{My Escada & RED Valentino Score}

With my European size 34, or US size 4, I often do find incredible bargains at Outlets or on line. 

Let me show you what I wore on Easter Sunday...

Happy on Easter Sunday in my new outfit...
Lambsnappa skirt from Escada with also Escada low heeled pumps.
RED Valentino sweater and my Ferragamo bag that I received as a gift from my boss in Indonesia.

The canvas with leather Ferragamo bag goes very well with this outfit.

Skirt from behind with blind zipper, darts and walking slit.

Yes, both of us have always received precious gifts from people we did consulting for and I do treasure this Salvatore Ferragamo bag!

The skirt was brandnew, never worn with tags still on and spare button in bag as usual with Escada.

European size 34 or US size 4...

Found on eBay under items listed NWT (New With Tag). Nobody bid on it so I snatched this away for only $ 49.99!

Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th took care of the perfect sweater!
On December 23, they offered the already 41% marked off RED Valentino sweater, for an extra 40% off!

That's how one can own a couture top from RED Valentino that was $ 495.00 for $ 173.99...
Saving $ 321.01

For the entire outfit a good score; considering the leather skirt was such a steal!
Got this sweater in a Medium as I do not like to wear it tight fitting.

On such a bright, sunny day it was rather hard to capture its true color...

Detail from the front pockets...
You also can see the gilded thread in this RED Valentino sweater.

Very happy with this new set!
Pantyhose are from the Wolford boutique at The Colonnade Outlets at Sawgrass Mills in South Florida.

Our yellow Carolina jasmines blooming so pretty!

Yellow + Sunshine makes one HAPPY!
Those yellow heart earrings I have for decades already...
Did wear this outfit when I last visited Harry, my 3rd brother, in The Netherlands.

Our Barty boy loves rolling in the dry leaves and catkins and he wants to be near me all the time!

Hope you also enjoyed a sunny Easter Sunday!

{Our Brown Jordan Chaise & Wolford Bathing Suit Score}

Don't know about you, but things in life seldom go as planned... at least not for both of us.
After Pieter finished last year with the tiles on our balcony, we did order a Brown Jordan Chaise after we fell in love with it at the HYATT house Atlanta/Cobb Galleria during our stay of July 17.
First we had to search the internet and than order ONE.
The question over and over was; how many do you need for your resort?! 

It took all summer though... On September 24, finally we drove to Atlanta to the warehouse where it had been delivered. I came back with this very chaise on TOP of my cute ute; the now 17-year old Ravy, my Toyota RAV4!

BUT no more summer use for 2013, only this year after a LONG wait because of a wet spring and big part of the summer, I got to use our new Brown Jordan Chaise!

This is it; different color frame however.

Ours is: Brown Jordan Patio Stacking Adjustable Flight Chaise 3940-7000 in White Lite color 055 with Versatex Mesh in Latte 1079

Yep, that's me wearing my Outlet Score from May 3, when we went to The Colonnade Outlets at Sawgrass Mills in Sunrise, Florida...

Just keep in mind that I am 3 x the age of your average model of 21 years young!

The sun is way too harsh to even look...

My natural gray hair; never ever used any dye...

THIS is a professional model and a lot younger!

But this triple-age girl was mighty proud for having snatched up a Wolford Forming Swimbody in Black, size Small, in cup B, with a whopping 75% Rebate!
Now that's what I call Outlet Scores; high quality for a steal.

Yep, my Egyptian feet...

Now each of us has a chaise on the balcony...

Love this new Brown Jordan Chaise & my Wolford Bathing Suit!
I had to laugh because: Wolford will discontinue its swimwear in spring 2015 (just click it)
Even though, I never will be making over–time on the balcony like this...

Related links:

{'Ravy', my Toyota RAV4 is 15 today!} | previous post by me from 2012...

{Our now WHITE Barlow Tyrie Capri Lounger with Wheels} | previous post by me

{Barlow Tyrie Capri Lounger with Cushioned Velour Cover} | previous post by me
{The Colonnade Outlets at Sawgrass} | previous post by me
{Outlet Scores} | previous post by me
{What Type of Feet do YOU have?} | previous post by me
{My First Trip to the City of Romance | VENICE, ITALY} | previous post by me

{The Colonnade Outlets at Sawgrass}

The Colonnade Outlets at Sawgrass Mills in Florida are not to be missed if you ever are in the Miami area!

This is also the Valet parking entrance and you are at the right corner to start browsing Neiman Marcus Last Call, Saks Fifth Avenue or Bloomingdale's and all Outlets at the Colonnade to your right.

Sawgrass Mills is the largest outlet mall in the United States!

HOW large?

2.1 million square feet or 195,096 square meters, which is 19.5 hectare!

According to Miami.com's Sawgrass Mills Survival guide you deserve a medal - and a foot massage if you ever walk those 350 stores and outlet shops...

Yep, in the above screenshot, you see Neiman Marcus to the left and at the top you read Escada and that's how all designer outlets are lined up on both sides of the Colonnade and under a roof. 

Rain or shine - you will be fine. 

Neiman Marcus with super bargains and if you can't make it to the outlet, you also can order on line: Neiman Marcus Last Call ←(click it)

Trip Advisor review by me:

“Sawgrass Mills Colonnade is the BEST shopping + valet parking!” ←(click it)

The Valet parking is a MUST in order to save your feet as the parking lot is like Miami.com put it here above: acres of parking lots with no empty space in sight...

There also is a Wolford outlet store; one of my favorites.

Have you ever been to the Sawgrass Mills Mall?

Related links:

Sawgrass Mills | website for finding store directory, mall map and directions

{Outlet Scores}

Always a pleasure to find great Outlet Scores and we are often successful in Florida.

This Escada jeans suit we found at Escada Outlet Store in Florida, right after I came out of the hospital, when I got almost completely paralyzed because of a rare auto immune disease. I had lost so much weight that I barely could keep any pants on my hips...

Here I wear it again with two new Oultet Scores from the Wolford outlet.

Yes, those Outlets are great for Men's clothes as well.

Here husband Pieter is wearing his favorite jeans brand: Zegna with a nice vest from Last Call by Neiman Marcus.

Pieter captured me laughing at one of our cats; they always follow us like doggies!

You can see the Cotton Velvet Wolford top with the leather belt.

Lovely belt with roses... that was a pre-surgery gift when we were in Florida for a relaxing vacation in September of 2013, but with horrible weather.

Got so lucky that this was in the Wolford Outlet at Orlando, FL

On our latest trip we learned that they closed in February.
But there is one in Fort Lauderdale at The Colonnade!
With Last Call by Neiman Marcus and Escada Outlet store at the Colonnade Outlets at Sawgrass, that makes it super...

Do you also treasure such Outlet Scores?

Related links:

{# 148 and my blog is 1 year old today!} | previous post by me with mention of being paralyzed

{Our Citrus Aurantifolia - Key Lime} | previous post by me from stay at Key West after being paralyzed

{My Angel Sister & Mariette's Back to Basics Explained} | previous post by me
{The Colonnade Outlets at Sawgrass} | previous post by me

{May 2014 be a Happy and above all a Healthy Year for YOU!}

Hoping you all enjoyed a very special New Year's Eve with your loved ones and that this year will fulfill many a dream. Be it a marriage, the birth of a child/grandchild, a graduation, an anniversary, a special long dreamed about trip, a long awaited visit with relatives or friends after several years... On and on the list goes. Each of us has different dreams, wishes and hopes. One of the ingredients for being Happy is to be Satisfied with what we ALREADY HAVE and for COUNTING OUR MANY BLESSINGS.

Wishing all of you a Happy and above all a Healthy 2014!

This photo is from November 21, 2013 taken during the banquet of the Dublin Rotary Club's 75th anniversary.

Husband Pieter is wearing his Burberry Tuxedo in year 'round weight wool with silk cummerbund and bow tie.

Got him this Tuxedo from Bloomingdales in September of 1986, for use at the many Conferences for their formal banquets. My Pieter never changed in size so this will serve him for life!

We both continue being stable in size and love—a true blissful relationship.

May God grant us many more years together.

I am wearing my Escada silk brocade skirt with wool/cashmere/silk and sequin embroidered top with Escada pumps with Wolford panty hose. Of course all Outlet items for living frugal.

Both of us are happy and grateful for having recovered from major surgery.

Looking forward to a calmer and healthier 2014!

{My Brocade Skirt Suit Creation from 1950s Zelinka Matlick}

We often did check out the Lakewood Antiques Market in Atlanta, Georgia. A HUGE place with seven Spanish colonial livestock exhibition halls and over 15,000 antique dealers. My sister Diny went there with us as well. You really could shop until you drop! Below this post you find links about its history as it has moved in 2006 to a new location: Lakewood 400 Antiques Market

BUT there I found on April 10 of 1993
 a 1950s Zelinka Matlick dress with matching coat in a beautiful cotton/rayon brocade. I fell in love with the fabric and was running my mind of what I could do with it. It had beautiful buttons too and thus for the price of $ 20.00 I did adopt it!

With a seam ripper I took the entire dress and long coat apart and then the puzzle started.

The pattern works like wallpaper that you have to match...

Did complete it the first week of July in 1993 so I could wear it for my youngest brother's wedding in The Netherlands ons July 30.

Here we are again at the Hyatt House Miami Airport...

Wearing with my sewing creation: Wolford pantyhose

Escada evening bag that I got on sale at the boutique of Oahu, Hawaii in 1998

When looking at the price I could not afford it but the Japanese sales person send me an email when it came on sale. Great courtesy and I was happy! The Escada golden shoes I found in February 1998 at the Potomac Mills Outlet near Washington D.C. 

The 7 buttons from the coat were just enough for this design...

Majorica pearl earrings and bracelet.

The coat had a grease stain on one side and when I had taken all pieces apart, I took my chances and threw them all together in the washer. 

The stain came out completely and now I knew that I could launder this quality fabric myself!

Getting the pattern to match everywhere was quite a challenge but I got it done!

JUST enough fabric, even for some back pockets on the skirt!

I did darken this photo so you can see the cream and white brocade pattern better. 

From the heavy acetate lining that was in the top part of the coat, I made this blouse...

The jacket and skirt is not lined as this brocade really is sturdy enough on its own.

I did lots of top stitching on this skirt and jacket as well...

Wearing my Majolica pearl bracelet from Neiman Marcus.

Ring is a Princess ring in 18 kt gold with several precious stone insets; gift from my boss in Indonesia.

Of course I proudly did sew this Zelinka Matlick label back in.

Via a link from Vintage Fashion Guild Label Resource I could trace that this label is from the 1950s.

David Zelinka & Max Matlick were partners and makers of coats and women's suits.

Those buttons are a piece of jewelry!

Some had lost a white dot and husband Pieter managed to create a new one with a white enamel repair tube.

Here you also can see the intricate weave of brocade and its cotton and rayon threads in white and cream.

Topstitching is done with rayon thread in order to obtain the same luster.

Matching the fabric's pattern, including those pocket parts!

Neither the center back seam does interrupt the pattern.

Photo is taken with flash inside the Hyatt House Miami Airport on top of the down duvet on the bed.

Also the last photo below is taken with flash inside, making it more yellowish...

So what do you say? 

Tis brocade fabric is about as old as the person wearing it in its new creation...

Related links:
Lakewood Antiques Market - The Last Days: A Photo Diary | it closed in 2006 but moved
Lakewood 400 Antiques Market | new location and open every 3rd weekend
David Zelinka, 83, Ex-Maker of Coats And Women's Suits | New York Times Obituary of David Zelinka, partner with Max Matlick