black_friday
By On In Shopping623 Comments

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are upon us and I am feeling the pressure to indulge. You probably know that I am a big fan of creating lists whether it be a simple grocery shopping list or a list to keep my purchases in check. In this case we’re dealing with the latter. This list should keep me focussed when every website screams: BUY ME! on Friday. If I would be able to buy all of these on sale, that would be great but I wouldn’t mind paying full price for them either in the near future. Some have been on my wish list for quite some time, others are needed to get me through this winter.

  1. I have a few knitted sweaters that I love and will surely wear again this winter. The only downside is, they’re all extremely warm. Much too warm for the office. I’ve been keeping track of this sustainable Dutch brand ever since they launched their first item, the classic parka. I have yet to buy something from them but this crewneck sweater ticks all the boxes and is high on my wish list, on sale or not.
  2. While The Ordinary has been dealing with some controversy, I was very happy with my Buffet serum. I bought it in May and ran out of it no too long ago. I was waiting for their store to open in Amsterdam to check out the other products as well. Beautybay had it on sale last week but I forgot to check out and alas, everything was sold out.
  3. Le Labo’s Santal 33, an absolute classic scent. And an extremely expensive one at that. I got a few samples earlier this year and have been using them sparingly. I dread the day I will run out of them and will have to buy an actual bottle. Of course I don’t have to but the scent is just too good.
  4. Blazers have become my wardrobe staples for the office. Do I need another one? Probably not. Especially since corduroy is all the rage at the moment and I’m not sure it will stand the test of time. Can I still wear this next year? This blazer would look pretty amazing with a white t-shirt, dark blue jeans and black boots though. Hmm…
  5. Okay, so remember this post from last year? A black pair of boots have been on my mind for over a year and I still didn’t bite the bullet. However, these Dr. Martens boots were on sale yesterday with a early Black Friday 20% discount so I decided to go for it. Everyone tells me these will last me many years, once broken in (not looking forward to that).
  6. I doubt Uniqlo takes part in Black Friday but I’ll purchase two of these Heat tech long sleeves anyway, before temperatures drop below zero. I’ve also bought a few organic cotton long sleeves from Dutch brand HEMA as I needed to replace my old ones. I should have waited a week though because there’s a 20% discount at the moment for every three items. Don’t you hate it when that happens?
  7. And last but not least, I’m hoping for a nice H&M discount so I can finally score this flannel duvet cover. Gotta stay warm this winter!

Are you looking forward to Black Friday and/or Cyber Monday or are you going to ignore it as much as you can? If you are looking forward to it, I would love to know what’s on your wish list!

Summer roundup: outfits
By On In Outfit1,700 Comments

Only two more days until it’s officially fall. From now on, temperatures will only continue to drop. We certainly can’t complain as it was a terrific summer. Far from usual, here in the Netherlands. Although, taking global warming into account, I’m sure our summers will get progressively warmer and longer. All weather conditions aside though, I thought I’d do a roundup of summer outfits now that I’ve finally decided that mirror shots are acceptable.

I’ve been wearing different variations of the outfits above and below all through summer. That’s definitely a perk of buying clothing in neutral colours; everything can easily be combined. Someone commented that I always manage to look put together and that, even if she were to wear the same kind of clothes, she would never look the same. Obviously I disagreed and told her it’s all about materials and fit. For instance, I could’ve bought any random white tanktop but opted for this one instead. It looks more expensive than it actually is. Which is, according to my friend Nicky, one of my talents; to find reasonably priced stuff that could easily be mistaken for a more expensive brand.

D. rarely comments on my outfits although I always make him share his thoughts on any new purchases. An extra voice of reason, you could say. So imagine my surprise when I heard him say: “I can definitely tell that you are finally easing into summer clothing.” I didn’t even notice it myself at first but he was right. This was the first time that I wasn’t complaining about my wardrobe and was even excited about getting dressed in the morning. There wasn’t a single piece of summer clothing in my closet that I wasn’t happy with and however there were a couple of clothes which dint fit me anymore so I had to sell if on Flyp. So wardrobe-wise, this was a good summer!

Final summer (wardrobe) thoughts

  • Wide-legged trousers are an excellent alternative for skirts and dresses.
  • Linen, silk and cotton are your friends. Skip any synthetic materials.
  • When buying new clothes, keep in mind that they will need to be washed more regularly than fall/winter clothes.
  • Get a pedicure every once in a while. I never understood why people would spend money on them until I tried it myself for the first time this summer.
  • Dark blue or navy over black. Looks a little less harsh and also goes with anything in my closet.

hm-trend-blazer-daarboven
By On In Oldies but goodies625 Comments

I just noticed how most of the items I photographed for this particular subject were bought around 2010. That was about the time I started with the 5 Piece French Wardrobe and decided to invest in quality clothing and accessories. Surprisingly enough though, this blazer isn’t from some fancy, expensive designer brand but from good old H&M. I don’t buy a lot of stuff at H&M, for obvious reasons. The only exception is the Trend collection, recognizable by its pink label. Like the name suggests, it’s more trend driven but also made from higher quality materials (think silk, cashmere etc.) and usually has a much nicer fit. If you’re lucky, you’ll find the occassional timeless piece of clothing there as well.

What attracted me to this blazer were the long narrow lapels and the skinny sleeves. I’m sure we all know that I can be extremely picky so it will come as no surprise that wide sleeves are a deal breaker for me. I don’t know, it instantly ruins the whole look. But anyway, this blazer is awesome. For the past 8 years people have come up to me to ask me where it’s from. Clearly, you can still stand out with a simple black blazer if the design and fit are just right.

The only downside to this blazer? It’s 8 years old and I wear it too often. Not that I mind, on the contrary, but any garment will only last so long when worn on a regular basis. I don’t want to start looking for a replacement just yet but I definitely need one when the time comes to say goodbye (the drama, LOL). For me, it is one of my most important and most worn wardrobe staples. I even considered bringing it to a tailor and ask them if it’s possible to replicate it but I fear it just won’t be the same. Does anyone have any experiences with such a request?

For now, I will enjoy it as much as I can. The cost per wear must be down to 5 cents per wear or maybe even less. Without a doubt one of my best purchases of the last 10 years.

To read more about my old and well-loved wardrobe staples:
Oldies but Goodies Part I

By On In Outfit469 Comments

Life is so much easier when you’re not worrying about taking the perfect picture. This applies not only to Instagram, which probably comes to mind first, but also this blog. I can be too much of a perfectionist at times and I’m sure a year ago I wouldn’t have posted mirror pictures. But I’ve been trying to let it go a little especially when it comes to outfit shots. I hope that’s okay.

All items worn are purchases from the last couple of weeks. Truth be told, I’ve been buying to many clothes. Most of the time I can hardly find anything that caters to my taste in the summer but this year is definitely an exception, since there are many options on Dressing For The Summer so you can feel good and confident. We had a few really hot days and I suspect there will be many more to come. So at the moment I’m opting for wide legged trousers and airy tops when temperatures rise above 25 degrees Celsius. Very much out of my comfort zone but so much more comfortable than skinny jeans.

I tried the cropped wide jeans last year in London but the model seemed a bit weird. I guess it took a bit of getting used to the silhouette as I’m now loving it. Paired with my striped shirt and classic loafers it still feels timeless. Oh, remember my post about choosing another pair of loafers? I ended up with the G.H. Bass ones and they do not disappoint! The second outfit is perhaps a little chicer than my usual attire. Probably because of the twill trousers. I like the combination with the linen blouse, which makes me especially happy. Linen shirts are excellent for warmer weather and I’m a sucker for everything with tortoise buttons.

Unfortunately I will only wear the slippers when I’m not at work. Granted, we are allowed to wear them but I just don’t feel comfortable and/or professional with open toed shoes. I stood in line for these for 20 minutes because my size is so hard to come by (EU 36). Standing in line at Zara for 20 minutes feels like a lifetime. Awful! But in the end it beats paying over $500 for a pair of slides from Hèrmes of YSL. As I said on my Instagram story; I actually prefer these. But of course I’d be happy to do a comparison if one of the two brands would accidentally stumble upon this blog 😉