Martha Stewart, the Queen of Reinvention

At the book signings for her debut tome, the now-iconic Entertaining published by Clarkson Potter in 1982, Martha Stewart would autograph the inside page with the adage: “Perfectly perfect.” The two words encapsulated the oeuvre of Stewart, then a model turned Wall Street stockbroker turned caterer. Whether tending her garden, planning a dinner party menu, or decorating her home, she craved new ideas and wanted to share them with the masses. In doing so, Stewart rebranded household chores into acts of pride and empowerment. It was the rise of homemaking—until it wasn’t.

In Martha, her life-spanning documentary now on Netflix, audiences get a candid portrayal of her meteoric rise, abrupt fall, and triumphant return, as told by Stewart herself. “I've lived a really long time and think young people have no idea what I went through and what I did,” she tells AD, referencing a generation that may only know the country’s first self-made female billionaire for her enviable Instagram selfies and unexpected friendship with Snoop Dogg.

The film is also timed to the launch of her new book, Martha: The Cookbook, a collection of her 100 favorite recipes, plus the personal stories and lessons behind them. A week out from the book’s official release, I caught up with Stewart to learn how she’s reinvented her brand with finesse, her tips for hiring the top talent, and what’s next for her business.

–Mel Studach, Senior Editor, AD PRO

It's a Good Thing

Mel Studach: Martha: The Cookbook is your 100th book. Have you noticed your philosophies around recipes or entertaining changing in the 40-plus years since your first title? Is “perfectly perfect” still the MO?

Martha Stewart: It’s pretty difficult to not strive to be as perfect as you possibly can [be], for me. I want things to be a certain way, and I try very hard to make them that way.

ADVERTISEMENT

FROM THE ARCHIVE

July 2015: Maine Attraction

The historic Seal Harbor estate Skylines has found the ideal champion in Martha Stewart, who prizes its every last detail and gracious amenity

MORE STORIES FROM AD PRO

ADVERTISEMENT

Unsubscribe | Privacy Policy

Sent from Condé Nast, 1 World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007

Copyright © 2024 Condé Nast