We should to this every year... as spectators.

View from our villa.


Celebrating with the designer backstage.


Delicious and Handmade.


The Tent - set up on the beach, where all the shows were held.



After yet another long respite, it's time to get back to writing down my adventures. When we last left off, I had just returned from 2 weeks in Hyeres, France. Our time there was lovely, and enough cannot be said about the town, its charming inhabitants, its delightful weather, or its picturesque location. We rented a villa atop a mountain (perhaps a foothill to those living outside the MidWest) overlooking the sea and the town of Hyeres proper. The villa was truly amazing and supplied every luxury a group of vagabond fashionistas could dream of.

The shows.
The runway shows were held once each evening from Friday through Sunday, culminating with several prizes being bestowed upon a trio of the designers. Sunday night, the weekend was capped off with a dance party of epic proportions held at Villa Noaillels overlooking the city. While he did not receive an award, a certain Mister Graham Tabor shone quite brightly in his own right. Graham was not only the sole American invited to show at Hyeres, he was also one of only 2 menswear designers. After several near catastrophes, Graham and his crew of dedicated colleagues put on
an incredible show that will linger in our memories for some time to come.

Following the excitement of the Feastival D'Hyeres, we traveled to Paris for a few days. The weather was gloomy, but the members of Team Graham Tabor seemed bouyant after such a successful weekend. Their time in Hyeres seems to have been well spent, as Graham and his crew have since received a great deal of media attention for their work. Graham's collection, accompanied by photographs by Miguel Villalobos was included as an official event at Paris Men's Fashion week. As the only American -- and most talented -- designer at Hyeres, Graham was also the focus of a number of media spots following the Festival.

The trip was a whirlwind of work interspersed with goofiness and the enjoyment of good company. Graham has surrounded himself with a group of loving and talented people, and it was quite an honor to be allowed to tag along.

Thinking of Going?
The Festival D'Hyeres is held in late April each year in Hyeres France (Connect at CDG, continuing on through Orley Ouest by bus, then to Toulons). Make sure you can drive manual transmission before renting a car and attempting the winding narrow mountain roads.

Must Sees.
Take a day to visit nice, a short and very scenic drive down the coast from Hyeres. Shop the Medieval markets and enjoy the promenade along the water. Consider a pair of handmade leather sandals, local olives, visit the flower market for a pleasant stroll. Unless you like wasting time and money, you can skip the trip to Monte Carlo. The scenery is lovely, but can be found in far less congested spots.

Be sure to visit the shops in the old district of Hyeres. There are numerous patissieries well worth nibbling your way through. The tiny stone streets are not only a window to another time, but seem to have preserved aspects of French culture and food within their shops. Try the fresh handmade pastas, or sample traditional biscuits. The square provides a pleasant setting for lunch or an afternoon tea. Remember that food is serious business and restaurants will close periodically throughout the day, so plan accordingly.