Autumn Palette: From Nature to Wardrobe

Fall has a way of convincing a person to love warm colors. Normally, I am a lover of cool and neutral colors-grays, blushes, lilacs, aquas, but when the crisp fall winds arrive,

I am hypnotized by her seasonal hues: burnt oranges, mustard yellows, mossy chartreuse greens, teal, bare branch grays, and browns the color of acorn shells.

I am invigorated as I survey my fall sweaters and scarves and always enjoy dabbling on the warm side of the color spectrum. My fall wardrobe reflects that part of me that loves warmth, that part of me that loves texture, that part of me that enjoys trying new things...

_{images and design by à la parisienne}

Cobalt Blue & Orange Crush-a Complementary Vacation

We have finally settled in after a short vacation spent in Washington D.C. Mr. à la parisienne and I spent four days in D.C. visiting our lovely niece, Holly, who has been working on Captitol Hill for almost a year now. The monuments were momentous, the food delectable, Holly was a perfect little hostess, and my parents spoiled Amelia for five days straight. Needless to say, everyone enjoyed this much needed change in routine. _{a classy representation of cobalt blue paired with crisp summer white worn by Pipa}

Traveling is the perfect time to become creative with your wardrobe and to emerge from a fashion rut. Honestly, the only time I ever have my photograph taken is while away on vacation. You know, the corny photographs that we all think we have to have in front of a famous monument? How many times do you come home, look at the pictures and think,

"Here's my proof that I personally stood in front of the Eiffel Tower and I look like crap."

I'll never forgive myself for all of those photos of me in front of Parisian monuments, during my collegiate study abroad, with my sweater crookedly buttoned down the front. How do you say dorky tourist in French?

Usually, I am very tempted to buy new clothes for vacations, but this trip was quite different. We had about two months notice, and we tried to keep spending to a minimum.

So, I shopped my own closet.

Sometimes in order to revive a wardrobe, you have to become very clever and resourceful. The best way I've learned to capitalize on my wardrobe is through accessories, and for this trip, the name of the game was playing with color.

a couture-esque color wheel

In my one and only art class in highschool, I learned about the color wheel-complementary and secondary colors. Colors directly across from one another on the color wheel are known as complementary colors, which happen to make striking combinations.
I remember my art teacher, Mrs. Goodall, teaching us that the true hue of blue and the true hue of orange will create an optical allusion of a solid white line when held next to one another-quite an interesting concept.

And that thought lead to this ensemble: a striking cobalt blue tank paired with a simple white skirt, accented with vintage complementary orange accessories.
Remember my post about From Me to You and Jamie's vintage millinery bundle? I had to try it for myself.

a brief photoshoot at the U.S. Supreme Court

As this quote describes, the logic of color can help reinvent a stagnant wardrobe without the necessity of spending a fortune. This is an optimistic notion for a frugal woman living through an economic recession.

A big welcome to my new readers. I hope you enjoy sharing my journey.
I will return soon with more colorful fashion inspiration.

_{images #1,3,6, & 8 by à la parisienne {Photographs of à la parisienne taken by my niece, Holly}
#2 here ; #4; here; #5 here; ; #7 here ; #9 here}

I Spy...Tiffany Blue

When were colors named and who named them? Perhaps as new dyes were discovered and invented, these talented alchemists were given the privilege to bequeath such names to each new hue... This is just a notion...but I can't but notice the impact certain objects, even companies, have on colors. In the color spectrum where variations of aqua and turquoise begin to blend and become close neighbors, we find the color robin's egg blue. Yes, many times objects get the privilege of becoming the name of a color: jet black, statue gray; fire engine red; mustard yellow; these are natural occurances. No one tells a person to do this. However, what kind of influence must a company have to impact the very way we as a society describe the color robin's egg blue? A company with exemplary marketing and extraordinary products...Tiffany & Co. As I was putting this post together, I found an interesting article by Alkemie about this very subject.

With further research I found that this famous shade of blue made its début in 1845. Charles Lewis Tiffany made the Tiffany Blue Box a gift only to a Tiffany & Co. customers. One of his rules was to"never allow a box bearing the name of the firm to be taken out of the building except with an article which has been sold by them..."

And one can see why...

The famous and coveted shade of blue~ Tiffany Blue

_{a few objects wearing this gorgeous color}

Thank you all for your encouragement and sweet thoughts over the last couple of weeks! You are the best!

_{Image #1 via Mimi Loves???;Image #2 via Alkemie ; Collage by à la parisienne (Image #1 in collage via Alkemie {Basset Road} , Images #2 & #3 in collage by à la parisienne}

Shades of Spring~Buttercup and Jade

Interesting color combinations has been one of my interests since adolescence. I remember sitting under lamplight at a card table at my best friend's house as we created "designs" {or so we called them} which constituted of an assortment of Crayola markers in assundry colors and two young, silly girls' creativity. I had pages and pages of these débutant color combinations stashed away for future reference...Of course, in time the ink in these drawings faded and my cherished "artwork" ultimately ended up in the garbage can.

But the joy of combining different colors still hybernates in my mind, waiting to be awakened when I have time to create, and some days I stumble upon a unique combination, I am immediately transported to this childhood fascination.

This morning was one of those moments as I was searching for something to wear for our morning grocery errands.

_{Buttercup jacket & jade scarf and vintage jade costume jewelry}

In my haste, I grabbed my faded buttercup jacket, a green cami, and one of my favorite jade-colored scarves, and a pair of jeans. And as Amelia and I walked out of the door for the day, I remembered the picture at the top of this post....and then my search began for

Buttercup and Jade.

A resourceful use of a pale yellow door...

A sweet welcome for your guests...This is a great use of a vintage cosmetic suitcase that seem to be plentious at flea markets!

and the sweetest sun-infused baby room...with white floors and ornate moulding {You know how I love both of these!}

I hope that you are enjoying spring! I have really enjoyed spending time outside with Amelia everyday. I think that the last 10 years of my life, I've totally missed this weather as I was trapped inside studying or working!

_{Image #1 This is Glamorous; #2 à la parisienne; #3 Country Living; #4 Country Living; #5 Most Lovely Things}