Rag & Bone Mari Leather Strappy Sandal for a STEAL

 Well, when I saw this Rag & Bone Mari Leather Strappy Sandal at Neiman Marcus—my eyes popped when I looked at its price of $ 450.00

So, I saved them on my Pinterest board...

As I often do on a rainy day—search on the Internet for finding said Rag & Bone darling sandals...

YEP—found them and guess what?

Got them for ONLY 10% of original price for US $ 45.00!

They are so comfortable!

Adjustable straps.

Great support around ankles and a perfect block heel that I prefer.

Very easy on/off—due to the zipper in the back!

How cleverly designed.

My like new sandals came with the Rag & Bone card...

Rag & Bone

New York

These shoes are made by hand using the finest European materials. Due to the unique nature of the leather, some color and texture variations may occur. This is a natural characteristic of the skin which lends to its inherent beauty.

Quality Guaranteed.

Wearing them with my cotton/silk Marc Cain skirt and Escada twinset with bead embroidered roses on sleeves and top.

LOVE these and Pieter keeps reminding me—how well they support my ankles (which are very thin...).

Related link:

Visiting Niece Caro Because She Visited Us in Georgia... | previous post by me as I did wear them 

ESCADA Ivory LEATHER Lace Tiered Skirt

 Just want to share this very unique skirt that I've scored.

YES, lace that is beautifully cut out in leather...

Pieter took this photo of me on Sunday, November 6.

Side view of skirt and also showing my TWENTY Montréal made in Canada cropped sweater in cotton–modal (a variant to viscose a.k.a. rayon). 

Do you see the invisible set in zipper?

Detail of the LEATHER Lace Tiers...

As I lift up one LEATHER Lace Tier, you can see how they are individually sewn onto the fabric below.

With my size 4 (European 34) I often can snatch up real bargains!

Yes, this skirt is a full THREE layers as it is also completely lined with the Escada logo lining.

Lamb napa—buttery soft.

Lamb napa size 4 or European size 34 and original boutique price was US $ 2,800 then got priced down to $ 1,679.99 and my price was $ 274.99.

For the more than 10 years since I purchased this—it is a great score.

Wearing Mom's Wedding Dress to Church

 One of the treasures I did bring home from Limburg was Mom's wedding dress!

October 15, I wore it to Mass after I had it dry cleaned at Presstine Cleaners in Atlanta.

The dress was made out of a nice rayon georgette and I wear my black patent Escada sandals.

The dress originally came with train.

Mom's bridal bouquet looks like she was holding white stock or Matthiola Incana—also very fragrant!

In Dutch white stock is witte violieren...

Dad with a hat in his hand and gloves...

The day of the beginning of a Blissful Relationship—blessed by Dad's maternal Uncle—Heeroom.

Mom and Dad more up close.

Mom sure had lovely hair here and wearing her golden cross on a short necklace.

Those were the days of hats and Mom has worn many hats, especially when going to Church.

Her dress with train got later altered to a shorter version.

Can't recall if she wore it to certain events...

Dad had no camera of his own in the early years!

Photo taken after Mass by a friend.

Pieter wearing his silk Burberry suit that I also did bring back from Limburg...

The side seams of the top were let out by my sister, some 3 inches (7.5 cm). The dress is too wide for me now. 

At home one more WeFie in bright daylight...

Pieter wearing his Escada silk elephant tie.

This photo is from March 8, 1968 when I wore the dress with boots in Horst, Limburg...

Funny, I was 17, and above I am 71... just reversed numbers.

But I'm the only of 3 daughters that still can wear Mom's small sized dress!

Guess Mom was smiling down from heaven to see her wedding dress go to Church once more...

The History of the Bridal Gown

Not in white

It used to be unthinkable to buy a dress for one day. That only happened at court. 

Well into the twentieth century many brides married in black.

Even Pieter's late wife Thea did...

In front of the Church—also with hat and gloves in hand...

Don't understand where she left her gorgeous bridal bouquet.

Pieter with the bridal bouquet, full of orchids...

In 1983, when it was the rage to wear such black jackets—Pieter's 19 year old adopted daughter Liz, begged for the jacket of his wedding suit and Pieter gave in...

A handsome groom that stayed with Thea for 27 years—living like brother and sister...

BUT thanks to that, he wrote the mushroom bible and helped thousands to make a better living!

Everything has a reason in life and we both are grateful that God made us meet 53 years ago and we are happily married for a long time.

Related link:

{The Little Black Dress & My MOM} | previous post by me with Mom in her bridal gown

Both of us LOVE Elephants | previous post by me with Pieter's Escada elephant tie

FAMILY Treasures from Chef of Smulhuis in Brunssum/The Netherlands | previous post with Pieter's Mom also wearing a black bridal gown

Dad Sang Solo on Mom & Dad's 50th Wedding Anniversary | previous post with Mom & Dad on their wedding day photos with Heeroom

Some Escada Jeans that I Scored

 Often for my European size 34 or American size 4, I really score big time!

Otherwise very expensive Escada jeans I managed to get for 4 pieces only for $ 121.00

One of the 4 Escada jeans I'm wearing here with my Escada silk blouse and Escada patent leather sandals.

The one I'm wearing here is a black one with a subtle gold stripe woven through.

Usually Escada jeans sell around US $ 425.00 so my 4 NEW ones were quite a score!

Yep, got these new with tag jeans for US $ 28.00!

The above label is from a size 36 or 6—depending on all cotton or with a little bit of stretch...

Happy with the perfect weather for getting to wear this.

The buttons on this blouse are like jewels...

Here you get to see them a little bit better and also the subtle stripe in my jeans.

This is the gray Escada jeans—one of the four... wearing it with my own sewing creation; silk vest.

Above all, those new jeans all had 32 inch inseam; which I need for my long legs.

When we arrived here in Georgia in 1983, I fell in love with some Jordache jeans!

Trying them on, I almost cried as they were shaped for women with saddle bags and I have nothing 'padded' on my hips and they were all like high water for me—too short!

Escada originally was Germany based, no longer as the founder, Margaretha Ley no longer is alive.

But it fits me like a second skin...

The leather coat I wear with the jeans is also Escada and another score.

Not bad for snatching that one up for about ⅙ of the original price...😉

Lovely buttons and all silk lined.

Both of us LOVE Elephants

 Having touched a baby elephant in person in South India even made us fall in love deeper with elephants.

We even love to wear elephants...

Me, September 18, in my Escada elephant outfit—complete with shoes and I forgot my jeans purse...

Pieter wearing his black Escada silk elephant tie.

Shown in a 2015 blog post: {Princess Diana's Elephant Tie just like Pieter's} ←click it.

If you scroll down you also see Princess Diana wearing her Escada elephant jacket in black versus mine in blue jeans below her picture.

Backside of my Escada silk elephant shirt.

Also elephants on the cuffs.

Such designers are artists!

Yes, I do have a silk scarf in that style as well.

Showing the embroidered elephants around pockets and matching elephant belt.

Had to take this picture of the belt buckle inside, not in bright, sunny daylight to show you that on the previous picture it was just some glare at the top.

Related link:

{We met 4 Baby Elephants in South India - Fuzzy and  Soft...} | previous post by me

My Escada Sport Shorts Then and Now

 In my previous post Montréal Old Port and City Hall ←click link—I did wear my Escada Sport shorts.

Writer and blogger friend I admire: Paula Alexandra Santos ←click link—commented on my outfit, seen in the short video...

Everything the same—except I forgot to get my Burberry folding umbrella 😉.

Keeping that in the pouch of the car seat...

My Escada Sport shorts with matching leather belt.

My Dutch Loints sandals, from The Netherlands and over 40 years old.

Back side where you can see also the linen slouch socks—sustainable and eco friendly pieces.

Escada Sport belt.

Escada Sport shorts in size 34 or US size 4.

Of course they are more faded than in the above video from 1998...😏.

Always loved wearing this soft yellow shirt from Time Square Sportswear–Denver, Colorado, USA.

100% cotton!

Very subtle logo embroidered on the front: ATLANTA

My all time favorite little handbag GABRIELLE.

That hails from the mid 70s from a store in Panningen where I lived when first married...

Related links:

Mount Royal Park and Saint Joseph's Oratory in Montréal, Canada | previous post by me where I also wear the entire outfit...

COME Cross the Tengger Sand Sea to Volcano Mount Bromo, Indonesia | previous post by me wearing the Loints sandals

True Indigo Indigofera Tinctoria in Pieter's Favorite Color  | previous post by me wearing my Loints sandals

Celebrating at Ristorante da Maria my Safe Arrival Home

 We certainly had a VERY GOOD reason for celebrating with a delicious dinner at Ristorante da Maria!

Lady Chef Maria Runggaldier as published in: 5 FIERCE FEMALE GEORGIA CHEFS YOU SHOULD KNOW←click link

On Saturday, June 25th we both went out for dinner...

We were so engaged in conversation that I FORGOT to capture the Appetizer and already had eaten a few bites from the First dish: Summer Lasagnette with mozzarella, tomatoes and basil pesto, topped with Parmesan and fresh basil leaves.

As always we both opt for the healthy living and select Seafood–Entrée:

Scallops and Shrimp over a light "putanesca" sauce with butter, cherry tomatoes, capers, green olives, garlic and fresh parsley.

Maria had potatoes with French beans and breaded egg plant with it.

Pioneer Pieter sure deserved such a great 5–course meal; he'd lost some weight doing such a Mega Task for weeks on end.

Happy to be together!

Wearing my Escada skirt and twinset.

Sorbet:

Pineapple/Lemon Sorbet

Dessert:

Semifreddo Parfait

Half frozen Moscato/amaretto Parfait with merengue, served with fresh berries over strawberry coulis.

~

It was heavenly—as always at Ristorante da Maria