Capsule wardrobe #28 and reader's style challenge

Following the New Year's Day post featuring a 'Hart Déco' Stole, I received a number of messages from readers who either own this beautifully embroidered piece of cashmere/silk, or who were contemplating of buying one.

The underlying question was how to maximise it's use beyond evening occasions, in short, how to wear the stole in a casual, everyday way.

To emphasise a casual style, I opted for blue jeans and a Picotin bag, and would have teamed them up with a pair of Converse sneakers, only that mine are in need of replacing. I went for ballet flats instead, which always look nice with jeans and a blazer. It hardly matters what goes under the blazer, but a v-neck is a good option as it can dress the whole look up again just by taking the blazer off, and draping the stole in a different way. I added a MT mesh chain link to carry silver accents through to the neckline for balance, and chose a bag in a different colour from black to avoid a dressy touch.

For a casual loop knot it is important to refrain from folding the scarf too accurately. It works better to gather up the fabric instead, hereby creating an easy going draping effect.

Capsule pieces: jeans, black v-neck sweater and black blazer
Shoes: black ballet flats
Accessories: Hart Déco cashmere/silk stole, etoupe Picotin bag and MT mesh chain link necklace in argenté
Scarf tying method: loop knot, for a how-to, please click here

Capsule wardrobe #27 and new Spring scarf

Last week, I finally had the chance to see a few more colour ways of the Spring/Summer scarves that were on the top of my list, and I fell in love with the Cuirs de Désert just as much as I was hoping for.

Design by Françoise de la Perriere (orig issue 1988)

Whether flat out or folded, it is a feast for the eyes, and the corners are unbelievably rich and beautiful

Ref number: 001786S Colour ref: 32
It's many different colours make it easy to pick clothes and other accessories to go with it. For the first outing teaming it up with camel and blue capsule pieces and teal/blue/turquoise accessories

Capsule pieces: camel corduroy jeans, camel cashmere top and navy blazer
Shoes: chocolate leather sneakers
Accessories: 'Cuirs de Désert' 90 Carré, bleu indienne clic-clac bracelet and bleu de prusse Bolide
Scarf tying method: Cowboy knot, ends secured with the criss-cross method, using a MT horn scarf ring in moyenne light honey.

As opposed to securing the ends with a double knot, a scarf ring hardly takes up any fabric, leaving the ends beautiful and long

Worn off center

Capsule wardrobe #26 - reader's style challenge

I know I have fallen behind on answering comments on a few of the older posts, but did not realise quite how badly. I remembered Anne's style request on one of the this year's first posts, but could not believe when I found out I had not answered it yet. I terribly sorry, dear Anne! Here's to make up for it :-)

Anne from Germany:

...I like wearing v-necks with a scarf following the neckline, with a lower knot. What kind of scarf knot would you recommend for this style?

My favorite knot for this style is the Ascot knot, as it holds very well and I like the way both ends end up being parallel, and face the right way. I thought it would be nice to go for a generous and loose basic bias fold, so that the scarf drapes like a collar, or necklace.

I very much enjoyed putting this look together, dear Anne, so many thanks for the inspiration your question provided. Vielen Dank, und viel Spass beim ausprobieren!

Capsule pieces: Check wool trousers, black v-neck sweater
Shoes: mocca (does anyone know how to call this style?)
Accessories: 'Brides de Gala' Dip Dye Carré, bourgogne clic-clac bracelet and Ebene Kelly
Scarf tying method: Ascot knot

Hermès Rive Gauche

And here the dernier snippet of my trip to Paris last week.. a visit to Hermès' new store on Paris' left bank (opened a couple of months ago), located at 17 Rue de Sèvres in St. Germain de Près. The space is enormous (14,500 square feet) and used to be the indoor swimming pool of the Hotel Lutétia. Many of the original art nouveau features were kept, such as the mosaic floor and iron balconies. The vastness is broken up by three wooden 'tents' in the middle of the basement floor, designed by Denis Montel. It is a truly breathtaking sight, and to explore them, one walks down a sweeping staircase with fabulous curved banisters made from ash wood. The 'tents' feature the interior design collection, and it was fun to spot many familiar scarf designs, which were turned into cushions, wallpapers, trays, plaids and throws.

There is a book shop called Chaîn d'encre (encre is 'ink' in french, a nod to the chaîn d'ancre design element), a tea room called Plongeoir (diving board), and a flower shop (by Baptiste), which is located right by the entrance and is part of the front window display.

The store has a scarf department, and a small rtw, shoe and bag section, but focuses mainly on interior design. Below a bedroom display in one of the tents, wallpaper panels (Pele Melee and Bibliotheque) and some designs of the fabric collection (OP'H and Finish).

I found a lovely souvenir at the store, a clic-clac bracelet in bourgogne. I have persued this colour for some time, and am so glad to have finally found it.

A trip to Paris - FSH update

Does anyone remember the little peek I took when the redecoration of FSH's corner window was under it's way? I spotted mint green curtains and candy coloured artificial flowers, not able to imagine what the end result could possibly be..

a couple of days ago, I finally found out!

A wonderland of macaron pyramids, glittering escargots and sparkling bags, candies and sugar craft









For once, children are as enthralled by the splendor of the main window as their mamans
All patisseries by Pierre Hermé

And a few more pics of the fabulous displays along the rue Faubour St. Honoré and the rue Boissy d'Anglas, the opulence and creativity are simply breathtaking

It was fun to check the new scarf designs, but most of the colours I looked forward to seeing where not in stock that day, and so I just have to wait patiently. The new scarf booklet made up for it though, it is so summery and fabulous. The cover features 'Brides de Gala en Finesse'

Capsule wardrobe #25 - grey and pink

Finally, it stopped raining and it was really nice to dress lighter for a change. I went for a similar colour combinatoin like in the previous post, this time pairing a pink Carré Kantha with grey and charcoal capsule pieces.

Capsule pieces: grey wool trousers, charcoal cardigan
Shoes: low heel pumps
Accessories: 'Carré Kantha' 90 Carré, bleu indiennes clic-clac bracelet, Farandole necklace, MaiTai scarf fur collar in natural blue frost (grey/white)
Scarf tying method: five loop method

Apologies for being a bit behind with catching up on comments, will hopefull be up to date by the end of this week.

You might also like:

Reader's style suggestion - how to keep warm and cosy

This year, winter has had Europe firmly in it's grip, large parts have been covered in ice and snow for weeks. Chez nous, in the South of France, it hasn't snowed, but we've had endless days of rain, gloomy skies and cold temperatures. C'est pas normal!

When looking out of the window, I remembered Silje's fab style suggestion from a few posts ago:

...living in the arctic roll necks are a staple in my wardrobe, heavy wool ones as well. I can find those itchy, and there I have inspiration from an old Elle Macpherson photo on tpf, where she had her scarf inside the roll neck (it has to be of a certain size and with of course ;). It really makes it more snugly and soft, and gives a pop of color as it flows out of the roll neck as much and as little as you please.

Still very much in the mood for simple looks, I went to find my heavy turtle neck sweater, and chose 'Tours de Clés' tied into a cowboy knot to go under the roll neck (as it is a 70 Carré, I tied the ends behind the neck). Silja is right, wearing a scarf this way feels incredibly soft and wonderful, and it's great fun to pull and tuck the silk, bringing out it's different aspects and colours. Thank you, dear Silja! x

You might also like:

Capsule wardrobe #24 - très simple

Once the holidays have come to an end, I long for things to be simple. It feels good to store away the decorations, cook simple food, get back into routine and dress simply.

http://www.maitaispicturebook.com/2011/01/capsule-wardrobe-23-tres-simple.html

Capsule pieces: blue jeans and black v-neck sweater
Shoes: black suede loafers
Accessories: La Réale 90 Carré and chain d'ancre enamel bracelet
Scarf tying method: Ascot knot. Click here for a how-to video

You might also like:

Happy New Year!

Wishing you all a very happy and fabulous New Year 2011! Many thanks for the support, contributions and friendship so many of you have extended in the past year. Your contributions have made this so much fun, and a special place for me.

For New Year's Eve we went to stay with dear friends, greeting the new year with a lovely meal and champagne.

I've been wearing the same silver mesh top, grey cardie and argenté mesh necklace from a previous look, but added a charcoal grey Hart Deco stole in cashemere and silk.