Is Styling an Artform? Setting up your Lookbook…

Is fashion, Art?

For one thing, just look at paintings throughout history- we can easily tell how people lived just by their clothing and surroundings. Politics and world affairs also portrayed through people and what they wore. Everything was depicted through art, and that goes for fashion as well. Fashion is innately creative and therefore artistic as well!

So I like to think as individual styling as an extension of how one makes use of fashion, creatively…like an art form. And, just like artists we depict our styling depending on our mood, or situation. Interpreting and creating daily our own moods and historical moments, through our personal Lookbooks is also creating art; your personal form of expression.

**Check out my Pinterest Lookbook HERE.**

You are not invisible to the world…You’re a walking masterpiece- or, one in process! Everyday is a new day to create- start your art with styling! You are the master of your own creations. So here’s to starting your own canvas collection- or- Lookbook; Look at the palette available right in your closet, and set the mood!

Few tips for starting your Lookbook:

Choose the item that makes you most happy and that you love wearing- or something that inspires you (to get your creative juices going!).

**My precious Gustav Klimt scarf!** **And- the book that inspired it all: Art Nouveau, by Rosalind Ormiston & Michael Robinson**

Next, pair that up with a garment, or any accessory (one or many more), that you find complements it – or- find something that is completely on the opposite side of the color wheel!

Third, take a selfie of yourself doing a confident Vogue pose (yes- a Vogue pose. You’re creating an art piece remember?) Making it Vogue adds helps give the look character- and shows you can pull it off…or have a good laugh and stop taking yourself so seriously!

Fourth, start up a fashion folder, or pinterest board, or post on Instagram, or just keep it on your phone for reference- and there you have yourself a lookbook (or moodboard!!) You can do this exercise daily or once a week, or a month- you decide- you’re the creative genius.

Note: Guaranteed you’re gonna get positive responses! Once again: You’re not invisible.

Watch my fast speed clip- it might give you a good chuckle:)

If you do this exercise, please let me know or tag me on your social media: @lucybertoldi so I can see!

#Confessionoftheday: Like all creations, some of them have to get scrapped and brought right back to the drawing board…I honestly think this is the part of the process I enjoy most. Weird, I know.

On another note, I’ve been featured on IFB!!! I love when this happens!! For my article: Why Styling Challenges are Good For You…

This post was featured on Links à la Mode fashion roundup by Independent Fashion Bloggers.

Fashionphile Focus #7: When Fashion is Your Muse- Part 2

It would be impossible for me to speak about Fashion as my Muse without any reference to historical attire. As we all know, everything in fashion repeats itself; or comes back in some form or another.

Designers are always referring to the past when they create- And what a rich source of inspiration that can be! Alexander McQueen was notorious for doing this! He loved Victorian and Gothic fashion and it can be seen in his own designs.

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How does this even relate to us?? These designs are at the very top of creativity. These are a springboard for all other creatives to base themselves on and to produce garments that have a nuance or taste of these beauties. Consequently, they create tones or patterns or cuts that we can actually wear and keep looking trendy.

Hard to imagine? Not really-You already own some of these ‘historical fashion’ items! Let’s see; do you own…

Flair sleeve tops?

Bell sleeve tops?

Ruffled blouses?

Hoop skirts?

Long dresses or skirts?

Velvet pants or jacket?

Chunky gold accessories?

Platform shoes?

Ankle booties?

Ballerinas?

Button-down vests or jackets?

Turtlenecks?

High-collar shirts?

Gloves?

Lace (something or other)?

This list can go on and on!!

So it’s no wonder that designers need to rehash what has already been done and bring back with a twist of their own. From there, the rest of us will end up buying (or thrifting!) diluted forms of these creations. So why not take some of those incredible elements and bring them into our own styling?

Here are more designers getting inspired by history:

The genius, Galliano and his take:

Givenchy:

And- I could not write about this without making note of fashion’s all-time bad boy- who also plucked his creativity straight from the past…Here are some of Jean Paul Gauthier’s creations.

When his Exhibit came to Montreal, I just had to go! Here’s a mini clip of one magnificent ‘caged’ creation taken right out of the ‘pallier’ times.

And as for myself, I can’t really pinpoint which part of the history inspired my own two dresses (for when my daughters got married both in the same year- 3 months apart). But I know that the inspiration and idea of these two designs (I helped co-create) were definitely a spin-off from the past. What do you think?

STAY TUNED for the last part of this Fashion is My Muse Edition, for next week when I highlight my Historical Muses…You’re gonna love them!

Here’s a glimpse:

#Confessionoftheday: My go-to inspiration will forever be a fantastically dramatic sleeve…and I wonder where I got that inspiration from…past life for sure lol!

1-Source

2-Source

Oh and, So happy that my post: Fabulous Friday’s Linkup and Runway Talk was featured in IFB on Links a la Mode!!

Here are the featured bloggers chosen by IFB:

What is your body shape? by LaMoumous
Fabulous Friday’s Linkup and Runway Talk by Confessions of a Montreal Styling Diva, by Lucy Bertoldi
Best Advice for Working from Home by Bombshell Whims

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I love this blogging community so much! (Click on the Links below to see where I go read, comment and link up every week!)

MONDAY LINKS

Glass of Glam

Mutton Style

A Pocket Full of Polka Dots

Fashion Trends and Friends

TUESDAY LINKS:

Elegantly Dressed and Stylish

Walking in Memphis in High Heels and The Fashion Canvas

Shelbee on the Edge

Style Splash

Jenerally Informed

Not Dressed as Lamb

WEDNESDAY LINKS:

Jersey Girl Texan Heart

Living on Cloud Nine

Rosy Outlook

Seeking Sunshine

Straight A Style Blog

Granola and Grace

The Queen in Between

Coast to Coast

This Blonde Shopping Bag

Is This Mutton

Mix and Match Mama

Pastries Pumps and Pi

My Purple World

THURSDAY LINKS:

A Labour of Life

High Latitude Style

Doused in Pink and Curly Crafty Mom

Good Random Fun

Mummabstylish

Thursday Moda by Elegance & Mommyhood

My Bijou Life Online

North West Mountain Living

FRIDAY Links:

I also do a Link Party every Friday! Confessions of a Montreal Styling Diva

Sharing a Journey

Shelbee on the Edge

Nancy’s Fashion Style

Lizzie in Lace

Momfessionals.com

July 21, 2020 27

Is Covid Responsible for my Ever-Growing DIY Compulsion?

I believe so. As if I weren’t already obsessed enough with transformations, here I go with even more of an excuse: Time.

Time- that luxury we crave. The obsession of never having enough of it. Well, now that we are forced to making some…we start packing it all in. I’ve mentioned before how we gotta be careful with this feeling of always needing to be busy- READ that Article here.

This time however, I won’t be blaming myself for induging in compulsive behaviour, I’m just gonna blame it all on Covid. Or rather…my personal cure to stop-obsessing about Covid! How do I do that? I re-style, re-purpose, re-love, re-wear, re-fashion my clothes!

I’m getting a clearer vision of what it is I want to wear; what I need to wear; what I feel happy wearing- and then: Out come the scissors!

This time I’ve changed up an animal print, turtle-neck dress…into a Cardi! But there’s more! I’ve incorporated a scarf (just in case I want that option), and a turban (or headband) as well!

**This dress is cute…but a bit limiting (I’m too warm in it- it suffocates me!) So, layering is the last thing I want to do with this one…So: A-Chopping-it-will-go!**

**What a difference! And so many possibilities…**

**Can you see that the scarf is an integral part of it…**

**I linked the scarf through the two openings I slit…**

**Oh…and also made use of this turban…**

Wanna see how I worked this DIY and styled the whole look? You can watch the process here:

What have you been DIYing?

#Confessionoftheday: My compulsion is real. But it’s healthy, right?

This Week’s Favourite Fashion Styling Diva is: Maddy! Check her out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mady_robinson/

**No but Seriously…all her looks are this COOL!!**

Linking time!

I love reading other great blog posts- so I thought to include some really good ones for you to check out! They have linkup parties where you can link your own posts. Go check them out and show some love. Have a good one!

MONDAY LINKS

Glass of Glam

Mutton Style

A Pocket Full of Polka Dots

TUESDAY LINKS:

Elegantly Dressed and Stylish

Walking in Memphis in High Heels

The Fashion Canvas

Shelbee on the Edge

Style Splash

Myriad Musings

Fashion Fairydust

WEDNESDAY LINKS:

Jersey Girl Texan Heart

Living on Cloud Nine

Rosy Outlook

Seeking Sunshine

Straight A Style Blog

This Blonde Shopping Bag

THURSDAY LINKS:

Doused in Pink & Curly Crafty Mom

Good Random Fun

Mummabstylish

Thursday Moda by Elegance & Mommyhood

My Bijou Life Online

FRIDAY Links:

Shelbee on the Edge

Nancy’s Fashion Style

Lizzie in Lace

May 13, 2020 15

Let Mother’s Day Sparkle and Dazzle!

Do you love glitter and all that shines? Then I wish you could have joined me at the Katherine Karambelas sample sale that took place a few weeks ago! The place shone with the most precious sparkling temptations!

I can’t begin to tell you how crazy I am about this line of exquisite semi-precious jewelry. Every piece is a true work of art- seriously. The jewelry is created using precious and semi-precious stones and metals, as well as, Swarovski crystals. The epitome of chic, and, all meticulously hand-made. Incredibly fashionable and suitable for women of all ages and styles, well-priced and original…the Katherine Karambelas line is perfect for us, Darlings:)

There’s much that I admire and adore about this brand. Besides, beauty, quality, originality, and authenticity, for me, the fact that Katherine, a Montreal designer of Greek origin, works alongside her three daughters, heading, creating and developing a business for women, by women- is a true heartwarming inspiration. A wonderful mother and daughters’ story…

I can’t fathom anything more appropriate for Mother’s Day! Thinking of offering something splendid for this wonderful day?

So…Without further ado, let me whet your appetite- drum roll please!

Here I am with two of the beautiful and talented Karambelas sisters: Nektaria and Faith.

A little bubbly and more sparkles…

Here’s one of the pieces I purchased.

This is what it looks like on me..

And I just couldn’t resist this piece!!

And one more! Haven’t worn this one yet but with the warm sunny weather ahead- and vacation time; I can see myself wearing this one all summer long.

So these were my beautiful purchases!

And just when I thought I’d had my heart’s content…earlier this week I was surprised with this arrival in the mail! Thank you so much Katherine Karambelas. I’m a true KKit Girl now!

Magical!

Katherine Karambelas also takes special orders to create unique pieces for clients. Here are two necklaces in Swarovski created just for me. I wear these all the time, dressed up or casual…

And this one in darker stones…

Mother’s Day is almost here! Check out Katherine Karambelas’ splendid creations here at:

katherinekarambelas.com

Instagram @katherinekarambelas

May 9, 2019 0

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