Weekend Update: Art From Paris And Some Good Sales

Avranches 1920 vintage poster. Details at une femme d'un certain age.

Vintage Poster Art From Paris

When we finished remodeling our kitchen a few months ago, we decided that the large wall next to the dining table needed a single, bold piece of artwork. We found it in Paris. Le Monsieur and I both love vintage travel posters, and are always on the lookout for them. We’d passed by the Elbé gallery on boulevard Saint Germain a couple of times, and while I was off people-watching with Josephine, LM stopped in to scout the merchandise. We went back a couple of days later, and this is one of the beauties that followed us home. (They packaged and shipped the posters to our house, so we didn’t have to carry with us.)

While you can find copies of this poster online, this is an original lithograph from 1920. The level of detail and depth and vibrance of the colors are amazing. We had it professionally framed, and while it was not inexpensive, I’m so glad we did.

Frame choice for vintage French poster. Details at une femme d'un certain age.

The expert at the frame shop pulled a few options from the hundreds of frame samples in stock, and of those, this was the one that “clicked.” This frame almost feels like it was made for the poster. The colors and stippled texture echo those in the image, and the frame achieves the desired effect of enhancing the artwork rather than calling attention to itself.

Vintage poster art from Paris: mid-century French rail travel poster. Details at une femme d'un certain age.

This mid-century rail travel poster was the one I fell in love with first. It’s now hanging in our den. The shop expert suggested this frame as well, which also has a very mid-century aesthetic, and picks up some of the deep browns in the image. We used UV acrylic rather than glass on both posters, which is lighter. We’re so happy with both new pieces of art!

If you’re in the Los Angeles area, I highly recommend Allan Jeffries Framing. We’ve used them a few times over the last few years, and have always been very happy with their work.

Labor Day Sales

If it’s a long holiday weekend then it must follow that there will be sales. While I know it’s hard to wrap your head around outerwear when it still feels like summer outside, it’s a great time to take advantage of some good discounts. Your November self will thank you.

J.Crew cropped sweater jacket in navy. Details at une femme d'un certain age.

J.Crew has 40% off full-priced items with code BIGSALE. I showed you the longer open sweater jackets a couple of days ago, but if you prefer something shorter and more fitted, here’s a one-button sweater blazer. It’s offered in Black, Navy and Heather Khaki, and up to size 3x. They didn’t have this one in the store, but I’ve ordered it to try, will report back.

J.Crew perfect rain jacket in Navy. Details at une femme d'un certain age.

Also worth looking at, this rain jacket is really cute. Offered in Regular (up to 3X), Petite, and Tall sizes, and several colors.

Lands' End ultra light packable down jacket in claret. Details at une femme d'un certain age.

These packable down jackets from Lands’ End are fabulous for cool weather travel, and almost always sell out. Offered in Regular, Petite, Tall, Plus, and Petite Plus. Use code PARADE and pin 6028 for 40% off!

UNIQLO has some select items discounted, including their Blocktech wind and waterproof parkas and jackets.

More Sales Of Note

Ann Taylor: 40% off full-price styles, extra 50% off Sale styles. Code READYSETSALE

Bloomingdales: Big Brown Bag Sale, up to 60% off.

Chico’s: extra 50% off sale styles.

Halsbrook: Labor Day Sale, up to 80% off.

J.Crew: 40% off full-priced items with code BIGSALE

J.Jill: extra 40% off sale styles.

Lands’ End: 40% off full-priced styles. Code PARADE, pin 6028

Macy’s: extra 20% off sale items and free shipping over $49 with code WKND

Talbot’s: Fall Style Event, 25% off regular price purchase.

Theory: $100 off any purchase of $600 or more. Code WHATSUITSYOU

Bon weekend!

 

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17 Comments

  1. Susan, Talbots is having a great sale too this weekend. I just picked up several things at greatly reduced prices.

  2. What a wonderful and happy way to start you day – with your colorful French poster art. Thank you for sharing it.

  3. I bought the Land’s End puffer jacket at the end of winter this year & got an amazing deal on it. Mine is black & has a hood with faux fur. Mine is supposed to hit below the knee but with my short stature, it hits mid-calf. It is extremely war & will still keep you warm if it gets soaking wet. Love your French art; I hope to find something I like in Amsterdam this year; I’m sure the city of Van Gough will not disappoint!

    1. At the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam, they sell copies of his paintings printed on canvas, in various sizes. I bought one of his seascapes and had it framed. I really like it!

  4. An added bonus with Lands End down jackets is that they are RDS (responsible down standard) certified, ensuring that the birds were humanely treated and were not lived plucked.

  5. I love vintage travel posters as well, and good for you for getting original lithographs. Beautifully framed and I used Allan Jeffries for all my framing as well.

  6. I, too, love beautiful, old lithograph posters like the ones you bought… so much so, I was a dealer in my 20’s and still have two giant pieces that take up most of a wall. I used to buy them at auction from Christies and Sotheby’s. Believe it or not, they were the cheapest at auction, because that’s how many dealers acquire them to begin with… then they mark them up, significantly. In my 40’s I was in a chi-chi poster store in Aspen and was shocked at the prices. Since I still subscribed and studied the auction catalogs and the prices they brought, I knew his prices were outrageous ($25k for something that should have been $6k) and told the owner that. He said, “Honey… The people who buy my pieces don’t even look at the price!” Even so… I couldn’t have done that. Brenda

  7. Thoroughly enjoyed your post this morning! Isn’t it amazing what a difference a beautiful framed picture can make!
    Special ‘Thank you!’ to you for being so responsive to my comment about expanding the images you post. I love that that it’s now possible! THANK YOU!

  8. Wow! Love the new art! Excellent choices on the frames too. I say one can never go wrong with vintage travel posters.

  9. Love your travel posters! I did something similar while in Paris in June. I purchased a print (from Image Republic) at the Conran Shop and had it framed for my new office. It’s a visible and daily reminder of a wonderful week in a city that continues to inspire me!

  10. Oh your prints looks so charming. I also like the idea that they’re French and so much a part of your life. We’re thinking of putting our old menus on our pristine wall next to the stove. So many memories. You’re kitchen is just gorgeous.. Have you started cooking yet?

  11. Those posters are both beautiful, and tastefully framed. I love trains!

    That raincoat comes in a huge selection of sizes from xxs to 3x! Bravo to the company.

    Lolë is a Montréal-based activewear firm that also makes great packable raincoats. They are opening a head office in LA for their US market. There are wiki articles in French and in English, but for some reason I can’t copy the wiki address, though I just wanted to direct readers there, not steal their content! Just search for Lolë at wikipedia.

    They don’t make only gym and yoga wear, but also tops, bottoms and dresses that would be very travel-friendly, depending on wearers’ taste, of course. I’d find some of their garments too “young” or sporty, but not all.