Monday 22 October 2012

Style Imitates Art And A Wake-Up Call


 You know me, any day's an excuse for dressing up and a miserable Monday is no exception! 


Inspired by my new blog crush, Pao from Project Minima, I decided to join in & link up with the Style Imitating Art  challenge and recreate my own version of this piece, "South Wind, Clear Sky" a wood block print by Katsushika Hokusai from 1830.


The lovely Melanie (currently missing in action) sent me this Cheongsan back in the Summer. The kimono behind me is one of many given to Jon by adoring Japanese fans back in his band days when he spent several months touring the country. The bling is, as usual, a mix of second-hand junk and Indian silver haggled for in markets throughout the Sub-Continent.


The River Island platforms were £1.50 from a car boot sale in August and the tights were a Xmas present, freshly opened today.




What am I holding? It's what makes me erupt out of bed like a volcano every morning! Another of Jon's souvenirs and possibly the kitschest alarm clock in the world. If you can speak Japanese I'd love to know what Winnie's yelling. He's been waking me for over 20 years and I still haven't a clue what he's on about.




I'm off to pour my first glass of wine in a fortnight, I hope it doesn't go straight to my head!

See you soon.

67 comments:

  1. I loved Winnie the Pooh when I was wee! I don't speak Japanese so i have no idea what he'll be on about.

    gorgeous shoes/wedges & enjoy that glass of wine!!! :-)
    xo

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  2. Fabulous dress for a miserable day!
    Dx

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  3. Yay! Vino!
    How cute is that alarm clock? What a great way to start the day.
    Loving you in that cheongsam - looking amazing, m'dear.
    Z xx

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  4. I am very happy you are feeling better and I hope that the wine tastes better then ever having been without for so long xxx You look amazing in that dress.

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  5. First wine in a fortnight?? Ooh sounds like you have been seriously following doctors orders! that cheongsam is beautiful on you, I've always loved them.xx.

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  6. The winnie of the pooh clock is totally throwing me off!!! How strange is that, I do hope someone can tell you what he's saying! Your lucious red kimono dress is a rich interpretation of the Style Imitating Art challenge. You nailed it! I also swear that you have the sexiest shoe collection of anyone I know! These black wedges with the stringy bits are another killer pair!

    Enjoy the wine, easy there lil lady :) I miss you!
    Tonsoflove!!!

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  7. Winnie the Pooh is cool! He is great. Must be lovely to be waken up by him.
    That dress is gorgeous and you look so good in it. But I am asking myself if there is anything that you don't look good in?
    Love the shoes. :)
    xxx

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  8. Hooray for colour and kitsch-tastic blog posts like yours and Krista's on a grey day.
    The dress fits like a glove and those shoes could make any outfit.look sexy (maybe not fleece joggers)
    We will all be checking to find out what Pooh is saying.
    I really hope the wine provides the tonic you need, you must be dying to get it down you.

    Lucy x

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  9. really stunning
    xx the cookies
    share the feeling
    samecookiesdifferent.blogspot.com
    visit <3

    have a great start into the week!

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  10. So happy to see that Pooh Bear-san is getting you up and looking gorgeous!
    Connie*

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  11. I wonder what the hell he's saying. I meant it join in with this but forgot - oh well, next time. I love your cheongsam. You match the print perfectly. I love Hokusai - have you seen his erotic work though?! You look gorgeous as ever xxx

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  12. A toast to you, dear Vix! Enjoy your wine. I hope someone can tell you what Winnie is saying. I am curious too :) Excellent shoes as well!

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  13. I do love a cheongsam, I'm still searching for one big enough for me, I live in hope. You look beautiful, it's hard to believe you've been poorly. Enjoy the vino. X

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  14. hee hee, Fantabulous Vix! Way to go volcano, man. I love it with the screen behind you and the kimono and the color tights and shoes. Of course the Japanese speaking alarm clock takes it beyond beyond. I remember the dress from Melanie's. You look divine in it too.

    Did you link up to Style Imitates Art at http://14shadesofgrey.wordpress.com/
    Also you send your link to her email address and a jpg of your interpretation. She still hasn't posted yet.

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  15. Yay, you joined in!! You look beautiful!
    I think he's saying: "Yummy, yummy, honey in my tummy!"
    I used to have one those dresses in red too, but I got rid of it as I didn't wear it enough and needed to clear space!! Pity as it was very nice!

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  16. Great idea.
    theres an app for the iphone and android which translates spoken japanese have a look for it, i think it's free.

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  17. Great idea.
    theres an app for the iphone and android which translates spoken japanese have a look for it, i think it's free.

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  18. Enjoy a medicinal glass of wine! Haven't got a clue what Winnie's saying - sounds a bit like a rag & bone man (remember them?!)

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  19. What a cool idea, I love how you've interpreted it. xx

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  20. fun alarm clock ...

    oh, i just recognized that your facial expression on the photo of you wearing the fab cape is almost the same as in the painting of you ...

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  21. Always fabulous, my dear Vix. YOu are art!!!
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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  22. You are a piece of art, Vix! How cool is the Japanese Pooh :)

    xoxo

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  23. Looking beautiful as ever.
    This is great idea for a post, I might try it sometime :)
    I wish my alarm clock was as cute. I just use my phone which is currently set a really annoying alarm that forces me out of bed!

    le fresne x

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  24. you look amazing in that gorgeous red cheongsam!!
    Love the Winnie clock. I have one with dancing mexican cacti that sing in spanish!

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  25. You have the perfect figure for that dress.
    I bought a blue one when I went to Hong Kong but never wore it as it didn't suit me.
    Enjoy your wine.
    Jane X

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  26. Amazing alarm clock! Puts my bog standard phone alarm to shame. Do let us know if you find out what he's saying! x

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  27. The perfect bride! I grew up in Vancouver and every Chinese bride had a white "western" dress and a red cheongsam for the after party.

    I had an ice-blue chongsam for my second wedding dress. Didn't go over well with my Scottish family and the husbands Northern English family. We loved it, though.

    Guess growing up here changed my ideas of what's appropriate. My Dad in his kilt never batted an eyebrow. And he was invited to a lot of weddings in Chinatown and the Italian community!

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  28. Are you drunk yet? You'll be a cheap date tonight, tipsy after a glass! You must be feeling better to fancy some wine, so that's good news.
    You look so stunning in that red cheongsam from Melanie, and the kimono is gorgeous.
    I wonder if Pooh is saying something filthy in Japanese? I could make some suggestions but I don't want to appear vulgar. You know, because I'm such a lady, ha! xxxxxx

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  29. You look stunning in your red China girl dress, I bought a similar one in London and it comes out yesterday at my parents house!! I really can't believe that you are wearing the same dress I was planning to wear!!Great minds think alike!The kimono in the background is amazing too, I love the print so much and the optical effect and obviously I like your alarm clock too! I hope that Winnie is not saying something filthy as Curtise suggests!
    Love xxxxxx

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  30. Loving the fact that you are woken by a Japanese shouting Pooh every morning and you have no idea what he says! Mind you, I know all the the words to 'La Bamba' (was a fave film/soundtrack of mine as a kid) and have no idea what thats about either! ;)

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  31. O,I hope the wine DID go straight to your head and make you giggle like a loon!
    Well,I never did see an alrm clock like that! Having Winnie the Poo yelling at me firt thing makes my skin crawl just a little bit...!!! I don't think it would have lasted long in our house!
    You look HOT as FIRE in that cheong sam!!! PHWOAR! I've always fancied one,but never managed to find one big enough.I don't think it would suti me anyways!
    Fun challenge,and you've managed it very classily!HURRAH!
    Love Helga xxxXXXxxx

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  32. I love Pao too and must see what all this is about!! You also look like the wonderful work of art on your side bar, the portrait of you!!! I listened to Winnie the Pooh, poor dear, and also noticed you have other videos to watch (when I have time). Hurray. Enjoy your drink, darling. You deserve it.

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  33. You are spectacular in that gloriarse cheongsam, amor! Love that mental Winnie the Pooh and the lovely kimono too - what is it about kimonos that makes them feel so exotic, even in a simple pattern like this? I love this idea - I'm off to explore Pao immediately!

    Love you more than sushi! Sarah xxx

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  34. Savor the wine. And I love your take on Style imitating art.

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  35. Love the blue tights with black wedges! Pretty cool alarm that still works after 20 years...love Winnie & enjoy that glass!

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  36. You're right! That's got to be the kitschest alarm clock ever, especially when you can hear all those gears running as well when it goes off. Mechanical kitsch is the height of kitsch for sure.

    Congrats on re-entering the land of the living! It's a feeling of being rather small if you know what I mean.

    Looking stunning as always. Hope you had a wonderful evening. :)

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  37. That alarm clock is fab! I'd love to wake up to that instead of my annoying screecher. I hope someone can enlighten you on what Pooh is saying!

    Looking good in that cheongsam!

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  38. Vix, your style is truly artistic. You're an original.

    There's something about Winnie speaking Japanese that makes me smile :).

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  39. Nicely done interpreting the artwork! That clock is crazy. Quite amazing that you've had it for 20 years. I just had my old alarm clock die on me last month but I can't bring myself to toss it so I keep getting confused by looking at the wrong time!

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  40. Absolutely love this look! Gorgeous!

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  41. I love everything in this post. The marriage of clothing, music and art is my favorite form of culture. Kimonos and "chinadresses" - so beautiful. Chinadresses are unfortunately always (yes always) ridiculously short on me, but on you, perfect!

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  42. cute alarm clock! That dress is something you wear very well, looks stunning x

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  43. What a mad alarm clock, reminds me of the Mosque ones from the middle east that wake you up with a muezzin wail. You look very Suzy Wong in your gorgeous cheongsam, red is so your colour. Enjoy your vino collapso.

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  44. Gorgeousness is overflowing!!!

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  45. You look just beautiful! That Winnie the Pooh is a bit crazy, but the best kind of crazy comes from Japan!

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  46. Hi, if you want a new idea for what to do with your vintage scarf then check out http://thescarfboutique.co.uk/pages/How-to-tie-a-scarf.html if you look at the top style this is how I now wear my vintage scarves. They look amazzzzzzzinnnngg everyone comments on where I got my top from. I used a 90cms x 90cms, if you use larger then you just double round and tie pretty at the front. Also the Scarf Boutique sells vintage scarves so fab fab fab. Hope this helps anyone. Sx

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  47. Haha I had a Micky Mouse alarm clock like that. I destroyed it as it was tooooooo utterly annoying!

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  48. Wow, totally hooked on Pooh! I love the fact it’s wonderfully kitsch and such a sweet souvenir too xxx

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  49. Hi Vix!

    I adore your love of vintage! Your outfits are so creative and unique!
    Can't wait for your next blog!
    ~ Tasha

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  50. You've had that clock for 20 years? Damn, I'd of thrown it against the wall years ago. Wait a minute, the little travel alarm that wakes me up with the worst racket is also 20 years old. Never mind.

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  51. I'm loving anything asian inspired currently. so naturally i'm in love with your red dress. and it looks fantastic on you: the color and the fit, all looks great!
    xx
    maya

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  52. Well the red really makes your face light up, so you must be feeling better! I love cheongsams, they are soooo sexy! And you look hubba-hubba! My daughters very good friend speaks fluent Japanese (and was blown away that I can swear in it!), her parents own a Japanese school. So if she can't figure out what Pooh is saying, I'm sure her mother can. Pooh rivals my vintage Barbie in her corvette convertible clock/ radio! Hope the vino made you all happy! XXX

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  53. Ha what a funny alarm clock I love Winnie The Pooh :) and a very pretty dress looks lovely on you~Perfect for a Monday!! Have a great week ahead Vix hope your feeling better ~Love Heather

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  54. THOSE SHOES. Amazing! Thanks for taking part in SIA--you're wearing the perfect red, it matches the artwork so well1

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  55. You really had me thrown for a loop as to why you were holding a Winnie the Pooh clock. Even after watching the video I was stumped. It's all clear now and I think you have the most interactive interpretation of this artwork.
    I had seen Pao's posting and was hoping to participate for the first time, too, but my photos are still on my boyfriend's phone and I missed the deadline :(

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  56. I smiled just seeing you holding pooh! *lol*
    You look freaking gorgeous.

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  57. Loving the dress. (I'm sure I said that when you first received it) It looks amazing in you.

    How cute is pooh bear?! I wonder what he's yelling at you?

    X x

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  58. I know I keep saying it but red is so your colour! You look stunning in this cheongsam. Believe it or not I have one that is almost exactly the same! I'll have to fish it out and compare with your post - I actually bought it in Florence!

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  59. Love your version of Style Imitating Art! Gorgeous combination! I'm still in love with those shoes; I think I saw them before in another post.

    I agree! Pao is enchanting and her creativity continually amazes me, like yours.

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  60. Vix, that alarm clock! LOL. Love it. And I love the cape in the previous post. Cannot remember if I told you that. (Where do the days go?) I sported a maxi dress today that totally reminded me of you!! ♥♥♥ Lynn

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  61. Great dress, cute clock. I hope Kezzie is rightaboutwhat he is saying - nothing nicer than honey :-)

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  62. I will play the video to a mate of mine who fluent in a number of languages :) also you look fab!! glad your feeling well enough for wine now :D <3 x

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  63. You look lovely in that dress Vix, and I love that cute little Winnie the Pooh, I expected a shouty Takeshi's Castle type wake up call but it's quite gentle and a nice noise to wake up to really, don't know if that's how you feel when you hear it every morning though! I know I've only been here a little while but I do miss Melanie. xx

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  64. Love your dress,I seen a short black version at a charity shop a few weeks ago,I loved it but it was to small for me ...

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  65. Ha ha that alarm clock is great! I wouldn't be able to stand it myself because I can't be doing with loud alarms; I have my clock radio set to a whisper.

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  66. Such a gorgeous dress and I love those tights and shoes x

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Thanks for reading and for leaving a message. Please don't be anonymous, I'd love it if you left a name (or a nom de plume).

Lots of love, Vix