How to wear a scarf with patterned tops - part three

In part three of the recent reader's style challenge (how to mix scarves with patterned tops) the focus is on harmony, therefor I chose capsule pieces and accessories in accordance with the colors of the printed tunic.

featured scarf: Hermès Coaching 70 Carré

Capsule pieces: white jeans and printed tunic

Shoes: suede sandals

Accessories: Hermès Picotin bag in rubis

Scarf: Hermès ‘Coaching’ 70 Carré worn in a criss-cross knot

Wishing everyone a happy Memorial Day!

All three variations:

How to wear a scarf with patterned tops - part two

In part two of the recent reader's style challenge (how to mix scarves with patterned tops) I am complementing the printed tunic with a scarf and capsule pieces in a two-tone color block. The scarf almost becomes part of the wardrobe, while the patterned top seems to take over the part the scarf usually plays..

featured scarf: Hermès 'Coupons Indiens' 90 Carré

Capsule pieces: coral jeans, navy blazer and printed tunic

Shoes: blue patent pumps

Accessories: Hermès Chaine d'ancre enamel bracelet, Farandole necklace and Bolide in Bleu de Prusse

Scarf: Hermès ‘Coupons Indiens’ 90 Carré worn in the basic bias fold. For a how-to, please click here

All three variations:

Reader's style challenge - how to wear a scarf with patterned tops

Today's style challenge was submitted via email by Elizabeth:

....Now I have a style challenge of my own, how to wear scarves and shawls when ones wardrobe consists entirely of prints with out looking like a clown? Do you match the colors or the patterns? It's easy to wear scarves with solid colors but patterns really present me with a challenge. So short of getting rid of my wardrobe I would love to see some ideas from my favorite fashion icon.

In general, I would strive for acord between the different elements of an outfit, it could be between the scarf and printed top, but there are other possibilities too, if the scarf matches another accessory for example. There are many ways to explore, and so there will be more posts on this subject to come.

Today it has been summery and warm, so I wore my new printed tunic top. For the scarf, I was looking for something which would be as much as possible in accord with the top, color and pattern wise. A 70 Tours de Clès seemed a good match.. the ornate keys and swirling cords of the corners looked in perfect harmony with the top.

However, the scarf's middle section consists of strong colours and a graphic pattern, and therefor needed counterbalancing... my red coral jeans provided just the right impact to tie this look together.

Capsule pieces: coral jeans and printed tunic

Shoes: suede sandals

Accessories: MaiTai collection horn bracelet in mushroom, Hermès Farandole necklace and Picotin in etoupe

Scarf: Hermès ‘Tours de clès’ 70 Carré in a criss-cross bow knot, using a MT Collection horn scarf ring in moyenne honey For a how-to, please click here

Many thanks for the great challenge (and lovely compliment), dear Elizabeth!

Coming next: part two and three

All three variations:

Paris shoes part two - Roger Vivier

Last week in Paris, I visited one of Hermès neighbours on the rue Faubourg Saint-Honoré, the beautiful Roger Vivier store (located across on the road, at No 29).

Entering through the glass door, one is greeted by a selection of shoes, bags and sunglasses displayed on tables and shelves. A beautiful staircase leads up to the main showroom,

which is located on the first floor...

.. spanning the entire length of the building.

It's balcony offers a superb view on the rue Faubourg Saint-Honoré. The second building on the left is Hermès' No 24, you can see horseman on the rooftop..

currently with two 'Cuirs du Désert' carrés

Inside, the RV showroom resembles an elegant apartment, and is decorated with an eclectic mix of antiques, tribal art and modern furniture, while the pale herringbone parquet floor and pastel colored walls add a light and feminine touch.

One of Roger Vivier's most famous inventions is the stiletto heel, and one of his most famous clients Queen Elizabeth II, for whom he created the shoes she wore for her coronation. He designed for Dior when they started their shoe line in 1953, and worked there for a decade until opening his own Paris salon in 1963. At this time, he created his signature buckled pumps and flats, famously worn by Catherine Deneuve in Luis Buñuels 1967 film 'Belle du Jour'.

the perfume line

Shoes and bags are displayed along the wall,

or layed out on tables designed by Herve van der Straeten. 

The red bag which came home with me,

and my new blue shoes

I could not be happier!

Roger Vivier

29 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré

75008 Paris

www.rogervivier.com

Tel + 33 1 53 43 00 85 Edited to add playtime pics: with Hermès Quadrige scarf with Hermès Puzzle II scarf with Hermès Ex-Libris en Kimonos scarf

Hermès window displays - Rue de Sevrès

What on EARTH is going on?

And who made all this mess!

Oh No! (and the door to the store is open too!)

I doubt our friends needed any 'help', but apparently the artist Jean-François Fourtou was involved too

it's a zoo!

More evidence.. this bottle of Chateau St Boutisse explains A LOT.

Hee haw..what a party!

Excusez moi, did I hear a belching sound?!

It's been a soirée magnifique!

Hermès Rive Gauche
17 rue de Sevrès
75006 Paris
Tel: (0)1 42 22 80 83

Next Paris stop: the new Hermès pop up shoe shop!

Capsule wardrobe: spring/summer

The updated capsule wardrobe for spring/summer does not come with many surprises, most pieces are staples which make a perfect canvas year after year, although some generic items have been renewed over time (jeans, t-shirts, blazers etc).

I usually don't include 'one-off' pieces in these sheets, but I fell in love with the coral jeans (collage #1), and know I will wear them a lot this year. The tunic tops are included because of the many requests I received on how to combine printed wardrobe pieces with scarves.

As always, the sheets are just an estimate of the clothes I think I will be reaching for most over summer, which of course is not so easy to predict before it has even started. The mood might slightly change over the next few months, or new items might be discovered.. I have therefor kept the total number of pieces to eighteen, allowing me to add/exchange a few as we go along.

Hope you'll enjoy the upcoming accessorised variations, and wishing everyone a great summer ahead xx

 



Collage #1:
row 1: white jeans (Hilfiger), navy blazer (Esprit), blue jeans (Hilfiger)
row 2: cotton tunic blouse (Comptoir des Cotonniers), coral jeans (Gérard Darel), tunic (as before)

Collage #2:
row 1: shirt (The Kooples), top (Lauren by Ralph Lauren), white shirt (Anne Fontaine)
row 2:  dress (un, deux, trois), trousers (The Kooples), cardie (Esprit)

Collage #3:
row 1:  Blazer (Prada), cardie (Banana Republic), dress (Tara Jarmon)
row 2:  T-shirt (agnes b.), trousers (The Kooples), top (Marks&Spencer)

Capsule wardrobe # 58 - Circuit 24 Faubourg

One could not imagine a more perfect place to wear the Circuit 24 Faubourg than the Lou Cigaloun café in Provence..if only it was  located alongside a Formula One race course!  ;)

It has been beautiful and summery today, and so I opted for chocolate and white capsule pieces

Capsule pieces: white jeans (Comptoir de cotonniers), chocolate top (Lauren by Ralph Lauren)

Shoes: silver Orans

Accessories: Hermès 'Circuit 24 Faubourg' 90 Carré, clic H enamel bangle in bleu indiens and Kelly in Ebene

Scarf tying method: Ascot knot (click here for a how-to)

And a few more playtime snaps..

Scarf folded into pleats (as shown here), with the ends secured in a criss-cross knot with a horn shawl ring in dark sunshine

as above, only with the ends tied in the basic slide

Criss-cross knot with a grande horn scarf ring in honey
 
criss-cross half bow knot, secured with a grande horn scarf ring in honey

One of the things I look most forward to when adding a new scarf to the collection, is to try it with different wardrobe items, and see how it adapts... here replacing the white jeans with checked woolen trousers, which will be perfect on a warm day in early autumn. I love that this is a scarf for all seasons.

 

Wishing everyone a great and happy weekend xx