What is puce?

Puce is a brownish-purple to purplish-brown color. The name comes from the French word for "flea". It is said to have originated in France during the reign of Louis XVI, inspired by the color of a flea's body.

The color gained popularity because it was fashionable among the French Aristocracy. It was used for clothing, textiles, and other decorative items. There are different shades of puce, including "cuisse de puce" (flea's thigh) and "ventre de puce" (flea's belly), denoting slightly different hues. Puce is considered a muted and sophisticated color.