Inspired By Nick Cave’s Soundsuit – Style Imitating Art

I don’t usually post on a Wednesday but I’m taking part in Style Imitating Art for the first time! 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 can submit their art inspired outfits to the curator by 10 pm (EST) on Tuesday, following the hosts’ art inspired outfit posts. Then the next day (Wednesday) the curator will share all of the submissions on their blog.

The Inspiration Artwork

Terri of MeadowTree Style chose one of Nick Cave’s Soundsuits for this week’s Style Imitating Art. You can read why she chose this particular piece of artwork here.

Born on February 4th 1959 in Fulton, Missouri, Nick Cave is an American fabric sculptor, performance artist, and dancer. His best-known work is the Soundsuits series – costumes that completely cover the individual’s body. They camouflage the shape of the wearer, enveloping and creating a second skin that hides gender, race, and class, thus compelling the audience to watch without judgment. He usually makes the Soundsuits from sisal, dyed human hair, beads, plastic buttons, wire, feathers, and sequins.

My outfit inspired by Nick Cave’s Soundsuit

For my outfit inspired by Nick Cave’s Soundsuit I took my prompt from the crochet work and birds. As you probably know, I have several crocheted vests, so that became the starting point. The crochet in the Soundsuit features many different colours and patterns, which I attempted to mimic by layering the vest over a polka dot top. The common colours of black and blue prevent it from looking too random, although in hindsight I wish I’d included a few accents of warm colours.

I couldn’t incorporate quite as many birds as the artist, but I did manage a bluebird brooch and some owl earrings!

A guest appearance from a real bird!

Actually, there was another bird just out of shot…this blackbird in the bush next to me. This is the second year running that blackbirds have nested in the garden. Sadly, last year none of the young survived so I’ll be on high alert for any cats this year. Henry hasn’t got many teeth left so he’s not really a threat, but we do get a lot of other cats visit us. Around this time of year the wildlife hospital where I volunteer starts to get busy with injured and orphaned young. I haven’t been able to go since before Christmas as I’ve been working six days a week, so now I’m really looking forward to getting back to it!

My nod to the flowers in the artwork was my flower ring…unfortunately I forgot that I’d left a hair tie on my finger next to it! Oh well, at least it’s colour co-ordinated!

How would you create an outfit inspired by Nick Cave’s Soundsuit? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

SHOP THE LOOK

Crochet vest from eBay | Marks & Spencer top | Coast cord trousers | Marks & Spencer boots | Love Moschino bag | SVNX sunglasses (from Asos) | brooch from eBay

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