Tinsley, Minnie, Byrdie, Zani—never have socialites been so omnipresent, nor harder to tell apart. Should you care to, an at-a-glance guide to the people you’re most likely to see at a perfume launch or costume ball, making a mad dash toward the paparazzi.
NEXT WAVE
Olivia Palermo
New School student aggressively fresh on the scene. At war with Socialiterank.com, Tinsley Mortimer, others.
Amanda Hearst
Pushes low-energy lightbulbs on friends, dates Winston Lapham (son of ex-Harper’s editor).
Lydia Hearst Shaw
Amanda’s cousin. Busy fashion model is as much a minor celebrity as Tinsley Mortimer.
Arden Wohl
Kooky NYU film school grad is never seen without eighties headband.
Byrdie Bell
With boyfriend Bingo Gubelmann (Marjorie’s cousin), half of the most hilariously named couple in society.
Victoria Traina
Danielle Steele’s daughter and a muse for Proenza Schouler. If you’re lucky, she’ll show up with an Olsen.
Dabney Mercer
Tinsley’s less polished but equally blonde sister left Peter Som and now takes care of new dog full-time.
Minnie Mortimer
Tinsley’s sister-in-law hightailing it out of New York social world to marry filmmaker Stephen Gaghan.
NEW GUARD
Claire Bernard
Columbia M.F.A. candidate constantly harangues friends to support Museum of Natural History.
Genevieve Jones
On the upswing with a jewelry line after last year’s bruising Wall Street Journal profile.
Zani Gugelmann
Loves to complain about going out but rarely misses a party. Jewelry line actually sells.
Celerie Kemble
Harvard-educated interior designer seems too smart for a life of red-carpet steps and repeats.
Fabiola Beracasa
Daughter of Veronica Hearst and public face of Circa jewelry. Spoke to Observer when dog died.
Olivia Chantecaille
Extremely thin cosmetics scion works off calories tirelessly shilling for family brand.
Tinsley Mortimer
Apex of young New York society has what everyone else wants: a household name.
Georgina Chapman
Harvey Weinstein’s girlfriend, whose Marchesa dress line is more popular with actresses than socialites.
Allison Sarofim
Domino editor, trained chef, and aspiring actress, known for lavish parties at Bank Street home.
Eleanor Ylvisaker
Seems casually along for the ride on benefit circuit. Much-lusted-after husband is a Palm Beach blue blood.
Rachel Roy
The actually talented fashion-designer wife of Damon Dash. André Leon Talley is a supporter.
Margherita Missoni
Socialite and walking billboard for family’s label mysteriously gets her photo in every magazine.
Annelise Peterson
Blonde-bombshell Valentino publicist got dog in hope of curbing nightlife appetite. No one’s sure if it’s working.
Bonnie Morrison
San Francisco–bred night owl loves a party. Jokes about being named “Mocha Socialite” by a lifestyle blog.
NEW OLD GUARD TRIBE
Helen Schifter
Wife of Mr. Le Sportsac. Socials still wonder what was in the Vanity Fair profile about her the magazine spiked.
Bettina Zilkha
Always on the scene: If she and Patrick McMullan weren’t there, did it happen?
Aerin Lauder Zinterhofer
Shy, well-dressed senior VP and creative director of Estée Lauder. Haute society’s queen bee.
Tory Burch
The one they all want to be. Successful designer, divorced from venture capitalist, now dating Lance Armstrong.
Samantha Boardman Rosen
Shrink whose Vogue wedding write-up left out a photo of her husband, art-collecting tycoon Aby Rosen.
Marjorie Gubelmann Raein
Lately spends less time hosting, more time working on candle-and-cream line Vie Luxe.
Alex Kramer
Divorced former stay-at-home mom helping out on new line for her beau, Brazilian designer Carlos Miele.
Gigi Mortimer
Like Tinsley, married into Standard Oil family. Husband is investment banker Averell Mortimer.
Emilia Fanjul Pfeifler
Daughter of sugar baron Pepe Fanjul and his very social wife, Emilia. Recently shuttered PR firm to raise baby.
Muffie Potter Aston
Mother of surrogate twins, wife of plastic surgeon Sherrell Aston, who recently had the cover of L’Uomo Vogue.
Nina Griscom
Ageless divorcée’s affair with Pepe Fanjul was covered in W magazine. Has hot young boyfriend in real estate.
Yvonne Force Villareal
Princess of Miami Art Basel, old chum of Amy Sacco’s, sings in Fendi-sponsored rock band.
Jennifer Creel
Recently separated, splits time between New York and Hollywood to nurse acting dream.
Dayssi Olarte de Kanavos
Has leveraged social connections to open St. Regis in Anguilla and Ritz-Carltons in South Florida.
VOGUE-ENDORSED
Jessica Joffe
Former Observer scribe, girlfriend of Ryan Adams, model for Uniqlo and Banana Republic, hermit of late.
Alexis Bryan
Fast-rising fashion editor at Vanity Fair and daughter of Anna Wintour’s boyfriend, Shelby Bryan.
Dr. Lisa Airan
Chanel-loving skin doc links to her Vogue mentions on Website. Frequent walker of designer Gilles Mendel.
Lauren Davis
Mistakenly referred to as a Poland Spring heiress, (finally) engaged to Colombian billionaire.
Amanda Brooks
Sold style book to Judith Regan. Anna Wintour made her a contributing editor at Men’s Vogue.
Nancy Jarecki
Whip-smart wife of Andrew “Mr. Moviefone” Jarecki has company selling dye for the “hair down there.”
Lauren DuPont
Wife of sculptor-heir Richard duPont got her start at Vogue; now a contributing editor at Vogue Living.
Marina Rust Connor
Chic contributing editor at Vogue whose stories often include photos of herself (e.g., a Rachel Zoe makeover).
MALE SOCIALITES
Derek Blasberg
Sharp-tongued party boy manages to befriend everyone, writes for Euro fashion mags.
Andrew Saffir
Hosts screenings for socialites. Guests complain the movies stink but appreciate the celebrity gridlock.
Luigi Tadini
Model-actor says he’s an executive and designer for his family’s Brazilian jewelry company. Always in a cravat.
Carlos Mota
Furniture designer and special-projects editor at Elle Décor. Could be the next Jonathan Adler.
Euan Rellie
Cambridge grad, I-banker, and father of Heathcliff and Titus with wife Lucy Sykes. He loves to party, baby.
Rufus Albemarle
Hulking husband of the sculptor Sally Albemarle. She mostly lives overseas while he makes the New York scene.