Sunday Morning: Norman Rockwell
Style Imitating Art is a group collaboration between Salazar, Terri, and Shelbee. This is Shelbee’s first foray into this particular group, but she’s an expert at group collaborations! Please do visit each of their blogs to see not only their SIA looks but other posts as well. For this collaboration, each of the contributors takes turns selecting an inspiration image. They then invite others to interpret that artwork through their style. You can read more about the process on each blog. You can visit Shelbee to see why she selected Sunday Morning by Norman Rockwell here.
Inspiration Art Work
I’m not 100% sure when Norman Rockwell and his art entered my life. I thought it was through the Parade magazine, but as far as I can tell, I’m 100% wrong! At some point in time, I did become aware of his art and its appeal. Norman Rockwell painted 323 covers for the Saturday Evening Post. I have two Franklin Mint Christmas plates featuring his art, here and here. Nigel bought these for me. At the time, they were a real splurge for us! We always meant to add to that collection, but I only have these two. I think, perhaps, if I’d had more, they wouldn’t mean as much to me. I display them every year on my hutch in the dining room.
About the artist
Norman Rockwell painted more than 4,000 pieces of art in his lifetime. I found it interesting he painted from life for the first several years of his career. He would pose the characters in costume and paint them exactly as they appeared. Later, Rockwell would work from photographs after posing the models as he wanted them. He initially drew in charcoal and then applied color. You can read much, much more here. Rockwell’s first job was at Boys’ Life, a publication of the Boy Scouts and became the art editor there for a few years. Eventually, he began painting for the Saturday Evening Post followed by Look magazine. Norman Rockwell passed on November 8, 1978. The Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts contains the largest collection of his original work. Oh, I think I need to put that on my bucket list!!
My interpretation
When I first looked at this painting, I was struck by the bold stripes of the dad’s pajamas. I also noticed the first girl’s pleated skirt. I decided to focus on those two aspects of the painting. When I was a young girl, when you went to church, you wore gloves so I pulled out my gloves at the last minute. I had actually planned to wear one of Nigel’s wool newsboy hats, but I totally forgot about it when we took photos. I recently used my Banana Republic rewards to purchase this shirt. I had a different top in mind, but this arrived on Friday (and the photos are from Saturday). It’s an odd shirt with a cropped boxy cut. Remember I’m only 5’1″, and this is extremely short on me! But, I thought it would work well as a “shacket”. My skirt is probably close to a decade old, from Talbots, and made from 100% merino wool. The tee (similar) is from Old Navy.
The Lewk
Since I was thinking Sunday going to church outfit, I decided to add some zhuzh with my jewelry. All of the items are old. One of the two brooches is from Talbots. The other brooch and the statement necklace are from Banana Republic. For some strange reason, I chose to wear amethyst earrings (old from eBay). Going all out on the sparkle, I added a large diamond ring which was a just-because gift from Nigel over fifteen years ago. The other diamond band is one I bought when my mom passed so I would always remember her. For one hot minute, I considered sheer black hosiery. It was in the teens when we did this photoshoot, so tights it was! I added a green studded belt and these wonderful L’Artiste boots. The gloves are lined with cashmere and are close to twenty years old.
Wrap it up, Marsha!
I truly do enjoy the Style Imitating Art challenges. They make me look at my clothing in a different way. I also love finding out about the artists. But, the most fun is checking out how others interpret the art work. What do you think? Do you remember Franklin Mint plates? Do you have any Norman Rockwell prints? Do you think I hit the mark with this interpretation? Let’s have a conversation and leave a comment or two! And, thank you so much to my subscribers! I truly do appreciate each and every one of you!
Where I frequently link up:
Linking up with Nancy’s Fashion Style, My Bijou LIfe, Fine-Whatever, Is This Mutton, Shelbee on the Edge, Chez Mireile, The Grey Brunette, and Away from the Blue. I also link up with This Blonde’s Shopping Bag and Doused in Pink. Please check out these wonderful ladies and their blogs!
Ooooh those boots and the brooches – lovely and my kind of thing too! I think of Norman Rockwell as very iconic and typifying a certain time and place in America – love what he does 🙂
I’m glad you like them, Penny! I’m really into these kinds of boots rather than the taller ones. That will probably change in a few years, who knows? I love Norman Rockwell’s take on our country. He was more interested in the everyday than the glamorous, I think.
Fun, fun, fun Marsha! I love the stripes and the bling. Great interpretation of the art. I always enjoy Norman Rockwell art and this piece in particular has so many points of interest, love the direction you took.
xo,
Kellyann
Thanks, Kellyann! Once I got the shirt, I went in a completely different direction. Except for my plates, I don’t have any other Norman Rockwell. I wish I did!
I love all the shades of blue in this beautiful look Marsha! I adore that skirt and those brooches and necklace really add some elegance. Amazing interpretation!
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
Thanks, Kathrine! I love the skirt, too! It’s so forgiving and adaptable. I also have it in black (more like charcoal grey). I’ve seen quite a few bloggers with brooches so I thought I’d pull these out.
First off I think you did great drawing inspiration from the artwork! Your outfit is very reminiscent of the feel of that painting. Secondly I had no idea the Normal Rockwell Museum was about a 2 hour drive from my house; I am going to have to go check that out!
Thanks, Joanne! I wasn’t sure if I hit the nail or not. I like the look and will definitely wear it. You’ll have to let us know how the museum is!
Love the jewelry and brooches and yes the shirt acts just like a shacket. It looks really pretty against the snow background. I’ve given up on snow this year, maybe next year for us!
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
I think it will be the only big snowfall we get. I was beginning to doubt we’d get any! This shirt, though, is so different. I doubt I would have bought it if I’d seen it in the store. But, I used rewards so it was ok. I thought the brooches made it so much better!
I love how you went with the girl and the pleated skirt….I think it’s a fabulous inspiration. And that’s a perfect shacket. Sometimes being short has its advantages, because I can buy mini skirts and have them be normal length on me, LOL
XOOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
And, we can buy midi dresses and have them be maxis! I’ve got to figure out how to wear this top some other way, though. It’s just such an odd shirt…that’s the only thing I can call it. I wonder what the designers were thinking because there is so much volume to the body of it, too. I told Shelbee I completely missed the red in the center and forefront of the picture…all I was focusing on were the stripes and the pleats!
Hi, Marsha
I love how we all go our own way on this thing. I didn’t even pay attention to the pleated skirt-totally missed that one. What you did is ingenious but at the same time very wearable in this midwest that we both call home. You know, I own just one pleated skirt that I made back in the ’80s? But, I just picked up a Vogue pattern of one with large pleats so that might be fixed by this spring. Take care, XOXO Terri
I went through a period of time obsessed with hip-stitched pleated skirts. I must have had five or six including a Pendleton (which I donated…darn). It is funny how we see different things in the art, isn’t it?
Marsha, I think you nailed it with this look! I love that pleated skirt. It is perfect to reflect the female outfits. And I love that you combined it with the stripes from the father’s pants. I love all of your accessories! Those boots are freaking fantastic. I have been drooling over L’Artiste boots for a few years but I have yet to purchase any. I think I struggle with narrowing it down to just one or two pairs. I want them all! I also have added the Norman Rockwell Museum to my bucket list! This was a fun read, too. I really enjoy reading the highlights about the artist that stood out to you!
Shelbee
Shelbee, I totally understand the L’Artiste boot thing…I may have a pair of two! Oh, I hope you make it to the Museum. I would love to go…maybe on our next trip to New England. Thanks so much for the compliments. I had lots of fun with this SIA!
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This is a really pretty outfit, Marsha! It’s perfect for the SIA challenge. I love the tiny stripes in your new shacket.
Michelle
https://mybijoulifeonline.com
Thanks, Michelle! I was laser focused on those stripes!
Love your take on this look and you look so pretty in this outfit. The necklace and brooches are a beautiful addition to this look.
xoxo
Lovely
http://www.mynameislovely.com
Thanks so much, Lovely! I knew I needed to add something to make the look extra special!