Now Hear This — Our Biggest Girl Crushes of the Moment: Your Weekly Look at the PaperCity Dallas Office Chatter

I feel like the term “girl crush” only came on my radar in the last decade. When I was in my twenties (many moons ago), the idea of a girl crush suggested you were a lesbian. But in today’s fluid, much more open-minded world, we can all crush on one another without it taking on sexual overtones.

Boys can even have bromances. With that in mind, the Now Hear This question posed to the PaperCity posse this week is… Who is your girl crush?

Christina Geyer, Dallas Editor in Chief

Having just returned from The Crystal Charity Ball Ten Best Dressed Women of Dallas Fashion Show & Luncheon, I am reminded of my ultimate girl crush: the inimitable former first lady Laura Bush. I had the privilege several years ago of spending an uninterrupted, one-on-one hour with Mrs. Bush, as she walked me through the Oscar de la Renta fashion exhibition that was being staged at the George W. Bush Presidential Library & Museum.

She was engaging and witty, gracious and thoughtful — and acted with such a poised, unaffected air as she told us personal stories of her daughter, Jenna Bush Hager’s, wedding and what it was truly like to be (and dress as) the first lady of the United States. Later, during a conversation with Mrs. Bush’s dear friend, the late Ruth Altshuler, I will never forget how highly she spoke of Mrs. Bush and her husband, former president George W. Bush. Apparently, the couple has a contagious sense of humor and are as genuinely kind as they are grounded.

Another major girl crush of mine is the brilliant Lee Cullum. If I list all my reasons here, this story will become 5,000 words long.

Billy Fong, Culture and Style Editor

I have too many to count and since I have always preferred the company of women, I continually justify more more more. My current one is Tiffany Haddish. I have fallen into too many YouTube holes searching for anything and everything that features this brilliant comedian. Hers was a true rags to riches story. Tiffany has shared that she lived in her car during her twenties while she struggled to find roles and comedy gigs. She has blown-up since Girls Trip came out in 2017 and most recently has become a fixture at fashion runway shows. I just want to drink Cristal with her and bask in her boundless energy.

My heart will always belong to Meryl Streep however. She is the epitome of grace and elegance and undoubtedly the greatest actor of our generation. I had the incredible opportunity to meet her once. I was working at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in Hartford, Connecticut. We had a VIP opening dinner for our Robert Rauschenberg exhibition and she attended with her husband, sculptor Don Gummer.

I remember that the head of the museum’s PR approached Streep to see if she would have her picture taken. She politely (and quietly) said “no” because she wanted to make sure that the spotlight remained on her and Don’s dear friend Bob (Rauschenberg).

Whenever I am having a bad day I find the video of her 2017 acceptance speech for the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the Golden Globes when she so eloquently stated “Hollywood is crawling with outsiders and foreigners, and if you kick us all out, you’ll have nothing to watch except for football and mixed martial arts, which are not arts.” Meryl will always remain my queen.

Kaley Hanna, Events and Partnerships Manager

Currently obsessed with Mindy Kaling (as always, honestly). There is nothing more attractive than a beautiful and hilarious woman. I first fell in love watching her on The Office many moons ago (Fashion show, fashion show, fashion show at lunch!) and have been steadily following her career ever since. She is all the things I strive to be: witty, charming, hilarious, amazing mom, amazing friend… the list goes on and on.

Also, she embraces wearing color and owns it. The world needs more women wearing orange.

Hillery Stack, Dallas Publisher

I’m really into Emma Stone these days. Call me a sucker for gingers, but I feel like we would be BFFs. She’s go-with-the-flow, loves to travel and super loyal to her girl pack. All traits I admire tremendously. Her chic and feminine style, along with her down-to-earth persona, makes her my number one #girlcrush these days. She is also besties with her fabulous make-up artist, Rachel Goodwin, both of whom I had the pleasure of meeting in L.A. last year. I feel like a gal’s getaway to Palmilla would be a seamless fit for all of us!

Lisa Collins Shaddock, Senior Editor

This is purely superficial but my current girl crush is Monica Ainley, based solely on her Instagram (@monicaainleydlv) – her signature tailored-classics-meet-unfussy-French-girl style is majorly influencing my fall wardrobe. Also a special shoutout to Mrs. Maisel.

Linda Kenney, Account Executive

My girl crush is Gloria Steinem. As a feminist, Playboy bunny, journalist and social-political activist for 50 years, Gloria has never shied away from being controversial.

She exudes fortitude and style.

Max Trowbridge, Editor at Large

My girl crush is Stella McCartney; a true pioneer and I’m crushing on her, not because of her eponymous fashion brand, but because of the ethos behind everything she stands for in business and her personal life. A challenging voice within the fashion industry, spearheading change through responsible and sustainable manufacturing, McCartney makes me think twice about my choices in food, fashion, and the environment.

She’s a lifelong vegetarian, an animal rights activist, and an environmentalist focused on eco-innovation. No fur or leather is used in her collections and with a recent collaboration with Parley for the Ocean, McCartney recycles plastic from the ocean to create alternative materials in manufacturing.

If we could all be more conscientious about our environment, the world would be a healthier place to live. McCartney is my kind of girl!

Samantha Olguin, Senior Account Executive

The stunningly beautiful Elizabeth Chambers. Super classic but always chic style. There is nothing better than a woman who can do it all. She seems to dabble in many different career areas as well as being a full-time entrepreneur, wife, and mother.

If you sometimes wake-up tired you have to remind yourself of all the boss women out there, like Chambers, who have probably already dressed, fed two humans and maybe even had their workout for the day. It’s the inspiration you need to put some pep in your step.

But really how does she own a bakery (Chambers owns Bird Bakery in our own Highland Park Village) and stay so fit?!? I’d really like to know!

Rebecca Sherman, Home Design Editor

Interior designer Natasha Baradaran is not only gorgeous but she is a talented furniture designer. I’m working on a story about her new collection of furniture and printed leather designs, which are inspired by powerful female fashion designers such as Diane von Furstenberg. I’ve seen the collection, and she manages to have created something both original and beautiful — not an easy task.

If you ever have something you want our team to address in Now Hear This, shoot us your thoughts via social media or email (@papercitydallas on Instagram; facebook.com/papercitymagdallas on Facebook; or yours truly, billy@papercitymag.com). Or, better yet send a message to the office, handwritten on the Smythson stationery of your choice — and feel free to include a bottle of Veuve. Champagne really helps get the ideas flowing.

Look for the next installment of Now Hear This from Billy Fong next Thursday.