Daily Front Row

2012 December 11

Art Basel Miami: Lorenzo Martone Edition

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Diane Von Furstenberg, Lorenzo Martone
Billy Farrell Agency View Gallery

(MIAMI) You haven't gotten the real scoop from Art Basel Miami until you take a stroll down memory lane with PR consultant (turned fashion bike designer) Lorenzo Martone. Ready, set, Basel!

DAY 1: I attended the Pin-Up Magazine party, where architects George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg hosted 150 guests on Monday night for the kick-off event honoring designer and award winner, Philippe Malouin. L.A.-based singer Lauren Devine performed four songs by the pool in an all-reflective strapless dress. Delightful! The energy was contagious, to say the least, and I even saw a celeb or two making out by the pool. The best look of the night goes to the uber-talented (and docile) jewelry designer, Delfina Delettrez Fendi. I hear Y+P's next move is a dinner with Barney’s to celebrate the new store design!

DAY 2: Design Miami preview day. Clean, edited, and selective. The galleries did an extraordinary job showing one-of-a-kind pieces, like a brass screen by Taher Chemirik. A Russian millionaire told me she had just spent $180K on a couple of beautiful David Wiseman pieces with R 20^th Century Gallery. I went myself to double check, and they were totally worth it! Plus, Wiseman was there hanging out and talking art like in the good old days.

At night, Tumblr & Don Perignon hosted the GIF festival preview in a huge (and hard to find) venue in Wynwood. Oskar Metsavaht, the Brazilian designer for Osklen, told me he had been using the software to make moving mood boards. "It's intriguing to see the tangible result of the mood boards, all in motion," he told me, explaining how he adds actual photos of the show itself along with backstage pics. I have always thought about how much from the mood board remains in the actual fashion show. Now we must watch these videos to find out! And, in case you were wondering, the best look of the soiree was certainly Richard Phillips’ silk green jacket.

DAY 3: First, I previewed the Art Basel show. I decided I would not attend any parties or events until I actually accomplished to see what has ignited it all. Overall, the show was very desirable, since galleries only exhibit the best of each of the artists they represent. And the first day is always the day the real collectors are there, and their advisors, with energy and money to spend. It’s a fast-moving industry, where early birds get… you know what!  From a saint statue in a tanning bed to a multi-million (Gagosian) Picasso, the fair had enough inspiration for the next 35 years. 

The end of the afternoon was special, too. I started designing bicycles, and one of my bikes arrived at the store at the Standard Hotel. Perfect beginning of a new era for me - a soft launch during Art Basel. 

The night started with dinner at new restaurant SLS, hosted by Josh Wood and Jared Needle. Then it was off to the Chanel barbecue, which turned into an ex-traparty-ganza at Soho House. Every celebrity that was in Miami came to this event including Demi Moore. Nadine Johnson was lovely as always, trying to keep everyone calm at the door. (There were about 500 people trying to get in when I arrived.) Oh, the power of the Kaiser. Alas, Karl wasn't there, but for those looking to meet or see designers, plenty attended the sandy tent, including Givenchy's Riccardo Tisci, Brian Atwood, and Nicole Miller. Lauren Santo Domingo got my vote for the best look of the night. Not many can wear horizontal stripes and pull it off quite like her.

DAY 4: NADA preview. Nada was my favorite art show. It hasn't always been my number one each year but things change. This year's edition was surprisingly strong. I even acquired a piece from Walt Cassidy for my collection. It’s a gorgeous brass sculpture named "The Haad of Lavat." At lunch, I stopped by the DvF + Evian collaboration lunch at Soho House and told Diane about NADA and ended up bringing her back to the fair after lunch. Hamish Bowles and Sofía Sanchez Barrenechea joined us. We had quite a blast exploring the fair with emerging artists and quality museum pieces. UK-based Seventeen's pieces were breathtaking. Same goes for Invisible exports. I hope Diane and Hamish agree with me.

The night was quite a marathon! Bruce Weber launched his film, A Book of Lessons: All American Vol. 12, at the Standard Hotel to a star crowd. (Look of the night was Mia Martone) Aby and Samantha Rosen hosted their uber chic-collector-celeb-cool-crowd at The Dutch. AmfAR had their Inspirational Gala event (produced by Josh Wood) with a hot silent auction. Notables went nuts for the Ryan Mcginley item and one of Steven Klein's colorful "Boy By The Pool" photographs. Cecilia Dean, looking smoking hot in a Calvin Klein Collection red hot number, hosted with Visionaire, Net-a-Porter, and Mr Porter for the “free store party” at SLS. (I exchanged my original Slut Airlines T-shirt for a Keith Haring's "pleasure device.") My night ended back at the W hotel dancing to a few songs and admiring the modern-princess look of Samantha Boardman Rosen.

DAY 5: The Standard Miami pool area today felt just as social as any other Art Basel event. Certainly more quiet, but just as bold-faced. Waris Ahluwalia, Johan Lindeberg, Anna Laub, Lucy Mcintyre, and Max Vallot were just a few of my dear friends hanging out outside, trying to get a tan before heading back to (wet) NYC. During the afternoon, I took Anna Laub, along with my scooter, to explore the Design District. Hermes made the true bold statement by EMPTYING the entire store to accommodate a scarf show - a collaboration with Japanese photographer Sagimoto. The neighbors, on the other hand, were in full-on retail activity, including the new comers Prada and Dior Homme. Margiela had a DJ, plus very conceptual pieces. New shopping meca anyone? 

At night, Moncler celebrated its 60^th anniversary at 1111 Lincoln (the futuristic garage building) with impeccable taste. White carpet, dinner for 200 influencers...Where did the food come from? After last year's Grand Central Station and Central Park fashion week presentations, they did magic, AGAIN! Best look goes to Karolina Kurkova, who's always delightful. Another 300 guests arrived post-dinner to join the group and dance until midnight. I was afraid of turning into a frog (or pumpkin) and came back home. 

Flying back to New York on Sunday morning was hard…The feeling of leaving paradise behind. Luckily, Art Basel just gets bigger and bigger every year – and like every year, I always leave with a reason or two to come back!

For more Art Basel intel, head over to my Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.  

Stay gold,
Lolo