August 12, 2015

What's (vintage) black and white and red all over?





Outfit details

1940s/50s cream lace hat: Gift from a dear friend ♥
Gold tone and clear rhinestone bow earrings: Either Payless or Claire's
Red cropped cardigan: Fairweather
1940s/1950s gold tone metal bow brooch: Probably thrifted or eBay (had for years)
1980s does 1940s/50s black and white floral print dress: eBay
1940s black felt purse with brass clasp: Gift from a dear friend ♥
Gold tone bangle bracelets: Payless
C. 1940s cream gloves with crochet detailing: Unknown, had for years (possibly eBay)
Black seamed nude stockings: eBay
Red patent pumps: Payless
Lip colour: MAC Russian Red


Photography by Tony Cangiano
 





















































You guys, I so knew that it was just a matter of time until I eventually penned a post with this title - I love puns and riddles both far too much to let the opportunity to reference the classic newspaper riddle go to waste. :)
 
Realistically though, this post could just as easily be called, "Wearing my winter colour palette in the summer", because really and truly, that's what I'm doing here. Red, my signature colour, is one that I reach for all year round, but I'm especially drawn to it during the icy cold Canadian winters, when no doubt the visual sense of fiery heat it imparts is a good chunk of the reason this Canadian lass is drawn to it so much.
 
With red, in winter's snow clad months, I most often pair black, grey and/or white (see posts such as this one and this one for two cold weather examples of such). This palette is classic, elegant, and often glamorous, but it can be cozy and sweet, too, especially, I find, if grey enters the picture.
 
So in love with this combo am I, that a couple of winters ago, I got so hooked on wearing it, I had to make a mental note to sport other colours, least folks started thinking those were the only hues in my closet. I can't help it though, winter after winter after winter, I reach for red and black, tossing in a little grey or white usually for good measure, and highly suspect that I always will (after all, when something works, it works!).
 
Yet sometimes I can't wait that long or an occasion really calls for these hues or I'm simply in the mood for them, and no matter the season, out they come to play. These particular photos were taken in late May and feature the delightful - and slightly more springtime-y - inclusion of some cream, care of this truly gorgeous 1940s/1950s hat, that was an awesome Christmas gift last year from a lovely online friend and fellow vintage blogger.
 
This is the first time I've sported it here on my blog, but certainly not the first before or since these photos were taken. This hat balances sophistication and curtness sublimely and speaks to me on so many vintage loving levels. It's made from stiffened lace, is fairly wide brimmed, weighs next to nothing, featuring a stunning dark crimson velvet ribbon with bows and long, trailing ends, and is in very good shape for its venerable age.
 
The classic and very pretty 1940s purse in this ensemble was also a gift from another completely dear friend and was the one I carried last year when attending the Victoria Vintage Expo. It too is very sweet and timeless, in nice condition still and a true favourite of mine.
 
In addition to those two near-to-my-heart accessories, today's black, white, red and cream ensemble features a lovely 1980s does 1940s/50s dress (that buttons up the back) with matching belt, a vintage appropriate red cropped cardi, c. 1940s cream gloves, 1940s/50s gold tone bow brooch, classic looking modern rhinestone bow shaped earrings, as well my beloved (modern) red patent pumps.
 
It occurred to me and Tony on the day when these photos were taken, that we hadn't done a shot in the wee wisp of an open front yard that we have in ages - as in, I don't recall any happening there last year (save for our Halloween photos) and very few the year before either in comparison to 2012's numbers. Thus, as the afternoon was starting to fade, we decided to remedy that, as it really is a handy little spot, when the weather and light are in a cooperative mood.
 
While Tony was waiting for me to finish getting dressed before going out, he turned the camera on our dog, Annie, who is usually too high energy to sit still for anything but the blurriest of images (so hence why to date, she and I have not shared a full on photo shoot - one day though, I sincerely hope!). However, that afternoon he nabbed a few in our perpetually low natural light condo (so hence the grain from the ISO here) and the one below was a favourite for both of us.





Clearly, as you can see, Miss Annie has the white and black thing down to a tee as well! (Plus her current collar is hot pink, which isn't very far from red - like human "mother", like canine dog-ter :D)
 
Favourite colour combos, like beloved single hues themselves, can - and should - be sported anytime your heart desires. Just because this palette is my -25C staple, doesn't mean I can't rock it - sans a few layers - when it's +35C as well. In fact, so much of the fun of highly adored colours and pairings is the enjoyable challenge of coming up with new outfits in which to rock them season after season, year after year.
 
Do you have any colours or pairings that you generally turn to in one season, but also enjoy donning at other times, too?






53 comments:

  1. Hehe I've been waiting for this one with the oh-so-similar post title to my recent one :) It's one of my favourite colour combinations too, although, just like you, I'm having to force myself to step away from it this summer as I want to wear it all the time and there's other fun things out there! You are the picture of vintage sophistication in this outfit - very lovely. And Miss Annie looks absolutely beautiful in this colour scheme too, of course ;) xx

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    1. Me, too (waiting, I mean). With Tony gone this summer and thus no new outfit posts happening, I've had to ration those that were were able to take in the brief period we had before he left (between when we found out he was going and when he left, I mean), but didn't want to put this one off any longer, as the outfit is fundamentally summery - though I might slip off the cardi in the 36C temps were having here this week! :)

      It's cool to know that I'm not alone in feeling a powerfully strong pull towards this colour combination. It speaks to me, you know, in such a lovely way and the fact that it tends to, humbly, work well on me, just makes it a natural choice.

      Thank you - I like to think that she's happy to be my blog and that were she a person, she'd be a fashionista, too (I unequivocally know that Stellar, our sweet little grey tabby cat, would be - she's beautiful and she knows it! :D).

      Many hugs & happy mid-week wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  2. I love the red, black and white combination, I am always drawn to these three colours as they're my favourites along with purple.

    What a wonderfully pretty hat too, it's a lovely finishing touch to such an elegant outfit.

    And there's Annie too, she's such a sweet girl, Andy would love her xxx

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    1. Thank you very much, my sweet friend and fellow R/W/B lover. It's such a chic, timeless palette, isn't it?

      Aww, I have no doubt that Annie would love Andy to bits, too. She's an incredibly friendly dog who is excellent at reading people (and also sensing when someone may need love or attention in a group setting) and makes friends with just about everyone she meets. We're very fortunate to have such a sociable, human loving pet for sure.

      Many hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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    1. Thank you very much, dear Sylvie. It's crazy comfortable - which is always awesome when it combines with vintage style, too.

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  4. Annie is cute! Love the outfit here, that hat is very pretty. Usually only in autumn I wear shades of mustard yellow and orange, the best colours for autumn, but sometimes I want take a headstart and wear those very autumnal colours - and my favourites - in summer and spring.

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    1. I hear you there, dear gal. Autumn's palette is my favourite ever! I generally wear it in the fall and winter alone, too, but sometimes you just have to dip into the rich, elegant, jewel tone laden palette in the warmer months as well.

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  5. I've missed you whilst I've not been on blogger! Love this whole outfit. Black and white is so classic, and the red is the magic touch of course. I love the hat, and that bag! I've been watching a lot of Miss Marples here and I think outfit would be perfect for one of the stately home tea parties she always attends. I suppose black is the colour I always have as a background, sounds drab but it goes with everything and you can make it summery or wintery. In Autumn I love the rusts and greens. LOVE Annie, so adorable! x

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    1. Ooohh, I love that this outfit made you think of Miss Marple and the kinds of elegant events that she attends. I see that too now that you mention it. There is a certain British-ness, I think, about this look, which isn't that surprising, as I'm a huge anglophile at heart and am always drawn to mid-century styles from the UK.

      Thank you very much for your absolutely lovely compliments (for both of us! :)). I hope that you're doing great and having a really enjoyable summer.

      Many hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  6. Ooooo!!! This outfit is an absolute darling ensemble!! The colors are perfection, as well as the style and fabric of your dress, the tiny purse and of course, that hat! (♥ ヮ♥)

    My jaw dropped when I saw this fabulous outfit on you Jessica, it is so sweetly divine. I love it! And I love that photo of Miss Annie, what a precious snap. :)

    Red & black is definitely something I tend to reach for only in winter ~ mostly because although I, like yourself, tend to wear red all year around, something in me just can't do black in spring/summer, and I usually avoid it quite intentionally. But this color combination certainly is a winner here, and I do love how the floatiness of your dress and the lacy-ness of your hat lightens the whole look.

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  7. Black and white, red and GORGEOUS all over!!! You do vintage like no other!!! I could put this photo through Photoshop, make it look like it came out of the 40's/50's and you would never know it was a 21st century photo!! Fantastic job on the ensemble!! Love it!!

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  8. Loving that length dress on Jessica, it's so classy! Red, black and white is one of my faves, I think we both like the bright colours don't we? xx

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  9. What an adorable dog! She is gorgeous. I don't think I have any classic colour combos that I wear on a regular basis - I wear all the colours! You look beautiful, Jessica!

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  10. Very cute. For me, the cherry on top of the sundae is the red trim in your hat. The way it echoes the color of the cardi is perfection. You dress like I wish I could!

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  11. So gorgeous! I am loving the color palette. I tend to wear winter colors in summer. It's hard to steer away from some black and white!

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  12. Those colours absolutely should be your go-to choice because they suit you just perfectly! Your hat is such fun too. Kx

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  13. Dear Jessica, your clothes always win! You have class and style !!! Here you chose my favorite colors, black and red. I love the couple black and white with red detailing, it is always a perfect choice. This dress is fantastic, the bag is a precious jewel!

    These colors I love them and I always wear, certainly in the summer more often wear light colors, but if it was not so hot ...

    Miss Annie is so nice and beautiful, and then its perfect color, a little diva with white shoes!

    a warm hug

    Serena (and his cat Nero, with red collar !!)

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  14. The hat looks FANTASTIC! You've styled the outfit wonderfully!

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  15. Black, white, and red are definitely a go to combo for me as well. The print of this dress is so lovely! I love the botanical swirls, its almost Victorian looking, but without veering too far into the damask wallpaper/curtain style print. I like how the "cuffs" of the cardigan have that row of buttons, its such a nice detail!

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  16. I like the dress, but the accessories you picked to go with it are so amazing!! That hat is beautifulll!! I also love the cardigan - the button details are so darling!

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  17. Aw, HI ANNIE! She's so cute! And you, my darling, look amazing in that dress! Gorgeous. The little buttons on the sleeves of the sweater are to die for!

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  18. Oh, yes, red is your signature color, and not my signature color, but my favorite one! And I loved the dress with the red cardi, it's so sweet, so feminine, so beautiful! I loved the bow brooch and the colors you chose - red, white, black! The gloves, the bag, the beautiful hat - what for a great Christmas present, and from a fellow blogger, so sweet she is! I think that these colors can be beautifully worn in any season! I can picture the outfit with a red, black or white (ivory) coat! I don't know about me... answering your question, I try to wear more colors in the winter, so to be more cheerful, but true, I end up wearing black coats a lot. But pale pink ones too :) And summer... whatever feel good, but I tend to be colorful :) Hope you have a beautiful day, dear Jessica!
    DenisesPlanet.com

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  19. I think black, white and red look fabulous together.
    It's a colour combination I use often, sometimes throwing in a little grey - as these are the colours of the brand I work for and when I have trainings I try to wear these.

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  20. Annie is so, so, so beautiful and cute. I bet that's something she learned from her human "mother". I love your ensemble and how well you always combine it. You are a walking 'piece' of art. Truly stunning outfit.

    <3

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  21. You look amazing.I love your dog :)
    new addres of my blog: http://niewidzialnakobietaizycie.blogspot.com/

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  22. I love any bright hue with black, especially green & yellow. I look at red as a neutral that goes with anything. I'm still trying to learn what to look for in 1980's fashions that transitions them into 1940's or '50's fashions. I'm reading through your past blogs (and loving all the info) so if there's a blog about this I'll find it. Your Annie is such a precious little furbaby!

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  23. That purse is beautiful! I have a thing for vintage purses.

    I tend to wear a lot of navy and purple in the winter. In the summer I wear a lot of lavender and blues. Which I guess are both shades of blues and purples, you can see what my favorite colors are ha.

    Also, your dog is adorable!

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  24. Hi Jessica! You look lovely! I love the purse, the 1940s fabric purses are so well suited for fall and winter. I am thinking of buying one myself. I absolutely love red and white together, so classy and well suited for the winter holiday. I am not quite ready to let go of summer and wearing coral, white, sandals and enjoying sitting outside enjoying the breezes, I do love fall and it's rich earthy hues, pumpkins, warm days and cool nights. As each year passes and I find myself another year older I'm in no rush, I want to savior every moment! Life is precious. Thank you for a wonderful post, give Annie a BIG hug for me!

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  25. Great outfit. Everything looks so nice together. Your hat is so sweet. I love it.

    Annie is a perfect subject for today's theme. :-)

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  26. I am moving a lot more towards red lately, both for winter and summer. Generally I wear purples, blacks and reds (no all at once!) in winter, and pastels in summer. Am trying to think how to mi this up a little more though

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  27. Black, white and red in book are always perfect combinations. I love the oh so lady like look of your outfit , made complete with the stunning hat and your gloves and not forgetting the bag. Annie is co very cute, a perfect companion I'm sure. All best wishes, Jill. xx

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  28. I love those colors together!
    And that hat is wonderful!

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  29. Wow I love that dress and the red cardigan together! So beautiful!! I also love your hat and gloves. :)

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  30. Beautiful! I am another RBW. I call it my Cruella Deville palette from my favorite Disney movie. (Always cheering for the puppies, of course.) Should we form a club? Matching dog accessory optional?

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  31. Ahhh so pretty once again :) I have to say that you and I share the same vintage brooch, yay for having great vintage style!

    Now as for the pic of you dog, fantastic! Your husband made the image seem so real that I felt I could reach thru the computer screen and pet him. Great job :)

    Have a super day!

    Liz

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  32. No surprise, this looks fab! You always rock this color combo, and I think it looks just as cute in the summer as it does in the winter. And Annie, so sweet!

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  33. Thank you all very much for your wonderfully lovely comments and compliments, my dear friends.

    Wishing you each a marvelous weekend!!!
    ♥ Jessica

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  34. Such a lovely outfit, that shade of red really suits you. Red is a colour that I love but never wear, I feel like it is too 'loud' for me even though I happily wear other 'loud' colours - looking at you orange! Marvellous hat too, I can see that will go with many outfits. What a great picture of Annie to finish on!

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    1. Thank you very much, my lovely friend. Red is definitely my signature colour, though, interestingly enough, true red doesn't make it into my top five favourite colours (they're pink, burgundy, aqua/turquoise, teal, and pine green), though it would be the top ten for sure. I adore that it's almost a neutral in terms of what it can be partnered with and wear it a ton. I get that side of it for sure though. I could see red, especially true and blue reds, looking amazing with your colouring if you do venture down that path more in the future.

      Tons of hugs & heartfelt thanks for all of your wonderfully nice comments this weekend,
      ♥ Jessica

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  35. you and annie would make a very good figure at the queen´s garden party!!!
    love the dress and hat!
    tons of hugs!!!
    xxxx

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    1. Awesome Alice in Wonderland reference, dear Beate, I hadn't even thought of that in the context of this outfit. Very cool observation! Now I like this ensemble even more! :)

      Tons of hugs & happy Sunday wishes coming right back at you,
      ♥ Jessica

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  36. You look lovely. The Bag and The hat add the perfect finishing touches. And I love the dress. I've got a skirt in a thick knitted material with a similar print on it which i wear a lot with tights in winter. I wear a lot of neutrals together in winter. black, cream, white, grey etc and in summer I wear a lot of pinks and greens.

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    1. Oohhhh, your skirt sounds fabulous!!! I wear this dress sometimes in the winter, too. It is fairly lightweight, but with tights and a heavier sweater, it's not too bad unless its bitingly cold out.

      Big hugs & many sincere thanks for all of your terrific blog comments this week,
      ♥ Jessica

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  37. A lovely outfit of classic colours, and that stiffened lace hat - what a dream! - but for all that, I think Annie is the star of the post! What a cutie!

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    1. No arguments there about Miss Annie!!! I love that I finally have a non-cell phone photo of her on the blog. Nothing wrong with those of course, but it's nice to know she's been captured in non-total-blur form at least once so far here. :)

      Thank you very much for your fantastic comment - that really is a dream and it's sooo comfy and lightweight to boot. My friend definitely nailed my taste and style to a tee with that thoughtful Christmas gift.

      Big hugs & happy Sunday/Monday wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  38. I can never go past a good red, black and white combination either! It's got to be my favourite of all time and it's such an easy go-to when I can't be bothered thinking about what I'm going to wear too much. I love all the details of your outfits so much - especially your gold bow brooch and the little red velvet ribbon on your hat. ^_^ And Russian Red looks gorgeous on you! Also your dog is beautiful and I LOVE that you guys are matching! xxx

    jessica - littlehenrylee.com

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    1. Thank you very much across the board, sweet lady! Russian Red is my favourite red lippie in the world. I hit upon it several years ago and though I have occasionally used other reds since, it is bar none the most flattering red before or since that I've ever found. So long as they keep making it, I'll be a loyal customer for life. :)

      Tons of hugs & happy mid-August wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  39. I'm your secret sister, you know, so I do exactly the same as you do, except that I also adore a grass green cardigan and accessories with a black and white dress. I do the same with my grey winter dresses, wear red and green, and sometimes purple to make them less dull. Not that dull dresses are something I own a lot of. You look so darling, dear, and I noticed your super charming hat at once. XOXO from warm (!) Denmark :)

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    1. You so totally are and I absolutely love that we are so much in common, "sis". :) I'm wild about green, too, and ever since I made it my colour of the year back in, hmm, what was it, 2013, I think, I've been avidly trying to add more of it to my closet. We've both bemoaned the lack of it the vintage reproduction/inspired world, but thankfully there are a few green items to be had in that realm, bolstered by true vintage and vintage appropriate modern pieces. I really like purple, too! It's such a fun, elegant colour. I have an 80s does 50s shirtwaist dress that I absolutely live in.

      Tons of hugs & many thanks for always leaving such cheerful, wonderfully nice words for me!
      ♥ Jessica

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  40. You look so pretty! I like this outfit. Very cute :)

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet Sara. I'm a big fan of this outfit - and especially that stellar mid-century lace hat - myself, too.

      I hope that all is well on your end and that you're having a marvelous August!

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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