Seasonal Skinny Wk 5: Kaleidoscope, Cobalt Blue & Orange

Burgundy Jeans, Orange Tee, Cobalt Blue Cardigan | Petite Silver Vixen

Quite often inspiration is right in front of you.  So close that you can’t see it because it’s right under your nose.  It bides its time, waiting for you to see it.  Suddenly, you catch its eye, the penny drops and BOOM, you think;

“That’s been hiding in plain sight all along.  Why didn’t I see it?”

And that’s exactly what happened with the idea behind this week’s Seasonal Skinny Style Challenge.

On my desk, I have the 2015 Wildlife Photographer of the Year calendar.  I sometimes change around the photos that go with the individual months and last month, I had August’s photograph next to September.  Why?  Well, simply because it felt more of a September photo than an August photo. I know, there’s absolutely no logic in my choices sometimes!


And here it is.  Doesn’t it look like a modern stained-glass window?  But it’s not glass.

The photo is called Kaleidoscope and was a finalist in last year’s competition.  It’s by Bernardo Cesare, who is a Professor of Petrology at the University of Padova in Italy.  I’d not heard of Petrology before, and no, it’s nothing to do with petrol! Petrology derives from the Greek work ‘petra’, meaning rock and it’s the branch of geology that studies rock and minerals.

I’ll give you the blurb that goes with the photograph as it explains it much better than I could, being somewhat deficient in petrology knowledge.

“A geological event in Kerala, India, half a billion years ago, at extreme heat deep within the continental crust, gave rise to this crystal formation.  The black mineral, like frames in a stained-glass window, is graphite, traversing panels of quartz and feldspar.”

I present to you my interpretation of Professor Cesare’s photograph.

“A neurological event in London, United Kingdom, half a week ago, at extreme concentration within the cerebral cortex, gave rise to this sartorial formation.  The black accessories, like frames in a stained-glass window, are leather, suede and beads, traversing panels of cobalt blue and orange.”

Clever, huh?

Burgundy Jeans, Orange Tee, Cobalt Blue Cardigan | Petite Silver Vixen

Burgundy Jeans, Orange Tee, Cobalt Blue Cardigan | Petite Silver Vixen

How did this neurological event occur?  I was pondering the photograph one evening last week to give my eyes a break from my laptop screen and saw the deep red in the top left hand corner.  It clicked that it was very similar to my Autumn Seasonal Skinny.

I knew I had a blue cardigan, then I remembered I had an orange t-shirt and by now the synapses of my brain were in overdrive. I thought, oooh, the accessories could be black, like the graphite and before I knew it, I was racing upstairs to put everything together!  Just as in the photograph, I love the bold, colour blocks, that are broken up by the black.

Cobalt blue and orange are a classic combination but I never thought they would also go so well with marsala (fancy name for burgundy)!  I’ve an outfit that totally fits October; the orange and marsala are such Autumnal colours and the vivid blue is synonymous with the wonderful blue skies we’ve been having the past couple of weeks.

Burgundy Jeans, Orange Tee, Cobalt Blue Cardigan | Petite Silver Vixen

My delicate waterfall necklace couldn’t sit more comfortably in the V of the t-shirt if it tried and although the necklace and bracelet cuff look like a matching set, they were actually bought separately but because they are similar in style, usually end up being worn together. 

Black Waterfall Necklace & Cobalt Cardigan  | Petite Silver Vixen

Close up of Black Bead Cuff & Cobalt Cardigan  | Petite Silver Vixen

Black Fringe Suede Bag  | Petite Silver Vixen

And my new Ghillies are back out on display for a second time having worn them in my Summer Clothes in Autumn post.

I love how the laces criss cross which tie in with the graphite criss crossing in the photograph.

Burgundy Jeans, Side view of Topshop Kirk Ghillies | Petite Silver Vixen

And the back view showing the zip detail making them easy to slip on and off.

Burgundy Jeans, Back view of Topshop Kirk Ghillies | Petite Silver Vixen

Skinny Jeans (preloved e-bay)

Orange T-shirt (old)

D Perks Cobalt Blue Cardigan SS15

Topshop Kirk Ghillie Shoes

Joythestore Suede Fringe Bag.  In store but not currently on their website.  Comes in 4 other colours – navy, red, caramel and a purply pink.

Waterfall Necklace and Black Beaded Cuff from the Emporium of I Forget!

Burgundy Jeans, Orange Tee, Cobalt Blue Cardigan | Petite Silver Vixen

If you like Professor Cesare’s photograph, check out his website MicROCKScopica, where you can find more of his extraordinary images AND even buy his work.

And the winning entries in this year’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year can be seen in the annual exhibition at The Natural History Museum, running from 16th October – 10th April 2016.  It’s one of the most fabulous photographic exhibitions and TallBrownFox and I have gone every year for about the past 6 or 7 years.  If you can’t get to London, don’t worry, it usually goes on tour around the country and then internationally.  Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Do you draw inspiration from nature, art or photography?  Let me know in the comments below, I’d love to hear.

Linking with / High Latitude Style  /  How I Styled It  /  Throwback Thursday  /  Fashion Should Be Fun  /  Fabulous Friday  /  FlashBack Fashion Fridays  /  Weekend Blog Hop  /  Weekend Wear  /

25 Comments

  1. October 8, 2015 / 6:23 pm

    Such a pretty photo. It's amazing where inspiration can come from. You look great! Still loving those shoes on you.

    Amy Ann
    Straight A Style

    • October 9, 2015 / 8:28 pm

      If you're open to receive it, it's extraordinary where it does come from! You'll probably get bored of seeing these shoes in a couple of months!

  2. October 8, 2015 / 8:21 pm

    I love your palette and this inspiration for it!
    I am often 'searching' for unusual colour and/or pattern combinations and it amazes me where the inspiration comes form sometimes.
    I love how the colours shouldn't work but just do….and how you made your own black brushstroke "borders" with your accessories.
    Just brilliant.
    XXX
    Samantha
    Fake Fabulous

    • October 9, 2015 / 8:33 pm

      It's a great palette, isn't it? And quite unexpected. And I know what you mean; on paper you'd think, no, they won't go but in reality they do! As they're all bold, strong colours within the same tone, it works. Sometimes we need to throw out what we think is familiar and right and just look at nature where all kinds of colours sit together.

    • October 9, 2015 / 8:37 pm

      You're welcome Bernado. I'm pleased you found my post about it. It really is a stunning photograph. I was going to get in touch to say I'd done a post based on it but you beat me to it. I hope you like my interpretation.

  3. October 9, 2015 / 6:09 pm

    Yet another winning outfit Jacqueline. Your inspiration is novel and your translation is perfect. The orange and blue just sing together and also sit so well with the burgundy – well done. The fringed bag and shoes are also a marriage made in heaven. I have a new fringed bag waiting in the wings for it's debut. Now I've seen yours I must get on with that. Great post xxx

    • October 9, 2015 / 8:35 pm

      Thanks Anna. That's so kind you think my translation is perfect. As you work so closely with artists and colour and like me, love to wear different colours together, that's a real compliment. Yes, do get on with it!! Ha, ha, I want to see your fringed bag!

  4. October 10, 2015 / 5:13 am

    Thanks 4 linking up to Top of the World Style. I love the color combination and the shoes are awesome. Great find

  5. October 10, 2015 / 6:07 pm

    Hahaha! I was not shocked to find out that your cerebral event was the feature article in my "Sartorial Geological Cerebral Events" newsletter this month. I love all your colours together, like stained glass and rocks all rolled into one, but much, much better. I love how all the stringy, dangle bits from your necklace, bracelet, bag and shoes tie together. And I love how you change the pages of your calendar! Thank you for this post.

    • October 11, 2015 / 5:38 pm

      I'm sooo glad you received your copy of "Sartorial Geological Cerebral Events" newsletter this month. I was so humbled to be the feature article – a true accolade. It was very fortuitous that all my dangly bits co-incided in this post! Ha, ha, I'm always changing the photos – I'm contrary like that!

    • October 11, 2015 / 5:30 pm

      After this, I'll definitely be using art as an inspiration point more.

  6. October 11, 2015 / 5:25 am

    That is such a beautiful photo, even more so reading the description! Nature is so stunning.

    I like your inspired outfit too! I've worn orange with burgundy, and blue with burgundy, and orange with blue, but never thought to pair the three together! I will have to keep this in mind for the next time it's cool enough to wear my burgundy pants!

    Away From The Blue Blog

    • October 11, 2015 / 5:31 pm

      Nature is incredible. I was the same as you: I'd done them separately in various combos but never all three together and it's great finding out they do work.

  7. October 11, 2015 / 9:26 am

    You are so right, sometimes we can't see something in spite of (or exactly because of) it being just under our nose. What a beautiful inspiration! All those bright contrasting colours create a stunning image! What an idea to use them in your outfit! I love such vibrant combinations and I think if one gets inspiration from nature it will always work!

    • October 11, 2015 / 5:32 pm

      Exactly Olga, nature is such a great starting point and from there, who knew an outfit would grow!

  8. October 11, 2015 / 4:35 pm

    Loving the color mixing. I would never think to wear these colors together, but I'm loving the look. Great inspiration, and great fringe bag! Thank your for joining the Weekend Wear link up!
    Rachael
    http://www.threadsforthomasblog.com

    • October 11, 2015 / 5:33 pm

      The fringe bag is definitely earning it's keep! Thank you for the kind words.

    • October 16, 2015 / 9:35 pm

      Thanks Alice, the colours just lift the mood and the purse is just enough of a nod to a current trend.

  9. October 15, 2015 / 6:27 pm

    I love vivid and fun color combinations like this! It is good to keep our minds open to inspiration anywhere and everywhere. Thanks for linking up with Fabulous Friday!

    Jennie – A Pocketful of Polka Dots

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