Please Vote for Your Favorite Inspiration That Rocks Outfit!

Please vote for One of Five Inspiration That Rocks Outfits

Polling Station is located on the right side bar

Polls Close Monday March 21st at Midnight

The owner of the image used to style the winning outfit will receive a Hand Tatted Vintage Snowflake Necklace (made by my Mom, Nancy, 35 years ago)
Winner to be announced Tuesday March 22nd

Recap

Five Outfits were Styled from Five Reader Submitted Images of a Rock, Mineral, or Fossil 
The image for each style was my choice from a pool of submissions

The challenge was to capture the characteristics of the Rock in an outfit styled from my personal closet.  I occasionally used background in my images to capture characteristics like Color, Shine, Sparkle and Geometric Shapes.

Below is a short recap, with images, and a link to the Full Post for each Outfit.  

Since each outfit posed a set of unique circumstances, the best way to vote would be to read the entire Post for each.  However, I realize that's not possible. I've attempted to capture this information in a short recap I hope will help in deciding your favorite. 

 

 Style #1 - Snowflake Obsidian - Will Not Count

View Full Post HERE

Style #2 - Opal - Submitted by Saskia

View Full Post HERE

RECAP: I was attracted most to the gorgeous sparkling Blues and Greens in Saskia's Opal image. I figured out how to wear the Sea Drift Dress as a Skirt. I accomplished my goal to use background that would provide missing sparkle in the outfit. I love how well the Print in Anthro Spotlights Tank met the need for all the colors in the Opal.

COMMENTS:  I used a small amount of Inspiration along with a heavy load of Logic. This outfit took the most time to work through because of the Dress as a Skirt challenge.  I don't think this is an everyday Style that the average woman would wear.



Saskia's image of Opal





 My Son Camden captured the Opal Sparkle using the Water of the Killer Kern River

Anthro's Spotlights Tank captures the colors of the Opal



Style #3 - Bismuth - Submitted by Keiko of Keiko's TanPoPo

View Full Post HERE

RECAP: Keiko didn't know the identity of the Mineral in the Image. These are lab grown Bismuth Crystals. The credit goes to co-workers Heidi and Andrew for this identification.  This outfit was completely inspired in under 30 minutes. I used ruching on the skirt and shoes to represent the column like crystals. Anthro's Building Blocks Top was the most inspired piece for this entire series.

COMMENTS: I truly felt the Magic of Inspiration take over for this outfit.  I was astounded at how easily I pulled this one together. This outfit is very wearable as an everyday outfit.  Photo day was overcast and cloudy. 



Keiko's Photo of Lab Grown Bismuth Crystals
Check out the columns that resemble winding stairs, pillars, collapsing roofs and twisting picture frames
I was entranced by this image for 15 minutes



Anthro's Building Blocks Top captures Geometric Shapes and Colors



Mirrored Sculpture in Background Captures
Shine Characteristic. Note Column like Ruching on Skirt and Shoes.




Style #4 - Ammolite - Submitted by JG of Stuff Jewish Girls Like

View Full Post HERE

RECAP: JG sent an image that was a partial chunk of a Fossilized Ammonite that was encased in the Gemstone Ammolite.  Heidi and I made several guesses at the ID, but finally had to submit.  JG gave me the name of this rare gemstone. The Waffle Weave Dress and Dissolving Spectrum Cardi captured the texture and colors of this gemstone encased Fossil. I used water for the 2nd time as background to capture shine and translucency.

COMMENTS: I originally styled an outfit from pure logic. It felt like a FAKE.  I spent 2 days recapping the previous styles.  Where had I gone wrong?  I learned you can't force Inspiration.  It can be difficult to find balance for Inspiration and Logic.




JG's image of a Partial Piece of Fossilized Ammonite
encased in the Gemstone Ammolite

 


The Blocky texture of Anthro's Waffle Weave Dress strongly
resembles the lower portion of JG's Ammolite


Ammolite gemstone colors are represented in Anthro's Dissolved Spectrum Cardi

 



Style #5 - Fossilized Wood - Submitted by Karen M.
View Full Post HERE

RECAP:  I attempted to style an outfit from another image that Karen sent me.  I couldn't get the color combination right.  I chose the Fossilized Wood as back-up. I received both the Necklace and the Skirt in the mail from Anthro.  These items were ordered the previous week. When I opened the Anthro delivery I recognized the Tour De Jewels Necklace as my inspired item for the outfit. The Washi Wrap Skirt was also in the box. The top was a sticking point.  I spent at least an hour with 3 different tops attempting to find a coordinating sweater that also worked with the colors of the Fossilized Tree.  I finally settled on the M and M top in Gray.

COMMENTS: Karen is a Reader from my Hometown of Bakersfield CA.  I have never met her. On photo day, I was completely mortified when my Boss and a Fellow Employee stopped  to say hi on the Kern River Weir where I was taking photos. 



Karen's Fossilized Wood Photo



Anthro's Tour De Jewels captures not only the
Flower-Like Detail in the Center of the Fossil
but also the concentric age rings 



I used solid items to capture the Orange, White, and Grays
The Rugged Malted Barley Boots represent the Brown outer ring - Tree Bark?



Style #6 - Labradorite - Submitted by Leana K

View Full Post HERE

RECAP: Two weeks prior to choosing this Mineral I had noticed a strong resemblance between the pleats on Anthro's Draped Denim Dress and the elongated crystal plains that are clearly seen under Labradorescence in the photo of  Labradorite.  This was an easy to identify mineral. I used another item from my closet that had been worn only one other time is 10 months.  Anthro's Parted Petals Cardi captures several shades of Blue.  I used a Vintage Mazer Bros. jewelry set to capture the translucency of the Labradorite.  I had not planned to used background to capture any characteristics, but when I recognized similar Elongated Blue objects in an Oilfield Display, I took the opportunity.

COMMENTS:  I expected this to become easier with each inspired outfit.  That is not the case.  There were times when everything fell into place and luck was on my side.  Other times I wasn't in the right mind to be inspired, or my lack of the right item felt like my my closet worked against me.  I learned to halt what I was doing when I became stressed out by the process. 




Leana's Photo of Labradorite

 





Oilfield Equipment Display at the Kern County Museum captures the Elongated Blue Crystals Seen in Labradorite



I want to thank everyone that has supported this Inspiration That Rocks Challenge.  Without your images and comments I would have never made this Series of Posts a success.

Most of all, Thank You for Your Encouraging Words! 

I had no idea when I started this challenge, where it would lead.  Each outfit posed a unique set of stying difficulties. It was more challenging and even more rewarding than Styling the Yellow Cloud Dress for Fall. See the Recap HERE.  

I discovered that I need to practice using inspiration. Sometimes it comes easily and other times I get nothing.  I learned that I can't force inspiration.  For the first time since I started this blog, I learned to stop and take a time out when I became upset or stressed. I was able to look back at how I used both inspiration and logic to make styling work for me. I enjoyed sharing my experience with all of you. 

Please don't forget to vote! 

I will be back Tuesday to announce the Winner!

Anthro Sister Love, Laura (lauramartinsemail@yahoo.com)