Interview: Richard Branson on Design

Our interview with the entrepreneur on the importance of design in building a brand

by Rod Kurtz When you board a Virgin America plane, distinct aesthetics—purple ambient lights, black leather seats and a flight crew smartly clad in Banana Republic uniforms—make it immediately clear this airline is different. Like the rest of Sir Richard Branson‘s properties, Virgin America launched in 2007 as a brash upstart in a traditional industry—an attempt to jostle the stalwart carriers and give air travel …

Interview: Thomas Keller

Life lessons, groomed gardens and butter-poached lobster at The French Laundry

When invited to The French Laundry, the answer, without hesitation, is a resounding yes. As a destination restaurant with a long waiting list, you never know when the opportunity will present itself again. American Express recently asked us to check out their By Invitation Only program—mentioning a harvest dinner at the Michelin-starred restaurant as one of their offerings—and we jumped at the chance. I have …

Charlotte Cory

An English artist curiously revisits the Victorian era

When the Queen of England is among your collectors, you know you’re doing something right. But British writer and artist Charlotte Cory doesn’t let this distinction go to her head—that much is clear from the casual way in which she delivered her work to Windsor Castle. “I went and got a cab, put them in the cab and said, ‘can you take me to Windsor?’ …