Town & Country's Most Read, Shared, and Loved Stories of 2019
As 2019 winds down, closing out both a 365-day trip around the son and the second decade of the millennium, we get to enjoy a double bounty of "best of" lists. But one we're fairly certain you haven't had the pleasure of perusing is our summary of the defining moments covered by Town & Country this year. From the return of Downton Abbey and our October 2019 cover story starring Michelle Dockery, Allen Leech, and Laura Carmichael to the anniversary of John F. Kennedy Jr., and Carolyn Bessette's untimely death, we're taking a look back at the year in T&C stories here.
The Year in Town & Country Covers
This year, we spotlighted how Diane von Furstenberg is turning her fashion empire into a family dynasty with her granddaughter, Talita von Furstenberg, Yara Shahidi's goal to empower a generation of activists, Ava DuVernay's groundbreaking series on the Central Park Five, why Anne Hathaway is nobody's punching bag, and so much more. Take a look back at our 2019 cover stars below:
Downton Abbey Makes a Grand Return
Downton Abbey hit the big screen in September 2019, an occasion we marked with a special guide filled with everything you might want to know about the film. Plus, stars Michelle Dockery, Allen Leech, and Laura Carmichael reunited for Town & Country's October 2019 issue, where they opened up on what it was like to return home for the movie.
The Royal Family Marks a Year of Milestones—But Is Plagued By Drama
This year brought both joyous milestones and painful revelations for the British royal family. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle welcomed baby Archie in May, and set off on their first royal tour as a family in the fall. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex also celebrated their one year anniversary, and Meghan unveiled a redesigned update of her iconic engagement ring. Elsewhere in the royal family, Princess Charlotte started at a new school alongside her brother, Prince George, and Queen Elizabeth proved once again that age is just a number as she kept up with her lifelong passion: horseback riding.
The past 12 months were also marked by intense drama for the royals. Prince William and Kate Middleton faced rumors of a "rural rival" feud within their posh Norfolk community, while the Cambridges also formally split from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made waves when they released a searing statement about the press, in tandem with legal action against several tabloids. And then there was Prince Andrew, whose longtime association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein made headlines once again and eventually caused the Duke of York to formally stepped back from his royal duties. The unprecedented move marked a major shift for the royals—and unveiled the flaws of the royal family's public relations machine.
The 20th Anniversary of a Kennedy Family Tragedy
This year marked the 20th anniversary of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy's untimely deaths. We took an in-depth look at John and Carolyn's final days, noting the events that led them to board John’s tiny airplane that foggy night in July 1999. T&C also paid tribute to the third victim in the plane crash: Carolyn's sister, Lauren Bessette. Lauren was a star in her own right: accomplished, ambitious, beautiful, and beloved, but she was sadly reduced to a footnote in the tragic death of her sister and brother-in-law.
The Crown Is Back and Better Than Ever
The Crown's third season arrived on Netflix this fall, with a fresh new cast taking on the iconic royal roles. Olivia Colman took over the role of the Queen, while Helena Bonham Carter starred as the rebellious Princess Margaret, which we marked in T&C's very first exclusive digital issue.
Our coverage of The Crown didn't stop there: we took a look at some of the season's most poignant plot points to assess how accurate the show really is, with an explanation of the true history that inspired each event. From the inside story of Prince Charles's investiture to revealing how the royals really reacted to the Aberfan mining disaster, T&C covered the range of events depicted in The Crown. Plus: a look at Princess Margaret's life of freedom on Mustique, how Josh O'Connor studied Charles ahead of his portrayal, and how The Crown gave Princess Anne the popularity boost she's always deserved.
Succession Shows the Inner Workings of a Family Media Empire
In HBO's Succession, the Roy family grapples with running a family media empire—with all of the manipulation, back-stabbing, and family feuds that come with it. Season two tested fan-favorite (and turtleneck influencer) Shiv Roy's relationship with Tom Wambsgans, a steadily-rising executive in the family firm, and portrayed the always-endearing pursuits of perpetual underdog Cousin Greg as he attempts to earn his place in the family business.
We Did Deep Dives Into Killing Eve, The Spanish Princess, The Favourite, Outlander, and Reese Witherspoon's Entertainment Empire
The wonderful world of television shows and movies made sure there was no shortage of cultural moments in 2019. From a candid conversation with Killing Eve's Fiona Shaw and Downton alum Laura Carmichael's royal turn in The Spanish Princess, to an in-depth analysis of the royal family's queer history inspired by The Favourite, and the inside scoop on a shocking Outlander scene, we tackled a range of series and films this year. Plus, our ode to Reese Witherspoon, who starred in not one but two critical darlings this year—Big Little Lies and The Morning Show—and has built her powerhouse reputation on blonde ambition. Elle Woods would be proud.
The Central Park Five Captivates Town & Country's Sixth Annual Philanthropy Summit
2019 marked Town & Country's sixth annual Philanthropy Summit. The first panel of the day, "The Injustice of Injustice," featured the Central Park Five—Korey Wise, Yusef Salaam, Kevin Richardson, Antron McCray, and Raymond Santana Jr.—and filmmaker (and our summer issue cover star) Ava DuVernay in conversation with Bill Keller, the founding editor in chief of the Marshall Project. The men, who eventually spent between six and 13 years in prison after they were wrongfully convicted of the violent rape of a jogger in New York City, were the subjects of DuVernay's Netflix series When They See Us. DuVernay opened up on creating the show in our philanthropy issue cover story.
Take a look inside the entire Philanthropy Summit here:
Revisiting the Manson Family Murders, 50 Years Later
2019 marked the 50th anniversary of the Manson family murders. The brutal slayings continue to be a dark stain on the city’s fabric, and were revisited this year in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. In honor the anniversary of the tragedy, friends of Sharon Tate and Roman Polanski opened up to T&C about the night that changed Hollywood forever.
A City Mourns as an Iconic Structure Burns
In April 2019, Notre Dame Cathedral caught fire, and the world watch with horror as one of the most iconic structures of western civilization burned. Notre Dame did not collapse from the fire, and rebuilding efforts quickly exceeded $1 billion. In the aftermath, Town & Country's executive travel editor, Klara Glowczewska, took a look back at the cathedral's evolution through time, noting that the building has been in flux for almost 900 years—and the structure will continue to change as rebuilding efforts begin.
Editor in Chief Stellene Volandes Lends Her Expertise for Our New Jewelry Column
Town & Country's editor in chief and our resident jewelry expert Stellene Volandes shared her encyclopedic knowledge of the wonderful world of gems, diamonds, and jewels in T&C's new jewelry column. From a look at Lady Gaga's historic Oscars diamond and the fascinating story of Jennifer Lopez's pink engagement ring (which made her a jewelry influencer) to the auction of two rare Fabergé wedding tiaras dubbed "the jewelry coincidence of the century," Volandes uncovered the most historic and show-stopping jewelry moments of the year.
Our Roving Society Reporter Ben Widdicombe Highlights the Nexus of Privilege and Power
Contributing editor Ben Widdicombe documented the bad—and occasionally good—behavior of the very rich. In 2019, that included a look at Jeffrey Epstein's inner circle—from his alleged madam Ghislaine Maxwell to legendary publicist R. Couri Hay's secret plan to rehabilitate Epstein's image—along with documenting the loss of the original true crime star, Claus von Bülow, who died in May. Plus, a look at the epic love story of a CrossFit millionairess and the scoop on how specialized fixers who keep rich people's names out of the paper, to round out our coverage of the privileged set.
The Return of Laura Ashley, the Women Who Made Champagne History, and Why a Classic White Shirt Is Our Favorite Outfit Staple
Elsewhere on the T&C site, we crowned the official summer drink of 2019 (surprise, surprise, it's rosé!) after a highly-competitive weekly bracket, investigated the incredible women who made Champagne history, took a look at the return of Laura Ashley's Victorian-dress style trend, and determined that a classic white button-down shirt is the eternally elegant outfit staple you can wear to just about any event.
Legends We Lost in 2019
In 2019, we said goodbye to society greats and legends of the fashion world. In February, Lee Radziwill passed away at the age of 85—the younger sister of Jackie Kennedy is remembered as a society darling and an icon in her own right. Days later, Karl Lagerfeld died in Paris, and the fashion world mourned the loss of the legendary designer while commemorating his lasting legacy in the industry and beyond. In June, Gloria Vanderbilt passed away at age 95. Vanderbilt's extraordinary life as an heiress, artist, fashion icon, and mother was frequently covered in T&C—and in her passing, we reflected on the sizable impact she left behind.
Our Favorite Long Reads of the Year
This year, T&C took fascinating deep dives into the growing number of mysterious horse deaths at the Santa Anita Racetrack, the life and legacy of legendary New York Post reporter Cindy Adams, wealthy kids who want to give away all of their money, Abigail Disney's plan to fix capitalism, and a look at how Imelda Marcos, the wife of a Filipino Dictator, became an icon of ’80s excess.
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