Cloud of Doubt

Several months ago, I went to a gallery opening...

The atmosphere is electric; the crowd is great... the art is even better! I’m in my element. An acquaintance turns to me and says “Emily! Meet (let’s call her Olivia)” “Olivia! This is Emily. She has a great blog about art and fashion.” Icebreaker! I’m digging it. Olivia raises her eyebrows ever so slightly: “Oh my. Art annnnd fashion?” Her eyebrows rise up a notch. “I’d never dare. Aren’t you scared to lose credibility? I mean, we all like fashion and makeup, but to say it out loud is... well...” She sips her wine and bats her eyelashes. I smile and think Whatever, I rock. At the time, I don’t remember being particularly frazzled by this statement, but it’s the kind of comment that slowly grows until it forms a small cloud of self doubt...

I suppose I thought that coming out in the open might create an interesting discussion. Am I the only one that feels this way? And while I’m at it, you know what? I like Macklemore’s song Thrift Shop. I don’t care what people say! It’s catchy and hilarious. And my toenails are blue. And I buy more art than I have wall space. And I also buy sandals, like this epic pair from Zara:

Suck it Olivia.

 

An Artsy Fartsy Halloween

When it comes to Halloween, women tend to go down the sexy route. We don’t dress up as cats, we go as sexy pussy cats. Sexy witches! Sexy angels! Bad, bad cops, wink wink… This year, let's do something innovative! My friend Misha once rocked the coolest costume EVER when she dressed in bubblegum pink with a sneaker tied to her head… she was Gum under a shoe! The following year, she went as a Tornado. Animals and small objects were affixed to her clothes with string. She’d twirl around the room and they'd fly out. As you can imagine, it turned out to be quite a dangerous (and tangly) costume...

Here are a few art history related costumes I found on the web: LOVE them! Searching for simpler ideas? How about dressing up as Andy Warhol or Salvador Dali?

1. René Magritte’s Son of a Man a simple yet high impact costume! / 2. Roy Lichtenstein, Girl with Hair Ribbon. Now this takes commitment and a steady hand! / 3. Here is a couple going as Grant Wood’s American Gothic... if they’d only lose the smile, it’d be perfect! / 4. Jan Vermeer’s Girl with the Pearl Earring: If Scarlett Johansson can pull it off, so can you! / 5. Strike the pose! I’m impressed by this recreation of Banksy’s Flower Chucker... it reminds me of Nick Stern’s photographs... / 6. Add flowers and a unibrow, and there you have it: you’re Frida Kahlo!

 

Special shout out to my girl MC: Happy Birthday!!!