Greetje Kamminga (63) lives in Haarlem, near Amsterdam, and works as an advertising manager at a bank. She documents her outfits on her blog, No Fear of Fashion. Greetje is an ace at doing Casual Chic. Her colour-rich style is feminine, fun, and polished. She mixes Modern Classics with trendy, Sporty Luxe and some avant-garde elements, and likes to jazz up her outfits with arty statement necklaces.
“I have become more daring. I now know better what the proportions of my items should be, although I am still learning. Things like length of tops combined with trousers. That length makes a big difference when you are wearing cropped trousers or long trousers, skinny trousers or flared. There is even more colour in my wardrobe. I know which colours suit me and which don’t. Sometimes I choose to ignore it by wearing black and white. Bad for my complexion but such a good combination. I’m an inverted triangle, not the most difficult shape but you still need to know what to emphasize and what to ‘hide’. Fitted jackets are my best friends.”
A polished casual look with comfy slip-on sneakers for a busy day walking around Paris. Greetje is wearing an unstructured silk shirt dress over black cropped skinny trousers. The wide vertical stripes make it a statement piece. The black stripe blends in with the trousers, while the pale yellow stripe complements our blogger’s blonde hair. Her black slip-on sneakers are adorned with fringe and oversized tassels, which amps up the polish. The bag was meant to be worn with this outfit as the colours of the beautiful rubber and canvas tote echo the stripes perfectly.
I call this slouchy casual with a ’50’s space-age touch. Greetje is sporting relaxed-fit jeans with an oversized V-neck sweater in a fab shade of emerald. Semi-tucking the sweater and adding a belt to the jeans tempers the volume of the jumper. Our 5’9″ blogger’s calf-length moto-style boots read like pewter here, but are actually a light golden colour. They give the look an unexpected playful touch. Tucking the jeans into the wide shafts also provides structure. She has knotted a long black and gold necklace with crystal beads — another fun Paris find — which, together with the V-neckline of the sweater, creates vertical integrity. Greetje’s polished bob, red lipstick, and dressy navy satchel finish off the look.
Greetje likes to use statement necklaces to add visual interest to her outfits:
“That is my thing. I am far more into statement necklaces than fine jewellery. It is a matter of being focussed on it. Because I love necklaces so much, they will be the first thing I spot when I am in a shop, at a fair, in another country. Jewellery fairs are usually a good place to look. Etsy.com is great as well. Do I have a favourite? No, not really, as it is the combination of the necklace with the clothes that make or break the look. Different outfits need different jewellery. Usually my latest find gets my temporary love.”
Now this is a dress with a sky-high WOW factor! The elegant frock combines two floral patterns and two animal prints with four colourways. Very much Greetje’s cup of tea, who loves colour and pattern. The midi length, flowy sleeves, and handkerchief hem that drapes beautifully make for a romantic and elegant look. Pairing it with punchy, open-toed red pumps further amps up the ladylike vibe. Our blogger completes the outfit with a bright red saddle bag that matches the neckline of the dress splendidly.
Another fab Casual Chic look with a touch of Sporty Luxe. The geometric print top is the star of the show here, made extra crisp by pairing it with white trousers. The boat neckline is very flattering on our blogger, while the graphic black, red, and white pattern feels happy for Summer. Semi-tucking the top showcases a skinny black belt, and lengthens the leg line. Turning up the trousers draws attention to Greetje’s sequined slip-on sneakers that hold a little secret: You can actually wear them two ways. If you brush the nap the other way, the sequins create golden bling. How fun is that! Dangly gold earrings and a large, bright red satchel are the accessories of choice.
This is a great example of Angie’s Easy Poncho Ensemble. Greetje has layered her eye-catching hot pink poncho over a simple black top and skinny jeans. The light wash denim pairs well with the punchy pink. Choosing jeans that are fitted on the thighs offsets the volume of the poncho. The second statement piece in this outfit are the on-trend black suede over-the-knee boots. Wearing them over skinny jeans creates a streamlined effect, while the colour echoes the black top peeking out from under the poncho. Greetje’s beautiful navy satchel makes a second appearance, and adds dressy polish. A large vintage floral brooch in white, red, and blue is the arty finishing touch.
Greetje has an amazing knack for finding stunning dresses. Here she’s wearing a gorgeous moss green, elbow-length shift dress in a sueded fabric that drapes wonderfully. For warmth and crisp contrast she has layered it over a white top that peeks out from under the sleeves and flattering V-neckline. The just-above-the-knee length is perfect for showcasing tall boots in a rich brown that, together with the dress, creates a fab earth tone palette. Greetje’s bag with thick chain-strap handle matches the colour of the boots. A vintage ’60’s vibe statement necklace in white and light blue pops against the green frock. Red lipstick, simple stud earrings, and a classic watch finish off the look.
I can’t wait to hear what you think of Greetje’s amazing style. Let us know in the comments, and be sure to browse the rest of her outfits on her blog.
