Lovers + Friends dress (c/o REVOLVE)
Sezane sandals (similar)
Sezane tote (similar)
Anine Bing sunglasses
CC Lifestyles earrings (c/o)
There is nothing like peony season in Paris. My love of French flowers isn’t exactly a secret. But many of the most beautiful blooms – or at least, many of my favourites, like anemones and ranunculus, are in season long before the lovely spring weather arrives. While I will never hesitate to treat myself to a bouquet, even in the rain, flowers really are best when you can appreciate them as nature intended – outdoors.
Peony season begins in May. The sun shines more often, the days are longer and the clouds lighter. Pink and white peonies begin to pop up in flower shops. It’s the loveliest time of year, in my opinion. I always thought so – even when I knew nothing about flowers. I want to think my appreciation for things that bloom is a sign of maturity, but the truth is, I learned about flowers when I started buying them to take flat lays. Before that, I considered it frivolous to treat myself to a gift that would just die. I could justify buying flowers for friends, but not for me. When I did finally buy my first bouquet – they weren’t peonies, just tulips – I realised I had been silly. There is always a good reason to indulge in simple pleasures because life is short.
I held out until just before we left Paris to actually buy peonies. That’s because I am fussy about them, the way I am fussy about so many things; I really only like the palest pink varieties, so light that the blooms are almost white. Last year, I found the perfect bouquet at Pike Place Market in Seattle. Since then, I have loved very few others. But peony season demands outfit photos with peonies. I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to capture an outfit with a bouquet, so I chose the lightest pink ones from our local florist. They bloomed for days after we took these photos, but I admit that they gave me the most pleasure while I carried them around Le Marais in my straw tote from Sezane. The whole experience was just picture perfect.
Peony season is in full swing here in Winnipeg now. I’ve trimmed a few from the peony bush in my parents’ yard, but I have to admit that I think the highlight of the season for me this year was the day we took these photos. (Particularly given that they aren’t actually my favourite flowers, and I just like everything that comes with their season.) Do you love peonies, or do you have another favourite flower?
I have such a fondness for peonies – my parents had a beautiful bush of them at my childhood home and, I swear, to this day I get a little spark of passing nostalgia when I see or smell them.
Courtney ~ Sartorial Sidelines
I use to buy flowers for myself, I haven’t in son long…
I love how this striped dress looks on you, its unexpected to see you in it and I think it looks really good, of course you know that.
I do love peonies (and I love that you’re fussy about them), but I’m more of a daisy girl (which I’m sure doesn’t surprise you). I also love your dress!
I absolutely love them Cee. It’s a gorgeous flower. How CUTE are you!!! I love that dress, your sandals, that tote and of course the peonies. PICTURE PERFECT >.<
http://www.averysweetblog.com/
These photos are sheer perfection. And I hear you on the attitude towards flowers as I used to feel the exact same way myself.
Hope you’re settling into life in Winnipeg nicely!
The kind of perfect summer outfit 😉
https://4highheelsfans.wordpress.com/2017/06/17/back-from-vancouver/
Straw tote, peonies and stripes?!! Um, you’re pulling at my heart strings here Cee! Absolutely love everything about this shoot + gorgeous look! And couldn’t agree more, flowers are such a lovely indulgence and SO worth it! I have them everywhere, and without them our rooms feel so bare! Weekend flower runs are mandatory at our house!! 😉
http://www.girlandcloset.com
PS – Love the mom closet raid. Those jeans are SO good!!!
This bag is so cool! I love it :-*
Melanie / http://www.goldzeitblog.de
Perfect stripe outfit with that stripe bag, very french..ouh la la.
I also love peonies and you definitely find one that are gorgeous.
Nathalie
http://www.nathalie-alexandra.blogspot.com
I always look forward to peony season, and I hate to admit that is partly to get a few snaps of them cheerly peeking out of a tote bag in outfit photos. Of course since I don’t have air conditioning they don’t last long in their vase anyway and in a few days time I have a beautiful mess on my table. Having photos makes the purchase of cut flowers slightly less wasteful, somehow.