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OPENING NIGHT PREMIERE PARTY FEBRUARY 14th 2024 / LOS ANGELES
Come into Merle’s Closet for an insider’s view of the inner world of L.A. style.
The almost thirty year old L.A. Art Show opened this year on Valentine’s Day evening at the L.A. Convention Center (running through Feb 18), pumping up the passion of already a passionate collectors, gallerists and artists. Along with artists/exhibition booths from near and farflung places: LA, NY, Berkeley, Las Vegas, Chicago, Miami, Austin, Santa Fe, Paris, London, Seoul, Peru, Basel, Tel Aviv and The Philippines. But it seems where art goes, fashion always follows – as visual aesthetics are visual aesthetics, whatever way you express them.
Paul Denneman, who brought wife Alice and their daughter Caroline – both clad in pink tulle ruffes – donned his own chic LV logo bomber and studded work boots: explaining his fam’s fashion obsession: “We don’t separate art from fashion.” The looks were as expansive as the places the art hailed from: lots of pink or red (V Day), vintage, modern, chic, edgy. Sure, celebs like Lucy Hale were on hand for photo opps, and large exhibition’s food hall offered wafts of heavily fried food to a quite classy queue. But on the other end, enhancing all the art-inspired looks was the art itself – a colorful background to a quite colorful crowd.
NAME: Paul, little Caroline, and Alice Danneman
THEIR STORY: The family that dresses up together also appreciates art together. Alice and five year old Caroline are both art and outfit collectors – not really seeing the difference. That was clear in dad Paul Danneman’s look as well: his dark heavy denim jacket was by Louis Vuitton, his studded boots by Alexander McQueen.
NAME: Caroline Danneman | @carolinedanneman2019
HER STORY: Caroline Danneman just turned five –going on twenty five. She dressed like money, in pink tulle and sparkly shoes – “but she has her own style,” her dad proclaimed. Sure enough, she wore a pink stone Van Cleef & Arpels necklace and Gucci shoes. “On her birthday every year,” dad explains, “she gets to choose one piece of jewelry and one piece of art.” We’d like her life.
NAME: Alice Danneman
HER STORY: Mom Alice, in her Zimmerman pink tutu dress and Jimmy Choo metallic pumps, wasn’t emulating Barbie as much as celebrating Valentine’s Day. “I do love all Zimmerman pieces,” she confessed of the ultra-girly Australian label. “It’s beauty. Art is about beauty. We appreciate all of it.”
NAME: Michelle Marie Nichols | @maxiandchina
HER STORY: Michelle Marie Nichols, a Palm Springs socialite (as least that’s how her friends describe her), is, in fact, a Barbie fan but this Jacob Meir pink dress was more about Valentine’s. “He makes one of a kind pieces,” Nichols explained. “With a store on Melrose, he’s made clothes for Beyonce’ and Katy Perry.”
NAME: April Sutton
HER STORY: April Sutton, a former tv colleague of Geraldo Riviera (which falls under the heading of dubious achievement), Asian themed necklace was made from rare Chinese artifact coins. Her authentic kimono was purchased in a vintage store, muting down her metallic long sequin dress. Her bag is an original Fendi baguette, and those funky steampunk glasses are – what else? – vintage.
NAME: Austin Ashburn | @austinashburn4
HIS STORY: Journalist Austin Ashburn donned something you don’t see much of – a pink formal tux jacket. “It’s from my dad,” he explained, “when he was a teenage.” Pearls courtesy of a flea market, platform boots by ASOS (don’t underestimate ASOS!) and Versace glasses.
NAME: Jasmine Chang | @jasz.21
HER STORY: Jasmine Chang went back to China to visit her home country and came back with a traditional Cheongsam dress (in a more modern fabric) and kimono jacket (with a much more shape).
NAME: Afsy Levy | @afsylevy
HER STORY: Stopping off at the Field of Dreams gallery booth, we met owner Afsy Levy, working the newest iteration of the good old black and red trend. “The red chiffon coat hails from Turkey, the necklace was a gift from my dear sister in L.A.”
NAME: Patricia Torkan | @patriciatorkan
HER STORY: The artist showing at Levi’s gallery booth, Patricia Torkan, worked the fit n’ flare look – one invented by Christian Dior in 1947 – which still looks modern. She purchased her corset at Neiman Marcus; her little skirt courtesy of a stylist friend. “I just dress the way I feel,” is her philosophy.
NAME: Homeira Goldstein | @homeirastyle
HER STORY: Homeira Goldstein’s dramatic appearance seeps from her love of art and the art world. “I think I got the duster in Norway,” muttered the world traveler. “The (sprig of diamond) rings I had made.
NAME: Amy Kaps | Kaye Freeman | @hibiscustv | @kayefreeman_art
THEIR STORY: No, these are not a tangled pair mermaids who just swam in from Catalina. Neither are Amy Kaps and Kaye Freeman working the mermaidcore look. “All these things were made by recycled fabrics,” they claimed. “Including the wig.” The pair were actually performance artists who are also environmentalists for ocean conservation.
NAME: Nikki Gunter | @dakshoots
HER STORY: These boots are made for sitting. Skincare specialist Nikki Gunter paired her Dolls Kill gold (or something resembling it) together – wisely -with an all black ensemble. “These boots are definitely not made for walking,” she noted rhetorically.
NAME: Brenda Lee | @brendalee225676
HER STORY: Brenda Lee, one of the directors of the L.A. Art Show, knows how to curate a look – one that’s standout but still “director chic,” boss lady appropriate. Her black and gold brocade Dolce & Gabbana suit is completely complimented by her ballerina bun, kitten heels and feline avant garde cat eyes – almost art unto themselves. “I’m known for my crazy dress up!” she giggled in a much too self-deprecating way. Brenda gets our vote for EBD: EVENING BEST DRESSED
NAME: Malcom Ian Cross | @malcolmiancross_art
HIS STORY: Malcom Ian Cross is a professional artist who also paints his own couture pieces – which he always wears. A walking ad for how art and clothes come together, especially when you’re splashing paint around every day.
NAME: David Knudson | @altervision3d
HIS STORY: Artist “Dak” – aka David Knudson – is a fine art photographer and installation artist. Yes, he painted the white suit himself, a talent he’s transformed into an art.
NAME: Dain Yoon | @designdain
HER STORY: The eyes have it – and South Korean/New York based artist Dain Yoon who created these eye portraits, also has an eye for standout pieces. An eye for an eye, you might say. Her one in a mil silk tunic is Balenciaga, as are her shoes. She bought her big gold spider earrings on Farfetch.
NAME: Ashley Saville | @trashley33333
HER STORY: Ashley Saville, visiting with a London gallery she represents, put together this “gallery chic” look: a white and gold-flecked Bogner maxi shirtwaist, Gina sequin sandals she picked up in Palm Beach – both pieces that, worn in a different context, could be black tie or beach.
NAME: LAmoodboard.com | @icandyla
OUR STORY: To view who was wearing what and relevant backstory – read fashion writer extraordinaire Merle Ginsberg’s ongoing column, “Merle’s Closet.” (below.) We ask you to follow us on Instagram at #icandyla and regularly visit us here to get an overview of the latest fashion and cultural trends happening in Los Angeles. Capturing its myriad essence is our goal. Music courtesy of the Brian Jonestown Massacre.