Apologies for this outfit, I didn’t think it through. An oversized brown sweater with wide leg cream trousers might sound good in theory, it is still over proportioned. Sometimes it works, but most of the times it doesn’t and with this outfit it doesn’t work.
Below: I bought this oversized sweater to make me less concerned about the trousers I am wearing below.
Below: The trousers originally came with a shorter brown jumper and I always felt exposed, always very aware of the crotch area.
It is a difficult sweater to style now that skinny trousers are out. (Do I hear someone say they are back in fashion again?)
I thought wide leg trousers would look as good as skinny trousers but after seeing the photos when I came home, I knew they didn’t. Also, a white shirt collar with a sweater is far too preppy for me.
Below: Not too bad when I stand like this. The patent leather ankle boots and the necklace were added to juice up the outfit.
Anyway, we, as the BVA girlfriend group, were meeting again. This time in a restaurant for a high tea.
Below: Marianne and Marijke.
Below: Me and Marianna.
Below: Marijke, Claudia and Jilske. All six of us were there that afternoon.
Below: We started with savoury bites and proceeded with the sweet section. Everything was delicious and we ate heartily.
Below: Another photo of Marianna because I hardly ever take a good photo of her. This afternoon I took several photos she approved of.
Jilske and I went outside to take photos before all the lovely food arrived.
Below: There were cosy nooks like this but the light wasn’t good enough to use this one.
Below: The brown leather handbag is an old one by Longchamps. I don’t care that it is an old model, I still like it and it is a handy size. Everything fits in it, even my glasses.
Below: The restaurant was part of a golf course. I thought these golf trolleys would make a fun picture. I am obviously not dressed to play golf. I would be dethatching the grass with my heels haha.
Below: Just before we all went home again, the waitress took this group picture. Many such photos have been taken as we get together (several times a year) for more than 25 years.
It was a jolly nice afternoon. And we didn’t even go shopping.
What happened in my life this week
Saturday was a dreary day. Temperatures weren’t bad (11 degrees C) compared to the last couple of weeks but it drizzled all day. I stayed indoors.
Sunday Marita and I met again. It was a beautiful sunny day and all the terraces in the sun were packed. We had to choose a table inside. Then after a couple of hours the sun hit Marita’s face and that was the time I decided to have our photograph taken. Bad photo. I tried to improve it with Photoshop but my skills are limited. Her blouse and my blazer are black.
After our cosy get-together I shopped at kpa.haarlem where I bought a green and white striped shirt. Bad, bad girl. This is already my third purchase in 2025 and we are only two months into the year.
Monday started with a visit to the doctor. Once a year I ask her to check the spots on my body to see whether there is a malignant one among them. I also discussed my use of painkillers to relieve headaches. Everything was OK.
Spent two hours on the phone with the tax people as I had a very specific question. Usually people say bad things about tax people. I have nothing but compliments. In my experience they are very competent and they always help me so well.
In the afternoon the dental hygienist cleaned my teeth. Got compliments for maintaining my teeth.
Tuesday the dentist got a chance to admire my clean teeth and check whether they are all right. I feared a follow-up visit with drilling and filling as I felt a few things wrong with my teeth. Apparently that is only due to withdrawing gums (another perk of getting older). He gave me some advice to remedy this…well, as far as possible.
I had picked up a delicious roll on my way to the dentist and after that good news, I enjoyed it even more.
It was a very productive morning, I got so much done.
Wednesday the stitches were removed from my hand (pinky operation). Another four weeks of being careful with that hand and I’ll be as good as new. I can already use my hand normally, but I have to be careful, not to put pressure on the healed spot.
From the hospital I went straight to a restaurant (De Waag, see this post) to meet my friend Rolf for coffee and hot tarte tatin with whipped cream. Yummy. We sat in the conservatory of the restaurant, overlooking the water and the sun shone. It felt like summer. We had a lovely time catching up. We know each other about 40 years and grinned about us aging. Of course, I forgot to take a photo.
See below my outfit for that day, jeans by HIGH and a cashmere striped jumper. Pink boots are by EIJK. I bought these ankle boots many years ago and they are still good and very comfortable.
The whole day the sun came beaming down as if it was summer. In the early morning (7.15 am) when I was walking dog Watson, I saw this rhododendron already starting to bloom and it was only the end of February (see below).
Thursday the gardener came to prune trees and bushes in our garden. Our summer magnolia is grown from a twig in 1995 to a big tree and really needed pruning, otherwise our dear neighbours would be deprived from sunshine in summer.
We let the gardener in, explained to him what we thought should be done (which he knows better than we do) and left the house to see our granddaughters. We know him for years and can trust him. I locked the cat in the bathroom (her safe place) as I don’t want her to escape to the street when things are being carried in and out of the house.
See below the garden before (left) and after (right). All the plants are still below the surface and will come up beautifully, I am sure. We had the row of plants on the left and right side of the pond taken away. We planted them there to have two identical rows of plants but because the right row is getting more sun than the left row, it doesn’t look good. We have to think of what to plant instead of these.
Friday I bought two new doormats haha. The ones in our corridor were so muddy after the garden was done and I didn’t want to put them in the washing machine. They were due to be replaced anyway.
In the afternoon I had my final check-up to see whether the cancer is still gone in my lower regions. The two year period of checking every three months is now over and I will get a semi-annual check-up now. I am pleased to be able to say that everything is hunky dory.
Greetje
I will hop on with another short comment. Has anyone ever suggested that your headaches may be caused by dehydration? Whenever I have a headache I almost always can point to the fact I have not had much water that day. I even had a doctor recently tell me my lower back issues could be caused, or made worse by dehydration. Just a thought and something cheap and easy to try.
Yep, that is one of the things I tried. I drink at least a liter of water every day. And, as suggested by my doctor, I even drink during the evening, even though that means that I might have to get out of bed and go peeing even more. Alas, it doesn’t work. But thank you for trying to help me.
Greetje, so glad to hear that all your health things are looking favourable (I also got a clean bill of health at the dentist).
I like the oversized top with the trousers because you gave it a tuck. Not a fan of the first pants shown here.
I love seeing pics of you and your friends! I think you are doing very well at 3 items in 2 months. Much better than me!
We both know that good health maintenance is VERY important. I agree with you that the wide leg trousers are not a good combination with the sweater. I assume you mean those trousers when you say “not a fan of the first pants shown here”.
Your purchases don’t have to be 10 a year, you are thrift shopping, which has no limit.
Sometimes outfits that are bulky make up for it in comfort. Nothing wrong with choosing comfort because you still make a casually stylish appearance. I am very happy to read your cancer checkup went well. Could you talk a little more about the cause of the headaches?
Thank you for the compliment Linda but I have other casually stylish outfits which I favour LOL.
If I knew the cause of the headaches, I might solve the problem. I have no idea and believe me, I tried so many possiblities. Not too long ago I was at the doctor again for my headaches and she said “How long are you having them?” I answered “About 36 years, about as long as I know my husband…” And she replied “Have you tried getting rid of him?”… We laughed so much.
I agree with the “ likes”… you looked great. I’m 5’3”… it would probably overwhelm me. Of course I’m dreaming of Apple tart!🤣
I am 5’7 and even I feel overwhelmed. Not a single dislike of the outfit. Could that be because people, other than the Dutch, have the saying “If you haven’t got anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all”?? The Dutch don’t believe in that LOL.
I think you can wear slouchy / oversized clothing well…so count me in with the positive group on this one…and the colours were good on you. I really like what I would call a ‘happy sweater’.. that striped cashmere one you wore when seeing Rolf for coffee.
So good to know you have a pass on your latest check up, Greetje.✅ Always love seeing you and your friends together. Long time friendships are so important and satisfying.
Do you know the Dutch brand Yest? A local boutique carries several of their things , and since they were having a clear out, I went away with a lime scarf. Very me.
I had an early rhododendron in my garden very much like that pink one…so amazing to see it blooming in January some years. Spring is right around the corner!
You can knock me over with a feather. No one ‘voted’ against this outfit. Well, sorry, I still don’t like it.
The striped cashmere jumper is one of my favourites, so soft and indeed ‘happy’.
I had never heard of Yest so I googled it. I think it is a brand for larges sizes, which you are not to my knowledge. Then again, I lost your photo when I deleted every single mail from my Gmail. But a scarf always fits. I love lime.
Just another three weeks to go Catherine.
Hello, You,
No, I wouldn’t wear an outfit again after just about everyone had told me how nice I looked in it! (Sarcasm, in case it passed you by!) Listen up, kid, you look lovely so please give it another chance. That said, and much as I hate saying it, if you feel uncomfortable in it, then yes, ditch it. (Can’t believe I just gave you a get-out! Grr!)
So glad you had your usual good time with the gang and even more glad that you’re in good health.
Have a good week.
Gee x
Thank you for the get-out haha. I’ll accept it.
It might be that everybody likes it, but if I don’t, then that is the end of the story for me. It works the other way around too. My barrel jeans don’t get much love (right haha?), but I still love them and I keep wearing them.
No cancer back is indeed gold. I had to laugh when the surgeon said: “You will now get the check-ups every half year, but if you see blood in your urine, don’t wait and come immediately”, hahaha. No need for this warning, I would be in hospital like a shot.
Another positive review for the outfit here. It is actually one of my favorites. It looks classic to me, but I like the “preppy” collar and cuffs. As for the skinny pants – who cares what is in or out — and who decides that anyway (people who are trying to sell you new clothes every season). Always love seeing your fashionable friends. And such good news with your check-up.
I know that fashion dictates and I shouldn’t care. With many things I don’t, like with the bag, but skinnies make me too self-conscious about myself when I see everybody wearing wide leg trousers. My fashionable friends get many compliments too. I hope they read my blog post and the comments haha.
So glad your checkup went well. I love all the photos of your friends, who, as always, look so stylish.
It is a good thing I never worry about the outcome of the check-ups. I would have made myself upset over nothing. As long as no doctor tells me, the cancer has returned, I assume it hasn’t. Not everybody can do this, but I can and I am grateful for it. A bit strange, keeping my character in mind, as I always see obstacles on the road. People are complicated beings.
I really liked the brown sweater and cream trousers, they looked nice on you. I am not Dutch, I live In New Zealand . I would love to know How you pronounce your name . Hope that is not a cheeky question. Love your blog.
And another reader who likes the outfit. What is wrong with me? As I still don’t like it.
No question is cheeky to me Glenis, I am Dutch haha. The pronunciation of my name is like the English word ‘great’ but with a very distinct growling ‘g’, like ‘grrrr’. I always say that Dutch is a throat disease.
I was just wondering how to pronounce your name! I’m American but my grandfather was born in Rotterdam, & I’ve looked at a lot of the family tree. Full of names I can’t pronounce, like Teuntje and Aagje. The men’s names seem easier (Arie, Leendert, & so on). I do enjoy reading your blog & feel like I’m connecting with my roots a bit!
The pronunciation of my name (Greet) is like the English word ‘great’ but with a very distinct growling ‘g’, like ‘grrrr’. I always say that Dutch is a throat disease. How to pronounce the “je”…difficult…yuh?
I am glad you like my little blog. Just my hobby.
Another reader who liked the outfit. The brown and cream go together so well. Slouchy looked good to me. Oh the handbag – if it ever needs a new home think of me.
I cannot understand why everybody likes the outfit but you can go right ahead haha.
The fact that the colours go well together, I can agree to. The handbag, I am afraid, will stay with me for yet another few years.
Hi Greetje, I don’t think the outfit is bad, proportionally. It’s an all-over oversized look, which usually isn’t your thing. But apparently slim pants are back “in” so you can wear them and still look current.
You are the sixth reader who thinks the outfit is not bad to even good. Readers always surprise me, again and again.
Well dear, you will not see me wear this again. Despite the good reviews haha.
And if skinnies are back in, I am glad I kept all of those skinny jeans high in a cupboard.
I’m delighted that there’s no sign of a cancer recurrence! Congratulations on a wonderful outcome.
Thank you very much Sharon. I have to say that I am very down to earth with these things. As long as nobody has told me there is something wrong with me, I assume everything is right and I don’t worry. Which is a-typical for me as I always see obstacles on the road when somebody suggest a new idea or plan. But I am glad I don’t worry about this.
Hello Greetje, this outfit is really good. I see nothing off with the proportions. The striped jumper and jeans outfit is also lovely. So Well Done X 2 🙂
You surprise me by liking the outfit, but I guess we are all different and like different things. (And I gladly take every compliment I can get haha.)
I had to go to the post and scroll down as I didn’t know what you meant with “striped jumper”. Then as I saw it, I went “Oh yes, that’s true, I published that one too.” At first I wanted to give the striped jumper its own post but it is nearly spring and it is a fall/winter outfit.
Love the outfit! And — you are so lucky to have a group of lifelong friends who get together occasionally.
Again, I published an outfit I don’t really like and then I get so many compliments. It is too hard to predict what my readers will think of it. Just know that I won’t be wearing this outfit again.
And yes, I am lucky to have a group of lifelong friends who still see each other. On top of that I also have other lifelong friends. I cherish each and every one. Fortunately your heart expands with every new friend. There is always enough place for another one.
Your hair is looking great! Love your style!
Ah, the little hairpiece works like a charm. Thank you for the compliments.
Honestly, I think that’s a classy outfit and most becoming – love the oversized brown sweater!
Honestly Kate, I can never tell what my readers will think about an outfit. I am so often wrong. But I won’t wear this again as I don’t like it myself.
I like this first outfit. Cream and orange is such a great colour scheme, wide leg trousers and pointed shoes are a winning combination. I do also like the slouchy jumper in this one, the 3 colours work really well even if I’m not a fan of brown in general
Well, you know I can never tell when an outfit will be viewed favourably and when people won’t like it. Personally, I will never wear this again.