LOOSE THREADS
Chanel is acquiring Charvet. “Now we have a name, Chanel, for women, and a name for men, Charvet,” Chanel president of fashion Bruno Pavlovsky told the New York Times, adding this could be “the beginning of haute couture for men.” Designer Matthieu Blazy collaborated with Charvet on shirts that became part of Chanel Mania, so maybe that was kind of a test run.
There have been lots of news items about how the Olsen twins made a “rare public appearance” at their brother Trent’s wedding. It sounds like his wife, Alexis Armistead-Olsen, published photos of Mary-Kate and Ashley on Instagram — but they’ve since been removed and her profile is now private.
I have more on Taylor Swift’s wedding dress ahead, but just in case anyone cares what Travis Kelce will wear, the New York Post got Tom Marchitelli of Gentleman’s Playbook on the horn to make informed speculation. (Marchitelli has made 25 suits for Kelce.) He said, “Style-wise, I think he will want to give Taylor a fairytale moment for the ceremony and go more on the classic side. I expect to see a slightly fuller-cut double-breasted tux, crisp white shirt and black bow tie, finished off with a diamond lapel pin.”
Naomi Osaka’s Wimbeldon fashion might very well make tennis fans out of those of us who otherwise would not watch. She has walked out onto the court in a white kimono-inspired look followed by a floral train paired with a bomber jacket with floral appliqués. “I do feel a little bit of nerves [stepping on to the court]. I want to make myself so used to that feeling that it doesn’t bother me any more. And fashion helps,” she said.
Also at Wimbeldon, Kate Middleton wore a roomy blue Gabriela Hearst suit.
And now, today’s big story…
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Facelift Confessions, Part 1: The Brutal Realities Of Getting Work Done
Kris Jenner makes getting a facelift look easy. Like she’s flying on a plane all by herself with Birkins in all the empty seats and a masseuse in the back just in case she wants a spa treatment.
Of course we have no way of knowing what happened between her "before" and "after." Celebrities don't post their facelift recovery journeys, which can last a full year and involve bruising, swelling, nerve issues, eye issues, and a litany of side effects one woman believed would be impossible for any physician to fully account for in pre-op appointments. Women have started documenting their recoveries on social media to help others like them who didn't know what to expect. I’ve interviewed half a dozen of them about their experiences planning and recovering from facial cosmetic surgeries. Their stories were gripping, sometimes terrifying, and unexpectedly emotional. (Ahead, you’ll hear from two of them, but I’ll be sharing more of these stories in the coming weeks for paid subscribers.)
They all said that the hardest part about getting the procedure wasn't necessarily pain and discomfort — which manifests differently for every patient — but the mental health aspect they couldn't anticipate. "I looked like I had been beaten up," Stacey, who had a blepharoplasty and brow lift, told me. Day after day, patients look at their faces in the mirror wondering when the healing will be complete and if they made the right decision. Even when things go perfectly, they said, it can be disorienting to see a new face looking back in the mirror.
"I Did It Alone, in Turkey, a Month After the Bombs Started"
Belle, turning 50, Brisbane, Australia
This started with a nose I'd hated for 13 years. In 2011 a "celebrity surgeon" here in Australia — TV segments, a huge following — botched my rhinoplasty. My nose came out crooked, one nostril worse than the other, and I couldn't afford to fix it. I just lived with it.
Last year my sister, who's 17 months older than me, and I decided, "We're turning 50, let's go to Turkey and get our faces done." We found a clinic through Google and researched reviews. My plan was to do my nose and do my face a few days later with a different surgeon. The total cost was about 17,000 AUD ($11,700) for both surgeries, including 17 nights in Turkey — two or three in the hospital, and the rest in a five-star hotel with daily check-ins from a nurse. There was room service, so I didn't have to go out at all. You would not be able to get that anywhere in Australia. I did it because it was cheaper and I wanted to get a lot done.
A month before we left, there were bombings in the region because of the Iran war. My sister's flight got canceled, and she backed out. I went anyway, alone.
When I got there, the clinic had arranged an airport transfer and took me to the hotel.
I didn't want to look natural. I don't want to look like I haven't had anything done, because then I wouldn't have accomplished what I wanted. I don't want to look normal.
I picked a surgeon who was a bit edgier, which suited me. I did my nose first, and a week later, went back for a full facelift, neck lift, upper and lower blepharoplasty, and temporal lift. I wasn't worried about my nose — it's an easy surgery. But my face? I was literally terrified.
I had no pain from either surgery — genuinely none. What nobody prepares you for is everything after you wake up — they don't tell you you'll have drains hanging out of your head, that you're going to have a catheter. It's actually pretty traumatic…
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