{Vogue ~ Faith} {August 1931 McCall's Fashions ~ clotho98} {I should of stocked up more ~ diane marshman} {... wide eyed! ~ James Vaughn} {1950s peacock novelty print full skirt ~ Karen Small Earth Vintage} {Claudette Colbert on the cover of Photoplay, October 1940 ~ Silverbluestar} {Brown vintage shoes ~ Sib Vintage} {Samsonite Luggage ad, 1949 ~ Classic Film} {Chocolate Beehive Cupcakes ~ sweetopia*} {Waltz, 1937 ~ Paul Malon} {All images above are from Flickr. To learn more about a specific image, please click on its title to be taken to its respective Flickr page.} ♥ ♥ ♥ As January approached and, in fact, right up until making my decision this week, I gave a lot thought to what I wanted my colour of the year to be for 2015, the precise halfway mark in this decade (if that thought doesn't throw your head for a loop, I don't know what will!). The issue wasn't that I couldn't selection a hue, but indeed quite the opposite. There were so many that I could have very easily, and happily, shone the spotlight on this year. In 2014, purple - that most regal and splendidly pretty of colours - got to enjoy its moment at the forefront of my colour loving mind and wardrobe. Though in the end I didn't add as many new violet pieces to my closet as I would have liked (I'm still very much on the hunt for a pair of vintage appropriate, budget friendly purple shoes), I did increase the count there by a few items. These include accessories such as scarves, a floral brooch, and an elegant 50s hat, and enjoyed finding ways to weave shades of aubergine, plum, lavender and other members of the purple family into my life, daily outfits, and even cooking (grape jelly thumbprint cookies, anyone?) throughout each of the last twelve months. It was a fun, feminine hue to work with and one that I've certainly developed a deeper appreciation for as a result. This year however, I'm in a pragmatic mood and given that I plan to spend very little on myself in 2015, when I do, I want my vintage wardrobe budget dollars to go as far as possible, and that means focusing on pieces I don't just love and desire, but genuinely have a need for. With this thought in mind, by the end of December, I'd narrowed my list of possible choices down to four, than three and sat at a stalemate for a couple of weeks. Ultimately, it was a trip to my closet and bureau drawers that helped me nail down my choice. Which, as you might have guessed by the images highlighted in this month's edition of Flickr Favourites, is none other than the warm, wonderful and exceedingly classic colour that is brown! I love brown. I mean, really, really, really love it! I can remember with crystal clarity the first time I knew that brown and I were going to be sartorial BBFs. Around the time I entered the eighth grade, I got a new long sleeved checkered shirt that was a mix of teal and milk chocolate brown, as well as a matching teal and brown t-shirts to wear with it. The moment I slipped that checkered top on, I saw the way that brown (and to be fair, also teal) lit up my skin and brought out the tones of green and gold in my eyes. Whereas black (and also white, for that matter) worn near the face of so often washed me out or give my skin a pallid tone, brown made it sign like the first sun-kissed days of spring. I got scores of compliments whenever I sported that shirt and would probably still have it to this day, had I not worn it to the point of tatters in my teen years. I knew right then and there that brown was for me and I've enjoyed draping myself in this earthy, beautiful colour ever since. That said though, at the moment I wouldn't say that my wardrobe is teaming with it, and given the sort of magical effect it has on my skin, hair and eye colouring, it seriously should be. On top of coming up with fun new ways to wear the chocolate, espresso, grizzly bear, mushroom, fawn, mud, and cinnamon shades I have in my closet already, I will definitely be aiming to add more brown to my daily looks and elsewhere in my life - including further blog posts - this year that will have all soil hued things at their heart. As a timeless nuetral (that is often relegated to the roll of playing second fiddle to black, grey and navy blue, yet is worthy of just as much fashion world affection as they are), brown has a lot of earnest soul and plays well with scores of other colours - from green to mustard yellow, red to aqua - and will be a joy to focus on throughout 2015. My top dream brown item? A fitted 1940s or 50s skirt suit, pretty please. I don't own a suit in this flattering colour and believe that acquiring one would be a serious boon to my wardrobe. How do you feel about brown? Do you wear it often yourself or is it one of those colours that you've never felt overly pulled towards? I hope that my focus on it throughout 2015 will help bolster your own love and appreciation of this Mother Nature approved choice and that it might even inspire you to add a touch more russet, taupe, chestnut, burn umber, or tree bark to your own closet this year!