What Artists Wear

A liberation and a joy, beautifully written and brilliantly thought. What Artists Wear is at once a revelatory account of how art is made and an electrifying investigation into the relationship between clothes and autonomy, freedom and power – Olivia LaingBrilliant, loving, visually incisive – Hilton AlsCompelling * Apollo *Revelatory * Guardian *An insightful account … whether offering visual analysis or social observation, Porter writes with clarity and wit * Frieze *A fascinating exploration of the clothing worn by the rebels, rule breakers and outliers of the artistic world, and what it means to live in it … The book defies convention … Porter’s curiosity is infectious * Esquire *Eclectic, invigorating … the chapters devoted to female artists make for the most fascinating reading, their clothes liberating them by giving them permission to be different * Observer *Unique, intelligent and enlightening, super interesting and so well researched. It is rare indeed to come across a book that not only captures the imagination, but informs and amuses at the same time. Each turn of the page is a surprising delight. Perhaps what is most striking about this book is its authenticity … Charlie Porter’s seriousness and genuineness, coupled with his off-kilter sense of humour, not forgetting his huge talent, seep through the entire production. Not a fake nor pompous note anywhere. This is simply the real article, just like Charlie. – Adrian Joffe * President of Comme des Garçons *A roving, intimate analysis of the clothes that inform art * AnOther Magazine *Wonderful … I read it in one delicious gulp. An important page-turner. – Jennifer Higgie * author of The Mirror and the Palette *

Charlie Porter is a writer, fashion critic, art curator and lecturer in Fashion at the University of Westminster. He has contributed to titles such as Financial Times, Guardian, New York Times, GQ, Luncheon, i-D and Fantastic Man, and has been described as one of the most influential fashion journalists of his time. He was a juror for the Turner Prize in 2019, and lives in London.