Have you every visited a place and felt like it was your spiritual home?

The first time I visited St Tropez in the South of France it was with my Mum and Dad. Perhaps I was seeing it through a 12 years old eyes but it was absolutely magical .

The artists painting; their easels lining the cobbled streets of the marina. Old gentlemen playing boules in the market square; their faces the colour of, and resembling sultana’s. Engrained with deep wrinkles from years exposed to the Mediterranean sun. The immaculate older ladies that wore THE latest fashion and smelt of expensive perfume enjoying coffee dates in the sun . The beautiful lady in the skin tight tiger-print catsuit walking her equally beautiful baby tiger on a lead – that’s an image I will never forget .

Anything goes in St Tropez and I loved everything about it.

We returned as a family year after year until I was old enough to go with my girlfriends . I’ve visited a couple of times as an adult and experienced a totally different St Tropez. Lazy days on one of the numerous beaches , or people watching from one of the street cafes. Wild nights in fabulous nightclubs drinking champagne we couldn’t afford, flirting with beautiful foreign men, only rolling in as the sun rose… happy on life.

I recall one bizarre weekend when the whole of the Harley Davison crew showed up for their annual meet-up? All the beautiful French men seemingly dispersed to be replaced with drunk , hairy bikers. Everywhere we looked, everywhere we went guys and a few gals on bikes. The peace disrupted with the ‘vroom vroom‘ of them on their bikes racing up and down-the streets .

It was the same weekend that we stayed at the famous and extremely fabulous Byblos Hotel with its onsite nightclub Les Caves Du Roy. Built in 1967 it was home for and synonymous for celebrity and hedonism . Guests have included Grace Kelly, Lauren Becall, Beyoncé , Leonardo DiCaprio and Naomi Campbell . Mick and Bianca Jagger celebrated their marriage there.

I saved forever to pay for that weekend away … it cost an absolute arm and a leg. It was spectacular – as were the prices. As my brother would say I was living my ‘ten bob millionaire ‘ life.

A few days after we had checked out the newspapers were full of photos of Victoria and David sunning themselves around the pool , laid on the very beds we had been ! Our timing has always been off

This morning I’ve found myself scrolling Pinterest … reminiscing, longing for days when we can return to the beaches and holiday again . I’m well and truly caught up in a St Tropez rabbit hole, drawn to images from the 1960’s and 70’s.

We can’t currently travel but we can dream … we can make plans.

* All photos courtesy of Pinterest unless otherwise stated *

Above & below Hotel Byblos in Saint Tropez 1970

Photo : courtesy of a Hotel Byblos / Pinterest

Which then found me looking at ways to recreate some of these looks for myself … even if it’s just to sit in my back garden ! affiliated links marked *

Poolside Chic

New Look Black Swimming Costume – £7.49

Black One Piece Swimsuit *

Diesel White Oval Sunglasses *

Charles & Keith Sunglasses – £29.00 *

Pretty Little Thing Mix & Match bikini top – £10.00 *

RoseMae Jewellery Long Necklace – £12.50

Straw Sun Hat – £10.00 *

Tassels

Mango Faux Suede skirt via ASOS – £17.00

Sparkly Play Suit Fun …

Just add tanned skin and bare feet

Boohoo Sequinned Playsuit – £32.00 *

Rose Mae Jewellery necklace – £15.50

ASOS front tie sequinned playsuit – £24.95 *

Ashiana Necklace – £51.00

‘I saw it first’ Sequinned Playsuit – £25.00

Missguided Peace & Love Embellished Mini Dress – £245.00 just because it’s a beauty !

Today I may have been sat in rainy Sheffield back in my jumpers as the weather has taken a turn for the worse … but in my head and in my heart I was right back in St Tropez.

See you soon Mon Cherie!

Tracey x