Hi, this is just a short post to introduce next week’s Style Imitating Art inspiration piece. Style Imitating Art {aka SIA} is hosted by Jen {Librarian for Life and Style}, Salazar {14 Shades of Grey}, and me. Every other Monday, one of us curates an art piece to use as style inspiration for the following week {host outfits are posted on the following Monday, with participant outfits posted on Wednesday}.
INSPIRATION ART WORK
Silk Dresses | British | 1814 | The Met, Open Access Collection
In the early years of the nineteeth century, the high-waisted Empire-style dress was rendered more solid through the use of heavier fabrics and more trimmings. The circa 1820 dress in the front of this image reveals the impulse toward embellishment of the simple chemise of the 1800s. Embroidery in lime green gives more weight to the skirt while the satin spencer provides a base for ribbons and ruffles. Behind this, the 1812–14 dress (1985.222.2a, b) is also more solid, made of silk and trimmed with silk lace. The puffed sleeves are made more substantial through the addition of cording. The weight of fabric and trimming negates the body-conscious line of the earlier sheer cotton and linen dresses. Into the 1820s, plain gowns such as these would be accented with more and more applied decoration.
You can read more about the dresses here.
THE CURATOR
This week’s inspiration piece was curated by me. I chose these silk dresses because, well, I think these dresses are beautiful in their simplicity. In a way, they kind of remind me of the kimonos that Geisha’s wear, but they also remind me of court dresses. And, while the dresses are from 1814, I can see them being worn today. And, did you get a peek at those slippers? swoon
What do you think you’ll wear? I can’t wait to see!
JOIN US
The #StyleImitatingArt piece has been posted!! And everyone's invited to participate in this fun style challenge! To see the inspiration piece, visit Living Outside the Stacks! Click To TweetSend a picture of your Style Imitating Art inspired outfit to me at livingoutsidethestacks@gmail.com by Tuesday, 18 December. I’ll share the submissions on my blog on Wednesday, 19 December.
You don’t have to be a blogger, a photographer, or an instagrammer to join! You just have to enjoy clothes.
Now go play in your closet,
Follow Living Outside the Stacks on Bloglovin’!
For more stylish inspiration, check out the following linkups:
Where I Co-host
- Ageless Style – Ten women, over the age of forty, prove that style is ageless
- Fab Forties – Six bloggers, over the age of forty, show they’re still fabulously fashionable
- Style Imitating Art – Style inspired by pieces of art
Other Linkups
- Not Dead Yet Style – Visible Monday
- Not Dressed as a Lamb – I’ll Wear What I Like
- Style Nudge – Shoe and Tell
- Elegance and Mommyhood – Thursday Moda
- A Pocketful of Polka Dots – Fabulous Friday