After all these blog posts with jeans, I thought I’d show a dress again. You have seen this leather dress a couple of times before. Here with polka dot tights and fab white boots (had to get rid of the boots. Too high, but what a fab outfit), here with a soft yellow shirt dress underneath, and here with green patterned tights and combat boots. I am using it multiple times but I think my body is changing a bit. It feels snug and it looks snug. This time I decided that black and burgundy go well together.
Below: I started a styling session with these leggings (a gift from Marjolein). Not the easiest thing to style. I looked through my wardrobe and saw the black dress.
Below: Perfect! I always had a bit of a worry with this dress. The press studs sometimes snap open and reveal a bit too much. With leggings underneath that worry would be gone and it is a fun extra to the outfit. Now compare the photo underneath with the first photo of this post. I think it looked better in the bedroom (below). Is that because I had tugged it in place before the mirror and made sure it sat just right? Or is it because I had the collar as it was meant to be instead of more open (top photo) achieved with some fashion tape? I cannot put my finger on it but I was a bit disappointed when I saw the photos of the shoot.
Anyway, Marjolein and I chose some almshouse courtyards in The Hague as a pretty background. There are four of them, connected with corridors.
Below: The almshouses and the courtyards were not as nice as some others are. What a shame. It is also winter, so no green trees.
Below: At least the bushes, some plants and the grass were green. In the old days, only widows lived in these houses. Nowadays, men are also allowed to live there.
Below: I am standing in one of the corridors and you can see the other ones behind me. Wearing my lovely black coat again.
When we started to photograph, Marjolein asked me why her camera view and the photos were so hazy. We checked the camera settings which were fine. Then found out, I had smudged the lens with my greasy fingers. My bad (as the youngsters say).
Below: I rescued the hazy photo of my back in post editing. Marjolein had taken another photo after we removed the smudge but in that picture I look like an Olympic swimmer. Very broad-shouldered. I put it down to the angle the photo was taken, praying that I am right.
Below: In the middle of one of the courtyards it was still rather green and not so much of a mess as in other courtyards. Lamp posts are ideal to hang from.
The burgundy belt and the burgundy boots are meant for each other. I used them together in the outfit with the silver skirt as well.
Below: On a chair I have to sit up straight as my waist is just an inch high and the belt is much higher. Of course, I forget this and slumped so I’d better not wear this outfit in future haha. Another one (outfit) bites the dust.
(The amount of cheap ornaments and black plastic covers in the courtyard spoiled what could potentially be an idyllic spot.)
Below: That’s better.
Below: A close-up of both sides of the bag. A blogger friend (Bella, the Citizen’s Rosebud) painted these faces on a vintage bag and put it up for sale on her Etsy shop. I loved it and bought it. It cannot hold much, it is more of an accessory, but whenever I use it, I always get so many compliments. I finally found a golden chain bag strap that fits this bag perfectly so I can use it crossbody.
Below: And these earrings are by Lara Design, as they often are. They are not on her website as Marcella doesn’t think women will like the fact that they differ. Not one pendant is exactly like another one. I love the fact that they are unique.
Below: Marcella had created a burgundy pair of earrings in this style for me a while back and I lost one earring. She said, “I don’t have an exact other one, but you are welcome to go through the box of examples and see whether you can find a match”. I did, found a match and she replaced the missing earring. As I was going through the box I selected pendants that I thought would go well together despite the fact they are different from one another. And I asked her to make a second pair for me, the earrings I am wearing in this post. Can you spot the ones I chose amongst the pairs below?
I love sorting things. Coins, buttons, pendants…weird.
Now over to Marjolein who will probably steal the show in this post. Again, I might add LOL.
Below: Purple-blue boots, brown skirt, olive green leather jacket and scarf, brown bag and a bright pink jumper (sweater). All different colours but they go together so well. I love this outfit.
Below: Here she is without the leather jacket. I was very tempted to buy that skirt too as it is so good. Marjolein wouldn’t have any problem with that. We grant each other the world, never any envy. Nevertheless, I told myself I don’t always have to have what others have.
We did this shoot in half an hour and it was freezing cold. I quickly put my coat back on again and we went into town for lunch. After lunch we were strolling through the shopping streets and it suddenly came over me. “I want to go shopping for a really nice top or so. I want something new!”
Well, The Hague knows how to meet such need. It means I bought one top in the sale and in another shop (Essentiel Antwerp, my favourite) there were so many bright colours that I felt like a kid in a sweetshop. Bought a sweater and a pair of orange trousers there. You will have to wait for the blog post to see it.
What happened in my life this week
Saturday was a joyful day as we (the BVA-girls) all got together at Marianne’s house. You know the drill, cakes, lunch, shopping, drinks, snacks and dinner. And TALKING. Delightful day although Claudia couldn’t make it. A pity.
Sunday I facetimed with Anja in Spain for over an hour. Modern technique makes it possible to chat with each other as if she was in my living room.
Monday was only physiotherapy and blogging.
Tuesday was the one decent day in the week weather wise and Ron was kind enough to take blog photos in Amsterdam in the morning. The morning light is the best for photography. In the afternoon we worked on another little booklet for granddaughter Zoë, subject Christmas. Ron had been busy for a couple of days creating the stories and I just did the technical part of uploading the photos to the system to be printed.
New neighbours moved in three doors down, so we put a little welcome card in their mailbox. I still call it ‘Anja’s house‘ although she sold it 4 years ago to move to Spain. The couple that bought it from her were nice, I am sorry to see them go. Hopefully the couple who moved in now will be just as nice.
Wednesday Ron and I worked on the booklet again. I had a photoshop challenge and it took me several hours. Pffff. Nothing else to report.
Thursday I went to the tanning salon for a little light bronzing. Don’t scold me in the comments. I know the risks and I still want to go there once in a while. We all take risks, we all do stupid things. This one is mine.
Friday we finished the booklet, I ironed and I started decorating the living room for Christmas. We weren’t going to do anything as we had nobody coming round and we are lazy. Then Ron wanted to invite our friends Georg and Marla for dinner on one of the Christmas days.
Below: The Christmas decorations.
Greetje
I love your style and staunch spirit! Thank you for sharing your stylish light with the world.
I thank the world for letting me get to know lovely people like you. And for reading my blog.
Thank you for these fabulous seasonal photos.
Your outfit just may be one of my favourites and Marjolein looks lovely too.
I have recently been in hospital for almost a month and although recovering well, I haven’t been able to decorate much. My daughter and 14 year old granddaughter have been beside me throughout. Yesterday they visited once again and while my daughter cleaned my apartment to which I am so very thankful, my granddaughter hung the wreath and brought out my little tree and decorated it, even displaying the Nativity set.
Thank you once again for the photos of your outfits and the beautiful area where you live.
Fondly from Vancouver Island, BC, Canada 💖💖
Gosh, one of your favourites! Much praise. As you will have gathered from what I wrote, it isn’t my favourite. But then again, I saw the horrible photos, the ones that didn’t make it to the blog.
How wonderful that your daughter and granddaughter helped you in such a loving way. That’s why you have children LOL.
I hope that you’ll continue to recover well.
I love this week’s outfit, Greetje! Burgundy and black do look great together. Marjolein’s outfit is gorgeous too — I love her skirt but those boots are stunning!
Your Christmas decorations are so pretty — those arrangements of candles, greenery, and baubles are festive and unique.
Marjolein and I do try to make sure you get to see interesting outfits. But I think the leather dress is better without a warm top underneath (less bulk) and with its own belt. I always struggle with black leather, it is so harsh. And you know I love colour…so that’s another thing.
Thank you for liking my Christmas decorations. Even my husband likes them. He usually just laughs haha.
Hello, You
You nailed yet again! Top marks for ingenuity, this put-together really works on you. Tres elegant!
Like you, I’m not a fan of hosting meals so we tend to eat out when we meet friends – you know how I love little cafes! I don’t really enjoy cooking but we do eat good, healthy food. I always say that I eat to live, not live to eat.
Hope your new neighbours are nice, and that you have a good week.
Gee
My thoughtd exactly, I eat to live, not live to eat. Of course, I do want the food that I do eat, to be tasty.
You can the foodies from the likes of us, by asking the question “If you had the choice between $50 cash or a dinner voucher for $100, what would you choose?” The foodies go for the voucher, someone like me will go for the $50 cash and I’ll grab a sandwich haha.
I am glad that I could finally show you an elegant outfit LOL.
Gorgeous, stylish, elegant, beautiful… like your outfits a lot. Your friends skirt is a 💣, what brand is it🤔
That is high praise Audrey. Thank you.
My friend’s skirt is from Zara. But you know what they are like, their collections change within two weeks.
The leather dress could possibly also be used as a spring jacket but it is gorgeous none the less.
Love your decorations and home as well. Very cozy, artsy and comfortable. Lovely.
Enjoy the blog
As a jacket/coat I find it too military. I find black leather dangerous in the respect anyway. But wearing it without a warm top underneath it, with its own belt, is the best way of wearing this dress.
Thank you for the compliments on our home.
This is such a great outfit and the black coat is so stunning and what a classic! I remember a navy one very similar that I had in the late 80’s bought from an Irish store here in Ottawa..in your photos today I am loving that huge beautiful window in your living room! Your Xmas decorations are sweet and quirky….We are waiting in anticipation for our first large snowfall today…maybe 15cm…well it is Canada and it is winter..so be it! Have a nice weekend…
I cannot remember the year we had snow. Perhaps we had some, but it didn’t last long and it was certainly not 15 cm.
When I tried the coat on in the shop, I had the same feeling of “wow, what a classic”, so I bought it.
If you want to see more of my living room, click the link below. Only the shape of the two chairs are different.
https://www.nofearoffashion.com/2014/07/13/colourful-living-room/
How stylish you look in the leather with the belt. I wouldn’t give up on that one. Very attractive. And the long coat with scarf is eye-catching. I enjoyed the photos and the descriptions.
Thanks Linda. I think the leather dress is best with its own belt, worn in the early fall when you are still tanned and you don’t need an extra layer in the form of a warm top underneath. That adds bulk. And the burgundy belt, although very pretty adds bulks too with my short waist.
Both you and Marjolein look so stylish in this post. I’d say your outfit is a hit! Maybe it’s not on the list for long periods of sitting ( like out to dinner) but otherwise it could be a winter go to outfit. My one leather item is a cappuccino coloured moto jacket which I love. I am nearly ready to haul out the Christmas boxes and do some decorating, but first, since I am nearly done unpacking from my move, I am tackling the remaining boxes of pictures. Once these large boxes are gone from my limited space, I can begin adding festive cheer before having a couple of small dinner parties. A strange first Christmas being solo , but next year will be easier. I like your decorations…some very quirky ones which are fun. When those amaryllis open, they will be spectacular, Greetje. I have a small pot of paper white narcissus bulbs which are progressing slowly, and like you, I’ll add some fresh greenery towards Christmas.
Oh, you are nearly there with unpacking then. How wonderful. And you are hosting small dinner parties already as well. Girl you are doing fine.
Which Christmas decoration do you find quirky? (Just curious haha.)
I think the girl in the striped dress ,ready for a Christmas kiss , is cute and quirky, as are the reindeer with their fur collars keeping them warm! Yes, I am getting through large cartons containing my eclectic art collection…how can I have so many pictures!? Many are by local artists once I moved here, and others are collected from my travels and framed once home. So much good paper!
I will give it away to another person packing up… moving is difficult enough !
I suppose you are right, they are quirky. Never looked at them that way.
You can hang a lot of pictures up when you group them. Ten together for instance. Ten that sort of, are the same family. Or not. Or, if you have stairs, hang them on the wall along the stairs.
You and Marjolein look terrific in your outfits, and I love your Christmas decorations.
Thank you very much Sharon. Both Marjolein and I always try to show you our best styled outfit of the week (month?). I am glad we succeed. As for the Christmas decorations…even my husband liked them. Usually he just laughs (and I get why).
What a clever way to keep a slightly snug dress working! I agree with Josep-Maria that it’s elegant. And that burgundy and black combine well.
In my house I do all the cooking during the holidays. It’s a lot of work but I put a good book on tape and get on with it. It’s gives me joy to feed people.
The dress is not so much snug around the hips, but the press studs of the skirt part keep snapping open. The dress is snug around the bosom (and perhaps the shoulders). But everybody seems to like it.
As for the cooking…we differ very much in this aspect haha.
I love your black leather dress, it’s gorgeous. The combination of black and burgundy always looks pretty and elegant. The leggings are cute, they fit perfectly, I think. Your long black dress is gorgeous, it’s super elegant and shows off a beautiful figure. The photo on the street lamp, in the style of “singing in the rain” is very pretty and original. In the foreground, as always, you look gorgeous. Your Christmas decoration is very pretty and warm.
Yes, the leggings do fit perfectly. I am pleased that you like the outfit. I am less enthusiastic as there were quite a few less flattering photos. (Which I do not show on the blog, as you can understand haha.)
Thank you for all the flattering compliments.
Hi Greetje.This is such a gorgeous look and the colour combo is divine!!! I adore your boots too hun,
HUgs,Paula,XXX
Well Paula, I seem to be the only one doubting this dress. Perhaps I should reassess haha.
Gorgeous outfit Greetje. You look terrific.
Thank you Lise. A pity I don’t like it that much. I seem to be the only one haha.