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Despite Rumors Flying in New York, Town & Country‘s Pam Fiori Exemplified Class

There’s a rumor floating around about Town & Country Editor-in-Chief/founding co-chairperson of the UNICEF Snowflake Project  Pamela Fiori (pictured) who was in Dallas Monday for a luncheon and book signing of her new book In the Spirit of Capri. No, it wasn’t that she’s a Miranda type. Nor was it that T&C is going weekly. It was. . .

But first, let’s review her Dallas visit.

Having just arrived Sunday night (thank heaven, she missed snowy Saturday) after a PA at Lake Austin Spa Resort, Pamela was the main course of the “Feather Your Nest Speakers Series” (FYN) luncheon at the Ritz. Since seating at Dean Fearing’s was limited to 60, Dallas authoress/FYN co-founder Kimberly Schlegel Whitman asked her mom Myrna Schegel if she would host a book signing reception in the evening for T&C‘s legendary editor-in-chief. Despite a nasty twist of the ankle suffered in Toronto last week — and being forced to wear flats — Myrna opened the Schlegel manor with the graciousness and elegance befitting a T&C event.

But we’re getting ahead of ourselves, aren’t we?

According to Pamela, her stay at Lake Austin was really quite excellent, despite the fact that it meant her missing what was “supposed to be the most perfect weekend of weather” in New York City. But it was well worth it. She was fascinated by the women at the spa just walking around in terry cloth robes and wearing no makeup. . . just being themselves.

Then it was a quick trip to Dallas Sunday and the FYN luncheon, which was “perfection,” according to Pamela, who is a true-blue fan of Chef Dean Fearing. “The fish was prepared just perfectly,” Pamela reported. “Everyone was so very nice. What a simply gorgeous place.”

Ah, but that was just a warm-up of the hospitality in store for the 28-year veteran of the country’s leading media expert on class, style and taste. The Schlegels somehow manage to combine mega-amazing (their mansion, of course) with personal charm and gentility. With Myrna in ballet slipper-like flats at the front door, guests were warmly greeted. If you were lucky enough to get there when the doors opened at 5, you might have missed Pam as she stood in the hallway catching up with old friends like Courtney Sinelli (pictured). It seems that 30 years ago Pamela was Courtney’s babysitter.

FYN co-founder Chris Kleinert (pictured) had to leave co-hosting duties to wife Ashlee and get back to work. By the way, Ashlee and Chris are also the driving force behind Executives in Action.

Yes, this gathering was made up of people who wear out passports with trips to India, Brazil, Europe, and all points in between. Their shopping sprees take place in foreign ports of call as opposed to Sam Moon’s. “You do know that bargains can be had overseas because of the dollar situation?” is heard more than once. They wonder aloud what others only fantasize about — a month-long-rental of a house in Tuscany  this summer, perhaps?

Even the serving staff took note that this crowd was not your typical wine and champagne group. When a waiter placed an order for a “Negroni,” he admitted none of the staff had ever heard of such a concoction. “Only the bartender knew what it was” —  equal parts gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth. Like the guests in attendance, the drink is a classic for the well-traveled set.

Still there was something about Pamela that set her apart from this Black Card set. Was it her diminutive size? Was it her emerald-green jacket? Her necklace of multi-strands of jade? Or, perhaps it was her smile that highlighted each introduction?

But then the hallway started filling with guests, and it was time for Pamela to take her place at a desk in the two-story library with its elegant curtains. To her right were a stack of her books that quickly dwindled as guests queued up for a personal signing. Some wanted a book for themselves. Others wanted them as gifts. Don’t tell anyone, but there is one mother whose Mother’s Day gift is already a done deal.

For those who live for the itty-bittiest of details, Pamela is a southpaw and claims that her “excellent” inscriptions (pictured) are due to “Sharpies.”

What you soon learned about Pamela was her ease at making others feel comfortable. She was fascinated in all who approached her. With amazing eye contact, she made you feel as if there was no one else in the room. How she did it time after time is a wonder. But then again it was a pretty heady crowd. For instance,

• Former Crystal Charity Ball Chair Sara Martineau (pictured) with her daughter Maria Plankinton discussed Swiss fashion house of Akris’s Albert Kriemler‘s being the featured designer at this fall’s Best Dressed Luncheon with Pamela. “You’ll love him. He’s adorable,” Pamela smiled.
• Fashionista First Lady Heidi Dillon in a softer-than-legal white leather jacket exchanged business cards with Pamela with the latter saying, “Everyone loves to talk about fashion.”
• While waiting her turn to chat with Pamela, Barbara Daseke in luscious black lamb leather jacket admitted that she had been so impressed with the Lauren Bacall talk recently at the Nasher that she had bought Lauren’s book and was amazed at her diverse life.
• Barbara Buzzell complimented Pamela on one of her staff with whom BB had just worked with on a story. Without hesitation, Pamela knew the staffer and noted that she was a Dallas gal and very good.
• Shelle Sills (pictured right hugging Billie Leigh Rippey) got a big hug from Pamela saying, “I’m here because it’s you!” Then Shelle reported that  husband Michael was on his way just to see Pamela, too. In a flash, Michael not only showed up but presented Pamela with a drink refresher. That man knows just what the doctor orders. By the way, don’t think that NM Downtown Non-stop Head Lady Shelle spends her life entirely in four-inch stilettos. “When I’m home, it’s strictly flip flops.” Why, oh why, do we suspect that hers are so much classier than the rest of ours?

But it wasn’t all pleasantries among the book-buying guests. Pamela also shared some thoughts on the publishing industry and the various rumors swirling about.

• Shelter magazines — “The entire shelter industry went . . . (she motioned with her hand hitting the desk).”
• Print vs. online — ” So many women tell me how they like holding paper in their hands when they read.”
• Advertising — “Advertisers are so eager to think they can cut costs by advertising on the web. But a little ad online just cannot compare to a wonderfully produced ad in a magazine.”
• Social media trends — “We going through a period when people are flirting with things like Facebook.”
• Publications adjusting their standards to survive — “I’ve told them (her staff and publisher) that we’re not going to do that.”
• Blogging — “Someone just recently told about blogging and that it can be fun.”
• The Devil Wears Prada: “My doorman said, ‘Ms. Fiori, you’re not like that woman in The Devil Wears Prada.’ I sure hope I’m not.”
• Her publisher Jim Taylor — “I have the world’s best publisher. We don’t always agree but we respect each other.”
• Her next book — “It’s on St. Bart’s.”

And that rumor that’s been making the rounds. Well, it seems the NY Post’s Keith Kelly reported this past Friday that HEARST Magazines President Cathie Black has quietly been searching for Pamela’s replacement. When confronted with the Post‘s latest item, in typical T&C style, Pamela just smiled and said, “There are always rumors about Anna Wintour, me and all of us. If it happens, it happens. I have a life. . .  my husband (Colt Givner) of 28 years, my relatives, my friends. You truly realize their importance when times get difficult.”

In parting, someone asked, “Will you be back in September for the Best Dressed luncheon?”

“I hope so,” Pamela replied.