Monet in Paris

 

So elated to be sharing all of the phenomenal pictures from our morning spent experiencing the transcendent joy of the turn-of-the-century impressionists at the "Monet in Paris" exhibition at Northshore Brisbane as a family. It certainly was the belated birthday present worth waiting for, as good as "Van Gogh Alive," albeit less of an emotional rollercoaster. While Van Gogh was a trip through the ups & downs of the life of a great artist, this was a more joyful celebration of an art form that sought & seeks to imbue canvas & paints with the movement & verve of nature & the world that surrounds us all & the master who truly made it his life's work to bring beauty to the masses. With multiple rooms full of three-dimensional photo opportunities as well as an art space to make your own creations, fully stocked bar/cafe/restaurant & toilet facilities & the main studio space where the artworks are displayed in a riot of colour & size from floor to ceiling, augmented by a jaunty soundtrack of classical music & quotes for context & inspiration, there's so much to see & do! My top tip for those wishing to attend one of these events? If possible, book the first session of the morning because if you get there early, you can have practically unfettered access for photographs. We were first through the doors & the early photographs clearly reflect that & by the time we were leaving (around lunchtime), it was BUSY & absolutely full to the brim with people. 

Scroll down to see how it all unfolded...

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Dress: Gorman lyocell satin

Cardigan: Taking Shape mesh

Booties: Wittner matte leather

Tights: Razzamatazz textured nylon

Bag: Nautica via TK Maxx nylon

Scarf: Sussan chiffon silk

Bangle: Gift, 20th Century Antiques & Collectibles vintage silver

Bangle Stack: Gift, vintage Mexican silver

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For the occasion, I wore this utterly divine museum print lyocell satin bias cut midi dress from cult designer fashion label Gorman, styled up with a black mesh three-quarter-sleeved waterfall cardigan from Taking Shape for warmth, a think black & white spotted chiffon silk scarf from Sussan for that insouciant "artiste" look, a pair of black matte leather heeled booties from Wittner for a modicum of height, black textured nylon tights from Razzamatazz & a black nylon crossbody bag from Nautica (via my local TK Maxx store) to carry all the essentials - face mask & hand sanitizer, of course - while keeping my hands free to truly experience that magic all around me. When it came to jewellery, I chose a few favourite silver pieces - a vintage bangle from 20th Century Antiques & Collectibles (formerly of Coolangatta, now Tweed Heads) that my brother gave me as a birthday gift a few years ago & a stack of vintage Mexican silver bangles from some dear friends who currently live abroad to complete the look.

Keep scrolling for even more...

Putting ourselves in the picture on this stunning interactive recreation of Monet's "Water Lilies & Japanese Bridge" (1899)...

A leisurely lunch at H Cafe & Bar (open 24 hours a day to cater to the cruise ship crowd) where I enjoyed the imaginatively titled "Disco" which comprised of a vegetable rosti with wilted spinach, haloumi & a poached egg with hollandaise sauce & wholemeal toast on the side, washed down with an iced chocolate with whipped cream...