Frenchiness. What is it about ‘frenchiness’ that gets us antipodeans so excited? Is it the effortless francophile street-style we see emulated on The Sartorialist that so inspires – all breton stripes, messy hair that’s perfectly coiffed in its shaggy unwashed-ness and snakey hips in short boots and stovepipe jeans? Come to think of it – that’s seems like the look most of the inner-north of Melbourne aspires to (myself included). Casual, ineffable chic. And boy, was there a lot of it on show yesterday at So Frenchy So Chic , where the Werribee Mansion gave us one perfect day of frenchy-chicness and tunes in the sunshine.
Having previously visited Werribee Mansion for The Mansion SocieTEA, I had high expectations of a day of music and picnicking in its beautiful European gardens. So Frenchy So Chic brings an array of French musicians to Australia, pairing their Gallic style with delicious foods including picnic boxes by Bright Young Things, coffees and treats from Wild Horse Cafe and Frenchy delicacies including Laurent Perrier champagne, macarons, rillettes and more.
We arrived around midday with blankets, pillows, books and our own picnic-to-go, as it’s the kind of comfortable and family-friendly event where you can easily bring the kitchen sink (something I’m fond of). You should have seen all the kiddiliwinks artfully dressed in stripes and straw hats by their Mamans playing petanque! The highlight of the day for me was Féfé, a rapper and singer who deserves an award for playing such a hugely long (and magnifique) set in the boiling midday sun. It became very hot, very quickly – and we had to avail ourselves of the cool shade from a Captain Cook Pine. There, tea and panettone was suitably enjoyed.
What’s a festival without a flower crown? Clever event organisers prepared beautiful and delicate crowns worn atop the noggins of many a So Frenchy So Chic mademoiselle.
Werribee Mansion and Moi : wearing muchos 30+ zinc, Mimco chapeau and Ralph Lauren stripes a-plenty.
Werribee Mansion offered plenty of cool promenades to hide from the midday heat while enjoying one’s cafe-au-lait.
A moment in the sun – and a wonderful way for me to finish off my Summer holidays. That’s right – Ruby Assembly are back in the saddle and looking forward to an exciting, imaginative and adventuresome 2014.
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