What do you do when the dress is too short to your liking and not your best colour? You use tricks. In the case of my cream Sportmax dress, I used black leggings and knee high boots to conceal the shortness of the dress by distracting the eye with other items. Furthermore I added red earrings for colour near my face and a red bag to bring it all together.
It is an old dress and I find it hard to come up with a new way of wearing it. After all, it is a dress, what can you change? Add a jumper? That is going to look very odd with this style. And it wouldn’t solve the length of the dress, or rather the lack of it. In the past I have used skinny trousers with the dress and this time I dared to use leggings, although not my favourite item of clothing.
A funny thing happened when I messaged Karlijn of kpa.haarlem asking whether she sold faux leather leggings to wear instead of the cotton leggings. I thought it would add a bit of zing. She replied “I wouldn’t do that if I were you. Together with the cream boots, it might make the outfit look common”. LOL
That is probably true as there is a common streak running through my character. Something I have always known and once in a while it rears its head. Often with my choice of cars. I have had beautiful cars but also a few which were more suitable for a bragging 19 year old boy.
Anyway…over to the outfit.
Loes was my photographer and we started in the old centre so we could show you nice buildings. But as soon as we had parked the car and set the camera, it started to rain. We decided to have a coffee first and wait out the sun.
Below: This cute little place is a bakery and a place that serves tea, coffee, chocolate whatever you want. It is called ‘In den gevulde broodmand’ (In the filled breadbasket). The pastry is excellent and the cappuccino as well. We waited and waited and it never stopped raining.
Below: We gave up and resorted to a restaurant on the top floor of the parking garage called Dakkas. (See this post to read and see more about it.) At least we were indoors so no wind and no rain.
As we entered the restaurant it was quite busy. Taking photos would be really disturbing for the guests, so I went to see whether the back room was less crowded. It was, only the restaurant managers were having a meeting there. Bummer. They kindly asked how they could help and I explained our predicament. “No problem”, they said, “there is enough space in this room for you to take photos without disturbing us”. Isn’t that nice?
Below: I do hope my loud laughter didn’t disturb them either.
Below: The sun was already casting a golden glow on me.
Below: Close-up of the red earrings by Lara Design. (For you Josep-Maria.)
Below: Loes in a new outfit. Love how the colour of the trousers match the shirt.
Below: Sure enough, as we were done, the rain stopped. We took the photo below and the first one at the top of the post, outside where the colours are truer to life.
If you are interested in the other ways I styled this dress, click here and here.
What happened in my life this week
Temperatures have dropped severely this week to around and below zero degrees Celsius. Still, after doing my fitness exercises I even jumped on my bike for a “health ride”. Before I do that, I have this debate in my head…the lazy side of me says “It is too cold to ride a bike…” and then my better side says “Excuses, excuses…it is too hot, too cold, it is raining…if we accept these excuses, you’ll never ride your bike and that is your cardio training. Now GET ON THAT BIKE!” My self-discipline is tough.
With Anke and Sabine I did another Shopping Saturday, this time in Utrecht. Oh boy, there I was, standing in the freezing cold with no coat on to get outfit photos for the blog. It was brass monkey’s weather (anybody familiar with this English expression?) but we did get a few decent ones.
Below: Anke and Sabine.
Marjolein and I were also on a photo shoot mission this week, and it was even colder because of the wind. She suggested we’d go to a large shopping mall with big windows, letting a lot of light in. She was right. It was very comfortable and warm. No wind either. Photos in a couple of weeks.
I got mum a few more jumpers and two pairs of pyjamas.
(If someone at the bank would monitor her bank account, they’d probably think… “Hmm…since the daughter has access to her mum’s bank account, regular sums of money go to a clothes shop. I wonder if those clothes are for mum or for her…”, you know? Highly suspicious haha. No, it was about time mum bought some new clothes, PJ’s and shoes. Most of the things we ordered, are good, although we had to change quite a bit for a smaller size.
With Marcella I recorded a few videos and took photos to promote her website. Below a blurry photo, taken by Ron with his iPad. We are checking a recorded video. I am still slouching. (Link to the original post with this outfit.)
I’ve been busy with taxes, blogging, fitness… a bit boring really. With a pleasant visit to Marianne, who didn’t want her photo taken as she wasn’t prepared for that. Instead she took a photo of me (below). I wore my wide black trousers (see this post and this post) with a black top. Amazing what an accessory can do for an outfit. The necklace just pops. The golden/champagne boots are by EIJK and I have a matching belt. The necklace is Max Mara (pearls and golden with red beads) and it came from the Geneva airport, flying back from my dear friend Pat’s funeral. This way, every time I wear the necklace I think of her. Although I don’t really need the necklace for that. I often miss her.
Greetje
I love the design of the dress, it is very pretty and original. I think the look with the black boots and socks is very aesthetic. The neckline is really cute. The close-up with the pretty earrings is magnificent, I am a true fan of your bravery and beauty.
You say the nicest things. I never regard myself as brave or beautiful, but I gladly accept your compliments.
I love the dress with the matching tall boots – lol, I laughed at the “common” comment (I also have a wide “common” streak!) over leather leggings! The pics of you in the glowy sun are awesome – you look fabulous.
That necklace/belt really stand out against the black, and as always you so suit wide-legged trousers. I like wearing things that remind me of people who are no longer with us – I often wear things that belonged to Karen, or my grandmother, or my dad.
Glad mum got some new things – she deserves it. We say, “cold as a brass monkey’s balls” so there’s some crassness for you!
Without the glowy sun on my face I look a lot less fabulous LOL. It was a lucky shot.
I know you like wearing things that belonged to Karen, didn’t know about your grandmother or dad. It somehow brings them close to us.
The whole expression (to my knowledge) is “It is cold enough to freeze the balls of a brass monkey” haha.
I like the cream dress with the tights and tall boots. Very nice. If you hadn’t said it was a dress I would have assumed it was a tunic. Very attractive. And the black outfit is a keeper. You look great!
I know what you mean about missing friends.
On an Italian women it is a dress. On a tall Dutch women (5ft74 – 1m75) it is a tunic. I bought it because I so wanted a dress. It just didn’t work for me like that.
Thank you for the compliments. Missing friends is hard, but that’s life.
I love the drama and contrast of the cream outfit and the first photo is art.
Is there drama in the cream outfit? I know there is contrast but what drama? Not that I mind a bit of drama.
I will tell Loes you think her first photo is art. It will please her, no doubt.
Love both outfits! Those cream boots are so pretty and I love them with the SportMax dress. The black outfit is so chic — such lovely accessories.
Oh yes, I have loads of accessories as I hardly ever throw anything out. Then when you are my age (69) you have acquired quite a bit LOL.
Both outfits are great, Greetje. The black leggings work well with the cream dress, probably better than even slim trousers would, and your long legs make the proportions perfect. And the 2nd outfit is chic and elegant, like everyone says.
As so often, I didn’t think these outfits would get much positive respons. And look what happens. Glad I am so often wrong haha.
Your last name shouted at me “She must be from Dutch descendants”. Or perhaps South Afrika. It is not an English last name. (I am being nosy here; tell me off if you want to.)
Greetje, I love both outfits! I want that dress! The neckline was adorable! I loved the way you put it together! The black with the belt; so very pretty and perfect for an evening out! The black would also be pretty with a well tailored denim jacket!
I hope your new year has been nice. We’re cold like you, I had a birthday last week. I’m doing my exercises where the medical boot weakened my leg from the fall.
I bought a few new items this morning but don’t usually buy in January so it feels odd; one is a denim blazer.
Have a wonderful week!
Oh no, I would never wear these black trousers with a denim jacket. Not my fancy. Which is probably because a colour session learned me that jeans colour near my face is terrible. When I found that out, I understood why I always took out my jeans jacket, only to hang it back in my wardrobe. But that is just me. Hope you will have a lot of use of your denim blazer.
And Happy belated birthday Cathy.
Love both outfits! The black leggings are perfect, and, if I had legs like yours, I’d wear them more!
How is Winston doing?
Have a good week.
I never wear leggings although I do know my legs are my assets, the one thing about my body I am totally convinced of. I just don’t like leggings, but I do see their use.
Watson is the name of our dog haha and he is doing fine again. Not a trace left of his “illness”.
The outfits are really elegant. You chose well with the accessories. They bring color to a monochromatic outfit. Well done I say!
I always need a bright colour near my face when I wear cream, white or black. Although sometimes I just don’t care LOL.
Both outfits are stunning…one cream and one black. Really show off your assets, Greetje. As it can be very wet over the winter… here on eastern Vancouver Island…if I cannot ride my bike 🚲 outside, I can do some water rowing. I have a WaterRower tucked in the corner of the kitchen…stored upright, which is handy. It is quiet, good looking and effective exercise. BUT, I have to remind myself to use it ! So handy with music 🎶 on to keep me going , and a good view of the back garden . What with my Pilates ( two of us with trainer ) and some walks down the road to the beach, I think I am covered. Onward to 73!
I’d say you are well covered. You are indeed doing what is necessary to grow older in a healthy way.
Our house is really too small to hold an exercising device. Besides, the bike ride is not just cardio exercise, it is also good for my arthrosis knee. Unloaded moving, my physio calls it. Therefore rowing wouldn’t do for me.
Fabulous Greetje!!! I love the whole ensemble hun.The colours are divine and I so love your boots,
Hugs,Paula,XXX
Thanks Paula, great compliments. I will now try and come up with an outfit that includes the same boots in burgundy. As I have them in cream and burgundy. They are so good and so easy to walk in.
I love this white dress and the way you have styled it. Perfection. Classy.
Marguerite
The dress isn’t white, it is cream. White near my face is far more dangerous, although I do have one.
But thank you very much for the compliments. Perfection and Classy is high praise.
I do like how you styled the dress, and agree that faux leather leggings would have been a bit “off.” As it is, you’ve mixed up the textures nicely, and the red bag & earrings are perfect accents.
I love that last outfit too, very chic!
I am not a star with mixing up textures. Sometimes, like with my black bow jeans, I look at the outfit and think “Hey, I mixed up textures”, but never consciously. I just don’t get it, apart from basics like “no leather skirt and leather boots…better use suede boots”. But that is because somebody told me this specifically.
I like both of your outfits today. The tall boots and red bag make your short dress look fine! And the black outfit is made special by the silver accessories. I am glad your dear mum has some nice new clothes. I am wondering, can you give us a link to Marcella’s website? Thanks for your post – I always enjoy your photos, your lovely friends, and your cheerful comments.
Oh my… I always link to Marcella’s website, but I saw that I haven’t done that in this post. I have corrected it, but you don’t have to go back. This is the link:
https://www.laradesign.nl/webshop/categorie/23367
Thank you for all those sweet compliments.
The portrait photo taken by Loes is really beautiful. And LOL about your mom’s bank account. I can see that!
That portrait photo is indeed lovely, isn’t it? Sometimes I hit the jackpot and sometimes I look awful haha.
Love that last outfit. Really accents your hair. Classy!
Oh gosh, you are the second reader who loves the last outfit. Does that mean that the main outfit of the post is no good?
I love the last outfit. So true about accessories. Great styling!
I also think that last outfit worked out fine. But it is not a very sharp photo so I don’t know whether possible flaws are covered in blurriness.