It was about time this multicoloured jacket got another outing. You saw it once before as I left hospital last year. I called it a patchwork jacket, which it is, of course. Coming out of hospital I ‘styled” it solely for comfort. This time I wanted to style it in a way I liked it.
Marjolein and I did the photo shoot in The Hague and the weather behaved itself for once. Brace yourselves as I couldn’t choose only 4 photos and therefore posted the lot.
Below: Nearly fell off the post from laughter. No idea what it was about.
Below: After the shoot with the jeans we had lunch at this bakery. Great place.
Below: At the bakery. You saw this photo in another post. We both had taken off our jackets so we wouldn’t spoil it for this post.
Below: Marjolein, head to toe. A few readers will be very pleased to see her favourite colour again (purple). It goes well with the lime leather jacket. Marjolein knows how to style.
In the WC of the restaurant I changed the jeans for white wide leg trousers and we continued the shoot. The white trousers are my second purchase of the 10 items I have restricted myself to this year.
Below: In front of a beautiful flower stand. They had silk flowers and real flowers. What an abundance of colour.
I haven’t added much to the outfit as the jacket wants all the attention, just orange earrings and bright patent leather orange booties. The black bag is a mistake. It looks odd. I have no idea what colour bag I should have chosen, but I have bags in many colours, so I can sort this out.
Below: The other side of the flower stand. Flowers are relatively cheap in the Netherlands.
The trousers are still too long, so I just turned them up. But I will have them shortened.
Below: Marjolein took me to a beautiful bookstore in The Hague, called Paagman. They have such a cool children’s section. The light indoors makes the colours look different, but the photo opportunities were wonderful.
Below: A pink swirl sofa. Yay.
Below: A member of staff suggested I move a chair and put it underneath the draped curtains. Isn’t it lovely when somebody helps you in this way? We were more of a nuisance than valued customers. Great store.
Below: I had to be careful with my stiletto heels, not to punch holes in the steps. Tip-toeing.
Below: They have so many great children’s books and entertainment for children. Plus this vintage contraption. I think it’s an organ.
Below: Outside we saw another great flower shop. You can see that the colours are totally different in outdoor light. Less of a saturated yellow.
Below: We were both very smitten with this purple/black plant.
Below: Look at the side of this house. Gosh, they don’t build them like that anymore.
Below: This is the front of the house.
We had a wonderful day again. Tell me…too many photos?
What happened in my life this week
Of course I visited mum and took her out for a drink. That was Saturday.
Below: My Saturday outfit (link to original post).
Mum’s grandson and her great granddaughter visited mum the next day. And that Sunday I picked up Susan of Une femme d’un certain âge from the Amsterdam station where she arrived with the train from London. She was delayed a couple of hours in Brussels, darned, but she arrived. Ron cooked mussels for dinner.
Below: Here she is on Monday in Beurs van Berlage Café Amsterdam, the former stock exchange building. Susan could try out her raincoat as we had rain all day. We were outside when it was dry and made sure we were inside when it started raining again.
Below: My outfit. As you all liked the puffer jacket outfit so much with the pink top, I wore that. Especially because Susan gifted me the French Kande necklace which looks so good on bright pink.
Below: Close-up of the French Kande necklace.
In spite of the wind and rain, we had a lovely time together. We are very like-minded and can laugh together. We visited the Rijksmuseum, which wasn’t just because it rained (although an added bonus to be inside), Susan also really wanted to visit the museum. It is so big, we could have been there for hours more. Only poor Greetje got tired.
That day we experienced so much gallantry. Several times, people got up and offered their seat to us on public transport. I have never experienced that before. Also, I forgot a bag and phoned the shop where we had just been, to ask whether they found it. No, they didn’t. So we reckoned it would be at the tram stand. The girl of the shop said: “I’ll run to the stand to see whether it is still there and I’ll phone you back”. Still out of breath, she called back and said “Got it!”. Isn’t that lovely? We hadn’t even bought anything in that shop.
Below: Susan and me at lunch on Tuesday. She sure knows how to work a scarf. You will find several tutorials on her blog.
Below: When the rain decided to descend upon us again, we visited the Saint Bavo Church in Haarlem. A very impressive building and an even more impressive organ.
Below: Tuesday late afternoon, the rain stopped and I drove to the tulip fields. We didn’t have time to see the Keukenhof, but at least we saw tulips.
Wednesday Susan took the train to Paris where she would spend a few days and then return to London before flying back to America. I took the car to the hairdresser. But as soon as she was gone, there was this feeling of missing. I really loved having her around.
Below: One last photo of an outfit I wore this week. (Link to original post.)
Greetje
I love your patchwork coat, Greetje, but I agree about the bag. I would have gone with a green or aqua purse to contrast with your oranges.
How lovely to see Susan! I am excited to eventually make it over to Europe for a visit – it’s going to happen (our next big trip).
That house is incredible! You have the most wonderful architecture. Sending good vibes to your mum, and no, this not too many photos (says the woman who regularly posts 20+, ha ha).
Sorry I’ve been so remiss in commenting – life has been hectic.
You never have to apologize for remiss in commenting. Quite the contrary. It eases my own guilty mind haha.
Exciting news to hear that you will be coming to Europe.
And…yes, you are right, a green or aqua purse would have been much better. You just reminded me of the aqua purse at the back of my closet.
I love your jacket, love colour. It’s fun to have something a bit “off the wall”. Cute photo at the Bakery where you are both wearing the scarf.
It is a bit out of the ordinary, I agree. Not something you will wear every day. But the day you do wear it, sparkles joy.
Marjolein put the scarf over my shoulder just before the waitress took the photo.
So many great outfits in this post! (And I don’t think any of us will ever complain about too many photos, ha.) Your new necklace really compliments that puffer outfit and I love that green-blue suit! That is one of my favorite colors. Thanks for brightening up my Sunday.
Comments like yours are music to my ears as blogging is a lonely hobby. You always wonder whether people will like it enough.
I will certainly try and keep on brightening up your Sundays.
I look forward to your post every week. Love your outfits and also love seeing the architecture in your part of the world.
The black bag does not bother me too much, but I wonder if you have a straw bag. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen you with one.
Thank you so much for your blog. It’s a treat to my eyes each Sunday afternoon (my time).
I am glad you enjoy my blog so much. That is very encouraging for a blogger. It is my hobby to create one every week.
I don’t have a straw bag, I was never drawn to them and am always afraid they might snag the fabric of my trousers.
I don’t think the black bag was a mistake. It keeps the emphasis on your outfit. Loved those orange boots!
I agree that the jacket should get the emphasis, but I still think the black is too harsh. I would wear the boots more often if it wasn’t for the stiletto kitten heels. They get stuck between tiles all the time.
The jacket with the white is lovely. The book store looks wonderful.
Glad you like the jacket. I love it with the white trousers but equally with the jeans. Spoiled for choice.
We have a few amazing bookstores in the Netherlands.
Happy to see your patchwork jacket out and about. It suits you so well, either way you wore it. That Dutch house is spectacular… so much detail… so thanks for including that residence. When I was in Paris in late March, I walked about a lot from my Hotel Andre Latin , close to Jardins de Luxembourg , through narrow streets towards the Seine. There were wonderful bookstores, antiquarian and otherwise, and one for children called the Red Balloon 🎈with a wonderful window display. The rain stayed away that day, so it was a particularly good outing, and of course, I bought a small original painting from a talented seller along the Seine. Red poppies in a Provence scene.
I wonder what Susan Blakey got up to after she left you in Haarlem for Paris…hmmm.
I think I know the children’s bookstore you are talking about. I walked that route myself.
Susan bought a pair of trainers in Paris but not more. That’s the disadvantage of travelling with a carry-on suitcase LOL.
How pretty is this multicolored jacket with an ethnic feel. I love the look with the jeans, a very casual and pretty look. The look also looks good with the white pants, but I prefer the jeans, I love that combination. Bookstores are spaces where I like to get lost, walk, touch the books, smell them… As always, some photos of your country that turn me into Dutch for a few moments and I love it. I congratulated you on your birthday on FB, but I don’t think you saw it, now I’ll say it again.
You are right, this jacket does have an ethnic feel. I am glad you like it. Jeans or the white trousers, I like them both equally. And I share your love for bookstores. I know about 4 phenomenal ones in the Netherlands.
Thank you for your birthday wishes. I am ashamed to admit, but I am hardly on Facebook anymore. Too many platforms to maintain.
Love the colorful jacket. I think any bright bag would work better than the black – perhaps turquiose or orange. Never too many photos! The purple plant is a shamrock; lovely and always for sale in US around St Patrick’s Day.
I think I will use an orange bag when I wear the jacket with the jeans and the light blue puffer bag when I wear the jacket with the white wide leg trousers. So we are on the same track, although I have to admit that another reader was also kind enough to suggest bag colours.
Thank you for the name of the plant. I also got the name Oxalis from another reader, so I googled and I think it is Oxalis because the flowers are black. But I can image that the Shamrock is sold around St Parick’s Day; it is after all an Irish plant.
I love all these photos, every outfit, your happy smiles and seeing Susan in Amsterdam. Pure joy.
This post clearly is a hit as I got so many comments. It probably has a lot to do with the cheerful colours.
The purple plant is a type of Oxalis…they come with green leaves too. It is usually sold as an indoor plant where I live….so you could have it all year inside
Thanks Lauren, for the name of the plant. I got another suggestion, Shamrock, so I googled, but I think it is indeed an Oxalis because it has black flowers. But the two are very alike.
Love all the photos!!! You, Marjolein, and Susan all look great. Such a treat to see Susan on your blog and vice-versa.
Never too many photos! And so nice to see you and Susan together. I’m glad you had such a good visit.
Initially there were even more photos in the post, but I “weeded” a bit. Always so hard to choose.
And yes, Susan and I had a lovely time together. So sorry that the weather was a spoilsport.
Love this post. Lots going on! There can never be too many pictures for me. I also love that jacket, and I liked it best with the jeans, but I like jeans with everything.
Your patent leather boots reminded me of something I heard as a child. We always wore skirts not pants, and we were supposed to be careful wearing patent leather shoes because they could reflect your underwear! One more thing to worry about for a worried kid like me…
I also like jeans with everything. Such an easy item to combine.
“Patent leather shoes could reflect your underwear”…hahaha. You poor kid. We were allowed to wear trousers to school from 1961. Before that we had to wear the trousers underneath a skirt.
You looked great in everything! I want the colored coat and black jacket!
What is Susan’s blog please?
Susan’s blog is: unefemme.net
Correct. The link to her blog is also in my post.
The coloured jacket was second-hand although the brand (Sissel) still makes them. A link to Susan’s blog (Une femme d’un certain age)is in the post.
Never too many pictures!
Ps. The plant you like is called oxalis, grow well inside and out!
I am glad you didn’t think I posted too many pictures. It is often so hard to choose.
Thanks for the plant name. Another reader suggested it was Shamrock so I had to Google the difference between Shamrock and Oxalis LOL. I think it is Oxalis because it has black flowers.
Love, love, LOVE all the colors — the jacket, the flowers, the people. Lucky!
I take it you liked the post then LOL. Glad to hear it.
I was also happy to see that Susan had visited you – I’ve been reading her blog since at least 2007! Lovely to see you have such a marvellous time together.
You probably found my blog through hers I presume as I started blogging in 2012. One of the many perks of blogging is meeting like-minded women with whom you become friends.
Actually, I think I found your blog through Midlife Chic? I remember you both were in a group of bloggers who met up occasionally.
Oh yes, that was fun, the blogger meet-up in London. We actually only met twice in London. I think I follow Midlifechic from the beginning. Nikki is such a good writer and a lovely person.
Not too many photos! Just enough! So nice to see Susan with you. I follow her blog so I got to see her photos also! I do love that jacket! I love all the colors in it. I think an orange bag with the white pants and a blue bag with the denim would have looked nice! You look really nice in wide leg trousers, probably you are tall or at least long legs. Me, short legs and wide hips so they don’t flatter me at all.
You are right, I am tall, have long legs, small hips, no bum. So there are trouser styles which look horrible on me and probably are very good for you. I love jumpsuits for instance and they look so bad on me; you really need curves for those.
Thanks for the bag suggestions, I think I will use that, but the other way around. The orange bag with the jeans and the light blue puffer bag with the multicoloured jacket.
I follow Susan’s blog, also. It is most amusing to read the parallel comments as she visited you! It doesn’t matter wether you wear wide legged trousers or a more narrow style, you have miles of legs. I am quite tall, but I don’t see myself with such long legs. Incidentally, in case you didn’t recognize it, that lovely dark plant is a Shamrock. It can also be a very pretty green, with delicate white flowers, but that is a healthy speciman.
I never knew so many reader follow my blog and Susan’s. We all share the same interest I suppose.
I do have long legs (and a short upper body) and as that is an asset, I put emphasis on it. Makes sense, right?
Thank you for the name of the plant.
You look great. I’m glad to see the variety of pants leg widths. And as a woman of a certain age, I am so jealous of your ability to wear those heels! I’m inspired to work even harder on ankle strengthening.
I cannot really wear high heels anymore, but the heels of my orange/red patent leather boots aren’t that high. And the boots are really comfortable except for one thing: the heels are stiletto and get caught between the tiles of the pavement.
So lovely to see you with Susan! It’s really fun to share your experience together since I enjoy both your blogs. My favorite outfit is the last one, with your belted white blazer and your blue puffy bag. I think Susan got that bag in pink?
You are a good observer, yes Susan has my blue bag in pink. She wanted a cover for her lovely leather bag as it kept on raining. And his puffy bag is very lightweight. And fun. Susan wanted to see the shops in Haarlem which I always mention in my posts, so that’s how we ended up at kpa where she bought the bag.
Marvellous jacket, especially with the white trousers. I also loved the jade green outfit with silver bag…and also like that blue padded bag which we may have seen before with different clothes. What a beautiful bookshop too;I can’t imagine a London bookshop with so much space and seating , let alone allowing one to take photos, but I hope I’m wrong! Your friend Marjolein as usual had gorgeous colours, the lime green with that purple scarf again…lots of fascinating buildings. How I hope to get to the Netherlands again, but as that prospect is indefinitely delayed your blog posts are a great compensation and reminder. Best to your mum.
Thank you very much for your comment. It is nice to read that you really liked the post. There is a downside to the Netherlands and that is the weather. You never know when it will be raining and it rains quite often as poor Susan had to endure during her visit.
The jacket is indeed a diva piece, but they can be fun from time to time. I like it best with the white pants.
Thank you again for such a lovely time! I really enjoyed my visit and your exceptional hospitality.
The more photos the better from my perspective. Xx
PS . It’s a bit of a treat seeing two of my favourite bloggers being friends in real life 🙂
Hah, I saw this comment too late, otherwise I would have replied in one go.’
It is one of the many perks of blogging…the like-minded women you get to meet and become friends with.
Oh…don’t encourage me haha. I always have a hard time choosing from the many photos we shoot.
No, seriously, your comment pleases me.
We all need some diva pieces in our wardrobe, right? It was also second-hand so it didn’t break the bank.
As for your visit, the pleasure was all mine.