Thursday, June 13, 2013

Artfullly Awear

by Drew Martin
I recently stumbled across a blog that I cannot get enough of. It is Artfully Awear by Ariel Maile Adkins, where she merges fashion and art by putting together outfits that reference works of art. At first I simply liked the idea and responded to the joyful tone of her posts, but when I looked closer at this blog, which Adkins has maintained since 2010 with more than 180 posts to date, I found that it is much more than a whim of someone with an eye on fashion and the artworld. Adkins is an intense visual thinker and ingenious with the connections she makes. I reached out to her for an email interview.

Drew:
You must have the most amazing closet. Can you describe it....how it's organized, the size etc?

Ariel:
I really wish I could say that I have an amazing closet. In reality, I just don’t have the space for it! I’m always intrigued to see how clothing collectors like myself work within NYC spaces because it is a daily challenge. I’m a very visual person, so I always want to see everything that is currently inspiring me; hence, I’ve never been able to put things away in a closet, out of view. My living space has, essentially, become a place where my garments and accessories mingle throughout, both as utilitarian items and as decor.

Drew:
You obviously have an amazing grasp of art history/the art world, and you are equally into fashion. I read that you studied art at FIT. Did you have a program that let you explore both equally? I also read you are from Virginia (I lived there for a stint). It's not exactly a fashion hotspot...how did you end up in NY?

Ariel:
Ever since I can remember, I’ve been interested in both clothing/fashion and art. During my undergraduate studies at the College of William and Mary in Virginia, I studied painting and drawing, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art in the idyllic setting of Colonial Williamsburg. Recognizing my need for a business perspective on art and sartorial inspiration, I applied to the Art Market Master’s program at Fashion Institute of Technology. During my time at FIT, I was able to acquaint myself with the New York art world and also gain insight into the art market, as well as the inner workings of art galleries, museums, and arts non-profit organizations. I also discovered a wealth of fashion inspiration, and my personal style and creativity began to thrive.

Drew:
Regarding your time in Colonial Williamsburg, did seeing all of those people in costume have an influence on you?....the playfulness of it? Theirs is an interpretation of history while yours is an interpretation of art.

Ariel:
The thing that most inspired my style from living in the surreal historical world of Colonial Williamsburg for four years was simply the idea of dressing up. I was interested in the colonial fashion, but was more interested in the idea that the re-enactors were taking on a persona when they wore certain clothing. Ultimately, clothing is an expression of cultural identity, and this is why we, individually, choose what to wear and when. Clothing is just one of the myriad ways that we are able to express ourselves, and I find daily fulfillment by expressing myself through the art that I experience and the clothing that I wear.

Drew:
How did you start your blog?

Ariel:
I photographed my outfits for a long time before I considered blogging. Before I had a digital camera, I kept an outfit journal for reference, and would sketch pictures of what I wore or what I wanted to wear. I began blogging around the time that I moved to NYC, but it took a few years for my Artfully Awear thesis to come about. I had been trying, unsuccessfully, to find a style sensibility that really reflected the way I dressed and how I wanted to look. In fashion magazines, it always seemed like you had to fit into a category: “bohemian”, “rocker”, “vintage”, “romantic”. Then one day I realized that my style didn’t fit into any one category. I was inspired by art, not fashion. From that point on, I began to truly identify my personal style, and Artfully Awear became a chronicle of the discovery.

Drew:
You have an Artfully Awear Facebook, Twitter and Instagram account. Which platform, including your blog, do you like most and why? Is there a Pinterest site in the works? What's your take on all the social media sites?

Ariel:
It’s a full-time job just to maintain social media! I spend a lot of time creating my Artfully Awear posts, so social media is appealing in its immediacy, but sometimes I fear that I just can’t get my point across in 140 characters or less. Instagram is the most natural outlet for me because I always take a lot of photos and it’s almost strictly visual.

Drew:
How many of your outfits do you buy, borrow, or make?

Ariel:
All of my outfits are bought, and all of the clothing on my blog is my own. I’m an avid thrift shopper, love sample sales and diffusion lines, and live for the occasional splurge. I like to make things as well, and have an Artfully Awear line of jewelry on the horizon.

Drew:
Who's your favorite designer and who's your favorite artist?

Ariel:
I will always love Marc Jacobs, Jean Paul Gaultier, Matthew Williamson, and Duro Olowu. I also like to find lesser-known, quirky designers, which abound in Brooklyn. My favorite artists are Yinka Shonibare, Ryan McGinness, Nick Cave, Willem de Kooning, Henri Matisse, Egon Schiele, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir.

Drew:
Do you start with an piece of clothing and work towards the art or are you more inspired by an artist and his or her work and try to find an outfit to match?

Ariel:
It works both ways. Sometimes, I’ll even have an artist or work of art in mind when I purchase a piece of clothing. Other times, I’ll see something I’ve owned for years and suddenly notice its affinity to a particular work of art or genre that I’d never realized.

Drew:
What is your day job?

Ariel:
I work at a non-profit organization with the mission to connect students and professionals in advertising, design, illustration, photography, and interactive media. Through our events and exhibitions in NYC and abroad, I have the opportunity to meet many creative people and to share ideas, which helps me to maintain inspiration in my personal pursuits as well as professionally.

Drew:
Is this a labor of love or is there something else fueling your blog and the other social media platforms?

Ariel:
Artfully Awear is, to an extent, a “labor of love”, as you said. However, it is a wonderful outlet for me, and has also been an avenue through which I’ve explored by personal style and also encountered some great opportunities, such as my partnership with Pantone, so I intend to keep it going as long as I feel inspired.

Drew:
I like when you include Pantone color swatches. When did you start including those in your posts? What is your favorite color?

Ariel:
I’m currently wrapping up a project sponsored by Pantone, in which I created outfits and ultimately Artfully Awear posts featuring a chosen palette of the Pantone trend colors of Spring 2014. It has been a fabulous challenge for me, as a lover of color, and it has simply been a dream to work with the Pantone team of color experts. My favorite color is green, and currently Pantone Green Glow 13-0442 TCX.

Drew:
I just did a site search for some artists...Richard Serra...nothing...and then my teacher for two years and mentor when I was at the University of California at Santa Barbara, Ann Hamilton (I studied installation art), and you have her!! Who are some artists you have not covered yet, but would like to explore?

Ariel:
I love Ann Hamilton and would be delighted to discuss her further with you sometime! I feel as though I’ve written volumes of posts, but there is still so much, art historically, that I haven’t covered. The vast majority of my posts are centered on Modern and Contemporary Art, specifically painting. I would like to continue to explore other time periods, such as Medieval, as well as genres, such as Conceptual Art.

Drew:
Where is this all heading? What are your dreams for this combination of fashion and art?

Ariel:
One day I would love to launch an Artfully Awear gallery/boutique showcasing artwork alongside garments and a forum for creative people to share inspiration. Whether it would be an online shop, modified from my blog, or take the form of collaborations, with pop-up gallery/shops within other stores or galleries, I think Artfully Awear could reach a wider audience with inspiration and influence. As I mentioned, an Artfully Awear jewelry line is in the works, specifically inspired by one of my favorite artists, so stay tuned.

Drew: