Style Imitating Art Review for Frederick Waugh’s “Ladies Having Tea”

Hello and welcome to a Style Imitating Art review featuring all the wonderful interpretations that were sent to me this week.

What is Style Imitating Art?

Style Imitating Art is hosted by Salazar of 14 Shades of Grey, Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge, and me. Style Imitating Art challenges us to draw style inspiration from pieces of art. Every other Monday one of us selects an inspirational 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 is that Wednesday for me!

This Week’s Inspirational Work

This work was suggested to me by my daughter and I did really like it. It is a dark piece but is rich with patterns and textures.

Let’s Get On With the Review!

Reni of Reni’s Odd’s and Sods

This floral silk dress came into Reni’s mind immediately when she looked at the painting. It relates to a detail in the painting: a picture with flowers hanging on the wall. I see it as a homage to the Persian rug, Persian shawl and the Asian screen behind the ladies. I is a perfect print for this era of art.

Sally of Within a World of My Own in St. Paul

Sally said that she enjoyed putting together this outfit using the rich colors and prints of the artwork and felt quite sumptuous despite the outfit’s simplicity and comfort. Sally’s scarf and addition of gold jewelry is spot on for this work. I think “sumptuous” is the correct work to use when view in this painting.

Marsha decided to use this dress which picks up the vibes of the fabrics shown in the painting. Although it doesn’t show in the photos, the background color is a sage green similar to that of the woman on the right. She then finished my look with what she imagined one would wear to tea! The big hat is perfect!

Rachelle of Rachelle Gardner-Roe.com

Rachelle says, ” I saw this painting and wanted to step right into it. Despite the ladies being Victorian-dressed, the environment felt a bit bohemian, which is why I chose the patterned wrap (for lack of a better word). I also wanted a casual feel, something I would show up to a tea party wearing. For the accessories, I tried to emulate the giant hatpins, choosing a metal tassel necklace and some peacock feather earrings. “

The Hosts

Salazar of 14 Shades of Grey

Salazar was actually inspired to do two outfits.

The first one, with the velvet blazer and skirt, she based on the colors and patterns in the painting (mostly on the light green dress of the lady on the right, and the screen behind them). However, Salazar then remembered her tea set brooch. But she couldn’t make it work with the velvet blazer, so put together another outfit for it. She feels that the second one is a looser interpretation, but did pick out the plaid wrap of the lady on the left, and the embroideries on her skirt are a nod to the intricate patterns of the rugs and decorations as well. And, of course, there is the brooch.

Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge

I was inspired by the lady on the left in the black dress and the deep rich colors and textures that fill the painting.

And Finally Me…

This was harder than I thought it would be. I basically zeroed in on the one lady’s dress (on the right) with my color. The pattern on my wrap fits in with the era too (IMO). Everything else was a play on all the brass and gold in the work.

This wraps up this Review for this round of Style Imitating Art. Thank you everyone for your wonderful interpretation of my second curation for this year. It was wonderful to see such gorgeous ideas.

That’s it. Take care, everyone, and see you next week when Shelbee presents her first artwork.

Stay creative (with this group, that’s an easy one)!