Tag Archives: beige

SIA interpretation: Autumn abstract

A quick note that the reader poll is still open to vote for your favorite outfit of mine from last month — thanks in advance!

And now it’s time for my interpretation of the most recent Style Imitating Art (SIA) challenge. 🙂

Inspiration:

Salazar @ 14 Shades of Grey chose “Autumn Rhythm (Number 30)” by Jackson Pollock, which he painted in 1950. It’s one of the most notable examples of the “poured-painting” style that Pollock used during the late 1940s and early 1950s. You can read more about this painting here and here.

Below is an openly licensed photograph of the painting hanging in The Met:

Photograph of “Autumn Rhythm (Number 30) by Jackson Pollock” by Tim Pendemon, CC BY 2.0

And below is a closeup detail of the painting via The Met’s website, where you can also see additional closeups and photographs of the painting. The detail below gives you a better sense of the colors Pollock used in the abstract painting.

Detail of “Autumn Rhythm (Number 30)” by Jackson Pollock

Salazar chose this painting because she “recently learned that his drip paintings are so pleasing to look at because they contain fractal patterns similar to those in nature, which I found fascinating… Plus, the neutral color scheme and the title make this an appropriate choice for September.”

My interpretation:

My outfit is a bit out-of-the-box, at least regarding the SIA challenge, but no worries, I will explain all. I am on summer break right now, so I wanted to highlight a typical outfit that’s more casual and sportier than what you usually see on my blog. I wore this outfit on a sunny (albeit chillier) summer day last weekend, when my husband and I enjoyed a picnic and stroll along the Ruston Way waterfront.

So how does this tie in with the abstract inspiration artwork? The navy and tan colors reflect the two major colors in the painting, obviously. But for me, this outfit — and how it ties into the SIA challenge — comes down to the closeup of textures and accessories, seen above and below.

Salazar mentioned that Pollock’s abstract paintings “contain fractal patterns similar to those in nature,” and I was intrigued by that. Therefore, I chose pieces that, upon closer inspection, have interesting patterns, like the cable knit pattern on this fisherman’s sweater, and the checkerboard pattern on my sneakers. But the core of this idea is the scarf, which is actually a map of the Portland transit system! (Click on the photo below to open a larger version.) It just looks like random lines and squiggles on a piece of cotton fabric, but there is method to its madness. Like Pollock’s abstract paintings. 😉

It felt great to be out by the water. And if you’re a longtime reader (thank you, as always!), then you know the Ruston Way waterfront is one of my favorite places in Tacoma.

Weather: Sunny but chillier — and it’s always colder by the water

Where: Picnic and stroll along Ruston Way waterfront

What:

Navy fisherman’s sweater: Gap, fashion-swapped a few years ago in Portland {very similar navy fisherman’s sweater}
Tan ankle pants: Style&Co. for Macy’s {similar tan ankle pants}
Tan sneakers: Skechers, replacement pair I bought last year {very similar tan sneakers from same brand}
Scarf: Freebie from Portland neighborhood association, old {Kate Spade New York map-print scarf} {Vince Camuto map-print scarf}
Lapis lazuli stud earrings: Gift from my mom years ago {similar lapis lazuli stud earrings}

Please note that I get commission for clicks made through affiliate links in this post. This goes toward covering my website and file storage fees, so thank you for helping support this blog!

There’s still time to participate in SIA, and here’s how:

Everyone is welcome to participate — bloggers, non-bloggers, all genders, all ages, even pets! Just send a pic of an outfit — selfies and flat lays are also welcome — inspired by this week’s SIA artwork to this week’s curator, Salazar, at 14shadesofgreyblog@gmail.com by this Tuesday, September 11th. Salazar will then post the SIA round-up on her blog, 14 Shades of Grey, this Wednesday, September 12th.

Can’t wait to see what y’all come up with!

SIA interpretation: Arrow Collar advertisement

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It’s time for my interpretation for this week’s Style Imitating Art (SIA) challenge!

Inspiration artwork:

It was Salazar‘s turn to curate, and she chose an ad for Arrow shirt collar by J. C. Leyendecker. The male model in the ad is based on his long-time partner, Charles Beach. You can read more about Leyendecker and see more of his artwork here.

Arrow Collar advertisement by J. C. Leyendecker

Since we’re in the middle of summer, Salazar “wanted to pick a summery piece, and this one — with its white-and-beige color scheme and touches of green, black, and pink — just fits the bill.”

I also appreciated that the ad includes both a man and a woman, so here’s a peek at what my sweetie Sam and I wore for the challenge (psst… you can see Sam’s entire outfit on Wednesday’s round-up on Salazar’s blog):

My interpretation:

And now more details about what I wore… I thought first about wearing my bow blouse tee, seen here, but I wanted to wear a shirt with a collar, since the ad is for the Arrow Collar. So I wore my diamond-print button-front shirt instead, and tied a thin salmon pink scarf into a bow for a “lady tie,” which echoed the pink scarf in the woman’s hair. Neutral khakis and a structured tote finished off the look and tied into the inspiration artwork.

My peep-toe wedges with the black piping were a last-minute addition to the outfit, and I think they ended up making the look! They tie into the color scheme, link all the black accents in my outfit together, and the style could be considered a feminine take on spats. ♥

And finally, a closeup of the diamond-print and shirt collar, as well as the bronze-and-bead earrings. I chose these earrings because they reminded me of little arrows, which tied into the Arrow Collar company! 😀

Weather: Hot and dry

Where: Summer work day

What:

Diamond-print button-front blouse: Fashion-swapped with my friend Stephanie years ago, and I subsequently shortened the sleeves {here’s a diamond-print sleeveless blouse option} {black and white bow blouse}
Khaki ankle pants: Style&Co. for Macy’s, old {similar khaki ankle pants}
Peep-toe bow wedges: Franco Sarto, over a decade old and bought in Texas {two-toned peep-toe wedge pumps} {two-toned Oxford heels}
Salmon scarf (used for a lady tie): Came with another dress, old {salmon pink thin scarf}
Bronze and bead earrings: Oru, gift from Stephanie, old
Black structured tote bag: Target, last year {very similar tote bag from same retailer}
Tinted chapstick: Neutrogena Revitalizing Tinted Lip Balm in “Fresh Plum” {exact tinted lip balm}

Please note that I get commission for clicks made through affiliate links in this post. This goes toward covering my website and file storage fees, so thank you for helping support this blog!

There’s still time to participate in SIA, and here’s how:

Everyone is welcome to participate — bloggers, non-bloggers, all genders, all ages, even pets! Just send a pic of an outfit — selfies and flat lays are also welcome — inspired by this week’s SIA artwork to this week’s curator, Salazar, at 14shadesofgreyblog@gmail.com by this Tuesday, July 31st. Salazar will then post the SIA round-up on her blog, 14 Shades of Grey, this Wednesday, August 1st.

Can’t wait to see what y’all come up with, and be sure to check out fellow SIA co-host Daenel @ Living Outside the Stacks.

SIA interpretation: Native American Powder Horn with Wampum Shoulder Belt

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A quick note that the poll is still open to vote for your favorite outfit from last month — thanks in advance!

It’s time for my interpretation for this week’s Style Imitating Art (SIA) challenge, and I chose this Penobscot Indian powder horn, ca. 1779–80, with wampum shoulder belt, ca. early 19th century. This horn is part of The Met’s public domain art collection.

Inspiration:

Powder Horn with Wampum Shoulder Belt ca. 1779–80, via The Met, public domain

Powder Horn closeup, ca. 1779–80, via The Met, public domain

You can see more images of another similar Penobscot Indian horn here on The Met’s site, and you can read more about the Penobscot Tribal Nation here.

Interpretation:

The color scheme of the inspiration piece is quite muted, with brown, black, tan, and tiny bits of red in some of the carvings, but lots of texture with the beading and carvings. I started with accessories, including my textured espadrille flats, which fit the color scheme and the feel of the carvings. I then thought of my red-and-white shell earrings, to pull in the bits of red in the carvings, plus add more texture. Next came my black sun hat — which has a bendable rim — because of the leather-and-wood detail around the crown and the ribbing that reminded me of the Wampum shoulder belt. (You will see details of all these accessories in photos below as you scroll through the post.)

How to pull all these different pieces together? A classic black dress, of course!

We took photos in our backyard, against the back side of our sienna red fence. I thought the red tied in with the red bits in the carvings (and my earrings and lipstick), and the black iron bits on the back of the fence added yet more texture to the photos.

The last thing I added to my outfit was my cognac tie belt. But instead of leaving it hanging down, I tied it into a bow and moved the bow to the back.

And here’s a closeup of the accessories that started me out with this SIA inspiration outfit:

Weather: Hot and dry summer day

Where: I plan to wear this to brunch with a friend — I just took photos early!

What:

Black cotton fit-and-flare dress: eShakti, old {v-neck fit-and-flare dress with side lacing} {classic fit-and-flare dress with cap sleeves}
Espadrille textured flats: Mossimo for Target, last spring {very similar textured slip-ons}
Black sun hat: Thrifted at local resale shop last summer {similar floppy sun hat, available in black}
Raffia bag: Shop in Portland, old {similar woven bag with leather straps, available in red and other colors}
Red-and-white shell earrings: Vintage, made by my paternal grandmother {red bead-and-shell drop earrings}
Cognac rope belt: Came with another dress, old {recycled rope tie belt in different colors}
Red lipstick: L’Oreal Infallible Le Rouge 10-hour lipstick in “Refined Ruby” {exact lipstick line here in other shades but go to your local drugstore to see if there are any left in stock for the “Refined Ruby” shade}

Please note that I get commission for clicks made through affiliate links in this post. This goes toward covering my website and file storage fees, so thank you for helping support this blog!

There is still time to participate in SIA, and here’s how:

Everyone is encouraged to participate — bloggers, non-bloggers, all genders, all ages, even pets! Just send a pic of an outfit — selfies and flat lays are also welcome — inspired by this week’s SIA artwork to this week’s curator, me, at librarianforlifestyle@gmail.com by this Tuesday, July 17th. I will then post the SIA round-up on my blog this Wednesday, July 18th.

Also be sure to check out my fellow SIA co-hosts, Salazar @ 14 Shades of Grey and Daenel @ Living Outside the Stacks.

SIA interpretation 2: Monkey lithograph

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Now for my SECOND interpretation for this week’s Style Imitating Art (SIA) challenge, the first inspiration artwork curated by newest SIA co-host Daenel @ Living Outside the Stacks. That’s right, I was so inspired that I wore TWO inspiration outfits; you can see the other one on Monday’s post. And you can see the entire round-up — including Sam’s SIA-inspired outfit! — today on Daenel’s blog!

The inspiration artwork:

Daenel chose this lithograph, seen below, because she ♥ ♥ ♥ monkeys, and the colors are so springlike. As Daenel herself said, “Since this is my first time curating, I thought I’d go with something fun and colorful, with plenty of room for interpretation.” Click here for more information about the lithograph.

“Monkey, from Quadrupeds series (N41) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes” lithograph via The Metropolitan Museum of Art is in the Public Domain

My second interpretation:

My second outfit idea started with my vintage Hawaiian-print dress (which was actually made in Hawaii, as per the label), because of the tropical theme of the lithograph. There’s also a tiny bit of red in the postcard via a bird in the lower left corner. I then layered my yellow starburst cardigan over the dress, because there is a fair bit of yellow in the postcard.

It amused me that I used the same outfit formula for both interpretations — a print dress layered under a cardigan — but the colors and print make the two outfits look very different.

I added my cognac rope tassel belt to help give shape to the Hawaiian-print dress, and you can see more of the print in the pic below.

And a note about my accessories: I chose my yellow and white colorblock tote for obvious color reasons; my bamboo earrings fit in with the tropical theme; and I added my turquoise stud earrings to bring in the bit of turquoise in the other bird in the lithograph postcard.

The backdrop is actually the same backdrop from the trench coat + red crossbody bag outfit post, but the vines have now exploded into leaves thanks to our recent, extended bout of warm spring weather. I thought they made for a nice backdrop that also echoed the backdrop from the postcard.

And last but not least, during our photo shoot, I borrowed my husband’s elephant cane — he was using it on the day — because the russet and gold tones of the cane fit in with the colors of the inspiration lithograph. Also, why not add one more animal to the mix?! 😉

Weather: Sunny spring day

Where: Running errands last weekend + then reworn for work this week

What:

Red print dress: Vintage, made in Hawaii, fashion-swapped from Stephanie {red tropical print dress}
Yellow cardigan: Target, fashion-swapped in Portland years ago {yellow and beige striped cardigan}
Tan polka-dot canvas flats: Grasshoppers via DSW, old {similar tan flats by same brand}
Cognac rope tassel belt: Came with another dress, old {very similar cognac rope tassel belt}
Bamboo hoop earrings: c/o InPink giveaway, old {similar gold bamboo hoop earrings}
Colorblock tote bag: Gift from my mom years ago {very similar yellow canvas tote bag} {grey and yellow leather tote bag}
Lip stain: Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in “Adore” {exact lip stain and color}

Please note that I get commission for clicks made through affiliate links in this post. This goes toward covering my website and file storage fees, so thank you for helping support this blog!

Linkups: Hello Monday, Visible Monday, #iwillwearwhatilike, Shoe and Tell, Confident Twosdays, Turning Heads, Style With a Smile, Who’s Wearing What Wednesdays, Trendy Wednesday, What I Wore Wednesday, I Feel Pretty Wednesdays, Weekly Wednesday Fashion Linkup, Top of the World, Thursday Moda, Fashion Friday, Passion for Fashion, Fun Fashion Friday, Fabulous Friday, Fancy Friday, Fine-Whatever Linkup, Weekend Wear Link Up, #SaturdayShareLinkUp

There’s still time to participate in SIA!

Everyone is encouraged to participate — bloggers, non-bloggers, all genders, all ages, even pets! Just send a pic of an outfit — selfies and flat lays are also welcome — inspired by this week’s SIA artwork to this week’s curator, Daenel, at livingoutsidethestacks@gmail.com by tomorrow, May 22nd. Daenel will then post the SIA round-up on her blog, Living Outside the Stacks, on Wednesday, May 23rd.

And also check back Wednesday on my blog for my second SIA-inspired outfit!

Sam’s style | Corduroy times two

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My husband, Sam, is a lifelong fan of the Corduroy bear and books. Years ago, he even wrote to the Out of Print clothing company to ask if they would consider adding adult size options for their Corduroy tee, which at that point was only available in kids’ clothing sizes. They eventually did extend their clothing size options for the Corduroy tee, and Sam immediately snapped up a tee for himself!

Sam teaches English composition and writing, so he loooooooves highlighting literary puns whenever possible — even through his style! So OF COURSE Sam enjoyed pairing his Corduroy tee with a corduroy blazer — it’s so punny! 😀

Details of Sam’s outfit:

Corduroy tee: Out of Print, old {exact tee}
Corduroy blazer: Vintage, used to be my dad’s {similar corduroy blazer in “wheat”}
Straight-leg jeans: Gap, last spring {exact jeans}
Tan canvas Oxfords: Clark’s, old {very similar tan canvas Oxfords}

Please note that I get commission for clicks made through affiliate links in this post. This goes toward covering my website and file storage fees, so thank you for helping support this blog!