Vintage Escada Jacket by Margaretha Ley for Martha Berry’s Cherokee Beadwork

Welcome to my interpretation for this round of 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 her blog submissions.

This Round’s Curator

Shelbee is the curator for this round of Style Imitating Art

She has selected beadwork by contemporary Cherokee artist, Martha Berry. She has given us three pieces to consider. They have a strong visual contrast, using black (in general) to create contrast with bright and white beadwork. Some of these art pieces take over three hundred hours to complete.

My Take

When I saw this round’s selection, my vintage Margaretha Ley Escada jacket immediately came to mind.I acquired this 80’s vintage piece sometime during “04-’07. During this time, I collected a few of her pieces.

This cropped jacket has a wool fashion fabric with beads and embroidery. The Acetate lining is a rich deep golden yellow.

The challenge is to how to wear a piece like this. My answer is to play opposite. This piece is ornate (my youngest grandson called it my “Christmas Tree” jacket when he was three (he’s 19 now).

I played it off with very casual articles. First up would be my distressed jeans which are rather new (I got them back in September) and purchased from a local boutique /juice bar in my small hometown.

Underneath the jacket is an older white knitted top. I originally was going to wear a tee-shirt but today (Sunday) turned cold. We had rain and clouds all week and this was the first sunshine so I had to take my photos just a day before I publish my post.

I almost went with sneakers but I like how the abstract pattern of these leather Dolce Vite flats looked with everything.

And I did get compliments on my jacket. The quality really shows on these true vintage Escada pieces.

Since this was for a special event and not just grocery shopping, I used my small DeMellier Marrakesh.

I’m also wearing a long pendant necklace that I put together myself. All of the supplies came from Joanne’s Fabric.

I was actually wearing this outfit to a special event at Donna’s Dress Shop, a Kansas City Vintage/Vintage Inspired Boutique. Donna was having her traditional garden party event and to top it off, one of my favorite Kansas City Jazz singers was going to be there singing. I got compliments on the jacket. I think the quality just shows on these true vintage Escada pieces.

And where better else to wear such a truly vintage piece? I talked my daughter Rachelle into going with me and it paid off for her. She won a $50 gift certificate!

Such an easy-to-wear Sunday outfit. Rachelle and I stopped by her studio to do a few things before I headed home.

That finishes me for this one and I hope you enjoyed reading about my idea for this painting. Have you sent Shelbee your idea? If you have not done so already, please send it to Shelbee at shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com by tomorrow.

See you next time!