The big news in journalism this past week, was the announcement on Tuesday, that The New York Times was buying the Washington Post’s 50% stake in The International Herald Tribune…and now begins the speculation as to how this will effect things at IHT and its 60 or so journalists, one of whom is the legendary fashion editor Suzy Menkes. Menkes was on hand at this past week’s Fashion Group International’s 19th annual Night of Stars, where she was honored with their ‘Super Star’ Award. Though Lisa Lockwood, in her Memo Pad column in WWD today, reported that Menkes “could not immediately be reached for comment” with respect to the changes at hand, when I asked the outspoken writer how she thought this would effect what she does, she seemed optimistic, adding “they (The New York Times) certainly have a lot of money!”
In addition to Suzy Menkes, the star studded gala, held at Cipriani 42nd street, honored their usually interesting mix of the fashionable…this time it was called ‘The Provocoteurs’. Receiving awards were Eve Ensler (‘The Vagina Monologues’, if you don’t already know) who received the Humanitarian Award, P. Diddy, Roberto Cavalli, A.M. Stern, Catherine Martin, Graydon Carter, Viktor & Rolf, Manolo Blahnik, and Baz Luhrmann with star presenters including Anna Wintour and Sara Jessica Parker. And naturally, everywhere you looked you saw media celebs like Barry Diller and Diane Von Furstenberg, Anne McNally, Billy Norwich, and Elsa Klensch.
