My dear friend Robert Verdi isn’t just a “fashion superhero,” as he’s been called by everyone from The New York Times to InStyle magazine. He’s also got the solution to that inevitable holiday conundrum: What to get the fashionistas on your gift list without spending a fortune.
The answer: his “Model M” tote — the star of his business, Great Bag Co. (greatbag.co). The modern-yet-classic design is as ultra-chic as it useful. I love that he made the bag out of a proprietary polymer that’s resilient and light to carry, so you don’t walk around feeling weighed down. That material also gives it a structured, almost sculptural profile that stands out in a crowd and doesn’t get scrunched or smooshed, or crack like leather bags can. Meanwhile, they fit a ton of your stuff — tablets, makeup bags, hairbrushes, notepads, wallets, you name it.
And here’s the best part: All of the above means that it looks like a splurge, but it’s affordable, at $120. For that, you can afford to snap up a few of them — and in any of their current gem-inspired colors like peridot (a deep, mossy green), garnet (better than your basic red), and smokey quartz (a brilliant brown).
The fact that Robert invents things like the Model M is just one of the many reasons I love him. He’s my hilarious co-host on the show “Brides Gone Styled” on TLC. You’ve also seen him on “The Robert Verdi Show,” “She’s Got the Look,” “Full Frontal Fashion” and “Fashion Police,” to name a few, and he’s been a guest expert on everything from “The View” and “Today” to “The Martha Stewart Show” and CNN. He’s also styled everyone from Eva Longoria and Hugh Jackman to Kristen Wiig and Mariska Hargitay.
They all love him, and I’m sure you will too, when you meet him Saturday at Gretta Luxe, 94 Central St., Wellesley. He’ll be there with me from noon to 5 p.m. Join us for a bite to eat, a chat and some shopping (he’ll have the Model M for sale) and all-around holiday festivity. Space is limited, so RSVP to Gretta Luxe ASAP at stylist@grettaluxe.com. I can’t wait to see you there!
