Subscribe
Editors’ Picks:
Read the Latest Issue
Crime and Scandal
Modern Times
Cartoons
The Morning Meeting Podcast
March 9, 2024
The Best
of
The
News
from
Abroad
No. 243
Weekend
Edition
Saturdays

at 6:00 AM
In This Week’s Issue
TEMPEST IN A G-STRING

Donald Trump’s future could be determined by the Stormy Daniels trial, but the former porn star owes him $670,000 and is refusing to pay, reports Jeffrey Toobin …

COURSE CORRECTION

A mix of social fragmentation and bad-guy de-sensitization is spelling the end of the cancellation era, for better or worse …

WOLVES IN PREPPY CLOTHING

How a cryptic Instagram post led one journalist down a rabbit hole of coercion and secret sex parties at Abercrombie & Fitch …

TOTAL IN-SEINE-ITY

As the clock ticks down to the Summer Olympics, Paris is woefully unprepared, and its mayor, Anne Hidalgo, is on the verge of a nervous breakdown, says Alexandra Marshall …

UNCHASTE AND FURIOUS

Formula One manager Christian Horner’s reputation and job were thrown into peril when a supposed employee released his explicit texts. Now his wife, Geri “Ginger Spice” Halliwell, is caught in the cross fire …

AUTHOR-ITARIAN RULE

In his early days as an assistant at Random House, Alexander Lobrano bore witness to—and babysat—an invective-spewing, sometimes barefoot Truman Capote …

CHANGE OF SCENE

Skepticism abounded in response to the announcement that Pearl Bailey would lead an all-Black cast in Hello, Dolly! on Broadway—until audiences saw the 1967 production, which was both a smash hit and a groundbreaking step forward …

BUT, WAIT, THERE’S MORE!

How ski resorts in the Alps are combating climate change … a real-life Jay Gatsby … What happened to Phoebe Philo? … stolen Nazi artworks see the light of day … Jonathan Becker on fellow photographer Douglas Kirkland … Richard Linklater’s foray into documentary … the Kate Moss diaries … Cast your vote in our Attention-Whore Index Poll!

But First …
Issue No. 243

The View from Here It turns out that social fragmentation has an upside: it’s harder than ever to cancel somebody

By Katherine Dee
Read On
Barry Blitt’s Sketchbook
Assets and Liabilities

Dark and Stormy The porn star whose testimony could help convict Donald Trump before the election has a new career as a gay icon and no intention of paying the $670,000 that she owes the former president

By Jeffrey Toobin
Read On
Paris When it Fizzles

Rings of Fire As Paris prepares to host the Olympic Games, it’s governed by chaos and construction. And it’s not a good look for its ambitious mayor, Anne Hidalgo

By Alexandra Marshall
Read On
Anatomy of a Scandal

Abercrombie & Flinch Behind the preppy, all-American fashion brand was a sordid world of alleged exploitation and abuse of power

By Rianna Croxford
Read On
Air Supply

Bahama Breeze

Set your out-of-office message and ease into vacation mode with sunny delights worthy of any spring-break suitcase
Shop
Photo: Popperfoto/Getty Images (beachgoers)
Guest Edit

My Favorite Things The curator and collector behind Tribeca’s Tiwa Select gallery shares his singular signatures, from handcrafted delights to the ultimate (and easiest) gift

By Alex Tieghi-Walker
Shop
Photo: Tim Schutsky (Tieghi-Walker)
Small Talk
“Remember my frog-slash-boyfriend? Well, now he’s my prince-slash-fiancé!”
“Remember my frog-slash-boyfriend? Well, now he’s my prince-slash-fiancé!”
Crash Course

Too Fast, Too Flirty Formula 1: Drive to Survive boss Christian Horner has a Spice Girl for a wife and a sexting scandal on his hands

By Stuart Heritage
Read On
Landing Gear

The Sweet Sound of Success Headphones that will make the Taylor Swifts of the world jealous! A camera that will earn you a spot in the press pool! And more …

By Jonathan Margolis
Read On
Fawlty Towers

The Gallic Shrug The newly renovated surrounds of an exquisite 11th-century French château frequented by Madonna and Naomi Campbell are about to be bulldozed. And not by the multi-millionaire property owner

By Adam Sage
Read On
T.G.I.S.

The Attention-Whore Index Prince Andrew is the last royal standing, Donald Trump’s memory is less than commanding, and Emily Dickinson is finally grandstanding

Read On
Best
Read Turn of the Century There’s no design rut that Henry Bourne’s new book cannot conquer. In Turn of the Century, the British photographer captures… Listen Clara Rockmore You’ve probably heard the theremin before, even if you haven’t heard of it. The instrument is responsible for that eerie, bewitching sound in… Visit Me&Em The British are coming. Some of our favorites, in fact. Me&Em, the fashion house founded by former advertising executive… Watch Shōgun Like George R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones or Frank Herbert’s Dune, the contents of James Clavell’s 1975 epic novel, Shōgun,… Walk Zegna It’s a sneaker’s world, and we just live in it. But the quest for ones that wouldn’t look out of place at Le Rock can be maddening and… Suck Santa Maria Novella It’s generally best not to publicize office drama, but there’s a bit of a rift within Air Mail headquarters this week, and a… Read Turn of the Century There’s no design rut that Henry Bourne’s new book cannot conquer. In Turn of the Century, the British photographer captures… Listen Clara Rockmore You’ve probably heard the theremin before, even if you haven’t heard of it. The instrument is responsible for that eerie, bewitching sound in… Visit Me&Em The British are coming. Some of our favorites, in fact. Me&Em, the fashion house founded by former advertising executive… Watch Shōgun Like George R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones or Frank Herbert’s Dune, the contents of James Clavell’s 1975 epic novel, Shōgun,… Walk Zegna It’s a sneaker’s world, and we just live in it. But the quest for ones that wouldn’t look out of place at Le Rock can be maddening and… Suck Santa Maria Novella It’s generally best not to publicize office drama, but there’s a bit of a rift within Air Mail headquarters this week, and a…
Lost and Found

The Telltale Art Countless artworks stolen by the Nazis—as well as other W.W. II soldiers of all ilks—are suddenly coming out of the woodwork. Why now?

By Milton Esterow
Read On
The Philo Files

Mixed Bag Phoebe Philo’s new brand was expected to be the hottest thing in fashion. So why has the enthusiasm cooled?

By Laura Neilson
Read On
Inside Story

The Beginning of Everything Polo, parties, and the American Dream … how my grandfather inspired Fitzgerald’s Gatsby

By Mickey Rathbun
Read On
Listen

Lunch with Da’Vine Joy Randolph To kick off Season Two of Table for Two, the Oscar-nominated star of The Holdovers joins host Bruce Bozzi to talk about her operatic past and her electrifying present …

Read On
The Planet

Mountain Lows In the Alps, climate change is causing chaos. Will the ski industry manage to save itself?

By Mark Ellwood
Read On
Adventures in Publishing

The Truman Show For a young assistant at Random House in the summer of 1978, Friday afternoons meant one thing: babysitting Truman Capote

By Alexander Lobrano
Read On
Theater

Look at the Old Girl Now, Fellas! In 1967, Pearl Bailey appeared in an all-Black Hello, Dolly! It was a sensation, smashing preconceptions, showcasing civil rights, and announcing a new era on Broadway

By John Mauceri
Read On
Listen

Is a Porn Star All That Stands Between Trump and the End of Democracy? On this week’s podcast, Jeffrey Toobin explains how Stormy Daniels might be America’s last best hope

Read On
Small Talk
“Listen, son—the mournful call of the untenured academic!”
“Listen, son—the mournful call of the untenured academic!”
Greasy-Spoon Revival

The Luncheonette Next Door From the couple behind the historic Manhattan restaurant Raoul’s comes Revelie, an old-fashioned American diner with a French twist

By Nina Friend
Read On
Books
David Yaffe On

3 Shades of Blue: Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Bill Evans, and the Lost Empire of Cool

by James Kaplan
Read On
Tom Scocca On

Help Wanted

by Adelle Waldman
Read On
Highlight

The Prisoner’s Song The Dazed and Confused and Boyhood director, Richard Linklater, discusses trading drama for documentary in his latest, a searing film about the American prison system

By Nicolas Rapold
Read On
Photography

Douglas Kirkland’s Dazzling Vision The Canadian portrait photographer had a knack for making everyone feel like a star

By Jonathan Becker
Photographs by Douglas Kirkland
10
Top, Brigitte Bardot at the premiere of Viva Maria!, 1965; above, Jack Nicholson with his Oscar for One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest, 1975.
Top, Jim Katz, Virna Lisi, and Jack Lemmon at the premiere of How to Murder Your Wife, 1965; above, Bardot, 1965.
Elizabeth Taylor on the set of The Sandpiper, 1964.
Top, Taylor in Paris, 1963; above, Charlie Chaplin, Sophia Loren, and Marlon Brando, 1966.
Top, Romy Schneider at the premiere of Boccaccio ’70, 1962; above, Nicole Kidman on the set of Moulin Rouge!
Slim Aarons at one of Town & Country editor Frank Zachary’s lunches at Gallaghers Steakhouse, in New York City.
Top, James Cameron, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Kate Winslet on the set of Titanic, 1996; above, David Lean on the set of Ryan’s Daughter, 1969.
Top, Jane Fonda, 1970; above, Douglas and his wife, Françoise, were together for 56 years.
Top, Yul Brynner and Katharine Hepburn, 1968; above, Baz Luhrmann, Tobey Maguire, and DiCaprio filming The Great Gatsby, 2011.
Top, Judy Garland and Stanley Kramer on the way to the Berlin premiere of Judgment at Nuremberg, 1961; above, Bardot, 1965.
Small Talk
“The sea is my home. Her raging swells are my walls, her foamy depths my bed. I bide in the fathomless mystery of her inky bosom. Because Brooklyn is just crazy right now.”
“The sea is my home. Her raging swells are my walls, her foamy depths my bed. I bide in the fathomless mystery of her inky bosom. Because Brooklyn is just crazy right now.”
Film and Television

This Is Rob Reiner He made a slew of beloved films, including When Harry Met Sally and The Princess Bride, and became a successful political campaigner. Now, 40 years on, he’s getting the band back together and directing Spinal Tap II

By Tim Jonze
Read On
View With a Room

Swiss Bliss Five perfect days in Switzerland start at Zurich’s gleaming new Mandarin Oriental—now pack your train case!

By Mary Lussiana
Read On
Small Talk
“Do you want African white-backed vultures? Because this is how you’re gonna get African white-backed vultures.”
“Do you want African white-backed vultures? Because this is how you’re gonna get African white-backed vultures.”
The Perfect Ending

Kate Moss

The model, agency founder, and creator of Cosmoss answers 38 of life’s most pressing questions
Read On
Jim McMullan’s Sketchbook
March madness.
Is Edited By

Graydon Carter and Alessandra Stanley

Creative Director

Angela Panichi

Deputy Editors

Ashley Baker Ash Carter Chris Garrett Nathan King Julia Vitale

Chief Technology Officer

John Tornow

Editor at Large

George Pendle

Books Editor

Jim Kelly

Arts Intel Report Editor

Laura Jacobs

Senior Editors

Elena Clavarino Jensen Davis

Photo Director

Ann Schneider

Copy Editor

Adam Nadler

Research & Legal Editor

Matt Kapp

Production Editor

H. Scott Jolley

Associate Editors

Carolina de Armas Lucy Horowitz Clara Molot Paulina Prosnitz Jack Sullivan

Art Director

Paloma Huerre

Senior Photo Editor

Emine Gözde Sevim

Designer

Zoé Gillette

International Editor

Isabelle Harvie-Watt

London Editor

Bridget Arsenault

Communications Director

Harrison Vail

Columnists

Dana Brown Cazzie David Lisa Henricksson
Walter Isaacson Pico Iyer Rachel Johnson
John Lahr Jonathan Margolis Linda Wells
James Wolcott

Writers at Large

Lili Anolik Johanna Berkman Joseph Bullmore Vassi Chamberlain William D. Cohan Rich Cohen Michael Hainey Stuart Heritage George Kalogerakis Sam Kashner James Kirchick Alexander Lobrano Alexandra Marshall Daphne Merkin Sam Wasson

Contributing Artists

Monica Ahanonu Barry Blitt André Carrilho Pip Carter Paul Davis David Downton Andrea Ferolla Josh Gosfield Cathy Graham Eric Hanson Angelica Hicks Hilary Knight Danielle Kosann Michael Lindsay-Hogg Ross MacDonald Joe McKendry James McMullan Donald Robertson Charles Dare Scheips Grant Shaffer Ed Sorel Ralph Steadman

Contributing Photographers

Jonathan Becker Justin Bishop Alex Board James Emmerman Marcos Fecchino Daniel Paik Art Streiber Sharon Suh Justin Weiner

Architectural Consultant

Basil Walter

Head of Audience Development

Rachel LeSage

Audience Growth Manager

Merritt Johnson

Cartoon Editor

Bob Mankoff

Music Supervisor

Randall Poster

Technology

Brooks Oakley Justin Rubaloff Sade Singleton

Intern

Gasper Tringale-White

OUR CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER AND CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER ARE

Bill Keenan and Emily Davis

Air Supply General Manager and Brand Partnerships

Anjali Lewis

Advertising Director

Michael Pescuma

European Sales Director

Selim Mataraci

Financial & Business Operations

Marc Leyer

Chief Strategy Adviser

Adam Mendelsohn

Chief Merchant

Jennifer Noyes

Shop Editor

Zoe Ruffner

E-Commerce Manager

Isaac Metlitsky

E-commerce Associate

Lilly Schoenbaum

In Memoriam

Peter Bogdanovich Duncan Hannah Douglas McGrath Richard David Story André Leon Talley

Issue No. 243
March 9, 2024
Loading issue contents …
Issue No. 243
March 9, 2024
View the Archives
Every editorial product is independently selected. If you buy something through
our links, AIR MAIL may earn an affiliate commission.