There’s a historical romance novel (I want to say it’s one of Sarah Maclean’s) where the heroine is invited to a Fancy Dinner Party and, not knowing the rules of society, sees the pineapple centerpiece and asks if it’s for dessert, so of course then the hostess *has* to carve it up and is Very Put Out with our young heroine ever after.
When I first moved to London in 2004, I became a member of the Victoria & Albert Museum. One of the perks is access to the Members’ Room, which used to be behind a mirrored wall in the fourth-floor ceramics gallery and was blissfully quiet and nearly always empty. They had stacks of Country Life magazine, which is a close British equivalent to T&C. Each issue starts with a feature like they like to call ‘Girls in Pearls’, an introduction to a random posh girl, not always titled (gasp), and her accomplishments. They describe it thusly: ‘Arguably the most iconic page in periodical publishing, [this page] has since 1897 graced the first page of the magazine’s editorial content, following the adverts at the beginning.’
It was an interesting crash course in just how insane the British class system continues to be. It’s nice/hilarious the US has its own version.
All the monthly magazines that came out this month are quite surreal. Especially here where San Diego Magazine, the oldest city magazine in the country, announced it was closing down (after 72 years) and laying off its entire staff. I received the April issue the very next day, full of events that aren't happening. I used to be a contributing copy editor there and it makes me very sad.
The bro version of T&C was when I used to get Golf Digest monthly. My favorite tone deaf coverage in it one time was a letter from the editor imploring us all to play at municipal courses to keep golf affordable for the everyman. The next page was an ad for a $30,000 Rolex followed by a Jaguar ad on the next page.
I just finished reading the (print) 3/2/20-3/16/20 issue of New York Magazine. Which was put to bed last week in February. I’m saving it as the last “normal” issue before the world changed. It’s eerie....
Oh this was great. And I actually love the pearl. It's probably a good thing I am not a one percenter because I feel that my impulse purchases of fine jewelry, expensive horses and skincare would really be obnoxious.
I got my copy the same week that NYC went into "lockdown" and it is going to be my perfect artifact of "the before."
On the plus side it did make me commit to getting back to Italy as soon as it's prudent to do so (I have family there, not to do T&C things), but not in the way that they meant to.
I was flipping through Real Simple and and Martha Stewart Living this month, just thinking about the sweet, sweet editors putting this together and had no idea what was coming.
Town & Country's April Issue Was Not Ready For Coronavirus
There’s a historical romance novel (I want to say it’s one of Sarah Maclean’s) where the heroine is invited to a Fancy Dinner Party and, not knowing the rules of society, sees the pineapple centerpiece and asks if it’s for dessert, so of course then the hostess *has* to carve it up and is Very Put Out with our young heroine ever after.
When I first moved to London in 2004, I became a member of the Victoria & Albert Museum. One of the perks is access to the Members’ Room, which used to be behind a mirrored wall in the fourth-floor ceramics gallery and was blissfully quiet and nearly always empty. They had stacks of Country Life magazine, which is a close British equivalent to T&C. Each issue starts with a feature like they like to call ‘Girls in Pearls’, an introduction to a random posh girl, not always titled (gasp), and her accomplishments. They describe it thusly: ‘Arguably the most iconic page in periodical publishing, [this page] has since 1897 graced the first page of the magazine’s editorial content, following the adverts at the beginning.’
It was an interesting crash course in just how insane the British class system continues to be. It’s nice/hilarious the US has its own version.
All the monthly magazines that came out this month are quite surreal. Especially here where San Diego Magazine, the oldest city magazine in the country, announced it was closing down (after 72 years) and laying off its entire staff. I received the April issue the very next day, full of events that aren't happening. I used to be a contributing copy editor there and it makes me very sad.
The bro version of T&C was when I used to get Golf Digest monthly. My favorite tone deaf coverage in it one time was a letter from the editor imploring us all to play at municipal courses to keep golf affordable for the everyman. The next page was an ad for a $30,000 Rolex followed by a Jaguar ad on the next page.
I'm now low-key obsessed with pineapple rentals.
I would like to learn more about this bear-themed "wilderness cure for kids."
When I become very wealthy I will blow it all on baubles, dogs and horses. (I dig the pearl).
I just finished reading the (print) 3/2/20-3/16/20 issue of New York Magazine. Which was put to bed last week in February. I’m saving it as the last “normal” issue before the world changed. It’s eerie....
Oh this was great. And I actually love the pearl. It's probably a good thing I am not a one percenter because I feel that my impulse purchases of fine jewelry, expensive horses and skincare would really be obnoxious.
You NEED to follow Stellene Volandes on IG, it's an experience (she seems like a lovely woman, but also perfect for T&C).
I got my copy the same week that NYC went into "lockdown" and it is going to be my perfect artifact of "the before."
On the plus side it did make me commit to getting back to Italy as soon as it's prudent to do so (I have family there, not to do T&C things), but not in the way that they meant to.
the pineapple thing is the subject of this delightful P&P fic: https://archiveofourown.org/works/2624078
I was flipping through Real Simple and and Martha Stewart Living this month, just thinking about the sweet, sweet editors putting this together and had no idea what was coming.
Thank you for this delightful window into... ah...
Holy shit I did not know how much I needed this.
I needed this today. Thank you, Nicole. You're doing the Lord's work.