I hate taking selfies, but decided I should suck it up and do it to show my 3 favorite purchases of 2023. The Over Performers. They were purchased with low expectations and have rewarded me with delight.
Brides de Gala en Finesse
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To me, the basic Brides de Gala pattern always looked like two aqualung scuba divers. Not attractive IMHO. The Finesse swirls made me oblivious to the aqualung men. This scarf is so easy to wear. No matter how it is ties, the swirls show and are soothing. The design goes to the edge (big plus in my book). This scarf is like wearing pajamas.
Chacun Fait Son Nid
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This scarf is a riot of color, and all the corners are different. The name translates to Everyone Makes Their Nest. The pattern is a bird’s nest with eggs in it. The nest concept resonates with me, because who doesn’t want to decorate their home in a way that makes them feel happy and cozy. Chacun Fait Son Nid is just a fun scarf. It is sort of like having a Cinco de Mayo party around your neck with a nice hidden meaning.
Baobab Cat
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(see that tag? that is one of the many reasons I hate selfies. sigh. And why does Hermes ALWAYS put the tag on the corner I want to put in front??? )
When this scarf was issued in 2018, I thought it was absolutely the most stupid design ever: a leopard in a flower. When is a flower big enough for a leopard to stick its head through? Do leopards hang out in flowers??? In email exchanges with my scarf friends, I would snicker and bash this scarf. They would always say “well it ties well.” The leopard bothered me as I prefer abstract designs rather than designs that are representational. This design was a no go.
After about 2-3 years I could see that Baobab Cat DOES TIE REALLY WELL. Then I went through a couple of years of ambivalence about the spines on the flower leaves. Looking at them made me cringe. I mentally wrote this design off, but I couldn’t forget it. An unworn one with colorway tags still attached was available at Real Real for 50% off. I bought it so I could get it out of my head, being ok with the possibility it would get rehomed.
Much to my surprise, I am delighted with it. When tied, it goes from representational to abstract. The blue black flower is gorgeous, but is not obviously a flower. The leopard disappears into the center and just becomes a splash of leopard pattern and not a real leopard. Spines. What spines? The design strikes me as edgy and sexy. It ties well…..
Over a 5 year period, Baobab Cat went from being hated and derided, to my favorite scarf purchase of 2023. It reminds me of the lyrics of a 1913 Al Jolson song “You made me love you but I didn’t want to do it”. This design just wore me down until I purchased it and loved it.
Baobab Cat is the winner of the category of Over Performers.
so jealous! And some duplicates!!
May the next year be as fruitful for you all!
And here is my 2023 line up. There may have been a few I forgot
but hey no one is counting…right?
The Fantaisie Etriers you and 
As always, so beautifully styled 
):
I have a BdeG ed Finesses moussie and I have to agree - the ‘finesse’ is awwwwwesome, so beautiful. This is gorgeous on you.
Warning: the below link is dangerous and may cause wallet fatigue!
. Each one of these is perfect. The cosmo took me years to zero in on that cw. So glad it helped spark your own knowing that it would work on you too! Everytime you wear lanternes I say to myself I am so happy I own it. I really need to wear it more, it’s gorgeous.
(And I think you can control the size of photos when you are adding - at least on the iPhone there is a link on the bottom left for Options that lets you choose a size as well as turning off location data)