The Art of Fashion: China Chow’s Wardrobe Inspirations

As the host of Bravo’s “Work of Art: the Next Great Artist,” now in its second season, China Chow not only has to stay a step ahead of her contestants’ antics, she has to curate an outfit for herself to wear on each of the show’s ten episodes. Unsurprisingly, the ever-stylish Chow doesn’t simply throw on any old dress—she crafts looks as eye-catching as some of the artists’ final results. As she recently discovered, many of her ensembles from this past season seem to have been inspired—subconsciously, she says—by famous artworks from the likes of Tara Donovan and Nick Cave.
Here, on the eve of the season finale Wednesday night, Chow shares a photo collage of some of her favorite outfits paired with the masterpieces they resemble.
From left: Felicity Brown; Two works from John Chamberlain’s “New Sculpture” exhibition at Gagosian Gallery, 2011.
From left: Miu Miu; Ellsworth Kelly’s Yellow Relief with Black, 1993.
From left: Cynthia Rowley; Nick Cave’s Soundsuit, 2008.
From left: Dion Lee; Lynda Benglis’ Eridanus, 1984.
From left: Marchesa; Tara Donovan’s Untitled, 2008.
From left: Pierre Cardin; John Armleder’s Sans Titre I – Polyptyque de 4 Estampes, 1991.