Photo: Courtesy of Modesto Abreu/ Thomas Mundell Save Story Save this story Save Story Save this story Welcome to The Scoop , a weekly email series in which we quiz fashion insiders on the stories of the week.
This week’s guest is stylist to the (reality) stars, Modesto Abreu, whose roster of (past and present) clients includes Vicki Gunvalson, Meredith Marks, Madison LeCroy, Alexia Nepola, Lindsay Hubbard, Dolores Catania, Brynn Whitfield and Katie Ginella. All names that will mean a lot if you are a Bravohead.
Modesto’s storyline began about four years ago, when he and his partner, Coulson Bingham, put together a personal shopping business. One of their clients happened to be friends with former New York housewife Brynn Whitfield, who, in turn, asked if they could style her for her first Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen . They put Brynn in a red House of CB dress, and a couple of days later, he was also dressing Southern Charm ’s Madison LeCroy for BravoCon.
Modesto Abreu with Southern Charm 's Madison LeCroy in hair and make-up.
This year, Modesto began working with Real Housewives of Orange County ( RHOC) ’s Vicki Gunvalson (who truly is the OG housewife) for her return to the franchise as well as her part in Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip — both shows are currently airing. But he also worked with some new blood on other franchises, and that’s today’s scoop.
I’m working with two new housewives. I can’t share their names yet, but one will join Real Housewives of New York (RHONY) and the other is a new Real Housewives of New Jersey (RHONJ) housewife. So far, I’ve done confessional looks for both of them and the big cast photo for both cities.
New Jersey is known for gowns and glitter — they aren’t known for their fashion. But this time around, they really tried to do something fashion-forward and quite vampy. Bravo didn’t want any big gowns; they asked for sexy short dresses or separates instead, and a lot of black, gold, and leather. It’s such a departure for Bravo, who tend to want the women in neon and sequins — you usually have to really fight for a black look.
My client and I went for an amazing gold corset, a mini skirt, and massive Christian Louboutin shoes. I think they should be announcing it all soon. I also heard from someone working on Jersey that we might finally get the Housewives holding something.
Modesto Abreu and Coulson Bingham behind the scenes at Andy Cohen’s Watch What Happens Live .
That’s right. RHONJ Housewives are the only ones who don’t hold a diamond or an apple or a snowflake… in the opening credits.
Well, they hold their hand on their hip... that’s what they say. But we will find out for sure in a couple of weeks or so.
Who sets the concept for the cast shoots?
Bravo has two stylists they’ve been working with for years — they work on the title shoots, the cast shoots, and the reunions. They will create a mood board, send it to the ladies, and then each lady will send it to her team — that would be glam, styling, and hair. We, in turn, have to put together some look options and send them to production, and production will say yes or no.
My sense is that sometimes, some producers will want to make a joke of the women. Especially when it comes to confessionals, every now and then I can tell a look has been chosen not because it makes her look good, but because it’s a little ridiculous. In those cases, I work with glam to turn it on its head and make it work for our client.
Do you di…