January has been quite gloomy so
far... we've had weeks of overcast skies this winter, which is unusal
for the South of France. Occasionaly there has been a clear morning, but
by mid-day it's mostly back to grey. Most years, winter is such a
lovely season.. it comes with blue skies, crisp air and cosy home
comforts. I hope the sun will make a comeback soon...I am longing to see
nature being transformed into a sparkling winter's dream.
Capsule wardrobe pieces: blue jeans, cream silk blouse, grey sweater and black coat.
Accessories: Hermes 'La Femme aux Semelles de Vent' 90 carré in a pleated rectangular fold, Hermes 'chaine d'ancre' printed enamel bracelet and Birkin 35 in black.
Shoes: black ankle boots
Accessories: Hermes 'La Femme aux Semelles de Vent' 90 carré in a pleated rectangular fold, Hermes 'chaine d'ancre' printed enamel bracelet and Birkin 35 in black.
Shoes: black ankle boots
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Oh my gosh, for a minute there, I thought Grace Kelly had come back from the dead and landed in the middle of the swan pond. I think that's the most exquisite picture of you I've seen to date - that gorgeous, fine-boned profile; the luminous and might I add, ageless complexion, the perfect highlights. If I didn't adore you and love you to pieces, I'd be jealous as hell!
ReplyDeleteIt may be gloomy in the South of France, but you certainly light up the landscape with your incandescent beauty.
Gah . . . I'm so envious,
Jerrine
Hello Dearest Jerrine,
DeleteIs my post reflects your feelings ?
xx
Catherine
Oh, Jerrine, I love love LURV Grace Kelly, and you are so right about the resemblance! I'll be our dear MT could totally do the Ice Princess if she made the effort to downplay the warmth and joie de vivre that comes through in her photographs. I'll join you in that cup of "green" tea -- I'd need a head and body transplant to look anything like Grace or MaiTai! If we all looked alike it would be boring. I'm glad we swans are uniquely beautiful in our different ways. Hugs to you, dear Jerrine.
DeleteAloha from freezing Seattle,
Fifi
Fifi, you are quite beautiful...as evidenced by your lovely group collage photos!!
DeleteExactement, chère Catherine. You hit the nail squarely on the head.
DeleteThere is beauty, and then THERE IS beauty. I wish I could hate her, but I can't, as the inner beauty even outshines the outer.
Fifi, I agree with Haverford, you are certainly a beautiful woman, as evidenced by your lovely face that appeared in the last collage. And, you are right of course, vive la différence.
Manuela? Another beauty, for sure. Oh, hell, we're all beeeeutiful each in our own way. We're Swans after all. There's no such thing as an ugly Swan!
Patting all of us on the back and wishing everyone a good weekend, possibly with a bit of sun?
Jerrine
Dear Jerrine, you said it all and expressed it so beautifully! Warm hug, Manuela xx
DeleteThank you, dear Jerrine.<3
DeleteWishing you a sunny and lovely weekend. Big hugs, Manuela xx
Haverfordgal, you are so sweet and I hope you are doing well. Jerrine, you're right, there is no such thing as an ugly Swan! Hmmm, book title? The Swan's Guide to Life?
DeleteExcellent, Fifi - I like it, and I am appointing you as the book's official editor!
DeleteBest,
Jerrine
All swans rock, and are beautiful by definition! No Ice Princess here, the only iced parts are my hand and feet in winter.. your lovely comments made me walk on sunshine though <3
DeleteDear MaiTai -- I just love the gray colorways; gray skies, not so much. But we appreciate the blue skies that much more when they do appear. You've got good weather for those cosy slipper-socks I recall from awhile back (your "pajama post," I believe). Hot tea and cosy clothes are the recipe for these dreary winter days!
ReplyDeleteWith warm aloha,
Fifi
Dear Mai Tai,
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely sight for a gloomy winter morning!!!!!!
Even in the bleak mid winter you look like a ray of sunshine !!!
The only good thing about cold weather IMHO it's that you can wear as many scarves as you want!!!!
Talking about scarves I dare to take advantage of your kindness and savoir faire again...
I couldn't make my mind about which scarves from FW2015 to choose... so at the end I let Santa Claus (AKA as DH) to choose 2 fro Xmas presents... We have been talking about the ones that I most prefer... but you know how men's mind work.. to make it short ther was 2 beautiful orange boxes under the Xmas tree and no one of them were among my favourites !!! Ons of them , Bateaux Fleuri, it's easy to incorpore to my wardrobe and style... but the other one , Hippopolis, it's so far iof my confort zone that I can only admire it and keep it in the box again the CW it's white/ink/blue.. so if you are so kind to play your magic again and make some suggestions you'll make me more than happy.... I keep telling DH that it's a "spring scarf"....
Ah and all the swans suggestions will be welcome too!!!!
Many thanks and warm regards from Barcelona
Dear Ilsa,
DeleteI laughed so much reading your post. It took me ten years to explain to my husband that red Baccarat roses were not my cup of tea…so I do sympathize with you concerning your DH choice of scarves! They are so sweet and we, sometimes, are so hard to please….
You could maybe try to wear some white or beige (which I personally like very much for winter) or navy blue to match with your Hippopolis.
Wishing you a nice week end in Barcelona,
Catherine.
I'm chuckling as well...my DH knows that my fave colour is orange...so he feels compelled to buy me everything and anything that is orange. *sigh*.
DeleteOh gosh, haverford, what if a bright orange Mercedes shows up in the driveway with your name on it some day?
DeleteBut, you have to love them for trying.
Best regards,
Jerrine
Dear MaiTai, I love this scarf so much, but was not one of the fortunate ones to purchase it. Your CW is just beautiful!
ReplyDeleteSuch a classic outfit, you look lovely! Speaking of lovely, the photos of yourself are beautiful!
Wishing you a wonderful weekend! Simone xx
Good morning Mai Tai, and thank you for your lovely post, always so nice to read. Here in the UK we too have had a rather gloomy start to the new year, with bright days somewhat rare. Such a contrast to the beautiful, sunny and warm autumn. But I am led to believe by my radio weather forecast which I am listening to right now, that the sun is due to shine this weekend here in Edinburgh, so all will sparkle with winter's beauty - I hope! Thank you also for your Barcelona travelogue of 2015, which I am re-reading as I plan a little trip for the family in early summer. Though we know Barcelona quite well, its been such a pleasure to read your account of it, and I am noting all your tips. I am wondering about the Hotel Ohla, which looks great, and I note your comments on it. I think it could be a super base for us, as long as they can give us inter-connecting rooms for the family, waiting to hear back from them, gets trickier as the children (no longer - our son off to university this year) grow older, and the need to find a holiday which suits all the family comes into play. Which is why I think Barcelona (all city breaks in fact) is pretty good for that! Anyway, thank you again, I'm taking your tips and recommendations, what a super resource for all things lovely you are! Have a lovely weekend and I hope the sun shines for you and your family too in France. sx
ReplyDeleteLove the Ohla, hope it worked out for you! Barcelona is such a fabulous destination, and perfect for a family vacation..it makes everone happy!
DeleteDearest MaiTai, What a beautiful post to start the day with! Thank you! <3 As I wrote on Instagram you look fabulous! I couldn´t imagine a more beautiful profile as yours (and specially not mine as my nose is a bit too long:-)
ReplyDeleteWe have snow, lots of snow right now and temperatures that correspond (with the wind) to -6 degrees).
Wishing you and all the ladies a cosy and relaxing weekend, Manuela xx
Now now, dear Manuela! Yes, MT's profile is sublime, but you are very beautiful yourself, and a long nose just ensures that you do not look like anybody else. That's what I love to see in this world -- beauty and individuality combined. I am sure your profile is uniquely gorgeous. If we asked those Horse Men, they would all snort and whinny and stamp their hooves, er, feet in agreement!
DeleteWarm aloha,
Fifi
Stay warm dearest Manuela! You look darling in yor hat over on IG! I love hats, gloves, cashmere anything,coats...you name it! I just wished I lived in a climate to match!
DeleteWishing you a warm and cozy weekend, xx
Trudye and I have climate envy! I've lived in the south for 30 years, but I'm still a northern Yankee girl at heart when it comes to cashmere anything, or wool, or fur or anything that's soft and warm and cuddly.
DeleteYou just can't cuddle much of the time here - too hot; too humid; too yucky.
Here's to winter finery in all forms,
Jerrine
Dearest Fifi and Dearest Trudye, you girls are so sweet and really made me smile! <3 I'll blow a bit of the -10 degrees C we will have tonight over to you, dearest Trudye. Have a very cosy and relaxing weekend. Big mwahs to both of you, Manuela xx
DeleteI love hats too, dearest Trudye, and have decided that I will wear my hats more often this year. So sorry yous sre nog having a cold Winter. Sending hugs to you, Manuela xx
DeleteSorry for the typing mistakes. I didn't have my glasses on😉M
DeleteMa très très très chère MaiTai,
ReplyDeleteAaaarrrrggghhhhh! I don’t love you! You are so awful, so fat, so blond, your profile is so unattractive and on top of it you own the worth scarf Aline Honoré ever designed! Well, my exact opposite.
Huge snowy mwahs,
Catherine
Manuela,
ReplyDeleteAs your nose is more or less like mine, I would say our nose appendix are perfect
xx Catherine
Chere Catherine,
DeleteMerci beaucoup pour ta solidarité! :-))
Gros bisous et bon weekend! Manuela
Catherine, you are so funny! We are expecting snow showers in Seattle today so I too will be able to send snowy mwahs to one and all. Every one of us has the perfect nose for our faces (I keep telling myself with my largish bulby one).
DeleteHugs,
Fifi
Dear Fifi,
DeleteMy nose and I are dreaming of a lazy week-end. Hope you will be able to stay warm and quiet too!
Snowy cold hugs,
Catherine
Chere Catherine,
DeleteMerci beaucoup pour ta solidarité! :-))
Gros bisous et bon weekend! Manuela
Dear swans,
DeleteLet me join you in the "aristocratic" long noses party!!!
As Fifi says our uniqueness makes us beautiful..Anyway Mai Tai profile it's just pure beauty!!!!
Take care all of you and keep warm..Winter has come!!!!
Warm regards from Barcelona
This ' nose' chatter is funny! Yes, we are all beautiful in our own ways and just the way we were meant to be! Amen to that;) How boring it would be to all be the same.
DeleteJust visit L.A. and you will see a sad example!
Fifi, thought of you as we are having our Houston marathon this weekend. Runners from all over the world converge here for this run. Fear they well be colliding if our early morning fog continues! Happy weekend all, xx
Ha ha, Trudye! L.A. is a planet unto itself. But I do love to visit beautiful California. Hope the Houston marathoners didn't get lost in the fog. If I ever get good enough at running it would be fun to travel for races. The excitement pre-race is so energizing.
DeleteMuch aloha to you,
Fifi
Hello, Ilsa! Winter in Barcelona sounds just wonderful. What you said made me think of a MaiTai collage, of all of our noses! That would be hilarious. In addition to her beautiful scarf rings, she must create the MaiTai Collection Nose Ring in silver, gold, horn, or lacquer. We can show them off in a brilliant Nose Collage! Please get right on that, dearest MT! ;-)
DeleteOh good heavens, Fifi. The Swans go punk! Maybe an enameled nose ring a la MT's favorite H. bangles?
DeleteLaughing heartily at the very thought,
Jerrine
You have my full compassion, dear MaiTai - German winters are mostly like that. Nevertheless - I love how you pick your colours according to the atmosphere! I'm very grateful for the close-up of 'la femme aux semelles du vent' - it's an amazing scarf...and goes really well with the bracelet:) Stunning - and we expect nothing less of you! Wishing you sunshine and waiting for winter dream pictures,
ReplyDeleteKatja
What a beautiful way to start my day, greeted by this gorgeous post and your stunning profile!
ReplyDeleteAs I type, the fog is as thick as pea soup here. I look forward to seeing what is behind it as the day wears on.
Speaking of profiles, darling MT, yours is exquisite and I hope DH frames this shot! This is my fav pic of you to date...bone structure, hair color are jaw dropping. No pun intended;)
Love the beautiful capsule shots,too! All in perfect harmony with your new blanket,as I mentioned on IG!
Wishing you and all of the lovely swans shivering at the pond blue skies ahead and a lovely weekend, T xx
Hello, dear Trudye! I love fog except when driving in it is necessary. This morning it's pouring rain and I'm delaying the dog walk hoping it will lessen. I can wear a raincoat but the dog gets soaked. He does enjoy being dried and massaged by a big towel afterwards, though! I agree with everything you said about the classic MT profile - it's beautiful! Joining you in wishing for blue skies,
DeleteFifi
Aye, Fifi, sounds as if the pup needs some proper rain gear! But, I am sure he enjoys the massage...I do to;)
DeleteOur fog has given what to pouring rain, unexpected ! Fingers crossed for those runners in the a.m. that it clears!
Hope you and the puppers stay warm, dry and cozy! xx
:-) Beautiful selection and combination, as always, dear MaiTai!
ReplyDelete"La Femme aux Semelles de Vent" is so very special and this color way seems made for you.
Have a very HAPPY weekend :-)
Hello Dear MaiTai.....such a lovely post...you've taken the idea of the dull weather to something so soft and elegant. I've used it as inspiration today...the sky is grey, the light dull, and snow in the forecast....wearing a soft grey turtleneck, black wide leg pants,pearl earrings, and my Colliers de Chiens Twilly....I think it's CW 11 (pale rose/grey/beige rose) and I'm feeling better already! Thank you ! Cathy Wong
ReplyDeleteLove being a scarf twin on this beauty, one of my favorites. You look fabulous and elegant as always- xoxo
ReplyDeleteBagmoma
Dearest MaiTai,
ReplyDeleteEverything is so poetic and beautiful through your eyes. And you are the most breathtaking vision! Your blog, dearest MaiTai, is the happiest and the friendliest place to visit! Hope familiar winter joys and comforts have come your way. Wishing you a most happy and cosy weekend ahead. Big hugs xxx
To all our swans-friends in the US states where "Snowzilla" is going through, please take care and stay safe!
ReplyDeletexx Catherine
Thank you, Catherine. That's very sweet of you. I'm happy to report that Atlanta was prepared this time. We got only a skim of snow in the city, and other than some black ice on the roads and downed power lines due to the high winds, we're okay.
DeleteI know we're so lucky in comparison to everyone in the Washington, New York and Philadelphia areas. They really have it tough with feet of snow instead of inches. I'm afraid to call my sister who lives south of Philadelphia, and I'm hoping that Haverfordgal is holding in there.
Here's to spring!
Best,
Jerrine
Jerrine, Happy to ear you! Let's hope the all family is fine too...
DeleteC.
Dear Mai Tai,
ReplyDeleteHow exquisite you are! I love your IG photo with your hair up. Breathtaking! And I imagine, as others have noted, that you are as beautiful on the inside as the outside. Thank you for permitting me to ask my cat question here. With your blog,you have created a lovely respite of elegance and friendship. Seeing the world through your camera lens inspires me to take a fresh look at my own surroundings.
Jerrine and Greta,
I'm so relieved to tell you that we caught the cat! Thursday night, mere hours before the sleet began, he came to my front door and was looking at my indoor cat through the glass. I opened the door and showed him a can of food. Several hours later, he shut his eyes, followed his nose, and finally stepped over the threshold!
I'm dying to order from Mai Tai's Collection. Would you tell me what I might expect from customs & brokerage? With this snowy weather, I'd love to have her fur collars. Now if only I could look as glamorous while snowed in as Mai Tai looked in her cozy-at-home post!
Best Wishes,
Rebecca
Rebecca, this is the best news I've had in a long time. I'm so relieved to read that the little guy is safe and happily reunited with his "people," especially before the bad weather set in. I guess he knew somehow that it was time to come in from the cold.
DeleteHave no trepidation about ordering from MT's wonderful collection. Every item comes beautifully packaged and is delivered to your door by our postal service. I've never paid one bit of duty or any kind of brokerage fee on anything I've ordered from her, and I've ordered plenty!
I've worn the lovely fur collar this past week when it's been so cold here. Not only are they very glamorous, they're very cozy. I've been thinking of wrapping them around my feet!
So, order away and have no fear. You won't pay any customs duty.
And, thanks so much for updating us on the kitty. I know that Greta will be relieved to read the news, too.
All the best,
Jerrine
Well done Rebecca! Another safe furby.
DeleteCatherine
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Dear MaiTai, I have to say again, I love your blog. I love your scarves, all of them, but my favorites are:
ReplyDeleteMythiques Phoenix,
Le Femmes aux Semelles de Vent,
La Presentation de Chevaux.
I hope I find one of these scarves or one similar.
I found your post fron 4.2.2014....very lovely post, something like comparision...big inspiration.
Good luck :) J.
New to your blog as I just got my first Hermes scarves and stumbled upon your blog when searching for ideas on how to use them. I think I will become a regular reader after seeing just a few posts, your photos are really something else!
ReplyDelete