Great discussion! How about, in the realm of fashion, designers that wear very simple clothes themselves? The problem I had with you instructor's view as presented is that it seems to be prescriptive - if your outer style does not match your artwork you are somehow inauthentic or don't really have style. Who is to say there is only one way a style must present itself and cannot contain contradiction?

Denise's and Rachylou's comments about how current artists are more about branding than in the past is very relevant. Do the way the artists presents in the world have to seem authentic to the audience based on their preconceived ideas about their artistic styles? Shouldn't it be more about the integrated way the artist approaches the world, as Gaylene suggests? And who is to say how that will look?

Shevia's comment reminded me of my own recent thread about how fashion designers are often dressed quite simply in black, while their creations are made for runway gawking. I think the question as it relates to art is whether you can separate it from the artist. Or put another way, is the artist more than the sum of her arts?

hahahah, Una -- very punny.....BTW, I also found your comment on another thread about being able to execute and judge at the same time a special quality of artists (those were not your exact words, but it was an idea that interested me. I do think it can be cultivated.)

Anyway.....my thought about this is....for artists, could it work the opposite way? I.e. could you deduce from the style of your art what your style (in a fashion sense) ought to be (if you want to stay consistent.)

Now, I am not sure that this is a worthy goal in the first place. But supposing it were, going backwards from my art, there are three qualities that many people remark on: Formal play and particularly a penchant for juxtaposition; clarity; honesty. (a problematic category, I know, but for the sake of argument we will let it stand.) So, how would those translate into fashion? Juxtaposition I can see (but do I do it? I don't think as consistenly as I do in my art). But what would the others look like?

I agree with Elisabeth's instructor, but I didn't recognize it
until recently. I work in architecture and in visual art and it has been
a long cumulative noticing my decisions over time that my own style
has become clear to me. But most projects are collaborative, so there's
always other influences, reflecting what Cocolion said above.

Clothing is always influenced by the maker - I think "my style" would show
through much more if I were making my own clothes (and patterns?),
rather than choosing what to purchase. But it would take a lot of mastery of clothing design to get to a clear expression of style.

"I do think you can cultivate the ability of having style, but it may
never be the same as someone who has that skill innately. They have a
true gift. They are our icons and inspiration."

I definitely agree with that above quote. I know what I like when I see it, but I do not have the gift to come up with designs on my own. I'm glad others have that gift to inspire the rest of us.

That said, when I was styling our new bathroom I found many comparisons between the choices I made in design and the clothes I choose to wear. Similar colors, simple lines, zero flowers, graphic patters and stripes, leaning towards masculine with with just enough feminine touches. I didn't expect it to line up with closet as much as it did.

Accidental Icon says 'style is really about the construction of a self. You are telling a story about yourself through the clothes, the haircut, the accessories that you wear, the objects you surround yourself with, the places you go to, the time you live in and the geography of where you live.'

If this is true, then we all have style. It just mightn't be 'good', whatever that means. The devil is in the definitions.

I'm nodding along with Shevia, again. Look at what designers wear to their shows on my pinboard. Contradiction is a style:

http://www.pinterest.com/youlo.....ners-wear/

Una, that is sooooo fabulous you had Big Eyes in your nursery!

p.s. Designers dress *terrible*... hehe

p.p.s. But there is such a thing as going too far afield. Howard Stern - all that leather and long hair. Anybody ever see his house, *like,* in Architectural Digest? Full of chintz! Too too disturbing.