Pink, black and white, a dynamite colour trio {Monday Muses, July 20th}

As you may have gathered from prior Monday Muses posts, colour – in all its many splendid iterations – is a perpetual source of inspiration for me. I couldn't fathom looking at the world and not being continually overjoyed by the never-ending array of hues that exist everywhere. They can mirror moods, create beauty, convey sentiments, act as the background or foreground of a room, change the look of an outfit in a heartbeat, and fill us with powerful memories.

Each season and every month brings with it both obvious colour pallets (rust, gold and burgundy in the fall, for example) and those which may have meaning more to our own personal histories than to the rest of the world.

My Muses this week are pink, black and white, three bold colours that each speak of summer in their own wonderful ways. Pink is playful and energetic, sweet and just a little sassy at times. Black embodies the all-consuming heat of summer and also plays homage to scorching hot tarmac, evening wear, and midnight skies. White (which was last week’s Muse) is chipper and yet tranquil, it can symbolize the seemingly endless search for relief from the heat or a way to capture this season’s airy, bright beauty.

As it so often does, Flickr offered up a treasure trove of vintage inspiration featuring these three marvelous hues, which I compiled into the mosaic below.


1. Vogue 1954, 2. Memories, 3. Vintage 1950's rockabilly dress sewing pattern, 4. IMG_4101.JPG EDIT, 5. Visiting my friend in Stockholm, 6. kitty in pink, 7. Vintage Pink & Black Dishes, 8. Pink Poodle Planter, 9. la vie en rose, 10. Glamour Girl Zipper Pouch , 11. oriental peach fan brooch, 12. 50s glamour girl, 13. new shoes! {Click on a link to see a larger version of a particular image and/or for photographer information.}


From there a sprint around etsy and other corners of the web revealed a score of wonderful, summer worthy items in pink, black and white (sometimes all together, in pairs or as single hues), which I hope will fill you with the upbeat, mid-July spirit I feel they posses.

♥ ♥ ♥


{With its simple, timeless design this all black cloche hat instantly calls to mind the 1920s, but would work with a variety of vintage (and modern) styles (many thanks to Loose Leaf Tigers’ blog where I first spotted this wonderful hat). $49.00 (US) from ModCloth.}



{Though the seller lists these pretty floral drop earrings as being from the 1980s, there is something unmistakably art deco about their design that would make the wonderful companions for 1920s and 30s styles. $4.00 (US) from etsy seller Mole Hill Treasures.}



{You’d want to get caught with your hand in the cookie jar when it’s as fantastically adorable as this vintage kitty cat one is! $58.00 (US) from etsy seller Junkyard Gypsy.}



{What better place to store your favourite old fashioned cookie recipes (or those for any other dish) than in this incredibly cool vintage rotary style recipe filing container. $30.00 US from etsy seller Sunset Vintage.}



{Large roses are splashed across this lovely, almost antique looking “kiss lock” purse, making it a wonderful way to bring the beauty of a summer garden into your wardrobe all year round. $37.99 (US) from Modcloth.}



{There is something so strikingly pretty about this fantastic pair of flower shaped rhinestone brooches! $16.00 (US) for both pins, from etsy seller She’s Fancy.}



{This beautiful hot pink, faux leather (pleather) rose belt would be so much fun paired with a huge range of dresses, skirts, cardigans or tops! $28.00 (US) from Igigi.}



{For another terrific way to adorn your waist with pink, black and white, why not slip on this whimsically adorable vintage apron that features a bevy of old fashioned ladies and gentlemen taking their beloved dogs for a stoll. $28.00 (US) from etsy seller I.W.O by Courtney Jane.}



{If you’re a fan or sweet black licorice, why not add some flare to your candy dish with these charmingly old fashioned looking Black Taffy sweets? $2.19 (US) for 10oz, from Troyer County Market.}



{Whether you serve up pink lemonade, white floating islands, or black jelly beans on this sweet flower bedecked vintage tray, it’s sure to be the star of your table. $17.99 from etsy seller Bella Blue 96.}



{Adorned with wonderful pink and black cross stitch this vintage table cloth is almost too pretty to use. $48.00 (US) from etsy seller Dishy Vintage.}



{Isn’t there something compellingly beautiful at this vintage black and pink glass bead necklace and earring set? I think it would be the perfect jewelry to wear to a cocktail or dinner party. $45.00 (US) from etsy seller The Eclectic Diva.}



{Wouldn’t this elegant black and pink lace vintage jewelry box look incredible on a dresser or vanity? $54.50 (US) from etsy seller 5 Gardenias.}



{Give the classic LBD a cheery shot of colour with this magnificently lovely vintage velvet and silk evening dress. $98.00 (US) from Etsy seller Voodoo Lounge.}



{The soft pink hue of these absolutely lovely 2.5 inch heels makes almost them surprisingly easy to pair with a wide array of different colours. $29.99 (US) from ModCloth.}

In searching for the items above, I discovered there is actually a really good sized number of vintage pieces that feature pink and black together (often with white thrown into the mix as well), which is great to know as I’m a big fan of these colours (one of my about thirty different dream kitchens would encompass these three colours paired with steel or chrome). Are you a fan of this trio of July inspired hues, too?