“Leisure Lady (with Ocelots)” by Yinka Shonibare | Style Imitating Art
Ohh, we have a super interesting pick this week for Style Imitating Art, featuring a life sized mannequin, three fiberglass ocelots, and Dutch wax printed cotton, leather, and glass. There are so many interesting elements, prints, colors, and dimensions to inspire all sorts of creative outfits. Let the brainstorming begin…
About Style Imitating Art
Style Imitating Art is hosted by Salazar of 14 Shades of Grey, Terri of Meadow Tree Style, and Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge. Style Imitating Art challenges us to draw style inspiration from pieces of art. Every other Monday, one of the hosts, acting as presenter, selects an inspiration image that they will each post on their blogs. The following Monday, each host shares her art inspired outfit. Participants are invited to submit their art inspired outfits to the presenter by 10:00 p.m. EST on the Tuesday following the hosts’ art inspired outfit posts. The following day, Wednesday, the presenter will share all of the submissions on her blog.
You don’t have to be a blogger to join either! In fact, you don’t even have to join but you can still use the art to inspire an outfit just for the sake of trying something different. If you want to share your inspired outfit, we invite you do so on Instagram or any other social media platform that you prefer. Just be sure to tag Salazar, Terri, and Shelbee or use #TeamLOTSStyle and #StyleImitatingArt so the hosts know you have joined. Go have some fun in your closets and join the SIA challenge next week!
This Week’s Presenter
Terri chose this week’s art by Yinka Shonibare, a British artist of Nigerian heritage known for his examination of such ideas as authenticity, identity, colonialism, and power relations in often-ironic drawings, paintings, sculptures, photographs, films, and installations. A key material in Shonibare’s work since 1994 is the brightly colored “African” fabric (Dutch wax-printed cotton) that he buys himself in London. You can read more about the artist and why Terri chose this particular piece here.
The Artwork
“Leisure Lady (with Ocelots)” by Yinka Shonibare
I have always been drawn to African fabrics and prints like the dress worn by this mannequin but I never really found a prominent place for this aesthetic in my life or wardrobe. I had a very dear friend Meg who was one of my college roommates. She was stationed in Tanzania with the Peace Corps after we graduated from college and she sent home the most beautiful hand carved wooden candlesticks for my first wedding. Sadly, I lost those candlesticks in my divorce 22 years ago and then I lost my dear friend to a tragic paragliding accident 9 years ago on Mother’s Day. This particular art installation has really reminded me of Meg. She was a very special soul with the purest of hearts. Even after she returned home from Africa she always held a bit of Africa in her heart. I do have two sarongs that Meg sent back to me as well. The colors do not coordinate with this artwork, but perhaps I will find a way to incorporate one of them into my style interpretation.
If you want to be featured with your art inspired outfit in Terri’s review post on June 1, 2022, be sure to submit your photos to her at meadowtreestyle@gmail.com by 10:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday, May 31, 2022.
Happy Styling!
Keeping it on the edge,
Shelbee
Joining these Fabulous Link Parties.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
I am a midlife woman, wife, and stay-at-home mother of 2 boys and 2 cats. I have a passion for helping other women feel fabulous in the midst of this crazy, beautiful life.
12 Comments
Tamar Strauss-Benjamin
That is a look!!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Isn’t it so fun?!
xoxo
Shelbee
Michelle
How fascinating!
Michelle
https://mybijoulifeonline.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Isn’t it so intriguing? I am excited to see what everyone comes up with!
xoxo
Shelbee
Nancy
How sad that Meg died at such young age.
My sister has a friend, a African woman, who works with wax fabrics. They are very beautiful. Looking forward to see what you come up with.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Nancy. It was super sad and it hit me hard! These African fabrics are so beautiful. I love the richness of the colors and prints and textures.
xoxo
Shelbee
Marsha Banks
Oh, hugs to you on the loss of your friend. She sounds like an amazing person. This art work has me flummoxed! I know the obvious way to go, but I don’t want to go that way. So, I’m going to let my brain percolate on this and go on with other things for a bit!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Marsha! Meg was definitely an incredibly special human! I have some ideas floating around in my head for this one but I really need to go stand in my closet room and see what speaks to me. I can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with.
xoxo
Shelbee
Jennifer
Cannot wait to see what you come up with!
Jennifer
Curated by Jennifer
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Jennifer! I have some ideas brewing but I need to start putting things together to see what happens!
xoxo
Shelbee
Barbara
Shelbee, this is such a uniquely beautiful sculpture/dress ensemble!!! I like how the pattern of the dress’ fabric works like the ocelots’ spots as camouflage! I don’t think it matters that the colors aren’t the same. It’s the patterns themselves which stand out. I don’t know how the sculptress even thought to put this together… Wow!
Very happy to have shared your post at this past Wednesday’s Share Your Style #347 for you! Hope you have a lot of fun creating your wardrobe to share!!! A leapard print large purse would be cool… 😉
Happy Saturday hugs to you,
Barb 🙂
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Barb! I really appreciate that. These Style Imitating Art challenges really push my creativity further than I thought and I love it! I also love leaning about new artists and new genres of art. I think I missed your Wednesday post this week. I will head over now and check it out! I hope you are having a fabulous weekend.
xoxo
Shelbee