fraise/pistache

Image via jacqumus.com

There is a bit of a buzz surrounding La Grande Motte right now. Jacquemus has made a star of the French seaside resort and a genius backdrop to its new summer 2014 collection. Ice-cream shades a go-go and marvel at the architecture in this great little promo film with its accompanying 80s sounds.

belles pompes

All images via adieu-paris.com

Spring is a-coming and it is time to look ahead to shedding layers and changing footwear. The 2013  Easter break to the Gard is almost upon us and I for one am hoping it will be warm enough to paint my toenails and get my feet out for the first time this year. In the meantime, the new Adieu collection has appeared and I will be eyeing up this little lot for the next while.

Dick's

All images via Uli Schade

Towards the end of last week, I was invited to the opening of a new store in the Stockbridge area of Edinburgh. The people behind Dick's clothing, accessories and homewares, are two of the most decent and interesting new acquantainces I have made in a long while. Andrew is originally from the area and has set up shop with his photographer wife, Uli. Fresh faced and fresh up from London, they have travelled up the road full of hope and new ideas. Here is a refreshing take on style in the Scottish capital, looking like nothing else on offer up here right now. The place is a labour of love. Everything from the clean and simple design aesthetic of the interior, to the carefully selected products, are works of art. We got on immediately, sharing an appreciation of well-crafted, quality products. What caught my eye in particular, was the number of made in France beauties represented alongside wares from across the world. These include such classics as Duralex glasses and Breton shirts (theirs are by Orcival, suppliers to the French navy), that have been previously championed through pas mal. There are also lovely notebooks made in Paris by La Compagnie du Kraft, 'The most unproductive makers of notebooks in the western world!' (so say the manufacturers about themselves); Opinel knives, since 1890 manufactured in Saint Jean de Maurienne in the Savoie region; and great Vetra, workman jackets. I hear there is snow forecast in Edinburgh tomorrow, so thank goodness they also stock a fine selection of unisex woollen goods (not French, but warm and quite brilliant). Let us get behind these guys and give them our full support. Until their website goes live, go like them here. Come on Dick's and do Edinburgh proud; this city needs you.

Vacances Françaises

 

All images via vacancesfrancaises.com

 

 

If you're anything like me, you will always come back from a French holiday with at least one little reminder of that great getaway. For me this summer, it was the orange notebook I use for work.

 The guys behind Vacances Françaises are good, very good. Not only do their products remind me of wonderful visits to various parts of France throughout my life, but they conjure up childhood memories and times spent with my late grandparents. You can tell there is a lot of thought and genuine love behind this new venture. This lot have created a veritable box of little madeleines de Proust. Followers of Pas Mal will know I am a real supporter of 100% Made in France products of all kinds. And guess what? Vacances Françaises only deal in the real French deal.

 Have a wander round this lovely site and treat yourself to a few bits of nostalgia, make some new discoveries and check out the great gift ideas. I will be starting my Christmas present hinting soon...

the wonder of wellies

image via aigle.com

I will not bore with details of the weather. It is raining in Edinburgh. It has been raining for days, though it feels like weeks, if not months and perhaps even years. I met a friend outside her office today (in the rain), for lunch. I quickly clocked her really nice (waterproof and French), parka. I almost always dress inappropriately when it comes to the weather here and these days do not really own anything that could be called anything more than splash-proof. Which is ridiculous really, seeing as I currently live in Scotland. Anyway, this parka was not only a great hue, but stylish and cut perfectly. Aigle: not what I would have termed in the past as one of my go-to brands of choice, but the aforementioned outergarmet and their current collection has changed my mind. This is a company proud of its heritage and quality, made in France products. The website, with its nautical back stories, looks great and is totally on trend. They do a lovely line in shorts, shoes, jumpers and have even teamed up with agnès b for a range of limited edition wellies. If like me you thought differently about this lot, have a think again.

les chaussettes de l'Archiduchesse

Do not be fooled by the pretty blossom. It may be spring, but in Edinburgh today, it might as well be autumn, going on winter. Yes, more weather related complaints from me. Fear not, help is at hand, in the shape of warm layers, gloves, a scarf, hat and that all important pair of warm socks. I first heard about Archiduchesse chaussettes last week, whilst watching the lunchtime news on France 3. I only caught the latter part of the report, but having since done a bit of research, gather that their socks were recently ripped off by a company in China. Counterfeit versions of their beloved made in France socks were doing the rounds on the net. The bone fide site and blog is here, where socks in 4 different varieties and children's tights can be found; all colours of the rainbow are well represented. The owners tell the tale that when starting out with their sock venture, their goal was to produce socks to match their Converse. Nice USP. Mine are to match my photo.

All sock images are via archiduchesse.com

Golden Hook

All images via goldenhook.fr

I thought some shoehorning might be required to squeeze this into spring, but none needed. This is another post about knitting. Some may at this point think I have lost the plot, having just mentioned the +25 degree temperatures we were experiencing in the south of France a couple of days ago, but we have returned to Edinburgh. People, the weather here is a bit, well, rubbish. I have lost 20 degrees in 3 days, am wrapped in a few woollen layers and have been cold all day. So, I am telling you about this website I have just discovered. Those not in current need of knitted comfort, please store the info away for a time when you are feeling chilly and fancy some new knitwear. The Golden Hook are a brigade of self-proclaimed, talented knitting grannies, who will create your chosen item for you, in your selected colour scheme, from the Golden Hook catalogue. Childrenswear is to feature in the range, soon. If like me you are a fan of the home-knit, but quickly lose interest lack talent generally make a complete mess of it (when it comes to knitting), give these people a try.

allez

All images via storerolandgarros.com

I caught the start of Andy Murray in Monte Carlo, yesterday, which reminded me that my favourite tennis season is about to begin. Roland Garros kicks off in May, with its entertaining France 2 coverage and trademark close-ups of random details in the crowd. Closely followed by Wimbledon. If like me, you are not getting to go to either tournament this year, cheer yourself up by having a look at the rather good Roland Garros boutique online.

gentil coquelicot

Vibrant and beautiful poppies have just started appearing and are currently lining the country roadsides, here in the Gard. As if to mark the occasion, agnès b has just added this cheery skirt to her summer 2012 line for girls. Coquelicot: surely up there as one of the loveliest words in the French language.

Image via agnesb.fr

bleu de chauffe

Oh no, I am liking everything about Bleu de Chauffe. Really nice website alert: selling lovely bags, great back-story (Bleu de Chauffe is the blue workwear jacket that the steam train conductors wore when heating the water and making the pressure rise, but also the name still used today for workwear worn by French manual workers), photography that looks oh so French and it is all made in France. With each item individually branded on the inside you are owning not only beautiful craftsmanship, but a unique piece. Drawing inspiration from a vintage postman's bag or an electrician's holdall from the 50s and 60s, this eco-friendly company uses only plant based dyes and has a low carbon footprint. Fabrication Française at its very best.

All images via bleu-de-chauffe.com

black fleece

Please be forewarned, this little piece is a bit of a cheat. I am getting a bit carried away with all the glorious weather we are having this week. When we were in New York a few weeks back, I spotted the lovely little candystriped summer dress, above, in the window of a shop in the East Village. My friend and I wandered in, only to be met with disappointment as the dress was part of the new season collection, which was due to arrive a couple of days later. We were leaving later that day... And so to the wonder that is the WWW and I found it! Here it is along with some other bits from the Brooks Brothers Black Fleece summer 2012 collection. This is where the cheating comes in. I am shoehorning the post in as there is a bit of red, white and blue on the page. Apologies.

Images via brooksbrothers.com

it's only March

The weather man/woman/person was a tad pessimistic a couple of days ago. No grey skies to be seen over Edinburgh, not even a single white one. Just glorious, hot, sunshine. This is the life. Pas mal. I could not let this week go by without a trace left of this weather and something to remind me of 'that amazing week in March'. The K Jacques St. Tropez are getting their first airing of 2012. I certainly did not think it would be this soon. It is still only March.

goodbye grey sky, hello blue

At least for today (though, shh, the BBC are announcing grey skys over Edinburgh for tomorrow and beyond...) Today, spring was welcomed to 2012 with some appropriate weather. Sun and warmth all round. With the clocks changing this weekend, that must surely be a cue for spending some of our hard-earned pennies? Agnès b., Parisian, chic fashion staple, has just launched her SS12 collection. Brilliant at producing classics that never seem to age, in every sense of the word, you can never go wrong with one of her shirts, jumpers or cardigans. This season, I am particularly feeling her dots and florals. But there really is something for everyone in all of her collections.

Images via agnesb.fr

quick: sample sale!

Image via plumo.com

Here they are again - clouds. The ones above are very likely to be around for today only, so best get in quick if they take your fancy. These lovely little hair slides are a French design and are made in France. Sample sale on today, courtesy of Plumo. All items are unique pieces (only one of each available).

little fluffy clouds

Images via zushop.bigcartel.com

I do like a good tip (and while we are on the subject, my thanks go to our New York, NY, tipsters - you know who you are). A friend tipped me off recently about this really nice online French children's boutique selling chic and stylish clothing, accessories, interior design and toys. All the products advertised are made in France and the cracking and bilingual, French Blossom website, is soon to launch a French language blog, too. A lot of the wares on offer are, though sometimes pretty pricey, absolutely spot-on. I homed in on the adorable weather-related cushions by Zu, above. A nimbus cloud light is currently on offer, too.

prints a go go

All images via souleiadoamerica.com

Prints are a key look for SS2012, I take it; and it appears the brighter and more colourful, the better. Now, having spent many of my childhood holidays in the Languedoc-Roussillon, I have seen a fair bit of  tissu Provençal in my time and if you are keen on being bang on-trend, I would suggest you try hunting some down. My grandparents had a fair bit of their interior design based around the fabric, with curtains, tablecloths, napkins and the like dotted around the house. Overkill perhaps and paisley and fleur de lys-type motifs are certainly not everyone's tasse de thé, but the fabric has for me, you might say, a touch of the Madeleine de Proust about it. For the real, good quality deal, you must consider Souleiado. There is even a museum dedicated to the brand and its history, to be found in Tarascon, Provence. While you are searching for your fabric, make sure to get a pot of lavender while you're at it.