Queen Elizabeth’s Candid Feelings; the Reported Bezos-Linked Lingerie Line; the Rise of Labubus

Plus: How a Kennedy Stepparents

View in browser | Update preferences SUBSCRIBE FOR FULL ACCESS MATTHEW LYNCH, EXECUTIVE EDITOR "I don't want Sisi, but I do want Hehe…" If those words mean anything at all to you, feel free to skip down a paragraph today, cool kid. If you're as lost as your newsletter correspondent, let us explain the world of Labubus, the furry figurines you've likely noticed hanging from designer handbags in your city or town's trendier neighborhoods. So ubiquitous have the monster dolls become with the fashion set that today Erin Vanderhoof wonders if we've reached peak Labubu—and whether they're destined for an incoming oblivion. Godspeed, Hehe. Elsewhere today, Katie Nicholl reports on the gossip spilled by a late cousin of Queen Elizabeth II; David Canfield looks at the emerging fall festival lineup to glean what he can about the Oscar race; and Hadley Hall Meares considers the legend of late Hollywood superagent Sue Mengers. More tomorrow… The Monstrous, Charmed Rise—and Rise—of Labubu BY ERIN VANDERHOOF Since Labubus began their vertiginous rise to trend saturation last fall, you've most likely come across them decorating a luxury purse from a trendsetter like Dua Lipa or Rihanna. The furry, sharp-toothed monsters look like the '80s troll doll Monchhichi as reimagined by the artist KAWS, and their adorable appearance and blind packaging seem tailor-made for the TikTok age. VF's Erin Vanderhoof details how Pop Mart snuck onto the world's handbags—and into its wallets—with its exclusive, fuzzy troll-like dolls. READ MORE Read All About It OLD HOLLYWOOD The Rise and Fall of a Hollywood Superagent BY HADLEY HALL MEARES With an almost unbelievable client roster, from Gene Hackman to Barbra Streisand, superagent Sue Mengers became a celebrity in her own right. VF's Hadley Hall Meares dives into the fascinating life of the ultimate Hollywood insider. READ MORE FILM TIFF Is Gearing Up for a Comeback BY DAVID CANFIELD Since the pandemic, the Toronto International Film Festival has struggled to land as many glitzy world premieres as it did in its heyday. But for this upcoming 50th edition, it's already firmed up some top-billing talent and promising titles for world premieres. READ MORE POLITICS Mike Johnson's Contradiction BY BESS LEVIN The House Speaker demanded that the government "put everything out there" about Jeffrey Epstein, but later blocked a procedural maneuver that would have set up a vote to release the Epstein files. READ MORE Royals Inside the Royal Rift BY KATIE NICHOLL Five years after the death of Lady Elizabeth Anson, a first cousin and close confidant of Queen Elizabeth's, respected royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith is sharing details from her conversation with the late noblewoman. According to Anson, Prince Harry was rude to his grandmother during a meeting before his wedding, and the "jury was out" as to whether Queen Elizabeth liked Harry's then fiancée, now wife, Meghan Markle. Vanity Fair's royal correspondent Katie Nicholl shares why the confidant of the queen believed Meghan and Harry's royal exit "sullied" an "amazing reign." READ MORE But Wait, There's More Stepparenting, the Kennedy Way When Katherine Schwarzenegger became engaged to Chris Pratt, she decided to enlist the services of a specialist in stepchild rearing. The Reported Lingerie Line With Bezos Connections Sydney Sweeney is reportedly about to launch her own line of lingerie—but not alone. MORE FROM VANITY FAIR POLITICS BUSINESS HOLLYWOOD STYLE ROYALS CELEBRITY This e-mail was sent to you by VANITY FAIR. To ensure delivery to your inbox (not bulk or junk folders), please add our e-mail address, vanityfair@newsletter.vf.com, to your address book. View our Privacy Policy Unsubscribe Copyright © Condé Nast 2025. One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007. All rights reserved.