Tinsley Mortimer has many titles, most notably socialite, handbag designer, and fashionista. The New York social darling joins the ranks of Sharon Stone and Charlize Theron as a Dior beauty ambassador. Her role will include offering ideas to marketing and celebrity makeup artists, as well as hosting events and launches.
Quite impressive Mrs. Mortimer. Want to throw some freebies our way?
--Source: WWD
After months of speculation, rumors, vicious remarks and rankings, the masters behind now defunct Socialite Rank have been revealed by New York Magazine. Efforts to uncover the truth spread across the internet, culminating in Radar Online polling readers on the most likely culprit in an attempt to discover "the truth". The end of Socialite Rank came on April 24, exactly one year after it began. Even after the end the speculation continued, had we paid attention, we would have noticed one of the culprits in plain sight. While there may have been an expiration date on the snarky comments and weekly rankings, a new "heir" has taken it's place.
The truth is finally being told, in the pages of New York Magazine. Even in Radar's attempt to discover the truth, they missed the mark. The dynamic duo behind the controversy are none other than Valentine and Ola Rei, a dangerous combination of desperation and envy. Valentine, a reporter for Fashion Week Daily, and Olga, an account manager at Lippman Advertising, wormed their way into the social set. “They were wannabes for a long time,” one fixture in the scene says, “and sometime or other they started acting like they were somebodies.”
Over time Socialite Rank grew into a monster. From hate mail, friends spilling dirty secrets, to Valentine & Olga throwing a Halloween bash to entice a mass socialite gathering, and the creation of the Silver Spoon award which named Tinsley Mortimer socialite of the year, socialites, publicists and readers loved to hate the Rank. And then came the infamous letter from Olivia Palermo. Who sent the letter? There are far too many theories to rehash, but Palermo's legal team and Manhattan's District Attorney intend to follow all leads to uncover the author of the "false" letter. Who authored the letter doesn't really matter anymore. As soon as the letter was published on SR, Olivia Palermo rocketed to fame. Some championed her, others loather her, but everyone knew her name.
SR was always intended to last only one year, after which the stories, secrets and scandals would be compiled for a book entitled "The Year Of The Rank". The last ranking even included Olga herself in the 20, an obvious indication that most missed, simply due to distance from the issue.
So who is to take over where SR left off? Park Avenue Peerage, the new heir whose author has also garnered speculation, may be the furthest from the scene. In fact, James Kurisunkal writes PAP from his dorm room at the University of Illinois, and has never been to New York. Having grown up reading The Book Of Royal Lists, Kurisunkal finds himself obsessed with socialites. He now finds himself with abundant invites, and emails from socialites wanting more coverage or a more flattering picture. And he felt it necessary to out himself.
The moral of the story is you don't have to be a snarky freelancer, a Vogue staffer, or even a resident of 10021 to gather the stories (and secrets) of the New York social set. In case this isn't enough socialite news to fill your day, check out the Top Twenty Socialites of All Time.
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Day Four at the tents brough us the typical assortment of editors, writers, socialites, former models and celebrities with a few unexpected twists. Andre Leon Talley (Wearing a jacket from Baby Phat's Fall/Winter 2007 emblazed with "I am the real american dream"), Anna Wintour, Plum Sykes, Meredith Melling Burke and Carine Roitfeld, along with Candy Pratts Price from Style.com. Helena Christenson, Amber Valetta, Kimora Lee Simmons and Roberto Cavalli also made an appearance. Batting for the socialites included Lee Radziwell, Tinsley Mortimer, Camilla Bell, and Ivanka Trump. Hilary Alexander, Lauren Ezersky and Patrick McDonald made their daily pilgrimage to the tents. Of course Rachel Zoe was there observing for her 'celebrity clients.' Leading the pack with the most strange celebrity appearance was Michelle Rodruigez, complete with the latest accessory, an ankle bracelet to track her every move! Also stopping for the photo ops were Carmen Electra, Kim Catrall, Katharine McPhee, Lauren Conrad, and Amber Tamblyn.
Don't expect Tuesday's turnout to be any less tame, as the circus that is Heatherette, complete with Lydia Hearst, Paris Hilton and Alice In Wonderland invades the tents.
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--Art director of America's Next Top Model, Jay Manuel, has a new gig: Style Director of Match.com. Maybe he can help out Courtney Love? Via Imaginary Socialite
--Mary Kate Olsen leaves the house in a plaid bedsheet, without the Balenciaga torture chambers. Via PopSugar
--Marilyn Manson has found someone younger to clone Dita's look: Evan Rachel Wood. Let the comparisons begin. Via Socialite's Life
--Jessica and Ashlee Simpson looking the same. Are we in for a new sister act? Via X17 Online
--Socialite Ranke, the website that brought Tinsley Mortimer's fame to near pandemonium levels has a new obsession: Kate Middleton. Via Socialite Rank
--Just in cae the first round wasn't enough, DeathByCamera is back for round two with last night's American Idol contestants Myspaces. Via DeathByCamera
--ViewFromTheFourthRow, a blog thats been around a little bit is gaining some serious attention. And it's totally deserved. Intriuge, snark, and gossip all wrapped into wonderful little posts. I can't wait for Fashion Week.
Inspired by a new generation of young women, Valention has launched Rock'n Rose, a fragrance that combines a rock and roll attitude with elegant style. "She is a rose on the outside, and a rocker on the inside." Attending the launch party included Valentino himself, Tinsley Mortimer, Trevor Rains, Daniel Vosovic, Ivanka Trump, Candace Bushnell, Zac Posen, and Veronica Webb.Top notes of this fragrance include bergamont and black currant, with middle notes of orange blossom, and base notes of vanilla and sandalwood. 3.4 eau de parfum, $74, available online at Bergdorf Goodman.
Conde Nast's "The Black Ball" benefitting Keep a Child Alive and honoring Richard Beckham, president of Conde Nast Media, was held November 9 at the Hammerstein Ballroom. The gala included performances by Alicia Keys and David Bowie. Attending the event included Anne Hathaway (who has been quite visible recently), Valentino, Iman, Tinsley Mortimer, Alicia Keys, Helena Christensen, Kimora Lee Simmons, Russell Simmons, Katie Holmes, Tom Cruise, Gayle King, Sophie Dahl, Fabiola Beracasa, and Michael Bloomberg.
It seems like everyone is trying to be a social climber these days. The new website, FameGame.com, tracks social ranking by the number of events and attended and the ratio of photos that come from these parties. With a ticker like the New York Stock Exchange, the comparisons don't end there. In a recent New York Times article profiling socialites, the Times asks "Could you call them 'business climbers'?". Sighting the socialite to businesswoman poster child as Tory Burch, a woman who has taken her fashion line and expanded it into 5 standalone boutiques in 2 years.
Socialites like Fabiola Beracasa and Tinsley Mortimer, who have more than enough money to stand on their own, are using their image as part of a branding platform. Mortimer has a line of Samantha Thavasa handbags selling like hotcakes in Japan, while Beracasa is the creative director of an estate jewelry company. “About two years ago I started curling my hair and wearing it pinned to the side,” Mortimer said. “I became associated with that and with a certain kind of overly girly style: baby-doll dresses, pouf skirts and Mary Janes. Right now my hair is straight. I have to get it curled so I can leave the house.”
Another socialite famous for self branding and self promotion is Paris Hilton, who took her hotel heiress status to the bookstores, movie theaters and record stores. Her sister, Nicky Hilton, isn't doing so bad for herself either, by designing her own fashion line, Chick by Nicky Hilton, and designing her own chain of boutique hotels.
Other websites that track socialite rankings are the New York Social Diary and Socialite Rank. The New York Social Diary covers New York social events, photos, shopping diaries and profiles. Social Rank weekly ranks New York socialites based on personal styles and designer relations, press coverage, appearances, and the "hot factor". Common top 20 at Socialite Rank include Bee Schaffer, Ivanka Trump, Tinsley Mortimer, Fabiola Beracasa, Tory Burch, Amanda Hearst, Lydia Hearst, and Margherita Missoni.
Media outlets are starting to pick up on the socialite craze. Five socialites are competing to land the lead role in a tv pilot entitled "Social". Included are Tinsley Mortimer and Fabiola Beracasa. "The story concerns a high society beauty who goes on a bad date with a gossip columnist." VH1 is currently in development to do an episode of "The Fabulous Life Of..." on New York Glamour girls.
Former socialites who have taken their name and image into a fashion branding machine include Carolina Herrera, Diane von Furstenberg and Lilly Pulitzer. Our advice is to sit back, watch the fame meter and look for these socialites in your local boutique.
