packing for the south of france

Would you help me pack please?  I'm off to the south in a week or so, and I'm enjoying some virtual packing.

It's easy to turn this into a game .... let us imagine you are visiting the south of france this week.  The weather is glorious, and you will be travelling along the coast, visiting with friends and family.

Your diary is already busy, a chic lunch with a girlfriend in Monte Carlo, a family day in the hills behind St Tropez, and a gala dinner at the Cap d'Antibes ......and no, I'm not necessarily doing all this stuff, it' just for fun!

Here - with a virtual and therefore limitless budget! -  are my ideas, but tell me now, what would you be packing?

Monte Carlo likes chic.  There is no way around it, you can dress up no matter what the time of day or night, you'll never look out of place.  A little white dress, brightened with orange and a stunning Hermes scarf around your shoulders ....

In St Tropez anything goes.  It is a party town where days and nights are often blurred.  You can pad around in sandals and cut off shorts all day, or dress to the nines in designer dresses and priceless jewellery.  St Tropez has seen it all before.  But this is a family day.  You want to be comfortable, and chic without looking formal.  A floating dress, a floppy feminine hat and maybe you don't even need that necklace  .....

 And finally the party night at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc at the beautiful Cap d'Antibes.  A dear friend is celebrating a special birthday and has invited friends for a gala dinner. You'll stay at the hotel and dress in your suite before walking through the gardens to dine overlooking the sea, then dance the night away.  This is a truly magical spot on the cote d'azur and you want your dress to be divine.  Keeping it simple is the best way to go.  The perfect dress, the perfect shoes and the necklace.  No more required.

So what do you think?  Would you let me pack for you?

packing for Paris shopping - chic comfort

I have a busy and exciting week ahead, with a special client coming from the other side of the world to shop with me.  We'll be visiting my usual haunts in Normandy, but also doing some chic stuff in Paris, and for the days away from home , I need to pack carefully.

I know that our days are going to be full, and tiring, but I'll still need to be presentable, and comfortable, and wear clothes that will follow me through the day.

Virtual shopping is fun, I don't pay any attention to labels or prices, just pick out the stuff I like'... I put together these combinations, imagining some easy packing.  The weather is still uncertain here, so for each outfit I was looking for a basic pair of pants and a coat, that could be worn two ways, one slightly more dressy than the other.

Set number one is nude, grey and white.  I actually started off with a pair of soft pink pants, something I am enjoying this summer, but then opted for the white that is so easy to team up.

Set number two is looking for comfort and a more relaxed look for the day.  I love the scarf, and I adore the bag, but in the evening I'd have to leave the bag behind, since it really looks too harsh with the nude shoes and lacy top ...

Set three is very classical but still comfortable.  Anyone who has been here can tell you that this is not my normal attire for flea markets, but for some shopping in Paris, why not?!

The handbag here is a little happy extra for a charming mademoiselle K who came shopping here with me in June, and found this exact bag in vintage!  You see K, I said it would still be up to date!!

Do you ever shop virtually like this?  It's sort of fun to try out ideas before actually hitting the stores, and it helps me stay more focussed when I finally come to buy.

How carefully do you pack for going away?  Is it just a ton of stuff thrown into a bag, or do you do minimalist packing and buy as you need more once at destination?

Do tell, you know how I love to hear your point of view!