THE JOURNAL

All photographs by Ms Suzanne Middlemass
The best-dressed men at this year’s London art fair.
Was this the year that Frieze hit peak Instagram? The members of the MR PORTER team at least have found themselves completely inundated with snaps from friends attending the prestigious, enormous art fair that took place in Regent’s Park, London, over the weekend. Somehow, it seems, the October 2017 version of “hot dog legs” has become “an amazing tapestry by Ms Cornelia Parker” or “the most incredible sculptural intervention by Ms Alicja Kwade”. It’s FOMO, but a little more Po-mo. Anyway, of course we at MR PORTER are always searching for a slightly deeper understanding of such events – specifically, observing what was on display not just in the various booths, but on the multitude of elegant bodies that thronged in and out of them. Scroll down for our favourite outfits from Frieze, and the important lessons to glean from them.
1. MAKE TRENDS WORK FOR YOU

At first glance, this art-lover appears to have opted for a remarkably understated look. But then you start unpicking the outfit and discover that not only is he wearing a very zeitgeisty Gucci belt, he’s also channelling some of the key trends from next season. There’s the oversized coat (cf. Balenciaga). There’s the V-neck sweater (cf. Dries Van Noten). The fact that it all looks so wonderfully casual and effortless is testimony to his ability to take such ideas and tone them down for everyday use.
Get the look
2. TRY A SUBTLE POP OF COLOUR

We’re not sure why this gentleman is standing in a seemingly deserted area of a park. Perhaps he is looking for a phone signal? Or maybe he is trying to catch Pokémon? He may well have got himself lost trying to achieve both. Whatever the situation, if directions are not his forte, mastering the “pop colour” trend certainly is. Rarely have we seen a pair of glasses take centre stage in an outfit so skillfully.
Get the look
3. BUT DON’T BE AFRAID TO BE BOLD

There is nothing more effective to combat the onset of winter than a good dose of colour block. And the only way to stand out from the crowd at an event like Frieze is to be bold. But one must also exercise restraint. Sure – a flash of primary yellow will get people’s attention, but if it’s not tempered with something a little less striking, you may well be mistaken for a steward, or a supermarket worker nipping out for a cigarette. As it is, the pastel orange workwear jacket here continues the theme in a stylish manner.
Get the look
4. PEOPLE SHOULD WEAR MORE HATS

What a juxtaposition: a stark gallery space with an array of headgear worthy of a Colorado sheriff, or some other mountainous type. Let’s not question the why – when it comes to contemporary art, this is a somewhat gauche thing to do – let’s just admire the how: these fedoras add a rakish charm to otherwise understated outfits, and they work thanks to the restrained colour palette all-round. Particularly nice is the way that the dark blue example on the right harmonises with the navy coat and burgundy trousers. But the overall impression is what’s the most fun: it feels like that we’re not just looking at art here, but embarking upon an adventure. Wouldn’t it be fun if more people dressed like this?