June 2009: Editors' Blog: Wmagazine.com

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June 2009 Archives

Michael Jackson, Dr. Arnold Klein and me

It was no shocker to learn that Prince Michael and Paris were not fathered by Michael Jackson. But today, when we heard the reports that the father might be none other than Los Angeles derm Arnold Klein -- the man who until now was best known as the don of Botox -- well, at least here in the beauty department, the world suddenly got much smaller.

I never met Arnie in person, but you could say we had an intense phone relationship. Every year or so, I'd pick up the phone and could barely get "Hello" out when I'd hear him yell, "Jane, have you heard about what these doctors are doing with this new injectible? It's criminal!" He would then rant for a good 15 minutes or so, imploring me to deliver his message, or rather messages. I'd hear all about who he thought were dangerous dermatologists, the hidden side effects of varied treatments, what he saw as the misuse of Botox (ironic, considering Irena Medavoy's much-discussed lawsuit against him) and much, much more. "No one's talking about the horrible things that [insert treatment] do," Arnie would say. "People need to know about this! You have to write about this! You're the only one I trust!" (I've since heard that he told at least one other beauty editor the same thing.)

Back then, I mostly wanted to get off the phone. But now, I must admit, I do feel weirdly starstruck knowing that he may very well be the father of Michael Jackson's children. I'll be awaiting my annual call....

See our September 2008 story about Klein's former associate of 17 years, dermatologist Sheri G. Feldman. She had a few things to say about him.

By Jane Larkworthy

June 30, 2009

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Afterparty at P.S.1

P.S.1 celebrated the tenth anniversary of its Young Architects Program on Sunday by unveiling its latest winning design, Afterparty, dreamed up by Hilary Sample and Michael Meredith of the firm MOS. The final product is one part Gothic cathedral, one part Where the Wild Things Are. Think: austere, curving metal frames covered in aluminum mesh and Indonesian palm thatch, sculpted into domes and tall "cooling chimneys." Sunday's crowd was pretty low-key, with visitors lounging in and around the shady structure, but beginning on July 4th the courtyard will transform to the home of PS1's famous Warm Up music series.

Photos by Ryan James MacFarland.

Click HERE to see our previous Gallery Go-Round entries.

By W Magazine

June 30, 2009

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Neil Gaiman on Stephin Merritt, 30 Rock and Amanda Palmer

Last winter when we stopped by a reading that cult author Neil Gaiman was giving at Columbia of his Newbery award-winning The Graveyard Book, we were blown away by the diehard affection of his many grown-up fans — in fact, there didn’t seem to be a kid in sight. One woman even started sobbing when she got to hug him (evidently, it was her birthday). Lately, Gaiman-mania has only intensified with the musical adaption of his children’s novel Coraline by Stephin Merritt of the Magnetic Fields, with book by David Greenspan. The show is finishing its run this week at the MCC Theater.

How involved were you in the making of the musical version of Coraline?
I let them do their thing, partly because I think Stephin is a genius and what he would do was bound to be interesting and unique. I thought it was absolutely brave, smart theater, they made interesting choices that people wouldn’t normally make — beginning with casting a 50-year-old actress as a 9-year-old girl.

Why are you drawn to such scary topics?
I think it’s a good thing to create stories that have some kind of cost, some kind of price to them. In the case of Coraline, I began the story for my daughter, who would come home and climb on my lap and dictate nightmarish stories to me about little girls coming up against evil witches. I thought, well, I’ll write her something like that, and then discovered that there wasn’t something like that out there — terrifying stories for kids.

You wrote the screenplay for Beowulf and have had your books adapted into feature films. What are your feelings about working in Hollywood?
The enormous amount of money that it costs to make a movie makes people bet on the side of making stuff kind of bland. You’re much better off making something that you like and seeing if there are other people out there who like it too. That’s really how my career has always worked. I just do the stuff that I like, and I hope there are other people out there who like the same thing.

What’s your latest pop culture obsession?
The English Doctor Who science fiction series — when it’s at its best it’s some of the best television out there. Also I’ve just discovered 30 Rock, way after the rest of the universe did [laughs]. So my daughter and I have ordered the whole thing on DVD, and are catching up from the beginning.

You’re dating another great artist, Amanda Palmer of the Dresden Dolls —
I am, she’s awesome.

The two of you recently collaborated on a book, Who Killed Amanda Palmer. Are you doing anything else together?
I nearly said nothing we can discuss in public — but actually, yes. I was asked to make an eight-minute silent film for a series of silent movies being done in the UK right now. I realized that one of the things I love about Amanda is that although she’s most famous for making her music, before that she was a living statue, and is absolutely one of the most amazing pantomime artists I’ve ever encountered, in terms of what she can do with her face and her expression. So I’m putting her in a movie. I’ll write and direct it.

Who is behind the project?
I don’t actually know that I can say who’s doing it — but it’s a big, real entity.

You grew up in England, but now you live in Minneapolis. How did you end up living there?
My ex-wife had family from this part of the world. And basically, I discovered I could get a huge Addams family-like mansion with 17 acres for the same cost as a one-bedroom flat in London — and not a nice one-bedroom flat in London — that it seemed like a very, very good idea.

Thanks to photographer Dese’Rae L. Stage for use of her photos, via Brooklyn Vegan.

By Haven Thompson

June 29, 2009

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Five minutes with Christiane Celle

Last spring, upon parting ways with the new owners of Calypso, the fashion empire she founded with a single boutique in St. Barths in 1995 and grew into a $60 million operation, Christiane Celle wasn't exactly ready for life as a Caribbean beach bum. Instead, she opened Clic, a photography and art bookstore in New York's SoHo this past October. A month later, she debuted a second location in St. Barths, and in the time since, has opened two new SoHo gallery spaces and (most recently) a location in East Hampton.

What made you decide to open Clic?
When I sold Calypso, I decided that I wanted to do something very different. My husband [Antoine Verglas] is a photographer and I've been collecting books and photographs for years so this felt natural to me.

It's a difficult time for bookstores, with even Barnes & Noble shutting some of their locations. Does this concern you?
At somewhere like Barnes & Noble, there is always a section of photography books but you get a bit lost. I thought there was a need for a small, family-owned business for just photo and art books. Some of the books I carry you can find on Amazon.com but with art books and coffee table books I think people want to touch the them and see them in person.

What book will you be bringing as a hostess gift when you visit friends this summer?
One of my favorites is called Yard Sale by Adam Bartos. It's a great book full of all the weird things you see at summer yard sales. He's a great photographer.

Running a bookstore, you probably meet some interesting people.
The other day a man came with a book he had done when Andy Warhol died. He photographed the funeral and everyone who attended and he said, "You don't have my book. You should carry it!"

How is running a bookstore more challenging than running a fashion boutique?
At Calypso, we would just put a dress in the window and then 100 women would come in for the dress.

Do these books ever inspire you to want to design clothes again?
Yes, like when I got books about Chanel and Valentino into the store. I do miss fashion. I miss the traveling. I used to go to India. I used to go to Morocco. I know right now I can't do any fashion because I have a three-year non-compete clause with Calypso but I still go shopping and get excited when I meet new designers.

Have you met any great new designers?
I just met a girl who has a wonderful line called Harvey Faircloth. I recommended her to a friend of mine, who is going to carry the collection at her store. So yes, I'm still keeping an eye out.

What's your next big project?
We have a show opening July 13 at our 255 Centre Street gallery that features prints from a book by Karla and James Murrary called Storefront: The Disappearing Face of New York. It features about 400 images of small stores in New York shot over ten years. Almost half of them have already closed. It just shows that New York needs more family owned stores like ours.

By Jenny Comita

June 29, 2009

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Who says male models have nothing to talk about?

Who says male models have nothing to talk about? Jon Kortajarena is known as one of the most colorful guys in the business, and that hasn't worked against him: He's everywhere these days, in editorial spreads and in ad campaigns from Tom Ford to Diesel. We caught up with the 24-year-old Spaniard in Paris yesterday, after the Louis Vuitton Men's show.

What was your worst modeling experience?
My first fashion week in Milan, at age 18. I was like, "What am I doing here?" I was feeling so alone. It was freezing cold and I didn't bring the right clothes. And I couldn't communicate because my English was even worse than it is now. Instead of saying, "She is blond," I would say, "She is yellow hair!"

What's the last book you read?
I just finished Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse. It was very special. I'm in a difficult moment in my personal life now. Heart things. I don't mean medical heart problems—I mean relationships. Love things! So the book taught me about accepting life how it comes. Sometimes you are fighting for things you can't fight for.

Didn't you just work as an actor for the first time?
Yes. I can't give details about the movie yet, but it was an unbelievable experience. I felt more secure in front of the camera than in real life. In my normal life I have so many insecurities. I am learning from them, or trying to learn.

How much time do you spend at the gym?
Almost none. I really hate the gym. So I go running. When I lift weights I feel like I am hurting myself. I would rather do other things. Swimming sometimes. Why should I be two hours in a gym, suffering so much, with all these people that I don't know and don't want to know?

Have you ever fallen down on the runway?
Yes! It happened during, like, my second show! But I was lucky because it was on a stairway that was mostly hidden, so the audience couldn't see anything.

Who hits on you most often—women or men?
I don't get hit on a lot. Really. I do see people looking at me but normally it's me who takes the first step. (laughs) I'm the one who walks over to see what's going on.

Photo: Louis Vuitton Spring 2010 Men's collection, George Chinsee.

By Christopher Bagley

June 26, 2009

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Three-year-olds get their own Oscar de la Renta dresses

Yesterday at the Oscar de la Renta boutique on Madison Avenue, waiters carrying silver trays offered lemonade, white wine and Apple & Eve juice boxes. It was the launch of the designer’s first girls’ dress collection, and New York’s most polished mommies and preschoolers dutifully showed up. The collection, de la Renta’s first for children, does not hold back. Think: elaborate pleats, cap sleeves and ruffles in gorgeous fabrics (like a silk chine taffeta) that a trophy wife would weep over. The prices range from $220 to $330; the designer is donating $100 per dress to the Children’s Defense Fund.

Best friends Ivy Kargman, 3, and Landon Lipton, 3, got matching dresses

Jill Kargman, right, with Landon Lipton

Refreshments

Photos by Nicole Keating

By W Magazine

June 26, 2009

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The man behind The Journal (not the Wall St. one)

The latest issue of the Brooklyn-based glossy art quarterly known as The Journal features Juergen Teller photos of a deranged-looking Pamela Anderson cavorting in a laundromat; exquisite corpse drawings by Anton Kern, Jack Pierson and Dan McCarthy; and intimate pictures of Gia Coppola by fashion photographer Todd Cole. Although the magazine's tiny circulation makes McSweeneys look like Us Weekly, it's featured many such high-profile collaborations since it was founded 10 years ago by Michel Nevin. A snowboarder and art school grad from Vermont, Nevin, 28, has clearly mastered the art of reeling in contributors through word-of-mouth or plain cold-calling: the forthcoming September issue, for instance, will feature drawings by William Eggleston. Nevin also runs the Journal Gallery, a storefront space in Williamsburg featuring mostly emerging artists.

What's the idea behind The Journal?
The magazine operates as a personal journal, where you're out there seeing things, pulling things in and writing them down, like an open book. I feel that the gallery should function the same way—to take in whatever we feel is important at the moment.

The art market isn't doing terribly well these days. How's business?
We had a couple of rough months last year, but surprisingly, right after that, it's been great. These days we're selling quite a lot of artwork. Maybe it's because people have stopped buying those big-ticket items and are feeling more adventurous.

How about the magazine?
Starting with the September issue, Peter Miles [a graphic designer who has worked with Marc Jacobs and Sofia Coppola] is coming on as art director for the magazine. And we're increasing the size of the magazine, as well as the distribution.

How do you get such major names to collaborate with you?
I guess you just never know what will happen, but there's no harm in asking. Almost always we've been successful in getting somebody to do something. They see what we're doing as something that's really honest—there's no hidden motive. It gives those people the opportunity to take a bit of a risk and do something a bit crazy or fun.

The Rodarte designers contributed to an issue last year. How did that come about?
Someone told me that Laura and Kate [Mulleavy] really liked the magazine, and I thought that was cool. We got their contact information, and now we're in touch all the time.

Helmut Lang debuted his art work at the gallery back in 2007. What was he like to work with?
He's a really interesting, creative person, and I wanted to do something with him because I knew he would do something great. It was very natural: He came out here to look at the space, we sat outside, had coffee and bagels—he really likes the bagels in Brooklyn.

By Timothy McCahill

June 25, 2009

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Chef Sam Talbot on Montauk, marriage and Kelly Killoren Bensimon

Chef Sam Talbot has been a food world heartthrob ever since his television debut on season two of Top Chef (he placed third). Now, from his perch at Montauk's Surf Lodge, which opened last summer to both adoring crowds and some local resentment, the recently married Charlotte native (his wife is Paola Guerrero, a Columbian model and t-shirt designer) is showing thousands of diners each weekend that he's more than just a pretty face. On the cusp of what will surely be a busy July 4th at his restaurant, Talbot opens up to W.

How has business been so far this summer, and are the local residents still convinced that your restaurant is ruining the low-key, surf town vibe of Montauk?
I thought this season wouldn't be as strong as last year, but so far so good. Business has actually been great. We've booked some great music acts at Surf Lodge for the season, and we're doing a lot of weddings. As for our relationship with the locals, in my opinion Surf Lodge is a great addition to Montauk. We try to support the town as much as we can. It's a small town with a huge heart, and slowly but surely it's opening its arms to us... well, I hope.

Do you go out in the Hamptons other than at Surf Lodge?
I mostly just stay in Montauk. But I'm stoked that my buddy Andrew [Chapman] is opening the Blue Parrot in East Hampton. [Ed. Note: The Blue Parrot is now open for business; Chapman's partners in the venture include Renee Zellweger, Ron Perelman and Jon Bon Jovi.]

Where do you eat when you're back in Manhattan?
I have so many favorite restaurants—Caracas, Tia Pol, Republic, Mizu, Hampton Chutney Company, Supper, Lil Frankies, Bonita... the list is endless. Oh wait—and Le Bernardin! You can't ever go wrong there. In 2010, I'm opening the Mondrian in SoHo with the Morgans Hotel Group.

You appeared on the Real Housewives of New York, teaching Kelly Killoren Bensimon and her daughters a cooking lesson. Given Kelly's propensity for appearing on the show alongside attractive men, regardless of any real-life connection to them, I have to ask: are you two actually friends?
Yep. Kelly is a friend. She's a good girl.

But to be clear, you're a one-woman man now. Are you enjoying married life?
Paola has changed my life. Right now we're in Spain—it's my wife's birthday present. It's all pleasure, no work, but obviously the food is to die for. I've been eating the most amazing seafood I've had in a while. Oh, and the Iberico! It's pure bliss.

Below, Talbot and Guerrero

By Danielle Stein

June 25, 2009

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TTYL, Queen Elizabeth

She may have reached the ripe old age of 83, but England’s Queen Elizabeth likes to keep up with the times. In April the Queen sent her first official correspondence via e-mail to a group of children from Commonwealth countries, thanking them for the blog entries they’d written to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Commonwealth. But it seems computer skills are nothing new to the Queen—her spokesman claims that Elizabeth became the first monarch ever to send an “e-mail” when she fired off a primitive electronic communication from a military base in the Seventies. He declined, however, to comment on reports that the Queen doesn’t deign to type her own e-mails, preferring instead to dictate them to an aide.

By W Magazine

June 25, 2009

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Five minutes with Band of Outsiders's Scott Sternberg

Is it something in the Los Angeles River water? At last week's CFDA Fashion Awards, two of the top awards went to LA designers—Kate & Laura Mulleavy of Rodarte and Band of Outsiders's Scott Sternberg. So for a CFDA-award winning perspective on the TMZ, we sent Sternberg a Five Minute Questionnaire on taking home the trophy, dressing Paris Hilton and surviving life on the LA-NY axis.

The evening of the CFDA awards, describe in 10 words or less the 30 seconds after they called your name.
Hug, kiss, walk, carpet, stairs, stage, Jimmy Fallon, Italian dude.

How many trips a year between LA and NYC?
10, give or take.

Which airline?
Delta.

Would you ever show in LA?
No.

Would you ever move to New York?
Yes. No. Maybe.

What does the New York fashion & media elite not get about LA?
The importance of exceptionally good Mexican food in one's life.

What's the one article of clothing you would refuse to design?
Adult diapers.

What car do you drive?
A 2000 starter Benz.

What is your most memorable film-fashion moment?
My head's exploding with this question. All memorable. Top of mind is Godard's La Chinoise, from which I took inspiration for this fall's collection.

Speaking of designers and film, would you rather be a director, like Tom Ford, or the subject, like Valentino?
I would rather be a director, like Scott Sternberg.

If Paris Hilton called to borrow your clothes, what would you tell her?
That the moon is on fire and she better get outside and help put it out right this instant.

Which do you prefer: Hills or beach?
Hills.

Mozza Pizzeria or Mozza Osteria?
Pizzeria.

Palm Springs or Joshua Tree?
Palm Springs.

Waverly Inn or Monkey Bar?
No.

HuffPo or Perez Hilton?
HuffPo.

Sasha or Malia?
Tie.

Kris or Adam?
Dylan.

Jon or Kate?
Who?