COLOR CUES

Although one of the best ways to gain inspiration is through art books, I believe that art is best experienced firsthand. There is nothing comparable to standing before a Boticelli or a Pollock for the first time, and it is an experience one does not easily forget.

Color is one thing that is never fully justified in reproductions. After looking at photos, slides, and jpegs of paintings by Wassily Kandinsky (1866-1944), nothing could compare to seeing one in person. The colors are so bold and vibrant, they are nearly overwhelming.

It's easy to be inspired by Kandinsky wardrobe-wise, what with the multitude of bright colors and interesting shapes. One aspect of his work that I've been picking up in my personal style recently is the striking combination of purple and red.

Nearly all of Kandinsky's paintings feature this color duality, and, though the two colors reside next to eachother on the color wheel, the result is still very bold.

As I shared before, Kandinsky's primary motivation in his work was composition, but clearly his use of color is equally strong.

For this outfit, I decided to take some cues from Kandinsky's color scheme and juxtapose purple and red with black accents, and a pair of shoes that could probably be camouflaged into a Kandinsky painting.

I'm wearing a vintage blouse and jacket, vintage leather skirt, Betsey Johnson leather clutch, and L.A.M.B. reptile heels.

[Kandinsky images from russianavantgard.com, dosiamckay.wordpress.com, and artobserved.com, respectively.]

CROCHET

With the recent revival of 1970s style came a renewed interest in crochet. The medium of crochet, though previously relegated to rocking chairs and sick beds, has become mainstream once again.

For recent art history, crochet holds importance in the field of women's work--something explored and utilized by Feminist artists in the 1970s and beyond.

Personally, I can't see colorful crochet without thinking of Olek. A New York-based artist currently in residence in the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, Olek is famous for her crocheted everything--cars, bicycles, trees, buildings, people.

Olek painstakingly crochets each loop of her work to create stunningly beautiful sculptures and installations throughout the city and beyond.

Her gorgeous works infuse life and color into what could be a dingy backdrop and creates a illicits a sense of community between viewers.

On Christmas Eve 2010, Olek gifted a crocheted "winter coat" to the Wall Street Bull. Watch the YouTube video of how she did it.

When I met Olek (above) last year, I was struck by the way her personality really reflected her work--colorful, outgoing, and endearingly demanding, she truly lives through her crocheted masterpieces.

A loop after a loop. Hour after hour my madness becomes crochet. Life and art are inseparable. --Olek

I discovered this assauntingly-bright crocheted poncho at a recent Goodwill excursion. The colors are so intense, I decided to keep it simple with a black ensemble on its debut. Maybe next time I wear it I'll go for a head-to-toe crochet look and make Olek really proud.

I'm wearing a vintage handmade crocheted poncho, A.B.S. lace dress, Dolce Vita suede over-the-knee boots, and a Rebecca Minkoff bag.

[Olek images from illusion.scene360.com, flickr.com, downtowntraveler.com, sarahlondon.files.wordpress.com, and thirdstreaming.com, respectively.]

WALL DRAWINGS

I haven't really discussed Conceptual art on this blog, mostly because it's difficult (though not impossible) to be visually inspired by an idea. Conceptualism is, by definition, where the idea behind the work is more important than the actual physical execution of it.

Sol LeWitt (1928-2007) is credited with being one of the founders of Conceptualism, as well as a proponent of Minimalism. LeWitt's wall drawings span both movements, therefore they are the perfect inspiration.

LeWitt is well known for works in many different media, including sculpture (he preferred the term structures), printmaking, drawing, and architecture. However, his series of wall drawings is his most well-known legacy.

The wall drawings exist as directions--written words that tell the person who is to execute the work what to do. By following the directions provided by LeWitt, "drawings" are made directly onto the wall in media ranging from lead to acrylic.

This mode of artmaking nearly removes the artist from the equation altogether, except for the ever-important role of the idea.

LeWitt was more interested in the idea behind his work than the work itself--a trademark of Conceptual art. However, the fully executed wall drawings are stunning Minimalist compositions.

Unlike some other Conceptual artists, LeWitt thought it necessary to actually create the work he prescribed in order to judge its overall effect. For artists like Joseph Kosuth and Lawrence Weiner, the idea itself was enough to constitute the work.

The colorful block pattern of this blouse reminded me of LeWitt's wall drawings, so I simply added a few of my favorite accessories and a brick wall.

I'm wearing a vintage silk blouse, Habitual denim, Tashkent by Cheyenne suede slouch booties, Cynthia Rowley reptile clutch purse, Juicy Couture necklace, reptile belt borrowed from my Aunt, and a Betsey Johnson faux fur jacket.

[LeWitt images from pbs.org, hubreview.blogspot.com, artnet.com, proa.org, and angelfloresjr.multiply.com, respectively.]

JOAN MITCHELL

Though I am intrigued and inspired by all art media, I have an undeniable affinity toward painting, specifically Abstract Expressionism. I've always been fascinated by the work of Joan Mitchell, one of few female artists (along with Helen Frankenthaler, Lee Krasner, and Grace Hartigan) whose work was recognized during an artistic period defined by male bravado.

I developed a deep appreciation of her work during my undergraduate painting studies and an internship at the Joan Mitchell Foundation. The painterly print of these leggings immediately set me on course to yet another Mitchell-inspired outfit.

As a young girl, Mitchell (1925-1992) excelled in figure skating. After an injury rendered her unfit to skate, she turned to painting as her mode of expression. Many critics have compared her visceral brushstrokes to the imprint of skates on the ice.

Though many Abstract Expressionist artists denied any kind of representation, Mitchell openly portrayed landscape through her large, colorful canvases.

As a fixture at the Cedar Tavern, along with Willem de Kooning, Franz Kline, Mark Rothko, and Jackson Pollock, Mitchell was really at the core of Abstract Expressionism before she moved to Vétheuil, Monet's home, for the duration of her life.

The Joan Mitchell Foundation now exists to support art education for underprivileged youths and provide teaching jobs and grants to working artists. Find out more about the Foundation and its programs here.

To balance out the Mitchell-esque print of the leggings and tee, I simply added a few bright solids and neutral accessories.

This Burton snowboarding under armor has to be the warmest, most versatile thing in my wardrobe. Though I do not participate in any winter sports, I can definitely appreciate a good warm layer in the winter months!

I'm wearing an H&M sweater dress, Burton Dry Ride thermal leggings and crewneck, a vintage braided leather belt, AE scarf, Marc bag, and Zigi SoHo suede boots.

[Mitchell images from stevenalexanderjournal.blogspot.com, kimmco.typepad.com, writingaboutart.wordpress.com, and benandalice.com, respectively.]

VUILLARD

The very moment the temperature outdoors exceeded 40F degrees, I sprang to throw on a colorful frock and ditch my woolly coat. According to Punxsutawney Phil, winter is indeed coming to a close, and I couldn't be more excited to begin working a few spring pieces into my wardrobe.

I spotted this vintage dress a while back and though its proportions originally resembled that of a colorful tent, I thought the painterly print was worth the time spent reworking it. The brushlike florals of the dress called to mind the work of Jean-Édouard Vuillard (1868-1940).

Vuillard, a French painter, is most well-known for his dramatic interior scenes, attributed to the fact that he lived with his mother until he was 60, and became quite well-acquainted with the domestic "women's life".

Vuillard was associated with the Nabi group, a school of painters who espoused Gauguin's aesthetic, and were inspired by Japanese prints and Art Nouveau.

The name Nabi comes from the Hebrew word for prophet, and Les Nabis were considered to be the forefront of avant-garde art during their early period. Other Nabis included Pierre Bonnard, Paul Sérusier, and Maurice Denis, who all developed very distinct styles.

During Vuillard's later career, he created beautiful "apartment frescoes" on the inside of homes and other venues, including Théâtre des Champs-Elysées.

Vuillard's work is valued today for its masterful use of color and light, which I attempted to reflect in my interpretation of his paintings.

In many of his works, Vuillard uses bold dark spaces against high values to create space and dimension. To reflect this, I paired the bright floral dress with dark tights and shoes.

I'm wearing a reworked vintage dress, African and vintage bangles, Marc handbag, vintage frames, and BCBG suede and elastic booties.

[Vuillard images from elle-belle10.livejournal.com, abcgallery.com, nolostwitches.blogspot.com, magicart.wordpress.com, and nickhaus.com, respectively.]