Olivia Palermo (born February 28, 1986) is on the cast of the reality show The City and is best known for her job at Elle Magazine where she works with her nemesis, Erin Kaplan. Olivia is the daughter of Connecticut real estate developer, Douglas Palermo and Lynn Hutchings and consequently grew up between the Upper East Side, New York and Greenwich, Connecticut. She attended university in Paris, France, for a year and studied media at The New School in New York. Palermo has taken part and continues to be involved in many charity events in New York City, one of which is Operation Smile.
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According to Olivia,
“Operation Smile is a wonderful organization that my friend and New York development director, Dee Dee Sides asked me to join years before I even started work on ‘The City’. My role as a committee member is to spread the message of the charity and to get young people involved, as without newer members and continued support things will only get worse. Their website is www.operationsmile.org and anyone can get involved online”.
Olivia Palermo
Palermo found herself at the center of a dramatic controversy when she was accused of sending out a letter to fellow socialites pleading for social acceptance. This letter was forwarded to the owners of the social website, SocialiteRank.com who promptly published it. Palermo immediately denied the authenticity of the letter and filed a lawsuit against the website. The website was eventually shut down and in May 2007, Palermo appeared on the cover of New York Magazine in a story about the incident. Palermo’s family immediately declared the email a forgery and hired a lawyer, claiming “identity theft.” (The whole incident was apparently interesting enough to merit the cover of New York magazine.) But a month later, Olivia’s well-publicized grudge with Tinsley Mortimer came to a head when the socialite queen reportedly shoved Palermo while the two catwalked at a charity event.
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Olivia Palermo
Interview with Vogue.com:
“Fashion is something that interests me on a daily basis – it started when I would see my mother and aunt get dressed up and go out at night in the city.” (Olivia)
How do you decide what to wear every day?
When I get dressed in the morning, I think about versatility – and I’d be lying if I said the weather wasn’t a factor. I love layered looks using vests or jackets, but sometimes I feel my best in a great pair of jeans and a fabulous T-shirt.
Who, if anybody, has an influence on your style – or whose style do you admire?
I love the way Scott Schuman captures off-the-cuff street style. It’s raw and natural and fits my aesthetic. Menswear always has an influence on me and I think that’s down to Coco Chanel – I think many women are influenced by her imprint on fashion.
What are you style essentials – what couldn’t you live without?
I can’t live without my YSL Tribute heels and my Ray-Ban Wayfarers. Everybody thinks it’s the clothing that makes an outfit, but more often than not it’s the accessories.
Who are your favourite designers?
There are so many, but several have impacted me directly or shown me how to think about fashion in different ways. Emerging brand Bensoni really captures my feminine and playful side, while Victoria Beckham’s collection is elegant for cocktails or evening events. When Mr. Valentino was still designing he truly understood what makes a woman look beautiful. I feel that Rachel Roy and Matthew Williamson get that too with their proper and bohemian looks, respectively.
What are your favourite fashion possessions?
It’s a cliché, but I remember when I got my first Hermes Birkin. It was such a pivotal moment – especially living in New York – to have received it. It was like joining a fashion clique and finally becoming one of the tribe. While I use it now occasionally, it always reminds me of how I’ve progressed stylistically and how cyclical fashion is.
What did you last buy to wear?
For my jewellery launch party for Roberta Freymann (see the collection here), I wanted something special and I spotted this amazing Julian J. Smith dress at Debut on Mulberry Street. I immediately knew it was what I had to wear.
Have you found that your style has changed as your profile has grown?
My style hasn’t changed since my profile has increased, but rather my sensibilities towards fashion have. You can’t wear the same things at 18 that you can at 24 – that isn’t to say that I’ve overhauled my wardrobe, but I’ve definitely made a few adjustments. It’s all about piecing things together to make closet staples look fresh and interesting.
Olivia Palermo
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