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!