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Plum Sykes |
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Plum Sykes was born in London and educated at Oxford. She is a Contributing Editor at American Vogue in New York, where she writes on fashion, society and Hollywood. She has also written for Vanity Fair magazine. Her novels include Bergdorf Blondes and The Debutante Divorée (both published by Penguin).
Plum Sykes treats us to a glimpse into her glamorous New York life and titillates us with tales of luxury eyebrow waxing, monogrammed baby blankets and skiing in Verbier…
Who or what always puts a smile on your face?
Visiting my twin sister Lucy’s son, six month old Heathcliffe. He lives around the corner from me in New York. He’s definitely the chicest baby in New York - Valentino sent him monogrammed cashmere blankets when he was born, which made me and his Mom very, very jealous.
What are you reading at the moment?
I am always reading about sixteen things, and I don’t finish everything. However, I have read a lot of Status Anxiety, by Alain de Botton, (very good for plane trips) and by my bed right now I have The Russian Debutante’s Handbook by Gary Shteyngart. I have just finished two books about socially ostracised women in two different centuries, both of which I loved: the first was Edith Wharton’s The Custom of the Country, the second was Zoe Heller’s Notes on a Scandal.
Which author do you most admire?
Well I have an obsession for those who write social observation. I love Jane Austen, Edith Wharton, Truman Capote, Oscar Wilde. I only wish these people had written more books, but I guess they were too busy partying. From the modern era I love Martin Amis, Helen Fielding and the American author Nick McDonnell who wrote a book about spoilt Manhattan Upper East Side kids called Twelve. He was seventeen when he wrote it and it is one of the most interesting books to come out of America in the last couple of years.
What’s your earliest memory?
My mom making me wear Victorian lace trimmed dresses as a kid. Tres embarrassing at school.
What is your greatest fear?
Cashmere being rationed.
How would you like to be remembered?
As a nice person.
Have you even done something you’ve really regretted?
I know it’s a real cliché but I rarely regret the things I do - even the really regrettable things - only the things I don’t do.
How do you spoil yourself?
With an eyebrow wax at Bergdorf Goodman. It does wonders for the way you look when you are completely exhausted.
What’s your favourite word/book?
Favourite two words: beyond belief.
Favourite book: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes by Anita Loos. I don’t care what anyone says it’s the funniest book ever.
Who do you turn to in a crisis?
My twin sister Lucy. She loves it when I have a crisis because it means we go to Sant Ambroeus on West 4th Street for a decaf latte and an artichoke salad. That place is delicious beyond belief.
What makes you angry?
Inefficiency.
Have you ever had any other jobs apart from writing?
Yes. When I left university I worked as a temp for various law firms. I was so bored I used to cry into the fax machine. Everyone thought I was really weird and couldn’t understand why I didn’t want to be a lawyer. My real career break was being a fashion assistant at British Vogue, which involved becoming an expert in fishnet stockings and nude-colored thongs for the models to wear. Now, as well as writing books, I am a writer at American Vogue in New York.
Are you in love?
Occasionally. Now is one of those occasions.
What’s your worst vice?
Coca cola. I gave up smoking cigarettes no problem but coca cola seems harder to quit.
What are you proudest of?
Je ne sais pas.
Where do you write?
In my office, in airport lounges and sometimes I scribble little notes between courses at a dinner party.
What’s your favourite city?
New York.
When was the last time you cried?
March 21, 2004. I got to the top of the ski lift in Verbier and decided the ski down looked beyond scary. There were tears before I went down, during the ski down, and after the ski down.
One wish; what would it be?
To be 100% happy 100% of the time.
Did you enjoy school?
There are no words for how much I loathed my school days. I remember on the last day everyone except myself was crying. I was thrilled to be leaving: I couldn’t understand what there could possibly be to miss about school.
