Embracing the return of fall's gorgeous colour palette at Vaseux Lake

Outfit details

C. 1930s/40s burgundy felt hat with netting: Garb-Oh Vintage
Creamy white plastic rose stud earrings: Claire's
C. 1940s black plastic hat pin: From another hat that I've had for years
Mid-century vintage amber hued plastic beaded necklace: Thrifted (Salvation Army)
White Stag brand vintage appropriate green floral blouse: Thrifted (Value Village)
Amber yellow plastic bangle bracelet: Unknown, had for years (probably thrifted)
1940s/1950s dark green corduroy skirt: eBay
C. 1980s - 90s brown woven belt: Thrifted (Value Village, if memory serves me right)
Oxblood/burgundy hued faux leather cross body bag: eBay
Nude seamed nude stockings: eBay
Brown 1940s style faux leather pumps: Walmart
Lip colour: MAC Party Line


Photography by Tony Cangiano

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My passion for autumn's resplendent hues is scarcely the kind of secret that one keeps under lock and key. I wait with baited breath for my favourite season to return each year and then jump headfirst in spotting itss palette with gusto!

Summer cooled its heels early this year and we had the nippiest - relatively speaking - Labour Day weekend that I can remember in many years. Whereas most first weeks of September still see countless tourists and residents alike flocking to catch some rays and frolic in the waves at the local beaches, this time around, nary a soul was in the water - it was just too chilly to comfortably swim any longer.

Thankfully though, the weather did perk back up a bit as September progressed and bestowed upon us some deeply gorgeous Goldilocks days, as I like to call them. Those gloriously sunny, soft light filled, subtly warm and all too fleeting days as autumn not-so-subtly waltzes into town and usurps summer.

It was on just such a day that Tony and I captured this gently lit series of photos recently at Vaseux Lake, a modest sized body of water some 25 - 30 minutes south of our town. Though not as prized as a swimming hole as some of the other larger lakes around this part (such as Okanagan and Shaka), it is a breeding ground for local anglers - my husband very much included - who flock to its shores for some terrific local fishing.

We were neither there to swim nor cast our lines, but rather simply paused to enjoy the immense serenity and sweeping beauty of the pristine natural landscape and the near still-as-glass surface of the lake that afternoon.


I woke up in a mood to pair three of my all-time favourite colours, which just happen to be from fall's palette, together and did just that in this burgundy, pine green, and amber yellow hued 1940s inspired ensemble.

Though I wear this fabulous 1940s/50s dark green corduroy skirt often, I hadn't sported it here on my blog for close to 3.5 years, so I felt it was high time to give it a spin on camera again.


It as the starting point for my causal ensemble, which saw the edition of a breathtaking c. 1930s/40s burgundy felt hat hat I purchased earlier this year from the awesome Etsy shop that is Garb-Oh Vintage, along with a timelessly lovely floral print cotton shirt that I thrifted several months ago, a classic brown woven belt (also thrifted), a vintage appropriate oxblood/burgundy hued faux leather cross body bag, mid-century plastic jewelry in amber yellow, my go-to creamy white plastic rose stud earrings, and a pair of 1940s looking brown faux leather pumps that I've had for years, but which are still - knock wood - holding up fabulously well.


Now that Tony is home (not that I couldn't do such on my own, of course, but it is certainly easier with him there), I thought it would be fun to film a new YouTube video outside again, and did just that later in the day (up a hill near where my folks live here in town, not at Vaseux Lake), in this (relatively) quick breakdown of what went into styling my 1940s inspired early fall look.





Though I wasn't aiming for the much adored vintage lady explorer look her per se, I can't help but love that this ensemble has a faint hint of that vibe. I've been wearing this general silhouette - long vintage skirt, button front blouse, modest to wide brimmed vintage hat, and complimentary accessories - big time this summer and fall and really feel like it sums up my tastes in vintage casual fashion massively well at the moment.

As we head further into autumn, I'm sure that I'll keep sporting this silhouette and imagine that it will see me through winter, with tights and further layers added, too. It's comfortable, warm, classic and endlessly versatile - not mention pretty. What's not to adore?

With fall being my favourite time of the year and its palette my most beloved of all the seasons, you can bet this there will be many more autumnal hued ensembles coming down the pipeline in the very near future. I can hardly wait to share many of them with you and am equally excited to see all of the stellar fall looks that you'll be sharing on your blogs and social media.

Autumn may be fleeting, but its hues are eternal and well worth celebrating with our fashion choices while they're in their seasonal element!

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  

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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?

A charming 1950s novelty print skirt for a morning spent at the Penticton Farmer's Market

Outfit details

Prescription eyeglasses: (frames) Venus Eye Design V-12
Brown velvet Frank Palma vintage hat: etsy seller Nostalgia Vintage
Pearl necklace: Birthday gift from Tony ♥
Brown cotton cami: Forever 21
Turquoise blue cardigan: Cleo
Edwardian inspired dangle brooch: eBay  Faux pearl stretch bracelets: Real Canadian Superstore
1950s/60s Orange gloves: etsy seller Revvie1
Striped purse: Jones New York
1950s autumn forest novelty print skirt: eBay
Nude seamed stockings: eBay
Dark brown faux letter heels: Pipsqueaks and Damsels Consignment Store (here in Penticton)
Lip colour: Red Apple Lipstick's Firstorm Lip Gloss over their Red Lipstick
Photography by Antonio Cangiano  














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The Okanagan Valley is amongst the richest agricultural areas in the province (if not all of Canada), producing a massive quantity of fruit and wine each year, thanks to the seemingly endless array of orchards and vineyards that cover much of the available growing land around these parts. However, the area is also fortunate to have an impressive number or local food producers, who create everything from artisan cheeses to beautifully sweet honey, high quality baked goods to Mennonite style sausage.

Many of these items, a cornucopia worthy amount of local produce, and various assorted merchants and crafters can be found each Saturday morning in 100 Block of Main Street here in Penticton at the weekly farmer's market, where stall after stall beckons onlookers with their mouth-watering assortment of raw and cooked foods alike.

When I was a youngster, the farmer's market was a whole lot smaller than it is today (it used to take place in Gyro Park and didn't run for as long into the year as now does), however over the past decade or so its truly blossomed into one of the highlights of the growing season for the community, the bulk of which (trust me, the size of crowds there could practically give those at Disneyland a run for their money!) comes out several times (if not each weekend) during the market's ample season, which spans May 1st to October 31st.

The one main drawback (in my books) to the fact that the Penticton Farmer's Market takes place on Saturday mornings is that I rarely get a chance to visit it, given that I like to devote as many Saturdays as my health will permit to hitting the local yard sales. Sometimes though, if the garage sale pickings are slim, or I know I have someplace to be at a specific time on Saturday (and thus don’t go yard saling at all), we'll head downtown and enjoy a stroll through the throngs of folks who have come to do the same thing at the outdoor market on Main Street.

It was on a gloriously sun-kissed morning not too long ago when we did just that, and when Tony captured these outfit photos of me before we embarked. The weather, while gorgeous, wasn't exceedingly warm, so I opted for a long sleeved cardigan and one of my very favourite 1950s skirts, which features a darling autumn forest print (so perfect for this time of the year!).

My novelty print collection - be it skirts, dresses, or blouses - isn't that large, so it's a quite the boon when a new piece gets added, such as when I was lucky enough to be the winning eBay bidder on this delightful skirt earlier this year. It's so sweet and fun, and while it's certainly autumnal, it's also the kind of piece that - thanks to it's vibrant palette and relatively light weight cotton - I could totally wear in the spring and summer, too.

Though I didn't dress with that intention in mind, I loved that once we got to the farmer's market, I colour coordinated with some of the produce on offer there, from the tables of squash to the late season peaches, the swoon-worthily yummy looking freshly baked bread to the tender salad greens - my skirt and shoes even went well with the Nutella filled crepe Tony stopped to munch on from a local vendor who specializes just in French style crepes.

Though we didn't buy much, we had a beautiful morning, and I thoroughly loved getting to spend time outdoors, while the weather was still fabulous, in the heart of our little city, surrounded by, and able to help support, the truly wonderful efforts of some of our area's best local food producers.

With October wrapping up in just a couple of weeks, that means the Penticton Farmer's Market will go on hiatus again until May, when it will return with the most tender, tasty crop of asparagus, spring onions, teeny-tiny candy-sweet strawberries, and myriad other ingredients – all of which we'll eagerly, happily, forgo a bit of yard saling for every now and then.