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The Marc Jacobs Whisperer	The Marc Jacobs Whisperer
2020-10-13 10:20:16 UTC	2020-10-13 11:30:19 UTC (about 1 hour later)
RYE, N.Y.—“Marc is going to be another 40 minutes,” said Nick Newbold, popping his shaggy, baseball-capped head into the kitchen of a rental house in this leafy, yuppie haven in Westchester County on a Sunday afternoon in late September.	RYE, N.Y.—“Marc is going to be another 40 minutes,” said Nick Newbold, popping his shaggy, baseball-capped head into the kitchen of a rental house in this leafy, yuppie haven in Westchester County on a Sunday afternoon in late September.
Marc is Marc Jacobs, who was hidden away in one of the home’s four bedrooms putting together his look for a portrait series that started back in June shortly after lockdown lifted in New York, when British Vogue commissioned a photo for its September issue.	Marc is Marc Jacobs, who was hidden away in one of the home’s four bedrooms putting together his look for a portrait series that started back in June shortly after lockdown lifted in New York, when British Vogue commissioned a photo for its September issue.
It’s now become a ritualistic Monday morning Instagram post celebrating fashion, creativity and positivity. These days, Mr. Jacobs is all about lifting the spirits and being of service, as well as enjoying his own personal fashion expression in which gender norms are completely passé.	It’s now become a ritualistic Monday morning Instagram post celebrating fashion, creativity and positivity. These days, Mr. Jacobs is all about lifting the spirits and being of service, as well as enjoying his own personal fashion expression in which gender norms are completely passé.
In one shot, he’s standing on a stool on the tennis court in a white shirt — no bottoms — black tights, pumps and a fedora. In another, he’s seated on the grass in a glamour scout get-up complete with park ranger hat (by Stephen Jones) and binoculars. “So Troop Beverly Hills!” the fashion writer Alexander Fury commented.	In one shot, he’s standing on a stool on the tennis court in a white shirt — no bottoms — black tights, pumps and a fedora. In another, he’s seated on the grass in a glamour scout get-up complete with park ranger hat (by Stephen Jones) and binoculars. “So Troop Beverly Hills!” the fashion writer Alexander Fury commented.
Part of the delay that Sunday, Mr. Newbold said, was the last-minute decision to use an open-toe shoe instead of a closed-toe pump, and Mr. Jacobs now had to do his own pedicure.	Part of the delay that Sunday, Mr. Newbold said, was the last-minute decision to use an open-toe shoe instead of a closed-toe pump, and Mr. Jacobs now had to do his own pedicure.
Mr. Newbold, a boyish 39, is the photographer on the portrait’s ad hoc crew of three, while Julio Espada, Mr. Jacobs’s former design associate at Perry Ellis, is the stylist. For a world-class designer, the setup is remarkably D.I.Y. “This is a ring light I literally got on Amazon for, like, $35,” said Mr. Newbold, whose only other equipment is a Sony camera and a tripod.	Mr. Newbold, a boyish 39, is the photographer on the portrait’s ad hoc crew of three, while Julio Espada, Mr. Jacobs’s former design associate at Perry Ellis, is the stylist. For a world-class designer, the setup is remarkably D.I.Y. “This is a ring light I literally got on Amazon for, like, $35,” said Mr. Newbold, whose only other equipment is a Sony camera and a tripod.
Yet the attitude on set has the professional conviction required for a high fashion editorial. Mr. Jacobs is not known to do things in half measures.	Yet the attitude on set has the professional conviction required for a high fashion editorial. Mr. Jacobs is not known to do things in half measures.
“Just a typical Sunday,” he said, emerging from his room in a bobbed wig parted to the side, his eyes aggressively coaled Cleopatra-style, with a silver streak at the corners. He was wearing a bespoke shirt, tie and shorts from his own label, a burgundy oversize cardigan by O’Connell’s, a cuff, belt and kitten heel sandals by Hermès, a bracelet and brooch by David Webb, earrings by Harry Winston, a pearl necklace by Mikimoto and, over his custom Marc Jacobs leather gloves, a pinkie ring by Solange Azagury Partridge. “Can you see the ring? Are you getting the ring?”	“Just a typical Sunday,” he said, emerging from his room in a bobbed wig parted to the side, his eyes aggressively coaled Cleopatra-style, with a silver streak at the corners. He was wearing a bespoke shirt, tie and shorts from his own label, a burgundy oversize cardigan by O’Connell’s, a cuff, belt and kitten heel sandals by Hermès, a bracelet and brooch by David Webb, earrings by Harry Winston, a pearl necklace by Mikimoto and, over his custom Marc Jacobs leather gloves, a pinkie ring by Solange Azagury Partridge. “Can you see the ring? Are you getting the ring?”
Mr. Newbold captured the boss posing in the den in front of the lit fireplace, his right leg extended balletically, foot perched on a small pile of birch logs. It would be posted to Mr. Jacobs’s 1.5 million followers the following morning with sappy lyrics from “Only Love Is Real” by Carole King. Everything is meticulously credited, including the photographer.	Mr. Newbold captured the boss posing in the den in front of the lit fireplace, his right leg extended balletically, foot perched on a small pile of birch logs. It would be posted to Mr. Jacobs’s 1.5 million followers the following morning with sappy lyrics from “Only Love Is Real” by Carole King. Everything is meticulously credited, including the photographer.
Such access to Mr. Jacobs, who has long relationships with renowned photographers like David Sims, Juergen Teller and Steven Meisel, would be a coup for any aspiring photographer. For Mr. Newbold, who may be Mr. Jacobs’ most frequent and intimate collaborator, it was never part of the plan.	Such access to Mr. Jacobs, who has long relationships with renowned photographers like David Sims, Juergen Teller and Steven Meisel, would be a coup for any aspiring photographer. For Mr. Newbold, who may be Mr. Jacobs’ most frequent and intimate collaborator, it was never part of the plan.
Neither a professional photographer nor striving to be, Mr. Newbold is Mr. Jacobs’s personal assistant. In the eight years since he’s been on the job, his duties have grown. He still walks the dogs, orders food and runs errands, but he also oversees things like his boss’s art collection.	Neither a professional photographer nor striving to be, Mr. Newbold is Mr. Jacobs’s personal assistant. In the eight years since he’s been on the job, his duties have grown. He still walks the dogs, orders food and runs errands, but he also oversees things like his boss’s art collection.
“I’m buying everything, but sold it all, too, obviously with Sotheby’s,” Mr. Newbold said, referring to last year’s clearing house of Mr. Jacobs’s extensive collection, including works by Ed Ruscha, Elizabeth Peyton and John Currin, done with the auction house.	“I’m buying everything, but sold it all, too, obviously with Sotheby’s,” Mr. Newbold said, referring to last year’s clearing house of Mr. Jacobs’s extensive collection, including works by Ed Ruscha, Elizabeth Peyton and John Currin, done with the auction house.
Mr. Jacobs offloaded these, and his Greenwich Village townhouse to make way for his new life in the burbs with his new husband, Charly Defrancesco. They married last year and promptly plunked down $9.175 million on a 6,000-square-foot Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house, which they are restoring with the architect’s conservancy.	Mr. Jacobs offloaded these, and his Greenwich Village townhouse to make way for his new life in the burbs with his new husband, Charly Defrancesco. They married last year and promptly plunked down $9.175 million on a 6,000-square-foot Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house, which they are restoring with the architect’s conservancy.
In the meantime, the couple is holed up at a rented funky estate appointed with curious 1970s design relics — the mirrored powder room has a brown porcelain toilet. Mr. Newbold wrangled the property through Alice and Thomas Tisch, sellers of the Wright house. “I’ve done everything from demo old houses to get coffee,” he said.	In the meantime, the couple is holed up at a rented funky estate appointed with curious 1970s design relics — the mirrored powder room has a brown porcelain toilet. Mr. Newbold wrangled the property through Alice and Thomas Tisch, sellers of the Wright house. “I’ve done everything from demo old houses to get coffee,” he said.
Mr. Newbold now also sits in on packaging, production, merchandising and marketing meetings. “I don’t even know what his title is,” Mr. Jacobs said. “His title is Nick Newbold. He does a lot of stuff and he does all of it well.”	Mr. Newbold now also sits in on packaging, production, merchandising and marketing meetings. “I don’t even know what his title is,” Mr. Jacobs said. “His title is Nick Newbold. He does a lot of stuff and he does all of it well.”
Mr. Jacobs added, “If you asked Eric Marechalle, the C.E.O. of Marc Jacobs International, how vital Nick is, he would tell you he values Nick probably above everyone. Nick is that whisperer that can understand what corporate needs and what creative needs and he’s able to filter the two and make it OK for both.”	Mr. Jacobs added, “If you asked Eric Marechalle, the C.E.O. of Marc Jacobs International, how vital Nick is, he would tell you he values Nick probably above everyone. Nick is that whisperer that can understand what corporate needs and what creative needs and he’s able to filter the two and make it OK for both.”
More than a conduit, Mr. Newbold is a confidant and caretaker to Mr. Jacobs. He joins him and Mr. Defrancesco on vacation. On a trip to St. Barths a few years ago, Mr. Newbold filmed Marc, Char and friends in a Moke spoofing the orange mocha Frappuccino scene from “Zoolander,” which was the beginning of his unofficial role as Mr. Jacobs’s personal photographer.	More than a conduit, Mr. Newbold is a confidant and caretaker to Mr. Jacobs. He joins him and Mr. Defrancesco on vacation. On a trip to St. Barths a few years ago, Mr. Newbold filmed Marc, Char and friends in a Moke spoofing the orange mocha Frappuccino scene from “Zoolander,” which was the beginning of his unofficial role as Mr. Jacobs’s personal photographer.
He was ordained and officiated their wedding. “To say he’s like a brother to me or he’s like a father to me would be a terrible thing because my father’s dead and I’ve no relationship with my brother,” Mr. Jacobs said. “He’s what I wish for in a family member.”	He was ordained and officiated their wedding. “To say he’s like a brother to me or he’s like a father to me would be a terrible thing because my father’s dead and I’ve no relationship with my brother,” Mr. Jacobs said. “He’s what I wish for in a family member.”
Who is this guy?	Who is this guy?
“If you look back at my trajectory, I’ve always sort of said, like, ‘Yeah, why not?’” said Mr. Newbold, sitting in the deserted lobby of the Mercer Hotel on a recent Tuesday morning. Dressed in an army jacket, a sweatshirt that read “When We All Vote” (a collaboration between Mr. Jacobs and Dover Street Market), jeans and Vans, he brought his French bulldog Charlie, as well as two extra coffees, just in case someone else wanted one.	“If you look back at my trajectory, I’ve always sort of said, like, ‘Yeah, why not?’” said Mr. Newbold, sitting in the deserted lobby of the Mercer Hotel on a recent Tuesday morning. Dressed in an army jacket, a sweatshirt that read “When We All Vote” (a collaboration between Mr. Jacobs and Dover Street Market), jeans and Vans, he brought his French bulldog Charlie, as well as two extra coffees, just in case someone else wanted one.
His path from civilian in New Hope, Pa. with no connection to or intention of a life in fashion, to the nexus of its star power and influence, was almost absurdly aimless. A self-professed autodidact and jack-of-all-trades, Mr. Newbold will “watch tutorials on YouTube and waste two days figuring out how to do something.”	His path from civilian in New Hope, Pa. with no connection to or intention of a life in fashion, to the nexus of its star power and influence, was almost absurdly aimless. A self-professed autodidact and jack-of-all-trades, Mr. Newbold will “watch tutorials on YouTube and waste two days figuring out how to do something.”
He came to Mr. Jacobs by way of Christy Turlington Burns and her husband, Edward Burns, who hired him as their personal assistant in 2009 on the recommendation of their former nanny, a family friend of Mr. Newbold.	He came to Mr. Jacobs by way of Christy Turlington Burns and her husband, Edward Burns, who hired him as their personal assistant in 2009 on the recommendation of their former nanny, a family friend of Mr. Newbold.
He ended up traveling the world with Ms. Turlington Burns, helping with her charity, Every Mother Counts, and accompanying her on marathons and shoots when she modeled. “He’s hardly a bodyguard, but he feels like someone who has your back,” she said in a phone interview. “Not in a gatekeeper way, in the most gentle, respectful way. He sort of just sets the tone.”	He ended up traveling the world with Ms. Turlington Burns, helping with her charity, Every Mother Counts, and accompanying her on marathons and shoots when she modeled. “He’s hardly a bodyguard, but he feels like someone who has your back,” she said in a phone interview. “Not in a gatekeeper way, in the most gentle, respectful way. He sort of just sets the tone.”
Before this, Mr. Newbold held a series of odd jobs: some public relations, a babysitting gig, designing a line of neckties, tiling Dunkin’ Donuts on a construction gig. He hated high school but said he had perfect attendance. He didn’t want to go to college but spent three years at Bates College before transferring to George Washington University for a woman.	Before this, Mr. Newbold held a series of odd jobs: some public relations, a babysitting gig, designing a line of neckties, tiling Dunkin’ Donuts on a construction gig. He hated high school but said he had perfect attendance. He didn’t want to go to college but spent three years at Bates College before transferring to George Washington University for a woman.
He never wanted to live in a city, but here he is — 15 years in New York. “I’m a super-solitary person,” he said. “I’m alone all the time. I don’t like going out. Never have.”	He never wanted to live in a city, but here he is — 15 years in New York. “I’m a super-solitary person,” he said. “I’m alone all the time. I don’t like going out. Never have.”
He told his story in a soft-spoken ramble of guileless disclosure, bringing to mind the voice-over from the Dos Equis “Most Interesting Man in the World” commercials. Tangents abounded.	He told his story in a soft-spoken ramble of guileless disclosure, bringing to mind the voice-over from the Dos Equis “Most Interesting Man in the World” commercials. Tangents abounded.
“You can have a conversation with him about one thing and then suddenly, he’ll just slip in, like, ‘Oh, and I used to race dirt bikes,’ or ‘I can drive professional, huge trucks,’” Ms. Turlington Burns said.	“You can have a conversation with him about one thing and then suddenly, he’ll just slip in, like, ‘Oh, and I used to race dirt bikes,’ or ‘I can drive professional, huge trucks,’” Ms. Turlington Burns said.
There was the time his band played CBGB in high school. The time he took up boxing and discovered the “sweet science” mental agility of it. The time he became a 100-mile a week runner, ending up a quarter mile from the finish line, he said, when the bomb went off at the Boston Marathon in 2013.	There was the time his band played CBGB in high school. The time he took up boxing and discovered the “sweet science” mental agility of it. The time he became a 100-mile a week runner, ending up a quarter mile from the finish line, he said, when the bomb went off at the Boston Marathon in 2013.
He fell asleep on his drive home and still showed up at work at 7:30 the next morning. Did he mention that he used to race stand-up Jet Skis? Or that his drone footage was used by Lana Wachowski in an episode of “Sense8”?	He fell asleep on his drive home and still showed up at work at 7:30 the next morning. Did he mention that he used to race stand-up Jet Skis? Or that his drone footage was used by Lana Wachowski in an episode of “Sense8”?
In July, Mr. Newbold went to St. Barths. “Guess who got dengue fever?” he said.	In July, Mr. Newbold went to St. Barths. “Guess who got dengue fever?” he said.
Confirming Ms. Turlington Burns’s account, Mr. Newbold said he drove a commercial truck delivering gelato from New York to D.C. He had an epiphany one night when he found himself pulled over at a weigh station with no commercial license and a broken taillight. “I was like, wait a minute, ‘I’m a truck driver now?’” he said.	Confirming Ms. Turlington Burns’s account, Mr. Newbold said he drove a commercial truck delivering gelato from New York to D.C. He had an epiphany one night when he found himself pulled over at a weigh station with no commercial license and a broken taillight. “I was like, wait a minute, ‘I’m a truck driver now?’” he said.
He enjoys “disarming,” and sees his role at Marc Jacobs as “a fixer for everything.” It inspired his Instagram handle, @1.800.Newbold. Got a problem? Call Nick.	He enjoys “disarming,” and sees his role at Marc Jacobs as “a fixer for everything.” It inspired his Instagram handle, @1.800.Newbold. Got a problem? Call Nick.
Mr. Newbold has always been attracted to off-the-beaten-path creative people, he said. But “I never allowed myself to be creative.”	Mr. Newbold has always been attracted to off-the-beaten-path creative people, he said. But “I never allowed myself to be creative.”
A cynical mind may wonder, is his meander actually a climb?	A cynical mind may wonder, is his meander actually a climb?
“Nick’s one of those people I’ve never tried to figure out or analyze. I trust him,” Mr. Jacobs said. “So I’ve never delved deep into any facet because I tend to do that when I think somebody has got an angle, and Nick to me, from Day 1, I never felt he was in this for something other than the very honest and immediate reaction that he had.”	“Nick’s one of those people I’ve never tried to figure out or analyze. I trust him,” Mr. Jacobs said. “So I’ve never delved deep into any facet because I tend to do that when I think somebody has got an angle, and Nick to me, from Day 1, I never felt he was in this for something other than the very honest and immediate reaction that he had.”
Ms. Turlington Burns said: “He’s also not someone who’s incredibly ambitious.”	Ms. Turlington Burns said: “He’s also not someone who’s incredibly ambitious.”
In Mr. Newbold’s own words, “I don’t have goals.” Rather, he rises to the occasion.	In Mr. Newbold’s own words, “I don’t have goals.” Rather, he rises to the occasion.
When the coronavirus hit New York, Mr. Newbold was ready. “I’m such a steady, even-keeled person,” he said. “Marc and I really bonded over Sandy” — the hurricane — ”because his house flooded. I was there. I had only known him for a couple months at that point. Literally, the water was at my knees, and I’m still grabbing stuff. Then, I heard the door was about to bust open. That was crazy. In disasters, I’m good.”	When the coronavirus hit New York, Mr. Newbold was ready. “I’m such a steady, even-keeled person,” he said. “Marc and I really bonded over Sandy” — the hurricane — ”because his house flooded. I was there. I had only known him for a couple months at that point. Literally, the water was at my knees, and I’m still grabbing stuff. Then, I heard the door was about to bust open. That was crazy. In disasters, I’m good.”