We awoke to a bright and sunny Marseille morning. Well, at least at about 9am it became really bright and sunny, because the sun only gets up at about 7am here. Quite a strange concept to get used to!

I must admit I was at least mildly nervous about my first challenge for the day – hiring a car in France and driving on the ‘right’ side of the road for the first time. I say ‘right’ in inverted commas because of course everyone knows that the left side of the road is the right side to drive on!

It was really bizarre to drive on the other side of the road, and I found my left hand occasionally trying to change gears in mid-air. Nevertheless, with my trusty navigators by my side (the human kind) we managed to find our way out of Marseille effortlessly. I must hand it to the French, their signage and road networks work really well. Although, it’s quite strange when you are driving along the freeway and you suddenly find yourself at a traffic circle! Somehow it just seems to work!

We decided to take a smaller coastal road in order to see some of the sights and were lucky enough to come across a pretty little seaside village called Cassis, where we stopped for lunch. Cassis is a perfect French village, full of all the French flavours you might expect.

Cassis

The cobblestoned streets are lined with bakeries , ice cream parlours and boutique stores and the village is flanked by a small harbour where you can find yachts of all shapes and sizes.

French Bakery

We found ourselves a lovely restaurant called Le Perroquet where we had a local favourite, the Mussel Pot. This is literally a kilogram of mussels cooked in a garlic white wine sauce and served up in an authentic black pot. Magnifique!

Mussel Pot

Our waiter Jeremy was genuinely friendly and sociable, and recommended a local winery in a nearby village which he thought we might enjoy. He seemed rather excited to find people who enjoyed wine as much as he did!

After lunch we thought it might be a good idea to start heading to our guesthouse in Hyeres, as we didn’t know exactly where it was. But with the reliable French road signage and a good old fashioned map, we found it without any hassles! In fact, the owner of the guesthouse seemed really impressed when we told him we had found it without a GPS!

L’aygaude – Hyeres is beautiful and has a tropical holiday resort feel about it. Our self catering apartment was perfect and had everything we needed, including a television where we watched The Simpsons in French for the first time. Really entertaining stuff! The guesthouse owners were really welcoming and made us feel right at home.

There was a little supermarket (SPAR!) around the corner, where we bought some things for our first home cooked meal in a while. We caused quite a commotion at the store, especially when they found out we were from South Africa. They really couldn’t believe that we spoke English, and of course they were very excited about the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

It’s really funny how a simple thing like a home cooked meal can make all the difference. Don’t get me wrong, I love eating out in foreign restaurants every night, but there is just something so comforting and satisfying about sitting down at the table to enjoy a freshly prepared meal with some very special people.

We were beginning to settle in and really quite enjoy the vibe of southern France. We all bundled into our rental Citroen and hit the road. Our plan was to drive around a particular area on the map for the day, and see what hidden wonders we could discover.

We took a wrong turn down a dusty country road and came across a beautiful farm with a mansion of a house attached. After reading the ‘no entry’ and ‘private’ signs everywhere, we headed back to the main road but I was glad we had taken the detour!

The first place we came across was Belgentier. If you’ve ever imagined the epitome of cobblestoned streets, colourful buildings separated by intricate alleyways and arches with an unmistakable French undertone, then Belgentier is the place.

Belgentier

It was so wonderful just to walk around the place, taking in the scenes and feeling like you were really a part of it all.

Belgentier Door

There was a French bakery (Boulangerie) on every corner, some abandoned and some still in operation and they really added to the flavour and charm of Belgentier.

Boulangerie

Belgentier Courtyard

We continued our country drive and happened to stumble upon a vineyard called Châteaux de L’escarelle.  Whilst we were tasting their wines, we spotted two pictures on the wall behind the bar of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Turns out that their house is less than 12 kilometres from the vineyard! We had notions of trying to find the house for a sneak peak, but the sales assistant assured us that little could be seen of the house from the road.  After a little tasting and buying, and paranoia about the drinking and driving laws, we continued our journey.

Chateaux de Lescarelle

One thing I have to say about the French is that they are completely crazy when it comes to driving! We were driving up winding mountain roads which are so narrow that they should really be single lane roads.  To add to this the roads aren’t marked by a white dotted line in the middle either, so at some points you really feel like you could be on a single lane road! I was doing my best to keep up with the speed limit on these treacherous mountain passes, and all the while people behind me are hooting and screaming past in their cars. Utter madness!

Having explored the countryside a little, we thought it would only be right to take a drive along the coast from Hyeres to Saint Tropez I mean that’s one of the things this area is famous for right?

Canadel Sur Mer

Like it’s countryside counterpart, the coastal road is tight, narrow and winding yet everyone seems to take a slower pace here. It’s almost as if they want you to slow down and take it all in. It really is beautiful just like everyone says, and you can understand what all the hype is about.

Sea Views near Le Lavandou

We stumbled across a very random garden in Le Lavandou called ‘Jardin du Mediterranee’ but after finding that there wasn’t much to it we moved on.

Eventually we landed up in the countryside again, which was ok because we stumbled across some fantastic places. The countryside surrounding Barjols is definitely worth a look in, the scenery is magnificent in this area.

Countryside surrounding Barjols

Outside Barjols

I had heard that Draguignan was particularly lovely, so we made that the last stop for the day. It’s a bustling town, and we took a drive to the top of the hill where we got some awesome views.

Draguignan

When we got back to our apartment we realized we had been so busy checking out the countryside that we hadn’t even been down to the beach, which was 100 metres away! This area is very pretty, and I can just imagine that it’s quite beautiful in the summer time. Although I’m sure it would be packed with French and English holiday makers alike.

L'aygaude Hyeres

It was good way to end our final day in L’aygaude – Hyeres and I hope we’ll be back someday soon.

The travellers....

Cyrille Weiner’s exhibition at villa Noailles

Je ne peux qu’être heureux et serein de cette décision qui vient clore définitivement ce chapitre post-électoral, qui n’a que trop duré.

En décidant de me relaxer, le tribunal reconnait qu’il n’y a eu aucun caractère diffamatoire aux tracts évoqués. Après le Tribunal Administratif, après le Conseil d’État, la justice confirme une fois encore le choix démocratique des électeurs.

Je réaffirme ma priorité, qui reste toujours la même : travailler au service de Hyères, et de tous les Hyérois.

Un petit café sympa situé dans le centre de Hyères à proximité des commerces.
On peut y prendre un verre, une glace ou déjeuner le midi. L’établissement a changé de propriétaire au mois de mars 2009 et, après un mois complet de travaux, a rouvert. Il propose un cadre léché, simple et moderne, à l’image de sa cuisine, avec en prime un accès à Internet gratuit (wifi).
La place est tenue par une joyeuse équipe de trois personnes dont un jeune chef originaire du nord, et expatrié pour l’occasion. Il conçoit tout ce qui est proposé à la carte : c’est donc le concept du tout est fait maison qui prédomine (glaces, salades, quiches, pâtisseries…).
Je vous conseille d’essayer les sorbets qui ne vous décevront pas dont notamment un excellent parfum à la menthe et un autre à la noix de coco.

Le positionnement prix est très abordable (pour la région) :
Café à 1€30
Coupe 2 boules à 2€80
Salade au choix à 8€50
Menu du midi à 8€50 composé d’une salade d’été (melon, pastèque, mozzarela…) + pâtisserie en dessert (sans boisson …?).

Ouvert toute la journée de 7h30 à 19h00 (dommage pour l’apéro)
Adresse : 27, avenue J. Clotis – 83400 Hyères

Mérite un bon bouche à oreille.

in realtà il primo viaggio insieme, io e, al tempo la mia ragazza (si parla del 1996) l’abbiamo fatto in tenda 4 gg. in Versilia…

ma il primo vero viaggio organizzato (1997), e che non dimenticheremo, è stato in Costa Azzurra e Provenza: a Hyères!

Anche questa volta in tenda, romanticamente acquistata come fosse la nostra prima casa, partiamo alla volta della Costa Azzurra con l’obiettivo di passare 10 gg. in questa località e visitare la Penisola di Giens, le Isole d’Hyères. Che fanno parte del Parco Nazionale di Port-Cros.

Fino a quì niente di strano, se non fosse che dopo la prima notte ci svegliamo con un tempo da lupi, sembrava ottobre: freddo, pioggia e vento!

Parlando con i vicini di tenda, che da più di 10 anni frequentavano la località, ci dicono che non hanno mai trovato un tempo così… fortunati noi, pensiamo!

Nel corso della giornata, peggiora.

Nel primo pomeriggio, acqua che fa galleggiare la tenda e vento che tenta di strapparla, decidiamo di buttare tutte le nostre cose in macchina (tenda compresa) e scappiamo. Mentre usciamo dal campeggio, entrano i pompieri per soccorrere alcune roulotte.

Cerchiamo una sistemazione per la notte e il giorno dopo optiamo per spostarci a Nizza e proseguire la vacanza… in albergo.

Nizza si rivela una bellissima città: il Castello, la chiesa russa, la Promenade des Anglais e le crepes…

La consiglio, anche solo per un week-end.

27 avril – 7 juin 2009 – 24^ème édition

♥♥♥

http://www.villanoailles-hyeres.com/

A moins de prévoir longtemps à l’avance, les prix sont prohibitifs (plus de 200 euros A/R en train) et la durée de transport longue (4H30).

foto's Frederik Heyman

Tree-hugging krijgt een totaal andere betekenis in het werk van de Belg Simon -Pierre Toussaint (°1986). Met zijn debuut collectie ‘The Trees Can Hear You If You Talk To Them’  sleept hij op het prestigieuze Hyères festival niet minder dan 2 prijzen (Swarovski & de publieksprijs) in de wacht. Afgestudeerd in 2008 aan de Antwerpse modeacademie ontwerpt hij een speelse en barokke collectie, die zich ergens bevindt tussen het escapisme van ons volwassen universum en de oprechtheid en naïviteit van een kind. Toussiants collectie krijgt daardoor een buitenaardse, quasi onmogelijke  dimensie. Inspiratie put hij uit zijn eigen jeugdherinneringen, met een duidelijke verwijzing naar zijn scoutsverleden.

Ostatni dzień we Francji spędziłam w Hyères-les-Palmiers, drugim co do wielkości mieście w regionie Var. Łapiąc ulotne chwile we włoskiej kafejce, nad kieliszkiem piwa, w mediotece ze starymi francuskimi filmami (ach, Resnais, Truffaut), których fragmenty (a zwłaszcza “Gładkiej skóry” aka “La peau douce” ze względów portugalskich) sobie z przyjemnością obejrzałam poczułam już pierwsze symptomy tęsknoty za wszystkimi pięknymi miejscami, które przez ostatnie kilka tygodni odwiedziłam. Wiem, że podróżując dalej na południe z pewnością spotkam kolejnych wspaniałych ludzi, poznam nowe miejsca i będę cieszyła się nową kulturą oraz zgłębianiem niuansów językowych. Jest w tym jednak coś jeszcze… Najlepiej opowiada o tym Victer Duplaix w kawałku “Soon” z klasycznej płyty “In between” J-novy. O proszę:

Sesję zdjęciową dedykuję niepowtarzalnej atmosferze francuskiego południa, a zwłaszcza Prowansji, która w Hyères reprezentowana jest w całej doskonałości. Zwraca tu uwagę szczególnie architektura, będąca mieszaniną klasycznych willi z typowo prowansalskimi kamieniczkami i budownictwem z lat 60. (patrz: Hotel de ville) i zieleń miejska, na którą składają się – rzecz jasna – olbrzymie palmy, ale także platany, agawy, kaktusy i inne sukulenty. Polecam Hyères wszystkim tym, którzy nie mogą oderwać wzroku od pięknych roślin w swoim ogródku, ponieważ tu można się jeszcze wiele na temat zieleni nauczyć przez obserwację (na przykład w Jardin Joaquim Olbias Riquier). Załączam też zdjęcie pięknej sukienki wypatrzonej w Traffic Jam (marki typowej dla Cote d’Azur), niestety nieprzecenionej, a dlatego i nieosiągalnej. Polecam jednak starówkę Hyères wszystkim wielbicielom stylu casual i vintage, bo i tu, podobnie jak w Aix można znaleźć wiele ciekawych butików (1st i 2nd hand).

Nie to jest jednak najważniejsze. Francja jest nadal, i widać to na każdym kroku rajem dla ludzi kochających swobodę i odbieganie od  reguł, przeciętności,  pozytywnych świrów wszelkiego rodzaju i ludzi, którzy nie boją się wychodzić w piżamie na ulicę. Jest również, przynajmniej południe, królestwem ludzi pięknych i bogatych, ale też tych po prostu kochających estetykę, z 5 euro w kieszeni.Słońce świeci tutaj ponoć nawet w styczniu, morze ma kolor nieba, a niebo – morza… Smak wina rose, sera roquefort, brzoskwiń prosto z drzewa, dźwięk najbardziej seksownego na świecie (po arabskim i portugalskim, rzecz jasna języka oraz les cigales, szum Mistrala i dotkliwe momentami ukąszenia komarów i słońca na zawsze pozostaną moje.

Wiem, że chcę tu wrócić, n’importe pas quand. Et j’espère que je pourrai vous revoir, mes amis du CIFAS n’importe pas quand et où ;*

Schoon liekes duren niet lang… ook was dit weer met deze vakantie. 18 juli waren vertrokken richting het mooie weer, nee niet Spanje of Tenerife maar the South of Europe (France). Het was de bedoeling om er een lui-lekker vakantie ervan te maken … en dat is het uiteindelijk ook geworden. Kort opgesomd wat we allemaal uitgestoken hebben:

• 1130 km: Besse sur Issole was onze uitvalsbasis
• Schatten zoeken (geocaching.com), uiteindelijk geen enkele gevonden omwille van te weinig tips… ofwel was iemand ons al voor geweest
• aan ‘t zwembad liggen, aan ‘t zwembad liggen, bakken in een temperatuur van tussen de 30°C en 35°C
• Fotootjes trekken, wat experimenteren…
• Boek(je) lezen (Het Bernini Mysterie, Dan Brown)
• Wat foto’s bewerken en af en toe zelf wat liggen kribbelen op een papiertje (= tekenen)
• Bezoekje brengen aan den IKEA (in Toulon), de tandarts… en daarna naar de kust rijden
• Een dagje alleen op stap met mijn kodakske en ruïnes gaan zoeken om te fotograferen
• Grimaud (gezellig oud stadje op een ‘mussenscheet’ van St Tropez) – Roussillon (met de okerkleurige rotsen) bezocht en foto’s getrokken
• Op de terugweg heeeeeeel veel Route National gedaan en dan ook wel mooie plaatsjes tegengekomen.
• Bezoekje gebracht aan ‘La maison de la première Photographie’ in Saint-Loup-de-Varennes
• Laatste overnachting in B&B Hotels ergens tegen Beaune
• …

Hier enkele foto’s van onze vakantie…

Forbidden region

Franse wrakken langs een Franse weg...

Plaatsje gezocht... en gevonden.

Weerspiegeling...

Grimaud

Hyères - Boot + vuile vlek

In de buurt van Hyères - Pier

Cooling down...

En zo kunnen we nog wel even doorgaan… 1160 foto’s en na selectie bleven er +- 260 over.

Sobotę spędziłam na wyprawie na wyspę Porquerolle. Nie wiem, czy nazwa ma związek z podłużnym kształtem wyspy, wiem jedynie, że wyspa ta jest najwięszą w obrębie Lazurowego Wybrzeża i jednym z najbardziej urokliwych miejsc, które do tej pory odwiedziłam. Wiem, że się każdego dnia powtarzam, że jest tak pięknie i w ogóle, z góry przepraszam za przewidywalność tegoż bloga. Porquerolle był niegdyś własnością prywatną, a teraz jest częścią parku narodowego. W przeciwieństwie do reszty Francji, palenie jest tu niepopularne i ścigane z urzędu ze względu na obecność licznych pożarów (obecnie ponoć plagi południowej Francji, o czym dowiedziałam się z wiadomości polskich). Patrzeć i podziwiać zdjęcia, bo tylko tyle mam na dziś do powiedzenia! Jako że siedzę z dziećmi Mme Hippie na tarasie i dyskutuję na niepoprawne politycznie tematy, co jest ciekawą odmianą dla francuskiego small talk na dziś kończę, zostawiając opowiadanie historii obrazom miast słowom.

I piosenka, która mnie dziś nie opuszcza i ilustruję moją beztroskę:

assez bronzee?

a cote de Chateau St. Agathe

le cigale en macro

ecrivaine contemporaine

en passant le Mediterranée

Beztroskie dni chyla sie ku koncowi, dlatego zalaczam jeszcze kilka zdjec z kaskady sasiadujacej z Chateau de La Castille (w ktorym prawdopodobnie pozostane z kilkoma osobami do 29 lipca, bo choc staz konczy sie juz w czwartek, dla osob ktore maja wylot pozniej przewidziano darmowy pobyt), winnic i dlugich spacerow ze znajomymi z CIFAS. Dzisiaj spedzilismy dosc zmudny dzien przygladajac sie pracy terapeutow (glownie kinezyterapeutow i logoterapeutow) w szkole specjalnej w Hyéres. Najciekawszym momentem wizyty w Olbia Centre, bo tak sie ta szkola nazywala byla dla mnie rozmowa z terapeutka zajeciowa. Opowiedzialam jej o dzialaniach, jakie prowadzi m.in. Kolo Arteterapii przy UAM w Poznaniu, do ktorego przynaleze, byla bardzo zainteresowana wymiana doswiadczen, wiec zrobilam i cos w kierunku rozwoju praktyki psychologicznej (tak jakby). Wyposazenie, pomyslowosc (srodki, dzieki ktorym dzieci z porazeniem mozgowym mogly wykonywac prace) i zaangazowanie wszystkich prowadzacych terapie i zajecia w tejze szkole byly godne nasladowania. Jednak zwiedzanie calej szkoly przez pol dnia, podczas gdy za oknem swiecilo piekne slonce i widac bylo ludzi bawiacych sie na niebianskiej plazy w Hyéres bylo dosc meczace. I to jeszcze nie koniec – w srode odbedzie sie wieczor zamykajacy caly staz. Postanowilismy przedstawic kilka krotkich tancow grupowych, pod przewodnictwem najbardziej licznych reprezentantow: Hindusow, Syryjczykow oraz Ukrainek. Ja postanowilam dolaczyc wraz z moimi ulubionymi Brazylijkami do grupy arabskiej, ale Syryjczycy wrecz kulaja sie ze smiechu widzac, jak bardzo nie wychodzi mi krecenie biodrami. Za kazdym razem powtarzaja mi tylko: Ce n’est pas LE TECHNO KATARINZA ; ) (Tu moznaby wstawic kilka brzydkich slow po arabsku, ale tego nie zrobie). Widocznie habibi rhythm nie jest mi dany we krwi! O efektach opowiem, rzecz jasna pozniej. Tymczasem do prezentacji szykuja sie dzis Brazylijki i beda czestowac cachaça, a potem znow Jana i Joel (one sa takie malutkie!) beda mnie uczyc tanca po arabsku. A pozniej nastanie noc, kiedy bedzie dal Mistral ze zdwojona sila, bo ostatnio wrecz galezie uderzaly w okiennice zamku, tworzac nastroj rodem z horroru.

Gontran, Anas et Karolina

La Cascade

Gontran, Karolina, Natalya, Kasia et Anas

sacrum et profanum

@ Hyéres

...widok z Olbia Centre w Hyéres

Depuis l’ile de Porquerolles

large on black

         I feel Cream, el nuevo disco de la canadiense Peaches ya está a la venta, around the world, desde el pasado 5 de Mayo. Talk to Me ha sido su primer single cuyo vídeo podéis ver aquí; oscuro, siniestro, misterioso y muy punki, como ella misma. A mí me encanta, todo sea dicho.

        Aunque no he podido evitar sentir cierta inquietud nada más ver entrar en escena a las chicas éstas ataviadas con pelucas enmarañadas cubriéndoles la cara a lo gore nipón. De pronto me he acordado de Margiela para este verano, y de Kate Moss vistiendo su abrigo para una de las portadas del Summer Issue de V Magazine, y del corto presentación de Mareunrol’s Private Detective que vimos en el último 080 Barcelona Fashion (galardonados, por cierto, en Hyères hace unos días)… y yo me pregunto: No, en serio ¿qué pasa con todo este pelo*?

        * No pelo de abrigo de pelo, no. Pelo de melena, I mean.

+++++

         I feel Cream, the brand new album of the canadian singer Peaches was finally released worldwide last May 5th. Talk to Me has been its first single which video you can see in here; dark, creepy, misterious and really punk, as herself. I really like it, I must confess.

        Though I couldn’t help feeling some kind of restlessness when I first saw all these girls wearing tangled wigs covering their faces, very japanese gore like. All of a sudden I thought of  Margiela’s collection for this summer, of Kate Moss wearing his coat in one of the V Magazine Summer Issue covers, of Mareunrol’s Private Detective short-film that we saw in last 080 Barcelona Fashion (awarded, by the way, in Hyères some days ago)… and I wonder: No, really, what’s going on with all that fur*?

        * Not fur like fur coat. Fur like hair, I mean.

+ Pics: V Magazine Summer Issue / Diane Von Furstenberg in Purple Magazine /Amazing Bryan Boy / Maison Martin Margiela S/S 09 / Mareunrol’s +

I told you about my initial menswear coup de foudre at Hyères International Fashion Festival, but here is my womenswear coup de coeur: designer Anaïs Dougnac. A romantic collection, which you want to curl up in, complemented by the most feminine and chic accessories, and told with a poetic story. 

Inspired by Saint Exupery’s The Little Prince, animation film The King and The Mockingbird and Charlie Chaplin films, the story is an expedition to the moon. A group of young girls are sent to the moon to bring back the fragrance of the moon. And to do so, they have the perfect ethereal and dreamlike outfits: diaphanous dresses and soft lingerie, with sophisticated travel accessories in the purest white: gloves, briefcases, conceptual ankle boots and the necessary detail to fly to the moon: wings.

Again, there is a duality in the collection: romantic and feminine clothes are created with masculine fabrics, sober tones and emphasising a contrast between the materials used: lace and leather mixed on lingerie and boots. The wings are created with handmade feathers of leather and cotton with silkscreen print. And the details are both intricate and playful: hidden heels in the boots, silkscreen printed bow ties.

A graduate from the Arts Decoratifs in Paris, Anaïs has her own very sensitive and poetic world. Who knew intergalactic travel could be so chic? And since Anaïs revealed to me she would like to specialise in accessories in the future, I would not be surprised to see her designing chic cases and gloves for Louis Vuitton in a few years. Or maybe for her own brand, in a cocoon boutique in the heart of Paris or Westbourne Grove…

Oh, and by the way, the girls came back from the moon, and they brought back this amazing fragrance that perfectly completes the collection since, as Anaïs perfectly summarised: ‘A collection is not only beautiful dresses, but also all the accessories to form a complete outfit, and indeed the perfume!’

hyeres fashion & photography festival is usually a good spot.
///
it’s like spring break for the fashion industry. booze and sun.
///
plus you get good contacts for work. and discover new talents.
///
this year (unfortunately) the fashion recession came with a moody weather. and it was all about rain, rain, go away… come again some other day… well at least there was some booze.
///
merci à precarious z et precarious e pour la photo. (juste avant la pluie)

This past weekend, I was in the south of France for Hyères International Fashion Festival. In the middle of impossible storms and sipping Champagne in true fashion-festival-style, I was in the first row admiring some of the most promising new designers’ collections. The fashion shows were taking place on the beach and I don’t know if it is the sea wind that had such a strong effect on me, but something very unusual happened.

I fell in love with … a menswear collection. And I mean, really completely, entirely and utterly, fell in love with this collection. . Although it did not win the final prize – offered to Latvian Marite Mastina & Rolands Peterkops – the collection, appropriately named Bandit Couture, was by far my coup de coeur of the festival.

A graduate from the Chardon Savard Atelier in Paris, Thomas Trautwein has been working with his family on this collection, with his mother and cousin assisting him in the studio and his brother as a model.

I went to see – and most importantly touch! – the pieces after the show, and I was lucky enough to have a nice chat and a short interview with Thomas and his cousin who are both absolutely lovely, as well as a passionate and talented team. 

Indeed very dandy, Thomas’ elegant collection is all about impeccable cut and subtle details such as drapes, shoulder and thigh yokes and superpositions. Architectured suits. But not only. 

When asked about his inspiration, Thomas explains: ‘I’ve been into gangster films since I’m a child and I draw inspiration from the emotion these mysterious bad boys convey.’ For this collection, Once upon a time in the West and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly were the main references, hence the tassels, poncho jacket and perforated hats.

But the understated palette of black, grey and navy balances the Mexican bad boy effect. Actually, it could be Savile Row meets urban cowboy. ‘I think fashion is about balance, I love the constraints of menswear, it pushes my creativity and my work on details.’

And the ultimate detail: a fragrance inspired from the classic Cologne of the designer’s father, a reminiscence from childhood, as a madeleine de Proust, that evokes the dryness of the desert vegetation. I can almost see Clint Eastwood.

Pictures: Left: Thomas Trautwein website. Right: Matthew Zorpas, undercover accomplice. Special thanks to Pierre-Jean and all the lovely people that made my weekend such a delight.

Sandrina Fasoli and Michael Marson are the creative duo behind the label Sandrina Fasoli, both graduated form Ecole Nationale des Arts Visueles de la Cambre, in Belgium. A poetic and nostalgic vision of understated femininity brought them together and in 2003 they picked up first prize for their women’s collection at the Festival International des Arts de la Mode, in Hyeres.

Since their first collection launched in 2000, they have grown now with stockists in Japan, Korea, Paris, Brussels, and now in the US.

www.sandrinafasoli.com

-K&J

The Hyères festival kicks off tomorrow. The main events are the juried fashion and photography competitions which have become known to spotlight and expose many promising talents. You can follow the build up and the competition itself over at Diane Pernet’s shaded blog.