This week at a glance
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A'ja Wilson is the first WNBA player to win five MVPs.
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Anthony Vaccarello is leaving Saint Laurent after ten years.
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Rihanna went live on TikTok Shop, and Chanel is sponsoring Substacks. Luxury is going where the attention is.
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Airbnb bringing back its luxury program?
On the calendar
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Apple event: Oct 13 (new home hub, HomePod mini, Apple TV)
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Frieze London: Oct 14-18th
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Academy Museum Gala, LA: Oct 17, with Taylor Swift
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NBA opening week: October 20th
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Art Basel Paris and the F1 US Grand Prix in Austin: Oct 23-25th
The Lead
A'ja Wilson Is in a League of Her Own
Five. Nobody in WNBA history had done it, until now. A'ja Wilson won her record fifth MVP and became the first player to take the award three seasons in a row. The Aces star led the league at 26.2 points and 1.9 blocks a game, and she now sits alongside Michael Jordan and Bill Russell as a five-time basketball MVP.
Sports
Cooper Flagg Brings Maine to His Logo
Every signature athlete needs a mark, and Cooper Flagg just made his personal. The Mavericks star unveiled his "CF" logo with New Balance ahead of his second season, with a pine tree tucked into the "C" as a nod to his home state of Maine. It goes on all of his New Balance gear from here.
Finance & Tech
Meta's Muse Wants to Run Your Errands
Forget chatbots that just answer questions. Meta's Muse is a personal AI agent that does the work for you: booking appointments, filling out forms, managing your email. It's free for most tasks, with $20 and $100 monthly plans for heavy users. This week Meta launched an iPad app, and Microsoft said a native Windows version is coming soon.
It hasn't been a smooth ride. Last month a security researcher showed that Muse's Mac app could be hijacked, and Meta pushed out a fix. The race to own your personal assistant is on, and so is the scrutiny.
Hospitality & Entertainment
Affleck and Damon Make Room for the Next Generation
The Hollywood duo is betting on new voices. Ben Affleck and Matt Damon's Artists Equity is launching Artists Equity Independent Pictures, a banner for emerging filmmakers and indie films. The first slate includes Julia Cox's directorial debut A Woman in the Sun, starring Renée Zellweger and Sissy Spacek.
WME Wants Its Clients to Own the Whole Studio
The agency of the future doesn't just book the gig. WME just launched Creator Labs, an in-house team that helps clients build and scale their own media businesses on YouTube and beyond, from channel management to content syndication. It's led by Joanne Lee, formerly of Meta, YouTube, and Sony Pictures, and WME also invested in video company Astra Media and grew its creator sales team. Early users include Erling Haaland, who landed sponsorships for his YouTube channel, and Julian Shapiro-Barnum, who brought in sponsors for his new late-night show. As WME's Ben Davis put it, when clients own their distribution, the agent's role has to change.
Travel
Airbnb Wants Back Into Luxury
The villa, the chef and the view: Airbnb wants them all back. CEO Brian Chesky told hosts the company is rebuilding Luxe, its high-end home program, and standards to qualify are already circulating. It is the latest pandemic-era idea Airbnb is bringing back, and luxury hotels will be watching.
Music & Business
Bad Bunny, Lana & More Get Their Own Radio Station in GTA 6
One of the most anticipated games in years now has a radio lineup to match. Bad Bunny and RaiNao will co-host Cocoteo FM in Grand Theft Auto VI, while Lana Del Rey, Morgan Wallen and Jeremy Dufrene share hosting duties on Back Country Radio. Burna Boy joins Palms Trax, and Robyn teams up with Alex Consani to host other stations. The game is scheduled to launch November 19, 2026.
Arts, Fashion & Culture
Anthony Vaccarello Leaves Saint Laurent
The end of a sharp-shouldered era. After a decade as creative director, Anthony Vaccarello is leaving Saint Laurent. He leaned hard into the house's glamour and sex appeal, and sales nearly tripled during his run before sliding in recent years. Now the question every fashion insider is asking: who's next?
Luxury Goes Where the Attention Is
The runway isn't the only stage anymore. This week Rihanna was popping in and out of Fenty Beauty's first TikTok Shop livestream. Meanwhile, Chanel is utilizing Substack newsletters to put their launches straight into readers' inboxes.
Beauty and luxury are looking at live shopping and Substack as the battle for attention intensifies day by day. For a brand, being part of the conversation now matters more than buying the billboard.
From Countryside Staples
Fall Is Here. Dress Like It.
Cooler mornings call for our waffle knit staples. Ease into the season with our Signature Lounge Sweats and Waffle Knit Long Sleeves. Layer them, live in them, and get them before the colors you want sell out.
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