Reader's style challenge and FSH inspiration

There hasn't been a reader's style challenge for some time, and it was so nice to receive the following from Cynthia in the US:

Dear MaiTai,
See that you are visiting Paris. In NYC, after our Labor Day, most women stop wearing pastel colors and turn to black. Since black no lingering suits me, I wear navy. What is your Summer/Autumn transition wardrobe? Can you post a few ideas on your blog?
Thank you.

I agree that with so many beautiful autumn colors around it is a little early to succumb to winter black. With so much color inspiration from the autumn windows at Hermes, your request dear Cynthia could not have come at a better time! Many of the combinations resonate with some of my favorite autumn scarves, and remind me of previous ways of wearing them.. Looking at the date of some of these pics, I'm thinking how timeless a simple capsule wardrobe with beautiful accessories can be. The windows also inspired some new looks and reminded me of other locations and photos. Because there are so many, there will be a part two as well.

The picture below is from 2014, and incidentally part of a style challenge (how to wear leopard print.. click here to see the full post). Wearing a 'Carré en Carré' 90 scarf in a rectangular pleated fold.

Below the same scarf worn in the same year, but this time tied into a criss-cross bow knot and teamed with a dark brown jersey shirt, checked wool pants and a 32 Kelly in ebene. The look itself is a repeat of my first blog post in 2009 (click here to see the full post).

Going further back... in 2012 I brightened up an all-black outfit with a brown leather belt (click here to see the workshop and how to order) and a 'Madame et Monsieur' 90 carré worn in the basic bias fold. You can prevent the scarf from slipping by securing it with a small magnet (click here to see how)

I had many requests regarding the scarf pictured above... it is a 100 x 100 cm cashmere/silk scarf from the men's collection, and it's called 'And the Winner is' (available here at H's US site). Its beautiful blues inspired me to take out my Cavalleria d'Etriers cashmere shawl (tied into a cowboy knot with ends left loose). I teamed it with blue pants and a Picotin 18 in Bleu Sapphire, and for an autumn touch framed it with a linen sweater in orange.

As usual, I toasted Paris good-bye in the bar of the train station's magnificent Train Bleu restaurant, only this time I had an orange bag as extra company!

Inside the orange bag... Tigre Royal! I've been looking for a 140 x 140 cm (55"x55") carré géant for the longest time, and this one was love at first sight (Ref. H671632S CW12 noir/argile/turquoise .. available here on H's French site). Even though it's from the current Autumn/Winter collection, it can be worn in a light and summery way too...up until the last couple of days it has been sunny and warm in the South of France, so I wore it for its first outing with cream trousers. More on the Tigre Royal coming soon!

I tend to get quite absorbed while taking pictures of the FSH windows... zooming in and out of them, the colors and textures seem to imprint themselves on my subconscious... I often recognise them afterwards in a myriad different contexts and atmospheres - nature, buildings, someone's clothing, a scarf or piece of jewelry or even another shop window. I came past this beautiful board game at 12 Rue des Saint Pères... home to Galerie Ducha, where Master engraver Dominique Duchange gives a new life to centuries old paper board games (www.dducha.com).

Combining the trousers from look #2, the scarf from look #3 and the sweater from look#4. Pic also from 2014!




Coming next: FSH inspiration part two