Puce , Puse , Peuse , Peuce – Let’s Boycott This Color!!!!

My friend Kim was right the other day , our real problem in the color world is Puce. It is a hot mess of a hue , with a name that you can technically spell four ways , and yes , it all began with the French in the 14th century.

In France , Puce means “Flea” ( how stomach turning right off ) . As the color of a flea’s belly is usually dark purple or red brown . ( Get out your tiny microscopes ). We in America view Puce usually as a brownish purple . To the rest of the world Puce is green. Say whattt? That is right we in the USA adapted a literal translation of the color , and see it differently from everyone else, as we usually do.  In Europe they like their Puce as a bright green.

Now depending on where your folks hailed from you may think Puce was green or purple. Of course you are right on both accounts. I grew up thinking it was green , an ugly pea colored green , not the purple of the fashion world. So when your client asks for Puce , you need to first ask how they spell it , then secondly ask if they want green or purple. They will say ” You are the expert , you tell me ” . Respond with , ” No , you tell me ” , they will say ” No , YOU tell me” . And the fun begins.

Let us stop the madness and boycott Puse , or Puce , WHATEVER! . Anyways we do not have to take this Puce abuse. It is a sneaky sadist color and I will not have a part of it. Just don’t move on to Chartreuse.

Chartreuse named from a French liquor of that color  , is  a green/yellow. There is Chartreuse green and Chartreuse yellow. Don’t go there people! Don’t even go there! Happy Weekend.