Fashionistas and artistas, come on in!
Welcome to my fashion haus. Joining Salazar at 14 Shades of Grey and Daenel at Living Outside the Stacks for what I think is their first Style Imitating Art (SIA) post of this shiny new year. For this fun series, fashionistas and artistas (and wannabes of both, like me) are given a work of art, sculpture, painting, poster, fabric, even old medicine bottles, as a prompt. And then we are invited to create our own look that reflects the color, texture, mood of the curated piece.
Often times, I get hung up on the color palette used in the art and can’t get beyond that. If I can ever get my ducks in a row, I would love to window shop and try on pieces that represent the feel of the art. But I don’t see that happening in the foreseeable future. Ha!
Style Imitating Art, Van Gogh’s Irises
The subject for today’s SIA post is a painting done by Vincent Van Gogh entitled “Still Life with Irises”. It was painted in 1890 in the post-impressionism style, oil on canvas.
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My father liked Van Gogh’s paintings. Had several inexpensive prints in his office. When PC and I went to Paris, we were able to see some of Van Gogh’s work in the Musée d’Orsay. I photographed myself in front of one of his renowned sunflower paintings as my daughter Lauren had done on one of her trips to Paris several years before. I made a framed collage of the photographs for my father and he kept them on his desk.
When I moved my mom from her 2 bedroom apartment to the the little efficiency in December, we had to part with many of the things that had been in my father’s office for lack of room. It was sad to say goodbye to his Van Gogh prints. So this painting had a special meaning for me.
I love blue and yellow together. And feel that Van Gogh’s signature color is that rich, warm gold, seen here in the background and vase. And in the blooms of his magnificent sunflowers.
My Interpretation
I used a scarf given to me by my BFF Sharon as the focal point of my interpretation. The colors, of course, reminded me of the flowers in the painting but so did the lovely, light fabric of the scarf. Almost gauze-like. And, had I not ironed it, the scarf would probably curl a bit like the delicate petals of the flowers.
I paired the scarf with a bright yellow cardigan, white long sleeve tee and green denim jeans. If it hadn’t been chilly willie this morning, I would have worn heels in order to better reflect the lightness of the irises. But the building where I work is unheated so practicality won out over fashion. Chose my new Moda Chics combat style lace-up booties with fur lining. Toasty tootsies.
Girls, these pants were so tight. I was embarrassed putting them on in front of PC this morning. Snug when I first got them at JCP, they are now a size too small. Can you see my extra 7 pounds from holiday eating? I sure can!
Tucked my tee into my pants…something I rarely do…and added my new leopard belt…out of necessity. My tee had those tiny little holes in it right at my waist line. Do you get those? What in the world causes them? Evidently I need a new white long sleeve tee but didn’t have time to change this morning without being late for work. So I tucked.
Stopped on the way home from work to take a pic at the foot of our Franklin Mountain range. The Franklins are just a few blocks from my home.
Geez, those pants! Can you say sausage casings?
If Money Were No Object
…my interpretation of this prompt would have looked quite different. It would probably have involved some kind of ruffled sundress, I am thinking the little Saks Fifth Avenue Tanya Taylor silk number below.
Paired with some kind of yellow kitten heel. Probably the Casadei
Your Turn
What would you put together as an interpretation of Van Gogh’s irises? Did any of you ever play with Polyvore? I really liked that app. It would let me create outfits I could never afford in the real world. Kind of a modern day alternative to the paper doll. Does anyone remember Betsy McCall paper dolls from McCall’s magazine? Really dating myself now. My grandmother used to cut out paper dolls for us, too. Sweet memories.
Please take a minute to check out Daenel and Salazar’s interpretations. Let me go on the record saying Salazar’s socks are perfection. Go see!
Thanks for joining me, girlsies. One of my bucket list activities is to get dressed any time I go out anywhere. Sounds simple enough, huh? No brainer? Duh! But I tend to throw on sweats and a tee to run to Walmart. And my ‘place of employment’ is not exactly somewhere most folks would dress up to go. But I want to wear my clothes that are otherwise gathering dust in the closet. So, this year, my fashion haus may be open quite a bit. Woo hoo!
Family hugs,
That s a lovely interpetation of a lovely painting! Have a great day Leslie!
Thank you, Nancy, enjoyed linking up for your Friday link-up. Now to do more fashion inspired posts when I get home again.
Loved your interpretation…and your inspiration painting. I think it’s great to add some sun to your outfit this time of year. I am now on the lookout for something bright and yellow.
Sausage casings – bahahaha. Nearly every pant I’ve ever owned! Hilarious 🤣
You are so cute. If I my legs looked like sausage casings a week ago, they look like whole hams now. Good grief, I need to get home and back on track. Leaving mom’s on Monday night.
Great job! You wear that yellow so well and your scarf ties it all together so beautifully. I just love how creative you all are with this project. It’s so fun to see!
Happy Wednesday my friend!
xo,
Kellyann
Thank you, sweet buddy-o-mine. I enjoy the SIA series so much. Now to get home and join up for the next go-round. I am anxious to meet the girls’ new curator! Might it be YOU?
Those colours suit you so well. I would struggle with that painting as I don’t have anything yellow in my wardrobe, although these shoes keep trying to jump in my shopping basket whenever I go into town ;- )
https://www.marksandspencer.com/kitten-heel-pointed-court-shoes/p/p60213724?image=SD_01_T02_2049_SE_X_EC_90&color=OCHRE&prevPage=plp
I checked out your shoes a few days ago on the plane to my mom’s. Hope they have jumped into your shopping basket and have made it home with you now. They are so cute. And just the perfect bit of yellow to add pop to any outfit any day!!
I love Van Gogh. I once knit a scarf in the colors of his Cafe at Night painting, which is my favorite. I should dig it out!
You look fabulous in that yellow! I should look for something in one of my best yellows as it is so cheerful and dynamic. BTW, I bet the jeans shrank as you look amazing.
I love yellow, but I rarely wear it. I’m not even sure if it’d look good on me. You def. can wear yellow!! I love that Van Gogh painting, such a fun series!
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
I love Van Gogh too. Last year, our kindergartens were enthralled with Starry Night. I always liked the Anholt books that introduced children to the lives of artists. Yellow is a great colour on you. I enjoyed paper dolls (Lennon Sisters) and I love to create wardrobes on Polyvore or Pintrest. Getting dressed (in a special way) each time one goes out is great for self esteem and provides opportunities for our clothes to get worn.
Hi Leslie–haha!–the pants I wore for this challenge were tight, too! I’m looking forward to seeing all of your bucket list outfits.
High five, babes on tight pants. I am still at my mom’s in KY but as soon as I roll my big butt home, I am going to get back on track with this eating and exercising business. Should be home Monday night. If not, I am going to be naked because NOTHING fits!!!
Aw, the Franklin Mountains!! I remember seeing those everyday! Now we are lucky to see a good hill! Haha! I love how your cardigan looks with that scarf! What a great color combination!
That is one of my favorite Van Gogh painting and I love that you created an outfit around it! Yellow is so flattering on you! This is such a pretty look!
Jill – Doused in Pink
I love the story about your father and his prints. I’m sorry you had to part with them, but happy that you were reminded of him with this prompt. Your outfit is cute… That scarf is all kinds of fabulous!!
Leslie, you did a very good job interpreting the painting. I own nothing in yellow so I would come up short. Good job.
You’ve captured it really well Leslie with that gorgeous cardi and scarf. I love the challenges but I also get hung up on the colors and lose inspiration! Thanks for joining #WowOnWednesday.
Oh, this turned out perfectly Leslie!!! The colors make me dream of spring, and your scarf is the perfect one for this inspiration!!
Did I say perfect too much? (is that a thing?) But truly, what a great outfit!!
XOOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com