All photos courtesy of Derek Blasberg.

Derek Blasberg and Mel Ottenberg on the Golden Age of Going Out

By Mel Ottenberg

July 9, 2026

Today, Derek Blasberg is a prolific writer, high-society fixture, and father of two. But once upon a time, he was a fresh NYU grad with a vodka ginger and cigarette eternally in hand, and a total inability to turn down an interesting invitation. Although decidedly an uptown girl, Blasberg found himself documenting the indie sleaze era as he spent every night out partying with some of the biggest celebrities, socialites, and supermodels in the world. In his new book Fast + Louche, Blasberg waxes nostalgic for that time in his life, republishing all of his Interview columns and photographs of those unforgettable parties in one place. Last month, the author grabbed lunch with our Editor-in-Chief Mel Ottenberg to gossip about their friends, careers, crazy night’s out, and waking up the next morning to do it all over again.

Madonna Interview

 

Madonna wears Jacket, Top, and Skirt Gucci. Earrings 4element. Ring Boucheron. Model on left: Suit, Shirt, Tie, Hat, and Shoes National Theater. Model in middle: Suit and Tie Rokit. Shirt Ralph Lauren. Pens Montblanc. Model on right: Suit National Theater. Sweater Celine. Glasses General Eyewear. Shoes John Lobb.

Madonna Interview

By Mel Ottenberg

Photographed by Nadia Lee Cohen

Styled by Mel Ottenberg

June 22, 2026

MADONNA! INTERVIEW! 2026! This is Madonna’s eleventh time on the cover of this magazine—more than any other star. HERSTORY! We shot these images late at night on the outskirts of London. Madonna named her shoot’s character Dee Dee, a fun, hard-living broad who drank prosecco, did her hair big, and blasted the Stones ’til we got kicked out. There were moments that night when I felt star power on a level I had never experienced before, if that is possible… The next afternoon, I went to M’s home for round two: a 90-minute gab sesh after hearing the upcoming album, Confessions on a Dance Floor: Part II. As a Frida Kahlo portrait glared protectively at me over Madonna’s shoulder, we talked past, present, future, prayer, dicks, nutritional yeast, and more…

THURSDAY 7 PM APRIL 9, 2026 LONDON

Jocelyne Wildenstein wears Alexandre Vauthier Bodysuit, Alexander McQueen Belt. Balmain Bracelets Paumé Los Angeles Archive. Necklace and Ring Versace. Shoes Alexandre Vauthier.

Up All Night With Jocelyne Wildenstein

By Mel Ottenberg

Photographed by Mark Peckmezian

Styled by Michael Philouze

December 5, 2023

Few people have captured tabloid attention quite like Jocelyne Wildenstein. Known for her glamorous marriage and subsequent divorce to billionaire art collector Alec Wildenstein, Jocelyne has been one of the jet set’s most outrageous characters for nearly five decades. Her opulent lifestyle first became breaking news in 1998, when the couple’s divorce filing made its way to the media. At the time, Jocelyne estimated that she spent over $700,000 a year on food, wine, flowers, pills, and more—and that was just the beginning. She walked away with one of history’s biggest divorce settlements (an alleged $2.5 billion at least). Since then, she’s been a frequent fixture in the tabloids, which refer to her as “Catwoman,” thanks to her enduring love of cats and her feline features. But despite being regularly splashed across the pages of Page Six, Jocelyne’s remained an enigma. That is, until this winter, when she’ll finally share her story in a two-part HBO documentary. Ahead of its release, she opened up to our editor-in-chief, Mel Ottenberg.

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WEDNESDAY 2:15 AM OCT. 25, 2023 NYC

MEL OTTENBERG: I just shot with the incredible and iconic Jocelyne Wildenstein—who I’m lucky to be in the presence of right now—for the winter issue of Interview magazine, and we left the shoot and came over to my house for a little after-hours.