Latest news with #AnnaWintour
Daily Mail
21 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Meghan Markle's long list of difficult behaviour with some of the most famous magazines IN FULL: From being savaged by Vanity Fair boss and 'clash' with Anna Wintour
From impossible demands to lambasting reporters, Meghan Markle has made her fair share of enemies across some of the most famous magazines in the world. On Monday, MailOnline revealed that Meghan was 'banned' by Anna Wintour from being on the cover of British Vogue in September 2022 after the magazine boss became 'frustrated with all the Duchess of Sussex's team's micromanaging', according to a source. But this wasn't the duchess first run-in with leading figures in the industry. Meghan's behaviour led the legendary former Tatler editor Tina Brown to blast the former Suits actress for having 'the worst judgement of anyone in the entire world'. Brown, who wrote the bestselling royal biography The Palace Papers, said: 'The trouble with Meghan is that she has the worst judgment of anyone in the entire world. She's flawless about getting it all wrong. 'I mean, she just is. She really is a perfectionist about getting it all wrong.' Before she was even the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan was already starting to build a bad reputation among magazine editors. In September 2017, two months before her engagement to Harry was announced, Meghan graced the cover of Vanity Fair. Meghan on the cover of Vanity Fair in 2017. Even before she was the Duchess of Sussex Meghan was already ruffling feathers across the magazine industry According to the then-editor of the magazine, Graydon Carter, the soon-to-be Duchess of Sussex challenged a reporter over why she was being asked about her relationship with the now-Duke of Sussex rather than her charity work. Speaking to the New York Post, Carter claimed that Meghan asked the journalist: 'Excuse me, is this going to all be about Prince Harry? 'Because I thought we were going to be talking about my charities and my philanthropy.' Carter then admitted he had 'no idea' who Meghan was at the time and added that she was 'slightly adrift on the facts and reality'. Earlier this year, Carter gave a simple but scathing takedown of Meghan during a discussion with Interview Magazine. When asked about his thoughts on the duchess, he called her 'The Undine Spragg of Montecito.' His reference was to the main character in The Custom of the Country, a tragicomedy by author Edith Wharton that was published in 1913. The book tells the story of Spragg, a social climber who moves from the Midwest to New York to experience the high life. Spragg then marries a man from Manhattan's high society, but she's never satisfied because of her greed and ambition. On Goodreads, Spragg is described as 'vain, spoiled, and selfish.' Two years later, Meghan guest-edited the September 2019 Forces for Change issue of British Vogue which featured 15 'trailblazing change makers' on its cover. It became the fastest-selling issue in the magazine's 104-year history, selling out in ten days. Among the advocates featured on the cover were Greta Thunberg, Sinéad Burke, actors Gemma Chan and Jameela Jamil and then-New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. But critics pointed out that the Queen was not among the 15 'women she admires' featured, and neither were nurses, doctors, lawyers and teachers. And questions were raised over why the Duchess only carried out 22 royal engagements in the seven months she spent as an unpaid guest editor. In the book Battle of Brothers, royal author Robert Lacey wrote about the huge unpaid time commitment Meghan made to the magazine. He wrote: 'In the same seven months, January to July 2019, the Court Circular showed the Duchess of Sussex carrying out just 22 royal engagements, less than one per week - though this period did include Meghan's maternity leave, along with a three-day tour to Morocco with Harry. 'But why had this "powerhouse" recruit to the highest echelons of the House of Windsor spent seven months labouring so intensively on behalf of British Vogue - entirely unremunerated it must be emphasised again - while doing hardly any work at all for the British Royal Family?' Three years later, the duchess was due to appear on the cover of British Vogue at the same time as Meghan's keynote appearance at the One Young World Summit in Manchester in September 2022. But Conde Nast insiders claim it was abruptly pulled and scrapped completely. An insider told MailOnline that Meghan was being 'difficult about making it a cover' and her team were 'insisting on particular straplines'. She then found herself at loggerheads with not only the editor of British Vogue, Edward Enninful, but the Queen of fashion magazines Anna Wintour. The insider said: 'Anna heard about it, and just like banned her and said, "That's it. We don't want to do this". 'And so she didn't get the cover, and I guess she didn't even get the story. [Edward Enninful] probably agreed with Anna that you don't get to call the shots on who's on the cover. That's absolutely an Editor's decision. 'Anna was p***** off. Anna was like frustrated with all the micromanaging, and just was like, "All right. That's it. She can't have the cover and we're not doing the story".' The source added that Meghan's 'level of desire for detail and control on the media is almost like Beyoncé level... but she's not Beyoncé.' However, the Duchess is said to have been relaxed with 'no expectations' but her team had 'high expectations for the piece' in Vogue. 'Enninful was not in a position to meet those expectations. He already had a magazine cover in the bag for that month,' Conde Nast insiders told the Mail On Sunday. Shelving the project is said to have damaged Enninful and the Duchess' friendship. 'Edward was furious to have lost the project, as were the powers that be at Conde Nast,' a source told the MoS. Sources claim that Meghan's team had hoped the couple could feature on a special digital cover Vogue, which is released alongside the print edition. But again, it is understood that Enninful declined. 'He didn't think it was appropriate to give her the cover,' the source explained. He had been one of Meghan's most staunchest supporters after her now-infamous 'Megxit' Oprah interview in 2021. He defended the Duchess, calling her a 'brave woman' and describing the treatment of her as 'very unfair' and 'harsh'. But he said he 'wouldn't just blame it on racism', adding: 'I think sometimes it takes a minute to understand the rules.' Whether he would defend her again today is another matter. Sources close to Meghan deny that she ever sought a Vogue cover and say she had been invited to appear. Last week, Harry and Meghan suffered a blow when they e failed to make Time Magazine's inaugural list of greatest do-gooders. Famous figures including, Oprah Winfrey, David Beckham and the Prince and Princess of Wales have made the 2025 list of the most influential philanthropists. However, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have failed to make the cut - having previously made the traditional Time100 list in 2021 and 2018. It was their appearance on one of the magazine's covers in 2021 which saw the couple ridiculed online for being 'awkward' and 'airbrushed'. The cover showed Meghan standing front and centre dressed in all white while Harry is behind his wife leaning his arms on her shoulder wearing all black while outside their $14.65million mansion in Montecito, California. Social media users were quick to point out that the couple appeared to have fell victim to a 'terrible retouching job' which made the Sussexes look 'CGI'. One critic claimed the photo reflected the power dynamic in the relationship, because Meghan is in front of her husband, tweeting: 'Wow, this photo speaks volumes. There is no hiding who's in control'.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Did Meghan go toe-to-toe with Anna Wintour? Source claims Vogue editor 'banned' Duchess from cover after becoming 'frustrated' with her 'micromanaging'
Meghan Markle was 'banned' by Anna Wintour from being on the cover of British Vogue in September 2022 after the magazine boss became 'frustrated with all the Duchess of Sussex 's team's micromanaging', according to a source. This apparently resulted in Prince Harry 's wife and the former editor of British Vogue, Edward Enninful, 'drifting apart' amid rumours in fashion circles of a falling out between the two over the planned Vogue feature on the Duchess's charitable work. The magazine coverage was designed to tie in with Meghan's keynote appearance at the One Young World Summit in Manchester in September 2022. But Conde Nast insiders claim it was abruptly pulled and scrapped completely. An insider told FEMAIL that Meghan was being 'difficult about making it a cover' and her team were 'insisting on particular straplines'. They added: 'Anna heard about it, and just like banned her and said, "That's it. We don't want to do this". 'And so she didn't get the cover, and I guess she didn't even get the story. [Edward] probably agreed with Anna that you don't get to call the shots on who's on the cover. That's absolutely an editor's decision. 'Anna was p***** off. Anna was like frustrated with all the micromanaging, and just was like, "All right. That's it. She can't have the cover and we're not doing the story".' The source added that Meghan's 'level of desire for detail and control on the media is almost like Beyoncé level... but she's not Beyoncé.' However, the Duchess is said to have been relaxed with 'no expectations' but her team had 'high expectations for the piece' in Vogue. 'Enninful was not in a position to meet those expectations. He already had a magazine cover in the bag for that month,' said Conde Nast insiders to the Mail On Sunday. British Vogue's September 2022 cover star was Canadian fashion model Linda Evangelista. According to insiders, the project about Meghan's work needed a full production team including photographers, videographers, stylists and editors to shoot exclusive images and film an in-depth video feature with the Sussexes. Shelving the project is said to have damaged Enninful and the Duchess' friendship. 'Edward was furious to have lost the project, as were the powers that be at Conde Nast,' a source told the MoS. Sources claim that Meghan's team had hoped the couple could feature on a special digital cover Vogue, which is released alongside the print edition. But again, it is understood that Enninful declined. 'He didn't think it was appropriate to give her the cover,' the source explained. Tight timings meant the whole project was eventually shelved and relations between the pair moved to only irregular contact. However, a source close to the Duchess says they have been in touch again recently. In August, Edward's team sent flowers to the Duchess to mark her 43rd birthday. Insiders admit that there has been a 'drifting' of their friendship with one source close to the Duchess saying, 'time and geography mean that Edward and Meghan just don't get to see each other as much as they did when both were living in London.' The source continued, 'friendships drift over time, but the pair have exchanged cards and flowers for one another's birthday and text each other from time to time to offer support for one another's ventures.' Their friendship first grew from Enninful's invitation to the Duchess to guest-edit the fashion bible six years ago. Meghan said at the time that they were 'like-minded thinkers' who enjoyed 'philosophising' over steaming cups of mint tea. Sources add that during the years that followed Enninful has increased his public involvement with the Royal Family, and a source close to Meghan claims that 'obviously this is a tightrope that Edward has to walk. He wouldn't want to take sides'. Enninful was initially supportive of her now-infamous 'Megxit' Oprah interview in 2021. Enninful, who was awarded an OBE in 2016 for his services to diversity in the fashion industry, is a trustee for The King's Fund, King Charles's charity, and interviewed the monarch for Vogue when he was still Prince of Wales in 2020. He attended his coronation in 2023, despite his open support of the Sussexes. Enninful follows all three of the King's charitable organisations on Instagram – but tellingly, does not follow Meghan or any of her enterprises. A source close to the Duchess said: 'She doesn't read anything into that because he doesn't follow his sister either.' In 2019, Meghan and Enninful collaborated on an issue of British Vogue which became the fastest-selling in the magazine's 104-year history, selling out in ten days. The 'Forces for Change' issue put inspirational women – including former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern and actresses Gemma Chan and Jane Fonda – on the cover. The following year Enninful addressed criticism Meghan had received when she joined the Royal Family. He defended the Duchess, calling her a 'brave woman' and describing the treatment of her as 'very unfair' and 'harsh'. But he said he 'wouldn't just blame it on racism', adding: 'I think sometimes it takes a minute to understand the rules.' Whether he would defend her again today is another matter. Sources close to Meghan deny that she ever sought a Vogue cover and say she had been invited to appear. The Duchess of Sussex's representatives were approached for comment by the MailOnline. MailOnline also approached Conde Nast for comment.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
From girl next door to bombshell Bezos bride: Inside Lauren Sanchez's rocky path to the A-list as she's subject to mockery despite bagging a billionaire
She's gone from budding TV star, who faced job rejections and failed engagements to one of the world's most famous and glamorous women. After negotiating a rocky path to the altar, Lauren Sanchez, 56, is now seen mingling with Hollywood's biggest A-listers and attending the most exclusive events on the arm of billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. But despite her starry status, she remains the butt of many jokes. At President Trump's January inauguration, where she was a guest alongside her fiancé, 61, Lauren's racy outfit, consisting of a white Alexander McQueen trouser suit revealing a generous flash of lacy white bustier, prompted a storm of criticism. According to reports the soon-to-be Mrs Bezos was only allowed to attend the $350,000 per table Met Gala if the Vogue editor Anna Wintour had a say in what she wore, with an insider claiming the famously exacting editor decried Lauren's 'poor taste'. Before meeting Jeff, Lauren was romantically linked to a slew of other stars, including an actor, two famous athletes, and a top CEO of a major talent agency - but it was when her whirlwind affair with Jeff came to light in 2019 that she truly became the subject of the public's interest. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. It was revealed that they were dating while they were both married to other people, which ultimately led to them leaving their respective partners - and the scandalous start to their romance only propelled Lauren into mega-stardom even more. It's only natural that the world became fiercely fascinated with the woman who stole the heart of one of the richest men on the globe, especially since the couple was ultimately able to overcome the explosive cheating scandal and the accusations of blackmail and extortion that shrouded the start of their romance. Meanwhile TV personality Megyn Kelly said last year Lauren 'looked like a hooker' in Milan and just weeks ago, restaurateur Keith McNally unleashed a rant about her outfit choices. And owner of swanky NYC restaurant The Balthazar posted a seemingly unprovoked, posted a series of pictures of the couple online along with the caption, 'Does anybody else find Jeff Bezos' New wife - Lauren Sanchez - ABSOLUTELY REVOLTING?' 'What an ugly and F***ing SMUG - LOOKING couple they make. Is this what having 1000 Billion dollars does to people?' While the relationship certainly cemented her status, Lauren's rise to the top actually started long before they met. She grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and dreamed of being a journalist from a young age - but because she suffered from undiagnosed dyslexia throughout her childhood, she began to believe that she couldn't do it. Instead, she decided she wanted to become a flight attendant, and at age 18, after finishing high school, she moved to Los Angeles, California, where she applied for a job as a Southwest Airlines stewardess. However, the then-teenager, who weighed just over eight stone told Wall Street Journal that she was forced to stand on a scale during the interview process - a standard practice for flight attendants at the time - and she ultimately didn't get the job because she was told she was too big. Since meeting Jeff, Lauren has undergone a raunchy make over and often flaunts her figure in skimpy outfits (pictured right 2005, left 2024) 'Back then, they weighed you, and I weighed 121 pounds. They said, 'You need to be 115,'' she recalled. Unsure of where to turn, a heartbroken Lauren decided to go to back to school, and enrolled at El Camino College in Torrance, California. It was there that she rediscovered her love for journalism after a teacher encouraged her to get tested for a learning disability and she finally realised that she was suffering from dyslexia. '[The teacher said], 'You're not dumb. You're just dyslexic. Let me give you tools on how to write,'' she explained, adding that the professor gifted her a pocket dictionary to keep with her at all times. 'It changed my life. I went from barely a 2.0 student to the dean's list and got a scholarship to USC.' Lauren transferred to University of Southern California in 1992, which she attended for two years while working as a desk assistant at the LA-based news company KCOP-TV. In 1994, she left to school to pursue her career as a reporter full time after she was offered a job at KTVK in Phoenix, Arizona. In the years that followed, she moved around quite a bit - working briefly for Extra before heading to Fox Sports Net. Around that time, she also auditioned for a seat on The View - and when she didn't get the part, she admitted it was one of the 'most devastating days of her life.' Lauren then went on to host Good Day LA for six years before starting her own aerial film and production company called Black Ops Aviation. She also served as the host on the first season of So You Think You Can Dance, and contributed to Larry King Live, The Joy Behar Show, and Showbiz Tonight over the years. Before meeting Jeff, Lauren had a roller-coaster quest to find love, filled with a divorce and multiple failed engagements. And her list of exes has a slew of star-studded names, including an actor, famous athlete, and the head of a massive talent agency. Her first boyfriend was sports broadcaster Rory Markas, who she met when she landed an internship at a Los Angeles TV station during college. The two even got engaged, but according to Page Six, she ultimately dumped Rory after she switched jobs. She then started dating NFL star Anthony Miller, after the two met at the 1996 Super Bowl when he was playing for the Denver Broncos and she was a rising TV reporter. The pair were together for four years and engaged for one and a half before Anthony claimed that Lauren broke things off. He spoke about their romance - as well as their split - exclusively to back in January 2019, and he alleged that Lauren cheated on him. Lauren then went on to host Good Day LA for six years before starting her own aerial film and production company called Black Ops Aviation (pictured 1999) Lauren's first boyfriend was sports broadcaster Rory Markas, who she met when she landed an internship at a Los Angeles TV station during college 'I couldn't really trust her,' he claimed. 'She gets around. She was cheating on me with other guys. 'I found out when I looked in her diary, and I found out more after I broke up with her.' He also called Lauren 'frugal' and 'really cheap,' adding: 'She wanted me to pay for everything. 'She was making good money back then, reporting for Extra and on Fox Sports News, but she didn't like paying.' However, sources close to Lauren disputed Anthony's claims, insisting to that it was him who was insiders also called the athlete an 'opportunist' for speaking out about the relationship two decades later, right after Lauren's affair with Jeff was revealed. After she and Anthony went their separate ways, Lauren started a relationship with footballer Tony Gonzalez. They welcomed a son, named Nikko Gonzalez, together in 2002 before splitting. After that, she was reportedly linked to actor Henry Simmons, but very little is known about their romance. Lauren then entered into a relationship with Hollywood agent and Endeavor talent agency cofounder Patrick Whitesell. The two walked down the aisle together in 2005, and together, they had a son, named Evan Whitesell, in 2006 and a daughter, named Eleanor Whitesell, in 2008. They were together for more than a decade up until her affair with Jeff was brought to light in early 2019. While it's unclear when exactly they started dating, Lauren and Jeff's romance was first exposed by the National Enquirer in January 2019, while they were both married to their now-exes. Soon after it was revealed, the billionaire businessman divorced his wife of more than 25 years and the mother of his four children, Mackenzie Scott, while Lauren left her husband, Patrick. At the time, the bombshell report from the Enquirer claimed that Lauren and Jeff had been involved in an eight-month affair, which involved him 'whisking his mistress off to exotic destinations on his $65 million private jet, sending her raunchy messages and erotic selfies, and having secret rendezvous at palatial private estates.' Soon after it was revealed, the billionaire businessman divorced his wife of more than 25 years and the mother of his four children while Lauren also left her partner (Lauren and Jeff 2021) The outlet said that it had tracked them 'across five states and 40,000 miles, tailing them in private jets, swanky limos, helicopter rides, romantic hikes, five-star hotel hideaways, intimate dinner dates and "quality time" in hidden love nests.' Following the Enquirer's accusations, Jeff fired back by writing a lengthy essay to the publication's CEO, David Pecker, in which the mogul accused the company of blackmailing him. 'Rather than capitulate to extortion and blackmail, I've decided to publish exactly what they sent me, despite the personal cost and embarrassment they threaten,' he wrote. '[After] intimate texts messages from me were published in the National Enquirer, I engaged investigators to learn how those texts were obtained, and to determine the motives for the many unusual actions taken by the Enquirer. 'We were then approached with an offer. They said they had more of my text messages and photos that they would publish if we didn't stop our investigation.' He shared alleged emails sent to him by Enquirer staffers, in which they described the racy images they had 'obtained during their newsgathering' in detail. Four years after their affair was revealed to the world by the National Enquirer, Bezos asked Lauren to marry him, with a pear diamond estimated to be worth at least $2 million. Since then, the couple have flaunted their love around the world, holidayed aboard Bezos' mega yacht and count the likes of Kim Kardashian as pals, and just last week the reality star, 44, shared a behind-the-scenes look into Lauren 's lavish Paris bachelorette party. Sipping on cocktails with Eva Longoria and her mother Kris Jenner, Kim posed for photos in front of the Eiffel Tower with the A-list attendees as she stunned in an elegant satin gown with a thigh-high leg slit to mark to occasion. The girls enjoyed a boat ride past the Eiffel Tower complete with dinner and passion fruit Martinis. Sharing her photos to Instagram Kim captioned: 'We will always have Paris.' During the weekend, Lauren and her famous friends also enjoyed dinner at the historic Lafayette's Paris restaurant in Paris, which offers refined French dishes with a modern twist. They were treated to starters that included fried chicken, Caesar salad, and Norwegian smoked salmon, and a main course that featured mushroom rigatoni and roasted chicken. 1 October Gonzalez; 2 Natasha Poonawalla; 3 Charissa Thompson; 4 Bego Amaya; 5 Elsa Marie Collins; 6 Kim Kardashian; 7 Elena Sanchez; 8 Lydia Kives; 9 Veronica Smiley Grazer; 10 Lauren Sanchez; 11 Katy Perry; 12 Kris Jenner The journalist — who recently enjoyed a controversial trip into space with Katy Perry — was pictured beaming while surrounded by her pals in the city of love. Among the other friends who joined her was October Gonzalez, the wife of her football player ex Tony Gonzalez, with whom Lauren shares son Nikko, 24. Other friends in the snap were businesswoman Natasha Poonawalla; sports commentator Charissa Thompson; pal Bego Amaya; philanthropist Elsa Marie Collin, Lauren's sister Elena; and socialites Lydia Kives and Veronica Smiley Grazer. Lauren and Jeff are expected to walk down the aisle next month, and the unusual venue for the ceremony is raising some eyebrows. The couple, who have reportedly booked Elton John and Lady Gaga to perform, could say their 'I dos' on a Venetian island in an open-air theater. The billionaire, his bride and some 200 guests have reportedly already booked rooms at the best hotels. His mega yacht is also expected to be a part of the festivities, although neither the future bride or groom would confirm. Guests are expected to include: several members of the Kardashian/Jenner family, Perry and her fiancé Orlando Bloom, Leonardo DiCaprio, as well as Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, and along with model Karlee Kloss and her husband Joshua Kushner. President Donald Trump has also reportedly been invited to the nuptials. Officials from the city of Venice have said they lobbied Bezos and Sanchez to hold the wedding there. Morris Ceron, the director general of the Venice council told the London Times he personally approached the Amazon founder about choosing the ancient city for the wedding.
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Meghan's ‘impossible' Vogue cover shoot demands revealed
The alleged rift between Megan Markle and former British Vogue editor Edward Enninful goes deeper than him reportedly being unable to accommodate her for a cover in 2022, we hear. The former royal gave the fashion maven an impossible list of demands, and even tried to also appeal to US Vogue 's Anna Wintour, a source tells Page Six. The Daily Mail reported this week that Markle and Enninful had plans for a UK Vogue September 2022 issue that would include Markle's keynote appearance at the One Young World Summit in Manchester, and 'involved extensive features across the magazine and its digital editions.' The outlet reported that Markle wanted the cover, but Enninful already had a star, Linda Evangelista, booked — causing Markle to pull the plug and causing a falling out between the former friends. But we hear scheduling wasn't the only reason the cover never materialised. A source tells us Markle wanted a 'global cover,' appearing on the covers of UK and US Vogue simultaneously, along with a list of demands. 'Meghan asked for control over [the] photographer, writer, final edit, photos, cover lines, and wanted a global issue,' says a source. We hear there was no way any editor would agree. 'Nobody gets that. Not even Beyoncé,' says the source. We hear Markle even set up a personal Zoom call with Wintour in order to try and pitch her on the idea. 'Anna wasn't interested,' says the source, adding the mag already had its own cover star, Serena Williams. While Markle was not in the running, the source tells us: 'Meghan asked for a Zoom with her to reconsider, and Anna did it to be polite.' Adele is the only celebrity to appear on both US and UK covers simultaneously for the November 2021 issues. However, another source insisted that Markle never sought a cover from Vogue, and that the mag had actually approached her multiple times after her wedding to Prince Harry. Enninful had previously asked Markle to be on the cover of British Vogue's 2019 'Forces for Change' issue, but she chose to guest edit instead, the source said. Markle did wind up getting a September 2022 cover, at the time she was promoting her now failed 'Archetypes' podcast. She appeared on the digital cover of New York magazine's the Cut, which also featured another digital cover with Megan Thee Stallion. She was also slated to appear on the cover of Variety that month, but it was held a month after Queen Elizabeth II passed away. Sources told Daily Mail that Markle and Enninful — who quit British Vogue in February — are no longer on speaking terms. 'The duchess and her team had high expectations and were expecting she might get a print cover or at least a digital cover out of it, but Enninful was not able to meet those expectations. He already had a magazine cover in the bag for that month,' an insider said. 'Edward was furious to have lost the project, as were the powers that be at Condé Nast,' said the source. 'The whole process became very difficult. Edward could only promise her a big showy feature inside the magazine and online — but she turned it down,' they added. Despite the claims, Page Six has also heard that the relationship between Markle and Enninful has 'remained warm and respectful' over the years, with the pair exchanging birthday wishes and flowers.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Daily Mail
ALEXANDRA SHULMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Will I ever find luggage that I can hold on to?
Some people get through the torture of airport check-in by scrolling on their phones. I spend it eyeing up other passengers' luggage. Despite years of obsessive searching, I'm yet to find the perfect suitcase. It's as elusive as a desert mirage. For the many years I travelled to events as Vogue editor, there was no question of managing with a carry-on. In fact, there was a kudos in taking a great haul of cases to international fashion weeks. I can still remember watching Anna Wintour 's substantial Louis Vuitton collection being loaded on to a trolley from the baggage carousel at Milan's Malpensa. The amount of clothes needed for two weeks on the road, surrounded by the eagle-eyed fashion crew, demanded more than a medium-sized Muji. But even during those years trying out all sorts of different designs, I never found the ideal case – they were always too heavy, had too few compartments or were just impossible to squish in a way that would accommodate the extra shopping I'd return with. My attic is filled with discarded luggage experiments, lurking in the dark as memories of a different life and far too impractical for my current one. There's the vast black nylon Prada, a canvas Hartmann, a beautiful leather-strapped Globe-Trotter (the only one that occasionally makes it out into the light). Although I now travel more than I ever did at Vogue – for leisure and work – I still can't seem to solve the suitcase conundrum. Every new model arrives with a large dollop of expectation, like a procession of new boyfriends where you hope the next one might just be Mr Right. But then, within one trip, their fallibilities are always exposed. My most recent buy – a large lightweight number supposedly for ten-day trips – is indeed light. But why on earth didn't I buy one with two separate compartments and a compression feature? My Away carry-on – an American brand that's been valued at £1 billion – comes with an internal phone charger but lacks that all-important outside pocket. On the train to Gatwick last week, I eyed a couple's soft cover Samsonites laden with a huge number of zip-up compartments on the outside but lacking any vestige of style. Perhaps there is no perfect suitcase, it's an impossible dream. But if I accepted that, what on earth would I do to entertain myself at check-in? King Charlie? No, that's a bit too rich The latest unnecessary but enjoyable survey is the Happiness Index of names, commissioned by Winnrz. My partner's name David comes out top, though it's listed as Dave. Which left me wondering: is there a difference in the cheerful quotient between the diminutive and the full-milk version of names? Some Davids, like my own, are never known as Dave; others, like ex-PM Lord Cameron, are called Dave by family and friends. The posher you are, the more likely your name is to be abbreviated – think Fred, Bert, Mike. So perhaps the Happiness Index also has something to do with wealth. But then Charlie (as opposed to Charles) comes third in the rankings. And somehow I doubt our monarch – whose £640 million wealth is the same as the Sunaks – is ever called Charlie. Marbella is no place for Panama hats A Short break in Marbella has confirmed my irrational prejudice against women wearing straw Panama hats. There's no reason I should find this harmless accessory so irritating, but there's something unbearably prissy about them. I never thought I'd find myself saying this, but come back baseball cap – all is forgiven. How I watched my flight nerves depart I travelled with a nervous flyer – even more nervous than me – and we discovered an antidote is to consult a flight tracker. There's something soothing about watching the journey of your plane in transit as you wait to board your flight, and then knowing it's going to fly on to Ibiza after dropping you at Gatwick. It's reassuring to be in command of the facts. Rolling out the red carpet for activists At at last week's Cannes Film Festival, Julian and Stella Assange made one of their first joint public appearances since his release from Belmarsh Prison in south-east London. Both were dressed in custom-made Vivienne Westwood for the premiere of a documentary about the WikiLeaks founder. Stella pinned a brooch featuring a picture of Westwood and the words Stop Killing on to her peach and sea-green taffeta ballgown. The red carpet is becoming one of the most effective activist billboards of our time as images flood across social media in nano- seconds. 'You are what you wear' is never truer than when you're trying to make a point. Was I the only one not seen in Chelsea? Never ones to be upstaged by the French, we had our own starry bonanza last week – the Chelsea Flower Show. Even the least horticulturally minded of us couldn't have avoided hearing about an event which has become the launchpad for what wealthy Americans see as 'The London Season'. Every year the exhibition becomes larger and more celebrity-orientated in a very British way. David Beckham, Amanda Holden, Rivals star Alex Hassell, Joanna Lumley and Mary Berry all made appearances. At Chelsea, it's less a case of 'you are what you wear' than 'you are what you grow' – although its charitable initiatives, such as the Tackle HIV Challenging Stigma Garden, have made Chelsea the place fashion brands want to be seen. Hence appearances by jeweller Boodles, with its sparkling Raindance Garden, and Clare Hornby's Me+Em City Garden. With daily TV coverage and endless Instagram posts, at times it felt I was the only person I knew who wasn't at Chelsea. Then I'd remind myself I was in Marbella.
