From “Workhorse” to “All The Cool Girls Get Fired”: A Night of Book Parties for Fashion’s Favorite Editors

In the meantime, just above Rockefeller Center, Laura Brown (previously the editor in chief of InStyle) and Kristina O’Neill (formerly at the helm of WSJ. Magazine) assembled close friends and colleagues on the Rockefeller Rooftop to celebrate their new publication, All The Cool Girls Get Fired. The guest list included notable figures such as Julianne Moore, Candace Bushnell, and Sophia Bush.

In her outfit designed by Veronica de Piante, Brown chose a chamois-hued corduroy two-piece, while O’Neill donned an elegant all-black ensemble complemented by a sequined top—showing off their perfect yin-and-yang relationship. Having been friends since 2001, the duo first crossed paths at a fashion event and spent eight years working together at Harper’s Bazaar before embarking on new adventures at their own magazines.

The inspiration for their book stemmed from a significant Instagram post they shared after both faced termination from their editor-in-chief roles within a year’s span. Brown recounted, “A wave of response flooded in from women from all walks of life—some familiar, some not.” They understood this was a conversation that needed exploration regarding women and the stigma surrounding job loss. Shortly after, O’Neill messaged Brown, stating, This is a book.

All The Cool Girls Get Fired delves into themes of resilience, reinvention, and the lightheartedness behind professional challenges, featuring interviews with icons like Oprah Winfrey, Katie Couric, Lisa Kudrow, Carol Burnett, and Jamie Lee Curtis.