Now This Is the Life!

When the high-glosss dramedy Ugly Betty moved to New York from Hollywood, I feared it would become a gritty perversion of itself. The show remained intact, however, leaving the gripping realities of our current “economic downturn” to real life and showing instead a publishing world that’s so glamorous and thrilling that I’ve found myself wondering, What if I had some of the perks that the show’s diva, Wilhelmina Slater (played by Vanessa Williams), has?

What if?

What if I had a massive expense account and unlimited clothing budget? What if there were always hair and makeup artists and clothing stylists (even—or especially—the show’s actual stylist, the amazing Patricia Field) at my beck and call, and I could show up at photo shoots and be transformed in minutes with just the right attire for that evening’s Gotham gala? What if I had someone whose sole job it was to pick up my lunch, plan my parties, and see to my every whim? What if a car and driver followed me around, catching my shopping bags? What if I could be as demanding as Wilhelmina? A girl can dream.

The truth is, I try to keep it simple. I take cabs, not limos (though I confess I do talk back to my driver sometimes). I often eat lunch on my keyboard. I hop on the subway every morning after I drop my kids off at school and return home the same way. I blow-dry my own hair. I pick up my own lunch, plan my own parties, and cook many a family meal. I have no chauffeur—in fact, I’m the chauffeur (or rather, my kids’ shuttle).

But—and thank god there is a “but”—as on the show (and much to the chagrin of my husband), my closet is on a first-name basis with fashion’s usual suspects: Frida, Diane, Jimmy, Christian, Carolina, Peter, Michael, Narciso, Elie, Nina, Francisco, Ralph, and Karl. But it’s compliments of me and my own Fendi wallet.

So, fantasy versus reality—what fun to think about. And in light of that, who better than Ugly Betty herself to grace the cover of our spring fashionfantasy issue? America Ferrera and her confection of a show allow us to escape each week into the castle in the sky called Mode, and with this issue we hope to take you to some magical places as well.

Now I have to go—I have venison to defrost. 

TOP: With Peter Som, Catherine Moellering, and Lucy Sykes Rellie at the launch of the new Peter Som for Best & Co. collection at Bergdorf Goodman. BELOW: with my husband, Chris, at the New York Botanical Garden’s Winter Wonderland

CRISTINA GREEVEN CUOMO
EDITOR IN CHEF