MrB and I recently visited Tucson, where he received the John Peter and Anna Catherine Zenger Award from the University of Arizona School of Journalism. The Zenger award honors journalists who “fight for freedom of the press and the people’s right to know.” The school’s website elaborates: “[The award] is named for a husband and…
In the News
More on Oscar de la Renta
OscarPRGirl, the Twitter account for Oscar de la Renta, has been one of the most engaging fashion-house social-media accounts. In fact, when I turned over my business Instagram account to my right-hand woman Eryn a year ago (nearly to the day!) I said, “Basically, she’s going to be my Instagram version of OscarPRGirl.” I had…
RIP, Oscar de la Renta: “His Work Is Done”
ABC News confirmed through a family member that fashion designer Oscar de la Renta has died, aged 82. The news comes a week after de la Renta announced the hiring of his first creative director, British designer Peter Copping. As fashion journalist Robin Givhan wrote: “… at Oscar de la Renta, an era seems to…
Microsoft’s Satya Nadella Speaks But Doesn’t Know
Sixth-century B.C. Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu — the father of Taoism — said, “He who knows does not speak; he who speaks does not know.” In a “you’re going to regret this for a loooooong time” moment, Satya Nadella, the chief executive of Microsoft, spoke without knowing at the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in…
Being Ugly at 40?
Several people have pointed this out to me: On September 19, the Washington Post’s PostEverything section had a rather depressing essay by Sonia Greenfield titled, “Being 40 has totally changed how I feel about how I look.” But even more of a downer than, “In my 40s, it seems like ‘inoffensive’ is what I should…
People Magazine Blunders, But This Time Apologizes
It’s good to know that People Magazine is capable of recognizing when it’s done something wrong. Last night, during Scandal‘s premiere, the magazine tweeted (and quickly deleted): As the blog Jezebel later asked, “Because you can’t mean serious business with natural hair?” People didn’t acknowledge the deletion at the time, but simply went from live-tweeting…
Celebrating Joan Rivers
If you’re a Fashion Police fanatic/Joan Rivers fan, turn on E!, because the network is running an all-day marathon of the show in memory of Joan right now. Joan’s daughter Melissa will appear on special tribute episode at 8 PM ET. When I started this blog in 2007, its motto was “Wear What You Want”…
September 11: The Thirteenth Anniversary
I have not yet been to 9/11 Memorial Museum, but acquaintances who have gone photographed a display that tells the story of the Wall Street Journal’s Sept. 12, 2001, issue. That quote across the top — “I want a six-column headline!” — is from MrB. He was the managing editor of the Wall Street Journal…
Slut-Shaming and Women-Blaming at People Magazine
I was managing editor of People Magazine’s website in 1999, and I’ve subscribed to the magazine ever since I left that job. Today, I was flipping through the Sept. 15, 2014, issue and came across an item about the recent celebrity nude-photo hacking. Because it slut-shamed and blamed actress Jennifer Lawrence and model Kate Upton…
RIP, Simone Battle
I’m shocked and saddened to read that Simone Battle, an X Factor finalist who went on to become part of the group G.R.L., has died aged only 25. The cause of death hasn’t been officially confirmed but TMZ is claiming it was a suicide by hanging — the same as Alexander McQueen, L’Wren Scott and…