Friday 15th October 2021

Frieze Art Fayre – Wednesday was VIP Day: I rode in on the wings of Royston King who welcomed each stall-holder individually to his Park. ‘We’re so glad to have you here,’ he said.  He doesn’t need to do this but such is his dedication to Duty.

Even so, I had more Society: Joshua Baring: Shriek, Shriek! One doesn’t say, ‘Fancy seeing you here,’ because it’s no surprise to either party that we’re there. It’s called belonging and being at the top. Then Scream, scream, shriek, shriek, Sheridan Brummel, at whose Mezzotint launch I’d been plastered the week before and, what’s more, less plastered, the night before at his Georgian book launch. Things got so bad, because I was having one of my off-days, feeling light-headed etc, like the 1st Lady Curzon, having to be carried from the carriage. I said to Royston, ‘Can we dive down this side passage?’.  I could see Troy Halston looming from Palm Beach and, with him, Lorenzo di Fulham. Not that I don’t adore them both but my nerves …

The art can wait. Royston said Nowhere could you see such a range. From Gilbert and George to Goya, Old Dutch Masters to Howard Hodgkin, with rare maps, 1st editions, sculpture from the Ancient World, de Morgan pots, Arts and Crafts furniture on the way.

The emergency is the modes. You must know, before it’s too late. The look is the Hazmat suit or at best Hospital Sluice Nurse. Frightful rough sustainable cotton sacks, white rubber gum boots (or that kind of idea)… see graphs below.

Hospital Sluice Nurse Look: Autumn 2021

Hospital Nurse Look: Male Version

The Hospital Look, Slightly Refiné

The Matron Look