By Jonathan Borge
Is Art Basel to Miami what Fashion Week is to New York? Saying so would perhaps be an overstatement, but there's no denying that with the arrival of the days-long art fair come some of the world's most extravagantly dressed individuals. From enormous, head-to-toe chinchilla fur coats to gleaming baubles brighter than the sun, Basel goers make their most glamorous and daring sartorial decisions before arriving to each night's invitation-only, celebrity packed soirees.
Last year, a one-minute walk down Collins Avenue between 22nd and 21st Streets proved to look more like a stroll through Lincoln Center before a designer's show than a typical day on South Beach. And this year, we shouldn't expect anything less. In fact, the fashion elite will soon arrive, and you only need their first names to know exactly who they are: Diane, Terry, Pharrell, Scott, Bruce, Donna, Stefano, Stella, and Derek, to name a few.
The debate over fashion's influence in the art world, or the art world's influence in fashion, is nothing new, but this year's invitations and happenings seem more grande than those of years past. While there are events and openings hosted by Chanel, Hermes, Stella McCartney, Prada, and Christian Louboutin, here are 16 others that are definitely approved of by the fashion glitterati:
MOCA and Vanity Fair/Vanity Fair International Party
Donna Karan, Calvin Klein, and Bruce Weber were just some of the recognizable faces that stepped into the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) to celebrate its annual party last year. The opening reception of Bill Viola's "Liber Insularum" exhibition is also this same night.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA)
770 NE 125th St.
North Miami, FL 33161
Invitation Only
Interview Magazine and Valentino Cocktail Party
The Webster's very stylish CEO and co-founder Laure Heriard Dubreuil is hosting a cocktail party at her boutique's own rooftop. Guests, who are probably fashion heavyweights and celebrities, will view Valentino's Pop Pois Collection.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
The Webster Miami
1220 Collins Ave
Miami Beach, FL 33139
Invitation Only
Delfina Delettrez at Design Miami
Rome-based jewelry designer Delfina Delettrez will showcase a career's worth of pieces at the Antonella Villanova Gallery inside Design Miami. The pieces can be viewed through magnifying glasses for a closer view of her necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and rings.
Wednesday, December 5, 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Thursday, December 6 - Sunday, December 9, Noon - 8:00 PM
Design Miami
Meridian Ave. and 19th St.
Adjacent to the Miami Beach Convention Center
Miami Beach, FL 33139
Bruce Weber's at the Standard Spa
Famed fashion photographer Bruce Weber will stop by the Standard to sign copies of his latest book, "All-American Volume Twelve: A Book of Lessons," followed by an invitation-only party with Dior Homme and W magazine at the Moore Building, where Weber will also premiere his new film, "Can I Make the Music Fly?"
Thursday, December 6
6:00 PM (Book Signing)
The Standard Spa
40 Island Ave.
Miami Beach, FL 33139
Design Talks with W magazine's Stefano Tonchi and Diane Von Furstenberg
Back at Design Miami, W magazine's editor-in-chief Stefano Tonchi, who always makes the Basel rounds, will sit with Diane Von Furstenberg to talk about her illustrious career and fashion design.
Wednesday, December 5
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Design Miami
Meridian Ave. and 19th St.
Adjacent to the Miami Beach Convention Center
Miami Beach, FL 33139
Shop Bazaar Pop-Up Shop
Last year Vogue hosted a series of events during Basel, but this year Harper's Bazaar is stepping foot into the Design District with its very own pop-up shop, where guests can meet editors, view art installations, sip cocktails, and, of course, shop.
Wednesday, December 5 - Saturday, December 8
Open at 11:00 AM
The Buena Vista Building
108 NE 39th St, Suite 107
Miami, FL 33137
Visionaire, Net-A-Porter and Mr.Porter Event
Online shopping destinations Mr. Porter and Net-A-Porter have partnered with Visionaire magazine and artist Jonathan Horowitz to host "Free Store," an event and live exhibition where invited guests will exchange their own items for those in Horowitz's "Free Store."
Thursday, December 6
9:00 PM - 11:00 PM
SLS Hotel South Beach
1701 Collins Avenue
Miami Beach, FL 33019
Invitation Only
Andy Warhol and Fendi Casa Exhibit
Andy Warhol is back! Well, not really. Fendi Casa is hosting some of Warhol's greatest works inside the Luxury Living Fendi Casa Showroom in the Design District. The pieces will be housed here for two weeks before moving to the Adamar Fine Arts Gallery through January.
Opening Reception
Thursday, December 6
8: 00 PM - 11:00 PM
Fendi Casa Luxury Living Showroom
90 NE 39th St.
Miami, FL 33137
Invitation Only
Kelly Klein at the Webster
Photographer Kelly Klein, Calvin's ex, will be at the Webster on Dec. 6 signing copies her of her book, "Pools: Reflections."
Thursday, December 6
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
The Webster Miami
1220 Collins Ave
Miami Beach, FL 33139
Terry Richardson at the Standard Spa
Yet another fashion photographer, Terry Richardson, will be signing copies of his book. The lens man and provocateur will be marking his signature on "Terrywood" at the Standard Spa on Dec. 7, where he'll host a star-studded, invite-only bash following the signing.
Friday, December 7
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM (Book Signing)
The Standard Spa
40 Island Ave.
Miami Beach, FL 33139
Donna Karan at the Delano
Basel might as well be one giant book fair, because American designer Donna Karan will also be signing copies of her book, "Stephan Weiss: Connecting the Dots," on Dec. 7 at the Delano.
Friday, Dec. 7
Noon - 2:00 PM
Poolside at the Delano Beach Club
1685 Collins Ave.
Miami Beach, FL 33139
Design Talks with Pharrell Williams
Call him a rapper, art collector, entrepreneur, or by any of his other titles, Pharrell will be another guest speaker at Design Miami's "Design Talks" series, where he'll discuss his new venture, a book titled "Pharrell: Places and Spaces I've Been."
Friday, December 7
3:00 PM
Design Miami
Meridian Ave. and 19th St.
Adjacent to the Miami Beach Convention Center
Miami Beach, FL 33139
Casa Vogue and Ornare Architecture Talk
Brazil’s Casa Vogue editor Taissa Buescu has gathered international designers and architects to talk about real estate, media, and design across the globe. This one isn’t all about fashion, but it has a chic aesthetic to it.
Friday, December 7
11 AM
Ornare
3930 NE Second Ave.
Miami, FL 33137
Invitation Only
The Sartorialist at the Webster
Scott Schuman, otherwise known as the Sartorialist, recently dropped a second book, “The Sartorialist: Closer,” which features photographs of the world’s most stylish people. He’ll be at the Webster signing copies, so come prepared with your best outfit on.
Saturday, December 8
4: 00 PM
The Webster Miami
1220 Collins Ave
Miami Beach, FL 33139
Chloe’s 60th Anniversary
Luxury fashion house Chloe chose the Soho Beach House to host its 60th anniversary celebration, where invited guests will see “Chloe Attitudes Inspired,” an exhibition featuring photography, sculpture, and paintings that honor the brand.
Saturday, December 8
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Soho Beach House Penthouse
4385 Collins Ave.
Miami Beach, FL 33140
Invitation Only
I Art New York
Basel devotees will spend each night trying to locate Paris nightclub Le Baron, which is using social media to announce a different location for the venue each night at 6:00 p.m. On Saturday, it will host yet another exclusive party with fashion-world hosts that include artist Aaron Young and Harper’s Bazaar’s Derek Blasberg.
Saturday, December 8
11:00 PM – 5:00 AM
Le Baron
Location to be announced.
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