Black/White & a Little Color for Ellen Harding Baker’s “Solar System Quilt”

Welcome to my interpretation for this rounds of Style Imitating Art.

A Little Background

Style Imitating Art is hosted by Salazar of 14 Shades of Grey, Daenel of Living Outside the Stacks and me. Style Imitating Art challenges us to draw style inspiration from pieces of art. Every other Monday one of us selects an inspiration image and we each post the image on our blogs. The following Monday we share our art-inspired outfits. The following Wednesday, the curator shares all of the submissions on her blog.

This Round’s Curator

Today, Salazar of 14 Shades of Grey is the curator.

This round’s artwork is a quilt entitled “Solar System”. It is by Ellen Harding Baker, an American teacher. She designed this quilt in 1876 to help teach her astrometry classes

My Take

The first thing that struck me when I looked at the quilt was the black and white. There is a sprinkling of color but black and white are the dominant colors. Those two are also dominate in my styling today.

I immediately knew that the white shirt that I made a couple of years ago was going to be featured in this look. It is Vogue 9089 by Marcy Tilton. I wrote about making this shirt/tunic a couple of years ago HERE. Since making this top, it has been a key player in my wardrobe. It’s easily a three-season piece. Being so dramatic, not much besides simple pants and shoes are needed. This pattern is now out of print and is a hard and expensive one to find. Sewists just aren’t recycling it and that is too bad. I found one but in the larger size (16-24).

Being swingy and taking up a lot of visual space, I find that Capri type (or skinny) jeans best suit it.

Talking of skinny jeans, I am wearing my American Eagle skinnies. I love these because I can dress them up or down, depending on my mood.

Skinnies just go the best with larger tops like these. I really feel that skinny jeans or Capries will never quite be out of fashion. What was good enough for Audrey Hepburn is certainly good enough for me!

The other black and white item I used are my flats which are leather and printed in a black and white pattern.

And Then the Color

I saved the color for the accessories: the clutch, a semi-precious stone necklace and earrings by Rissa.

The clutch is a Leo by Rebecca Minkoff. She designed and sold these for years and they came in a dazzling array of colors, designs, and materials. However, it looks as if she has now discontinued the design but the Leo can be readily found on second-hand sites. Now that she isn’t making them anymore, I wonder if the prices will shoot up.

My necklace is a collection of cubic semi-precious stones that I found and self strung years ago. I haven’t made (or strung) any jewelry in quite a while.

The earrings I am wearing are a creation of Clarissa Knighten. She is a Kansas City Jewelry designer and goes by Rissa’s Artistic Design. Currently, I have three of her pieces but can see myself adding more.

I think that pretty much sums it up for me. So now…

Will You Join In the Fun?

I hope this art inspires you to create a look and that you will join us. Send a photo of your SIA-inspired outfit along with a small blurb on how you were inspired to Salazar whose email is 14shadesofgreyblog@gmail.com by tomorrow. She will share the submissions on her blog this Wednesday.

Anyone can participate and you certainly do not have to have a blog.

If you do share your inspirations on Instagram use the hashtag #StyleImitatingArt so we know you are there. You can also tag us in the images. Our Instagram names are: @terrigardner_meadowtree, @daenelt, and @14shadesofgrey.

Take Care