Aspens, Northern New Mexico, by Ansel Adams
1958, gelatin silver print
2016 is the centennial of the National Park Service, and I've thought so much about our public lands over the last few months. I'm lucky to have been able to visit a number of our national parks over my lifetime (Shenandoah was my first, and Congaree--one of the least visited NPs in America--is in my state and I go every year!), and my friend S. has made a life goal of visiting every national park in America. I'm running a half marathon (!) at a national park in September, god willing and the creek don't rise. And this year's summer reading theme at work is based around the national parks, to tie into the centennial celebration. When I think of the national parks, and what beauty they hold and how they look...well, no one's ever captured it better than Ansel Adams. This week's SIA inspiration is one of his photographs, taken of aspen trees in northern New Mexico (you probably already gleaned that from the title of the photograph). If you don't know who Ansel Adams is, it's impossible for me to adequately explain who he was and the kind of influence he had on the state of American photography, but do check out the Google image search results for him. That should help.
Please email me your photos of outfits inspired by this week's SIA by Monday, January 25th. Enjoy!
Glasses: Prada (ooh la la) | Necklace: gift from my parents | Dress: Anthropologie | Boots: Belk | Lips: NARS Funny Face
Okay, so a few notes on the things I'm wearing.
First of all, I have new glasses! I smudged them within five minutes of wearing them, which is par for the course for me. I feel very modern Mad Men in them. Trying on glasses is probably the only opportunity I'll ever have to wear things by the likes of Tom Ford and Prada.
Second, this dress was a Christmas gift from me to me, wrapped by my mom because I'm weird and like to buy things for myself for Christmas and then unwrap them. I stalked the green version of this dress online for a while but it was ridiculously expensive and I resigned myself to the fact that I would never have it. I ended up in Charlotte to get a new Mac power cable, and I swung by Anthro while I was at the mall and they had this colour version of the dress--and it was $40! WORTH IT.
Three--that pink thing on my arm is not some cool new thing. (If it is will someone please tell me so I know?) Over the weekend I went for a walk with my mom and on the way back I caught a glimpse of our neighbour's horse with her leg through the fence. We went down into her field to try and help her, and of course she bit me. Like the took a big old chunk of my arm. Nerves, definitely, but I wasn't too pleased. (We ultimately got her separated from the fence, thanks to a sharp pair of wire cutters.) I iced it but it actually turned slightly green--and I don't bruise, so greenish is bad for me--and it's extremely tender, sore, and slightly hard. I read online that KT tape sometimes helps with swelling and soreness, so I swung by the Cardiganland sports place and picked up a roll. So far, it's at the least stabilized the area and it doesn't hurt as much, so that's nice! And now I have a roll of KT tape in case (for when?) I get hurt running. Because let's be honest, when you run, it's bound to happen.
Stressed Out by Layla Holzer
Ink & pastel on paper, 2015
This week's Style Imitating Art inspiration is compliments of an illustrated interview with Layla Holzer (click the title of the artwork to see the interview--it's really neat!). This is the perfect time for a piece like this: it looks holiday-y, but it's also all about that end-of-year stress so many of us encounter. I'm stressed right now about a billion different things, but it's a tempest in a teapot (see tiny cyclone) compared to so many other people. And I feel lucky to have so many things that are good in my life.
And one of those good things is SIA! Send your photos inspired by this piece to Salazar by Monday, December 14th to be included, and she will post the roundup on Tuesday!
