Styled by Art: When a Painting Inspires an Outfit

Painting: Sorting It Out I by Anna Krieg
Exhibition: Summer Brights
Palette: White • Mustard • Mosaic Blue • Coral • Black
Styled With: White linen dress, ADA Leather Wrap Belt, mustard sandals, boho hoops, Desert Poppy scarf

One of my favorite parts of curating Richau & Co. is watching the conversation that happens between art and the objects around it. A painting doesn't have to stay on the wall. Sometimes it inspires what we wear!

If you've been watching our Instagram, you may have seen our Styled by Art videos. We start with an original painting in the gallery and build an outfit inspired by its palette, mood, and personality.

Rather than trying to match the artwork exactly, I looked for pieces that echo its colors and energy. Sometimes that means picking up a subtle accent color instead of the most obvious one. Other times it's about repeating a texture, a shape, or simply the feeling the artwork creates.

This time, we styled to Sorting It Out I, by local artist, Anna Krieg. This painting is part of our Summer Brights exhibition. 

1. We started with a white linen dress.
The crisp white background of the painting made it the perfect foundation. Plus, it's summer, and there's a lot of white linen happening in our wardrobes lately!

2. Next came the shoes.
I slipped on my favorite mustard yellow sandals because they coordinate beautifully with the warm yellows in the painting.

3. Then we added one of our ADA Leather Wrap Belts.
We tried a few colors before settling on Mosaic Blue, which creates a beautiful contrast with the yellow sandals while pulling another color from the painting.

4. Time for earrings!
These mustard yellow boho style hoops were the perfect finishing touch. They tie in with the sandals while balancing the cool blue of the belt.

5. Bonus addition: the Desert Poppy Classic Silk Scarf.
The colors in the scarf brought the whole look together, echoing the painting while adding movement and personality.

The result is an outfit that feels connected to the painting without becoming a costume. It's less about matching and more about translating a work of art into something you can wear. Artists have an incredible eye for color, so it feels only natural to let their palettes inspire our wardrobes.

I hope this inspires you to look at the art in your own home a little differently. The paintings you love can become wonderful starting points for your wardrobe, helping you discover color combinations you may never have considered.

If you'd like help creating a look inspired by a favorite piece of art, we'd love to help. Stop by the boutique, or even bring a photo of artwork from your home. We'll help you find accessories that capture its color, mood, and personality.

Style isn't just what you wear. It's how you show up in the world.