WIW 05.02 Picture perfect challenge, day 3

(For my YLF blog! Hope you gals don't mind me posting the photos twice ^^)

Stone Canyon Petrified Sand Dunes and Reflection, Paria Canyon - Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness, Arizona by Jack Dykinga

Now THIS photo has colors right up my wardrobe palette alley! When I look at this photo I get a feeling of color and texture overload, despite the very serene vibe, so I wanted my outfit to reflect that.

Texture-wise, the strongest impact of this photo on me are the rock striations (new word learned!), and while stripes would be a good choice to represent them I didn't feel that any of mine could really portray the complexity of the rocks' "stripes". So instead, I decided to debut a brand new blouse (!) I just bought last week whose front is constructed with many narrow layers of sheer tiers, which also happily picks up on the pink from the photo.

Color-wise, the strongest impact of this photo on me are the beautiful sunset-like gradients; red to orange to yellow, purple to pink to peach. But because my top is pretty busy, I decided to limit the number of colors in my outfit and not sport a gradient. There isn't actually a gradient of red to pink on a single rock side, but I love how the center reddish rock is flanked by pinks on either side so I chose to wear those colors (plus I adore how fuchsia and red look together). I paired my red jeans (another texture), and then added the fuchsia cardigan to emphasize the color pairing even though there's plenty of fuchsia in the top (and yet another texture); it also calms the top's business a little bit, while simultaneously adding to color overload.

After trying a couple different pairs of shoes (white booties felt unbalanced, black pumps felt too heavy for the photo, navy slingbacks and teal pumps both felt unnecessarily busy), ultimately I opted for my red heels to keep the outfit focus on the top and the color combination (and the leather adds YET another texture). At that point I didn't have ANY blue or purple represented, both significant colors in the photo. So I added this necklace which has ALL of the photo colors in it, and did a quick 5-minute purple manicure :)

And lastly, to represent the twisted, bleached driftwood I wanted to do a big spiral curled pony tail but forgot that my sister has my curler/iron! Happily I was kind of able to make it work using just curl creme and my blow dryer. Went with my white purse as another nod to the driftwood, and add some (in my opinion) much needed additional lightness to this very saturated, colorful outfit.

Comments, critiques, thoughts and questions welcome!

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11 Comments

  • Sona replied 11 years ago

    I like your interpretation and your thoughtful process but for some reason I think it would be more impactful to see the blouse with its strations and variegations without the pink topper? I say this with trepidation though. I am wondering about a white/cream topper ? or no topper? Just some food for thought. Love the interpretation though!!

  • Aida replied 11 years ago

    Sona, no trepidation needed, those are very good and astute suggestions! This blouse is sleeveless and it's barely making it up to 60F today so unfortunately I couldn't go sans topper. I did originally want to wear my white blazer but alas must use it for tomorrow's outfit ^^ I also tried a long cream cardigan, but decided to go with this one to play up the color overload feeling I get looking at the photo. I will absolutely wear it with white/cream toppers in the future! And thank you :)

  • sarah replied 11 years ago

    Gorgeous, Aida. I love your analysis, and your gutsiness to pair the fuchsia and red and just go for it. You look fab!

  • Deborah replied 11 years ago

    Aida I loved reading your reasoning and logic of how you put the outfit together.
    I think it's beautiful and such a clever interpretation. Just beautiful.

  • Jaime replied 11 years ago

    You just look smashing in these colors. And I love your analysis. Beauty and Brains, what can you say ;-)?

  • Angie replied 11 years ago

    Another great interpretation! I bet you REALLY enjoy the analysis :)

  • Aida replied 11 years ago

    Thanks for the comments ladies!

    Sarah, sometimes you just gotta go for it with color pairings; I'll try ANY adjacent color pairing at least once ;)

    Deborah, thank you!

    Shevia, glad to hear that since I generally shy away from fuchsia (most are too icy for me).

    Angie, thanks so much! I think I do most of my analysis post outfit creation, though I do a little while dressing (developing good dressing foundation knowledge helps a ton with instincts, so thanks to you and YLF for that!); I've gotten pretty good at identifying and articulating why my brain makes the dressing choices it does :) Art inspired outfits are always a joy to come up with and then reflect on! They are definitely more analysis than usual.

  • nicoleb replied 11 years ago

    Wow! I love your thought process in this! And i really like the red and fuchsia together!

  • Ana replied 11 years ago

    This is beautiful, Aida! What a great outfit and I love all the little details you show us too! This photo is also my favorite, color-wise. :)

  • Joy replied 11 years ago

    Your thoughts on the photo are such a treat! I wish I'd read them before putting an outfit together. You look lovely.

  • Aida replied 11 years ago

    Thanks very much Nicole, Ana, and Joy! :D

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