Andy Warhol, The Souper Dress, c.1968
Charlie Porter’s book ‘What Artists Wear’ is a revelatory account on the significance of artists’ clothing. Porter, a fashion journalist, delves into the wardrobes of household names to reveal how their fashion choices are never neutral. Sometimes wearing a suit may be a means of resistance, or a particular jacket may be a form of storytelling. Porter offers an interesting means of learning more about beloved artists. Through observing the outfits of Francis Bacon for example, who was always photographed in clean, crisp clothing amidst his unruly, paint-caked studio, we may learn more about the dichotomies and tensions which existed in his personal life and filtered into his paintings.
The overlap of clothing and art offers fascinating insights into the artists we love. This intersection is also the home of many incredible artworks, designed to inspire, reveal, and revolutionise. Whatever the latest fashion, these works are sure to never go out of style; why not delve into Hidden’s ‘wardrobe’ and discover your next acquisition.
Any questions? We are happy to help. Call: 0117 279 6402 or send us a message now.
Andy Warhol, The Souper Dress, c.1968
Warhol remained intertwined with the fashion industry throughout his career, creating illustrations for Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar and befriending designers such as Armani and Versace. Warhol’s involvement with fashion, from his own wardrobe to his professional life, reflects his artistic philosophies; as a pioneer of Pop Art, the artist aspired to break down boundaries between art and popular culture. Famous for his paintings and prints of soup cans, his imagery was soon transformed into custom-made dresses. Paper dresses, despite their impracticalities, were incredibly popular in the 60s, and purchasers of Campbell’s Soup had the opportunity to acquire a Warhol ‘Souper Dress’.
This dress is held in major museum collections worldwide, including MoMA and the V&A; this piece is therefore an exciting opportunity to acquire a piece of rare art which encapsulates not only Warhol’s influence on art but fashion.
René Magritte, Untitled (Homme au Chapeau Melon – The Man with a Bowler Hat), 1969
Magritte began his career as a fashion catalogue illustrator, but funnily enough never illustrated a bowler hat advertisement! Bowler hats are synonymous with Magritte – a staple of both his wardrobe and oeuvre. Intended to inspire intrigue and anonymity, due to the artist’s dedication to wearing bowlers each of his paintings may consequently be read as a self-portrait. If this hat is the artist’s signature, then this superb etching is exemplary of Magritte’s artistic endeavours.
A HC print aside from an edition size as small as 150, this is truly an unmissable opportunity to collect an artwork iconic not only of Magritte, but of the Surrealist movement.
Grayson Perry, Claire - A Self Portrait, 2022
Perry’s alter ego Claire is as legendary as any of his artworks. Claire is best described by the artist as ‘a fortysomething woman living in a Barratt home, the kind of woman who eats ready meals and can just about sew on a button’. The artist’s outfits, which enable him to transform into Claire, are often displayed as artworks in their own right.
This unique drawing, created in front of Hidden’s owner Chris (what extraordinary provenance!), is quintessentially Perry and an essential addition to any serious Perry collection.
Chris Levine, Lightness of Being, 2018
In this case, Levine’s fashion choices do not reveal anything of his own sensibilities, but rather those of his subject’s. The artist was commissioned to create a portrait of the Queen in 2004, and the happy accident of capturing the Queen with her eyes shut has led to one of the most beloved images of Her Majesty. Meditative and revolutionary, it is subversive and highly unusual to depict a monarch in this manner. Royals normally have their eyes open as they are all-seeing – Levine is encouraging us to see Queen Elizabeth II instead as all-knowing. Levine urges us to see the Queen as modern, unique therefore from her predecessors. This may be observed through the contrast of pearls and Her Majesty’s contemporary and bold lipstick colour. Through a simple fashion choice, Levine captures the spirit of a beloved public figure.
Described by the National Portrait Gallery as 'the most evocative image of a royal by any artist', this incredibly work has captured the hearts and minds of many, and demand remains strong.
Tracey Emin, Emin x Longchamp - Always Me/Les Pliages, 2004
Emin first burst into public consciousness as a YBA with a punk attitude. Interestingly, Emin bonded with fellow maverick Vivienne Westwood at a Vogue photoshoot, and famously modelled her clothes. Fashion is something Emin certainly engages in, describing her style as eclectic but feminine. The artist’s collaboration with Longchamp is certainly evidence of her influence on fashion, as the original run of pouchette bags in 2004 sold out almost immediately.
Luckily for Hidden’s clients, our collection currently holds two Emin bags from her Longchamp commission – ‘Rose Pink Dragonfly’ and ‘Always Me/Les Pliages’. Each piece reflects the artist’s own bold and expressive style, in both her oeuvre and wardrobe, whilst offering a unique opportunity to collect her work.
Any questions? We are happy to help. Call: 0117 279 6402 or send us a message now.
