CHEVRONS

As an art historian and vintage enthusiast, one of the most interesting things about vintage clothing is understanding the context in which it was created and worn.

When I found this skirt, I was immediately reminded of the geometric Minimalism of the 1960s-1970s, reflected by the work of Frank Stella (discussed here) and Kenneth Noland, among others.

Noland (1925-2010), a proponent of the Washington Color Field movement, is well-known for his target and chevron paintings, pictured here.

He was a product of the famed Black Mountain College in North Carolina, a hotbed of artistic development from 1933-1957.

Noland was extremely interested in the relationship of the image to the size and shape of the canvas.

Works like these became synonymous with the prevailing aesthetic style of the 1960s and into the '70s.

"For me context is the key - from that comes the understanding of everything." --Kenneth Noland

I'm wearing a vintage Diane von Furstenberg blouse from Wasteland in San Francisco, vintage skirt thrifted in NYC, vintage suede belt thrifted in Virginia, and Johnny Wujek x Modern Vintage heels.

Thanks to Kathy for taking these photos on her Brooklyn rooftop. Hooray for spring weather in New York!

[Noland images from newamericanpaintings.wordpress.com, hjkbny.blogspot.com, aprendersociales.blogspot.com, and keithjvaradi.blogspot.com, respectively.]