Suki Waterhouse Is Ready for Frieze

On the eve of the third annual Frieze Art Fair in New York, Burberry, New Museum director Lisa Phillips, W Magazine’s Stefano Tonchi, and model Suki Waterhouse created their own performance piece of sorts, corralling a glamorous mix of fashion types, art world heavyweights, and Hollywood names for a dinner at Lafayette restaurant. The event celebrated new exhibitions by artists Hannah Sawtell, Roberto Cuoghi, Ragnar Kjartansson, and Camille Henrot, which many guests previewed at the New Museum in advance of the meal. As Tracey Emin and Alexander Gilkes rubbed shoulders with the actresses Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Maggie Gyllenhaal over elderflower cocktails and salmon tartare, we caught up with Waterhouse.

You just did a walk through of the exhibits, what did you think? It’s really cool. The guy who did this piece about conception [Kjartansson’s video piece “Me and My Mother 2010”], it was really sexy.

Do you follow contemporary art? I love going to see stuff. I’m so excited to have a day off tomorrow, I’m going to go to Gagosian in Chelsea.

Did you do anything yesterday or were you just recovering from the Met Gala? I ate so much food yesterday. I had oatmeal at 5 in the morning. And then I got a zucchini frittata at 8 and then a huge fucking burger at, like, 12. Then I had 3 hours sleep… You know what it’s like.

This is the first New York party you’ve hosted. How do you find the New York party circuit compares to London? I’ve been in London for so long so I really know everyone. It’s nice to not really know anyone here.

Do you throw a lot of parties with your friends? No, I’ve never had my own birthday party, ever.

Someone always just throws one for you? No, I’ve always been slightly terrified by the idea of having a party. I have friends in all different pockets and they’re all different ages, I just don’t enjoy the idea of putting them altogether.

I loved your dress at the Met. I didn’t know what it would be like. When I saw it three days before and put it on I was like, Ahhhh it’s fucking amazing! I was so happy. But then I was a little nervous because I couldn’t really walk in the shoes, so I put my own boots on.

Did you wear them the whole night? Yeah, of course. No one could tell.

And what about tonight, how did you choose what to wear? This is just so cool. It’s like an old Ossie Clark dress. And it’s so comfortable. No leg constriction. I hate leg constriction. I love loose stuff.

And you can eat in this, too. I can be huge and it won’t really show, my food belly. I ate a bit on the day of the fitting before the Met and got the worst food belly and broke the zipper. But they fixed it and it was fine.