I would like to share some of my absolute favourite fashion paintings, some of these paintings have inspired countless outfits and my overall sense of aesthetics. I very much learned to appreciate femininity and female beauty and grace through these paintings. The work I’m about to post have always managed to inspire me in lots of different ways. So here are some of my all time favourite and stylish art work.
The iconic Flaming June by Sir Frederic Leighton
The gorgeous, the stunningly rich shade of amber. I absolutely love the colour, and I’m forever hunting for the exact shade of amber to recreate the look, lol.
Frederic Leighton again with ‘Memories’, or what I call the black *chadar painting.This reminds me of the era when chadar *(especially black chadar) on the head was seen as an imposing impression of of mystery, modesty and guarded pride as well as mourning in Sub-Continent. I’m not a hijabi, but I truly believe some faces look magnificently graceful with duppata on heads, they instantly light up. Benezir for one, wore her duppata almost like a crown. It was her crown.
Anyway, back to art. Frederic Leighton’s most painting presented ‘exotic’, Mediterranean looks. To me the image alludes to very Madonna like (Virgin Mary, not the singer) qualities. The modesty, the melancholy and the pensive look on the face suggest a moments of deep moments of deep bereavement. What always captures my attention everytime I look at the painting that despite the apparent sadness on the face, there’s a certain freshness on the face as well. Simplicity and freshness are my idea of beauty.
Ana de Mendoza, Princess of Éboli, by an unknown painter
The subject of this one is quite interesting. She lost an eye in a mock fencing duel when she was 14 and, despite having lost an eye, was considered one of Spain’s greatest beauties. I’ve read a bit about her and she seems to have led quite an interesting life.
I quite like these:
The accessories worn by the subjects are painted in great detail and give an idea of what was considered fashionable at the time in terms of jewellery and other accessories.
Queen Louise of Prussia (1804) by Joseph Grassi
Amalie von Schintling (1831) by Joseph Karl Stieler
How are these painting practically inspire you in real life? (example?)
The colours are gorgeous in the first three pictures. It is through art that I have found my love for pastel shades. There's had been occasion in the past where I have emailed paintings to my friends and family in Pakistan to say 'I want this colour'. When it comes to Pakistani clothes, I love wearing white, ivory, baby pink and baby blue and all pastel shades basically.
There's something so innately ladylike about these women. They are equally haughty and feminine at the same time.
lol, no no no, I don’t wear those kinds of clothes. I can never imagine myself. I don’t have the patience to carry all those frills, layering and bodice.
