The 6th annual Frieze art fair always bestows a bit of beauty, a lot of world class cultural flare and much anticipated aesthetic adrenaline on our shores.
Step into Merle’s Closet for an insider’s view of the inner world of L.A. style.
NAME: Balerj Pobega & Mattia Biagi
OCCUPATION: Artists & Designers
SUM OF THE PARTS: This couple’s so cool, they both had to be artists of some fashion. Turns out, they are and more so. Mattia Biagi in the hat is a well-known Italian multimedia artist; he’s worked with brands tk, on top of which he designs products, furniture, is a fine artist and production designer. Color us impressed. No wonder his toile style shirt’s by Vivienne Westwood, the shoes are Gucci, and the fab glasses Bottega Veneta. Italian fashion designer Valerj Pobega designs avant-gardepieces, like the cape she’s wearing. Handbag is original art deco. “We’re both vintage junkies,” she laughed. We could tell.
Instagram: @mattiabiagi1 @vallerjpobega
NAME: Aliona Kononova
OCCUPATION: Our Cover Photo
SUM OF THE PARTS: Of course Aliona Kononova is a designer! What else could she possibly be? Wearing her own fabulous avant-garde sartorial splendor, her clothes are sold at H. Lorenzo and Des Kohan. With her signature red lip and slightly – slightly? – Goth attire, Aliona admits her vibe is always: “a little bit dark, but with hope.” Isn’t everyone’s these days?
Instagram: @alionakononova
NAME: Gary Baseman & Guest
OCCUPATION: Artist
SUM OF THE PARTS: Famed L.A. artist Gary Baseman turned up at Frieze in a unique white and blue embroidered suit – “by my favorite designer, Bode!” That’s NY designer Emily Bode, famed for her boho/rustic original menswear – the Bode store here’s on Melrose just east of LaBrea.
Instagram: @garybaseman
NAME: Christina Kim & Apurba Pathak
OCCUPATION: Doctors
SUM OF THE PARTS: Apurba Pathak is the best dressed urological surgeon we’ve ever seen. Those barrel shaped patched cargos are by Japanese brand Kapitol – he paired them with leather flowered clogs. “You must go to the Kapitol store in Japan,” his wife Christina Kim (a dermatologist) told us. She’s right – Kapitol Japanese demin’s hard to get here.
Instagram: @drchristinechoikim
NAME: Jonathan Matthews
OCCUPATION: Painter
SUM OF THE PARTS: Famed Venice based oil painter Jonathan Matthews is wearing his samurai pants – which look pretty cool to us – with a t shirt version of one of his paintings: “I customize each one.”
Instagram: @jomaworks
NAME: Anton Krivorotov
OCCUPATION: Dentist
SUM OF THE PARTS: Anton Krivorotov, who doesn’t dress like a dentist but is, likes it “cozy.” One doesn’t think of dentists as“cozy” people – or particularly cool people. But Dr. Anton is.
Instagram: @dr.krivorotov
NAME: Alan Bakerv
OCCUPATION: Entrepreneur
SUM OF THE PARTS: Mr. Alan Bakerv is one sharp shooter – and dresser – in his fascinating combo of unique pieces.
Instagram: @alanbakerv
NAME: Jeremy Quant
OCCUPATION: Entrepreneur
SUM OF THE PARTS: Mr. Jeremy Quant, “no descendant” of one of the most pivotal designers of all time, London’s Mary Quant, represents artists through his agency. Clearly some of that art’s rubbed off on him.
Instagram: @iamjeremyquant
NAME: Monique Meloche
OCCUPATION: Gallerist
SUM OF THE PARTS: Gallerists can have fashion addictions, too. Monique Meloche of the Monique Meloche Gallery in Chicago is an accessories junkie: her glasses are by Vooglam, long sold out boots by Bottega Veneta.
Instagram: @moniquemeloche
NAME: Drew Bly
OCCUPATION: Photographer
SUM OF THE PARTS:
Instagram: @drewbly.photo
NAME: Kat Niambi & Chelsea VonChaz
SUM OF THE PARTS: Both seemed pretty decked out to me, in all kinds of disparate but killer combos of items. Their vibe? “Just bein’ ME!” replied Chelsea. Hurray for that.
Instagram: @thehungrymedium | @chelseavonchaz
NAME: Alexis Borges
OCCUPATION: President of Next Model Management L.A.
SUM OF THE PARTS: Of course you’d expect Alexis Borges president of Next Model Management L.A., to be stylin’, and stylin’ he was.
Instagram: @agentborges
NAME: Jami Miller & Charles Kaplan
OCCUPATION: Jewelry Designer | Entreprenuer
SUM OF THE PARTS:
Instagram: @jamilegrace @charleskap
NAME: Drew
OCCUPATION: Fashion Designer
SUM OF THE PARTS: The person who refers to themself as “Girlacne” is an artist, queer fashion designer who’s insta says they are “seeking liberation through art, fashion and nightlife.” All these pieces are self created, except the boots. which are certainly creative to walk in. The makeup alone took two hours. Gotta award the vision – and effort.
Instagram: @girlacne
