1. Tinsley Mortimer – Manhattan’s Queen B. Hailing from Richmond, VA, Tinsley is a staple on the New York social and event scene.
After marrying long-time beau, Topper Mortimer in 2002, she gave up on the notion of a day job and was able to focus all of her energy on climbing to the top of the New York social ladder. Her diligence paid off, with designers now clamoring to dress her, luxury brands paying her to endorse their products and the CW Network even giving her the opportunity to star in her own reality TV show titled “High Society.” The show follows newly single Tinsley, her sister, Dabney Mercer, and her well-to-do comrades on their daily escapades in the city.
Always the paparazzi magnet, Tinsley is every New York event planners’ dream A-list guest!
2. Olivia Palermo – The socialite grew up in between the Upper East Side in New York and Greenwich, Connecticut.
Palermo rose to her current social position in 2007 when a blog posted an e-mail that may or may not have been written by Palermo, asking 70 of the Manhattan social elite to accept her in their crowd. Palermo’s family declared the e-mail a forgery and hired a lawyer, claiming “identity theft.” The scandal landed her on the cover of New York Magazine in May 2007. In 2008 her social maneuvering eventually landed her the role as girl-we-love-to-hate on the MTV reality TV show, “The City.”
As much as it pains us to admit it, any event would be given a boost with this quintessential Manhattan socialite in attendance.
3. Fabiola Beracasa – Her busy social schedule has made her one of the most talked about socialites in recent years.
Born in Caracas to Veronica de Gruyter and her first husband, Alfredo Beracasa, a Venezuelan insurance and banking tycoon, Fabiola moved to New York when her mother became the third and final wife of the late, Randolph Hearst in 1987. When she was a teen she went off to boarding school in Switzerland, but returned to the states to attend Boston College. Of late, Fabiola has been focusing her efforts more on building her journalism resume, as a contributing editor at Interview.
With brains and beauty, there’s no doubt Fabiola would spice up any event.
4. Derek Blasberg – He’s made a name for himself since moving to New York from St. Louis, Missouri to attend NYU.
Specializing in fashion, art and society, Blasberg is now the Editor at Large of Conde Nast’s Style.com, Senior Fashion News and Special Projects Editor at V and VMAN, and a contributing editor for Harper’s Bazaar. He can frequently be seen on the arm of any number of high-ranking social scenesters around town. Blasberg has even been influential in promoting new brands due to the number of contacts he has in the city.
With the who’s who of New York contacts sure to be in Mr. Blasberg’s phone, he’d be a dream guest at any event in the city.
5. Julia Restoin-Roitfeld – Reared in Paris, she came to New York when she transferred to Parsons-The New School for Design, from a Paris-based affiliate.
The daughter of French Vogue editor, Carine Roitfeld, Julia has been a New York social fixture since stepping off the plane from Paris. In addition to her social commitments, she is also a model and aspiring designer. Julia was picked by Tom Ford as the face of Black Orchid, his first fragrance; and in August 2007 she became the face of Eric Villency’s new denim line: Restoration of the Monarchy.
With fashion in her blood, it’s fair to say that Julia will be the best-dressed person at any event.
6. Byrdie Bell – The Chicago native is best known these days for setting off paparazzi frenzies while she struts around town in her designer duds.
A professionally trained actress, Bell has appeared in several slasher films and even had a cameo in Martin Scorsese’s Rolling Stones documentary, “Shine a Light.” Her name comes from a long line of Evelyn Byrds, the first of whom was the eldest daughter of Colonel William Byrd II, the founder of Richmond, VA. Like any good socialite, she does some modeling to supplement her acting “career.”
Though she keeps busy with work, Byrdie doesn’t neglect her social duties; the attractive, girl-about-town won’t disappoint at your next social gathering.
7. Amanda Hearst – A long-time subject of Page Six gossip, the 26-year-old heiress has been making a splash on the social scene for years.
An heiress to the Hearst media empire with estimated revenues of $5 billion a year, Amanda attended boarding school in Connecticut and went on to attend Boston College before transferring to Fordham University. She’s appeared on the cover of Cosmopolitan and in ad campaigns for Ralph Lauren. Though, she wasn’t shorted on looks, Forbes once estimated her yearly “maintenance costs” – which includes spending on clothes, make-up and vacations – at $136,360.
With her girl-next-store looks and penchant for excess, Amanda Hearst has earned her spot in the circle of the social elite. What event planner wouldn’t want a Hearst at their event?
8. Gian Luigi de Almeida Prado Tadini—or Luigi as he’s known to his friends—is a Brazilian-born social scenester/jewelry designer and the heir to a family jewelry fortune.
Tadini describes his style as “a mix between a young Mick Jagger and 40 year-old Cary Grant and perhaps a little Alain Delon.” The fashion-forward Tadini is involved with two charities: Save Venice and Riverkeeper Junior Council, which he co-founded with gal-pal Amanda Hearst a few years ago. The two seem to be an inseparable duo, as you can find them together at events all over town.
When Luigi’s at your event, you can almost guarantee a two-for-one, as Ms. Hearst will most likely be at his side.
9. Anna Anisimova – This socialite/model/heiress has been said to be the Russian equivalent to Paris Hilton.
Anisimova is the daughter of Russian aluminum tycoon, Vassily Anisimov, who bankrolls her extravagant life. In addition to her $15 million, 4000-square-foot apartment in the Time Warner Center, she owns a number of other residences stateside. While living in Manhattan partying, shopping and occasionally modeling she’s more than earned social butterfly status.
This girl definitely knows what she wants and knows how to get the party started. Make sure the vodka’s on ice because this Russian will liven up any gathering.
10. Bonnie Morrison – This style maven was given the title of one of the most connected fashion publicists in New York by Fashion Daily.
Though not your typical socialite, she has made a name for herself on the New York scene. Morrison has worked as a publicity director at the renowned fashion PR firm KCD (reps the who’s who in fashion), PR consultant for Proenza Schouler, Dries van Noten, Phi and magazine editor for the now defunct Men’s Vogue. Her style has landed her on various blogs and websites over the last few years.
Who wouldn’t want a fashionista with an endless list of connections at their next party?
