A collage of the T Australia staff's favourite talents. In March 2021, T Australia debuted as the Australian edition of T: The New York Times Style Magazine, which first launched in New York City in August 2004 as a supplement to The New York Times. The Australian publication offers a unique, local perspective on fashion, design, art, culture, and travel, delivered through insightful journalism and stunning photography. Our inaugural issue starred Emma Watkins, the multimillionaire health advocate, PhD candidate, and beloved Yellow Wiggle. In the years since, we’ve interviewed some of Australia’s most successful figures like Margot Robbie and Kylie Minogue, as well as some of the world’s most exciting young talent like Jacob Elordi and Billie Eilish.
Objects of Envy, the current issue, marks our 20th edition. Focused on the theme of “Structure”, we explore the concept from various angles. To celebrate this milestone, the T Australia team reflects on some of our favourite features from the past 20 issues, highlighting behind-the-scenes moments and the talents who have made the most significant impacts.
Anna McGeoch, marketing manager:
“Sarah Snook winning a ‘Golden Globe’ and ‘Tony Award’ while on the cover of T Australia’s 17th issue was probably the jewel in the crown for me. We were witnessing (from afar) an extraordinary Australian artist, leading an extraordinary Australian production, on the global stage – all while knocking our audiences off their feet. I’m still ecstatic that T Australia captured Snook at this moment in her life and career.”
Tom Lazarus, copy director:
“There have been so many memorable covers, but one that stays with me is 2023’s ‘Yes’ issue (#15, October), starring the model Ajak Deng, photographed by the great Georges Antoni and styled by Natalie Petrevski.
Aesthetically, it’s so striking in its simplicity and strength, with the blood red typography colour-matched to that sculptural Bottega Veneta dress. But it also has an ethereality and softness thanks to the otherworldly blueish twilight and Ajak’s quiet, almost queenly, seated pose. The composition, Deng’s steady gaze out at the reader and the glimmer of diamonds only adds to the feeling that you’re looking at a portrait from a royal court centuries in the future.
Covering magazines is what Deng does, so you’d expect a bankable image, especially from a photog of the calibre of Antoni, but I was also moved by Deng’s candid interview with Victoria Pearson inside. If you aren’t yet familiar with her harrowing formative years, you need to read it yourself. Deng talks about her decision to quit fashion in the face of racism and myriad microaggressions, only to decide that giving up wasn’t her style. She rejoined the industry under a new set of terms: her own. Like this cover shot, her philosophy is simple but powerful: ‘If there’s no kindness, I don’t want to be a part of it.’”
Katarina Kroslakova, publisher and editor in chief:
“Our second issue, starring Simon Baker (June 2021’s “Modern Nostalgia” issue), was a funny one. We had put so much time and effort into planning the first edition and then with Simon — who was an absolute dream to get locked away — it sort of just happened. We did the shoot at Little Felix bar in Sydney because we wanted a dark, textural kind of vibe. We shot a number of different takes, including some that were pared-back, with him wearing a plain white T-shirt.
After the shoot wrapped, we got cover options back and I couldn’t decide between the moody bar shots and the no-frills option of him in the plain T-shirt. In the end, our New York colleagues loved the sultry shots best.
But … on the day that we went to print, I was at a work lunch looking at the cover on my phone and I just wasn’t feeling it. I called my poor art director just hours before the issue went to print and asked if we could change the cover. She had to redesign the whole cover and cover lines — I felt so bad. As it turns out, it was one of our best-selling covers ever.”
Melanie Milne-Davies, creative director :
“On the Rhys Kosakowski cover shoot, issue eight, we had the artist Harold David join us on set to paint an original artwork simultaneously while Rhys danced for the camera. The synergy between them and the photographer was electric.
During lunch, we all sat down and shared stories about our all-time favourite jams only to discover that Harold had been in one of Madonna’s video clips as a backup dancer in the ‘80s. Needless to say, within seconds we had Madonna’s song Vogue on blast and all of us were doing our best dance moves.”
Kara Hurry, strategic consultant:
“My favourite talent featured in T Australia across the last 20 issues was Australian artist RONE, in issue 13. RONE’s approach to art stimulates almost all senses for the viewer – sight, sound, touch – it truly transforms space and takes you to another place in time, and you can’t help but enjoy floating throughout the experience.”
Tim Fernandes, sales & partnerships director:
“My favourite T Australia talent is Dan Ricciardo. It’s always interesting to see how celebs embrace interviews and photoshoots with The New York Times, and it’s clear he fully jumped on board with the styling, fashion and fun of the concept. The front cover looked great, but the inside story with him wearing a Prada onesie was the icing on the cake. I’d also recommend watching his ‘Rapid Fire Questions‘.”
Michael Grenenger, associate publisher:
“For me it was the Idris Elba cover (issue five). He has that effortless cool and star presence that I just remember thinking, okay, The New York Times brand really can attract the best talent in the world. I would also put Idris’s BTS videos up there with the best of them – just such a great moment for T Australia. Also, getting Dan Ricciardo the week he won the F1 was a ‘pinch me’ moment.”
Lance Richardson, columnist:
“The T talents that impressed me most were Daniel and Matthew Tobin, the twin brother geniuses behind Urban Art Projects, which is responsible for manufacturing some of the most astonishing public art works in the world. For T Australia’s 20th issue, they graciously showed me around their enormous facility in Rock Tavern, New York — and even let me hold a genuine Oscar (which UAP hand-crafts for the Academy). Alas, I forgot my speech.”
Hannah Tattersall, acting digital content director :
“My favourite T talent would have to be the incredibly talented (and always gorgeous) Margot Robbie. Seeing Robbie on the cover of the 2021 Impact issue (issue three) which coincidentally came out on my birthday, made me so proud. I couldn’t wait to curl up on the couch and read all about her. Since ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’, ‘Promising Young Things’ and ‘I, Tonya’ – the latter two which she also produced – I have been a huge fan. And to think how she revealed in the T Australia profile that she was set to produce and play the star role in an ambitious little movie called ‘Barbie’ soon. Little did anyone know then just how big that would be!”
Hollie Wornes, social media and digital manager:
“It’d be impossible for me to overlook the dreamboat that is Jacob Elordi. The Australian actor graced the cover of T Australia’s 12th issue, released shortly before ‘Saltburn’ and ‘Priscilla’ premiered. While he spoke about his career trajectory, including how he had to sleep in his car when he first moved to Los Angeles, it was the photoshoot, captured by his sister, that has occupied my thoughts for the past eighteen months. I mean, who else could make sipping a cup of tea look seductive?”
