Women’s News, Interviews and Analysis
/ Anne Enke
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Game On! Serena Williams Returns to Winbledon in Singles and Doubles
We have big news out of Wimbledon, where Ms.Serena Williams will return to play single singles, after accepting a wild-card invite, the All England Club announced Sunday. Serena was already on the roster with sister Venus after accepting a wild-card invite to the doubles competition.
Serena feels that she has unfinished business in women’s tennis and we support her drive for two more grand slam titles. Williams has won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, leaving her one win away from tying Margaret Court’s all-time women's record of 24. She would need two wins to hold the record outright. Seven of those Grand Slam wins came at Wimbledon.
Sophie Dahl Channels Marilyn Monroe for Harper's Bazaar UK
This Marilyn story serves as an advertorial for a collection of beauty products launched by Lisa Eldridge [IG] in collaboration with the estate of Marilyn Monroe.
In these images Sophie Dahl channels Marilyn Monroe in Amagansett in the summer of 1957. The private location inspired photographer Sam Shaw to take some of the most relaxed and natural images of Marilyn ever recorded.
Dahl is styled by Miranda Almond in images by Agata Pospieszynska [IG] for Harper’s Bazaar UK [IG] July-August 2026 ./ Hair by Sam McKnight; makeup by Lisa Eldridge
Marilyn’s Deepest Desire
Anne of Carversville has always tried to be sensitive to one of Marilyn’s deepest desires — to be taken seriously as an intellectual person. This desire was a source of ridicule by men who found the vision of Marilyn Monroe as an intellectual to be absurd. Marilyn was aware of the ridicule and it pained her deeply.
Miranda Kerr in All Her Glory Talks Family Values with Marie Claire Australia
Miranda Kerr needs no introduction. The founder of KORA Organics and mother of four sons — three with now husband Evan Spiegel and one with ex-husband Orlando Bloom— dons a strawberry blonde wig for her Marie Claire Australia [IG] April 2026 cover story. It’s a perfect color for this fashion in an issue devoted to Women in their Power!
It’s a WIG, people; calm down.
Julianna Alabado styles Kerr in images by Greg Swales [IG], who shot Kerr in Los Angeles, her primary residence.
The Aussie beauty and famous Victoria’s Secret model self-funded the ‘clean’ brand with her own earnings,. Kerr is a testament to the reality of Victoria’s Secret models being uniquely well-paid in its glory days.
The Monster of a Man in Your New Dior Library Is Not Dio. He's Deor.
Anne says: “If someone tells you two times in eight years who they are, especially when rewarded with a big promotion to create a NEW DIOR that is vastly different from the old Dior, you must evaluate this new marriage carefully.
It’s only fashion, right? Au contraire. It’s a time for choosing.”
My goal is to give clarity from a branding standpoint around what the New Dior stands for. They are very retro values for our modern world. I am comfortable saying that the new New Dior has a deeply nationalistic mentality, and I will go so far as to call it a white nationalist mentality, based on the key points of ‘Dracula’.
Cate Blanchett in Vogue Germany, at Hamburger Bahnhof Museum 30th Anniversary and News of Her November 2026 Honors by Displacement Film Fund
Leading lady, Oscar winning Cate Blanchett learned that she is the 2026 recipient of the British Short Film Awards’ Impact Award. Blanchett will be recognized on Nov. 8 in London for her work “with the Displacement Film Fund [DFF], an initiative supporting short films created by refugees and filmmakers living in displacement.
Blanchett was not at the recent 2026 Oscars but in Berlin at the renowned Hamburger Bahnhof Museum 30th anniversary event. She reunited with Julian Rosefeldt. The German artist and film maker is best known for his 2015 work ‘Manifesto’, in which Blanchett performed 13 different roles.
Deva Cassel in Dior for Harper's Bazaar Turkey Talks French Version ‘Phantom of the Opera’
Dior ambassador, actor Deva Cassel covers the March 2026 issue of Harper’s Bazaar Turkey [IG], the first one styled by new EIC Inan Kirdemir in key pieces from Jonathan Anderson’s first Dior Women’s Spring 2026 collection.
Inan Kirdemir [IG] arrives at Harper’s Bazaar Turkey from L’Officiel Turkey, as a well-known celebrity stylist and now editor-in-chief at Bazaar.
The star of last year’s Netflix Italia series ‘The Leopard’ has finished a new French-language film adaptation of ‘The Phantom of the Opera’, directed by Alexandre Castagnetti. The movie is set for a September 23, 2026 release in France.
Anine Bing's Fresh Start & Great Bag for Vogue Scandinavia February/March
Co-founder of the Anine Bing label in 2012 Los Angeles, the Danish businesswoman and former model covers the February-March 2026 issue of Vogue Scandinavia [IG].
Anine Bing currently splits her time between Los Angeles andParis, where her main design studio now operates. Her divorce is final and she is thrilled with her new focus, as well as her undertaking a therapeutic retreat.
Known as the Hoffman Process, the program is designed to help individuals identify and release subconscious negative behaviors, limiting beliefs, and emotional patterns rooted in childhood, often termed the "Negative Love Syndrome," to foster, emotional, intellectual, physical, and spiritual transformation. View her IG commentary here, dated February 14, 2025.
Matthieu Blazy's New Girl Bhavitha Mandava Covers Vogue UK March 2026
Irony runneth over for Bhavitha Mandava, an India-born and educated architect who moved to New York City to join NYU’s program in assistive technology. One day this gorgeous young woman with a big brain and a ‘smile to die for’ was scouted on the New York subway as an exclusive in Matthieu Blazy’s Bottega Veneta Spring/Summer 2025 show.
That event was only the beginning for Mandava. When Blazy moved to Chanel shortly after, the new girl went with him. In record time, this young woman ambassador for the uber-challenging, big rewards for women winners breaking through barriers in New York City would open the Chanel Métiers d’Art 2026 Show in New York City.
Where did we find Bhavitha Mandava the night of December 2, 2025? Back in the subway.
Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi 'Wuthering Heights' Countdown in Vogue Australia
Elordi was equally relaxed as an Aussie man chilling with fellow Aussie Robbie in a Bottega Veneta jacket, tank top and pants. One uses the word ‘jacket’ loosely.On Robbie, it’s a shrug or cardigan.
What’s obvious to AOC is the growing numbers of men being totally relaxed wearing femme fashion.
No intellectual edict is required by the designer. They’re just doing it — like Pharrell was doing in Chanel by Karl Lagerfeld a decade ago. No star designer is creating this look in 2026, even though one will probably claim it.
‘Old Soul’ Kaia Gerber for Harper’s Bazaar February 2026
Kaia Gerber wears Givenchy on the cover of Harper’s Bazaar US [IG] February 2026. Luis Alberto Rodriguez [IG] captures Kaia, who is interviewed by Durga Chew-Bose.
For Kaia, A Privileged Life Is an Artistic Life
Kaia Gerber has never hesitated to admit her privileged upbringing, anchored in a robust, loving and supportive family life. How many grown young women with Kaia’s level of accomplishment call their mothers their best friend?
Kaia has always described privilege in a more intellectual way — a childhood where ideas, books, and culture were embedded in daily life.
GQ ‘Men of the Year’ Cynthia Erivo Prepares for Dracula
At a time when even the entertainment industry is bowing to dark political forces, Cynthia Erivo made a culture-conquering hit in ‘Wicked: For Good’, while standing firm for inclusion, kindness and radical acceptance.
The Tony winner is currently in rehearsals for ‘Dracula’ opening February 4th in the West End. Erivo will play all 23 roles in Bram Stoker’s classic that runs until May 31. Creative camera work is her only partner onstage.
Kip Williams directs ‘Dracula’, telling the press that this version of the play will be a “queer retelling of the story, and we are looking at reclaiming the vampire.”
Miu Miu Taps Into Global Trends Among Young Women That Might Surprise You
Models Kris Krystal, Ploy Chobsawang, Rachel Agbonze and more are styled by Lotta Volkova in the Miu Miu [IG] Prelude Collection 2016 campaign. Danish photographer Julie Greve [IG] shoots the campaign, confirming her self-descriptor as an artist whose work explores ideas of coming of age and female identity.
On the topic of Miu Miu’s brainiac young women, AOC spent time today getting out of the minds of America’s young women, with questions about young women worldwide.
Data indicates a ‘great relationship recession’ is underway globally, with singlehood rising in 26 out of 30 surveyed developed nations. Follow link top of page to read the details.
Paulina Porizkova’s Natural Beauty for Numéro Netherlands
Top model Paulina Porizkova [IG], age 60, has led a very public, digital life in recent years — even getting dressed in the morning on Instagram Live. Porizkova is engaged and shares a podcast with writer Jeff Greenstein, showrunner for the once very popular ‘Will and Grace’ weekly TV show.
Porizkova prides herself — just like Pamela Anderson — in being photographed without makeup for unretouched photos. When she does wear makeup — or appear in images with retouching — Porizkova requires a light touch.
China’s Elephant Protector Actor Yang Zi Helped Cut in Half China’s Ivory Consumption Since 2018
Vogue Hong Kong [IG] features actor Yang Zi, styled by Lucia Liu for the fashion story ‘In Bloom Yang Zi’, lensed by Leslie Zhang.
As one of the most prominent young actors of her generation, Vogue Hong Kong’s January 2026 cover star Yang Zi has been a WildAid ambassador since 2019. She lent her voice to WildAid's elephant program by starring in ‘Be Their Role Model’ campaign which asks parents to use their actions to set good examples for the next generation by not consuming ivory and other wildlife products.
China has been successful — as promised to concerned environmentalists and elephant lovers worldwide — in cutting in half the consumption of new ivory in a sequence of trade bans that took effect by the end of 2017.
Margot Robbie Covers British Vogue January 2026 in Leadup to 'Wuthering Heights'
This Valentine’s Day 2026, British Vogue [IG] wastes not one word in their January 2026 cover story with Hollywood mega-star Margot Robbie.
The Chanel ambassador Robbie wears Chanel on the cover, with a wide range of luxury fashion styled by Robbie Spencer. Mikael Jansson [IG] is the photographer for ‘In The Heights’. / Hair by Bryce Scarlett; makeup by Pati Dubroff
‘In the Heights’ refers to Robbie’s new role in the ‘erotic retelling’ of ‘Wuthering Heights’, a film based on Emily Brontë's only novel, published in 1847. The book is known for its passionate and dark story of love, revenge, and social class centered on the intense, destructive relationship between Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff, a foundling originally adopted by Catherine's father.
David Webb Spirited TOTEM Collection by Elizaveta Porodina
David Webb believed that jewelry and gems should be treated as artworks. Nearly every ancient culture around the world inspired the North Carolina man, who also had big dreams.
Webb’s primary source of global inspiration was a near-obsession with studying artifacts and art at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art [Met].
Webb drew inspiration from "the human spirit" and aligned his designs with the cultural changes of the 1960s and 70s, which embraced jewelry that was more “soulful and meaningful”.
Under its new owners, David Webb combusts a spectacular opportunity for the brand’s future and David Webb’s personal legacy. Anne is so excited.
Adwoa Aboah Lives in a New Era with British Vogue December 2025
Model, activist, ambassador, mum Adwoa Aboah was honored as ‘Woman of the Year’ at the Glamour Women of the Year Awards 2025 in London on October 30, 2025.
Today we find her on British Vogue’s [IG] inaugural ‘Best Dressed List, celebrating the 50 models, actors, musicians and more who are shaping the fashion zeitgeist.
When it comes to Adwoa Aboah, the woman you might think you ‘know’ — and we use ‘know’ loosely — she has evolved in some spectacular ways.
Everywhere we look today, Chanel joy by Matthieu Blazy is rockin.
Not everyone could put a fresh spin on Matthieu Blazy’s first iteration of the classic Chanel suit – the same one Michelle Obama wore to launch her new book – but on Adwoa, with her trademark tattoos and constellation of freckles, a check wool trouser suit suddenly becomes the thing.
Natalia Vodianova In Chaumet High Jewelry for Bazaar Arabia December
Vodianova poses as a friend of the maison, in this fashion story styled byNour Bou Ezz in images by Alvaro Gracia [IG].
The supermodel has been in Doha to judge the Fashion Trust Arabia Awards. She speaks warmly about all the changes in the Arab world — especially in arts and culture. That includes the new Frank Gehry-designed Guggenheim Museum in Abu Ghabi.
Appointed in 2021 as a Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Population Fund [UNFPA], Natalia Vodianova focuses on dismantling taboos around menstruation.
It’s really something in AOC’s playbook when Bernard Arnault’s daughter-in-law, Mrs. Antoine Arnault, steps up as a leading voice to stop the banishment of women to huts while they are menstruating. Or not having access to sanitary supplies.
Bazaar Spain Honors Gymnast Simone Biles
December is the month for Harper’s Bazaar country-specific WOTY [Women of the Year] 2025 awards for women who inspire. AOC opens with Harper’s Bazaar Spain’s [IG] selection of Simone Biles for the Sport Icon Award.
Claudia Laukamp styles Biles in images by JUANKR [IG].
In the case of Simone Biles, she is a model of women who have embraced their vulnerability and “turned their wounds into feats of courage”.
From dealing with two — not one — cases of “the twisties” as we learned just recently; to the absolutely savage way Biles was treated by men when she withdrew from Tokyo Olympics for fear of breaking her neck; to Simone Biles testifying before Congress on September 15, 2021, in the Larry Nasser case of her own sexual abuse by the doctor of women gymnasts — Simone Biles is the inspiring type of woman Harper’s Bazaar Spain is honoring this December.
WSJ Beauty Innovator Hailey Bieber's Rhode Success Story
WSJ writer Chavie Lieber catches up with Bieber a few hours away from her Sephora launch. By every press report, the LVMH-owned Sephora launch was successful with $10 million in two days of sales. It was not only the best launch ever for the beauty stores and online retailer, it beat the prior record-holder by 2.5 times, selling 3 Rhode items per second.
Returning a few days later, Lieber reports the shelves were empty as a little girl with a British accent was close to tears, as she wailed: “There’s no more blush from Haaayley Biebaaa!”
Michelle Yeoh in ‘Wicked: For Good’: The Critics Weigh In
The Oscar-winning Malaysian actor and action star known for doing her own stunts is presently making her ‘Wicked’ character terrifying to all who view her.
The film ‘Wicked: For Good’ brought in $150 million in North America and $226 milion worldwide, over its Friday opening blockbuster weekend.
What do everyday people think of the movie? Mid-afternoon on Monday, ‘Wicked: For Good’ had a positive critic’s score of 70% but the audience rating is 95%.
Adut Akech & Kiki Cover Vogue Australia November 2025 by Campbell Addy
Now that Anne has gotten over seeing supermodel Adut Akech wearing Jarrod Reid, reminding her of famed ballet dancer Judith Jamison on stage in ‘Cry’, she can think straight.
If only AOC could commission photographer Campbell Addy [IG], creator of these stunning images for the November 2025 issue of Vogue Australia [IG], to capture that famous, powerful and transformational American ballet with his creative eye.
Campbell Addy also takes the interview, which is really nice. You can read the convo between the creatives on Vogue Australia.
Billie Eilish Came After Dr. Priscilla Chan With Her Blast to Billionaires at WSJ Innovators Awards
Billie Eilish [IG] made a classic Ballbreaker move at Wednesday's WSJ Magazine [IG] 2025 Innovator Awards, where Eilish was receiving the Music Innovator Award in New York City on Wednesday, Oct. 29.
Eilish had platinum-level money in her sight with the best binoculars money can buy when she planned her acceptance award speech for last night. Now that we know that Dr. Priscilla Chan had already received her award before Billie, we have tempered slightly our euthusiasm over her performance.
Billie came after Dr. Chan in the awards order, and the Zuckerberg-Chan $45 billion donation to CZI was already acknowledged and praised in the audience when Chan received her award from Karlie Kloss.
Her short speech is playing well across the internet, and with the crisis that America is moving towards this weekend, Eilish will inspire our young people. Goddess knows, they need it.
Deva Cassel in Maria Grazia Chiuri's Last Dior Resort 2026 Collection in L'Official China
Actor and Christian Dior ambassador Deva Cassel covers L’Officiel China October 2025 wearing Maria Grazia Chiuri’s final Resort 2026 collection for the house of Dior.
Deva was born in Rome to an Italian mother [Monica Bellucci] and French father [Vincent Cassel]. She lived in France and was schooled there, although Italian is one of the five languages she speaks fluently.
Anne of Carversville was focused on the growing influence of Italy before the world got its first American pope on May 8th. In writing about the Louis Vuitton resort 2026 show, Anne said that all roads lead to Italy. That statement is rock solid today, and we’re about to get a global history lesson in the coming years.
Lara Stone in Fendi for Numéro 256 Inspires Clear Thinking on Maria Grazia Chiuri
On the subject of Fendi, with Silvia Venturini Fendi being named honorary president and allowing a new creative director to take the reins of the Fendi luxury brand, AOC assumes that Maria Grazia Chiuri will step into the spotlight as the new creative head of women’s and probably men’s as well.
I’ve defended the Anderson decision when other women fashion writers were ripping into LVMH — going so far out on the limb as to say on WaPo: “Calm down. She’s going to Fendi. LVMH is not so stupid as to throw Chiuri to the curb, when some VIP women clients may not even like the new Dior.”
Naomi Watts Talks 'All's Fair' Lady Lawyers Ballbreakers New Hulu Series
Actor and businesswoman Naomi Watts covers the October 2025 issue of Vogue Greece [IG] in advance of the premier of ‘All’s Fair’. The Hulu legal drama series has Watts playing Liberty Ronson, in the ensemble cast of an all-female law firm with a practice centered on high-stakes divorce cases.
Other members of this phenom ballbreakers cast include Glenn Close, Niecy Nash, Sarah Paulson, Teyana Taylor and — wait for it — Kim Kardashian. Good goddess; as if Kardashian doesn’t have enough to do.
No wonder Disney had to settle with Jimmy Kimmel, with Hulu subscriptions flying cancelled in their faces right before this debut.
Kris Jenner Covers Vogue Arabia September with Living Fabulously on Her Mind
Kris Jenner covers the September 2025 issue of Vogue Arabia, leaving social media in warp speed chatter about details of her facelift, while Jenner talks with Vogue Arabia writer about her first job at age 10 being responsible for the wrapping station at two candle stores owned her mother and grandmother.
AOC adds a broader commentary to Jenner’s interview with EIC Manuel Arnault. In July 2024, doctors found a ‘growing’ tumor and cyst on Kris Jenner’s ovary. She initially planned for an ovary removal but accepted the doctor's recommendation for a complete removal of her reproductive organs as a precaution against future cancer growth, especially the highly-deadly ovarian cancer.
Abbey Lee Covers Vogue Australia September 2025 in Images by Dan Jackson
Vogue Australia September 2025 [IG] finds Abbey Lee [Kershaw] at home in her Williamsburg, Brooklyn loft preparing for her eighth cover for the magazine. She shares the loft with her partner Milo.
Writer Alison Veness visits Abbey Lee weeks before the debut of the new Netflix series ‘Black Rabbit’ starring Jude Law and Jason Bateman on September 18.
The difference between modelling and acting, Abbey Lee says, is like night and day. “I mean, modelling is financially fulfilling, and you get to travel around the world, but at the end of the day a model has one very simple task. As an actor, it’s about your voice, your mind, your emotions, your physicality and your intelligence.”
