openmic

clothesencounters
social seduction: february 27, 2004. who's got the look you want to know better? as betty rymer gallery celebrates 17 years of saic's fashion resource center, m2m busts the opening-night style agenda out of the closet.

Editors' choice: Shay
Occupation: Artist/administrator
Why we picked her: "She has presence."
Describe your outfit for us. Oh, I'm a pretty princess! (laughs) It's sort of a cross between sparkly bag lady, Jackie O.--and Frankenstein.
Because you're wearing kickass boots with that beautiful dress. Yeah. It's like I went to the prom, went crazy, and never took the dress off.
What are you trying to express through your choice of clothes tonight? When I woke up this morning, I felt like crap. So I decided to put on the silliest thing in my wardrobe, because it would make me feel better.
Do you feel like your fashion style is an extension of your artistic statement? Some days more than others. Today, maybe a little bit.
Is there an implied dress code for gallery openings? People seem to think so, but I don't. At least, not here.
Why do you think so many people in the art world wear black? It makes them look thinner, and it makes artists look fit when they really aren't, because they never exercise. I guess something, in the annals of time, has made it a tradition. Thankfully, the beret has left us.
What's your style watchword for Spring 2004? Beware the return of the '80s. I hated them the first time, and I don't like them the second time.

Editors' choice: Damla
Occupation: Student/artist/one of the curators
Why we picked her: "We want that coat!"
Tell us about your outfit. Well, I'm Turkish, and this necklace is from the covered bazaar in Istanbul. I'm also wearing a vintage Ottoman overcoat.
What are you trying to express through your choice of clothes? Usually, I dress according to my daily mood. At times--like for tonight--I will dress in ways that reflect my cultural background. But other times I go for more relaxed, comfortable stuff.
Is your fashion style an extension of your artistic statement? Well, I'm a photographer, and some of my work comes from humorous ideas. So sometimes I will try to get some humor into what I wear.
Is there an implied dress code for art openings? I guess there is, but I believe there shouldn't be. People seem to go for a more formal, chic style. As you can tell from some of the other curators of this show, we're trying to break away from that.
Why do you think so many people in the art world wear black? I have no idea. My sister is an artist and she's always wearing black. I keep asking her why, and she says it's just really easy, because you can actually mix and match things and still look different. But I love color, myself.
What's your style watchword for Spring 2004? Comfortable shoes. Right now I'm seeing all these shoes with pointy toes. They look beautiful, but I just can't wear them.

Damla's choice: Alycia
Occupation: Wandering multi-tasker (i.e. one of the curators)
Why Damla picked her: "She has very interesting style."
Describe your outfit. I'm wearing a lace dress covered with a shirt that states, "Extinction Sucks."
What are you trying to express through your choice of clothes tonight? I'm trying to express that extinction is a bad thing! And that everyone should think about how their choice of garments might reflect on their social decisions and practices, and the interconnections between themselves and the environment.
Do you feel like your fashion style reflects your creative intent? Possibly. I feel like I belong to many different decades, or maybe I have past lives in which I was different people in different ages. So when I wake up in the morning, whatever period of time I feel it is basically dictates what I put on.
Is there an implied dress code for art openings? I'm a very bad person to ask this question! I think there may be one--that you need to wear something chic or fancy in some way or another--but I try to stay away from that as much as possible. I think the appropriate attire is whatever speaks to you.
Why do you think so many people in the art world wear black? Well, as it happens, I'm in black this evening. However, I do often wear many colors! But this is a very good question. Maybe it's just something that has become a uniform, that makes a certain statement. I'm still trying to conjure that.
What's your style watchword for Spring 2004? Honestly, as far as what the fashion world is saying, I haven't been paying a damn bit of attention. But I would say: an accessory that reaches out and touches someone, and says something.

Alycia's choice: David
Occupation: Business student
Why Alycia picked him: "I think he has a very interesting sense of fashion...and he's always one to really enjoy expressing his views on the way someone else is dressed."
Describe your outfit for us. Brown corduroy pants and a light beige sweater.
What are you trying to express through your choice of clothes tonight? Conservative values, I guess!
Do you go to a lot of gallery openings? I've been to several, because my wife is in this business.
Do you sense there's an implied dress code? I think some people try to dress interestingly, maybe in more colors than usual.
When you see artists wearing black, what does it make you think? That they're suffering.
What's your style watchword for Spring 2004? Corduroy pants!

David's choice: Brian
Occupation: Businessman
Why David picked him: "His coat is almost the same color as my sweater."
Describe your outfit for us. I'm wearing a coat from eBay; I don't know the designer. And then pretty basic blue jeans, an Eddie Bauer sweater, and Aldo shoes.
What are you trying to express through your choice of clothing? I usually dress for comfort, but I have to look reasonably fashionable within that comfort range. I don't want to look too out of date.
Do you feel there's an implied dress code for gallery openings? I think it really depends on the venue. Certain openings practically happen in someone's living room, so there's not much of a dress code there. But in other places, there's definitely more of a dress-up implication.
Why do you think so many people in the art world wear black? I don't know. There's always the angst-y side to that--the depressed, stormy artist. It makes a bold statement. But it's too overdone.
What's your style watchword for Spring 2004? Stretchy shirts.

Brian's choice: Lindsay
Occupation: Artist/Administrator
Why Brian picked her: "She looks cool."
Describe your outfit. I'm wearing a sweater dress with a hood, from eBay. And simple red boots that are really comfy. My coat is from eBay, also.
We really like your blue satin bag. Thanks--it's from Urban Outfitters. It's very roomy; it fits a magazine.
That's what we like to hear! So what are you trying to express through your choice of clothes tonight? Well, everything's very practical. But since it's Friday, I also decided to have fun with it.
Do you feel your personal style reflects your artistic interests? Definitely. I like to find things that are unique, which is why I buy a lot of stuff on eBay; I know I won't be seeing it on somebody else. I also design jewelry, but I'm not wearing any of my own pieces tonight.
Is there an implied dress code for art openings? People always wear a lot of black. I didn't intend to, but I did, too! I guess you just don't want to look boring. If I were to suggest a dress code, I would say that people should wear things they've made.
Why do you think so many people in the art world wear black? I don't know. But they shouldn't.
What's your style watchword for Spring 2004? Substantial sandals.

Editors' choice: Klaara
Occupation: Third-grader
Why we picked her: "That little girl is fierce!"
What brings you here tonight? Well, my parents wanted to see this show, so I came with them. And I have a book that I draw clothes in.
So you're an aspiring fashion designer! What sort of styles are you interested in creating someday? I don't know. I like all clothes, and I draw everything I see.
What are you wearing tonight? A leopard-print shirt, baggy gray pants, and a scarf.
What are you trying to express through your clothes? Well, they're comfortable. My scarf is really warm. I wear it a lot, because my mom made it for me.
Do you feel like there's a uniform here tonight? I think there are lots of different styles. Some people are funky, some are casual, and some got dressed up really fancy.
Do you ever notice how artists wear a lot of black? Yeah, sometimes.
Why do you think they do that? Maybe they have a feeling that black would help them express--like they're sort of angry, or something.
What's your style watchword for Spring 2004? I think people are going to be wearing a lot of dresses with flowers on them. That's what Spring is about!

Crowd fave: Judy
Occupation: Retired teacher
Why everyone picked her: "This woman knows how to work a room."
Describe your outfit. I'm wearing a Chanel suit, Chanel purse, and Chanel boots. And fishnet tights.
What are you trying to express through your choice of clothes tonight? What looks best on me--and Chanel does.
Is there an implied dress code for art openings? Black. But I would rather see people in something colorful.
Why do you think so many people in the art world dress in black? So they don't have to think about what to wear. It's also unassuming, like a shadow. You're not there, really; you're observing.
What's your style watchword for Spring 2004? Well, I've collected all the articles in the New York Times from Fashion Week. Fur seems to be back, and filmy skirts with leather jackets. And Manolo Blahniks are always in.