you gotta start somewhere…
In my continuing blog series of seeing where some of my very talented fashion friends started in this wonderful industry, today’s profile is none other than the hilarious & talented, Robert Verdi. If you have had the pleasure to meet or work with Robert you know his eye is as sharp as his tongue. Genius combo. I hope you enjoy Robert’s story in his own words.
“I got my start in fashion “styling” my girlfriends for the high school prom. At that time I was gluing big silver bows to barrettes. You may think Madonna started that trend, but it was actually little ole me in Maplewood, New Jersey. At the same time I was working at Bloomingdale’s in the short hills mall where I also started hocking my accessories out of the stockroom to coworkers and customers alike. After high school, I went to FIT to study jewelry design. I was commuting and living at home…of course, I kept my job at Bloomingdale’s to make a few shekels. Working at Bloomingdales was great on so many levels. I started to learn more about designer clothes, retail operations and it fine tuned my never too shy personality allowing me to be comfortable talking to strangers. Later I worked for ABC Carpet and Home as a personal shopper and then in the pr department before finding my way into television and styling. Let’s just say life is an endless unfolding and a series of fortuitous events. You gotta start somewhere Aliza!” -RV
