Inspired by Polaroids

Polaroids have long been known as the dreamy photographs that have a sense of nostalgia and unparalleled beauty, even in the most ordinary of situations. The Polaroid transforms the monotony of everyday life - or the extraordinary fleeting moments witnessed by a sparse number of eyes - into an image pregnant with a plethora of emotions that possesses a mystical, artistic quality contained within the famed white border of an instant Polaroid print.
As Polaroids grow less common, the cameras and the type of images they create have created a cult following. Nowadays, the ownership of a Polaroid camera garners enthusiastic amazement from others. Such as with a friend of mine: I visited her house recently with other friends, as she toted her Polaroid around the townhouse taking candid shots of anything that inspired her. The same camera made an appearance on New Year's Eve, popping out posed pictures of friends smiling around a confitti-covered table.
Why are Polaroids so en vogue with the artistic crowd? It's because the images produced are unlike those produced by any other camera. Photographs capture a moment in time, but Polaroids capture life and spirit. It's something about this format that makes these printed images come alive.
If you are an avid reader of Girl Loves Color, you may know that prior to this I wrote a post entitled Inspired by Polaroids, in which I created outfits based off of a sampling of Polaroids by French photographer Marion Dubier-Clark. The response to this post was overwhelming; it made me feel so happy that my readers felt as inspired as I did. Thus as I pondered what to blog about today, I thought I would present you all with an encore to the original post. My newer readers can see what I'm talking about, as I continue to fall deeply in love with the Polaroid.

The following images are also shot by Marion Dubier-Clark, maintaining consistency. (If you have any favorite artists that do Polaroids, I would love for you to leave me a comment at the end of this post.)
All images from mariondubierclark.com
Outfits created using polyvore.com

Dolce & Gabbana dress, Ralph Lauren scarf, vintage Chanel bag, Forzieri lace gloves, Versus shoes.

Initially inspired by the Wild Flowers book, I decided to create an outfit with vintage feminine appeal. The flowers and their vase inspired my color scheme, the floral theme corresponding to the Dolce & Gabbana dress and the vase influencing my scarf choice. The shoes were chosen with the idea of a rose in mind, and the lace gloves perfectly fit the image in my head of the woman I was dressing. And of course, could there be a better way to finish such a classic and dainty outfit than with a vintage Chanel shoulder bag?

Oasis dress, Frye bag, Givenchy bracelet, Alexander McQueen wedges.

I wanted to give this outfit an earthy, geometric feel, inspired by the color scheme of the Polaroid as well as the mosaic pattern. Both of these elements directly influenced the dress choice, the geometrics also helping me choose the shoes. The bag and shoes give the look a natural vibe, which I sourced from the brown colors in the Polaroid.

Vintage Gianni Versace top, Topshop pleated skirt, Lord & Taylor earrings, Chloe bag, Nicholas Kirkwood heels.

Marilyn Monroe inspired the clothing in this outfit, evident in this amazing vintage top. The pleated skirt is reminiscent of her famous halter dress in The Seven Year Itch. The lines of the cement behind the wooden boards as well as the creases on the boards inspired the architectural shoes. To add classic femininity, I chose these earrings and Chloe bag.

Raquel Allegra t-shirt, Topshop peplum skirt, Alexis Bittar earrings, Dorothy Perkins ring, MM6 Maison Martin Margiela oxfords.

This outfit is relatively straightforward. The skirt represents the sky; I chose one with a peplum for the sharp angles of the building against the sky. The smoky texture of the t-shirt and earrings are suitable for the building, and the t-shirt also lends a casual feel to the outfit (the Polaroid feels casual to me). The white oxfords are the white borders shown on the building. The layered rings give a sense of depth and intrigue, also shown in the Polaroid's unique architecture and the mystery of the people on the roof.

What do you think of these outfits and the Polaroids they are inspired by? What do you think of each individual Polaroid on its own, as well as each individual outfit? I'd love to know! I'm also curious to hear what you think of this post as a whole, being the second one of its kind.

You can view the first "Inspired by Polaroids" post here.

To me Polaroids will always remain one of the most artistic and creative forms of photography. After all, there's nothing quite like a Polaroid.

xoxo