— Style —

Lauren Ezersky

Lauren was host of “Behind The Velvet Ropes,” the Style Network’s successful, long-running television show.
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“Women say, ‘Oh, I can’t wear this.’ You can. Just do it.”
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“I used to have a gray streak in my hair, then I was salt and pepper. I just kind of let it go.”
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“This is Helmut Newton, and I’m telling <i>him</i> what to do!”
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“I love my Norma Jean. She’s going to be a star.”
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“One day I might want to wear a ballgown out, and one day I might want to wear jeans.”
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“I love Alaïa, but this is not a dress you can get into alone.”
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“This is a cold business… You’re only as good as your last gig.”
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“I really want to meet someone at this point to share my life with. That would be really nice, but I’d rather be alone than with some man I’m not into.”
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“Because I wear a lot of black, people come into my apartment and are surprised it’s not black and all goth.”
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Former Host of “Behind The Velvet Ropes,” The Style Network; Columnist for “Lunch With Lauren,” Paper Magazine; “Girl Reporter,” Better TV.

By Brenda Coffee content editorial director Mark Grischke photographer Noel Sutherland

Lauren Ezersky is a study in contrast and style. With her trademark, dark smoky eyes and layered approach to jewelry, Lauren subscribes to the “more is more” philosophy. A familiar face on the fashion scene, Lauren Ezersky is strikingly beautiful. “Because I wear a lot of black, people come into my apartment and are surprised it’s not black and all goth,” said Lauren.

In fact, it’s just the opposite: an elegant, feminine pied-à-terre, fit for Marie Antoinette.

As host of “Behind The Velvet Ropes,” the Style Network’s successful, long-running television show, each week Lauren took 70 million viewers, in 12 countries, behind the scenes of the hottest fashion shows and interviewed the top designers. Until then, no one had gained that kind of access. Somewhat of a cult classic, “Behind The Velvet Ropes” may have been television’s first reality show.

For over 10 years, viewers couldn’t get enough of Lauren’s attention-grabbing outfits, her salt-and-pepper hair—which is now a chic, natural gray—her animated Yonkers accent and her chihuahuas. It should come as no surprise that Lauren is brimming with chutzpah and is not afraid to speak her mind, to anyone.

When famed photographer, the late Helmut Newton, photographed Lauren and her girlfriend one night at dinner, Lauren said to him, “You’re taking our pictures, and it’s really dark in here. How are they going to come out? Later, I’m like, ‘What a moron! This is Helmut Newton, and I’m telling him what to do!’”

”’Behind The Velvet Ropes” was all just off the cuff,” said Lauren. “Whatever happened, happened: good, bad or indifferent. Now the fashion designers are no longer the main focus. It’s the celebrities and their stylists, but I still want to know about Michael Kors and Isaac Mizrahi and what they’re doing.”

In addition to interviewing the fashion industry elite, the slender, leggy Lauren became somewhat of a fashion icon herself. New York Magazine wrote that Lauren could look like “the Addams-family child who ran away with John Galliano, and the next (day) like a forties housewife in head-to-toe Prada with stacked heels and tweed suit.”

Lauren’s always had her own style. When she was in college in Boston, she went to apply for a job at a small boutique. “I had a turban on, and all these bracelets up to here. They looked at me like I had a third eye. I didn’t get the job.”

“I love people who have their own style… which is not necessarily about money,” Lauren said. “You don’t have to wear designer clothes. It’s about making and creating a look for yourself that’s different and that’s you.”

Because of her fun and somewhat irreverent style of interviewing, Lauren’s legions of fans are hoping she gets another television show. “This is a cold business. You were number one, in the front row, with the New York Times at a fashion show, and then no one gives a bleep anymore. You’re only as good as your last gig.”

The older you get, I think you realize that things don’t make you happy.

– Lauren Ezersky

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Q and A with Lauren Ezersky

with Lauren

MOST IMPORTANT SURVIVAL SKILL

Just never give up, and don’t listen to people if they’re negative. I remember when I was first starting, and people said, ‘Oh, you’ll never get on television. You have a New York accent, and you dress crazy. You just don’t have the TV look, so just forget it, and move on.’

THROWS YOU OFF YOUR GAME

I had an incident yesterday. I don’t know why I can’t let this go, but it’s really bothering me. Let’s just say there’s no courtesy anymore.

MOST TREASURED POSSESSION

I have lots of treasured possessions. They’re not always valuable. It might just be like a stuffed bear, or a flower, or my dogs. I just love my things. I like my environment. I try to make it as neat as I can.

BEST NIGHT OF YOUR LIFE

I’ve had a lot of great times, but the best night… No, I would not want to say that, because then it’s like, what do you look forward to? Maybe the best is yet to come.

RECHARGES YOUR BATTERIES

I have a house on Long Island. I go out there. Travel. Stay in bed for one day. Order Chinese food. Just relax.

EARLY FASHION MEMORY

I remember my mother was in the hospital, and my father was in charge of getting me dressed. I got sent to the school office for wearing culottes. They called my father and he said, “‘She looked good when she left the house, so don’t bother me with this nonsense.” I was like, ‘Cool, dad.’

DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE

Eclectic. One day I might want to wear a ballgown out, and one day I might want to wear jeans, so it just depends how I feel.

FAVORITE DESIGNERS

Azzedine Alaïa, and I love Chrome Hearts, and I do like some Ralph Lauren. You would think they wouldn’t go together, but they do.

IF YOU WERE TO GIVE STYLE LESSONS

Go shopping by yourself. Don’t go with a friend. Look in the mirror. I mean, really gage yourself and really look. Does it look good on you? Also, take a little bit of a risk. I think women do not do that. Women say, ‘Oh, I can’t wear this.’ You can. Just do it.

MISSING FROM YOUR CLOSET

I need another apartment just for my clothes, but that’s New York. I think a lot of old timers are moving out of the city. They can’t afford it because New York is just out of control, financially. The apartments are just crazy.

HANDBAG OF CHOICE

I’m into my Chrome Hearts.

I SPLURGE ON

Jewelry. I’ve got a lot of old, new and vintage. It all looks good. That’s my only rule.

DEFINITION OF LUXURY

Whatever makes you feel glamorous, whether it’s mascara, a pair of high heels, a really great handbag, a great dress.

LIPSTICK OR EYELINER

Eyeliner! Not even a heartbeat…

BEAUTY VIRTUE

No, I just love makeup. Every day you can look different. I wear a lot of MAC cosmetics. I love their campaigns. I love that they use women of all ages, ethnicities and men in makeup. It’s just really cool.

BEAUTY VICE

No. I just love makeup.

HOW DO YOU STAY IN SHAPE

I walk a lot, seriously a lot, but I hate working out. My only workout is picking up a fork to eat, shopping and taking out my credit card.


15 Comments

  • Haralee July 21, 2015 at 8:27 am

    Just love her! Great interview.

    • 1010 Park Place July 21, 2015 at 10:53 am

      Lauren is one of a kind. I really enjoyed my time with her. Glad you like her as well. Brenda

    • Gary Edward Allen January 9, 2018 at 12:01 am

      The Winter Rose

      You tell me that you are so sad and depressed
      You can close your eyes but you can get no rest

      You say that you haven’t slept in days
      That night after night you just lay awake

      Lay your precious head in winter’s sleep
      The snow is really piling up it’s knee deep

      The North wind through the tree’s it roars
      How you wish your broken heart could soar

      You say that with every day a little more hope is dying
      But it’s good to know that you haven’t given up trying

      Dont allow your hopes to be buried by the winter white
      Bring your dreams fourth and into the promising light

      As the cold winter’s evening turns to the darkness night
      You have a candle on your window sill burning bright

      You feel the candle brings the spirit closer to you
      Upon every night you say your scared prayers too

      When you wake your head is buried under the covers
      You have been scorned by all of your past lovers

      Let me bandage your broken and bleeding heart
      Hopefully allowing you to make a brand new start

      There’s always hope for a better new tomorrow
      A brilliant ending to all of your tears of sorrow

      Don’t allow your dreams to simply go out to sea
      Close your eyes, make a wish and try to believe

      Last year you planted a seed of love beneath the frost
      Now you can see the beauty and imagine all is not lost

      The winter rose almost consumed by the bitter snow
      Yet still she retains the resiliency to bloom and grow

      One day the morning sun will come up just for you
      And you’ll find that all of your dreams come true

      By Gary Edward Allen 2017

  • Rena July 21, 2015 at 9:10 am

    Terrific interview. Such an interesting and beautiful woman!

    • 1010 Park Place July 21, 2015 at 10:54 am

      Lauren’s beautiful and smart and such a doll. She’ll be glad to know you like her as well. xoxo, Brenda

  • barbarahammond July 21, 2015 at 9:34 am

    Love the interview! I would love to meet her!

    • 1010 Park Place July 21, 2015 at 10:55 am

      Hi Barbara,
      I’d love for all of you to meet Lauren! I’m working on that:)
      xoxox,
      Brenda

  • Jennifer Connolly July 21, 2015 at 10:53 am

    Terrific interview. I love to see how other women think and live.

    • 1010 Park Place July 21, 2015 at 8:32 pm

      So do I. I belonged to a writers’ group for a long time. We wrote memoir, and the group was called “Women, Windows & Walls” because we loved reading and seeing how other women lived.

  • Diane Pernet July 21, 2015 at 1:07 pm

    fun read. xxx

    • 1010 Park Place July 21, 2015 at 8:32 pm

      So happy you enjoyed it.

  • look for the woman July 21, 2015 at 1:25 pm

    I love her hair, and I would probably love the New York accent too. There’s just never enough real individuality in the world for me. She’s herself, it’s great.

    • 1010 Park Place July 21, 2015 at 8:33 pm

      You’ve pinpointed perhaps my favorite thing about Lauren: Her individuality. She’s definitely not cookie cutter!

  • suzanne levy July 22, 2015 at 9:28 am

    I literally ‘bumped’ into her at Bergdorf.s years ago…I said hello!, and she responded right back like I was her dear friend. Touched by her warmth to a stranger. I will always wish her such success….

    • 1010 Park Place July 22, 2015 at 2:29 pm

      Suzanne,
      How nice! I’ll tell her.
      Brenda

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