These photos of the silver skirt with a burgundy blouse taught me something I already knew but ignored. Before an outfit is ready for a photo shoot, I should actually wear it and find out what the flaws are, the things I have to bear in mind.
“What is wrong with the outfit?” You might think. Well, wearing a belt so high up when you have a short waist (less than an inch high) causes this blouse to crease in a strange way. Not too dramatic but it still annoys me.
Below: The blouse is not fitted which means the belt cinches it in and creates an overspill of fabric. Had I worn the outfit before the shoot, I would have noticed the overspill and the creasing. Then I could have pulled the blouse down a bit more and shown you smarter photos. Fake of course, as not real life, but nicer to look at LOL. Also, the sleeves are very long. That might be the fashion but I think it looks a bit weird and would turn them up, had I been aware of it.
Below: Marjolein and I started the photo shoot near the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) in The Hague. The burgundy boots are boots I treasure.
I decided on a golden bag to add another colour to burgundy and silver. There are golden studs on the belt and I am wearing gold stud earrings. So you know I think about these details.
Below: More information on the Nieuwe Kerk you can find on Wikipedia. On there I also found this photo with a view of the church in 1778. (Photo is taken by Paulus Constantijn la Fargue.) Those pavements and roads would be murder for high heels.
Below: We wanted to take a photo with the church in the background (see the first photo of this post), but two men kept standing in our view, talking and talking. I was cheeky enough to ask them to move, which they kindly did. I used my sugar-coated voice. In the end I cropped the photo and it wouldn’t have mattered haha.
Below: We crossed the road and went into the huge building of the Amare Theatre. Read more about this magnificent building here.
Below: We hoped that we could take good photos inside Amare because of the huge windows, letting in natural light. Alas, we couldn’t really use the light. The more interesting backgrounds were further away from the windows, like this tiled basin.
Below: Grainy photo or not, we had to use this vase and its flowers as background. So good.
Below: We decided to go outside to the stairs along the side of the building. That’s better. The silver S-brooch has two functions. One is to minimise the décolleté as I have quite wrinkled skin in that area (probably for the best or I might flaunt my bosom too much LOL). The second reason is that the blouse slides to the back and with the weight of the brooch that ‘problem’ is solved.
Now for Marjolein. I bet she is going to take the cake in this blog post.
Below: How about the back of her trench coat! Stunning.
Below: Of course she matched the coat to her outfit. Or the other way around. She and I are very much alike in that matter. She brightens up the day and I loved everything about her outfit.
Below: After lunch Marjolein photographed my Max Mara raincoat. It looks a bit too oversized in the photo but it is a really good raincoat.
What happened in my life this week
Before I start telling you about the week, I want to show you a series of three photos from my mom’s box with photos. Grainy but I so remember us killing ourselves with laughter.
It tells the story of my dad trying to photograph us by setting the timer of the camera on a tripod.
Below: First attempt. Dad set the timer, walked to his chair and nothing happened. “It’s not working”, he said and got up. Click said the camera.
Below: Second attempt and the story repeated itself. You can see my mom and me already starting to laugh. And yes, I have my mum’s shapely legs. The length of my legs is a gift from my father.
Below: Third attempt and finally successful. By this time we were roaring with laughter.
If you wonder “What is with your mum’s face?”, she is still quite scarred as my parents were in a road accident and mum’s jaw was broken. She had a couple of plastic surgery operations but as some nerves were cut, her face was never the same again.
Saturday Ron had gone to the beach with dog Watson. I had too many errands to run so didn’t join. Then he rang at midday to say it was gorgeous weather on the beach terrace and wouldn’t I come to have lunch with hem? I had done my errands so I hopped in the car. So nice to have the beach at such short distance.
Sunday we had coffee and drinks at Georg and Marla’s. Always nice.
Monday it was time to get a Covid vaccination again. In and out in 17 minutes only because you have to wait 15 minutes after the vaccination before you leave. In case you keel over.
After dinner I was cleaning the kitchen wearing a white nurse’s apron, or rather a white coat. This is to prevent my clothes from getting stained. I need a full coat as the stains can reach me anywhere.
Then I heard a friend/neighbour outside and I ran to return something to her. She saw me in the white coat and said: “I am not interrupting anything, am I?” with a very suggestive smile. “Playing doctor and nurse, are we?” We roared with laughter. I have a very loud laugh and she is even worse (or better depending whether you like it or not). It was such a riot in the street. I bet the neighbours peeped through the curtains to see what was going on.
“Where did you get that coat?” she asked. I explained it to her and added that it was a really handy thing as the snaps give way in one go when you yank the coat open. That was, of course, the wrong thing to say, given the atmosphere haha. Immediately she came back with: “I can imagine that it is handy…wink wink”. And this went on and on and on. We must have been laughing our heads off for 10 minutes.
Laughing is soooo great.
Tuesday I met Janneke (below), an ex-colleague and now friend. We had a sparkly couple of hours together.
In the afternoon Ron and I were busy putting enlargements of photographs into old frames and repairing a reading lamp. In the process I managed to break one of the tubes in the lamp above the dining table, an expensive one. Sigh. The lamp (with 2 tubes) hangs quite low which isn’t a problem when you are eating, but when you use the table for little jobs, it’s tricky. We broke those tubes so many times, you’d think we get wiser. We now have to buy a new lamp as the tubes aren’t for sale anymore.
Wednesday the hairdresser cut my hair again and it is rather short now. Hmmm…
Thursday we celebrated our granddaughter’s 2nd birthday with a visit to a playground, farm and pancake restaurant. She opened her presents by tearing up the wrapping paper, then looked at the presents and threw them on the floor haha. When you are two, you have no clue about possession, about presents etc. But I am sure she will play with her presents and be happy.
Friday I visited Marcella of Lara Design in her atelier. Below: Two photos of earrings she has already created and were on display in her atelier. I was like a child in a sweet shop. So many lovely designs.
Of course I didn’t leave empty-handed. Below: Marcella of Lara Design at work, customising a pin for me. She also slightly changed a pair of pink earrings for me and I bought a pair of big blue earrings. You will see everything in the next weeks.
Greetje
I love the skirt, but I think the top needs an upgrade – more structure, better sleeves, not pulling backwards. I like the wide belt, though. Gorgeous pics as always, and I adore Marjolein’s outfit!
The pics of you, your mum and dad are so funny! Thank you so much for sharing them.
Well the top is how the top is, I cannot change the structure or the sleeves and I tried to prevent the pulling backwards. Perhaps worn on jeans it will be better.
As soon as I saw Marjolein’s outfit I knew she would take the cake in this blog post haha. Which I don’t mind at all.
Every time I look at those photos with the camera timer, I have to laugh.
The full skirt is a great style for you. Loved the photos of you and your Mom and Dad.
Indeed, a full skirt hides the fact I have no hips and no bum haha.
I love your outfit, perhaps it’s the contrast between the silver and the burgundy, stunning. I am going to try your trick with the brooch. I have two much loved summer tops that slide off my shoulders (no boobs) and I can’t be faffed to alter them. Once again a great post!
I do always seek contrasts. Not everybody likes that but I do. Metallic as a colour is so easy to combine with so many colours, silver being even easier than gold.
My other trick to stop tops sliding from my shoulder is fashion tape. It takes some getting used to, but if you practise a bit, you’ll find that your clothes stay put where you want them to. I use the brand Magic (body fashion) Fashion Tape but couldn’t find that on Amazon, it probably is Dutch. But I found something similar on Amazon. Although it is long, here is the link:
https://www.amazon.nl/RDNKVB-dubbelzijdig-plakband-transparant-waaiervorm/dp/B0D7VMM6BD/ref=sr_1_55?__mk_nl_NL=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=3GQ0QPQWOS79O&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.DGNktDZL5IoQMsjRFqs0tGMjgXaAtjvowlZJnzjB5WvMn0w3GyUCvQeHVGOSLcCUZ0DfDoZ2xZZPmZ3si4WFsZQN8P58hP5TuOukMw1rIftnfQ1tYYxeoF9-eTii27e9QGb6IAcwLzlgVxU4h1yBTT8So_HviRETSQvPEd_UgFcCv1PCXMl0uTDTBCl1Duv-2PfOBfS0xWpuaGt5kOy3tC5aX95KFmus2SVX37-HIJcTL3DuTD08bVopyFrzV4wZPGT8uDBGlk4kHoe1jhw5K_PEqSGnCBlWEft8bUrcatQ.LfHbRNZFxSiFZxJ7ObUMCxTh3wdEXzQJ5PLzOfSWf_A&dib_tag=se&keywords=fashion+tape&qid=1728915101&sprefix=fashion+tape+%2Caps%2C70&sr=8-55
The discussion about the white coat you had with your neighbour made me laugh. And I thought it was just the British who did innuendo! Love the outfit too. I also have a short waist, so understand your frustrations.
So glad you said that the white coat story made you laugh. I wasn’t sure whether the humour would come across. I love innuendo, and I love British humour.
The short waist is just something we have to live with and dress it the best way. But when my waist grew 7 cm in menopause and formed a roll that stuck out, I had the extra 7 cm sucked by a plastic surgeon. It became too difficult.
I’m loving your adventures!
Very amusing that you would call my every day life adventures. I don’t think that my days are spectacular but I am glad to share them.
What a stunning oufit, Greetje. If you hadn’t mentioned the flaws I would not have seen them, but that is a good suggestion about photographing an outfit the first time you wear it to ensure it looks as you want it!
Marjolein does look lovely in her outfit — such gorgeous colours.
That story about the white coat is hilarious! Thanks for sharing it.
So lovely to see those photos of your parents and see you and your mom laughing. Great story!
I am dead honest, so I will tell the flaws as well.
About wearing the outfit first, I meant it differently. I meant wear the outfit first for a day and after that you know what the points of attention are. Then photograph it for the blog.
When I saw Marjolein in her lovely colourful outfit, I told her she would be the star of the blog post. Which I don’t mind at all.
And I am glad you like the story of my dad and the camera. After all, my goal is to make you smile or even laugh.
I love this outfit. It looks so chic.
Burgundy is a chic colour I suppose. And skirts often have more panache than jeans. Not always, but often.
Thank you for sharing Marcella’s Lara Design studio. Such beautiful displays of her craft. No wonder you cannot leave empty handed!
Looking closely at the old painting of the road leading up to the ‘new’ church , I was amused by the young fellow dressed very well , likely with his parents, holding a walking stick as an accessory. A glimpse at the wealth of some , compared to the ordinary people on the fringes. But then , on the right , is perhaps a less wealthy boy also carrying a walking stick. A popular affectation at that time ?
So funny about the ‘set timer and sit poses’… and , Greetje, you have not changed much at all. Yes, aging has happened, as it does, but your face look so familiar. Good to see your parents at a younger stage in their lives. And those lovely legs…my goodness…! I have short , sturdy legs with lots of spider veins, a gift from my father ! You definitely got the better gift!
You become really greedy when you are in Marcella’s atelier.
Those old paintings often had lots of layers in story telling.
I also think you can still recognise me when you see a photo of when I was young, but there are people who say the opposite.
Those lovely legs are only lovely in winter nowadays. Spider veins and sun spots spoil the fun.
I love love love this outfit! I would wear that skirt if my hips weren’t triple the size of yours! ha ha. And the color is beautiful for fall. Maybe a skinnier belt would work? I always buy tops that you can turn up the sleeves. Here in Florida in the “winter” the temperature can be 60F one hour and the next it could be 80F.! And Marjolein’s coat, just gorgeous!! Is the front plain? and the back is the showstopper? And the story with the neighbor and the white coat? Too funny! Your country is beautiful, I love seeing the pretty buildings!
Triple the size…that’s quite a difference. The high belt was my choice because it is the same colour and I don’t own a skinnier one. But I might be on the look-out for one. Difficult though. I don’t see many great belts in the shop. Just cheap and nasty ones.
The front of Marjolein’s coat is indeed plain, which gives such a beautiful surprise when she turns around.
Glad you liked the story with the white coat.
Hi Greetje,How are you? This is a lovely look and I adore those boots!!!
Lots of Love,Paula,XXX
I am hearing that burgundy is a big deal at the moment. It’s a great colour on you. I can see why you treasure those gorgeous boots.
Indeed, burgundy is the colour for this winter. Which is why you can finally find items in that colour in the stores.
I don’t only treasure these burgundy boots, I also treasure their twin, these boots in camel/cream.
I am doing fine thank you. The boots are so great, I also bought them in camel/cream.