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Victoria’s Secret: Angels and Demons


In 1985, Les Wexner, the billionaire businessman behind Victoria’s Secret, was seeking cultural relevance outside of his small community in Columbus, Ohio. Aspiring to be the next Ralph Lauren, he added Henri Bendel, the high-end Manhattan department store, to his retail conglomerate. As the new three-part documentary series Victoria’s Secret: Angels and Demons tells it, the nervous and nerdy Wexner found a guide to New York City society in Jeffrey Epstein, then just a former Bear Stearns financier. Within six years, Epstein had the power of attorney over Wexner’s multi-billion-dollar fortune. While the Hulu series, directed by Matt Tyrnauer, looks at the lingerie company’s many demons—take the greasy, ass-grabbing chief marketing officer—Epstein’s involvement in the company is the focus. It features excellent archival footage, like of Epstein ogling at models at the Victoria’s Secret first fashion show, in 1999, and an impressive lineup of talking heads, from former models to casting directors, to the man who made the angel wings for the annual runway show. (hulu.com) —Jensen Davis

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River Cafe Table 4


Austin Butler is far from the first actor to bring Elvis’s gyrating hips to the screen (see: Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer, and Michael Shannon), but he may be the best King of Rock ’n’ Roll. Butler’s performance in Baz Luhrmann’s biopic, Elvis, has been called “jaw-dropping,” “fully transformed,” “electrical,” and even “feral.” In 2021, after a year and a half of filming in Australia, Butler found himself in post-lockdown London. For 39 weeks, he spent his Sunday nights at the home of River Cafe founder Ruthie Rogers with a close-knit group of friends. This made Butler, who calls Rogers his “family,” the ideal person for Rogers to chat with on her podcast, River Cafe Table 4. It’s a careening conversation about food, culture, and travel. As it turns out, Butler also knows his way around a kitchen. He bought his house—Gary Oldman’s former haunt—partly because of its spectacular pizza oven. (podcasts.apple.com) —Bridget Arsenault

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Study


A contributor to French Vanity Fair and Elle, as well as a stylist for Self Service magazine, the multi-talented Christopher Niquet long dreamed of starting his own publication. But during his frequent trips to newsstands, he became increasingly discouraged about the idea. What could he do differently? After 15 years of ruminating, he’s come up with his own formula. Each issue of Study, which debuted last month, will focus on one theme, person, or concept. The first glossy edition centered on the photography of his longtime friend Vivienne Rohner, who also works as a model and Chanel ambassador. Stacks of cigarette packs and candid street shots capture something intrinsically French. Niquet promises that the next issue will be a “bit headier,” focusing on the revolutionary Black playwright Adrienne Kennedy. ($35 per issue, studymagazine.fr) —Elena Clavarino

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Rodolphe Le Meunier


There is a difference between the butter I cook with and the butter I put on toast. To grease a pan or a cake tin, most butter will do. But when a meal has just two ingredients—bread and butter—the quality of the dairy is important. Rodolphe Le Meunier’s lightly salted churned butter is by far my favorite. Made by a third-generation cheese-maker at a farm in the Loire Valley, in central France, the butter comes in a half-pound wheel. It’s far creamier than the other butters on the market, and not much more expensive than the sticks you pick up at your neighborhood store. ($11.95, mypanier.com) —Jensen Davis

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Johanna Ortiz


So much beachwear is transparent, barely there, and destined for the textile-recycling bin after a single season in the sun. Now, it may seem counter-intuitive to invest the amount of money usually reserved for a quality dress on a mere tunic, but when it’s the only thing separating one’s nearly nude body from the sun and a smartphone-wielding public, it’s important. That’s why Colombian designer Johanna Ortiz is such a looming figure in our hot-weather wardrobe. Made of organic linen, this navy-and-white-striped Marine Muse number does it all—staves off the sun, creates a flattering silhouette, and is a non-embarrassing, real-life look, should one be tempted to decamp from the pool or beach to, say, a nearby restaurant. ($684, matchesfashion.com) —Ashley Baker

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Kermit Chair Company


Finding the right beach chair has been a process of much trial and error. Halfway through our second summer with a full set of Kermits, we can decisively say that these beauties leave nothing to be desired. Made to order in Tennessee, they are technically designed for multi-purpose outdoor use. While they can do double duty on the lawn at Tanglewood, they are really destined to be the best-looking, lightest-weight, and most comfortable chairs on the beach, from Atlantic to Zuma. First, choose the wood—oak, walnut, or the limited-edition blonde walnut. Then choose between six colors for the canvas (such as tan, green, or white). There are also various embroidery options and two different sizes. (For the record, we prefer “wide,” which encourages snuggling.) One thing: at the moment, Kermit is allowing orders of only two chairs at a time, which means that it may be the tail end of summer before you are fully kitted out. We assure you it’s well worth the wait. (Starting at $269, kermitchair.com) —Ashley Baker

Issue No. 157
July 16, 2022
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Issue No. 157
July 16, 2022