Moody and misty was the feel in Saint Tropez on Saturday morning.
Saint Tropez has a quieter feel this year, more relaxed and with a less frenetic pace.
More like the old days.
In Saint Tropez I cannot help but re-visit my favourites.
Breakfast at Senequier and the usual people watch. The Patisserie out the back has the best nougat of all; this year I managed to resist. What a disappointment.
The market, held on Tuesday and Saturday mornings, is best conquered early.
By 10 or 11 it is impossible to wade through the crowd of visitors and see anything. I have been buying from this market for 20 years and I always find something fabulous. Every year there is one idea that takes Saint Tropez by storm and often in the form of a basket. One year it was sequins, another year beads; this year some of the baskets were embroidered with cute expressions, others were spray painted. Some were spray-painted in a single pastel colour. They looked particularly wonderful all over white and would be much easier to reproduce than the stripes and monograms that we took on for Emily’s summer party.
If you would like to customise your French basket there are a couple of tips I learned along the way. Use spray graffiti paint to create your stripes or all over colour and enamel paint with a medium/ thin brush for the initials.
Kaftans were the other find in the Saint Tropez market.
There are a couple of stands that are truly worth a visit selling inexpensive silks and cottons that are pretty and versatile for the summer.
How to find them?
It is difficult to explain. Stand outside the Céline shop on Traverse des Lices, opposite Places des Lices where the market is held, and look across the road. In the left hand corner there is a stand that sells embroidered kaftans. I have been buying here for 20 years. The owner once sold antique linens and now specialises in silk and cotton dresses from India. They are lovely and last beautifully.
The second stand specialises in cotton only (pictured below) and this “boutique” is right in the middle of the market. Don’t miss this one.
As for the boutiques,
Saint Tropez is a shopper’s paradise whether you want designer dresses or casual kaftans.
Forget Dior, BlaBla in Traverse de la Garonne, is the best boutique of all if you are searching for resort-wear. An Aladdin’s cave of treasure that will not only tempt you but also take up plenty of time. Don’t miss this one if you are in Saint Tropez. I came away with the prettiest white dress and longer style “shirt” to wear with capri pants.
What I love most of all about Saint Tropez? It doesn’t really ever change that much. xv
All White Like In Saint Tropez
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theory jemion white dress // kay unger short sleeve lace detail // felicity and coco lace shift to wear over capri or linen pants
