French lilac

I think it’s time to retire the French lilac, for example.

It wasn’t until the late 1800s that chemists isolated the active ingredient in French lilac—a compound known as guanidine.

Her Royal Highness was splendidly attired in a rich dress of silver lama over French lilac; head-dress, a white satin hat, with an elegant plume of white feathers, turned up with a diamond button and loop in front; and appeared to be in excellent health and spirits.

She had French blood in her veins— and not of French lilac shade, either, as Betty used to say.