Montréal People: At the market, red signals spring

We vaulted from winter to near-summer temps in less than a week; on both last Saturday and Sunday at the market, I noticed that red is not just for geraniums anymore:


The male of the species has the brighter plumage:


Palest yellow trousers; the heaviness of her beautifully-fitted black coat lifted by a red scarf:



At a bakery, a young woman in a marinière minidress, jacket tied round her waist, moto boots and a red bag:



Just loved her red and pink zig-zag dress; she's voluptuous but buying plants, not the must-wear-darks rule:



Another sampled fruit in a red maxiskirt:



And une fillette found a red flower for maman:


Pastels and white show up once the temperatures hit the 24C/80F range but for now, red heralds longed-for warmth, as the leaves unfurl to the sun and people's smiles seem to say, At last!

Comments

Susan B said…
Yes, very similar to what I saw in Paris! I did not see pastels there either. Love the jeune fille, what a lovely image!
I much prefer the red to pastels...I like how you did your post!
materfamilias said…
Wonderful! Love your guided tours. . .
Cornelia said…
I so miss the markets of my native Germany. So often your pictures of Montreal remind me of Europe and bring on a bit of longing for home. I am now living in a culinary diaspora. ;/
Francie Newcomb said…
How pretty and lively! Thought you might be interested in NYT article about Christie auction of paintings including one by Peter Doig: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/13/arts/design/at-christies-auction-an-experiment-proves-fruitful.html?contentCollection=arts&action=click&module=NextInCollection&region=Footer&pgtype=article

Francie
LPC said…
Happy, spark-filled! I see almost no red here in Northern California. Perhaps it's the length of our summers and the pale wash of our dry hills? Or maybe the unfortunate pairing of red with conservative in America? Or no good reason at all? Anyway, beautiful photos.
I love these posts out and about on the street and in the market. We see very little red with the exception of shoes or bags. Lots of white jeans and bright scarves have made an appearance with the Spring time weather!
The zig zag dress is a bold statement and why not?
We should wear what makes us happy.
Duchesse said…
Francie: 11.9 million for the painting auctioned! Thanks for the link.

All: Stay tuned for more "real people posts", at least till my summer hiatus.
Kristien62 said…
We are about 6 hours from Montreal and experienced the same jump from cold to summery with trees abloom seemingly overnight. I love the coral-ly shade of red and your post reminded me of the pair of ankle pants that I tucked away while I gathered courage to bring them out and wear them. Love your Montreal posts.
Madame Là-bas said…
I love red! It's such a happy colour! Montreal is such a stylish city.
Mardel said…
Your real people posts are always so charming. And I love the red. Lots of pastels here now, but it is in the 80s most days. It is a good excuse to wear more color.
Eleanorjane said…
Nice outfits there! Do you actually shop at the market or just people-watch?

I enjoy the markets around Bristol but I do find that I spend money like water what with a bit of cheese here, some baked goods there, some sausage, coffees, cake etc and suddenly my wallet is empty!
Duchesse said…
Eleanorjane: We live 5 min. from this market, the largest outdoor market in the country. It is where we buy at least 85% of our food, and though there are high-end shops and stalls, there are also good deals to be found.
La Boucherie du marché will be re-opening any day now! Love the reds.
Anonymous said…
Love your posts! I knew of Montreal, of course, but it was never really on my (American) radar. You're a one-woman chamber of commerce. I want to visit now. Thanks for the great website, photos, and insights.
Anonymous said…
Beautiful, powerful reds! I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of MamaRubi next week, who is bringing me a new pair of red britches, along with other goodies and her very sweet self.

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