Built in 1926, Sarasota High School is the alma mater of generations of locals and one of our most cherished landmarks. But after the high school moved to newer quarters, the Collegiate Gothic brick building’s future was unsure. This summer, however, the Sarasota Museum of Art, or SMOA, surpassed a 10-year, $22 million fundraising campaign and is now reconstructing the school as the site of a new contemporary art museum, which will contain classrooms, working studios, an auditorium and sculpture court and cafe. Here we salute the old and the new, photographing modern fashions inside the historic building, which despite its decaying interiors still resonates with a character and beauty all its own. To learn more about SMOA, which is a division of the Ringling College of Art and Design, got to ringling.edu.
Alice & Olivia metallic lace dress, $330, Saks Fifth Avenue; Missoni open-toe booties, $495, The Met; mother-of-pearl, pyrite, Swarovski crystal 14K vermeil drop earrings, $228, L. Boutique; Rebecca Love necklace, $242, INfluence Style; gold bangle bracelet, $90, June Simmons Jewelry.
Nightcap lace dress, $352, INfluence Style; purple stone cuff, $1,000, June Simmons Jewelry; Swarovski purple crystal 14K gold vermeil chain earrings, $158, L. Boutique.
Burberry stone leather short-sleeve cropped coat, $1,395, Brunello Cucinelli A-line skirt, $920, Dolce & Gabbana tan bag, $1,195, all from Saks Fifth Avenue; Sacha London onyx white leather chunky heels, $198, L. Boutique; gold “H” frame bracelet and gold filigree teardrop earrings, $175, June Simmons Jewelry.
Torn by Ronny Kobo Mabel open-stitch dress, $323, INfluence Style; crystal drop earrings, $128, L. Boutique; Salvatore Ferragamo navy cuff bracelet, $280, The Met.
Nightcap Florence lace dress, $374, INfluence Style; Joie black snakeskin booties, $345, Saks Fifth Avenue; rutilated quartz and pyrite 14K gold vermeil earrings, $248, L. Boutique.
Finders Keepers white origami skirt, $125, Equipment white sheer blouse, $204, INfluence Style; Cavalli Class mint round-neck suede jacket, $1,185, The Met; Rachel Zoe gold and crystal tab necklace, $1,200, June Simmons Jewelry.
Dress the Population gold sequin tank dress, $298, L. Boutique; gold vintage drop circle earrings, $650, three-crystal settings gold ring, $240, The Met; YSL nude quilted envelope bag with gold chain, $1,250, Saks Fifth Avenue.
Photographed at SMOA Stylist: Pamela Jean Hair: Frederique McCrary Makeup: Eri Tsuno Models: Reed and Hannah, Elite Model Management Special thanks to Wendy Surkis, Christine Lange and Jackson Petty.
