Thousands flocked to Santa Monica Airport for the opening of a massive art fair in Los Angeles. Heads were certainly turned – but not always towards the objects within the frames.
You didn’t know where to look first at the opening of the Frieze Festival on February 26 — but it wasn’t always at the artwork on the walls.
The event, now in its seventh year, sprawled across a large circus-style tent city at Santa Monica Airport — a far cry from its 2019 debut at Paramount Square but every bit as spectacular. With works from 100 galleries representing artists from around the world, hordes of enthusiasts streamed through the space during the opening of the four-day festival. There were, as usual, a large number of celebrities; This year included Timothy Olyphant, Emma Watson, Christoph Waltz, WME’s Ari Emanuel and his wife Sarah Staudinger (of LA fashion brand Stud), Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Anthony Kiedis, Fiona Shaw, and Lisa Edelstein, as well as artists Doug Aitken, Adam Alessi, and Andrea.
But the real stars of Frieze aren’t always the bold-faced names, they’re the bold-wearing ones. Of the thousands who turned out on the first day, a notable number seemed to treat their outfits as entries into the show itself: a dramatic display of avant-garde eyewear, sculpted shoes and statement headpieces that gamely competed with the art on the walls. As one attendee said: “You can see art – or you can be it. And I choose to be it.”
Steve Wilson
Image source: Image source: Thomas Drotar The Midwestern hotelier and gallery owner wore a canary yellow suit designed by Kentucky artist Bree Powers. “It’s wearable art,” he says. “Why shouldn’t an art collector like me be a walking art scientist.” Red sunglasses “are my signature,” he notes.
Lindsey Hawkins
Image source: Image source: Thomas Drotar The artistic director and director wore an avant-garde skirt designed by London-based folklore company Chopova Lowena. “I’m drawn to things that stand out, but are still comfortable,” she says.
Alyona Kononova
Image source: Image source: Thomas Drotar The Los Angeles designer wore her signature work: a bubble red dress, a separate white silk robe, white rounded cuffs and a black wood handbag. “These ivory glasses were designed by Adele Mildred from London, and were inspired by Peggy Guggenheim,” she says.
Brenna Perros and Jessica Trent
Image source: Image source: Thomas Drotar Pierus, a marketing executive, matched her Alexis two-piece dress with classic Prada pumps. Trent, the art consultant, went with a mismatched vintage look. “I put it all together based on a photo I saw recently by the late artist Steven Arnold.”
R. F. Jeffries
Image source: Image source: Thomas Drotar The San Diego-based art collector wears only black and Demma’s Balenciaga, saying: “I’m a big believer in the power of clothes and the rituals of dressing. Life is too short to surround yourself with beauty.”
Kia Lou
Image source: Image source: Thomas Drotar The director and artist wears a leather hat designed by Mexico City’s Lou Badger.
Stone Island
Image source: Image source: Thomas Drotar The fashion brand, a frequent sponsor of the festival, created these Frieze-themed T-shirts for this year’s event.
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