My first glimpse of the sea as I enter St.Tropez is so exciting and uplifting. January is my favourite time of year to visit this area of the South of France. Even though the air is crisp the skies are often this gorgeous azure blue. This year we have been particularly lucky as we have been experiencing nearly continuous bright sunny days.
Another advantage of this time of year is that there is very little traffic. During the popular summer months, it can take over an hour to get into St.Tropez as there is only one narrow road that winds around the coast and it gets very congested. We arrived at the market so early last Tuesday morning that the square leading into the Place des Lices was deserted.
A great opportunity to take a photo in the soft early morning light. I am wearing one of my favourite red wool scarves. I bought it in the market a few years ago. Big chunky scarves are very on trend this year in France. I saw quite a few chic Parisian women wearing them when I visited Paris in December. So I am off to see what the market has to offer this season in the way of scarves. I am sure that I will not be disappointed.
Could not resist a photo of these lovely embroidered slippers I saw in a shop window in one of the side streets.
Embroidered sliders
The fabric and home deco stalls were a riot of colour.
A multitude of colours were on display from the very light pastels to the deep burgundy reds
I knew that I would fall for at least one scarf. I love this wide shawl style. It looks great slung over my black jacket to add a touch of colour. As it is lightweight I think it will look great worn over a linen dress or kaftan in the summer to create a hippie vibe.
On the way back we popped into La Halle our local grocery store. It is a co-operative run by local farmers. Most of the produce is grown locally. They offer fresh fruit and vegetables and their spit roast farm chickens are absolutely delicious
We often pop in there for a cup of coffee and a freshly baked baguette. The atmosphere is always warm and friendly and when the sun is shining you can sit outside on their cushioned benches and eat fresh shellfish.
The large chunky blue scarf I am wearing in the photo is a new acquisition from St.Tropez market. I noticed on my trip to Paris in December that many of the chic Parisian women were wearing these oversized scarves. Quite a few of the women in St. Tropez have picked up on this trend and were wrapping themselves in these cosy scarves. I was very pleased to find several stalls in the market offering a variety of similar styles. I could not resist this blue version and will be returning to the market tomorrow to investigate further.
Oh you make me eager to return to our Aix market! We’ll be back sooooon….
You look lovely in your scarves. I so wanted to visit this market, but by the time we picked up the car at the Nice Airport, it had closed. We were in Aix for 10 days and never managed to get back there. A la prochaine!
I went to St. Tropez for the first time last June. In order to avoid the horrendous traffic that you mention, we left at 7:30 am and were rewarded with a convenient parking place and a leisurely coffee and croissant before the market opened. I bought a caramel linen dress, long, from a stall that looks very like the one you show. It was a bit voluminous (I am 5’3”) so she added a belt below the waist and I loved it. I don’t do belts anymore, but the way she styled it it looked great. Wonderful magical day. thanks for jogging my memory.
It makes me want to return! By the way, the blue/black and pink scarf from John Lewis you featured has proved to be a great buy. I wore it so much during my recent Sicilian trip… Thanks for the tip!
That looks like a dream. We have lovely blue skies in winter, but accompanied by cold. I’m sure St. Tropez would feel “warm” to me right now.
The scarves! The slippers!
Now I think I need a trip to FRANCE!How is the work going on a SHOP for your BLOG?
Hi La Contessa
Still work in progress however we have a deadline for early February. I am finding and buying some lovely scarves in St.Tropez market so am very excited.
Very interested to hear you might be opening a shop as some of those scarves are to die for!
Hi Blondwelshlady
Yes we are planning to open a shop selling St.Tropez scarves. It should be up by 1st April and will announce it on the blog as soon as it is.