Unlike other design shows, the Garden Furniture & Antiques Fair draws a highfalutin crowd who aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty. The fair, which took place in April at the New York Botanical Garden, showcased exotic plants, rare outdoor furniture and celebrity landscapers. Here’s how eight attendees got into the spring spirit.
CreditAmy Li for The New York Times
Garrett Magee
Age: 33
Occupation: co-owner of Manscapers NY
Is this your gardening gear?
Usually I’m wearing boots with Carhartt pants, and I’ve always got Felco pruners. This is for show.
Are you loyal to Converse?
Always. Since I was in middle school.
It’s finally warm enough to wear short sleeves.
Finally. It’s like 80 degrees. I’m actually dying. It’s Club Monaco.
Your haircut looks very expensive.
Does it? My stylist friend Thomas Hurley gives me a discount.
And your mustache is well trimmed.
Well, I do that myself.
Victoria von Klebelsberg
Age: 18
Occupation: intern at Tempest, a weather magazine
How did you end up spending your gap year doing this?
I met the owner of Tempest, Ann Marie Gardner, at my mom’s hotel in Italy, Briol.
That’s a neat hat.
This is by John Patrick. He makes these in Marfa from sustainable palm leaves.
You need cotton in this heat.
The pants are from John Patrick, actually. They’re organic and good quality. The pattern is nice. The hand is soft.
Barbara Israel
Age: 73
Occupation: owner of Barbara Israel Garden Antiques
Your dog statues: Are they spaniels?
Yes. There’s some discussion of what kind of spaniel: Some friends said they’re Boykin spaniels. Then a Boykin spaniel expert said they’re just spaniels. Whatever. They’re made of terra cotta.
Tell me how you dressed for the fair.
Most of the discussion is about the weather inside the tent. Today it’s warm. I bought this jacket online from Temperley. It’s a bit heavy and wool, but the color is spring. I like having the pockets.
Why?
A place for a pen, my phone. And I wear braces: You need toothpicks and wax if one of your wires sticks in your cheek.
I thought I’d see more pearls here. You’re the only one.
Dealers who deal in garden ornament are pretty rough and tough. We do the moving ourselves.
Ellie Kim
Age: 35
Occupation: co-owner of Rayon Roskar, a Swiss design store in Brooklyn
Your earrings are like Lucky Charms.
They are made by my friend Femke Speelberg. She made these for the Christmas season.
Do you make your own aprons?
No. I’m from Korea, and we went there in February and found these. They’re made by a brand called Re;code. They repurpose all the fabric parts left from their manufacturing, or other sources. These are former military tents.
What’s in the pockets?
Cutter, pen and lipstick. This shade is very popular in Korea: peach red.
Is that your work shirt?
It’s a kind of work shirt. Because it’s the garden show. I didn’t want to look too much like a buttoned-up gallerist.
Michelle Elliott Gokey (with her daughter, Elizabeth)
Age: 48
Occupation: “Mom”
What brings you to the fair today?
We have a garden, and we’re looking to fill it with antiques.
You’re really celebrating spring: all white.
It seemed crisp and clean and comfortable for a stroll in the garden.
And then a sweater over your shoulders.
A little pink. A little color. The outfit seemed too monochromatic. And it might turn a little chilly.
Roderick Conrad
Age: 59
Occupation: voice-over artist and interior designer
I’d call that a drop-crotch pant.
On a day like today they’re comfortable, lightweight, a perfect length.
And then a heavier plaid on top.
I wasn’t sure exactly what the weather was going to be like, and I’m going out a little later.
It’s cool how your bag goes cross-body.
It’s an African fabric. I got it from a vendor at a street fair in Brooklyn. It’s absolutely special and I love it.
Are your shoes a laceless sneaker?
Yeah. They’re John Varvatos for Converse. Several seasons ago, but still very good.
Luke Brunetti
Age: 24
Occupation: representative for Pagoda Red, a design showroom in Chicago
Where is your shirt from?
I found this three years ago, I think it’s French Connection. Just a really cool pattern.
Your jeans are very fitted.
Believe it or not: Abercrombie. They last as long as I need them to, and they’re inexpensive.
The lenses of your cool glasses match your shirt.
I actually did these custom. It’s a brand called See out of Detroit, a family-owned business that has all these one-of-a-kind frames. I had them tinted so they have an ombre effect.
