When I was styling these black flared trousers (brand Joseph), one of the tops I tried was this old black jumper with bat wing sleeves. I immediately liked it. The jumper sits the way it was intended which wasn’t always the case when I combined it with a skirt, like in this post with cream boots and a red/pink bag. The outfit was attractive but the jumper was troublesome. Not so with my flared black trousers.
Of course I had to add a pop of colour with the cute crossbody bag from Markberg. It comes in 12 colours and I was after a silver one (damn Instagram). Then I saw this chartreuse one and I was sold. Well…I called it green, which it isn’t and a friend of mine called it a shit colour LOL.
Below: These earrings by Lara Design get a lot of outings lately but they are not exactly the right shade to match the bag.
Below: I had another look at my earrings and found a pair which are a little bit lighter but have the same shade. Let’s say they are in the same colour family. I’ll use them with this outfit from now on.
Below: Close-up of the bag.
Anyway, let’s move on.
This was the day I met my BVA girlfriends and was so violently sick after 3 o’clock. Which is why you are not going to see many photos.
Below: Marijke, whose turn it was to host us.
Below: Marianne, colourful as always.
Below: Marianna who was quietly contemplating.
Below: Jilske.
Below: Claudia, who had recovered from a severe pneumonia with complications. She is the sporty one of the lot.
We chatted and laughed as we always do, had delicious cakes and after that an extensive lunch. By that time, I wasn’t feeling too well anymore and only ate one bread roll. That’s not like me.
Below: Marianne was wearing a gorgeous blue dress and a chain necklace I once gave her for her birthday. I was so in love with that necklace that I played with the thought of keeping it for myself and to give Marianne another one. “After all, she doesn’t know what she is getting”. My better instinct won and I gave her this one. So good.
Below: Jilske’s silver boots. As you can imagine, I was totally into these boots.
Below: We started shopping and, in every store, I just sat down; didn’t see any clothes, feeling terrible.
Not even in this store behind me (InStyle Women’s Fashion). And I love this store. I bought a few things here before, like the orange leather skirt and a yellow jumper. I also bought a long white blouse, more like a dress, but I just couldn’t style it and, in the end, I gave it to Marita. Funny thing was that the sales lady recognised me from that white blouse. The camera might also have jogged her memory.
Below: Claudia found a cosy jumper in the sale and was pleased.
Below: Marianne bought this blush pink jumper. Also a snuggle jumper.
Below: We tried to take an artistic photo of me through the wire ball, but that failed. The ball is probably still there from Christmas.
And that is where the story ends, really. I got sick and I went home. No idea whether any other good purchases were made. I had picked up Marianne that morning and my friends took her home at the end of the day.
So sad that a lovely day had to end like this.
What happened in my life this week
Apart from visiting mum on Sunday, there were many boring days with nothing happening. I did some necessary chores but there isn’t much to tell about making the bed, is there?
I also didn’t feel very well on Monday and was afraid I was getting another virus. But no, after half a day and a couple of hours sleep, I was fine again. Wretched viruses.
Ron pruned a lot of plants in the garden. We should have a couple of more days of mild weather (but cold wind), so the cuts won’t freeze. In a week (or two) they forecast another cold period with frost. I have the clothes for that LOL.
Sabine and I went out for a quick lunch which is always so delightful, though there is never enough time. Below: Sabine and me. Sabine wore a stunning blue velvet jacket.
Below: In case you were wondering what I was wearing to the lunch, it is my lavender dress. (See original post.)
Below: Walking through Haarlem on a weekday with no market on the big square, therefore no crowd, I couldn’t resist taking another photo of this magnificent church, the Saint Bavo.
Did a photo shoot with Janna (her Instagram account is @Timelessstyle.nl) on a day when it was cold, windy and rainy. The only option was to take photos in a department store. Warm, no wind, no rain and big windows, letting in natural light. Most of the time we chatted and chatted, drank coffee and had lunch. We remembered in time that we had to take photos as well. The other guests in the restaurant were amused, seeing us in action LOL.
Below: Janna. The full photo is nicer but I had to zoom in on her as I didn’t want to be spotted. My outfit hasn’t been revealed on the blog yet and I don’t want to spoil that.
Greetje
You’re well past your illness now (as subsequent posts reveal), so I’m glad that is over. It’s awful when you are out with friends and suddenly get sick.
You and your friends are so stylish! What wonderful outfits. With closets full of clothes, I should dress better. I’m guilty of throwing on jeans and a long sleeve tee almost every day. Friends are coming for dinner on Sat. night, so I will put on something nice.
You look lovely in your lavender dress with matching tights and sleeves. The place you are having tea with Sabine looks so inviting. The wall paint, art and upholstery are wonderful.
We have many great places in the Netherlands to have a meal or a coffee. And easily accessible as we are such a small country. Nothing is far away.
Please put something nice on Saturday night (and cover it with an apron when you cook LOL). I am just as guilty as you are. Now that I am not working anymore, I put in less effort. Thank goodness I have a blog about outfits.
Oh no, how sucky that you had to bail on your hang-out time with the BVA girls! That’s disappointing, but there will be other days. I like the colour of the bag – I’d call it chartreuse, and agree that the other earrings go better. I love your lavender dress outfit – it is so good with the burgundy boots.
I should really wear more dresses but not having to go to work anymore, gives me less opportunity.
You all look so smart in your outfits.. I’m so sorry about your illness. but thank goodness it didnt last very long. These shops look very interesting if I ever get back to Holland I would love to visit some of your shops.
If you ever get back to Holland, I will give you a list of the best shops haha.
It is always so nice to enjoy photos of you and your lovely friends. The black pants and top with the wonderful bag is so attractive. I really like Marianne’s dress, boots, and of course the fabulous necklace. I hope you are over your sick spell and I hope you stay well.
A black monochrome outfit is very southern European. Italian and Spanish women wear it a lot. Perhaps because they already have so much light from the sun? We, in this windy, rainy country, have a lot of grey skies so I usually prefer happy colours. The way Marianne was dressed.
I have always liked black monochromes, I think they are elegant and, at the same time, they can be mixed with many colored accessories. Your bag and your earrings look perfect and give the look that note of color it needs. I love the lavender dress, you know how much I like that elegant, feminine and sober style.
Two things I miss, being retired. One is the office humour, the jokes with my colleagues. I miss that. And two is the fact I don’t live a life anymore that calls for elegant dresses. I still like them a lot but most of the time I am either at home or walking through town. Not the type of things that call for high(er) heels and a dress. Although I am sure that more elegant ladies than I, would were them in these circumstances as well. Nice weather (meaning no rain and wind) are also more inviting to wear dresses. This is a rainy and windy country.
Love both your outfits! It is always a treat to see your friends, each with her distinctive style. I am so sorry that you had your day with them spoiled by illness — glad you are feeling better.
Question — are you wearing brown or burgundy with that lavender dress? Whatever colour, it looks gorgeous.
Yes, we all have a very different style in clothes. It is therefore risky to give each other advice on what to buy. You always approach things from your own perspective.
I am wearing burgundy boots with the lavender dress (and burgundy tights and top). You can see it much better in this post:
https://www.nofearoffashion.com/2023/02/19/arty-lilac-dress-with-burgundy-boots/
Gretje, I love, love that batwing jumper! You can send it to me! Your outfit lookes very chic, although, I can’t wear the bag, that color turns me green!
I’m still not styling. After my pain pills ran out, I tried to contact the doctor through the suggested web site with no answer. At the end of day 2, I called the doctors nurse and told her I had given them plenty of time to contact me. They did send me a new set of pain killers and I can now stand straight-a little, with some pain.
I can’t handle weight at all! It kills my back! It’s all I can do to carry my plate to the table at dinner.
I’ll probably have to wear a light back brace. The scoliosis and arthrritis in my back can’t be changed.
On the bright side, I’ve picked up a few capris and light weight jackets. We have a wonderful cotton rich brand here , Habitat For Humanity that has cute items and unique buttons.
Have a wonderful week.
Haha Cathy, no chance, my batwing jumper is under lock and key.
It is a good thing that, despite the pain you are in, you were able to shop for capris and light-weight jackets LOL. Keep up this spirit.
You look great in a simple outfit where the interest lies in the lines and the drama comes in the pop of color. I loved Marijke’s outfit. It shows what you can do with beige accenting it with a smashing necklace. so sorry you got sick. It seems to be a winter for that.
My friends all love clothes and accessories. We have been shopping together for about 25 years now. And you are right, a smashing necklace can lift anything, even beige. Although Marijke is one of the few people who suit this colour. Perhaps because there was a shimmer of gold in the top?
I really like the black outfit with its strong, architectural lines. In my opinion, your earrings should contain straight lines to complement. And Marianne is a symphony of color — she reminds me of a Piet Mondrian painting. Love!
Your comparison of Marianne with a Piet Mondrian painting is spot on.
I will see whether I can lay my hands on earrings with straight lines in that chartreuse colour. I do have earrings with straight lines but only in plain golden colour.
So sorry to hear you felt sick and it spoiled your day. You have a group of such lovely friends. Wish I was there shopping with you LOL. Take care.
Greetje, what a drag to feel so ill , when all you want to do is have a fun time with your group of friends. But you did the right thing resting up and waiting for the nasty bug would pass.
I love that little lime bag…very much my colour… and it looks so good as a pop of colour with your black outfit. I found a darker olive bag in consignment which came home with me…had credit there as I sell many items successfully in that shop. On the back , strangely, were stamped the initials SW… my mother’s initials …so I took it as a good sign that it should be mine. Use it often, cross body like yours.
Incidentally, I will be in Paris in late March ( cruise along the Seine to Normandy with Uniworld at promotional price.) and again in Paris at the end of it in early April. You had mentioned perhaps travelling to Paris to meet SB , and I had earlier mentioned hoping to meet you sometime. The “short and the tall” , if you remember!
There was another canal cruise through Holland and Belgium with a stop in Haarlem, but Paris won out! …with stops to visit Giverny , Versailles, Rouen on a beautiful ship…and allowing me 3+ days in Paris. What’s not to love!?
Please let me know if you’re there in Paris about then, and maybe we could meet and have a coffee together and a good gab!
You have my e-Mail obviously. Happy you’re feeling good again.
Believe me, if I had had a choice, I would have stayed with my friends, but it was no option.
As for Paris, I am sorry, I am not going there for a while. SB will be coming to Amsterdam in April, which is so sweet of her. So our “short and tall” meeting has to be sometime in the future. In the meantime have a terrific time with the cruise and in Paris. It sounds wonderful.
We didn’t actually shop together, did we? We just went for lunch and sightseeing.
Greetje, so sorry you became ill that day, such a bummer. All your friends are as beautiful and you. And they look like they are a lot of fun. That one photo of you with the phone taking the earring photo is the BEST! You look like I imagine how you look in person, really warm and friendly. Love your blog as always.
You keep that thought Lynda…”really warm and friendly” haha. I am just an average person with good points and flaws. Like we all are. Good things about me are that I give many compliments, even to strangers in the streets and I strike up a conversation with strangers in no time (and very often do). I am a chatty person. Bad things are that I can be very blunt (not meaning to, but still) and I am not attentive. Just to mention a few things LOL.
Perhaps I should do a video, so you can hear me talking. That usually says a lot about a person. Thing is, my voice is different when I am speaking English; slower.