In the Garden

Somehow both my prompts are linked to coffee n' tea. What does that say about me?  ...

First let's go to the garden, where I used the Coco Chanel quote:

 "Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening. "Coco Chanel


This building makes me swoon, every time I see it.  Sorry, too much traffic downtown yesterday to get a great photo.  Here you can see the whole building.  And here are a few of my photos:

I love the color and all the detail. I had to do some research first before writing my poem. I do this frequently, which means it take me longer to write poems, but hey I enjoy learning something new.

The Mesker Brothers Iron Works of St. Louis, Missouri, and George L. Mesker Company of Evansville, Indiana  specialized in ornamental sheet-metal facades and cast iron storefront components.   They had catalogs and shipped by railroad,  to any interested building owner. Their  product lines included embossed sheet-metal panels and cast iron, but also entire storefront to be assembled,  tin ceilings, fences, skylights, and freight elevators. “Meskers”, as they are called, are found across America. Their companies were based in the Midwest. This type of structure is plentiful in Illinois' history.  Galvanized steel and cast iron can survive neglect and lack of maintenance.  There is a site called Got Mesker. I love that!  You can see other building and their locations!  You might want to check out and see if any Mesker sites are in your city!   When time permits,  I will go check and see if this building is listed. They try to track where this type of architecture is found.     I found out a lot of the features of Mesker are flower related.  Their style is considered Italianate Revival, with influences of Palladian. The Fleur-de-lis is native to the French Saint Louis.  There are also motifs with influences of  Roses, (Rosettes) and Morning Glories.  Some structures have Dolphins.   I could go on and on...but I won't.   This building use to be a drugstore and above it a hotel.      Here is a DRESS I thought would equal the pairings of this style.  I wanted to find fashion that corresponded.   Didn't dare link it with copyright issues and all...so go PEEK HERE!  There is a tag sew in this dress that says Louise.   Gown was made in 1725-1755.  Building was designed in the late 1800's.   Fashion perhaps did influence this style?! Ironed pleats of silk  placate the mood Louise Mesker graces the dance floor  in a lovely cascaded sky dusk blue rosettes kiss the Morning Glories awake sashes of cornice crown the vision of parapet lutestrings transform the day to night as she twirls in an open aired vision it glazes her figure clouds of lace appear in bodice layers of skirt's Bo peep style and sleeves Her influence will affect the future's front her dress will make men swoon and show her hand in structured style art sculpts architecture we wonder what influenced who, when n' why?  Do we thank Saint Louis or Louise~ My other poem will be posted later on my other site  Ella's Font