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Articles by Max Ortega
Where The Wild Things Are: Tactically Tinged Fashion Takes to the Water—and the Woods—in Maine
I spend summers in Maine, where I was born and raised. Despite this, a yearly aspiration, or yearly delusion, possesses me each June when I’m staring into my Manhattan closet and choosing what to pack. I think, I might wear that cotton dress, or I should really pack those sandals. I won’t and I shouldn’t.
Heirlome Resort 2027 Gives Artisan Craft A Sharper Transformation Arc
Share this: Heirlome Resort 2027 is taking the “new era” idea very literally. Stephanie Suberville is now fully inside the company she founded in 2022, and instead of treating that career shift like a quiet milestone, she turns it into a full shedding-skin story. Snakes appear through placement prints by Michoacán potter Luis Manuel Morales Gámez, satin strips coil around the body, cream georgette pulls into ruched volume, and textured knits give the whole thing a handmade charge.
In Search of a Main-Character Shoe
I’ll admit it: I’m someone whose personal style tends toward minimal, classic, and cerebral—cough, boring—rather than, say, daring, bold, or cool. That has never bothered me…until a few weeks ago when I was getting dressed for a friend’s 30th birthday party and, confounded by shoe options, asked myself: Must it always be the same loafers and pointy-toe sock boots? I reluctantly wore my loafers anyway, but found myself wondering if I was in shoe purgatory.
ビリー・アイリッシュ、業界の常識に逆らい続ける24歳
2023年2月、ビリー・アイリッシュは実兄で主なコラボレーターであるフィニアスの自宅スタジオで一緒に新曲の制作を始めた。曲作りの逆説の一つは、何の苦もなくできたように聞こえるシンプルな楽曲ほど、作るのが恐ろしく難しいことだ。2人は11カ月間、この楽曲と格闘し、コーラスを作り直し、「I’ll love you till the day that I die（あなたを愛し続ける、私が死ぬその日まで）」という歌詞の一節を、陳腐にならずに入れる方法を見つけるのに苦労した。 ついに「Birds of a...
How Billie Eilish Rewrote the Business of Pop Music
At just 23, she has racked up nine Grammys and two Oscars. Now the hitmaker is making the industry more sustainable—for the world and herself. By | Photography by Alex Prager for WSJ. Magazine | Styling by Max Ortega WSJ. Magazine’s annual Innovators issue recognizes groundbreaking talents from a range of disciplines. Billie Eilish is this year’s music innovator. Check back for more cover stars through October.
‘Anna Christie,’ an Under-Seen Eugene O’Neill Drama, Gets Its Day in Brooklyn-Starring Michelle Williams and Tom Sturridge
The sea, in the plays of Eugene O’Neill, is never neutral: It is fate, peril, self-delusion, rebirth, truth. How fitting, then, that it is on a New York waterfront that I meet Michelle Williams, the star of a new production of Anna Christie that begins performances November 25 at St. Ann’s Warehouse in Brooklyn (opening night is December 11).
Behind the Cameras: 11 Producers, Casting Directors, VFX Artists, and More Making Hollywood Dreams Come True
Ahead of Vogue World: Hollywood—a celebration of fashion and the extraordinary, kaleidoscopic work of making movies—we gathered people involved in all different sides of production, from sound to craft services, to find out how the dreams are spun. Ready, set, action! Photographed by Alec Soth. Vogue, November 2025. Producers Dylan Golden, Frida Perez, and Alex Coco Golden, a frequent collaborator of director Darren Aronofsky’s, wears Miu Miu and Manolo Blahnik boots.
Hat Trick: On the Endurance of the Bucket Hat
One of my cardinal rules is to never begin a piece of writing by talking about how difficult it was to begin the piece of writing. Leave that to the bad wedding speeches. But when Vogue asked me if I would write an article about bucket hats, I had no choice. I wanted to do it, but I couldn’t muster a single thought on the subject. I mean, it’s a hat. What more is there to say? Of all the hats, the bucket hat in particular was completely meaningless to me.
Colman Domingo on the Joys of Style, Tailoring, and Becoming a Leading Man
Out there is a video, captured on someone’s phone, in which Colman Domingo, star of last year’s affecting prison drama Sing Sing, can be seen onstage during the Oscars, doing a jaunty little dance. As he bops along to Maze’s “Before I Let Go,” his lank frame a blur of scarlet and black Valentino, he shouts out members of the audience—“C’mon, Cynthia! C’mon, Penélope!”—not that they need much persuading: The entire front row, from Kylie Jenner to Demi Moore, is on their feet.
Ben Shelton Came To Tennis Late-Here’s Why He’s Been Riding A Rocket To The Top Of The Sport
Ben Shelton didn’t grow up with childhood dreams of being the next Roger Federer, or the next Rafael Nadal. He wanted to be the next Calvin Johnson. “Arguably the greatest wide receiver of all time,” Shelton says, tucked into the back seat of an Escalade crawling through midtown Manhattan. “His nickname was Megatron—he played for the Detroit Lions: six foot five, 240, ran a 4.3 40-yard dash, kind of a freak athlete.
Family Style - How to Make It
Winter 2024 Art Commissions February 14, 2025 8:00 AM There is a private, far away world that artists return to time and time again. Its parameters, molded in childhood and chiseled away in practice. Like the natural landscape, it is always shifting, eroding, and regenerating anew. We can see it, too, eyes closed: a snow capped mountain, an ancient organism, our body, cosmic. Eyes open, gaze fixed, it is a coil on a vine, a statue, light streaming from a window.
In a New Production of Gypsy, Audra McDonald Takes On a Towering Role
Products are independently selected by our editors. We may earn an affiliate commission from links. Audra McDonald is crouched over a curious white plastic box. “I swear this is a kayak,” she says as it suddenly unfolds like large-scale origami, making a satisfying crunch as it hits the pebbly shore. What will eventually be my vessel for the afternoon is now a flat piece of corrugated plastic.
Hats Are Back! All the Ways to Wear Fall’s Jauntiest Accessory
Tall or flat, solid or patterned, close-knit or wide-brimmed: Fall’s jauntiest accessory is also its most dazzlingly variable. SHEER GENIUS Is she dressed for Ascot—or to parade down Astor Place? Champion would rather keep her answer tucked under her gloriously frothy, silk gazar hat from Albertus Swanepoel. Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello bodysuit, skirt, and bracelets; ysl.com.
How Aubrey Plaza Eye-Rolled Her Way to Hollywood Stardom
She won over audiences as the queen of deadpan drollery. Now the actress is shedding her quirky-sidekick image for something far deeper. By | Photography by Laura Jane Coulson for WSJ. Magazine | Styling by Max Ortega Your browser does not support the audio tag. 00:00 / 02:07 This article is in your queue. AUBREY PLAZA had already been cast in one role by Francis Ford Coppola when he asked her to take on another.
How Aubrey Plaza Eye-Rolled Her Way to Hollywood Stardom
She won over audiences as the queen of deadpan drollery. Now the actress is shedding her quirky-sidekick image for something far deeper. By | Photography by Laura Jane Coulson for WSJ. Magazine | Styling by Max Ortega Your browser does not support the audio tag. 00:00 / 02:07 This article is in your queue. AUBREY PLAZA had already been cast in one role by Francis Ford Coppola when he asked her to take on another.
First Lady Jill Biden on What’s at Stake in 2024
Editor’s Note: The debate on June 27 spurred a discussion about whether President Joe Biden should remain the Democratic nominee. Dr. Jill Biden, the first lady and Vogue’s August cover subject, has fiercely defended her husband and stood by him. Reached by phone on June 30 at Camp David, where the Biden family had gathered for the weekend, she told Vogue that they “will not let those 90 minutes define the four years he’s been president.
Kendall Jenner Keeps Things Short and Sweet in the Season’s Most Dramatic Silhouettes
FIELD OF DREAMS Amid the darling buds of May, Kendall Jenner takes her Max Mara jacket, tank top, and skirt lying down; maxmara.com. Loewe boots.Fashion Editor: Max Ortega. Photographed by Colin Dodgson, Vogue, May 2024. PURPLE HAZE Jenner casts a dreamy spell in a mohair-silk Michael Kors Collection sweater; michaelkors.com. Polo Ralph Lauren sneakers. OUT ON A LIMB Has monochromatic dressing ever seemed quite so shimmering and splendid? Hermès shirt, top, and shorts; Hermès boutiques.
Rachel McAdams on the Revelatory Broadway Debut of ‘Mary Jane’
I didn’t know it was going to be quite so…wet,” says the playwright Amy Herzog as she arrives at a Brooklyn café, shaking a slushy mix of rain and snow out of her hat. Herzog, 45, has delicate but pointed features and a kind of immediate intensity and focus that she’ll need to draw upon in the weeks ahead. This is the month her adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s An Enemy of the People opens, directed by her husband, Sam Gold, and starring her old college friend Jeremy Strong.
New Voices: The Acts to Watch in 2024
Tyla wears a Diotima dress. Khiry hoops. Last summer, 22-year-old South African singer Tyla summoned her choreographer, Lee-ché “Litchi” Janecke, to discuss “Water,” the lead single for her self-titled debut album, out March 22.
Usher On His New Album, the Super Bowl, and What’s Next for Vogue’s Winter Digital Cover
From certain high perches in Henderson, Nevada, where made-to-order modernist mansions bloom across the terraced mountain ranges, the city of Las Vegas unfurls below you like a magic carpet. On a recent fall afternoon, Usher Raymond IV, the 45-year-old artist known the world over simply as Usher, took in the view from the head of his outdoor dining table, his goldendoodle, Scarlett, asleep at his feet. “When is the last time you looked in a mirror and really looked at yourself?” he asks.
Nicki Minaj on Motherhood, Marriage, and Verse-Making for Vogue's December Cover
On an evening in late August, just as Donald Trump is getting booked on 13 felony charges at the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta, a sherbet sunset in the western sky casts Santa Monica Boulevard in a Nicki Minaj–pink blush. But Minaj has no time on this day for politics, nor for the soft summer tints gathering outside the windowless sound booth of a Los Angeles recording studio.
In Mexico City, Joyful, Timeless Fashion-And Towering Creative Talent-Takes Center Stage Original
When we talk about Mexico in 2023, what—and who—do we talk about? The answer to that question is embedded in a dense web of influences and talent, weaving together the worlds of fashion, visual art, architecture, film, gastronomy, and music. The precis, however, is that modern Mexico is thrilling and thriving.
Less Might Be More for Sensitive Skin, But There Are Also Products Galore Original
It is a woman’s duty to use all the means in her power to beautify and preserve her complexion,” wrote the Irish dancer Lola Montez in her delightful 1858 guidebook, The Arts of Beauty. How closely, but misguidedly, have I followed this advice! From the time I’ve been able to roam the drugstore unsupervised, I have been engaged in a battle for beauty. In my youthful zeal for perfect skin, I leaned upon scrubs and heavy-duty toners, most of which chafed and stung—to my great satisfaction.
The Season’s Most Covetable Accessories? Boots-Shiny, Sparkly, Plumed (And Perfectly Walkable)
Short and stompy, Shayk’s boots from Jimmy Choo (jimmychoo.com) make quick work of grounding a very lively Tory Burch dress— while Valletta’s Maison Margiela (maison margiela.com) boots are a complement and counterpoint to her Givenchy dress. These sculptural, almost witchy boots from Dior (Dior boutiques) are layered with a quintessential trench and streamlined skirt, both from The Row.
Just One Thing: An Oversized, Goes-With-Everything Leather Jacket Is an Heirloom in the Making Original
A perfectly broken-in leather jacket is at once iconic and essential. This molasses-hued Saint Laurent version—shrugged on by Anok Yai in looks ranging from day to night and sporty to chic—exudes a This old thing? ease while elevating the game of just about everyone. It’s just the latest selection in our series of single-piece outfit-makers. As Yai displays the endless styling possibilities of a really great leather jacket, shop a selection of them here, in our August edition of Just One Thing.
See Stella McCartney and Shie Lyu Ingeniously Reinterpret Each Other’s Work Original
When Shanghai-and-Chengdu-based womenswear designer Shie Lyu received an email inviting her to take part in a Vogue-initiated collaborative project with Stella McCartney, her astonishment bordered on disbelief. “I thought the message was spam!” exclaims Lyu, who founded her label in 2020. PIECES OF WORK Stella McCartney reimagined Shie Lyu’s look as a denim patchwork coat, worn here by model Grace Elizabeth. Hair, Joey George; makeup, Kuma. Photographed by Norman Jean Roy. Fashion Editor: Max Ortega.
Titans Drop Back-and-Forth Game to Hawai'i
FULLERTON, Calif. – Cal State Fullerton baseball dropped game two of its series with Hawai'i by a final score of 14-10 Saturday evening at Goodwin Field. The Titans are now 13-9 on the year and 6-2 in Big West play. The Titans jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Maddox Latta got Fullerton on the board first as he was able to score on an error by the Hawai'i pitcher.
When Bigger Is Better: Meet The New Chic Totes That Carry Everything
CAFÉ SOCIETY Over on Lexington Avenue, Daing enjoys a moment of reflection with her glossy Alexander McQueen bag; alexandermcqueen.com. Ralph Lauren Purple Label jacket; ralphlauren.com. Loewe hoodie; loewe.com. MADE YOU LOOK Under the watchful twin gazes of Katz’s Ada Ada (1991), a voluminous yellow Marni bag (marni.com) finds all the right moves—and a few good angles too. Sportmax top and skirt; sportmax.com.
One Very Special Person: How Beanie Feldstein Found Her Way to Fanny Brice
It never occurred to three-year-old Beanie Feldstein, when she requested a Funny Girl–themed birthday, that the party store near her family’s Los Angeles home wouldn’t have a Barbra Streisand section. “Other people had Elmo or Little Mermaid balloons. I thought my mom could just go to Party City and buy Barbra Streisand balloons,” the now 28-year-old actor says.
The Literary Acrobatics of Jennifer Egan Original
It’s a chilly January morning and a melancholic air hangs over East Seventh Street. Something shifts when Jennifer Egan rides up on her bicycle. Rosy-cheeked and wearing a dove-gray Fjällräven parka and stovepipe jeans that her teenage son recently outgrew, the novelist looks more like a carefree coed than a 59-year-old literary lion on the eve of her seventh book’s publication. She hops off her bike and locks it in front of a tenement building.
Scarlett Johansson Secured Her Superhero Status by Taking on the Hollywood Machine. Her Next Feat? A Clean Skin-Care Line
“I walked into our first meeting kind of taking a deep breath thinking, Holy crap, I’m about to meet Scarlett Johansson,” says Kate Foster Lengyel, The Outset’s cofounder, an industry veteran who was introduced to Johansson through mutual friends. She too was immediately charmed by Johansson’s intelligence and humor, which translate as a kind of normal-girl energy that you just don’t expect from Natasha Romanoff. “She’s Old Hollywood in that way,” confirms her longtime makeup artist Frankie Boyd.
7 Reasons Why Blush Is the Official Makeup of Our Réentrée
Is there any makeup more ephemeral than blush, or whose promise, through the ages, has proved more alluring? “They wish to find the springtime of their earliest years hiding in a pot of rouge,” an 18th-century social critic observed of the ladies at the court of Versailles, whose vermilion cheeks, floridly blooming in artificially snow-white complexions, signaled their allegiance to the aristocracy.
“This Is What New York Looks Like”-10 Emerging Young Labels Changing the Face of Fashion Week
On the 86th floor of the Empire State Building, looking down at the battered but insanely beautiful city glittering below and waiting for the LaQuan Smith show to begin, even the most jaded fashion professional couldn’t deny it: After 19 months of truncated Fashion Weeks, virtual presentations, and Zoom calls, it felt like a miracle to be back seeing runway shows in New York for the first time since February 2020—a lifetime ago.
The New, Versatile Power Suit
From left: Dries Van Noten jacket, $1,580, and pants, $830, (310) 880-6125; Louis Vuitton shirt; Bottega Veneta turtleneck, $950, bottegaveneta.com; and Prada shoes. Balenciaga jacket, $2,550, shirt, $1,050, and pants, $1,050, (212) 328-1671; and Prada turtleneck and shoes.Credit...Photograph by Michael Hauptman. Styled by Max Ortega Bottega Veneta jacket, $3,200, turtleneck and pants, $1,190; and Prada shoes.Credit...Photograph by Michael Hauptman.
Broadway Returns! But Where Will it Go Now?
Once upon a time, whenever I had seats for a Broadway show, my pretheater ritual involved one of two activities. I would either meet a friend at Sardi’s for a quick martini and a ramekin of orange cheese or else find myself sprinting out of the Times Square subway station at 7:59 to make an 8:00 curtain.
Empress Of, Kaytranada, Sir Chloe, and More Musicians Fashion a Festival All Their Own
Channeling that supremely summer abandon of mosh-pit surfing, puddle-jumping, and tent-pitching at places like Coachella and Glastonbury, a roving party of models and musicians fashion a fun-loving festival of their own. From left: María Isabel wears a Louis Vuitton jacket; louisvuitton.com. The Elder Statesman dress, $425; elder-statesman.com. Empress Of wears a Matty Bovan dress, $2,013; matchesfashion.com.
Microsoft Soundscape helps those who are visually impaired with a voice-based map app
Microsoft Research is at it again with an app called Soundscape, which helps those who are visually impaired traverse through the neighborhood using voice-based mapping. Utilizing Bing Maps Local Search and Bing Maps Location Recognition APIs, this app allows those who are blind or have low vision obtain the ability to get from one place to another.
How to get the Windows 10 November 2019 Update (19H2)
How to get the Windows 10 November 2019 Update (19H2) Here’s a quick guide for those of you who are new to Windows 10 and want to be on the latest build. Applies to All Windows 10 Versions Microsoft recently revealed that Windows 10 November 2019 Update (19H2) was ready for release. While the majority of readers on this site are Windows Insiders already running the latest build, here’s a quick guide for those of you who are new and want to be on the latest build of Windows 10. You have two options.
Tell Microsoft how much you love or hate the Windows 10 touch keyboard
Microsoft is inviting you to share your feedback regarding the Windows touch keyboard with the engineers who are directly responsible for designing and developing it. This will be a perfect opportunity to share your thoughts on the touch keyboard, and offer suggestions on improvement. Those interested can participate in an online session on Sunday, September 29, 2019, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM (Pacific Time). All you have to do is bookmark this page.
Microsoft releases .NET Core 3.0, Visual Studio 2019 16.3, compatible with existing projects
Microsoft has announced the release of .NET Core 3.0, bringing along a plethora of improvements, as well as compatibility with existing projects so developers aren't starting from scratch. Here's what Microsoft had to say on their .NET Blog: We’re excited to announce the release of .NET Core 3.0. It includes many improvements, including adding Windows Forms and WPF, adding new JSON APIs, support for ARM64 and improving performance across the board.
You can name your virtual desktops in Windows 10, thanks to user feedback
User feedback is a great thing, isn’t it? Especially when a company listens to its consumers. Microsoft’s Windows Insider team sent out a tweet today informing Windows Insiders of the new ability to name your virtual desktops in Windows 10. Granted, you must be using a build greater than 18963, which most of you probably are anyway. In previous builds, when you clicked on tapped on the Task View button, you were allowed to create a new desktop without having the ability to name it.
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