Just Add Pink...(or better yet, Magenta)

I don't know about you, but I am constantly trying to revitalize my wardrobe.  At times, I get tired of the of the clothes I see hanging in my closet, but then I'll have an "ah-ha!" moment where I create a fresh look by just fashioning new combinations. That's what I did yesterday morning with this simple gray dress. 

I added a bold, feminine magenta scarf and belt.

That's why I keep accessories in all colors on hand (and rarely get rid of any of them) 

and that's why I have my accessories color coordinated.

 (And, no, I am not one of those hyper organized people--trust me:)

If I grab a pink belt, there's also a handful of pink accessories right beside it for possible pairings.

*The simple gray dress is from Ann Taylor Loft--one of my favorite clothing chains.

*The vintage magenta belt came from my Granny's closet. She let me sift through her vintage accessory stash a few years ago, and this magenta belt was one of my prizes. Most likely she bought it at Goodwill. My Granny and Goodwill are the best of friends.

*The vintage magenta and gray scarf is a flea market find, which cost me 25 cents.

Nothing expensive. No major brand names. Just a couple of colorful accessories. But I like the way the outfit came together, and it made me feel pretty. (That's is the point isn't it??)

That's just how pink makes me feel.

_{image by à la parisienne}

{Happy Easter}...and My Mom's Handiwork

Easter is always a special day in our family since we celebrate not only the love Jesus displayed on the cross for all of humanity, but also His resurrection.

It gives us such a peace in our hearts to know that the One we serve lives in heaven and reigns over the earth!!! And because of this joy, we are able to appreciate all of God's blessings.

One blessing in my life is my sweet mother and her amazing talent for sewing.

This Easter, Amelia and I were dressed with my mother's beautiful handiwork.

_{vintage-inspired black dress made by my mom}

For my birthday this year, all I requested from my mom was a handmade vintage-inspired dress.

I selected the pattern/style and she found the fabric and whipped up this beautiful black frock.

Today, I wore an antiqued gold belt and gold earrings with the black dress, and

I look forward to finding some colorful coordinating vintage belts/accessories to wear with this dress this summer.

Amelia's dress is out of this world gorgeous!

It is made from a beautiful taupe fabric, that my mother had stored away in a stash of fabric, and embellished with a delicate lace around the waist and a large bow on the back. I requested that Amelia's dress also have a bubble skirted hem like her birthday dress last year.
My mom made an extra lace bow for me to put on a headband which helped to complete the outfit.
For the Easter basket, I found a vintage basket for $2.00 and spray painted it ivory and added a dark taupe satin ribbon.

_{candid shot of sheer excitement!}

The day was overcast but absolutely beautiful! At church, we sang the traditional song "Christ Arose!, " ate a delicious lunch, and enjoyed watching all of the kids hunt Easter eggs in a lush green pasture... The Lord is so good.

Joyeuses Pâques!!!

_{images by à la parisienne}

Lilac, Violet, & Lavender~ Un peu d'inspiration

Upon the beginning of every new season, I spend a little bit of time switching the closet around-moving out-of-season clothing to the back (or to another closet) and bringing the current season to the forefront.

I also force myself to do a little purging and a bit of reorganizing as well.

In the process, I always notice a trend in my color palette for each season, and for spring, one of my color mainstays is gray and shades of purples-

pale lilacs, orchids, and touches of lavender.

Perhaps I lean toward purples since they compliment my hair and eye color...

or perhaps it's because I just like cool colors.

Either way, I felt inclined to share my purples with you.

I also felt inspired to play a bit with Polyvore again.

I have an affinity for floral prints, and a floral scarf is a beautiful way to incorporate florals into an outfit without the design becoming dated or overpowering.

I revolved this entire ensemble around this lavender, orchid and gray floral scarf.

So, here's a bit of casual and dressy spring fashion inspiration for you. I, personally, would wear a pair of metallic gray pointed flats with the white tee and jeans and the gray dress, but I couldn't find a good pair that I liked on Polyvore.

I figured everyone has a simple white tee and a favorite pair of jeans, so use this board as a starting point.

If purples aren't your passion, what colors do you gravitate toward during the spring season??

Violets, Lilac, and Dove Gray by alaparisienne featuring leather shoes

_{images #1 & #2 by à la parisienne; image #3 created by à la parisienne on Polyvore}

Winter in Neutral

I just wanted to share with you a little bit of romantic winter fashion inspiration that I just created. While procrastinating on my Christmas "to do" list, I joined Polyvore and created this romantic, neutral ensemble in less than 15 minutes. Now if only shopping and stocking my closet could be this easy!! (And why am I just now joining Polyvore???)

Soon, I will be posting some current gift wrapping that I've been working on, so be sure to check back for a little bit of "unusual inspiration."

Winter in Neutral by alaparisienne featuring vneck shirts

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}

Elie Saab- Of Sky, Sand, & Sea~~

Elie Saab's Fall 2011 Haute Couture Collection is reminiscent of the sirens of the sea.
His color scheme, echoing the wind and waves, includes pale ocean mist, creamy nudes like the sands of the beach,


and a rich deep sea blue.


His masterpieces continue to embrace feminity and soft weightlessless~~

like those of magical mermaids.


His enchanting dresses always captivate.



_{images via Elle.com}

Vintage-Inspired Fashion-From Me to You

Imagine:

feminine waved coiffures, silhouette-flattering lines, dramatic lashes, contured rouged lips, superb use of striking vintage accessories, and last but not least vintage-inspired frocks and ensembles. You will feel transported back to a bygone era that embraces the shape of a woman and the importance of careful, delightful wardrobe planning. Here's a glimpse of a jaw-dropping photography/fashion blog billowing with vintage femininity-From Me to You.

My two cents on vintage clothing:

If I could, my wardrobe would consist of 40% vintage and vintage-inspired clothing/accessories and the other 60% would consist of new pieces, jeans, blouses, and dresses. I love a tailored look, clothing with darts, flattering seams, interesting necklines, A-line shapes, skirts cut on the bias, an emphasized waist, and high quality fabrics.

Many new clothes today, even those with high price tags, are just not made very well. They are comprised of cheap fabrics that fade, pill, and lose their shape after one wash (even on the gentle cycle). That's the reason I wash most of our "nice" new clothing on the gentle cycle with cold water and never dry them in the dryer. It's the only way to preserve them. The average new article of clothing in stores today also fails to compliment the true shape of a woman. Think about all of those times you couldn't find a good pair of jeans, a flattering winter coat, or even a simple, classy black dress._{These shoes are absolument adorable!}
From experience, I have found that a blend of vintage clothing/accessories-found at estate sales, thrift stores, and online-combined with new clothing create the most alluring, flattering, versatile wardrobe. I spent hours taking in the details of Jamie Beck's fashion photography. Where did she find such perfect dresses? shoes? and accessories?

I was thrilled to see that many of her items are from thrift stores!!! You've got to be kidding? First of all, I appreciate her honesty and humility. I mean, these outfits look not only amazing but also very expensive. _Va-voom!
This ensemble is the epitome of the perfect use of red as an accessory. The gloves are fabulous, but that vintage millinery bundle makes my heart melt. I have a few vintage millinery bundles that I have collected along the way to use as accessories in decorating and for clothing; I am so glad to see that they can look so chic.

I love Jamie's use of color in her accessories. The image above could provide years of inspiration for me. Included in each of her blog posts, she shares the source for each item in her outfit, which provides a great resource for her readers. Believe it or not, her scarf was a $2.00 thrift store find along with this striking red belt.

The hairstyle, the hat, and the folded newspaper are perfect accents for this chic black frock.

This b & w image is striking in every possible sense. I have never attempted to wear a scarf over my head for fear of looking like grandma leaving the hair salon... But the use of this scarf with the oversized sunglasses are the principal elements to this sophisticated master piece.

Does this image remind you of anything? Perhaps a little allusion to Audrey Hepburn??? Look at the shape of this dress and how it compliments her figure!!! The dress and peep toe shoes exude femininity and style.

To see more details of each of these outfits and to see her mood board pertaining to the people(Grace Kelly, Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn) who inspired these vintage ensembles, take a little stroll here.

_{all images via From Me to You}

Simply Gorgeous

Yes, it is just now June, but Harper's Bazaar June/July 2010 issue holds some very delicious glimpses of our upcoming fall fashions!

I just love this truly feminine photo shoot of Katherine Heigl!

And this all white bedroom with touches of gold...GORGEOUS!

This is a very flattering bias cut black coat by Lanvin.

And such a beautifully detailed and tailored forest green dress by Oscar de la Renta.

It looks like this upcoming fall's fashion season will be full of flattering lines and femininity!

I hope you have a great weekend!

_{Images via HarpersBazaar.com}

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}

Forever in vogue

Whether paired with ivory, beige, or white, the color navy {bleu marine} seems to outlive transient color trends.

Every spring or summer as we live in a wirlwind of trendy color combinations, fashion magazines can't help but include navy and white combinations-summer sailor stripes, for example.

******

This is my favorite navy ensemble:

*a vintage Vogue-inspired

*tailored navy suit jacket lined with ivory...

*fitted ivory skirt with perfect pleats along the bottom...

*ivory hat with a navy bow...

*ivory gloves...

*and an ivory ascot with navy polka dots

...and we must not forget the matching parasol.

******

Parisienne perfection!

Soft, Ruffled, Ultra-Feminine...Why I Love Elie Saab

As a lover of all things ultra-feminine and romantic, I would have to say that Elie Saab has become a fashion designer that keeps turning up the feminine dial. Yes, I love Dior and Chanel, and their haute couture still inspires me....

But...I just can't help but be allured to

Elie Saab's Spring 2010 Haute Couture line.

It is soft, ruffled, weighless, sexy, and feminine-deluxe.

_{These dresses in these pale shades of pink are like walking shimmering lip balms and softly powdered cheekbones}

Weightless fabrics, soft powdery hues, and detailed flourishes are what make each of these dresses in Elie Saab's Spring 2010 Haute Couture so fresh...so innocent.

The most beautiful overcast shade of gray, I've ever seen.

A pale Tiffany blue gown...

A lilac-gray gown...

These are just a handful of Elie Saab's gorgeous gowns. More to come next week!

I have already begun fashioning some of my brooches in these frothy fabrics and colors and will be adding them to my Etsy shop soon.

For now, I am off to the bi-annual Round Top, TX Antique Fair, where I hope to find more romantic frippery to add to my brooches and to my Etsy shop...Hopefully in this soft, romantic Elie Saab palette!

_{Love Elie Saab??? Here are a couple of my previous posts over his gorgeous couture!}

Dreamy Dresses
Dreaming in Winter White

Parisienne Fashion Plate No. 1- Russet and Denim with a Vintage Twist

I don't know about you, but I always find it interesting to see how women put their outfits together, especially women whom I see often. I am able to see how they reuse various parts of their wardrobe in creative ways. So, I have decided to share with you ensembles from my closet.

I am not sure how often I will be able to post, because:

#1. I am a full-time Mommy, wife, and housecleaner, home maker, cook, you name it.

#2. My husband is the one who photographs me. So, the few times a week I actually wear something decent, he will have to be home to snap a few photos. He must really love me.

#3. I can't seem to find the time to write many blog posts.

#4. And there are also the times when I think an outfit may look good, but when I see it

on the camera, I am made aware that my super chic outfit was, in fact, a "what not to wear."

Nonetheless, I hope that I am able to share with you ways to extend your wardrobe.

Let's face it, we don't always have to buy new clothes to look nice or to be in style. (I am also talking to myself here.) As mentioned in one of my first posts about the meaning behind "à la parisienne" I talked about a Parisienne's state of mind- being selective. I would like to add to that a woman with an incredible look is also resourceful!

How many times do your beautiful scarves, necklaces, and belts remain in the closet while the rest of you goes out???

_{Okay, so the hair style could use some work...}

About the outfit:

1. Dark denim jacket - I purchased this jacket several years ago. I love it's mandarin collar and dark wash.

2. Russet velvet skirt- I purchased this skirt on Ebay of all places and I love it!

3. Vintage russet, floral scarf- I found this scarf at a local flea market in perfect condition.

4. Velvet brooch- A brooch designed by and made by yours truly. This brooch is such a versatile color. It is burgundy & dusty orangy pink. I mostly wear it with browns and denims.

I hope you all have a great weekend. The weather here is so beautiful. It feels like Spring, but as we say in Texas, "Whether you like the weather or not, just wait, it's about to change."

à la prochaine, mes amis!

_{images from à la parisienne}

La Mode de l'automne-Noir

Dior - Haute Couture

I just wanted to share a few quick images that I've collected from the Fall 2009 Haute Couture Runways! These ensembles are so incredibly classy, feminine with a vintage appeal.

I just love this black swiss dot blouse over this nude colored chiffon dress. And the black feathers and ebony pearls~~divine!!!

Is there anyone else out there who would love for women and men to wear hats more frequently as a part of their attire??? It seems like people buy hats but never have the nerve to wear them!

And I'm not talking about baseball caps or winter caps either!

Oscar de la Renta

The gray fur collar with the gray satin ribbon is the perfect accessory for staying warm!

Oscar de la Renta

I love these straight-legged pants; they really make a woman's legs look longer and leaner, and especially with a pair of pointed heels!

Chanel ~ Haute Couture
Oh la la! Regardez cette robe de Chanel~ C'est magique!

Chanel ~ Haute Couture

Chanel has done it again with this beautiful black lace gown. Superbe!

Well, most of us can only dream of wearing haute couture, but that doesn't mean we can't look and feel lovely in the clothes we are wearing!

I would love to know the three main colors you love to wear in the fall. If you would like to share your answers, please take part in the survey at the top of my sidebar.

A la prochaine!

Gorgeous Grays Kissed by Gold

Gray has been my absolute fettish lately. Actually, thinking back, even in highschool when all of my friends were sauntering down the halls sporting their low-rise jeans and GAP T-shirts, I was dressed in a slate gray knee-length dress skirt and matching dress jacket, which was accented with black velvet collar, piping, and velvet covered buttons. Can you say out of place? Or perhaps a little too dressed up for Pre-Cal and French III class?

Nonetheless, gray has really been my color of choice for years, and I must give my mother complete credit for my obsession with gray since she always gravitated toward gray garments during our shopping escapades. "Oh, Mandy," she would say, "Can't you just see this gray blouse with a magenta...or a plum...or even a red...{you fill in the blank}?"

I love the contrast of a chic dove gray silk paired with guilded, intracately carved wood. It's so sumptuous and rich.

It's no surprise that our decorating styles are reflected in our fashion preferences.
Remember the dress Meg Ryan wears at the end of the movie, Kate and Leopold???

~ a gray satin ball gown~

I just love her dress in this movie. (I also love the black dress she wears when she meets Leopold on the rooftop for a romantic meal and dance....Beside the point!)

And look at Debra Messing's gold earrings with this charcoal gray dress. She's so beautiful.

And the color-"foggy gray" and weightlessness of this dreamy silk tulle Dior dress, named "Venus" and fashioned in 1949, reminds me of the gray lace floor-length curtains my mom just finished heming for my diningroom and livingroom.

Who would've thought to pair this silver and white halter dress with gold?

What a glorious and classic accent!

I hope you all have a safe, relaxing, and happy weekend.