Monday, March 14, 2016

Early spring - Capsule wardrobe # 165

The first signs of spring here in the South of France are always yellow.. in February the Mimosa trees start to blossom, followed by Daffodils and later Dandelions in the fields and between the vines.


As the weeks go by, the yellows gets warmer and richer in tone, which inevitably makes me  reach for my sunflower yellow La Presentation de Chevaux.





Capsule pieces: checked wool trousers and beige sweater
Accessories: Hermes La Presentation de Chevaux 90 carré, 'Grand Apparat' enamel bracelet, 'Karla' bracelet in caramel epsom and Kelly32 in ebene. 
Shoes: patent flats (Ballerine U by Roger Vivier in sunflower yellow)
Scarf tying method: Pleated rectangular fold (click here for a how-to). I pleated the scarf very loosely for a soft and billowing effect. 









Hermès, the messenger of the gods, suspended from the ceiling of the Rue de Sèvres store in St. Germain



Variation: replacing the beige and brown capsule pieces above with grey


Capsule pieces: grey patchwork wool trousers and grey sweater
Accessories: Hermes La Presentation de Chevaux 90 carré, Karla bracelet in Caramel and Picotin 26/GM in Kraft. 
Shoes: patent flats (grey Belle Vivier 25 by Roger Vivier)



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79 comments:

  1. My dearest Mai Tai, for me this is one of your most beautiful posts. You look stunning, serene and so happy in the three photographs and although you can wear all colours, you look divine in yellow!
    I just love everything about this post! <3
    It is a ray of sunshine in the still very cold and grey days we have up here. Thank you so much for bringing me so much beauty and joy. Love, Manuela xx

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    1. I share your longing for sunshine, dear Manuela! March has come "in like a lion" as the saying goes, all rain and blustery winds. We must be strong and wait a little longer. Spring is just around the corner!
      Hugs and aloha,
      Fifi

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    2. You are right, dear Caryl. Spring will come :-) sunshine hugs to you, M xx

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    3. Fingers crossed it goes out like a lamb!
      Big hugs, T xx

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    4. Hope spring has made it's way up North, dearest Manuela and Fifi! Sunshine hugs xx

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  2. Always beautiful color combinations, and thoughtful, subtle accessories. What excellent taste you have!

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  3. As Carly Simon says in her song Nobody Does It Better, I find that to hold true for you and your styling darling MT...nobody!
    So happy you are seeing signs of Spring and I love the subtle combinations and nuances it evokes for you<3
    Pretty as a picture you are in yellow! I tend to look a little jaundice if I try to wear it;)
    In particular here, I love the ethereal quality that your most treasured scarf brings out in you each and every time you wear her!
    Nobody does it better...Mwahs, T xx

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    1. Dear Trudye, I cannot imagine you looking anything but beautiful! But you are right, this particular carré does lend an ethereal quality to dear MT. Love the Carly Simon reference too!
      Much aloha,
      Fifi

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    2. Dearest Fifi...you are too sweet! Thank you for the compliment<3
      Well, that Carly Simon song should be a theme here, I think! All of the words are so fitting! It would even make a good background song for the collages,too!
      Hugs to you and the Willieman, T xx

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    3. I do agree with you dear Trudye and with Carli Simon: 'Nobody does it better' than our dearest Mai Tai <3. Warm hugs to you, M xx

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    4. Sorry, I meant Carly Simon.

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    5. Aww darling Trudye, I love that song! But with so much praise, I fear you'll all be singing 'You're so vain' next! Mwahs xx

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  4. Well, well, well . . . leave it to you, dear MT, to take what I term a challenging color to carry off and look like, well, a million daffodils in it (I was going to say bucks, but they're green - at least they are here in the US.)

    You look like a ray of spring sunshine, and I'm envious, as Atlanta seems to be skipping over gentle spring this year and hurtling right into another torturous summer. The AC is already humming.

    However, you have inspired me to dig out my "La Presentation" and hope for just one more cool day.

    Love to you,
    Jerrine

    PS - I want that fabulous Hermes sculpture. Do you think Rue de Sevres would miss it?

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    1. Poor Jerrine - much as I long for sunshine, I would not want it to be summer already. But my dear, do you really need AC when you are the coolest person I know in Atlanta?
      Air hugs and cool breezes,
      Fifi

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    2. Fifi, you are just too cute for your own good!

      Hugs right back,
      Jerrine

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    3. Ha ha! The coolest person in Atlanta--I love it! But I'm with Jerrine--we are already having record-breaking heat in the South, and it's only mid-March. Doesn't bode well for the summer and hurricane season.

      That said, it it lovely to see someone--MaiTai--enjoying beautiful spring weather and the accessories that accompany it! The pleated rectangular fold is one of my favorites, and the color is lovely. Yellow is such a bright, springy color--we're so lucky we can pull it off!

      Stay cool, all!
      Greta

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    4. Greta,

      Well, at least our pollen is a cheery yellow, isn't it.

      And, yes, you're right, of course. I would never begrudge MT her lovely spring weather. I just wish she'd share!

      Grumpily turning up the air,
      Jerrine

      PS - I guess we shouldn't complain too much, though. We might be visited with poor Fifi's mud.

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    5. In agreement with Fifi, that Jerrine, you are the coolest chic in Atlanta;)
      We seemed to have skipped over Spring and landed in the middle of summer,too! Record breaking high temps the last two days...ugh!
      We could always offer to host a little Spring break gathering of the swans, but I fear it would wilt their pretty feathers in no time!
      Chin chin to keeping our cool, T xx

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    6. Well, T, that's far from the case, but if you think so, then I'm thrilled, and you must be the hottest dame in Texas, and that's something, as Texas is probably six times the size of Georgia.

      Crap, it's 87 out there. I really think we deserve a break. I mean, afterall, it was still summer here in December! It isn't fair - waaaaah.

      If we are to have a Swan Spring Soiree, I think we have to take both Georgia and Texas off the list. If not, we'd lose some Swans, and that would be a pity. How about Alaska? I don't think they have an Hermes, but they have cold weather and nifty wildlife.

      I'd suggest a cocktail to lift our limp spirits, but it's TOO DARN HOT.

      Will send you some cool if we get any,
      Jerrine

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    7. Oh, you poor wilting swans! Really, the weather is too strange this past year. I wish you some of Katja's cool weather. (And I agree, dear Jerrine - Trudye is the hottest dame in Texas!)

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    8. We are in good company with the Coolest Chic in Atlanta and the Hottest Dame in Texas!

      My poor wings are melting and I don't dare wear a scarf--it's just too darn hot! So unfair that we skipped spring completely! At least I'm not the only swam in the boat, as it were!

      Cross your wings for me--I have a big race this weekend and I'd like to have it be not scorching hot!

      xx--Greta

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    9. Thank you,dear Jerrine, "hot" is definitely the operative word given our climate;)
      While Alaska sounds appealing to you and me, I fear it may be a tad cold for those swans seeking a reprieve from such! How about Santa Barbara for our Spring soirée ? The weather there seems just about perfect for all and is beautiful!
      If I catch a cool breeze I will send it your way.
      Big hug, T xx

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    10. Oh, Fifi and Greta, I did not see this! Like I said, HOT is the operative word here;)
      Yes, it seems like we are all upside down in regards to climate!
      Greta, I hope you have a cooling down before your race! Maybe you and Fifi will run together some day! Now that would be cool! T xx

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    11. I know, Southern Swans, it' still miserable, isn't it? And the pollen level hit 1,542 here today (anything over 1,000 is considered extremely high), so all allergy sufferers must cower inside with their best friend, the air conditioning.

      And, yes, Greta, no scarves for me this week either. Even if I could stand the silk around my neck, the poor scarf would be dusted with pollen the minute I stepped outside. Bleagh!

      Jerrine

      PS - Trudye, Santa Barbara sounds quite appetizing. I'll meet you there!

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    12. Greta, I meant to add good luck with your race this weekend, and it looks like the weather is going to cool down considerably by Saturday. Please, please, please.

      Run like the wind, girl (assuming that you are running),
      Jerrine

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    13. Very good luck with your race this weekend, dear Greta! You are inspiring me to get back to running. I hope you will have nice mild weather for it.
      ~ Cool breezes, Fifi

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    14. Dearest Trudye, Santa Barbara is absolutely the perfect spot for a Swan Soiree! That whole area is so gorgeous.

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    15. Thanks, Swan friends! I'm getting a little anxious, but I'm determined!

      Stay tuned...

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    16. Hugs to the Southern Swans who've been cheated out of Spring, hope the temperatures will cool down a little, dearest Jerrine, Trudye and Greta (and that they weren't too bad at Greta's run)Hugs to the coolest person, hottest dame and lovely fast running swans F and G xx

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  5. Dearest MaiTai,
    This post is very beautiful. It combines neutrals, with classic themes, and something very special. Your taste is very refined. After reading this, I phoned home. Much love to you, dearest MaiTai.
    Terese

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    1. You comment very much touched me, thank you dearest Terese <3

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  6. Dear Mai Tai,

    Spechless.. again !!!

    Your photos are as a breath of fresh air.. you make us feel that spring it's really in the air.. even in a gloomy day!!!

    How do you manage?? I can even feel the buttery softness of your carrè.. Pure magic!!

    Thanks again!!

    I keep looking forward to your posts.. please think again about the book.. I'm sure that every swan here will be more than happy!!!

    Warm regards from Barcelona

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    1. You have my full support regarding the book, dear Ilsa. What else can we do? Warm hugs, Manuela

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    2. Maybe, clone her? If that can be done, Manuela, let's order several copies . . . of MaiTai and then her book:-)!

      Best to you,
      Jerrine

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    3. I'm not sure that is possible, dear Jerrine :-)

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    4. Dearest ilsa, to have captured the scarf so that you can feel it makes me really happy! Biggest hugs <3
      Happy to do the book if you ladies find a way to clone me, or come up with a trick to make sleep unnecessary ;)

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  7. You always look stunning, dearest MaiTai, but I really love these pictures of you - the yellow just makes me smile, a perfectly happy colour that doesn't suit everybody, but definitely you. With the flower photos I can almost smell and feel spring and warm weather - though we're having snow again. I'll send a cool breeze over to Atlanta, dear Jerrine, so you can wear your silks a little longer. We're still into CSGMs....
    Have a happy sunny week!
    Katja

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    1. Thank you, sweet Katja, but can you keep sending those cool breezes all summer, please?

      Doesn't MT look superb in yellow? But, then, I don't think I've ever seen a color that she doesn't look good in, lucky girl.

      Merci,
      Jerrine

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    2. Dear Jerrine, I'll help Katja to send cool breeze over to you. Maye you could send some heat to Scandinavia...blowing cool kisses across the ocean, Manuela xx

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    3. I sincerely hope that I can't, dear Jerrine...would appreciate if we got some nice weather as well:) But I will as long as it is chilly like this, brrrr.
      You are absolutely right- I haven't seen any colour that doesn't look good on MaiTai....neutrals, camel, brown, orange, pink, yellow, turquoise, blue...you name it. MaiTai mentioned she can't wear off-white...there you go, that's why we haven't seen her in that. I'm sure it would still be perfect...combined with a scarf or else.

      P.S. I cast my vote for the book!

      Snow White greetings,
      Katja

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    4. Manuela and Katja, I'm sending you clouds of heat (and pollen - you can't have one without the other!)

      And what do you want to bet that MT looks glorious in off-white, too. She's just being her modest self.

      Warming hugs to both of you,
      Jerrine

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    5. Pollen?? No, thanks....I'm swamped in black dog's hair, which is enough to cause an allergy. Then I'd rather stick with my cool breeze (and no mosquitos, frogs or else...) and send some cold spells over the Atlantic (or I just bring them myself, together with a chilled bottle of champagne, lol, don't want to miss your swan get together). I'm stroking my feathers till I get there...maybe I paint them yellow on the way?
      Katja

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    6. Yes, Katja, send yourself (and the champagne) instead of cool breezes. As much as we'd love both, we'd rather have you with us.

      I think yellow feathers would look stunning!:-)

      Fly safely,
      Jerrine

      PS - Be sure to bring MT with you. We can't have the Swan Soiree without her after all.

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    7. You girls made me smile. I agree with Katja. Jerrine you can keep the polen. Actually it has been very sunny in the last couple of days though only 6-7 degrees in Denmark. A lovely weekend to all of you. Hugs, Manuela xx

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    8. I feel you on the dog hair, dear Katja! They are worth it, though, aren't they? Hurry over with that champagne!

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    9. Isn't it amazing in how many different weather and time zones we are living? I sometimes forget, because it feels as if we are all in the salon at the same time. Hope the cool zones are warmer by now and that the heat has subsided for the Southern swans.

      Re colors... there are tons I can not wear, but there are also tons which work. In general, I think it's more to do with hues and shades than the actual colors.. bright fuchsia for example makes me look ill, whereas a somber version of the same color lights up my face. For another person, it might be the other way round! The main thing is to keep an open mind and to have fun experimenting.

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  8. Dearest MaiTai, what a cheering and lovely post! Here you work your magic again, pairing that stunning carré with both warm beige and cool gray. It lifts my spirits to see the brightness in your photographs. In the Seattle area, it seems the rain will never end and we will all have to file into the Ark any day now or be swept away on a river of mud! I just love your tunic sweaters, they are so versatile!
    With warm aloha,
    Fifi

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    1. Hope the rain has stopped and that the Easter weekend will be sunny and bright, dearest Fifi! Tunics make life very easy, a sweater version for winter, and cotton for summer!

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  9. Dear Mai Tai,
    You've captured the freshness of the beginnings of Spring. I love the smell of the earth warming and wafts of fragrance of new blooms. You've made me consider attempting yellow and grey together. The last photo is inspiring!

    Kindest regards from Washington DC

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    1. Dear Gaby, hope you had fun putting your outfit together! Yellow and grey are perfect for spring :)

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  10. Well well … yellow was not my cup of tea until I saw pictures of a Nordic blond beauty. If someone knows who is this stunning « spring plant » let her know I’m interested in following her master classes ;-)

    Happy spring beginnings to all the swans.

    Catherine

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    1. Yes, Catherine, let's all enroll in the University of MaiTai.

      Happy spring to you, too. Of course, I don't know what spring feels like any longer!

      Best
      Jerrine

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    2. Ma chère Jerrine,
      Yesterday it was spring here too but this morning I woke up with snow! Crazy weather! For the University of MT let's choose her place for spring courses, that would be great, summertime in MT's place is far too hot for me! Otherwise I suggest heavenly places on the Aquitaine coast during summer time, ocean breeze and pine trees' perfume in the air... that where Newton's come from ....
      Friendly hugs
      C.

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    3. Catherine,

      They both sound so tempting that I cannot possibly choose. I'm going to have to enroll for several semesters that's for sure.

      Aaaaaah, baby Newton. Please give him a hug for me. And dress him up again in MT baubles for the next collage. I want to see that sweet face.

      The very best,
      Jerrine

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    4. The University of Mai Tai? Where do I send my tuition? I'm ready to go back, back, back to school again! (bonus points on the first exam if you can name that movie!)

      You all are so brilliant--
      Greta

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    5. Grease 2, Greta! I am ready, too, for UMT! Of course our mascot would be the swan;)
      Cannot wait for the class schedule! xx

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    6. Greta, you can send that tuition check to me! I'll head right to the H. boutique for "school supplies."

      Hoping for an A,
      Jerrine

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    7. Was it Grease, dear Greta? And count me in on the UMT cheer squad!
      Aloooooo-HA!
      Fifi

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    8. Can't believe you all got the Grease/2 reference! I am in special company indeed! Let's all get out our pom poms and stock up on school supplies from H and MaiTai! We'll be the best dressed girls on campus!
      Greta

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    9. Oh I am so excited about the upcoming spring courses! We have to have them near a H boutique, just in case we need daily fresh school supplies. So how about chez moi?
      Catherine, I agree with Jerrine.. we missed Newton this time, hope to see him in the next collage!

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  11. I will hapilly attend those classes with you, chere Catherine:-) bises, Manuela

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    1. Inscriptions ouvertes Manuela !
      Bises,
      C.

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    2. Merci ma chere Catherine! :-) gros bisous, Manuela

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    3. You are enrolled, dearest Manuela <3

      Catherine, why don't you bring Newton along? He could teach my cat some modelling skills!

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  12. Dear MaiTai,
    I like your observation that yellow is the first color of Spring. I had not thought of that but now you have illustrated this it seems so clear. I am looking at the early season and certain of my scarfs in a fresh way. I also love the idea of making soft pleated rectangular folds on a vintage scarf -- must play with that. Finally, your image of Hermes in the St. Germain store is dazzling. What a blissful post overall!
    Alyson

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    1. Vintage scarves lend themselves so beautifully to soft drapes and folds...they are like a gentle caress. Have fun playing with your scarves and enjoy a beautiful spring!

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  13. Dear MT no need to say more than all the compliments you received from all your swann' s club.
    Amities

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    1. Dearest Monica, you are right.. mainly because I fear I might inflate otherwise!

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  14. BTW, it is snowing here this morning and very cold..... No spring as yet!!

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    1. Hope that spring is just around the corner!

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  15. luff this yellow look! Boiling here as usual.

    Makes me want a yellow scarf x

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    1. A yellow scarf would be fab on you. Stay cool xxx

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  16. Dear MaiTai,
    You look stunning, pure perfection! It is always a wonderful start to the day to find new photos and posts----- so much inspiration. I vote for a book also and a book signing. I am new to this group dear MaiTai but feel the love for you and passion for scarves. Thank you for all the beauty you share. Barb

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    1. Dear Barb, I'm so happy you joined our group! Welcome! Warm hugs, Manuela xx

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    2. So lovely to see you here, dear Barb! A very warm welcome to our salon <3 Have a wonderful Easter weekend ahead!

      Manuela, so very sweet and kind of you to give such a warm welcome xx

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    3. Thank you dear MaiTai and Manuela for the lovely welcome. Warm Hugs to you! Xx Barb

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    4. Thank you dear MaiTai and Manuela for the lovely welcome. Warm hugs to you. Xx Barb

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  17. Just Amazing blog and shop! I ordered two bag inserts for my B city and V rockstud bag. I cannot stop looking at your picture book. So many information about H scarf. I am an accountant at a hotel and always wear a semi-formal to formal. Your 'How to wear' info is really helpful. Thanks from Seattle!

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