For designers, labels and the latest looks and luxe, Bergdorf’s is NYC’s flagship candy store.
Its parent is Neiman Marcus. CEO of the Neiman Marcus Group is tall, handsome Geoffroy van Raemdonck. Born in a tiny town in Belgium, loving fashion, he became a No. 1 with Ralph Lauren, married an equally handsome Frenchman, has young twins, took them to dinner at ritzy restaurant Robert with their two nannies, and is now the hotshot behind Bergdorf Goodman.
Speaking multiple languages, he said in flawless American: “Fashionphile’s our new idea. A private showroom. A customer arrives not with clothes but with premium, pre-owned, high-end, luxury designer handbags. Or name-brand jewelry like a Rolex. While our investigators spend 30 minutes assessing their item, they then browse our other floors or sip champagne.” Having majored in business at the University of Chicago, he says: “This room’s on our top floor. Handed immediate cash or gift cards, they then spend time shopping the store.”
“Our personal shopper will now even come to the customer’s home, help organize their closets. It identifies our customers, learns by examining their clothes, even picks items that might make a happy recycled life with another buyer.”
“We’ve learned that half of our customers recycle. So forget online. We’re now the newest luxury consignment shop — and you’re handed your money immediately.”
Bergdorf Goldmine.
One Fanilow notices problem
A chatty Barry Manilow’s making the rounds chatting up stories and scratching up fans for his Lunt-Fontanne shtick.
Saying he grew up in Williamsburg, made recordings with his grampa in a Times Square store, went to Juilliard, drops Streisand’s name, throws in a Donna Summer memory — but — per one gay older spy — never mentions his known beginning — the Continental Baths. With a then-unknown Bette Midler.
Bitches our snitch: “Not nice. He can’t discuss Bette and how they made great acclaim? He acts like it never happened. He also did lame jokes with gay undertones — but never discussed the obvious. At his age and stage, he’s hiding?”
Bits & pieces
Simon & Schuster gave Val Kilmer, soon seen with omnipresent unstoppable Tom Cruise in “Top Gun 2” (known as “Top Gun: Maverick,” who knows what they’ll call 12 or 56), a $400,000 advance for his autobio. It’ll have an as-told-to co-author.
Trevor Noah hit Nordstroms. Snapped up multiple pairs of sneakers. All white.
Distant films
Newport’s now screening new movies. Freebies. Why? Who knows? Rhode Island’s got 11 people in the whole state. Sony’s “Maiden” just showed at Breakers, the former Vanderbilt home. “The Dog Doc,” something about a vet, played at Eisenhower’s ex-Summer White House. A documentary, “Halston,” got Doris Duke’s Rough Point mansion.
Mystery man
USA’s No. 1 VIP maintains a list of addresses, phones and whereabouts of those he considers personal friends. Despite troubles, tragedies, turmoil, he still takes a moment to drop them some handwritten notes. A gold-edged envelope inside a plain unmarked package arrives via UPS.
Republican: “Go to Manhattan’s Central Park, Bryant Park, Gramercy Park, Battery Park, Paley Park, Washington Square Park, Riverside Park, Fort Tryon Park. See if you can find one statue erected to a critic.”
Only in New York, kids, only in New York.