Robert Verdi
Encyclopedia
Robert Verdi is an American TV personality and style expert. He is most noted for hosting a variety of TV programs featuring fashion and interior design.
immigrant, was a skilled dressmaker, and his father was a chef. As a teenager, Robert began designing and making jewelry. He graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology
in New York City and began selling his jewelry in several New York department stores including Barneys, Bloomingdales, Bendel's and Bergdorf Goodman
.
A 1998 article in The New York Times
is quoted as saying about Robert, “In the style universe, where fashion, decorating and the media are usually on different planets, Mr. Verdi travels comfortably between them. He is a jack-of-all-trades in a world where good taste and an instinct for the Now can be a passport
across boundaries.” Robert’s notoriety as a style expert led him to work with many celebrities. He planned the 1996 wedding of fashion designer Cynthia Rowley
to sculptor Bill Keenan. He also designed the New York apartments of Sandra Bernhard
, Hugh Jackman
, Mariska Hargitay
and Bobby Flay
.
In 2000, Robert co-created and co-hosted Full Frontal Fashion
on the now-defunct network Metro TV
. The show was the first of its kind to air complete coverage of runway fashion shows, bringing the exclusive events into American living rooms.
In 2002, Robert began co-hosting Surprise by Design. On the show, Robert or his co-host, Rebecca Cole, would redesign a room or exterior space at someone’s home in order to surprise a loved one. The homeowner would assist in the re-design, which would happen on a $2,500 budget, in one day, typically while their loved one was away at work. The show became the Discovery Channel
’s highest rated daytime show.
Robert hosted Fashion Police
, a weekly series about celebrity fashion, when it was on the Style Network
. He is frequently a guest on a variety of talk and news programs such as The View, Live with Regis & Kelly, The Today Show and VH1
’s The Fabulous Life Of. Additionally, Robert is a stylist for Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria
, and has designed two of her Los Angeles
, California
homes. He was the designer for her July 7, 2007 wedding in Paris, France
to basketball star Tony Parker
.
Verdi has appeared since 2008 as a celebrity judge on the TV Land
series, She's Got the Look
where women over 35 compete for a modeling contract and magazine spread.
Currently, Robert stars in his self-titled show, The Robert Verdi Show, in which he styles celebrities and runs amuck with bizarre ideas he throws at his crew of personal assistants, whom he refers to as "bitches". The show is currently in its first season on the LGBT
TV channel Logo
.
Early life
Robert was born and raised in suburban New Jersey. His mother, a PortuguesePortugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
immigrant, was a skilled dressmaker, and his father was a chef. As a teenager, Robert began designing and making jewelry. He graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology
Fashion Institute of Technology
The Fashion Institute of Technology, generally known as FIT, is a State University of New York college of art, business, design, and technology connected to the fashion industry, with an urban campus located on West 27th Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues in the Chelsea neighborhood of...
in New York City and began selling his jewelry in several New York department stores including Barneys, Bloomingdales, Bendel's and Bergdorf Goodman
Bergdorf Goodman
Bergdorf Goodman is a luxury goods department store based on Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. The company was founded in 1899 by Herman Bergdorf and was later owned and managed by Edwin Goodman, and later his son Andrew Goodman....
.
Career
In the early '90s, Robert redirected his pursuits towards a career in television. Troubled by the fact that the fashion reporter on Gay Entertainment Television was a straight woman, Robert contacted the network, which led to his first job in television.A 1998 article in The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
is quoted as saying about Robert, “In the style universe, where fashion, decorating and the media are usually on different planets, Mr. Verdi travels comfortably between them. He is a jack-of-all-trades in a world where good taste and an instinct for the Now can be a passport
Passport
A passport is a document, issued by a national government, which certifies, for the purpose of international travel, the identity and nationality of its holder. The elements of identity are name, date of birth, sex, and place of birth....
across boundaries.” Robert’s notoriety as a style expert led him to work with many celebrities. He planned the 1996 wedding of fashion designer Cynthia Rowley
Cynthia Rowley
Cynthia Rowley is an American fashion designer. The fashion label she created in the early 1980s bears her name.-Background:...
to sculptor Bill Keenan. He also designed the New York apartments of Sandra Bernhard
Sandra Bernhard
Sandra Bernhard is an American comedian, singer, actress and author. She first gained attention in the late 1970s with her stand-up comedy in which she often bitterly critiques celebrity culture and political figures. Bernhard is number 97 on Comedy Central's list of the 100 greatest standups of...
, Hugh Jackman
Hugh Jackman
Hugh Michael Jackman is an Australian actor and producer who is involved in film, musical theatre, and television.Jackman has won international recognition for his roles in major films, notably as action/superhero, period and romance characters...
, Mariska Hargitay
Mariska Hargitay
Mariska Hargitay is an American actress, best known for her role as New York City sex crimes Detective Olivia Benson on the NBC television drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, a role that has earned her multiple awards and nominations, including an Emmy and Golden Globe.The daughter of actress...
and Bobby Flay
Bobby Flay
Robert William "Bobby" Flay is an American celebrity chef, restaurateur and reality television personality. He is the owner and executive chef of 12 restaurants: Mesa Grill in Las Vegas, New York City, and the Bahamas ; Bar Americain in New York City and Uncasville, Connecticut; Bobby Flay Steak...
.
In 2000, Robert co-created and co-hosted Full Frontal Fashion
Full Frontal Fashion
Full Frontal Fashion is an American television program of the 2000s that gives complete coverage of designer fashion shows and other aspects of the fashion industry...
on the now-defunct network Metro TV
MSG Metro Channels
MSG Metro Channels were a series of local-minded New York City cable networks which launched in 1998 and folded in late 2005. Owned by Rainbow Media, the Metro networks were founded as a spinoff of the MSG Sports networks. The network was originally split into three separate channels, MSG Metro...
. The show was the first of its kind to air complete coverage of runway fashion shows, bringing the exclusive events into American living rooms.
In 2002, Robert began co-hosting Surprise by Design. On the show, Robert or his co-host, Rebecca Cole, would redesign a room or exterior space at someone’s home in order to surprise a loved one. The homeowner would assist in the re-design, which would happen on a $2,500 budget, in one day, typically while their loved one was away at work. The show became the Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
’s highest rated daytime show.
Robert hosted Fashion Police
Fashion Police
Fashion Police is an American television program airing on E! Entertainment Television. The program, which debuted on September 10, 2010, features co-hosts Joan Rivers, Giuliana Rancic, Kelly Osbourne and George Kotsiopoulos commenting on celebrity fashions...
, a weekly series about celebrity fashion, when it was on the Style Network
Style Network
The Style Network is an American cable television network based in Los Angeles.Owned by NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of General Electric and Comcast, its sister channels include E! Entertainment Television, USA Network, Syfy, G4, Golf Channel, and Versus, among others.-Network Overview:Style's...
. He is frequently a guest on a variety of talk and news programs such as The View, Live with Regis & Kelly, The Today Show and VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
’s The Fabulous Life Of. Additionally, Robert is a stylist for Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria
Eva Longoria
Eva Jacqueline Longoria is an American actress, best known for portraying Gabrielle Solis on the ABC television series Desperate Housewives...
, and has designed two of her Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
homes. He was the designer for her July 7, 2007 wedding in Paris, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
to basketball star Tony Parker
Tony Parker
William Anthony "Tony" Parker is a French professional basketball player who currently plays for the San Antonio Spurs of the NBA....
.
Verdi has appeared since 2008 as a celebrity judge on the TV Land
TV Land
TV Land is an American cable television network launched on April 29, 1996. It is owned by MTV Networks, a division of Viacom, which also owns Paramount Pictures, and networks such as MTV and Nickelodeon...
series, She's Got the Look
She's Got the Look
She's Got the Look is a reality series created for and aired on TV Land. Hosted by model Kim Alexis, twenty women compete to become the next great supermodel 35 years or older. Celebrity judges, Robert Verdi, Sean Patterson and Rosumba Williams whittle down the cast of twenty until they find the...
where women over 35 compete for a modeling contract and magazine spread.
Currently, Robert stars in his self-titled show, The Robert Verdi Show, in which he styles celebrities and runs amuck with bizarre ideas he throws at his crew of personal assistants, whom he refers to as "bitches". The show is currently in its first season on the LGBT
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
TV channel Logo
Logo (TV channel)
Logo is an American digital cable television channel owned by Viacom's MTV Networks division. Launched in June 2005, the channel's programs are geared towards the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community...
.