My top picks at Rubell Collection

david noonan

aneta grzeszykowska

cindy sherman

rachel harrison

rashid johnson

takashi murakami

'Beg Borrow Steal' show was a highlight of my Art Basel trip. What a difference between an art show and a well curated private collection. The Rubell's have done well for themselves and each purchase seems to be smart choice.
I was facinated by the photographs by Aneta Grzeszykowska more info: www.raster.art.pl/gallery/artists/grzeszsamga/grzeszsmaga.htm

Art Basel Miami the show

mathew monahan

luis gispert

david altmeid sold for 130k

"Like anything so far?
Too overwhelming to tell"

More like underwhelming.
Yes Basel is blue chip art and it is a huge show-impressive really. But I was left with the feeling of continuity. As if all of the artists were of the same sensibility, the same style, and almost interchangable. I didn't see a huge different between each booth. Galleries shoot me now...well Sylvester Stalone's booth which was crammed all the time was different no I re-frase UGLY. I'm just saying.
With the high price to show at this show blue chip art is derigeur to make money but I'm wondering if it's worth for galleries to avoid risk? Who suffers?
Some highlights which I enjoyed:
"SILENCE IS GOLDEN

DUCK TAPE IS SILVER"
The people watching on the VIP/Press preview during the day was phenomenal. The quality of the collectors were so high. Very well dressed in designer garb, jewels, leboutins, jimmy choos, ,limited edition louis vuitton bags, kelly bags, and much more. Women were better turned out than at fashion week. These women have the time, cash, and the style to dress. I know we are in a recession but in the first hour or probably even before the show started a bizarro piece by david atmejd sold for 120K-just pocket change for the Aby Rosen's of the world. There are sales being made.
I was anticipating the night time vernissage but it was the poor sister event-lots of flash but fake bling. Just goes to show you in the art world the REAL and VERY first view is the best.

Nina Loren Head Bling

Last night at GenArt's event I spotted this amazing head bling/hair art and met the artist. Nina Loren is based in Miami but she has a website of hand crafted jewelry. Check it out and order away. With the whole obsession with headbands, feathers, mini hats, this look is one to take off.
www.ninaloren.com
305-270-7747

GenArt-Stylish shakers

Still enjoying the BK (brooklyn) flavor of Genart's party at Aqua Art. Fashions were in full force. Performances by Overthrow and DJ's Ray Milian Off The Radar were off the hook. Art was so intoxicating they had a hard time kicking the art lovers out at the end of the night. Leave it to Ian Gerard to curate another great fete in foreign territory.Very stylish men at this party. My good friend Fritz who lives in Miami filled me in on his last 4 years as publisher of 'The greatest erotic art of today' a coffee table books which he's on version #3. He introduced me to a very interesting artist named Perego artofperego. He paints in this jacket and uses his hair as a paint brush.
This musician whose music can be downloaded at www.darkjet.com has unique style and flair for jewelry. He was filling me on the fact that his heart isn't even metal and I told him some style secrets are left unsaid.

4 shows

Crammed 4 shows into one hot day.
Here's my rundown:
Pulse-a total winner. So creative and fresh. I loved that each booth was so different but truly talented. A very well curated show. I voted for Arthouse on twitter whose bodega project with genius and hilarious.
Photo Miami-underwhelming. I was disappointed. Turn out was flat. A few pieces that peaked my interest. The surprise was running into a photographer turned gallery-ist Ports Bishop who is repping a score of a client Rinko. Don't worry he's not giving up his own photography and is currently developing a documentary. Can't wait for more deets on the project but he did let me know if involved the artist... who is performing tonight at Deitsch beach party.
Art-Also an excellent and playful show. A few eye tricks but fun and funny.
Red Dot-a total let down. Saw some tacky art. Really found it so much better when I had seen the show in NYC two years ago.

WTF at the W

I thought I got on a plane and left New York!! Wait I did. So why am I hanging out at the bursting at the seams uber hot new W in South beach watching all of New York walk by? Art Basel week has not only brought collectors from all over the globe but the cool cats of new york who can afford to get away. Today at Pulse I saw a tall guy who I've eyed (but never met) at least 4 New York/Hamptons parties. So back to the W where my girlfriend and I are flies on the wall ie one with the the sofa-people watching through the night. There's a lot of coming and going and the killer high heels and BOOTS are astonishing. Art Nexus is having a party out by the pool and in the front bar it looks like cougar central-too much botox in that lighting for our taste. We awarded this young girl in sailors hat as top pick. Other notables were those in suped up legging versions-bedazzled and glittery, one in pink silk strapless pantsuit probably from the 70's.-belted and billowy, Naomi Campbell in a nurses hat type head piece, Farrell Williams of NERD in white t-shirt and jeans (what is it about famous people wearing clothes that look like nothing but cost a fortune???-like prada)

Fashion at Moca Miami Party

Overheard at Vanity Fair/Moca fete, 'F*% the art!' Apparently no dress code either.
Fashion wise this party is a mixed bag of art nuts. You've got the ladies who lunch and buy art all decked in designer cocktail dresses dripping in jewels and their token napping husbands, you've got the drag queen couple, woman in a Mohave desert print ensemble with tennis shoes and white socks, artists too cool to dress in white t-shirt (def not Hanes) and jeans, cute straight guys (although I don't have the pics to prove it) young hipsters doing the American apparel look, orange head trying way too hard with a sequin dress waaaaay too short, a woman wearing her dress inside out (not sure if on purpose), guy with panda bear head piece and very very small people. Very good bedroom lucite sex kitten heels.
It must be a good party..Shaggy the famous NYC party crasher is here.

Viceroy Decor Miami

You may have remember my posting about the Viceroy in Palm Spring. If you don't and you're just tuning into OFG you can access it HERE. Miami's version also designed by Kelly Wearstler is in downtown area. Uber fabulous but just doesn't have the bursting clientele. Like most condos/hotels in miami, new real estate projects are hurting. But when it catched up this place should be fierce.

MOCA ART at Vanity Fair Party

While waiting for my friends to arrive at the Vanity Fair party I had a chance to check out some of the art. Here's my favorites.


a party as paradise? what a new concept sponsor artby grolsch
cartoon fashionista-shoes in her eyes
moving collage of empire state building post cards

Party was dead, dj was cool, art interesting

Love I'll follow you to the end of the world
Art installation on the 19th floor of the Viceroy Downtown Miami curated by Adriana Farietta

MIA in Miami

The fashion police have arrived and things are not looking good for you Sobe. As a New Yorker and as an old fashioned girl I'm a fish out of water. My hemlines are too long, my necklines too high, and I'm wearing dark jeans but I'm not changing. I don't believe you need to flaunt the goods to get the attention of men. It's all about suggestion not screaming. And I got nothing to shout about. My talents can speak for themselves. At least my suitcase is packed with dresses because it makes it effortless.
shot at the new viceroy downtown miami-you may remember my coverage of the viceroy palm beach.
revisit here

A new type of PDA

Curator Natalie Kovacs is trying to get 5k people to create the wave this Saturday December 5 on the Delano beach starting at noon. This 'motion in the ocean' invites you to be a part of a new type of PDA ( peace dance art). The cherry on top is a Ben and Jerry's toast at the shoreclub to follow.
More info and other events
www.dancelovesart.com

ART BASEL HERE I COME...

Blogging from the airport! I love technology and my new air.
I'm off to miami for art basel. Years ago I attended the innagural show and I'm excited to see how it's exploded. While down there here are a list of the other shows taking place at the same time:
Art-www.art-miami.com
Design Miami- www.designmiami.com
Aqua Art- www.aquaartmiami.com
Red Dot-www.reddotfair.com
Photo Miami-www.photomiami-2009.com
Fountain Art-www.fountainexhibit.com
Nada-www.newartdealers.org
Pulse-www.pulseart.com
Verge-www.vergeartfair.com
Scope-www.scopeart.com
Pool Art Fair-www.poolartfair.com

With huge sponsors such as UBS and Audi the parties should be off the hook. My calandar looks a lot like fashion week and choices will have to be made. Bring it on south beach! I will be watching for fashion blunders and victories.

Blurb on Launch my line.

Shout out to my new friend Karen at Bravo who is also an old fashioned girl sent me video footage from the upcoming Launch my Line. Can't wait to see my 'Dandy' friend Patrick McDonald on the show Wednesday on Bravo. Tune in!

Bravo TV Video - It Takes Two to Make a Thing Go Right

LAUNCH MY LINE LAUNCHING

At the farmers market I ran into style icon and dandy Patrick McDonald and was excited to wish him a happy holidays. At Fashion Week I'm also impressed by his attention to detail with his outfits. This man does not dress half way! He's got the hat, the jewelry, the matching gloves, the whole bag of style. He had big news to share with me. Next Wednesday night on Bravo premieres the show Launch my Line which he is a contestant in. I can hardly contain myself. As I check out the website bios it's clear he's the most colorful of the bunch. Hosted by Dean and Dan of DSquared with judges Stephanie Greenfield of Scoop and Lisa Kline. I can't wait although I will be art Basel in Miami next week and will have to squeeze it in.

JUST SAY NO/MAYBE to TRENDS

What is feel is so wrong with the fashion world is this ever churning need to discover/uncover/reinvent trends that are then force fed the general public. 80's neon colors, mini skirts, peasants skirts, baby doll dresses, ect ect ect! Women each have different shapes and coloring-so what may be one woman's answer to her body imbalances may be a fashion faux pas on another. For example a high waist espresso pencil skirt looks amazing on me because I have a long torso, short legs, an hourglass shape, and red autumn color palette. Put the same skirt on a woman with long legs, inverted triangle shape (wider in the upper half than lower), and soft summer coloring and you have a four alarm fashion emergency.
Yves Saint Laurent said it best, "Fashions fade, Style is eternal"
And Coco Chanel said, " The best color in the whole world is the one that looks good on you!"
So I urge you to find out and explore your own body-it's star features and it's challenges with the help of a stylist if you can. Ask yourself-does this trend serve me?In the long run it will save you time, energy and money.

PS-three great movies to watch-Coco before Chanel, Coco Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent: His Life and Times

Trophy Wife-chic or dead?

Did anyone see the spread in Harper's Bazaar this month (December 2009) called Diary of a Trophy Wife dictated to Rita Wilson, not read? It pokes fun at the life of a trophy wife. "The first time I had Botox, I had a headache for three days and I couldn't make it to the Cavalli trunk show. Heartbreak-especially since my forehead was so smooth, you couldn't even tell I was sad." Is humor the new black thanks to Tina Fey? Why is Bazaar making fun of the exact image they sell? Aren't they the #1 pushers of Botox and Jimmy Choo. I guess they feel that they've been taking themselves too seriously. It's about time!
http://www.harpersbazaar.com/fashion/fashion-articles/diary-of-a-trophy-wife

Local Gem Orly Couture

Right under our noses in New York city lies so much talent. My inbox is always overflowing with talented designers reaching out to me. I sometimes do not make the time to go through it all. But luckily I visited Orly Shani's website Orly Couture because it is a gem. The styles are slightly inspired by the 80's but wearable. Original, one of a kind, re-purposed vintage, and one to check out. I love how she describes her line,
"When you buy an Orly Couture original, you’ll purchase something that’s rough around all the right edges. It’s never perfect or flawless, but it’s always just right."
Progress not perfection. Fashion should enhance not dictate.
Prices range-belts start at $20 and some dresses are $500. Most items in the $200 range. Not bad for handmade.
Orli Sheli, Inc.
310.621.5743
www.orlisheli.com

More Movie Fashion Inspiration

Can you recognize this actor? Bet you can't put your finger on it.

It's Jude Law as Minx in the movie RAGE set in the fashion industry. I love that Jude has the kahunas to play a 'model' and does such a hilarious Russian accent. His different looks are strong, striking, and playful.
The movie was done with a very small budget and shows you how you really can tell a moving story if you have strong actors-which the movie does. Judy Dench, Diane Weist, Steve Buschemi, and several other star in monologue format.
So back to Jude...isn't he just the sexiest...even as a woman??

Black is the new Black??? WTF

So I did black in a Donna Karan secretary sort of a way as a 12 year old but when I discovered that black did nothing for my coloring I banished it from my wardrobe. So when I hear people making such a fuss over black I laugh to myself because it is a myth that black looks good on EVERYONE. Recently I read a laugh-out-loud hilrious blog posting 'I mean what!!?' about black being the new black by Abe Gurko. Enjoy it here! And please find your own red and flaunt it! Enough of being 'safe'.

If you want to find out what your colors are-contact us so5thavenue@gmail.com and we will film the process for the site.