Hey hey!
So I’m currently sitting in Orlando, as I’m covering a local fashion show called Deck the Runway tonight! I just landed last night from Miami, where I was working with Lincoln on an influencer activation during Art Basel:
Just look at all that black girl goodness!
While I have been in Miami before during Art Basel, this was my first time going as a somewhat active participant. Here are 5 observations I had about the gathering of artists, influencers, celebrities, and fashionistas!
- You Will Over Commit
This post serves as my apology to everyone I told I would come to their event but didn’t. But here’s the skinny: there are a literally hundreds of events going on at the same d*mn time during Art Basel, and all look intriguing. Since I was there for work, I had to prioritize my work commitments, which meant that while in my mind I wanted to go to everything, I physically couldn’t! For you, just pace yourself, plan things out, see where everything is, and try to be as organized as possible because you probably will feel overwhelmed.
Which brings me to…
2. Be Prepared for Traffic
During Art Basel, a ride from South Beach to the Design District, which I’m told normally takes 10 minutes, can take an hour! The city is overrun with cars and folks, and walking is not an option! So, as I mentioned in point 1, plan and see where things are, and just factor in at most an hour travel time from destination to destination. I wouldn’t rent a car, but if you can swing it, getting a driver wouldn’t be the worst idea (just so that you can cut down on wait times).
3. Prices will be High for Basically Everything
Plane tickets, hotels, even straw bags at little shops on Lincoln avenue will be triple and quintuple the normal price. Pack well (or just order whatever you may have forgotten), and plan as far in advance as you can so that you can lock in great rates. American Airlines had the best prices for airfare for me; the agency I worked with booked a stay for us at San Juan Hotel, which apparently was affordable, and nice. The staff was friendly and they had soft cookies at the front desk, which was enough for me to give it a shout out and a little praise (haha).
4. You’ll get a Chance to Reconnect with Friends
On my last day in Miami, I met up with the Harvard crew, had Tacos on Ocean Drive, and just chopped it up. Once you get past the traffic and the demanding social schedule, of course Art Basel is bomb for reconnecting with friends old and new.
5. You’ll Discover New Artists
Let’s not forget the reason for the festival, y’all: ART! On my last day, I stopped by the Untitled Art Gallery, featuring emerging artists, many from the Diaspora. I fell in l love with so many pieces, including this one by Amber Robles-Gordon.
Go for the art, guys, don’t just be in the streets having a good time (though doing that isn’t so bad, this is a judgement free zone, mmmk?)
Overall it was a fun time. Next trip, I’ll stay longer!
What are some tips or observations you had about Art Basel?
Love & Light,
Images: Sone Jr
*While in Miami, I kept my looks effortless in Wolford, Paco Rabanne, Serena, and more. Find outfit info on Instagram @ClaireSulmers !
