Channeling…The South of France
and a new subscription plan
A couple of weeks ago, we published our South of France Hotels Shortlist—which turned out not to be such a short list after all (ICYMI – here). Of course, all of that deep-diving made me want to get there this summer to swim in the iconic rock pool at the Hotel du Cap Eden Roc, eat lunch in my favorite art-saturated garden at Le Colombe d’Or, and wander the rose-scented grounds at La Bastide de Marie in the Luberon. Usually when I’m researching a certain destination, I start with vintage imagery—the style icons who went there, what they wore, what movies were produced there, the art and music of the area, the people who lived (and live) there. Back in my magazine days when I had an office, it was one giant collage, and then I made moodboards for each story I was developing.
Now that I’m on the road more than I’m in an office, the moodboard happens much more mentally, or on my laptop—but I figured, since I personally get so inspired during this process, why not share it here with you? What I discover often informs how I pack—maybe I’ll buy something just for the trip, or I’ll know I want to find it when I get there. No, I’m not going to cookie-cutter a Jane Birkin look from La Piscine, but I’ll definitely take the striped shirt and the ballerina flat (and who knew that Bardot was responsible for getting Repetto to make the shoe wearable on the street?!). Or maybe it just inspires a summer look, even if I’m not able to get to St Tropez anytime soon. And so, voilà, this is our first “Channeling…” destination moodboard—conjuring quintessential South of France style. All of these are easy to pack, great for layering, and perfect to accessorize with a pair of vintage sunglasses or a silk headscarf picked up during your travels.
In other news, it’s been six months since we came back to Substack, to complement the website we launched last summer. Our idea was to make it more of a community board for our followers—a way to ask questions and engage with us, and a place for us to share what we’re up to and what’s coming across our radar. (In case you’re new to us, YoloJournal.com is where we archive our travel and lifestyle content—our Black Book city guides and Travel Planners, Guest Books and style stories like Travel Uniform—which we send out in our weekly newsletter, Yolo Intel. If you don’t subscribe and want to, here’s a link!)
But quickly, our Substack became much more than a water cooler—more personal posts from me, our team answering your questions… and it just keeps evolving. We’ll still put up free content here—including posts like this—but we’ve decided to paywall some stories that take forever to research and put together, or feel like they should be premium, like answering your questions in a monthly “You Asked For It” column, or being able to initiate a Chat thread so the whole community can answer your questions with their own expertise.
And so we’ve decided to start adding a (roughly) twice-monthly paywall next week, when I’ll share Part 2 of our “Hotels as Design Inspiration” series. I hope you’ll consider upgrading to a paid subscription so you can see all of our weekly posts and initiate chats—it’s just $5 a month or $50 for the year. Whatever you choose, thanks so much for being here! —Yolanda
Channeling…The South of France
The Basket Bag
A summer staple on the arm of so many French women, there is no better bag for throwing everything into while still looking incredibly chic. This Sézane version has a great wide opening and an elegant wrapped handle, which we imagine will only improve with age under the Provençal sun. The medium basket from Hunting Season is another great take on this iconic bag, with leather detailing and a handwoven basket. And we can’t not include this raffia bag from Loewe! Another good option: pick one up at a local market when traveling, a great souvenir and practical throughout the trip.
The T-Shirt
A great-fitting t-shirt (circa 1960s French cinema) is a staple for every season. Petit Bateau makes iconic shapes (like this t-shirt or this tank) that are the epitome of effortless chic, and Sézane has some good variations on classics, including this flattering boat neck and comfortable boxer version.
The Capri Pant
Instantly reminiscent of Brigitte Bardot and the film stars of the French New Wave, a capri pant is perfect for a chillier evening or a stroll through a weekend market. These Dôen capris in black are perfect, sitting just mid-calf, with a high waist and a small kick flare. This Ann Mashburn version is also great, coming in various colors, with a more dramatic kick flare. I especially love this version in stretch denim, which feels timeless and more comfortable than jeans!
The Striped Shirt
It’s really not summer in the South of France if you don’t have a classic striped shirt, short-sleeved or long—a favorite of Bardot (and, of course, Picasso). J. Crew has a multitude of options (like this classic crewneck or this boatneck) in fabric and fit, but all equally effortless and cute. Saint James—itself a French icon—still makes their iconic striped sailor shirt to this day, perfect for summer with a ¾-length sleeve.
Espadrilles
Arguably the most comfortable summer shoe, the classic espadrille looks just as chic when it’s well worn and a bit beat up. Although many local French supermarkets sell them in summer, you can find good ones online at Maison Joseph or Flabelus. Worn to the beach or thrown on instead of a mule, espadrilles hold up against the elements and can be worn through the fall. For a more dressed-up version, these wedge espadrilles by Sézane, or these from Stubbs and Wootton, capture the same French elegance with a comfortable heel.
The Ballerina Flat
The Repetto Cendrillon, created in 1956 per Brigitte Bardot’s personal request, is pretty much the iconic French ballet flat. Both cute and functional, it works well with any outfit or worn by the pool. Jane Birkin in Jacques Deray’s La Piscine is a great example of the inspiration behind the shoe’s place in your summer wardrobe. A more modern version by Carel with the same classic elements pairs easily with everything, whether you’re dressing up or down. We also love this version from Margaux that comes in the best colors!
The Cardigan
Another classic ‘60s silhouette, the cardigan is an ideal layer for travel, also achieving an effortless yet put-together outfit. The Enya Cashmere Cardigan from And Daughter is a good length and cashmere is great for packing, as it tends not to wrinkle. This version from J. Crew is a bit shorter and can be paired with a sleeveless undershirt to act as a twinset.
Pleated Trousers
An homage to the somewhat androgynous style of many French icons and the stylish men of French cinema—à la Cary Grant in To Catch a Thief—a wide-legged, more oversized trouser is a great option that conjures the classic silhouettes of the era. This J. Crew Pleated Chino or the Dôen Lisa Pant would pair well with a bikini, flowing white blouse, and pretty much anything included here.
The Peasant Blouse
The white blouse is summer—easy to throw on at the beach, wear to the market, or dress up for dinner. A Jane Birkin favorite, there’s nothing better to tuck into jeans, layer over shorts, or wear under a cardigan. The Julienne and Jane blouses from Dôen (named after Birkin herself) are timeless silhouettes, with a wide body and balloon sleeves.
Striped Dress
As seen sported by Marianne in Godard’s Pierrot le Fou, the ease of the striped tank-top dress is unmatched. This version by Petit Bateau is easy to sleep in, wear to dinner, or even use as a beach cover-up—comfortable, chic and quintessentially French.
The Bandana
The most versatile accessory when it comes to summer, it also happens to be incredibly chic and timeless. Easy to throw over wet hair, protect your hair from the wind, and even as an elegant “foulard” to keep your neck warm in the evening, the bandana packs small and can be carried anywhere. This silk Hermes bandana is a classic and can be used in many ways, while also paying homage to the iconic French house. Reformation makes a great version in cotton, which is perfectly classic in navy. Or you can find one at Souleiado, or a vintage one at just about any French market, and bring it home as a souvenir.
First, great post! Channeling South of France all summer long even if it’s just South of My Yard.
Second, if one already subscribes to YoloJournal.com do we need a second subscription to access the paywalled Substack content? I’m a little unclear. Thx!
I’m on a flight back from France right now. My husband and I went to visit our 30 year old son who lives in Sète with his French wife. We took them traveling in the south of France. I used the Yolo Journal recs for two of our hotels and they were spot on. I’m not going to list them here because I think your YOLO journal is worth every penny and I don’t want to give away your content. Thank you for doing what you do. I really appreciate it.