Conversations with Glenda Bailey, Fashion Museum, NYC

On November 19th (my birthday, in case any of you want to send me a pressie via facebook) Glenda Bailey will be talking with an audience at the Museum of Fashion, NYC. I have reserved two seats. I know I'm on holiday and it's my birthday but if you don't know who Glenda Bailey is you will soon understand why. She is the Editor in Chief of Harper's Bazaar (USA) and all round fashion journalism icon. It is also completely free (whoever said you have to spend a fortune in NYC is a bloody liar. Or they work for the tourist board and have had dollar signs for pupils ever since Sex and the City came out).

Bailey, originally from Derby, was the launch Editor of Marie Claire and became editor of US Marie Claire, in 1996. Known as the 'ultimate editor', Bailey was appointed the role of Editor in Chief for US Harper's when sales were flagging after its radical change in design and content. It was Bailey's job to bring it back to its old ways and regain the loyal readers without alienating the new ones. And boy did she do it! Sales were down 7.5% when she arrived, and the mag is now selling better than ever. She even managed to get Donatella Versace do to an interview with her immensely private daughter which no magazine was able to do before. I'm telling you, the woman is a legend!

The talk goes on for two hours and I'm already preparing my questions. She's one of those 'role model' types for me but I'm not doing her justice at all. Read this article on her, it's very interesting...

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/glenda-bailey-woman-at-work-530221.html

This is just one amazing thing I plan to do in NYC... and it's completely free. Hoorah!

Tatler's 300 year celebration

I like Tatler because it is so removed from most British people's reality, it makes a brilliant form of escapism and insight into how the other third live. It is quite witty when it wants to be and, like Horse and Hound and Country Life, I respect its lineage and the way it's stuck around despite the fact most people can't afford to buy an issue of it let alone a £4.5 million town house in London or 20 horses in Shropshire. And, let's face it, people hate Toffs so it has a lot of stereotyping to overcome.

But the mag delivers lovely editorials, interesting stories about scandalous society women (I adore those kind of women, like Gorgiana Duchess of Devonshire and Isabella Blow) and has relevant fashion and beauty features, despite the fact that its orignal readers wouldn't have been caught dead in anything other than a Barbour jacket and jodhpurs.

The 300 year celebration November issue is out now, with a funky pull out cover of the Queen. Rather!