SIA Gallery of Style | The Mysterious Garden by Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh

I’m still recovering from what last week’s anxiety has done to my body. After stress severely reduced my sleeping abilities, I got a bad head cold that has migrated to my chest and now midnight coughing fits are impairing my sleep. I am so tired with no break in sight. I want to take a moment to apologize to anyone who has been waiting for a response to emails sent to me. I know they’re there and I will get to them eventually. Until then, please be patient while I recover and in the meantime enjoy some of these lovely art inspired outfits!

About Style Imitating Art

Style Imitating Art is hosted by Salazar of 14 Shades of Grey, Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge, and Marsha of Marsha in the Middle and it challenges us to draw fashion inspiration from works of art. Every other Monday, one of the hosts, acting as curator, selects an inspiration artwork 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 curator by 10:00 p.m. EST on the Tuesday following the hosts’ art inspired outfit posts. The following day, Wednesday, the curator will share all of the submissions on her blog. 

Remember, you don’t have to be a blogger to join. You are invited to share your images on Instagram or other social media platforms. Just be sure to tag Salazar, Shelbee, and Marsha on Instagram so the hosts know you have joined. Go have some fun in your closets and join one of our SIA challenges!

The Artwork

The Mysterious Garden by Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh

The Gallery of Style

The submissions are in no particular order. If you have submitted a photo and I did not include it, please let me know and I will make the necessary edits. Sometimes emails get lost in the shuffle. That being said, we would love to see more participants join us for our fun style challenges. Anyone is welcome to play along. Just watch for our Monday posts when we share the artwork, style an outfit inspired by it, take a photo and email it to one of the co-hosts to be featured in our gallery posts. We encourage you to invite your friends, too! It really is a lot of fun and has helped to expand the possibilities of my closet. 

You can read more details about each outfit by clicking on the individual blog links or the images in this post. 

Sally of Within a World of My Own

Sally says, “Although the colors of the painting are a bit nebulous, I was inspired to combine soft chambray blue and dark grey for my interpretation. I don’t have the wardrobe to mimic the central figure’s melon-shaped silhouette, but I did put together a pleated peplum top and flared skirt to create some extra volume in my outfit. Because the figures in the painting appear to be wearing layers, I added a chambray blazer and plaid scarf on top. This is 100% not a combination I would have tried without the SIA challenge, but I liked the result.”

Marsha of Marsha in the Middle

Marsha says, “I know this is a weird photo to use, but I thought my white wig and the blue dress (that everyone else thinks is purple) shows up best as an interpretation of the art. This is a shirtdress from Banana Republic. I had taken these photos before really thinking about the art. When I was looking at them, I saw this photo and decided the outfit (if it’s just a dress, is it an outfit) was perfect.”

Salazar of 14 Shades of Grey

Salazar says, “I knew I’d want to wear something blue, something Klimt-esque, something a bit Art Nouveau-inspired, so in the end, I went with this blue top (the flower embroideries are a nod to the ‘garden’) and light blue trousers, and added my Art Nouveau-inspired brooch as a nod to the faces in the background. I would’ve liked to add a hint of purple to the outfit (my purple tunic would’ve looked perfect, only I’ve already worn it with these trousers before), but I couldn’t think of anything. I’m happy with how the outfit turned out though.”

And Me!

I wore a blue watercolor floral print dress with a light purple cardigan and black and grey accents to reflect the color palette of the painting. The cameo brooch on my hat is a nod to the eight heads that frame the top of the artwork. The garden statue seemed like the perfect photo companion for this challenge.

I hope you all have enjoyed this SIA Gallery of Style. If you would like to try one of these style challenges, be sure to stop back on Monday, October 12, 2026, for Salazar’s next art inspiration. 

Keeping it on the edge, 

Shelbee