Julie Dam's Some like it Haute: A Worthwhile Journey

In her literary debut, Some Like It Haute(Warner Books, 2006) author Julie Dam weaves a fun and entertaining tale of Alex, a fashion correspondent, who finds herself in the middle of comedic chaos while on assignment at Paris Fashion Week. Shoe-obsessed and something of a diva, Alex falls hard (literally) for handsome Nick Snow, a man who seems to be hiding something. While dealing with her love life, and hefty wardrobe, Alex is trying to get the exclusive scoop on the hottest new designer. How will it all end for our heroine? The reader willingly takes the wild ride with Alex, wanting to know what will occur at the next turn. Dam, a senior editor of People magazine, writes with care and ease - her characters hold true even when their circumstances do not. Some Like It Haute is a an invitation to enter the world of the fashionistas - take the time to attend and you won't be disappointed.

Dam took time from her busy schedule to answer some of our questions.

Q: You are a senior editor for People Magazine. What made you want to write a fiction book? When did you find the time?

I've always wanted to write a book. I recall when I was in high school I wrote really depressing short stories and I had it in my head that I would one day write a brilliant novel, win the Pulitzer Prize and then tragically crash my car off a cliff - all before the age of 30, because you know, life ends at 30. I've since reconsidered! (And really, I'm not that strange anymore, I swear.)
Anyhow, fast forward about 10 years, and during my days as a fashion reporter I crossed paths with the woman who's now my agent. She's really the one who believed I could - and should - write a book. So I really owe it all to her!
As for when I found the time, well… I'm not really sure! I look back and wonder how on earth I had the discipline to write almost every weekend. It took me about 9 months, writing almost entirely on weekends (I was too fried to write after work during the week) - and also on lots of planes and trains.

Q: Alex, the main character of the book, is a true fashionista. Are you? If so who is your favorite designer?

Well, I'm a fashionista in the sense that I care - deeply - about clothes and shoes! I don't cover fashion anymore so I'm not as immersed in it as I was before. But I do still love it. I love lots of European designers - from Chanel on down - but I think I'm most obsessed with an Irish cashmere designer named Lainey Keogh. Her pieces are amazing and I am a collector…

Q: How did you start your career as a writer?

I was the theater critic and then arts editor at my college paper - initially I joined just so I could see movies for free! But it quickly became my favorite extracurricular and I decided I just might do it for real. I had an internship at the Dallas Morning News the summer after my sophomore year and then one at Time magazine after my junior year. I went back to Time right after college and worked my way up from fact-checker to writer and now to editor at People.

Q: America is celeb obsessed. Any opinion as to our love of celebrity scandal?

Of course we're obsessed. And since it's a big chunk of what I cover, I'd have to say it was a good thing! But really, I think we all need a little fluff in our lives.

Q: Is the character of Luis-Heinz based upon an actual designer?

No, he's just a product of my imagination.

Q: In the book Nick Snow is on a reality show - do you have a favorite reality show? If so what and why?

I love reality shows. I've watched way too many. I think my favorites from the past few years have been High School Reunion (I know, hardly anyone watched it but it was so juicy and brought back all those memories of high school cattiness) and The Surreal Life (yes, I do scrape the bottom of the barrel!). And of course I watch American Idol and Survivor and Dancing with the Stars and all that good stuff. I think for me (and it's probably clear from the book), the nuttier the better.

Q: The genre of "chick lit" seems to be growing by leaps and bounds. Do you consider Some Like it Haute a chick lit novel?

It is, in the sense that it's geared toward female readers and there's the requisite romance. But it's also a spoof along the lines of Zoolander. So maybe a romantic comedy.

Q: Do you have plans of writing another book featuring Alex?

I wasn't planning to, but never say never! If people want to read more about her I just might.

Q: I covered Fashion Week for a magazine this year (my first time) and was blown away by the Twinkle show. Any comment on the frenzy that is NY Fashion Week?

I haven't "done" New York fashion week in a while, but I was there this year for a book-signing. It's the same hustle and bustle as I remembered. I don't think it's quite as intense and in a way exhilarating as the Milan and Paris shows, but maybe that's just because I live here, and Milan and Paris were the fashion capitals of my dreams as a kid…

Q: As a shoe addict I love your website!! How many pairs of shoes do you have? Do you have a favorite pair?

Thank you! Um… I am too terrified to count exactly how many pairs of shoes I have (read: spent way too much money on). I would say it's under 100… but probably not by much. I think I always end up loving the last pair I bought, and that would be the Christian Louboutin Pesce red and teal suede heels. (Yes, they were the ones I found for my friend - I confess I bought a pair too!) And I'll always love one of the first pairs I bought, these Prada black and white leopard print ponyskin Mary Janes.