Songful Style Link Party | “Behind the Wall of Sleep” by The Smithereens
This our fifth edition of the Songful Style series…a monthly style challenge that encourages us to use music as our sartorial inspiration. We not only learn about new songs which is so enriching but we also have the opportunity to really get creative in the way we view our clothing.
This month’s song, “Behind the Wall of Sleep” by The Smithereens was chosen by Anne. You can find the lyrics, album covers, and video inspiration, which includes Anne’s partner Severo playing bass in some of them, in Songful Style | “Behind the Wall of Sleep” by The Smithereens.
While I have been familiar with The Smithereens since my teenage years, I never really listened to their music until now. It turns out that I like this song very much. It definitely has earworm power as it has been going round and round through my head, “Now I lie in bed and think of her | Sometimes I even weep | Then I dream of her behind the wall of sleep”. I like it so much that I added The Smithereens channel to my Pandora rotation and have been listening to it frequently. It gives me beautifully nostalgic flashbacks to my youth.
So we have a brilliantly sentimental song that triggers a dreamlike reminiscence but how the heck do you style an outfit inspired by it?
I really struggled with this challenge. I had no idea what I was going to wear other than something black to represent the lyric “She was tall and cool and pretty and she dressed as black as coal”. And then my genius husband suggested something “pajama like” to embody the “wall of sleep” imagery. Lately, however, my pajamas consist of an old tee shirt and underwear which is not very photogenic at all.
So I figured this was a great opportunity to show off my new teal lacy bralette and panty set from Torrid. I also have it cobalt blue, bright pink, black, and white and a pale pink that is no longer available. These are my favorite bralettes ever and I wear them instead of bras nearly every day.
I chose the teal set for this post because the color reminded me of a gorgeous night sky and then I couldn’t decide which sheer black dress to layer over it to act as a sexy nightgown so I photographed both. Both dresses are also from Torrid and came with black slips that I ditched in favor of the sheerness showing off my panties. I accessorized with black slipper style shoes, a crescent moon necklace, and my teal key earrings that Michelle made.
In an attempt to reflect the lyric, “Well she held a bass guitar and she was playing in a band”, I added Archie’s non-bass guitar as a prop because it’s what I had. And I don’t play in a band, I only listen to them. Then I got the idea of setting up an outside bedroom for the photoshoot. Thankfully, my husband obliged and helped me get it all together right after he just packed away all the camping gear, too. And finally, I had to incorporate a little bit of Anne into my background since she chose the song and has such close connections to it. So I used my Fashion Rainbow scarf to cover my nightstand. Anne designed this scarf a few years ago featuring her sketches of 52 over 40 fashion bloggers. It is available for sale on Redbubble along with lots of other fun designs by Anne.
About Songful Style
Songful Style is a new ageless style challenge series hosted by Suzy of The Grey Brunette, Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge, Michelle of My Bijou Life, Marsha of Marsha in the Middle, and Anne of Spy Girl.
Each month we will share a song with the lyrics and video and we invite you to use whatever aspect of the song that inspires you to create an outfit.
It is similar to Style Imitating Art where we use artwork to inspire our outfit creations. Except Songful Style gives you lyrics, music, video, and album artwork to inspire your fashion creativity. You may even find inspiration in a memory triggered by the selected song. It is all open to your own personal interpretation and just a fun way to discover new music and get a little bit more creative with your wardrobe.
Anyone is welcome to join us on a permanent basis or you can just play along without any obligation to do anything other than feel inspired. We are flexible and fun and just want to find more ways to play dress up because it’s what we enjoy doing!
We will be posting on the last Monday of each month and will announce our song choice for the following month at the end of each post.
Now you can go check out my fabulous friends and how they have interpreted this song into style…just click their blog links for more songful style inspiration!
- Suzy of The Grey Brunette
- Michelle of My Bijou Life
- Marsha of Marsha in the Middle
- Anne of Spy Girl
The next song for our July 25, 2022, post is “When Doves Cry” by Prince chosen by Suzy because it is one of her all time favorite songs that forces her straight into dance mode right from the first few notes. I will share more details including lyrics, video, and other inspirations that I can find relating to the song tomorrow. If you are interested in joining us, you are welcome to begin styling now or check back tomorrow for additional inspiration relating to the song.
Feel free to link up your posts below especially if you have a Songful Style post or any post related to fashion and/or music.
Featured Favorite from “Hello, Goodbye”
Jennifer of Curated by Jennifer
Keeping it on the edge,
Shelbee
Joining these Fabulous Link Parties.
Outfit Details: Bralette, Panties, and Both Dresses-Torrid / Shoes-Target / Necklace-Happiness Boutique / Earrings-Handmade by Michelle of My Bijou Life / Scarf-Redbubble (Designed by Anne of Spy Girl) / Glass Bong-Rainbow Zen
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.
22 Comments
Suzy Turner
Shelbee, I LOVE your interpretation of this song. This is exactly the kind of thing that I had intended to do when I first listened to the song but I ended up running of time because of our house move. But you absolutely nailed it!! And those photos of you sitting on the end of the bed with the guitar…WOW girl!!!! You need to put one of those in a frame!! It’s a like an album cover in itself! LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!
Big hugs
Suzy xx
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Ahhhhh, thanks so much, Suzy! I love those particular guitar photos, too! I don’t even know how to properly hold a guitar so we were cracking up trying to get me in a natural looking pose. I think we succeeded and we had a great time setting up the “outdoor bedroom” and taking the photos. Thankfully, my neighbors weren’t home to watch it unfold though! It was probably pretty entertaining to view though if you’re into watching that sort of silliness.
By the way, I now have “When Doves Cry” earworming me!
xoxo
Shelbee
Nancy
Very nice interpretation! Good eye for details!! I also love the song. I guess I loved The Smithereens more then I remembered!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Aw, thanks so much, Nancy! This was super fun to do once I went the pajama/bedroom route!
xoxo
Shelbee
Michelle
This is absolutely awesome! What a photoshoot set! The Torrid bralette and panty set looks beautiful, but comfortable too. I’ll have to check it out. And your lacy robe is so pretty! You nailed three different aspects of the song! I felt so clever doing two. LOL! Totally fabulous interpretation.
Michelle
https://mybijoulifeonline.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, my friend! We had so much fun setting this up and taking the photos! I kept adding little details as we went! And I am really glad that my neighbors were not home for the show! Haha.
xoxo
Shelbee
Tamar Strauss-Benjamin
Love the little bed space you created – the whole looks is spot on!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Hehehe, thanks so much, Tamar! This was fun to do!
xoxo
Shelbee
Marsha Banks
Oh, man! I feel like such an underachiever!!! Shelbee, you absolutely nailed this challenge! Kudos to your husband for agreeing to set up a bedroom in the yard! I wonder what my neighbors would say! Hahahaha!!! Believe it or not, I just sent my son’s guitar (he’d forgotten he left it here a few years ago…that’s how many he has) home with him! I love, love, love the juxtaposition of your bralette and underwear with the black lace!!! I honestly thought you were going to cut some bangs like Jean Shrimpton!
Perfection! Chef’s kiss!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Awww, thanks so much, my friend! I contemplated imitating bangs without cutting them but that was way more work figuring out than it took to set up a backyard bedroom! I am cracking up at your son’s overabundance of guitars that he forgot about some. I think that might be a common musician trait. I recall my friend Carson finding guitars that he forgot about in various places at his mom’s house. It cracks me up!
xoxo
Shelbee
Jennifer
You look great in these photos! Thanks for choosing my post!
Jennifer
Curated by Jennifer
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Jennifer! And you are very welcome!
xoxo
Shelbee
Carol
Wow! This challenge brought out the “edge” part of Shelbee on the Edge. I love the black, lacy kimono. And the outdoor bedroom setting is great! Looks like a lot of work went into setting up this photo shoot.
Thank you for participating in Talent-Sharing Tuesdays Link-Up 24.
Carol
http://www.scribblingboomer.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Aw, thanks so much, Carol! I definitely need to keep the edge to stay true to my name! Haha. This actually didn’t take all that long to complete. Maybe 30 minutes total to set up, photograph, and put all the stuff away again. We are very efficient at this after all these years of crazy photoshoots!
xoxo
Shelbee
Lovely
Love your take on this song. You look amazing!
xoxo
Lovely
http://www.mynameislovely.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Lovely! It was a super fun photoshoot to do!
xoxo
Shelbee
Kathrine Eldridge
I really love how you interepretated the lyrics! These photos are so cool and I really love the shots with the guitar.
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Aw, thanks so much, Kathrine! I just wish I had some musical skills that I could play the guitar. It currently has two broken strings that I don’t have any clue how to repair either. I will be on that soon, however, because finally one of my children is expressing a slight interest in learning music. That makes my heart so happy!
xoxo
Shelbee
Anne M Bray
A great interpretation!
And thanks for featuring the 52 Blogger scarf!
xxox
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, my friend! I was so excited when I thought to incorporate my 52 blogger scarf! I freaking love that scarf!
xoxo
Shelbee
Emma Peach
You did so well with this challenge – I wouldn’t have had a clue what to do with it! I don’t think I’ve ever heard the song. You have such a great knack for picking out all the details!
Emma xxx
http://www.style-splash.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Emma! I was not familiar with this song either. I find it to be a catchy little tune and I am definitely a fan! This was really fun to style and shoot.
xoxo
Shelbee