Hi, and welcome to another edition of Style Imitating Art. If you like what you’re seeing here, make sure you go and visit my co-hosts: Jen at Librarian for Life and Style and Salazar at 14 Shades of Grey.
INSPIRATION ART WORK
Poster for Cleopatra (1917), public domain
Jen selected this piece because “…after this past hella-emotional week for women, Theda Bara’s steady, strong, take-no-prisoners stare in the poster for the silent film Cleopatra (1917) is giving me life.” I agree. Her gaze, her stance, everything about her is fierce. Jen also loves the seasonal colors in the poster. There’s also a more brightly colored (restored?) version here, but Jen prefers the version above.
You can read more about the background of the film, and Theda Bara’s Cleopatra, online here and here.
What do you think you’ll wear? I can’t wait to see!
THE CURATOR
This week’s inspiration piece was curated by Jen {Librarian for Life and Style}. Jen is a college librarian who loves books, movies, fashion, cats, travel, roses, Nancy Drew, Jane Austen, and chapstick. Her blog is so named because she’s “a librarian for life — and a librarian who loves style!”
MY LOOK
After studying the poster, I decided to go with strong colors in strong fabrics. Emerald green, ebony, and royal purple. Those colors evoke power and strength and royalty. And, after reflecting over the events of the past two years and over my life in general, I can say I am a survivor. Not of my own power but because of the strength of my faith in Christ. And that is what has and what will continue to keep me going…
I’m slowly but surely trying to build a professional work wardrobe that can also transition to weekend and date night wear. This top can easily be paired with distressed jeans and my Mary Janes for a date night. And the pencil skirt can be worn with a white tee, denim jacket, and sneakers for running errands. Maybe I’ll showcase both looks on the blog at a later date {if someone reminds me LOL}.
Normally, I don’t showcase my purses with my outfits, but I thought the colors perfectly mirrored the ones in the poster. I also thought the patchwork matched the lines of Theda’s dress and the hieroglyphics in the background of the poster.
I purchased this blouse at Walmart. It’s part of their Time & Tru clothing line, which is super trendy without being crazy expensive. The material is sheer, so you’ll need a cami or tank underneath it and you’ll definitely need to take a steamer to it {I know I should have}.
The skirt is so old that I can’t remember when or wear I bought it. But black pencil skirts are relatively easy to find. This one is a ponte knit material, so there’s a lot of stretch, which I like.
The patchwork Coach handbag was a gift from The Hubs many moons ago. I used to not carry bags, but I saw this and fell in love because of all the colors… I didn’t want to buy it because of the expense, but The Hubs surprised me and bought it anyway.
The shoes are purple velvet Mary Janes by Christian Siriano for Payless. Y’all, when I walked into the store – I kid you not – it was like a beam of light came out of the ceiling and shined down on those shoes and voices reminiscent of a Motown group started singing “Take Me Home with You Tonight.” So I did and I regret nothing.
Tie Neck Blouse – Walmart | Pencil Skirt – Similar | Patchwork Purse – Similar | Purple Velvet Mary Janes – Similar
Be fierce and stand strong.
JOIN US
Everyone’s invited to participate! Send a picture of your Style Imitating Art inspired outfit to Jen at librarianforlifestyle@gmail.com by Tuesday, 9 October. I’ll share the submissions on my blog on Wednesday, 10 October.
You don’t have to be a blogger, a photographer, or an instagrammer to join! You just have to love clothes.
Now go play in your closet,
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For more stylish inspiration, check out the following linkups:
Where I Co-host
- Ageless Style – First Tuesday of the Month
- Style Imitating Art – Inspiration piece posted on Mondays with the round-up on Wednesdays
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