SOUNDSUITS

Sometimes the best approach to getting dressed is throwing on a few favorite pieces and calling it a day. This ensemble was inspired by one of my most beloved contemporary artists, Nick Cave, and it centers around my favorite color, GREEN.

Nick Cave is a contemporary artist whose work simultaneously incorporates art, fashion, costume, performance, and dance. You may remember his work from the "Monsters, Inc." spread in the September 2010 issue of American Vogue.

His Soundsuits, made of a myriad of different materials, are studies in the movement and sound made by the person wearing them. These works are beautiful as sculptures, but take on a whole new meaning when worn (often by Cave himself) during a performance.

As an African American artist, dancer, and designer from a humble background, Cave explores the intersection of culture and consumerism in his strikingly gorgeous costumes.

The Soundsuits are meant to symbolize traditional African ceremonial garb and also reference the haute couture creations of avant garde fashion.

The central theme of these works is the simultaneous isolation and insulation of culture--particularly, for Cave, of coming to terms with his African descent in American society.

Cave is currently the director of the Graduate Fashion program at the Art Institute of Chicago. You can find out more about his work at the SoundSuitShop.

The Soundsuits are so quirky and kitschy, with their bright colors and fun textures, styling an outfit around them was quite a pleasure.

I started with the funky faux fur jacket (which looks like it could have been part of a Soundsuit in a previous life) and then added a few bright accessories.

I'm wearing a faux fur jacket from F21, Obey tee, boys' thrifted Levi's 511s, a vintage silk scarf, J. Crew anklets, Lisa F. Pliner Idelle platform sandals, a vintage reptile Nicholas Reich handbag, and my Grandmother's emerald ring.

Even though they have about a 50 year age difference, I think this bag and the shoes were meant for each other--see how the green arch echoes the hue of the bag? Together at last!

[Cave images from latimesblogs.latimes.com, artuga.tumblr.com, buamai.com, hypebeast.com, palmbeachillustrated.com, and blogs.tcpalm.com, respectively.]