The Look Book Goes to “The New Black Vanguard” Opening

Hundreds of people squeezed into Aperture Foundation to celebrate the release of Antwaun Sargent’s new photography book.

What a dress.
It’s a scarf, actually — Issey Miyake. I got it because a friend of mine wore the same one in silver to the Crazy Rich Asians premiere last year. She’s an artist and a DJ, and her and her friend, who is a stylist who works with Solange, and her sister, who is a model, all wore these Issey scarves in different colors as dresses. And when I asked her about it, she said, “You have to get it, it’s fab.” The shoes are these slippers I got from Morocco because I want to be comfortable and they look fancy, and also because I have size 12 feet.

Size 12!
I used to be so self-conscious I’d stuff myself into 10’s, but then I went to the doctor and he said, “If you don’t start wearing 12’s, you’re going to have to get foot surgery.” I have a lot of aunties who have had foot surgery, and it was not cute. So then I was like, Girl, done.

Where are you going after this?
To the Frank Ocean party because my friends, this group Papi Juice, are DJ-ing. But I heard the first party last week was not fun. Not, not, not fun at all. My friends said, quote-unquote, that the crowd was very not the crowd. Very straight, very scene-y. But, like, sneakerboy scene-y. Fuccboi scene-y.

What brought you here?
The curator, Antwaun, is my roommate and my best friend. When he moved in, he was a kindergarten teacher. And now the line at his opening is longer than the one at Sleep No More across the street.

Where do you sing?
Lately, I’ve been composing, but I’ve actually just started this aria-themed open-mic series out of Ruby Dee’s childhood home in Harlem.

Are you going to the after-party?
I was going to go, but I think I’m too nervous about my dress being ruined, because it has a pretty serious trail situation.

What has the response to your show been?
People have been running up to me crying, saying this is the first time they’ve seen representation of themselves in a way that is reflective of their realities. It makes me sad. But optimistic, too.

What kind of artist are you?
Multidisciplinary. Right now, my inspirations are mainly primordial memories I recall from my existence before.

*A version of this article appears in the November 11, 2019, issue of New York Magazine. Subscribe Now!