LAUREN WITTLES ON PERSONAL STYLE IN THE ART WORLD, IN NEW YORK, AND ON SERENDIPITY
Lauren Wittels is a partner and director at the Luhring Augustine gallery in Chelsea, New York. Over her career she has also run her own gallery, served as the contemporary art expert at Citibank Private Bank art advisory service and founded a non-profit arts publishing house. She sits on the boards of the Art Dealers Association of America and Visual AIDS, and is a faculty member of the Artist in the Marketplace program at the Bronx Museum of the Arts.
Do you have a uniform or personal style code?
I love clothes and have built up a wardrobe of wonderful things which I put together in different ways. Sometimes it’s more successful than others. When it works, I remember it to repeat, but I definitely don’t have a uniform. I don’t have “basics” apart from maybe a few navy and black turtlenecks… I wear a lot of sequins.
How did you discover Manifestations?
My gallery was exhibiting at Frieze Masters in London and I saw a woman wearing the most extraordinary coat. I wanted to go after her and ask about it but I was busy working. That evening I saw a man in a spectacular coat with gold sleeves. I found out later they were both made by Aigana. The next day, a woman in another amazing coat came into my booth and this time I did ask about it and she put me in touch with Aigana. It was like the coats were finding me.
…on the first time you tried on your Mainfestations coat, and when do you wear it?
When it arrived, I was almost afraid it wasn’t going to look as good as I’d imagined but it felt fantastic. It’s part cape, part robe, part garland. It’s very special.
I would wear it all day if I could! Even though I have to take it off indoors, it feels part of my working life in Chelsea because I wear it around the neighbourhood when I walk my dog and go out to lunch. Instead of putting it in a closet I hang it up in my office so I can look at it.
How do you style it?
It’s covered in crystals, gems and gold circles so I like to contrast it with a sweatshirt, jeans and sneakers. I also like it with mannish tailored suits. I haven’t worn it with anything super-dressy because it like how it works against casual things.
Can you tell us about reactions to it?
People – even strangers – ask where I got it. I tell them about Aigana and to say ‘hi’ from me if they go to visit her in London.
What if everyone in the art world starts copying you and wearing Aigana’s coats? Would that bother you?
I’m 6’2” and I embrace looking unusual – I’ve never worried about looking like other people.
Are you a collector? No, I love art but have no desire to own it.
No, I love art but have no desire to own it.
What’s your favourite place to visit?
Chicago. It’s like my second home. I go roughly once a month and always stay downtown at London House hotel. It’s a great city for art, fashion, thrifting, music, food, everything!
What’s on your wish list?
Coats are definitely my thing. They show who you are in New York – they’re definitely more important than bags here. Then shoes are next. I just bought the new Celine boots with shearling cuffs and I’d love to find a great everyday bag. I would never carry an ‘it’ bag – I’m not a status person. I love clothes but not logos – I don’t want to be a billboard for insecurity. I want to find a bag equivalent to my Manifestations coat: it’s so noticeable and stunning; people admire it but they don’t know what it is.