Oct
Postcard from Cassis, France: Pretty Dresses & Beautiful Childhood Memories …
I arrived in Cassis, France, just a few months ago in July 2026, during the hottest part of the year. I had just been to one of the Provence deballages (antique markets) seeking out brocante and antiques for a growing part of our store Little French Maison.
I always get a little nervy when entering an old French village, wondering where I will park, will I end up in the middle of a square blocked by a fountain and having to reverse out to a sea of onlookers, all speaking to me in French. I’m sure it has happened, I think in St Remy, so I can understand my trepidation. However, parking was easy by heading towards the steep hill side of the small village. The relatively easy entrance to Cassis meant the stroll back down to the village felt balmy and relaxed. As I walked nearer, I could see glimpses of the Mediterranean sparkling, little fishing boats bobbed in the harbour, seafood bistros fringed the port, what a beautiful part of the world.
This old fishing town (ancient I should say for it having been established around 500BC according to records), and just east of Marseille, is framed by dramatic limestone cliffs and the sheltered turquoise coves of the famous calanques. I ambled along the waterfront, marvelling at the palette of beautiful pastel buildings, and after browsing a few menus I stopped for a lunch of mussels, crusty baguette and a chilled glass of straw-coloured rose. After the hot and dusty deballage it was heaven.
A 10-minute stroll took me to the breathtaking Plage du Bestouan, where stone steps lead down to a pebbled beach and the Mediterranean. Diving into the water, albeit slowly walking on the pebbles to get to it, was like diving into a glass of mineral water. I felt invigorated and refreshed, and I sat, in hat, sunglasses, my Bali costume I’d purchased recently, pretending to myself I was a little European.
Beyond the harbour, narrow lanes and streets wound themselves between sunsoaked Provençal buildings and old fishermen’s houses. I too bathed in the shaded hues of apricot, terracotta and dusty pink. Little boutiques and cafés spilled onto the pavements, and life moved at a holiday pace. Cassis is the sort of place where memories are made.
Pretty Louisiella Dresses, Lovely Memories
A dear friend recently visited Cassis with her young family and shared these beautiful photographs of her daughter wearing Louisiella from Little French Heart.
I loved how naturally the dress belonged in these surroundings. Its delicate embroidery, soft cotton and nostalgic silhouette seemed made for wandering through Provençal gardens, gathering flowers and enjoying the little adventures of childhood.
I’ve always believed that beautiful children’s clothing is about more than the clothes themselves.
Sometimes a dress becomes part of a family’s story. The one worn on a summer holiday, exploring a village, gathering flowers or sharing a special day together.
Years later, it’s often those simple moments we remember most. And sometimes, tucked away in a photograph or carefully kept as a treasured piece, is the little dress that was there for it all.
SHOP BEAUTIFUL LOUISIELLA CLOTHING FOR THE MEMORIES WE MAKE ALONG THE WAY
A beautiful thanks to Janina and her daughter for these photos. You can see Janina’s work, an artist, and a little of her life raising her daughter in Paris on Instagram under the account Nuage__Bleu.
