A Post by Hope . . . Glamorous Autumn

Hello, Glamorous Girlfriends!

It's Hope!

Five of the eight Ooh La Frou Frou girls have
posted on our new blog already:
Sunny, myself (Hope), Cherie, Belle and Tiffany.
Violet, Alex and Aimee have yet to write their first post.

I'm posting again this time, however,
because I have a "little something" to tell you about
that has to do with Autumn and me!

But first I just want to tell you how much I love the city in Autumn.
Well, I love the city all the time, actually.
There's always so much to do, always something exciting happening!
Even sitting in a restaurant, looking out at the beautiful city, is exhilarating!

 (c) Sandra Markwalder 2010 - Painting from artist's archives -
by Sandy - artist, Ooh La Frou Frou Collection

Autumn in the city, however, is very special.
The hot summer is cooling down and there's the crisp smell of
Autumn in the air.
Just a simple walk down the street
provides glamour for the eyes, as stores and restaurants
decorate for this magical season of color!

Photo taken by Sandy

And speaking of color, nothing says Autumn like the fire of
bright oranges, deep reds, rich coppers and golden yellows.
And "Glamorous Autumn"
can be seen all over fall 2010 fashion pages and runways.

Drew Barrymore modeling Gaultier Paris - October 2010 Harper's Bazaar

Floyd Klein - Fall 2010

Emilio Pucci Fall 2010

Fall 2010 Emanuel Ungaro

Lanvin Fall 2010

Giorgio Armani Fall 2010

Hermes Fall 2010

Speaking of fashion,
today I'm introducing a little fall fashion myself in a whimsical
Autumn Ooh la Frou Frou Collection card
called "Falling for Fashion"

Ooh La Frou Frou Collection Autumn Card Entitled "Falling for Fashion"
Inside Message: "Happy Autumn"
Actual Card has sparkling glitter accents and Swarovski Crystals on some "Autumn purses."
Card will be available for purchase on the website Wednesday of this week!

It was so fun posing for this card!
Olive and I dressed in couture autumn fashion
and posed in front of an oh-so-glamorous city store
whose windows were filled with
fun Autumn bags and clutches!
Notice in the left window the glittering
pumpkin bag, leaf bag & caramel apple clutch
and in the right window the
sparkling oak leaf bag (with 2 tiny acorns for clasps!),
the acorn bag and a larger leaf bag!
My lovely dress is in all of the glorious fall colors!
The card sparkles and sparkles with glitter!
Olive loved posing in her little orange sweater with pink edge details.

Immediately following the photoshoot for this card,
the artist, Olive and I sat down at an outdoor coffee cafe
and discussed this fabulous card and the next Autumn card
which is coming this week
and will star Violet!


Let's Talk About Autumn Fashion for the Home!
I love my city apartment and it's always fun to decorate
for all of the holidays.
I keep a three-ring binder where I store all of the ideas I see
for all of the seasons.

I was leafing through the Autumn section the other day,
thinking about how to decorate this fall.
These are a few of the ideas!
Credits aren't mentioned because
they're clippings in my notebook
which I've had for quite a while and the source is unknown,
but if anyone knows where they've seen them,
I'll be happy to add the credits!

I love these mums in an urn!  This would be pretty on my entry table
A bouquet of colorful leaves would also be pretty in an urn.!

And I'll definitely plan on spray-painting some leaves silver
and combining them with some creamy gourds!

Would my kitchen smell YUMMY if I made some
little berry pies and topped them with jack-o-lantern faces
for an after-theatre snack with the girls back at my place!

And maybe I'll serve some apple slices to dip in apple-cider caramel dip!



Here's the recipe for the
Apple-Cider Caramel Dip so you can make the same thing!
(Makes about 2 cups)
4 cups apple cider
1/2 vanilla bean split
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
2 Tablespoons heavy cream

Make the dip:
Combine the cider and vanilla bean in a medium saucepan over high heat and reduce to 1 cup -- about thirty minutes.  Add the sugar and lemon juice and cook until the mixture turns a deep amber -- about 10 more minutes. Remove from heat, strain and stir in butter and cream.  Serve at room temperature.


I love these little pumpkins stacked on top of each other to form topiaries for my windowsill!

Putting a little bouquet in a pumpkin would look adorable in my powder room
I think my flowers would be pink and orange!!





I love walking around the city
to see how people decorate for Halloween!




The artist showed me photos of her decorations one year in a house she previously lived in.
She put masks on the pumpkins and placed some of them on a nest of multi-color lights.






She also placed a mask on the cement dog that sat outside her house!

This was her front door that year




And I can't forget trick-or-treat!
This would be fun to do this year -
I think this came from Martha Stewart.




In closing, since my post is all about Glamorous Autumn,
and to celebrate wearing my dress made of a
flurry of leaves for my Autumn card,
I thought I'd leave you with a
Glamorous Halloween outfit idea!
This photo was actually a photo from a few years ago,
advertising the Vermont Leaf Show and the fluttering antics
of the dance troupe Fall Foliage Fooleries,
but I think they'd be the perfect outfit.
Your arms might get a little tired, however!

Another Ooh La Frou Frou Autumn card
will be introduced next Monday by Violet!

A Post by Tiffany . . . All That Sparkles

Hi girls!
I'm Tiffany. 
You see my face often, as I was the very first Ooh La Frou Frou girl
and, as such, became the logo girl for the Collection.
Just scroll up ... yep, that's me standing in front of the mirror.

 It's so much fun being a part of the new card line ...
besides posing for very lovely cards,
I also get to spend time with the other Ooh La Frou Frou girls
and we have a blast! 
We were just having coffee the other day in the city
and talking about how great it is to be meeting
all of you new Glamorous Girlfriends here on the blog!

For my very first post, I decided to post about:

A Sparkling Star:

Audrey Hepburn

A Sparkling Store:

Tiffany and Company

 and how the mere thought of both adds
a little Sparkle to my days.

Audrey Hepburn
One of the things that simply mesmerizes me
is how she took simple and made it fabulous.
Surely, people had worn gloves, sunglasses and pearls before Audrey.
Did anyone tell them they looked like a movie star?  I doubt it.
And I ask myself how she did that.
Maybe that's what makes it so magical.

There was just something about Audrey.
She sparkled.
And there's just something about you.  And me.
We sparkle. 
More on some days than others.
And discovering our own style can be a fun thing.
In the meantime ...

I get so much pleasure from studying
the iconic style that Audrey and Givenchy created
that I sometimes enjoy trying a little of "her" on ... just for fun.
Notice the tiara in the logo?
And for the card below ...
(entitled "Glamour Girls," quite appropriately, don't you think?)
I went full-blast into
Audrey mode from Breakfast at Tiffany's
for a fun shopping trip with the girls.

Ooh La Frou Frou Collection card for the bride-to-be entitled "Glamour Girls." Card is embellished with clear glitter and the message inside reads: "Glamour Girls ... that's who my bridesmaids are!"  (The Ooh La Frou Frou girls starring on this card are (left to right) Alex, Tiffany, Hope, Sunny and Aimee.)  (c) Ooh La Frou Frou 2010.  To purchase cards go to the Ooh La Frou Frou website. 

You know how Manolo Blahnik once said,

"You put high heels on and you change"?

It's true.  Fashion is funny that way.

When I slip into items that Audrey was known for,

I actually feel more graceful, more lithe, more sophisticated.

Audrey's Fashion Style Includes:

Large Floppy Hats

Pill Box Hats

Skinny Black Pants

Black Turtlenecks

Capris
Headbands

Scarves worn as Headbands and Scarves Around her Neck

Men's Shirts
Ballet Flats

Simple Solid-Color Dresses with Full Skirts and Cinched Waists

Button-Up Collared Blouses
Wrist Length White Gloves
(Wedding Gown thrown in just because it's so beautiful!)

And, of course, in honor of Breakfast at Tiffany's:

The Little Black Dress

Over-sized Sunglasses

Pearls

Elbow Length Gloves

and, of course:

the tiara.

The image of femininity and innocence, sophistication and glamour.

If you'd like to see a video about Audrey's style called

"It's So Audrey ... A Style Icon"

click here.

Also, Polyvore Celebrity Styles: Audrey Hepburn

gives fun suggestions for putting your own

"Audrey look" together

(or other celebrity looks, as well).

To go there, click here.

Tiffany and Company

Speaking of glamour,

let's move on to my namesake:

Tiffany.

I have a confession to make.

I have a t-h-i-n-g for

Tiffany and Company.

I don't mean that I buy on a whim.

Oh no.

I dream. I peruse. I save. I shop.

It's planned pleasure.

And when I've saved enough to buy the simple treasure

I've been saving for,

I slip on a little black dress
and pearls
and scoop my hair into a french twist with a little whisp of bang
and head off for Tiffany and Company.
I'm all about simple celebrations.

Illustration of "Tiffany at Tiffany" by Sandy - artist, Ooh La Frou Frou Collection and created specifically for the Ooh La Frou Frou Collection blog.  (c) Ooh La Frou Frou 2010 - Cards may be purchased at the Ooh La Frou Frou website.

I've discovered that having dreams
and saving to make them come true
is a worthwhile endeavor.
For me ... it's Tiffany.
And as soon as I purchase the little
dream-come-true in a tiffany blue bag
that I've been saving for,

I start saving again. 

The very next day.

You see, it's the little things that give me pleasure.

I'm a simple girl, really.

Just like Audrey.

The thing I'm saving my pennies for now
is a little something from the new
Tiffany Leather Collection.
 I just haven't decided which one will be first.

But any of these will put a sparkle in my eye.

I'll finish my post with two fun things.

If you haven't read it yet,

be sure to pick up a cute little book called

Summer at Tiffany by Marjorie Hart.

Marjorie was in her 80's when she wrote the book,

and it tells of her adventures in the 1940's,

when she and a girlfriend,

two college girls, went off to the big city

to look for a summer job

and became the first female paiges 

at Tiffany and Company.

Utterly charming.

And for a little "Tiffany sparkle" for your home,

I've got a little tip for you!

I've had my dressing table chair

upholstered in tiffany blue and finished

with little "diamond upholstery tacks!"

Are you like me?

Seriously into sparkle?

Image of Tiffany's "Tiffany Dressing Table Chair with Christian Loubouten heels" by Sandy - artist, Ooh La Frou Frou Collection and created especially for the Ooh La Frou Frou Collection blog.  (c) Ooh La Frou Frou 2010

And We Have A Winner!

On Friday, September 10
I announced a Special Giveaway
in celebration of my birthday.
The Giveaway prize was:
three Ooh La Frou Frou Collection cards
of the winner's choice!
The Giveaway was held open for one week,
and the drawing took place at 12:01 a.m.
September 17!

The winner was chosen
using www.random.org:

Congratulations
Vanessa P. Adams
"Peepers"
You are the lucky winner!

You will be contacted by e-mail
and need to contact me within 48 hours.
The cards you can choose from
can be found here!

Thanks, everyone, for participating
in my Birthday Giveaway!
Look for the next new post
by Ooh La Frou Frou girl
Tiffany
on Monday!

A Post from Belle ... Eight Little Questions

Hello! I'm Belle!
Southern girl turned city girl ... and my heart lies in both places.
I love going home to my mom's southern home cooking,
the lush gardens and big front porches.
But I also have come to dearly love my exciting city life.
I have the best of both worlds!

Earlier this week,
Julie from a charming blog called
Brown Eyed Belle
"tagged" the Ooh La Frou Frou Collection
with eight questions to answer, should we choose to participate.
Well, hello.  When I heard that a southern girlfriend
asked a favor, guess who volunteered to answer?
And to top it off, my name is Belle ... could it be more perfect?

Also, this is just some sort of strange coincidence
and has totally nothing to do with anything other than it's interesting ...
there are EIGHT questions ... and there are EIGHT girls
in the Ooh La Frou Frou Collection.
Not that I will share my first post with the other girls!
Oh no ... I'm very sweet ... but not that sweet!

Illustration of Belle by Sandy - Artist, Ooh La Frou Frou Collection

Okay, here we go!

Question 1
What is your favorite flower?

The country girl in me is speaking out on this one.
I didn't even have to think about this one, girls.
It's the flower that's around every turn in our lush southern gardens.
I'd have to say my favorite flower is the palest pink peony.
Like a sweet whisper,
they're always so lovely in every way ...
whether as a single flower given to me
by a sweet, adorable man (oh yes!)
or used as a full and breathtakingly delicate centerpiece
for a picnic under the stars.
Pale pink peonies simply make my heart melt.

Peony image one Here, image two Here, image three Here

Question 2
What is your favorite color combination?

I think the city girl in me will answer this one.
My favorite color combination depends upon when you ask.
In the spring
I might say crisp spring green and white.
In the summer
it might be the very palest blue green with hits of hot pink.
In the winter,
I tend to love chartreuse wrapping paper
accented with gold or white ribbon under my tree.

But right now we're just opening the door to fabulous autumn,
and she's sashaying her pretty little self in to meet us very quickly.
So I will tell you what my favorite color combination is for this fall.

There are some very pretty colors
on the runway for fall this year, such as
the rich camels and golds
sometimes combined with military green and animal prints.

Helmut Lang Mercury Drape Dress - Image from Hour Detroit Magazine September 2010

And different shades of blue are also on the list this fall.

IRFE Wool Blouson Dress with Leather Sleeves - Image from Hour Detroit Magazine September 2010

And even though I love those fall colors,
as well as the bright reds and all of the metallics,
fur and feathers of this season,
my FAVORITE fall colors are the colors I chose to wear
for the blog illustration of myself in the beginning of this post.

Illustration by Sandy

 They are the deeply mysterious
purple, burgundy or auburgine tones out now,
combined with grey and silver metallics.
Here are a few samples:

On Her: Lausanne Blouse and Kollette Satin Skirt. Image - Hour Detroit Magazine September 2010

Bottega Veneta's Pleated-Tulle Dress with Plunging V-Neck Wood Bodice.   Image - Town and Country Magazine September 2010

Jason Wu's Ostrich Minidress in Fuschia with Gucci Python Heels. Image from Town and Country September 2010

Question 3
Who is your favorite celebrity couple?

Oh me, oh my.
The country girl is coming out for this one.

The couple I've chosen is southern
and just a darn cute couple.
They seem to genuinely love each other
and know how to have fun in the kitchen.
Continually flirting,
I don't think they need any added spice in the drawer,
as they have quite enough between the two of them.
I know you'd never expect this answer.
Are you ready?

It's Patrick and Gina Neely
of Down Home with the Neely's
on the Food Network Chanel.

Question 4
What is your theme song?

Oh boy, this is a hard one.
I love so many kinds of music.
But I guess for my theme song I'd have to choose one
that referenced the fact that I'm a southern girl,
so this will be the choice of the country girl in me.
This song is actually a break-up song,
but I hear it in my mind
as I'm walking down the city streets.
If I were to star in a movie
(don't pretend you don't hear your own soundtrack, girls)...
I think this would be my theme song.
To listen, click here:

Southern Girl
by
Amos Lee

Southern Girl is a song from the Supply and Demand CD by Amos Lee

Question 5
What is your favorite 'I've had a terrible day' food?

If any of you have to ask,
I must be the first southern girl you've met.
Southern girls love to entertain.
We love parties and do them up right.
The word soiree is southern, you know.
And when I'm havin' a "terrible day"
I crave my mama's southern fried chicken and cornbread
or
her chicken 'n dumplin's
and then to top it off if it's been a really bad day,
I crave a bowl of banana puddin'.
If you're a northern girl,
I suggest you buy a southern cookbook and try all of the above.
If you haven't tried it, you don't know what you're missin.'
Here are a few suggestions:

Bon Appetit Y'All by Virginia Willis

Screen Doors and Sweet Tea by Martha Hall Foose

The Blue Willow Inn Bible of Southern Cooking by Louis and Billie Van Dyke

Question 6
Lipstick, lip gloss or both?

This fall is all about the deep red lip and smoky eye.

Chanel Couture Simply Red - image from Marie Clair October 2010

Proenza Schouler Maroon 5 - Image from Marie Claire October 2010

In answer to the question,
I, myself, usually go for lipstick first
and top it off with a little gloss.
I find that using just just gloss disappears with the first kiss (ahem)
But, a matte lipstick just needs a little somethin'.

For color, I'd go with one of the rich burgundy shades.
I love the burberry lipstick tube and the pattern is also embossed
on the lipstick itself for a luxe touch.
Shades like Bright Plum or Burgundy would be perfect for fall.
Burberry's Soft Satin lipstick is light and has a shiny, not matte.
It also has UV protection, leaving lips soft and oh-so-kissable.

Burberry Lipstick Tube Illustration by Sandy

Click here for a list of the top 15 lipsticks and how to use them from Stylelist!


Question 7
What is your favorite magazine?


Strike a pose.
Need you ask?
Vogue, darling, Vogue.

Question 8
What is your favorite thing about fall?

I think of fall as a fashion runway show all around me.
The stars of the show are the trees.
They're adorned in pearls

Photo by Sandy

dressed in brilliant ballgowns

Photo by Sandy

 and as they wave in the wind at the crowd,
they toss colored confetti at the applauding audience below.

Photo by Sandy

What season could be more glamorous?

Photo Credit for Hour Detroit Magazine Photos: Roy Ritchie