Showing posts with label Belle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Belle. Show all posts

Monday, May 30, 2011

A Glam Review of Ooh La Frou Frou Girl Belle Close Up!

Happy Memorial week everyone!
Hope all of you had a fabulous weekend ...
and I think we're all very ready to launch into summer!

We've been doing a little
Glamorous Review
of each of the eight illustrated girls
that are the stars of the card line.
Thank you for joining me for this fun series of posts.
Have you decided which girls are most like you?

So far we've reviewed four of the eight girls:
Hope, Tiffany, Cherie and Aimee ...
and we've learned what their
chic city apartments look like ...
so if you missed these fun posts, do scoot back and peek in  ...
don't miss one little bit of the fun, darlings!

Today, we're continuing with another
Glamorous Review ...
and this time it's all about ...


As you know, all of the girls that I've created for the card line are city girls.
Darling Belle is sweet southern-belle-turned-big-city-girl.
Yes, that's right ... she's a little bit of both worlds.
And, as the artist, I imagine her speaking
sweet southern accent!
There's just something uttlerly disarming
about a lovely girl with a sweet southern accent,
don't you think?!

In our review of the girls,
we start by showing you which cards each girl has
appeared on so far ...
you can see Belle on these
Ooh La Frou Frou Collection cards:
The card with Belle on the porch swing is called "Summer Days"
and the message inside says "I hope you're having a glamorous summer!"
The card with Hope, Belle and Alex standing amidst tulips is "Tulip Party"
and the message inside says "Happy Spring!"

I've never mentioned the part of the south Belle is from.
That's because she stands for all of the
glamorous southern girls out there
from anywhere in the south.
"Southern" is a state of mind, after all, isn't it?
A genteel, mannered, sweet state of mind.

If Belle were to go home to the south for a visit,
she'd love the smell of lush green ...

via

... and she loves beautiful Central Park in the city ...



via

... if Belle should go back home,
she'd spend lazy afternoons on a porch swing ...
via

... and in the city, the swing is simply exchanged for a city bench ...

via

For the southern girl in her, it's all about watching twinkling fireflies ...
via

... and the city girl half of her heart beats for a sparkle like none other ...

via
Yes, I consider Belle a Southern Sophisticate ...
I can see her in something like this cute Lily Pulitzer dress and sandals
with a cardigan and pearls ...
looking softly sweet and elegant in her city life.

Looking back briefly at Belle's past posts,
as we've done with the four others so far ...

Last fall, in the first post that featured Belle,
we learned about eight of her favorite things ...
some of those things included pink peonies,
her mom's banana puddin' and Vogue Magazine ...
Southern Sophisticate, right?



In another post entitled Boutique Love
she talked about one of her favorite ways
to spend a weekend day ...

... and it starts with
breakfast and cappuccino out with her friends,
followed by a day of luxurious boutique hopping in the city ...


via

We can't forget Belle's post on romance
and her thoughts on preparing for a first date ...
along with sparkly eyeshadow and lipstick
there are also butterflies in the stomach ...

she mentioned that the perfect man would
be one she could laugh with ...

 Sex and the City ~ credited in original post

... and, of course, it was on this post that she
shared a little fantasy she had about
the star of the Old Spice commercials,
the handsome Isaiah Mustafa.

via and edited by Ooh La Frou Frou

Now let's take a look at where a girl like Belle might live.
A girl that has half her heart in the South and half in New York
would want a place in the city that reflected a little of both worlds.
Being a Southern girl, she loves to entertain ...
and I could see her apartment reflecting that
genteel Southern elegance inside ...

via

A pretty apartment
with beautiful drippy chandeliers and a marble fireplace,
reflecting chic southern elegance would fit the bill.
It would contain a pretty dining area
just made for lovely intimate get-togethers
and Belle would have a host of lovely silver and entertaining pieces.

As I did for the other four girls of the card line
that we've reviewed so far,
I've done a quick rough sketch
of the exterior of the apartment I've created for Belle ...

Belle's apartment is in a
townhouse that is elegant and pretty.
If you were to walk by on the sidewalk outside her townhouse,
you'd first notice the lush greenery and the scent of the pretty pink flowers
that overflow from the townhouse windowboxes ...
and since Belle loves color (remember ... Lily Pulitzer?)
a pretty pink awning over the door and pink window treatments
would be perfect for her!

In future posts, as we explore Belle's adventures,
you will see more and more details of the girls'
homes in the city, interiors and exteriors.
One detail of Belle's townhouse that you'll see in the future
is a small brick walled garden attached to the back ...
and, of course, in that private garden,
there is a city version of a porch swing there.
Here in the city, however,
the swing is a pretty black wrought iron freestanding one,
complete with pretty hot pink and spring green cushions to sit on.
Vines grow up the ironwork of the swing,
making it a beautiful centerpiece for her little
private walled garden ... perfect for small gatherings!

Well, that's it today for our
Glamorous Review
of Ooh La Frou Frou girl Belle!
Thanks for joining us this week
and have a positively
luscious week ahead!

Before I sign off, let me mention one more thing ....
we've been introducing our fabulous upcoming
Summer "City Girls" blank boxed notecards
one by one in the last few weeks ...

The first notecard introduced for this Collection
is called "Tiffany Dreams" and stars Tiffany ...



The second Summer "City Girls" notecard that we introduced
to be included in this Collection was
"Summer in the City"
and stars Cherie, Belle and Sunny ...
they're replinishing their shopping energy at a
New York City summer sidewalk hotdog cart ...


and the third Summer "City Girls" notecard,
just introduced last week, is
"Taxi Girl" and it stars Aimee ...


The fourth and final notecard design for this
Summer "City Girls" Collection
will be introduced on the day
that the notecards become available for purchase,
announced on the post of Monday, June 13 ...
just a couple of glamorous weeks away!
That fourth notecard will star the remaining girls,
Violet, Alex and Hope!
That means the complete boxed set of
Summer "City Girl" notecards will contain cards
featuring all eight of the girls!
(four designs, three of each, total of twelve notecards)
So exciting!

Again, thanks for joining us today, everyone!
Next week will be a Glamorous Review of
another Ooh La Frou Frou girl!
We've done five of the girls so far and we have three to go!
Have a wonderful week, darlings!

To order Ooh La Frou Frou cards
just go to our website at
http://www.oohlafroufrou.com



Monday, March 7, 2011

A Walk Through a Spring Garden

Hi girls ~ it's Violet!


If you've read our latest posts,
you've probably gotten the feeling that
we Ooh La Frou Frou girls
have been craving Spring like never before.
We walk around the city,
dreaming about sitting outside at our favorite cafes,
we stare dreamily at the spring outfits we've bought,
currently hanging in our closet ...
we look at the bare branches on the trees
and long to see green.

Even though it's still a little early
in some parts of the world
(like in ours!)
for a walk in a Spring garden,
we'll take you on a virtual one.
The first stop on our walk
will be at some of the
Spring print advertising campaigns
in full bloom!

There's the dreamy Mulberry campaign
(with its adorable piglet) ...
I personally feel this photo needs a story
to go along with it ... I could imagine
the pretty redhead in the photo
walking up to this mansion with its lovely garden room,
stopping to pick up the little piglet outside
as she wanders in to relax ...
while her rich aunt prepares a delicious Sunday dinner
to be held later in the sumptuous dining room ...
what would your version of the story be?
You can read the behind-the-scenes details
of this photoshoot and see pictures of the ad's creation here.

Then there's gorgeous Julianne Moore in the Talbots campaign ...
looks as if she's across town in another glamorous garden room
and seems to be in a relaxed, melancholy kind of mood ...
thinking about a spring love affair perhaps? ...
or maybe just admiring the pretty bows
on her charming kitten heels ...

... whatever she's thinking,
I'd say she definitely has Spring fever too ...

And the people at Elle Magazine
apparently were dealing with a bit of Spring fever, as well.
They headed out to the New York Botanical Garden
for this fashion photoshoot from the February 2011 issue.
Lounging in the golden sun of the rose garden ...
sounds rather luxurious, no?

Even L'Oreal is seeing flowers!
Is it just me or do I see the shape of a heart
as the model scoops up the blooms?
Oh Spring ... we heart you!

If there's anyone even more anxious for spring
it can only be the girls out there planning Spring weddings.
That would surely double up the lust for Spring!
And since we're taking you on a walk
through a virtual Spring garden,
let's wander over to visit
talented designer Mary Jo Matsumoto ...
something's blooming in her California studio!

Did you notice my gorgeous flower handbag
in the illustration at the beginning of the post?
Available for a limited time in Mary Jo Matsumoto's
Trust Your Style Pop-Up Bridal Shop,
you'll find gorgeous handbags like this in full bloom!
Not only for bridesmaids and mothers-of-the-bride ...
the bags have been spotted at the Oscars,
on Oprah and everywhere from InStyle Magazine
to the windows of Bergdorf Goodman ... 
so pretty with their semi-precious stone handles
and the tiny "Mary Jo M" gold tag!
Here are a few of my favorites:
The Party Pink Peony Zip Bag with Cherry Quartz Handle

And the Classic Flowered White Lipstick Bag
with White Freshwater Pearl Handle

Can you say Spring?
Watch for more from Mary Jo Matsumoto
at her blog Trust Your Style.

Our Spring garden walk has been
oh-so-lovely so far ...
and could there be a more perfect way
to wind it up than by sauntering over to the park
where Hope, Belle and Alex are waiting just for you
at a Spring soiree with luscious desserts and pink champagne?!
We're excited to introduce
the first of three
Ooh La Frou Frou Collection Spring cards!
In keeping with the title of this post,
"A Walk Through a Spring Garden,"
this charming card is entitled
"Tulip Party."
To see the glittered version with crystals
and/or to order simply go here.


The girls are looking adorable standing in a bed of pink tulips.
They're celebrating the season in glamorous style,
toasting spring with pink champagne bubbles
and enjoying glittery pastel deliciousness!
Spread before them on the table
are pretty cupcakes, macarons and
in the center of it all, a pastel pink cake
dedicated to ... Spring, of course!

Accented with sparkling glitter and crystals,
this card is an adorable way to say
that we're so glad the season we've been waiting for
has finally arrived ...
also perfect for a glamorous Easter card!
The cards are rich with pastel glitter
and accented with Swarovski crystal elements.

Card details include:
Lavender envelope with raspberry liner.
Printed on the lavender paper inside the card is the message:
"Happy Spring!"

It's been a lovely Spring walk, girlfriends!
Go ahead and enjoy your time at the soiree ...
until next Monday on Ooh La Frou Frou
when we'll be introducing our
second spring card .. an Easter card!

Illustration of Violet and
Tulip Party card illustration
by Sandra Markwalder ~ artist and creator of the
Ooh La Frou Frou Collection
(c) Ooh La Frou Frou ~ All Rights Reserved.

Card may be purchased here

Image Credits:

Image 1: Mulberry ad spotted in March 2011 Elle Magazine
Image 2 and 3: Talbots images via

Image 4:  Fashion Editorial - Elle Magazine 2011
Image 5: L'Oreal ad from February 2011 Elle Magazine

Above ad campaign images edited by Ooh La Frou Frou
Flower purse images courtesy of Mary Jo Matsumoto via


Monday, February 14, 2011

We Heart You!


Hello Girls!



Love is in the air this week ...
why limit it to just one day?


and if you're like us, you're a romantic
right to the ends of your tippy toes!


It's that week of hearts and flowers ...


some of you may have put your heart out on the line
by sending a Valentine to someone new ...


and some of you may have very romantic plans  ...


it is, after all, a time of intrigue and secret messages ...

we thought this red tie with the little secret pocket
from Red Envelope
was an adorable way to say
a little something something to someone.
It comes with its own packet of little hearts to write on!



Since it's the week of Love,
we're taking the time
simply
to wish you
Happy Valentine's Week
and to say how much we HEART you!

Did you know that when you follow
Ooh La Frou Frou
*POOF!*
you become a
"Glamorous Girlfriend?"
It's true ~ you do!

And this post is a love note
from all eight of the Ooh La Frou Frou girls
to our followers on
Twitter, Facebook and our Blog.

We SO heart you ...
and all your lovely
tweets and comments!

Thank you so much
for being a part of this
exciting new card line
(we've just begun!)
and
Ooh La Frou Frou's fun and glamorous world!
For, what would life be without girlfriends?
Girlfriends make everything in life extra-special.
With who else would we share earth-shattering news
like red hot shopping finds ...


and only a girlfriend could appreciate the pleasure
of drinking from of a pink cup ...

.... these darling cups can be found here!

If it weren't for girlfriends,
with whom would we share the stories
of frogs that we've kissed (or not) ...
and the princes that we treasure ...

... you can actually wear your heart on your sleeve
with these adorable "Frog Prince" cufflinks ...
we Ooh La Frou Frou girls
are running out to find luscious ruffled
french cuff white shirts
for ourselves to put them on!

... maybe you could make
feminine cufflinks your fashion signature ...
we know we NEVER have enough hugs and kisses!

Both the "Frog Prince" ad "Hugs and Kisses" cufflinks are from Red Envelope.

Our wish is that you always have love to keep you warm ...

Heart-Shaped Hot Water Bottle here

that raindrops never ruin a good hair day ...


Heart-Shaped Umbrella here

and that you'll ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS
be treated like the
Princesses that you are!


Vera Wang Glam Princess at Sephora




Images via and credits:

Blinking "We Soooo Heart Glamorous Girlfriends" created by
Ooh La Frou Frou

Image 1: LOVE via
Image 2: Girl with Dreamy Hearts via by i.Anton on Flikr
Image 3: Vivienne Westwood Melissa Lady Dragon Shoes via
Image 4: Heart of Flowers from Martha Stewart
Image 5: Heart on Fishing Pole by Big City Dreams
Image 6: Rose petals in bathtub via
Image 7: Red Envelope necktie (link above under tie)
Image 8: Dreamy hearts via by Kelly Ann Studio
Image 9: Steubben Heart via
Image 10: Lips blowing hearts via
Image 11: Red bag via
Image 12: Pink teacups (link under teacups)
Images 13 and 14: Cufflinks via Red Envelop  (linked above)
Image 15: Heart hot water bottle (linked above)
Image 16: Heart-shaped umbrella (linked above)
Image 17: Vera Wang Glam Princess (linked above)

Illustration of Ooh La Frou Frou girls holding sign
and their dogs created by Sandy, artist and creator of
Ooh La Frou Frou
~ all rights reserved.