Daily Front Row

2010 March 25

Michael Roberts at Vanity Fair: C'est Compliqué

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Michael Roberts
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(NEW YORK) Condé brass, do you ever quit? The fashion and media words are reeling about Tonchi, but turn your attentions away from 750 Third Avenue and towards 4 Times Square---and the current drame at Vanity Fair, where Michael Roberts is about to leave his title role at Vanity Fair for a supporting one...at the same magazine. Apparently, le divine Graydon (Carter, for those who really need to study their Daily) recently paged through that other Daily icon, Alex Shulman's equally divine British Vogue, and wistfully pointed out some style spreads he adored.

Related or unrelated to this fashion moment, Michael Roberts's contract is being rejiggered, to perhaps address the man-about-town's frequent geographic location (Paris). And chances are, VF requires a omnipresent style guru right there at HQ. After all, when Tom Murry wants to lunch...

A Vanity Fair spokesperson was unable to comment on contractual matters, but a similar scenario happened with Elizabeth Saltzman Walker, who joined Vanity Fair in 1994 and was promoted to fashion director the following year. Several months after Michael Roberts moved over from The New Yorker to take the newly-created fashion and style director title at Vanity Fair in April 2006, Saltzman Walker was named fashion and style director at large. Later that year, she was named international social editor. In 2008, she became a contributing editor. The most recent masthead listed 86 names under that category, including Carolina Herrera, Reinaldo Herrera, Diane von Furstenberg and Patrick McMullan.
ASHLEY BAKER