Last Friday, during the biggest and busiest Art Basel week in Miami yet, luxury coat brand Moncler threw a ravishing winter-white party to celebrate its 60th anniversary. Moncler president Remo Ruffini entertained 200 dinner guests at the ultra-chic 1111 Lincoln Road. Celebrities, designers and fashion editors — including Uma Thurman, Pharrell Williams, Giambattista Valli and Hamish Bowles — mingled and each departed with white, quilted floor-length Moncler capes, compliments of the house.
The gorgeous Herzog and de Meuron-designed 1111 Lincoln building — home to shops including the Alchemist avant-garde boutique and an outpost of Y-3 — was just one of the many spots where Art Basel morphed into what we like to call Fashion Basel.
Yes, Miami’s shopping scene is getting a much needed face-lift, and everyone seems to be welcoming the change with open arms, purses and wallets.
Fashion heavy hitters dominated the Art Basel landscape with fetes spanning the city, from the Webster to Soho Beach House and, of course, all the way across town to the Design District. While many used the week as an opportunity to launch stores or celebrate milestones, others collaborated with world-renowned artists and turned storefronts into venues for exhibitions.
Laure Heriard Dubreuil, co-founder of the Webster, has played an influential role in juxtaposing South Beach’s signature ripped/embellished denim and skin-clad look with a fresh high-class/cool-girl aesthetic. The French CEO, who has plans to open her next store in New York, hosted a slew of events at her cutting-edge Collins Avenue boutique, including book signings for Stephanie LaCava and the Sartorialist’s Scott Schuman, as well as a tea party with Stella McCartney. Dubreuil kicked off the week on her rooftop with an Interview magazine event debuting Valentino’s Pop Pois Collection. The unveiling of the vibrant, retro polka-dot line brought in everyone from Martha Stewart and Peter Brant to Brian Atwood and Owen Wilson.
Soho Beach House also churned out bash after bash, starting with Chanel’s Art.sy affair on the moonlit sand of the exclusive club, where guests enjoyed gargantuan platters of paella and dance moves by Demi Moore and Lenny Kravitz. Lacoste celebrated the launch of a limited-edition T-shirt designed by Brazilian artist duo the Campana Brothers, benefiting the Everglades Foundation. And Chloé snagged Soho Beach House’s penthouse for a blowout 60th anniversary party that showcased art inspired by its couture creations.
Chloé is one of the many major fashion brands with a boutique at the uber-fabulous, 450,000-square-foot Bal Harbour Shops — also known as the world’s top shopping center, with record-breaking sales of $2,638 per square foot (nearly seven times the industry average).
Powered by stores such as Audemars Piguet and Balenciaga, the insanely expensive mall is the ultimate success story, despite all of its LVMH stores decamping to the Design District.
Brought to you by Craig Robins’ Dacra development firm, the Design District’s shopping core is only getting started. The neighborhood celebrated openings at Prada and Agnona’s first US boutique last week, as well as recently added shops from Céline, Cartier, Hermes, Louis Vuitton and Maison Martin Margiela. Christian Louboutin presented Ye Hongxing’s colorful work, which combines traditional Chinese and modern elements. Fendi Casa brought in Andy Warhol pieces. Marni featured the “L’Arte del Ritratto” chair exhibition by Francesco Jodice. And Harper’s Bazaar’s editor-in-chief, Glenda Bailey, showcased the ShopBazaar.com online store at an event with NY celebrity chef John DeLucie. But Kris Van Assche and W magazine‘s Stefano Tonchi topped everyone else with the world premiere of Bruce Weber’s “Can I Make the Music Fly?” film to mark the opening of the new Dior Homme boutique.
Back on the beach, other notable events included celeb/risqué photographer Terry Richardson’s “Terrywood” book signing at the Standard Hotel, Stylecaster at the Gale South Beach and the Visionaire, Net-a-porter.com and MrPorter.com bash, which featured an interactive installation by multimedia artist Jonathan Horowitz, at the new SLS Hotel.
The volume of world-class parties was overwhelming but not at all surprising. Each year Art Basel grows larger and larger, with more days, events and artists. Don’t be surprised to see “Fashion Basel” grow along with it. In the meantime, you might want to make sure your credit line is in order if you plan on escaping to Miami anytime soon. Those new shoes are calling your name.