"Mercury in Retrograde" by Paula Froelich. Photo courtesy of amazon.com

"This was Montgomery Clift's place, it's where he used to booze it up with Marilyn Monroe," one guest stage-whispered on the stunning second floor, decorated with fine art photography, enlarged party pictures of Old Hollywood celebrities, zebra-print carpet and just two or three original Andy Warhols. "In that corner, by the bar, is where he's supposed to have died."

Such tattle was appropriate to the event, the launch of the novel "Mercury in Retrograde," by the New York Post's Page Six gossip columnist Paula Froelich. The home, now occupied by Estee Lauder president John Demsey, was filled with a smattering of socialites (Cornelia Guest and Alex Kuczynski), designers (Richie Rich and Adam Lippes), powerhouse celebrity publicists (Lesley Sloane, Marcy Engelman, Desiree Gruber) and some faces familiar from television (Hoda Kotb; "30 Rock's" Katrina Bowden.)

Although the clique was somewhat older, the scene was the closest reality gets to imitating "Gossip Girl."

Miss Froelich emerged about 30 minutes into the festivities in a stunning flesh-colored Dior cocktail number that might have been worn by one of the three protagonists of her book, all smart, go-getting New York women.

"The book is just FUN," she said. "And readers of SyleList are fun and fashionable -- it's the perfect summer accessory!"

So, gentle readers, consider yourselves complimented by one of the most powerful gossip columnists in the country. ("Mercury in Retrograde" will be available June 2.)