David Johansen: 15 Essential Songs

‘Delia’ (2000) When his career as Poindexter was running its course, Johansen reclaimed his own name on two albums of prewar American folk music. “Delia,” which recounts the murder of an African American teenage girl in 1900, had been covered by Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, and, umm, Pat Boone. Johansen sometimes crept to the doorstep … Read more

2 Books for Jazz Age Enthusiasts

Any discussion of the New York 1920s avant-garde must include Van Vechten — music critic, drama critic, photographer, novelist, Florine Stettheimer subject, and friend and editor to Gertrude Stein, among many, many other things. Van Vechten is frequently described as a champion of the Harlem Renaissance and is often credited with sparking interest among white … Read more

Saint Laurent, the Oscars and the ‘Emilia Pérez’ Problem

The “Emilia Pérez” debacle is not the first time the risks of being associated with human beings with potentially problematic preferences and pasts have been brought home to fashion. Indeed, third parties are what Alla Valente, an associate at the market research company Forrester, called “businesses’ biggest risk-management blind spot.” This has been true since … Read more