There are certain pieces and people of history that resonate with everyone differently. There are people who can inspire you to become the person you want to be. Intentionally or not, there are two women who have helped mold me to the ever-changing person I am. Two powerhouse, trailblazing women who refused to conform to anyone else's standards for the sake of their own happiness and art. Georgia O'Keeffe and Frida Kahlo are artists who helped teach me to create my art unapologetically and live fiercely. These are my modern day interpretations of the wildly inspirational, feminist, queens.
(Outfit and full shoot details at bottom of page.)
"I've been absolutely terrified every moment of my life - and I've never let it keep me from doing a single thing I wanted to do." Georgia O'Keeffe
"I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way - things I had no words for." Georgia O'Keeffe
Georgia O'Keeffe was the first artist I ever learned about. I was in the second grade and I immediately fell in love with her art and her life. I created master copies of her paintings for years, attempting to capture the essence of her pastel soul. Her iconic natural face, long dark hair and all black earthy whim of style and love of skulls obviously resonated with me. She helped me realize that I needed to be an artist.
"I paint self-portraits because I am so often alone, because I am the person I know best." Frida Kahlo
"I paint my own reality. The only thing I know is that I paint because I need to, and I paint whatever passes through my head without any other consideration." Frida Kahlo
Frida Kahlo was a force to be reckoned with. A woman who felt so much. She saw the light and the dark. Her surreal reality that she was able to show through her paintings, was more than admirable. She was the original feminist. The original body positive, "selfie" taker. She was bold and honest and beautifully strange. She was one of the first to show me that different was good and pure. I am thankful for her role as a proud woman.
Then, there was me.
I am made up of bits and pieces of the past and present that have inspired me. I am more than grateful to have such influential and iconic women to look up to that have lived in this world. Real women, who did what they loved because they couldn't imagine life doing anything else. I have parts of Georgia, Frida and countless others in me. I am my own person, yes. I am an artist. I am a model. I am an advocate for all things good. I am a daughter and sister. I am a fighter. I am a woman finding her place in this world and I am a woman who hopes to inspire bits and pieces of others.
It's a beautiful thing to see those pieces of inspiration materialize into the art of personal style and fashion.
Having role models who inspire you is key. It is also key to be inspiration for yourself and to slowly and continuously mold into the person of your dreams.
We are all authentic and it is something to be proud of. Don't forget to share that authenticity with the world. You never know who you could inspire.
xx
Faith Costa
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Photos by Shay Paresh
Makeup and Styling by Faith Costa
Georgia O'Keeffe outfit: Bodysuit- mblm by Tess Holliday
Drape Skirt from Yona New York
Necklace by Betsey Johnson
Frida Kahlo outfit: Dress from Simply Be
Headpiece from Claire's
Wrap from Old Navy