What with Victoria’s Secret taking its spectacular to London and Chanel hitting Salzburg for the annual Métiers d’Art show, this week is a busy one for fashion’s jetsetters. It’s heating up in our hood too, as Art Basel Miami Beach begins a weeklong art party south of the border.
Basel has become a necessary calendar event of late, with everyone from Beyoncé and Jay-Z to Pharrell hitting the scene in previous years. 2014 promises an equally thrilling roster with a perfectly-timed FKA Twigs concert, DJ sets by Solange at Soho Beach House, a Moschino fête for Jeremy Scott hitting the just-opened Thompson Miami Beach and, oh yeah, art.
Packing for a week of poolside parties, beach days and gallery hopping is simultaneously amazing and challenging—especially when you’re just beginning to accept that winter is here to stay. To help you prep (or just live vicariously), we asked 8 writers, designers, stylists and gallery folks to share their Art Basel Miami wardrobe picks.
1/8
Sarah Nails
“I like conditional things, conditional works of art—rainbows, for example. Almost no one paints the real colours of rainbows, misty-pale and lambent, like Agnes Martin painted them, so I’m asking the nail art stars of Vanity Projects to make Agnes Martin forgeries on my fingers. Bonus points: Martin was Canadian, so I’ll be repping.”
“Looks I’m hoping to achieve:
1. Lana Del Rey “Florida Kilos” daddy: wet hair, white pants, major décolletage, mesh shoes
2. Head-to-toe surf style
3. Miami goth: baggy long-sleeve hoodie with nothing underneath, long shorts, docs”
—David Balzer, associate editor, Canadian Art
Rick Owens Drkshdw panelled shorts ($800, ssense.com)
3/8
Sam Giordano
“I’ll be wearing my red Mother Mary matching two piece set. What’s more perfect for an art fair then wearing clothes with the one of the most iconic images venerated in classical art?
“Versace Silk Shirts, Ivory Suits… Miami Vice all the way!”
—Cary Tauben, stylist
Gianni Versace Baroque silk top ($1,568, farfetch.com)
5/8
Nikki
“I have an ever so small obsession with Jacquemus at the moment, so Basel gives me the perfect excuse to wear this grid-print dress. It’s not so Miami but whatever, neither am I. Poolside though, you’ll 1000% catch me in Sophia Webster’s banana print Birkenstocks because nothing says I love modern art quite like a quirky fruit print. Give me a few daquiris and I just might wear them together.”
—Nikki St. George-Hyslop, e-commerce manager, The Coveteur
“Showing unnecessary skin with any Comme des Garçons cut out piece seems appropriate for the occasion. I’ll be the Regina George of Art Basel.”
—Corey Ng, stylist
Comme des Garçons Hommes Plus cut-out energy T-shirt ($189, ssense.com)
7/8
Randi Bergman
“My favourite Miami go-to is my pair of ridiculous silver Fendi platform kitten heels I got years ago for $5. This year, I’m adding to my collection with this skirt (right) by upcoming Montreal label Atelier Wonders.
—Randi Bergman, executive digital editor, FASHION Magazine
“I’m wearing my usual black and white ‘art worker’ wardrobe with select pieces by 3.1 Phillip Lim, COS, Sandro and sneakers by Balenciaga. I might add some grey and be really crazy.”
—Daniel Faria, gallerist, Daniel Faria Gallery
3.1 Phillip Lim pullover with shirt tail
