After a summer hiatus, our monthly Register is back, bringing you the latest sartorial knowhow, cultural goings-on, as well as a plethora of interests and oddities from around the web. This week, Frieze London is in town, but rather than get caught up in the melee of pretentious hobnobbing, name-dropping, and fawning over works of art that no one really understands, much less likes, we've found five exhibitions in the capital that are worthy of your time.
Grab your popcorn ready for a binge of Faye Dunaway classics, because our piece on the actress's most stylish films will no doubt inspire you to revisit the masterpieces that are Bonnie and Clyde, Chinatown, and Network. With events season underway, we've also highlighted some of our favourite silk shantung dresses so you don't miss out on the glamour.
For the gents, it's back to school I'm afraid. It's tie-tying time - we'll show you how to achieve the perfect full Windsor, half Windsor, and Four-in-Hand knots should you be in any doubt, as well as expelling any ambiguity about the differences between a dinner jacket and a tuxedo!
Let's get to it!
5 Must-See Art Exhibitions in London Right Now
Chanel at the V&A
One of the most popular fashion exhibitions that the V&A has ever put on, Chanel can now only be seen if you become a member of the V&A, but it's worth the entry fee alone. The exhibition showcases over 200 looks by Gabrielle Chanel, including jewellery, accessories, cosmetics, and fragrances. From her first millinery boutique in Paris in 1910 to her final collection in 1971, the exhibition showcases a vast wealth of creations and rarely seen pieces worn by the likes of Hollywood stars Lauren Bacall and Marlene Dietrich.
Philip Guston, Tate Modern
The Philip Guston retrospective at the Tate Modern in London is a mesmerizing journey through the artist's dynamic evolution. Guston's ability to shift styles, from abstract expressionism to his iconic cartoon-like figurative works, is brilliantly showcased. The exhibition immerses visitors in his profound exploration of self and society, highlighting his poignant response to the civil rights movement and political turbulence of his time. His masterful manipulation of colour and texture captivates, while his introspective and often satirical subjects provoke contemplation. Guston's artistic range and social commentary make this retrospective a must-see, reminding us of the enduring relevance of his work.
Marina Abramović, Royal Academy
Marina Abramović is back in London at the Royal Academy with a brilliant retrospective of the Serbian performance artist's vast body of work. And 'body' is quite apt because Abramović has put hers on the line over the years. Who can forget her famous 2010 exhibition at MOMA, ‘The Artist Is Present’, where visitors could sit across a small table from the artist and be present, in silence? Many of the works here are of the time she was collaborating with her partner Ulay, most of which challenge notions of the personal, and physical space. Powerful, enduring, and painful at times.
Avery Singer: Free Fall
Down at Hauser & Wirth gallery in Mayfair, you'll find a brilliant exhibition by Avery Singer, but don't go expecting cheer and enlightenment - Free Fall is concerned with the trauma and aftermath of 9/11 and Singer goes deep into the wounds. Singer recreates a sort of American corporate claustrophobia, which is the vacuum in which this terrible most of history occurred. As an installation, it's unsettling, moving, and thought-provoking all at once.
Sarah Lucas: Happy Gas
One of the original members of the YBAs back in the 1990s, Sarah Lucas has made a sterling career out of creating lascivious, crude, obscene, and sometimes downright funny works of art. Lucas is primarily concerned with the everyday dirt under the fingernails of humanity, you know, love, death, sex, toilet habits, the unsightly corners of the human body, exploding them into large scale artworks that implore us to tackle our meekness head-on. In Happy Gas at Tate Britain, some of the first artworks you come across are called ‘Slag’, ‘Honey Pie’ (pictured above) and ‘Sex Bomb’. Lucas isn't exploring the meaning of life, but rather the meanings we give to things in our lives.
On-Screen Supreme: Faye Dunaway
The world of cinema has witnessed the emergence of numerous style icons over the decades, but few have left as indelible a mark as Faye Dunaway. With her striking beauty, commanding presence, and innate sense of fashion, Dunaway became a symbol of on-screen elegance during the 1960s and 1970s. Her style not only defined an era but continues to inspire and influence fashion trends today. In this article, we pick apart the wardrobes of three of her most iconic films: Bonnie and Clyde, Chinatown, and Network.
Shantung Baby: The Allure of Silk Dresses
There's silk and then there's Shantung silk, a gloriously textural variety of this most luxurious of fabrics, fashioned this season into elegant eveningwear dresses. Discover all of Favourbrook's immaculate Shantung silk creations in the new autumn/winter collection, right here.
All Tied Up
Yes, some of you reading this will no doubt tie a tie five days a week, but is it the very best possible knot you can tie? And can you tie three different types of knot? With the lack of tie-tying going on in the city at the moment, it never hurts to have a primer on three of the most popular ways to fix one's neck furniture. In these videos, our head of menswear Julian lends an expert hand to demonstrate how to perfectly tie a half Windsor, full Windsor, and Four-in-Hand knot. Pay attention at the back.
Dinner jacket or Tuxedo?
Do you know the difference between a dinner jacket and a tuxedo? Or is that a trick question?! Discover the essential details to look for when dressing for a black tie event, as well as uncovering the history of this elegant formalwear genre.
Frank Sinatra Has a Cold
With the recent release of legendary literary sleuth Gay Talese's new book, Bartleby and Me, what better time to revisit one of the New York scribe's finest pieces of work: Frank Sinatra Has a Cold. One of the founding fathers of New Journalism, Talese's immersive piece was originally published in Esquire magazine in April 1966, and is widely regarded as one of the seminal works of the New Journalism movement, which aimed to blend traditional journalism with the storytelling techniques of fiction. Talese originally intended to interview Frank Sinatra for a profile piece but was repeatedly denied access to the legendary singer. Instead, he focused on the people and events surrounding Sinatra during this period when he was suffering from a cold, unable to perform, and in a foul mood. Talese's piece not only provides a vivid depiction of Frank Sinatra but also paints a compelling picture of the people around him, such as his entourage, bodyguards, and even strangers who briefly interacted with him. It explores their relationships, quirks, and interactions with Sinatra, adding depth to the narrative.
