In a recent “Real Housewives of New York” episode, new cast member, author and journalist Carole Radziwill accused Countess LuAnn De Lesseps of being a One-Upper. Radziwill tells the ladies that she finished her second book and was in negotiations to make it into a television show. So the countess snaps, “I wrote a book too!” Not that they compare, folks. Radziwill is a real writer, a journalist with years as a network television producer. This one-upping went on for most of their trip to London prompting Radziwill to simply invent outrageous things to see how far the countess would go to one-up her yet again. It was hilarious and the countess had no clue she was being mocked.
This happens all the time. A barrage of baloney fueled by severe insecurity, regardless of social strata and financial standing. It’s just that in the higher levels of society, the one-ups are much more entertaining because of the amount of money being thrown down. Depending on the situation a status symbol can change in an instant with a state-of-the-art generator beating out a custom crocodile Birkin.
Below, some hurricane preparedness One-Uppers from the Miami society scene:
BASIC SOCIALITE (BS) vs. INSANE ONE-UPPER (IOU)
BS: I had a Keratin straightening treatment so I wouldn’t have to deal with frizzies during all the humidity during the storm.
IOU: I flew in my hairdresser from New York who will stay in the guest wing and blow out my hair every day.
BS: We added an extra nanny so the kids would be supervised during this stressful storm.
IOU: I brought in a British hypnotist who specializes in children’s issues to keep them under control, or at least sleeping the whole time.
BS: We bought a huge new generator so we never lose power for air conditioning and cooking.
IOU: We bought two new generators, from a hotel supplier, soooo big they can power Miami International Airport.
BS: We had our favorite seafood over-nighted from Le Bernardin in New York along with 20 cases of champagne.
IOU: We flew in a celebrity chef from the Food Network who will be preparing our favorite dishes during the storm and of course, a butler to help him out.
BS: Since we are on the water, I made reservations at The Biltmore hotel in Coral Gables inland so we can stay there in case we have to evacuate the area.
IOU: If there’s a mandatory evacuation, we’re flying out on a private jet. I just can’t deal with all of this nonsense. Besides, my two-year old prefers flying private.
(*Editor’s Note: The names were omitted to protect the guilty)
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