September 16, 2008

Robert Verdi: Born for TV

Larger than life, scathingly honest and balder than a baby's behind, TV fashionista and lifestyle expert Robert Verdi is what's known in the business as "a trip".
I met Verdi (who regularly styles Eva Longoria and J-Lo) during New York Fashion Week at his showroom the Luxe Laboratory, where he was hosting an intimate cocktail party for "Portfolio" magazine's European fashion editor Dana Thomas (stayed tuned for my story about Thomas and her groundbreaking book "Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster").
Wearing a jewel-encrusted t-shirt beneath a tailored suit jacket, Verdi had filled the "must be seen to be believed" apartment with designer armchairs, enormous contemporary chandeliers and a giant flat screen TV that functioned as a virtual aquarium. In the bathroom, slick-haired French financiers murmured between themselves next to a ginormous jacuzzi tub, flanked by bottles and bottles of expensive hair product.
"Do you think anyone would notice if I moved in?" I asked one of Robert's assistants. "Maybe not," he said, "but there's no bedroom." I assured him that one of the many over-stuffed couches would suffice.
Verdi and his dog Lucinda whirred about the party on invisible roller skates, braking for brief, breathless conversation before whizzing on to the next guest. "He's a total psychopath, hate him!" Verdi cheerfully yelled, overhearing me mention the name of a leading New York fashion designer. "What the hell is she wearing—she looks like a little boy!" Verdi screamed in horror, pointing at one of his guests, who happened to be standing not three feet away. His frankness was entertaining, and not dumb. Not once did the performance feel contrived—one gets the impression that Verdi was just born like this...born for TV, that is.
I finally pinned him down to talk about his varied broadcast projects. He is about to start taping the second season of his mature models show "She's Got The Look" for TV Land, and is in talks with QVC to launch a jewelry line. He's also host of Surprise By Design on the Discovery Home Channel, and the Style Network's Fashion Police. And then there's a reality show in the pipeline. The working title is the rather genius: "Me, Me, Me.".
"So Robert," I asked, "what's the show about?"
www.robertverdi.com

September 16, 2008 in NEW YORK | Permalink

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