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Letter from the Editor Y ou're likely reading this from a place far more glamorous — and definitely more temperate — than Dallas, which is in the midst of yet another sizzling summer. I myself am penning this in New Orleans, at the beginning of a road trip to my childhood home, Tallahassee, to spend a few weeks with my father. When I write my letter, my mind always wanders in oh-so many directions — I call them mercurial musings. At first, I was contemplating chic vacations. Then, the notion that when on such travels, shots should be snapped to capture moments to share with friends. Eventually I landed on what is likely the most iconic image of jet-setters: Poolside Gossip, Slim Aarons' cinematic shot of two women in Palm Springs in the '70s, sunning at the stunning mid-century masterpiece designed in 1946 by Richard Neutra for Edgar J. Kaufmann Sr. Our inquisitive editress, Holly Moore, has often challenged me to recast classic Hollywood flicks with Dallas socials. In fact, one of my first columns, more than a decade ago, was an ode to 007, with our local ladies in the role of Bond girls — the primary, coolest one of them all, Pussy Galore, being played by Cindy Rachofsky. Today I thought: Why not go off on a summer tangent? I should insert myself into that moment captured by Aarons and conjure up a back story. I would be the girl in yellow; as I've grown older, I've come to accept that I couldn't pull off such a racy crop top. Also, I'm relentlessly matchy- matchy at times and would have worn something to complement the sunshine- hued floral arrangement sent over hours prior by the local en vogue florist. My name would be Wilhelmina (after all, my real name is William). And who would I want as my confidante — my fellow afternoon tippler — for a good old-fashioned gossip sesh? That would be Jocasta. You might be thinking: Who is that girl with such an intriguingly moneyed-sounding moniker? Well, you've never actually seen that name on a place card next to mine. She's an amalgam of my Dallas girl crew — beguiling, bewitching, and bedazzling beauties. Like them all, Jocasta can easily pull off the saucy white lace ensemble with the fantastical swirl of an updo. Now, for the backstory of this moment: Even though Wilhelmina and Jocasta have known each other since our days at central casting — we met as extras in Doris Day and Rock Hudson's Pillow Talk — I'll always secretly begrudge her for perpetually looking so glamorous. In the end, we've succeeded and married well. I've shacked up with the current man of the house, a Hollywood-producer type (picture Swifty Lazar — I have always been a fan of his enlarged eyewear) who lets me have the place to myself on the weekends for girls' parties. I've been pleading with Jocasta, who of course knows everyone, to introduce me to her dear friend, in-demand designer to the stars, William Haines. I want him to jazz up the place and give the interiors a combo vibe of Auntie Mame meets Valley of the Dolls in his signature Hollywood Regency Style. Perhaps throw in some oversized urns and install a room-filling Alexander Calder mobile sculpture. Playing in the background is Walter Wanderley's "Summer Samba," and we're tempted to get up and do a little dance but decide against in fear of mussing our coifs. We're drinking Zombies — a tiki cocktail made of fruit juices, liqueurs, and various rums — the perfect formula for spilling the secrets of shared acquaintances. The drink is both classic old school and slightly trashy. Given our outfits, that's what we're in the mood for. Right when the photo is taken, Jocasta has just shared the most delicious dish, and I'm barely lucid enough to remember and recount it … but I giggle with pure delight. It's a candid moment of life at its best between friends. As you peruse this divine issue in front of you — filled with enviable interiors, Chanel fashion, and an insider's report from this year's Salone de Mobile — I hope you're having vignettes with friends worthy of Slim Aarons' lens. If not, then just go ahead and do your best rendition of Poolside Gossip and send it to me. XO, Billy "Wilhelmina" Fong Dallas Editor in Chief FROM THE BOOK SLIM AARONS: ONCE UPON A TIME (ABRAMS, 2003) 12