Ellen (Laughing): Yeah, and you didn't exactly
have a choice. It was like wham, bam…uh here I am!
Andy: I know, right? I mean there I was, not even out to myself much less anyone
else and all of a sudden I'm out to the world. It was crazy.
Ellen: Wait…you weren't out to yourself…
Andy: Well, no. I mean it was just Miranda, you know. Before her I never even
thought about women. We just had the perfect blend of chemistry, like we were
meant to be. At the time everything was so new and exciting and wow, so
intensely personal, but that changed all in an instant. It got pretty rough
there for a while and we almost didn't make it. I'm so glad we did, though. I'm
sorry about the way our lives were turned all upside down, but I'll never be
sorry for what we have now.
Ellen (Thinking): So, it's just…a certain fifty-year-old woman and not all
fifty-year-old women that you're attracted to?
Andy (Blushing): No, but…No! That's not to say you're not, but…oh god. (Audience
and Ellen laugh at Andy's embarrassment) Subject change time: Miranda was really
impressed with both of your wedding outfits. She even sent a note over to Zac
Posen to tell him to keep up the good work.
Ellen (Smiling, but surprised): She did? Really? Wow…that's…coming from her
that's really something.
Andy: No kidding. I think she's planning on a spread next year for the haute
couture of gay wedding apparel. Nigel's having a field day.
Ellen: I'll bet he is. Oh, and by the way, my wife and I want to thank you.
(Ellen holds up Andy's book) Some of the essays in this collection helped get
the word out that Prop 8 was a bad deal and thankfully the people of
California chose to do the right thing and we're still married. (Audience
applauds) So, you've said you set out to be a journalist, but it seems that
you're becoming more of a human rights activist now.
Andy (Nodding): Yeah. Yeah, it's strange, but you know I think it probably would
have turned out that way anyway. I mean, anyone living in the world today just
cannot not be an activist, you know? As a journalist it's my
responsibility to report what's going on in the world, but as a human being and
as a woman and now as a gay woman, it's also my responsibility to let people
know where injustice is and to do something to fix that. I couldn't live with
myself if I didn't. (Audience applauds and Andy smiles shyly.)
Ellen: Well, we thank you for helping to make the world a better place. (Turns
to audience) Andy has brought a copy of her book A More Perfect Union
for everyone in the audience today as a nice Christmas gift so let's all thank
her for that. Andrea Sachs.
(Cut to commercial)
Author's Note: I want to thank
somniesperus
for letting me use her story
The X Ingredient
.
Thanks to
mercurychkita
for being my beta and sounding board throughout the whole process. Thanks to
xxtorchxx for
letting me use her wonderful manip of our lovely ladies and a really big thanks
to my best mate in London, the greatest city in the world,
Robert Kidman
for making the wonderful poster for the finale and not laughing at me too much
when I told him about my DWP obsession.
A really big thanks to the entire
dvlwears_prada
community for the wonderful feedback I've gotten. I'm happy I was able to bring
a little light and fun to everyone for a little while.
On Love and Fashion
Miranda Priestly speaks with
GO about redefining life after fifty.
Last year, tabloid gossips spread the news that
Runway's Editor-in-Chief Miranda Priestly was carrying on an illicit
affair with a woman not only half her age, but her employee as well. Soon after,
allegations of sexual harassment resulted in her dismissal from the magazine, a
nasty separation and divorce from her third husband, and rumors that she might
even lose custody of her twin daughters. In a surprising turn of events, Miranda
came out on top and is now stronger than ever, once again the most influential
voice of international high fashion.
Miranda Priestly sat down to speak with GO about how sometimes a bad
thing can have a good outcome.
As a professional woman, you've had incredible success. You rose to the
top position of the world's premier fashion magazine at a relatively young age
and you've dominated the fashion world ever since. How did it feel when one rash
decision caused all of that to come crumbling down?
Miranda Priestly: How do you think it felt?
Everything I had built, everything I had worked for was jeopardized in an
instant. All because of some vicious rumors and innuendos.
But some of those rumors were true. You did have an extramarital affair
with your young assistant, correct?
MP: Yes, but I'm hardly the first person to make
that kind of error in judgment. My god, how quickly you all forget the sordid
details of our Chief Executive's bodily fluids spread all over the news. At
least I never lied about it.
No, you certainly did not, but do you regret it?
MP: What I regret was the turmoil it brought to
the lives of my children and to Andrea's life. It was a terrible time for us
all. But do I regret falling in love with the most wonderful, kind, generous and
beautiful woman I have ever known? Certainly not.
Later on it became known that your husband was also having an affair.
Was that painful for your family as well?
MP: Yes, but aside from the legalities involved
with the divorce, it really wouldn't have mattered. Before the news broke in the
papers, I had already decided to seek a divorce from Stephen. I knew the girls
would be upset, but remaining with Stephen would have been denying a part of
myself that I had only just come to realize.
So you had never been interested in women before you met Andrea?
MP: It was more simply a case that I had never
realized I was interested in women before Andrea. You have to
understand that when I was growing up, the world was a much different place.
Proper women were supposed to be as fashionable as Jacqueline Kennedy and just
as devoted to their husbands. That was the ideal instilled in me at a young age.
Later on, as I began to realize my career ambitions, the general paradigm
dictated that it was perfectly acceptable to have a career as long as you had
the perfect husband at your side. The challenge was to balance the career and
the husband at the same time. I invested so much time and energy into doing just
that, I never once took a moment to realize it wasn't the perfect man I was
looking for, but the perfect woman.
And Andrea was the perfect woman for you?
MP: Yes. As much as I hate to admit it, she was
the only one I had ever met who was able to challenge me on every single level
as an equal. It was infuriating that this mere slip of a girl could upset my
life so much, force me to realize things about myself I never realized before,
things I didn't want to realize.
You don't blame Andrea for what happened, do you?
MP: Of course not; I take full responsibility.
That she was strong enough to endure the public muckraking of our lives just
made me respect and love her all the more.
How hard did things get between you?
MP: Very hard. There was a long stretch of time –
weeks that I care not think about – just after Andrea left Runway in
which she refused to speak to me. I can hardly blame her. Her life was in
shambles, she was forced to give up her apartment and her parents were trying to
get her to move back to Ohio. Ohio! Can you imagine? I tried to help her, of
course, but the silly girl refused. Well, not silly I suppose…that's just
another part of the strength I admire so much. Thankfully a friend offered her a
place to stay until she could get back on her feet. It wasn't until after she
landed her job at GO that she finally bowed to Nigel and Emily's
insistence that she contact me again.
You mean Nigel Kipling and Emily Charleton, your associates from
Runway? They played matchmaker for you two?
MP: Indeed, they have proven themselves very
loyal friends to both of us. Surprisingly actually, on Emily's part. She
despised Andrea while they worked together, but afterwards they became good
friends. How, I have no idea.
There were rumors that you continued to wield control over
Runway even after your dismissal. Were they true?
MP: Like most rumors there was a small element of
truth in that. Nigel consulted with me on some things, but he did retain control
while at the helm. Nigel did an outstanding job. And Emily proved she had
abilities that far exceeded my previous expectations. When I returned of course
I gave her the promotion she had definitely earned. She hasn't disappointed me
yet.
When you returned to Runway, many
financial pundits admired your – what some politely termed – "adamantine balls"
for manipulating the Elias-Clarke Board of Directors. How much influence did you
really have over them forcing out the man who fired you?
MP: I needn't have had any influence at all…the
numbers on the financial reports spoke more clearly than I ever could. I'm well
aware of my worth to the company and I trusted the board to recognize that as
well. They are not stupid…not anymore at least.
Did you really demand an apology from Irv Ravitz?
MP: I demand the people I associate with –
whether professionally or personally – to maintain a level of civility. There
are things I refuse to tolerate…uncouth behavior is certainly one of them.
You know we have to ask about the National Enquirer's
claims you were sexually harassing your assistants. Why do you think they would
make that kind of accusation if, as you said, there wasn't at least a small
element of truth to it?
MP: To sell papers, why else? Their sales rose
considerably, as did Jay Leno's ratings after he called me 'The Predator Editor'
during one of his droll monologues. However, without any proof of those claims,
the Enquirer's sales dropped back to their normal odious level. As for
Leno…well, I'm sure he's enjoying his retirement.
What about Andrea's age? Has that been an issue in your relationship?
MP: I'll admit I was concerned in the
beginning…any sane woman would be. Concerned? My god, even I was aghast at how
pathetic I appeared. A fifty-year-old woman carrying on with someone half her
age? Ridiculous.
What changed your mind?
MP: Andrea, of course. As I mentioned earlier,
she is my equal in all things…except for our ages. It did take time, naturally.
Andrea is the only one who will dare question me on matters no one has ever
dared before. Not because she is acting like a petulant child trying to get her
way, but because she is a mature and intelligent individual who can convince me
to see all sides of an issue. I respect that. It is, at times, even refreshing.
How do your twin daughters feel about Andrea?
MP: They hated her at first. As much as I tried
to shelter them from the dreadful newspapers, they still knew what was happening
and they naturally blamed Andrea for it. However, during our separation they
could tell how much I missed her. When we reconciled, they gave her a chance and
soon Andrea's natural charm won them over. I think that's one area where
Andrea's age is an advantage. Being closer to their age, she can relate
to the girls in a way that I cannot.
The papers speculated you would lose them because of the scandal, but
there was never a danger of that, was there?
MP: No, no. While I may have made bad decisions
when it came to choosing husbands, I did manage to choose the one perfect father
for my girls. Despite our marital problems, Greg has remained a friend, which
helps to maintain stability for the girls. In addition to Nigel, Greg was the
best friend I had during that most turbulent time.
And Runway is doing better than ever?
MP: Of course. It always has been and it always
shall be my intent that Runway be the best fashion magazine in the
world, month after month, issue after issue. That's not going to change any time
soon.
You'll continue to bring that high standard to the fashion industry
though Runway?
MP: Certainly. When one has set the bar so high,
one has to ensure it stays there. For now, I'm content to be that one.
How do you manage to keep those high standards and yet make time for
your relationship with Andrea?
MP: The challenge remains as it has always been,
needless to say, but this time it's a relationship where two
professional women are the participants in the endeavor. Andrea works just as
hard as I do and together we struggle to balance our professional lives with our
personal lives with the children and it works. At least, it works much better
than it ever did with my husbands. I suppose that's because men are not
subjected to the same expectations career women are – they are expected to
devote more time to their careers even at the expense of their families if need
be. A double-standard I know, but it still exists.
How much influence have you had with Andrea's burgeoning career?
MP: Very little, I'll admit. She's determined to
stand or fall on her own…that maddening pride of hers again. She came to
Runway on the assumption that after her tenure I could help her move up.
When that blew up in her face, she set out to prove herself even in light of a
scandal that could ruin anyone's career ambitions. That she has succeeded far
beyond everyone's expectations makes me very proud.
What does the future hold for you?
MP: Many things I'm sure. My life has been very
full and satisfying and now with Andrea by my side it is even more so. Together
there is nothing we cannot accomplish. It is something I look forward to very
much.
Now for the really big question: Does life in the bedroom get better
after fifty?
MP: I can't believe you would even dare ask that
kind of question! Well…let me just say that many aspects of my life are utterly
spectacular, which is all you're going to get from me regarding that.
Speaking of which, you're notorious for being a very private person.
What made you decide to speak with us now?
MP: Again…Andrea. I believe I mentioned how
infuriating the woman is. In her journalistic idealism, she has made it her
personal crusade to fight for the rights of every one, no matter who they are.
She feels that as a prominent member of the community, it is my duty to
show the world that I am just like everyone else. Of course, I told her that the
very idea that I am like anyone else is totally appalling, but if I expect to
get any sleep at night…well, here I am.
On behalf of the community and everyone else, we here at
GO are glad you spoke with us today. Is there anything else
you'd care to add?
MP: That's all.
The End
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