
I agree with you. It is not my favourite outfit either. So after the photo shoot I gave away the skirt (it is not a dress but a skirt with a top). But hey, sometimes you have to try and create something from your own wardrobe.
Last week I have featured mum again (at the end). In the post of July 23, I have announced that I won’t feature mum every week anymore. She moved to a nursing home and I found myself talking about her/for her, which did not feel right. So I stopped it. Which doesn’t say I won’t feature her ever again, just not on a weekly basis.
Your blue and Orange outfit is just smashing! You look terrific.
Thank you very much. I often wonder what my readers will like and it seems that my more classic looks are favourite. Alas, I am more of a LOUD woman haha.
Love the dress, sash, and pearls. Very classic and stylish!
Have a great week.
And I am so not classic haha. I love classic style with an edge though, like Victoria Beckham’s clothes (which I cannot afford, but I also do not have that life style). The dress is actually a skirt with a top.
The dress with the sash is lovely. Also your hair looks gorgeous!
I always check the way my hair looks before we take the photos. If not, I will backcomb it again. So, a little bit of fake LOL
I forgot to say it is a skirt with a top, not a dress. I actually gave away the skirt straight after the photo shoot. Too many photos showed quite a belly.