A former Vogue editor has written a novel that aims to replace “The Devil Wears Prada” as the ultimate Condé Nast and fashion exposé.
In 2003, Lauren Weisberger, a former personal assistant to Vogue overlord Anna Wintour, penned the famed roman à clef, which did much to cement the legend of Wintour as a cold-hearted and merciless taskmaster.
Now Filipa Fino, who was an editor at the magazine for more than a decade, has written her own novel which, we’re told, will spill even more secrets than Weisberger’s beloved book — this time from the point of view of someone even closer to the action.
“[Fino’s] is being told from an insider, not an intern,” said a source.
Fashion vet Fino, whose resume includes Allure, Harper’s Bazaar, and 11 years at Wintour’s fashion bible, expects to publish “Best Dressed” in May.
Given her proximity to Wintour during her time at the magazine — and the copious photos she’s recently posted with the famed editrix — we suspect the book will have a Wintour-inspired character à la “Prada’s” Miranda Priestly.
The editors’ real names have been changed, but designers and models won’t be spared and all the stories are real, we’re told.
Case in point: we’re told it will set the record straight on Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss’ infamous meeting with Cuban dictator Fidel Castro in 1998.
Campbell allegedly requested a sit-down with Castro, and he obliged, according to our source.
The legendary model is also said to have requested 10 bodyguards for the meeting — to come out of the shoot’s budget — which led to a superior making the racial remark: “Why spend so much money on someone who blends?”
Leonardo DiCaprio was also apparently along for the ride, and was at one point “holed up in a room” at the Nacional hotel with Moss.
Campbell did not get back to us.
Fino teased, “This was the BlackBerry era of fashion, extravagance and scandals. Everyone has a book, but no one has told the story.”
