According to WWD, one of Joanna Coles’s first orders of business when she took the helm at Cosmo was to make sure the magazine was truly, modern-day “sexy.”

Well, we think the December cover, which Coles redesigned when she came on as EIC, certainly conveys the message, erm… subtly, what with the blaring “SEXY” headline and all.

“[Newly-hired creative director Paul Solomons and I] sat down and we talked for two hours about what we thought is sexy now. Is it cleavage? Is it legs? Is it all of it together?” she told the trade. Apparently, they haven’t reached a conclusion yet. [Ed note: We'd like to suggest the booty.]

But Coles has been up to a whole lot more than discussing tits and ass. On Monday, she’ll host a women’s-only luncheon at Michael’s, which honors New York’s 100 most influential women (Diane von Furstenberg and Cathleen Black are slated to attend). Coincidentally (or not) it’s happening on the same day as Glamour’s Women of the Year awards.

Is Coles trying to showdown Glamour–Cosmo‘s counterpoint and competitor from Conde Nast? The EIC insists not. “Honestly, I had absolutely no idea [the Glamour awards were that day]” Coles told the trade.

Hmm….