Art Week ended yesterday, and with it a fashion parade that was as colorful, sculptural, and of-the-moment as the contemporary art on display. Young artist and gallery assistants favored a bright palette, and skirt lengths were either extremely short or long. Elsewhere, the daily uniform of skinny jeans reigned — paired with voluminous jackets and blouses and some eye-popping jewelry, or a scarf or handbag.

Authenticity stood out: Women in the art world don’t have stylists; they pluck their finds from thrift stores and H&M, and often alter garments on their own. They knew that the way they dressed for the international art community was an opportunity to communicate their own artistic and creative sensibilities, and that in the end is what their careers hinge on.