fashion over 40, Style Imitating Art, Shelbee on the Edge, crochet, lace, print mixing, textures

Style Imitating Art: Soundsuit by Nick Cave

April 7, 2021 / 44 Comments
fashion over 40, Style Imitating Art, Shelbee on the Edge, crochet, lace, print mixing, textures
fashion over 40, Style Imitating Art, Shelbee on the Edge, crochet, lace, print mixing, textures
fashion over 40, Style Imitating Art, Shelbee on the Edge, crochet, lace, print mixing, textures
fashion over 40, Style Imitating Art, Shelbee on the Edge, crochet, lace, print mixing, textures
fashion over 40, Style Imitating Art, Shelbee on the Edge, crochet, lace, print mixing, textures

I might be more excited about this Style Imitating Art prompt than any other one so far. The outfit is quirky and a little bit strange, but somehow I felt very much like myself as I kept adding the layers and textures and colors. The final result made me feel a little bit like art myself.

About Style Imitating Art

Style Imitating Art is hosted by Daenel of Living Outside the Stacks, Salazar of 14 Shades of Grey, and Terri of Meadow Tree Style. Style Imitating Art challenges us to draw style inspiration from pieces of art. Every other Monday, one of the hosts, acting as curator, 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 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.

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, Terri, and Daenel 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!

The Inspiration Artwork

The inspiration artwork was curated by Terri of MeadowTree Style. You can read why she has chosen this specific piece as her inspiration artwork here.

Soundsuit by Nick Cave (Circa 2000’s)
Nick Cave Soundsuit
Soundsuit by Nick Cave (Circa 2000’s)
fashion over 40, Style Imitating Art, Shelbee on the Edge, crochet, lace, print mixing, textures
fashion over 40, Style Imitating Art, Shelbee on the Edge, crochet, lace, print mixing, textures, Nick Cave Soundsuit

About the Artist: Nick Cave

Nick Cave is an American fabric sculptor, dancer, and performance artist. Born in 1959 in Fulton, Missouri, to a large artistic family, he credits his upbringing for his “artistic attentiveness to found objects and assemblages.” Nick Cave’s artistic journey began during his childhood when he would manipulate fabrics from the clothing handed down to him from older siblings. Through this fabric manipulation, he discovered his passion for art and enrolled in the Kansas City Art Institute after graduation from Hickman High School in 1977. He earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1982.

Nick Cave is also a trained dancer and implements his choreography skills into performance art that features his most well known art form…Soundsuits. His Soundsuits are brightly colored, whimsical, and oftentimes otherworldly wearable fabric sculptures that show influence of “African art traditions, armor, ceremonial dress, couture fashion, and designed textiles as well as stereotypically feminine objects” in order to express many different concepts in one piece. He currently resides in Chicago, Illinois, where he is the director of the graduate fashion program at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

fashion over 40, Style Imitating Art, Shelbee on the Edge, crochet, lace, print mixing, textures
fashion over 40, Style Imitating Art, Shelbee on the Edge, crochet, lace, print mixing, textures
fashion over 40, Style Imitating Art, Shelbee on the Edge, crochet, lace, print mixing, textures
fashion over 40, Style Imitating Art, Shelbee on the Edge, crochet, lace, print mixing, textures
fashion over 40, Style Imitating Art, Shelbee on the Edge, crochet, lace, print mixing, textures
fashion over 40, Style Imitating Art, Shelbee on the Edge, crochet, lace, print mixing, textures
fashion over 40, Style Imitating Art, Shelbee on the Edge, crochet, lace, print mixing, textures
fashion over 40, Style Imitating Art, Shelbee on the Edge, crochet, lace, print mixing, textures

About the Art: Soundsuits

Nick Cave created his first Soundsuit in response to the brutal beating of Rodney King in 1991. His mission was to create a suit of armor that would disguise all identifying characteristics of the wearer. Nick Cave’s Soundsuits make it impossible to distinguish the race, gender, or sexuality of the person inside. By essentially rendering the wearer completely anonymous, Soundsuits represent those members of society who are disproportionately targeted in negative ways. Essentially, the Soundsuits offer a level of protection for the wearer by obstructing any bias from onlookers on the basis of race, class, or gender.

Cave has coined his wearable art as Soundsuits because they are also designed with the intent of making specific sounds for the performance art angle of his work. His Soundsuits can be seen as static sculptures or viewed as part of performance art dances in which Cave himself often performs.

Not only are his Soundsuits incredibly ornate and detailed crafted from every day found objects, but the philosophy that led to the creation of Soundsuits is profound and fascinating. I highly encourage you to read some of the linked resources for yourself.

Resources:

fashion over 40, Style Imitating Art, Shelbee on the Edge, crochet, lace, print mixing, textures
fashion over 40, Style Imitating Art, Shelbee on the Edge, crochet, lace, print mixing, textures
fashion over 40, Style Imitating Art, Shelbee on the Edge, crochet, lace, print mixing, textures
fashion over 40, Style Imitating Art, Shelbee on the Edge, crochet, lace, print mixing, textures
fashion over 40, Style Imitating Art, Shelbee on the Edge, crochet, lace, print mixing, textures

My Outfit Inspired by Nick Cave’s Soundsuit

When I first saw the curated art for this week’s prompt, I literally gasped out loud. There is so much to inspire in this one costume from the different textures, the varied patterns, and the plethora of vibrant colors as well as black and white.

I knew I was going to wear this olive green crocheted sweater and the white crocheted maxi skirt. There are bits of black lace on the legs of the Soundsuit that you can see if you zoom in, and so I incorporated a black lace duster. Once I had those three pieces in place, the fun really started as I added more and more colors and patterns and textures.

I put a dozen tiny braids in my hair because they sort of reminded me of the branchy head piece on the Soundsuit. But then I spotted a cluster of barren trees that seemed perfect for a natural head piece if I stood just beneath them and purposely made the trees come out of my head. The side by side photo above really makes me laugh!

Because it took forever to add all the tiny braids into my hair, I ended up shooting three different outfits with it styled this way. You saw it in yesterday’s post with the braids peeking out from my beanie hat and I have a really fun festival look to share with you soon as well.

Would you ever dare to wear something so crazy as this outfit? Apparently I do dare to wear it because I did!

fashion over 40, Style Imitating Art, Shelbee on the Edge, crochet, lace, print mixing, textures
fashion over 40, Style Imitating Art, Shelbee on the Edge, crochet, lace, print mixing, textures
fashion over 40, Style Imitating Art, Shelbee on the Edge, crochet, lace, print mixing, textures
fashion over 40, Style Imitating Art, Shelbee on the Edge, crochet, lace, print mixing, textures
fashion over 40, Style Imitating Art, Shelbee on the Edge, crochet, lace, print mixing, textures

To see more outfits inspired by Nick Cave’s Soundsuit, please visit Terri’s post for the complete roundup of submissions. You can also read the details of Terri’s own inspired outfit here, Daenel’s here, and Salazar’s here. Have you joined the Style Imitating Art challenges yet? Be sure to check for the next prompt on Monday, April 12, 2021.

Keeping it on the edge,

Shelbee

Linking up with these Fabulous Link Parties.

Shop my look…Everything was shopped from my closet.

Outfit Details: Coat-c/o Zaful / Sweater and Skirt-Cato / Lace Duster-Torrid / Shoes and Belt-Burlington Coat Factory / Bag, Earrings, and Socks-Target / Hat-Gift shop in Asheville, NC / Crocheted Neckerchief-Linda Gibbs Handmade

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.

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44 Comments

  • Suzy

    April 7, 2021 at 10:04 am Reply

    OMG Shelbee!!!! This is literally the cool outfit version of Soundsuit! Could you look any more amazing? It’s all very boho, hippy-dippy and I LOVE it! The only thing I wouldn’t wear are the pink socks / tights with the shoes, but that’s only because I struggle with backless shoes like that, and I’d never be able to walk unless my feet were bare within them!
    I love everything you did here, down to the braids! And that jacket you added to a few of the photos is divine!
    Oh and the cute photobomb made me chuckle!!
    Huge hugs
    Suzy xx
    P.S I forgot to mention yesterday how much I’m loving the new look blog! I love that picture at the top with the gorgeous green background.
    xxx

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      April 7, 2021 at 10:53 am Reply

      Suzy, thanks so much, my friend! This is definitely one of my more over the top looks but I really had fun with it! I don’t like to wear socks with this style of shoe either but it was way too cold out for bare ankles. I was going to wear ankle booties but none were working the way the crazy furry floral slides did. This paisley coat was one of my very first gifted items in the early days of my blog and it makes its way out every winter. It is so cozy and warm and the bold print makes me smile! As for my little photo bomber, we started out by yelling at him to not run around behind me, but I then I got tired of it and just let him go! This is real life for me after all! I am glad that everyone seems to be enjoying my blog makeover. What a nightmare that process is!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Nancy

    April 7, 2021 at 12:03 pm Reply

    I had a other Nick Cave in mind, lol. But it’s a very interesting art work and a very quirky outfit. A kind a bit of steam punk, arts way. Very creative.

  • Ellie

    April 7, 2021 at 1:03 pm Reply

    You have such unique pieces in your closet and this outfit is such a great take on the piece of art! While personally I would not wear it, I can imagine it being worn by an artist at an art fair. Really fun and it looks fabulous on you!
    Ellie
    Ellibelle’s Corner

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      April 7, 2021 at 3:53 pm Reply

      Ellie, thank you so much! That is such a wonderful compliment! This is one of the many reasons I enjoy this community so much. We can appreciate and compliment each other’s personal style choices even if they aren’t necessarily for us. It’s a breath of fresh air!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Terri Gardner

    April 7, 2021 at 3:07 pm Reply

    Wow, Shelby, this one blows me away. I can tell that this is the inner you. Isn’t Nick Cave’s work wonderful? He has done so much more than Sounsuits but I think these are what he will be remembered for. They are so joyful. but profound at the same time. I can tell you had so much fun and so happy that I decided to go with him. See you next week.

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      April 7, 2021 at 3:50 pm Reply

      Terri, thank you so much! I had so much fun with this one! And I am a huge fan of Nick Cave now that I know who he is. So I have much gratitude for your introducing his work to me. I never thought six years into blogging that I would still be learning so many wonderful new things that spark me creatively. I really look forward to these prompts every two weeks as they broaden my mind so more than I ever expected. Thank you all for hosting this series.

      xoxo
      Shelbee

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      April 7, 2021 at 8:23 pm Reply

      Michelle, thank you so much! This is how I always imagined my soul would dress if souls needed clothing! Maybe they do wear clothing. And maybe it is exactly how my soul dresses. Hmmmm. Anyway, I was so pleased with the outcome of this outfit, I actually squealed with delight when I was going through the photos. And there was something about the fuchsia socks that really tickled my fancy, too! They just seemed to work perfectly. Plus it was too cold for bare ankles!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      April 7, 2021 at 8:19 pm Reply

      Thanks so much, Jacqui! These art prompts are incredibly fun and educational. Just check either of three host’s blogs on Monday for the next prompt. It would be so wonderful to see how you interpret the art prompts!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Barbara

    April 7, 2021 at 7:19 pm Reply

    What an interesting man, this Nick Cave. I love how you can tell both you and your son had a good time! Take care

  • Mica

    April 7, 2021 at 10:02 pm Reply

    What a fun inspiration artwork and resulting otufit! You really made the most with the texture and colour! 🙂

    Hope that you are having a nice week so far.

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      April 8, 2021 at 9:27 am Reply

      Thanks so much, Emma! I am loving all the crochet things right now, too! I am so glad that you were able to join for this one. All of your adorable vintage crochet tops seemed so perfect for this challenge!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Sheila (of Ephemera)

    April 7, 2021 at 11:29 pm Reply

    Ah, okay, I was confused with Kezzie’s entry – this is NOT the same Nick Cave who sings, does sountracks, writes books. I thought it was (it seemed like something he would do!). Check out the album “The Boatman’s Call” – it’s amazing (“the Mercy Seat” is incredible).

    I love the texture of your look, Michelle – the braids, the top, the slippers, the whole look is so utterly bohemian. This is quite different for you, but I guess that’s what these prompts are all about: pushing one’s limits! Well done!

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      April 8, 2021 at 9:26 am Reply

      Thanks so much, Sheila! I actually learned about both Nick Cave’s from this style prompt because when I started to research, I kept finding the singer, whom I was not familiar with previously. So I got two lessons in one! You know, this is outfit is a bit out of the ordinary for me, but this is how I always imagined my soul would dress if souls wore clothes. I should step into this zone more often because I really feel most like myself when I wear this eclectic bohemian style. Thanks again!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Daenel T

    April 8, 2021 at 1:58 am Reply

    Shelby, there’s so much to love about this outfit. I think you should become part of Nick Cave’s team because you nailed it. The colors and textures are just perfect.

  • Joanne

    April 8, 2021 at 4:44 pm Reply

    Oh wow; I think I would have been completely stumped trying to style this challenge but you knocked it out of the park!

  • Reni E.

    April 8, 2021 at 5:56 pm Reply

    Hi Shelbee,
    I already saw your interpretation on Terry’s blog. It’s fantastic! Now that I read your blogpost and saw all your pics I discovered many more details, which I didn’t realize at first sight. And I love your braids so much! You really did a great job!
    XO Reni

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