Photographs / Danica Robinson
Styling / Dot Bass
Set / Reece Koetter
Make-up / Sterling Tull
Hair / Jaz Shepard
Artwork Help / Kallie Seniff
Photograph help / Noah Avidan
Background Graphics / Christian Salley
Make-up help / Maddie Goode
Styling assists / Gabby Weis, Sammy
In Dialog with Phil Gomez
Phil: You’re actually humorous!
Anna: Thanks. Folks usually mistake my sarcasm—it’s really easy to take issues out of context. I used to be being deposed as a witness in Rachel’s swimsuit in opposition to Netflix, and my lawyer needed to inform me, “Should you can’t resist a joke, it’s important to say it was a joke.” As a result of whenever you simply learn the transcript, it doesn’t at all times translate.
Phil: I imply, it’s the identical with any written message; perhaps that’s a superb factor that we now have voice texting!
Anna: Precisely. And I feel lots of the catchphrases—like after I stated, “Oh, you look poor”—everybody within the room knew it was a joke. However the way in which they framed it within the sequence, it regarded like I used to be insulting a pregnant lady who got here to see me.
Phil: Yeah, they completely made you out to be a villain. You’re only a dry, sarcastic style girlie.
Anna: Yeah. I’m not even that authentic
Phil: Talking of style, how did you and your relationship with Kelly Cutrone occur?
Anna: I at all times knew of Kelly. I grew up watching The Hills and Kell on Earth, and I learn her books. I used to be actually into style, so I’d watch and browse all the things. I feel it was translated on MTV after I was in Germany. I did learn her guide in English… or perhaps it was in German? I don’t keep in mind. I’m questioning what Kelly seems like in German.
Phil: Oh my God.
Anna: She wasn’t actually on my radar for some time. However then I went to jail/jail, and after I was on Name Her Daddy with Alex Cooper, she requested me, “Anna, what made you progress to New York?” And, you recognize, it’s by no means only one factor. (laughs) However they needed a easy, one-sentence reply, so I stated, “Properly, I preferred Kelly Cutrone. I believed style PR was so cool.” Which is like… half the reality.
Alex was like, “Oh my God, that’s loopy!” And apparently, Kelly’s daughter Ava—she’s in her early twenties now—heard it and informed Kelly, “Mother, Anna Delvey name-dropped you on Name Her Daddy.” And Kelly was like, “What the fuck is that… what did I do that time?” laughs
Ultimately, we bought related—we clearly have so many mutual acquaintances. It was in the summertime of 2023. Kelly stated, “Let’s do one thing collectively for Trend Week,” and I used to be like, “Sure, after all.” Not that I had many choices—I couldn’t actually go wherever. She got here to my residence and was like, “Oh my God, that is going to be so laborious to tug off.”
Our first thought was to do the present inside my residence, however I suppose it regarded larger on video and within the photographs I despatched her. She was like, “Yeah, we have to rethink this.” So we ended up shifting it to an unlawful rooftop. It was a lot enjoyable. And truthfully, given all the things that might have gone improper, I feel it was an incredible success.
Phil: That seems like essentially the most New York factor ever.
Anna: Yeah, I imply, that complete day was insane. I simply needed to get by way of it with out getting arrested or having somebody fall off the rooftop. That will have been ok..
It was on 9/11, and it was alleged to rain within the afternoon and early night. In order that they needed to arrange the lights and sound system within the morning—on this rooftop we weren’t even allowed to be on. My landlord had informed me, “I do know your scenario. You possibly can go up there by your self for contemporary air, however don’t convey anybody as a result of there aren’t any guardrails.”
I knew I couldn’t ask for his permission as a result of if something occurred, he’d be liable. So actually, I used to be doing him a favor. The doorways had been open, just like the exit door, so I figured or not it’s okay.
Phil: Lady, you simply discovered all of the loopholes.
Anna: Precisely. I didn’t need to put him ready the place he was complicit as a result of, realistically, it could’ve been a multimillion-dollar lawsuit if something had occurred.
They needed to set all the things up within the morning, however I stored saying, “Can we wait till the final potential minute?” As a result of God forbid my superintendent walked up there and noticed the entire thing. That will’ve been it.
And that complete day I used to be getting hair and make-up completed and simply having folks out and in and I used to be similar to, oh my gosh, if solely I could make it till like 6 or 7 p.m. with out my tremendous knocking on my door asking, “What the fuck is going on on this rooftop?” And all the things would have been ruined. Yeah. And so, that complete day I used to be sort of on pins and needles and like, you may’t actually get pleasure from it whenever you simply consistently count on one thing terrible to occur. After which it’s like 6 or 7 p.m. the place it begins raining, and like lastly shortly earlier than we had been supposed to truly do the present, it stopped. So like all the things sort of labored out.
Phil: I really like that. However I can solely think about how irritating it was. Producing an occasion is already nerve-wracking, not to mention a style present—and on prime of that, you had been mainly doing a guerrilla manufacturing. I’d be on edge, too.
Anna: I imply, however Kelly’s a professional. She did many of the heavy lifting.
Phil: Yeah, and also you had been simply absorbing everybody’s nervousness.
Phil: Kelly and I’ve labored collectively a number of occasions. That’s why I needed to ask about your relationship along with her. The final time I noticed Kelly, we had lunch with the Pornhub women after which went to the brand new Patricia Subject’s store. It was so cute—She’d see one thing fabulous, and she or he’d be like, “Anna would love this.”
Anna: Oh my God. laughs
Coat and Skirt, SEKS. Earrings and Ring, Laruicci . Necklace, Markland Backus. Wheat paste poster look, Twiggy Moore.
Phil: It was giving mother-daughter
Anna: laughs
Phil: Wait— and also you cared for her goats? Did I learn that improper?
Anna: Um, no. So the present was in September, and my lease was ending in early November. I didn’t even attempt to lengthen it, particularly with the present completed—the owner was fairly upset.
Yeah, and I simply didn’t need to keep in that residence. It was a fifth-floor walk-up, I used to be utterly overpaying for it, and it was a one-bedroom. I used to be nonetheless on home arrest. I had one other good friend in Goshen, in Orange County—she has a giant farm and a number of properties, like 50 acres. She was like, “Simply come keep in my cottage. Let’s see what occurs with your own home arrest.” And I used to be like, “Okay, that sounds nice.”
It felt so good to get out of town. That was her farm—it’s about 40 minutes away from Kelly. I stayed there for about three months, after which Kelly was like, “Properly, simply come keep at my place.” Laughs. It will get boring as a result of within the metropolis, even on home arrest, you may have folks over—for a gathering or a drink. But it surely doesn’t actually work that means whenever you’re an hour and a half away from town. Laughs.
And yeah, It simply bought boring. That good friend of mine—she’s a farm lady. Laughs.
Phil: Did you dive into the farm fantasy? Like, had been you choosing greens and milking cows?
Anna: It was the center of winter, however she had emus, pigs, donkeys, goats—
Phil: Oh my God.
Anna: Yeah, nevertheless it was mid-winter, so I couldn’t stay out all my gardening fantasies.
Phil: Properly, perhaps you may—spring’s coming. Maybe you may keep there once more.
Anna: Yeah, thank God I’m not confined to 1 spot anymore. What an improve. You by no means actually recognize your freedom till it’s taken away from you. I used to be like, “Nice, I don’t want to determine methods to shoot all the things inside my residence anymore!”. I can go wherever inside 75 miles and do something.
Phil: Actually, the world is your oyster proper now. I imply, 75 miles compared, is past.
Phil: Proper? Completely. I do know you’re keen on New York a lot, however why? What’s it about New York that makes you need to be right here?
Anna: I suppose New York is the one metropolis the place I really feel like—I don’t know. After I lived in Paris for 2 years after I was youthful, I at all times puzzled what was occurring elsewhere. However after I’m in New York, I by no means take into consideration what’s occurring in different cities.
I don’t have that feeling wherever else. Even after I was in L.A., I used to be questioning, “What’s occurring in New York?” However after I’m right here, I don’t take into consideration wherever else. I’m not talking for everybody, nevertheless it seems like the middle of the world. I imply, it actually isn’t, nevertheless it simply seems like house. It’s a bizarre feeling.
Phil: You might be so proper. After I’m touring, and I see one thing is going on I get main FOMO.
Anna: Yeah. After I’m in New York, I don’t sit round questioning what’s occurring in Paris or Berlin or L.A. I’m similar to, “No matter, let folks do what they do.”
Phil: The power right here—it’s totally different. I at all times consider New York as a rustic membership. You pay your dues to stay right here, and in case you don’t, they kick you out.
Anna: Yeah, precisely. It’s sort of self-eliminating. Laughs.
Phil: And we love a superb nation membership second.
Anna: Yeah, yeah. Even after I was in L.A.—it’s such a pleasant metropolis, nevertheless it’s good to know that you simply’re simply visiting and your time there’s restricted..
Phil: I really feel like I grew up in New York, although I moved right here after I was 21. I’m a late bloomer for certain, however that is my metropolis. After I return to L.A., I can nonetheless advocate issues and have some reminiscences from my childhood, however no—New York is my metropolis.
Anna: Yeah, precisely. I feel these are your most early life. While you’re in class as a child, you’re simply making an attempt to get by way of the day and develop up. However in your twenties, it’s important to work out a job, your life, and the way to determine real-life stuff.
Phil: Yeah! You do your most development in your twenties, and I’m so glad I went to the Faculty of Life in New York Metropolis.
Anna: Precisely. I grew up in Germany, however I by no means needed to get a job there, by no means needed to lease an residence. I by no means needed to do “real-life” issues. So all my grownup life experiences are tied to New York.
Phil: Proper? I really like that we now have that in widespread.I rewatched your Ziwe interview. How was that have for you?
Anna: The precise interview occurred in the summertime of 2023—I feel we filmed it in July, in my residence, whereas I used to be nonetheless on home arrest. It was, I don’t know, 100 levels outdoors. I had one moveable AC in my bed room. Yeah. So it was, it was like a reasonably brutal expertise from the manufacturing perspective as a result of there have been like over 20 folks in my place, and we needed to cease each couple minutes simply to get, um, just like the sweat off our faces. I don’t know. I feel she was good. Yeah. And I simply dunno, which she sort of shocked me by publishing this interview like 15 months afterward the day that Dancing with the Stars premiered, like with none sort of warning. Hmm. Um, yeah. I do know. I similar to, I don’t actually like the way in which I look in there, and like, I sort of look a bit loopy, and I used to be simply extraordinarily scorching, and I used to be carrying this huge cumbersome outfit. However I don’t know. I’ve completed it, and I don’t actually remorse something. You understand what you’re entering into. It’s not going to be like cookie baking, present.
Phil: Did you actually make it part of your contract to have the paparazzi take your image on the finish of the present?
Anna: No, that wasn’t our scenario. I feel it was simply an settlement between our managers. I don’t know. And I needed to exit and report for my weekly check-in with ice. So I imply, I don’t care both means. I don’t assume I look superb in these footage, so yeah. None of that is going to make me or break me. I feel it was over-exaggerated, however it’s what it’s. People who find themselves sensible sufficient and who understand how this stuff work take it with a grain of salt.
Phil: Proper. Properly, I imply, some folks get it, and a few folks don’t.
Anna: Yeah. I discovered that out after Inventing Anna
Phil: You’re killing it together with your artwork. I see you’ve bought a number of five-figure items. You simply collaborated on prints that you simply painted on with Oliver Halfin. What else are you engaged on?
Anna: I’m engaged on one other sort of small assortment of sketches. I’ve simply been very busy. I need to do one thing primarily based on the phrase “nothing.”
Phil: Proper. I really like that you simply introduced that up as a result of I’ve in my notes, “When is nothing occurring?”
Phil: What’s nothing?
Anna: We are literally exploring a few choices now, and I’m being cautious about saying an excessive amount of as a result of who is aware of what is going to truly occur. However we now have this tote bag that we’re about to launch on the market. It’s with the Outlaw Company, and “nothing” is simply such an incredible phrase as a result of there’s a lot wordplay that may be completed with it. And yeah, I suppose the subsequent huge factor for me is I’d like to do my very own style model.
Phil: Yeah, I needed to ask—are we going to get the correction assortment?
Anna: Yeah.
Phil: Lastly.
Anna: Sure.
Phil: I might love for that to be your subsequent transfer. Loads of your story is your style sense and your viewpoint, so it could be superb to see that come to life.
Anna: Yeah, and it’s one thing I might like to have myself. I don’t need to put something on the market that I wouldn’t use personally.
Phil: Mm-hmm. I really like that. If there’s any means I can assist, let me know.
Anna: Yeah, thanks. I’d love for it to be mid-range, so it’s not essentially a model that might present throughout style week, however one thing accessible.
Phil: That’s nice. What’s your artistic course of like whenever you’re in artistic mode? Do you might have any rituals or routines?
Anna: I work greatest after I’m secluded. I don’t like having appointments or working round. I discover it actually distracting—even simply realizing I’ve to be someplace at a sure time. I get essentially the most completed after I’m upstate. There’s nowhere to go. I do know like 5 folks up there.
Phil: Do you get simply distracted?
Anna: It relies upon. I feel everybody will get distracted. I’m engaged on it. However after I’m enthusiastic about one thing, I focus. Like with the ADF Basis, I used to be actually enthusiastic about it, although it was a easy thought.
Phil: Are we ever going to get an ADF?
Anna: No, I don’t assume I need something to do with hospitality. I don’t actually have a lot to supply by way of abilities or information. My solely worth in a venture like that might be the media and the outrageousness of it. However I don’t assume I’m the appropriate individual to run an F&B enterprise. And personal golf equipment—there are such a lot of. I don’t assume the world wants one other one. I need to do one thing totally different in style. I’d seek the advice of or do one thing one-off, however I don’t need to heart my complete life round it.
Phil: You’re like a patron of the artwork world.
Anna: Yeah.
Phil: Possibly it’s an evolution of ADF—much less hospitality and extra curating and showcasing artwork.
Anna: Yeah, yeah, yeah. I’m open to collaborating if somebody desires to purchase the constructing or do an occasion, however I don’t need to base my complete life round it.
Phil: I adore it. It’s like, “not no.” I’m curious how you are feeling about your scenario on this new political period. How does that have an effect on you?
Anna: Yeah. So like, who is aware of? For now, I don’t assume Trump’s main modifications that he enacted are like they apply extra to the border and to unlawful individuals who come into the nation by way of the southern border. I don’t know. Who is aware of?
Phil: I used to be simply curious if that modifications something for you.
Anna: Not so far as I do know, however yeah, it’s solely been 5 days, so who is aware of? I’ve nice legal professionals, so let’s see what’s gonna occur. It’s like, I’m sort of used to dwelling in uncertainty. After I was in jail, I used to be like, “I’ll get out subsequent week or subsequent 12 months.” And after I was in home relaxation— I’m used to dwelling on a precipice or one thing is about to occur or like one thing is gonna change. It’s by no means like I used to be by no means confronted with big durations after I knew nothing would occur. It’s at all times one thing that’s at all times in flux. I feel management is simply an phantasm. You possibly can have a 10-year plan, however you could possibly additionally get hit by a bus tomorrow.
Phil: Proper! You possibly can’t have an excessive amount of management, and you can also’t be afraid of change. You need to adapt. That’s another excuse we gravitate towards New York—it’s within the title. New. There’s at all times one thing new occurring, and it’s important to experience the wave. In any other case, you’ll get swallowed up and drift away.
Anna: Precisely. Like in case you consistently want a way of safety and certainty, like New York is simply not the place as a result of there’s solely a lot you may management, and I do know some folks simply get stressed or shut down after they simply can’t be across the nook. However I feel it simply comes with a superb persona. It’s not one thing which you can domesticate in your self or practice. It’s simply it’s what it’s.
Phil: So, I had a thought. There’s this sorority you’re sort of part of—with members like Paris Hilton, Martha Stewart, and Lindsay Lohan. Laughs These are powerhouse iconic girls who’ve all worn ankle bracelets. Do you are feeling prefer it’s a ceremony of passage for sturdy girls who aren’t afraid to problem the system?
Anna: Laughs I imply, nobody lives trying for an ankle bracelet. But it surely’s about the way you take care of it—the way you flip one thing unfavorable into one thing hopefully optimistic. It’s about coping with adversity. I suppose Paris didn’t plan for it, nor did Lindsay or Martha. However the artwork is the way you flip it into one thing good. You possibly can both shut down and be unhappy at house or reframe it and make one thing out of it. Adversity forces change and retains you from being stagnant. Who is aware of what would’ve come out of Martha if none of that had occurred? It didn’t appear excellent then, however now she couldn’t be doing higher. Have you ever seen her documentary?
Phil: Yeah! I beloved that documentary. I’ve a lot extra respect for her. As a really homosexual, homosexual, I used to be at all times fascinated by her, however the documentary made me notice how influential, sensible, and business-savvy she actually is. It was robust for her to keep up her persona.
Anna: Yeah, and who would’ve identified? On the time, it most likely felt terrible, but when that by no means occurred, she might need simply been one other outdated girl cooking from her cookbooks. Laughs
Phil: Proper? And now she’s out right here roasting Justin Bieber and collaborating with Snoop Dogg.
Anna: Precisely.
Phil: She actually reinvented herself.
Anna: Yeah.
Phil: And truthfully, all of the folks I discussed—together with you—have completed the identical. And also you stated it so fantastically: it’s about what you make of it.
Anna: Yeah.
Phil: When you’ve got that resilience, it doesn’t matter what’s thrown your means, you’ll persevere.
Anna: Precisely. Some folks have the proper excellent situations to do something, and so they by no means do something
Phil: Proper. So, whenever you had been in jail, you moved round quite a bit and met so many various folks. Is there any piece of recommendation that caught with you?
Anna: I suppose the ladies in jail, are those who’re dwelling with essentially the most uncertainty. It’s simply wild. The quantity of uncertainty that they simply need to take care of every day. Simply of us from all sides of the actual world as a result of lots of them might need households and kids and husbands and boyfriends. While you’re in jail, you by no means know; you may get moved out of your housing unit for some random motive. Such as you bought reprogrammed, after which it’s simply wild. At the least if you find yourself in the actual world you don’t have to maneuver out of your residence on like one hour’s discover. It’s like, it’s very uncommon that that occurs. I suppose, them, I can see how a lot stress they need to take care of each day. It was, and I at all times considered myself like a reasonably perseverant individual, and I don’t get stressed simply, however I’d watch these girls simply settle for, “Oh, I’m shifting to a different jail tomorrow,” and be like, “Okay, lady, it’s what it’s.”
Phil: Do you continue to communicate with anybody?
Anna: So I’m not all allowed to be in contact with any person who’s actively in jail. However if you’re outdoors, yeah, I do communicate with lots of them. Yeah. I’ve heaps of people that have my quantity or I additionally like, simply reconnected with any person. She was commenting on my associates and she or he’s like, yeah, I met Anna in jail, and she or he was so good and she or he handled me so properly. And I noticed her all her DMs as a result of typically it’s simply laborious to undergo all the things. However now I’ve her quantity. I feel I’m gonna meet her someday later this spring. It’s fascinating to see what folks make out of those conditions, particularly after they don’t have like, you recognize, that’s sort of like jail and jail is sort of a little little bit of my model and I understand how to work round it, nevertheless it have to be so laborious to struggle the stigma the place you similar to come from a traditional group and particularly from a smaller city and it’s important to face that scrutiny from everybody.
Phil: Proper. Should you may go on one life lesson from all the things you’ve been by way of, what wouldn’t it be?
Anna: Don’t break the regulation!
Phil: Okay, however critically.
Anna: Truthfully? Study to take care of adversity. It’s not at all times dangerous. Embrace change. Life is about being adaptable.
Phil: When all the things’s stated and completed, how do you need to be remembered?
Anna: As an entrepreneur. Somebody who makes issues occur. I don’t need to be boxed into this complete actuality TV factor. Laughs
Phil: Who has been essentially the most surprising ally or supporter to help you?
Anna: Um, I suppose Julia Fox. We related earlier than I went to ICE jail, like randomly, I feel a room on Clubhouse again when it existed in like 2021. And she or he truly stored in contact even after I was in jail. We had been at all times on the telephone. So she was like relationship Kanye and my sequence got here out. And she or he actually didn’t actually have any motive to be good to me again then I used to be in jail and who may have identified what would’ve occurred. So she’s nice.
Phil: She noticed you—the actual you. She stated, “That is somebody I would like in my inside circle.”
Anna : Yeah, as a result of so many individuals solely attain out when they need one thing—when they need you to come back to a celebration or when there’s some sort of mutual profit. However with Julia, she was simply there for no motive.
Phil: How do you deal with friendships now? How do you belief folks after all the things you’ve been by way of?
Anna: I feel I’ve a superb group of individuals round me. Lots of them don’t have anything to do with the leisure business, and so they simply don’t care. It’s all about having a combination. I’ve associates in style and artwork, however I additionally know individuals who stay on farms and couldn’t care much less about going to a celebration.
Phil: Proper.
Anna: That sort of steadiness retains you grounded.
Phil: Completely.
Anna: And even Kelly—she works in style, however she doesn’t care. She barely even buys garments. Laughs
Phil: No, she solely retailers for you and Ava.
Anna: Precisely!
Phil: I do know we talked a bit of about your upcoming initiatives, however is there anything you’re engaged on proper now?
Anna: Kelly and I are engaged on my pretend speak present.
Phil: For YouTube?
Anna: Yeah, for each of us—sort of like a chat present.
Phil: I really like that.
Anna: Yeah, and we’re additionally engaged on our personal manufacturing firm.
Phil: Outlaw is you and Kelly’s company, proper?
Anna: Yeah, precisely. It began with the rooftop present. It was sort of a joke—we simply known as it “outlaw company.” However now it’s changing into actual.
Phil: Good! I sit up for seeing what comes from that and extra of your art work. I really like your sketches.
Anna: Thanks!
Gown, John Mangru. Earrings and web, Jennifer Behr.
Gown, The Confessional Showroom. Bangle, Skank Stylish. Earrings, Saule. Necklace, Nick Horey. 
Gown, SEKS. Glasses, Etro.
