Style Imitating Art comes from Salazar, Terri, and Shelbee. You can think of it as fashion meets art museum! Style Imitating Art challenges people to find inspiration in different art works, create looks based upon that art work, and share them with the curator for that piece. Every other Monday one of the three selects an inspiration piece of art and posts the image on their blog. They then invite others to interpret that art work through their style. The following Monday, they share their outfits. The curator shares submissions the following Wednesday on her blog. Salazar chose this week’s art work. If you’d like, you can read why she chose it here. Style Imitating Art is an interesting way to inspire your outfits. I know it does that for me! You can see a few of my looks here, here, here, and here.
Inspiration art work…
About the artist…
A Japanese-American artist, Audrey Kawasaki was born in Los Angeles, California on March 31, 1982. She is known for painting nudes with a definite manga edge. At a young age, Kawasaki read Japanese manga comics which inspired her to begin drawing. In her late teens, Kawasaki took classes at Mission: Renaissance. Later, she enrolled at Pratt Institute in New York. She left prior to finishing her degree. One of the reasons may have been her professors discouraging the way she portrayed nudes.
A little more…
From Kawasaki’s website:
“Kawasaki’s work contains contrasting themes of innocence and eroticism, conveying the mysterious intrigue of feminine sensuality. Her sharp imagery is painted with precision onto wooden panels, the natural grain adding warmth to her enigmatic subject matter. The artist’s creative influences include eastern as well as western traditions such as Art Nouveau and Japanese Manga comics. She paints sultry, seductive and uninhibited female subjects with delicate beauty and provocative, direct eye contact. Their graceful gestures and ghost-like features carry mysterious expressions of melancholy and longing (source).”
Still more…
Kawasaki began exhibiting her art in 2003 in Los Angeles. She has continued to exhibit, both solo and in groups, around the world with shows in the United States, Australia, Japan, Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland. I’m sure I’ve missed a few countries. She continues to exhibit with her last group show in 2021. Last month, as part of Songful Style, we featured Christina Perri. It turns out she has a tattoo of “My Dishonest Heart.” The singer appeared on “LA Ink” in 2011 and was tattooed by Kat Von D. Pretty cool, right?
About the art work…
“You Come First” was painted using oil, acrylic, and graphite on a wood panel. It measures 16″ x 16″ (40.64cm x 40.64cm) and was completed in 2012. It appeared at a solo exhibition at the Jonathan Levin Gallery in New York as part of her “Midnight Reverie” show. I don’t know where it is currently, but, if you hurry, you can buy a limited edition (as in this is the last one available) here. It’s not a wood panel, and it will cost you $500!
My interpretation…
I was confident I had something that would work for this challenge, but I had no idea how perfect this dress would end up being! This is the Wind Dress by Gudrun Sjödén. It’s a wonderful modal jersey and, oh happy day, it has pockets! I honestly was just looking at the print when I realized it had most of the colors of the art work. Then, I realized it kind of mimics the lines and dots of the art work, too. I added the Luna slip in Burgundy for another pop of color as well as the extra panache these slips give! I felt a bit naked around the neck, so I went scrounging around in my basket o’scarves and found this beauty from J Jill. It’s old; it’s an infinity scarf; and, it’s supposedly out of style! And, I don’t care! The colors in it are perfect with this dress.
The Lewk!
I was convinced there was green in this piece of art, but I must have misinterpreted the green for the blue. Oh, well, it gave me an excuse to pull out these Waterlily boots by L’Artiste. Unfortunately, I can only find them in limited sizes and not in green. I wanted to wear something longer and circular. These John Hardy Classic Chain necklace and earrings definitely fit the bill. They are so old; I can’t find them anywhere!
Wrap it up, Marsha!
I always enjoy the pieces of art these women select. It’s fun to see how you can interpret them as well. When I first started participating, I was a little more “out there” with some of my interpretations. Now, I’m trying for looks I would and do actually wear. This has to be one of my favorite challenges. I thought the art work, the artist, and her process were really extraordinary. So, can we talk? Are you a fan of a specific artist and find yourself dressing in that style? Are you into manga? What strikes you most about this art work? Please leave a comment or two, and we can talk. I promise to respond as soon as possible.
Thank you!
Thank you so very much for reading today’s post. I hope you enjoyed it. I also very much appreciate those of you who comment, email and/or subscribe. It’s what keeps me going! If you’d like to follow me on Instagram, you can find me here.
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Where you can find me:
Linking up with Nancy’s Fashion Style, Fine-Whatever, Is This Mutton, Shelbee on the Edge, Chez Mireile, The Grey Brunette, and Away from the Blue as well as Deb’s World. I also link up with This Blonde’s Shopping Bag, Doused in Pink, I do deClaire, Mummabstylish, and Style Splash. Please check out these wonderful ladies and their blogs! I also am a co-host for Ageless Style on the third Thursday of the month and Songful Style on the last Monday of the month. I co-host Traffic Jam Weekend every Thursday with Melynda and Lisa. I also host Final Fridays on the last Friday of the month as well as 10 on the 10th on the 10th of the month! I do hope you’ll check out all of these blogs and link parties!
What a fabulous idea for a challenge, Marsha and I totally agree your dress was a perfect choice. I am inspired by all the different blog challenges you follow or link ups. This is really a great way to be creative and as you say fashion meets art museum. Thanks for sharing your post and you look lovely especially in the Autumn colours. x
Thank you so much, Sue! I am not always so adventurous in taking photos, but it was the middle of the day so no one was about! I really do enjoy the fashion challenges because I have to work extra hard at figuring out what I have to meet the challenge.
That is a fabulous outfit and I think that infinity scarf is perfect for pulling it all together. It really mimics the artwork well.
Thanks, Joanne! I think you are absolutely right. There was just something missing until I pulled out that scarf.
I’m not a fan of Japanese artwork, but I do love your dress! And I think it’s a very good representation!
Thanks, Nancy! I honestly am pulled more toward Impressionists and Old Masters, but I did really like this piece. I was very happy with how the dress worked out!
I couldn’t agree more that this is the perfect dress for this piece of art! I adore the print. It makes me want to copy it in my art journal. So pretty Marsha!
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
Thank you so much, Kathrine! That is a high compliment as your art journals are amazing!!
Marsha, you look so pretty! I think the print in your dress really looks like the art work – so clever. I love how it inspires you, I swear you are such a creative thinker!
xo,
Kellyann
Awww, thank you, Kellyann! For someone who used to hide when it was picture taking day at school, I think I’ve finally learned how to smile for the camera! I was really happy with the way this dress worked for the challenge. And, I can’t thank you enough for saying I’m a creative thinker as I never thought I was!
I have to admit the dress is perfect for this inspiration artwork but I’m also in love with how you layered it over the slip!!
I just think that adds a whole other layer of interest to it and I’m so glad you pulled out a scarf too. It is the season, right?
Xoxo
Jodie
http://Www.jtouchofstyle.com
Thanks, Jodie! I can’t really claim layering it over the slip. If you look on their website, you’ll see that’s almost a minimal layering! The neckline is nice on the dress, but it really needed something else to fill in that area!
I think you have just the dress for every occasion! It’s beautiful layered over the burgundy slip; your layering & ankle boots are gorgeous choices for fall. I like seeing that the fall color has indeed reached Indiana!
Hahaha!! One would think so, right? I really as happy at how well this dress worked for the challenge. Fall color has arrived, but it’s leaving quite quickly. It’s been so weird. The trees were green and then turned colors for a very brief amount of time. Now, many trees are already bare. It makes me sad.
Thanks so much, Sally, for coming by!
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I wore an infinity scarf myself yesterday! I love the fall tones of these colors and love hearing about different artists. What a beautiful spot for pictures. While we have cold mornings now, it doesn’t feel like fall completely yet because our afternoons are still pretty warm: layers come off.
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
Great minds think alike! I heard they were out of style, but I don’t care. They’re so easy to just throw on! This is a park where we used to walk, but it has very steep hills. Since Mike broke his other ankle, he doesn’t want to try them. Also, there’s almost always something on the trail to slip on so we just go there for photos!
Thanks, Mireille!
Beautiful dress! I love the bold print with the slightly muted colors. The slip underneath is a great addition too!
Thank you so much, Laura! Most of the dresses are in really bright prints with a muted on thrown in. I always seem to grab the muted colors because I know I can do so much more with them!
Oh, what a fabulous dress, Marsha! The print really is spot on for the artwork and the scarf is a perfect match! I think I might need one or five of these Luna slips! They are all so pretty but too expensive to buy five! LOL
Shelbee
Thank you, Shelbee! I hadn’t thought of this dress at first. But, then it occurred to me that I had the perfect dress! I couldn’t believe how the scarf just pulled it all together. You know, when I first starting looking at these skirts, I thought I could surely make one for less. Then, I priced the fabric and the lace and realized it was no less expensive and certainly much easier! I’m just buying one or two when they have a discount!
I love the dress over the burgundy slip, they look fabulous together! Thanks for linking up!
Emma xxx
http://www.style-splash.com
Thank you so much, Emma!
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