Olivia Palermo

[Lacroix]

That would be too easy... all she had to do was release her own sex tape, non? I think she is trying to be the next Lauren Conrad... too bad she does not have the same appeal. Lauren grew up richer than her but she is so humble and down to earth that almost everyone can relate to her on some level. She is the ultimate next door girl in tv who just happens to live in a 17 milllion dollars mansion but you would never know that

I know some of it is editing but I get a sense of entitlement from her... she seems like such an ice princess and wayy to pretentious.... plus, her voice annoys me to no end.

She is beautiful and the screen loves her most of the time ... and her clothes... AMAZING

I don't think Olivia wants to be/is like the next Lauren Conrad. For one thing, while Olivias style is still slightly contrived like Laurens, at least it's better. I just think she has more to her in terms of personal style/fashion etc

I also don't think Lauren grew up wealthier than Olivia, I still think she came from some money and all the Hills people acted like they were Billionaires but that too seemed scripted

And Laurens use of Goyard bags and other trendy It bags and Louboutins/Lanvin shoes does smack slightly of highlighting her grandeur, no? Carrying thousand dollar luggage does give the sense of 'I have money!'.

either way both girls will come off as desperate to me, even though I prefer Olivia, her and Lauren are both fake. There's nothing relatable to a girl who allows her dates to be screened on national tv for money imo

 

[HeatherAnne]

Lauren has said before that her parents were not as well off when she was younger and that they were all under a strict budge enforced by her mom -- her dad obviously made a great deal of money when she was in high school, but I doubt it is even close to being near the Palermo's wealth.

Here is an in-depth look at Olivia, the article is really long but detailed:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...scandal-that-tore-manhattan-apart-448690.html

 

[polly]

She is so beautiful! I just love her hair. I haven't gotten to see THe City yet but I can't wait!!

 

[Zposen]

I think some misinterpreted my original post. I do NOT think that Olivia is trying to imitate Lauren's style or lifestyle. My statement is referring to the fact that she is trying to build her name and a fan base... that will allow her to be a BRAND. She is using a scripted reality tv show on MTV a la Lauren Conrad. This formula has worked well for Lauren because 4-5 years ago, she was a normal teenager in southern california... now she has a successful clothing line, book deal, a nice contract with Mark/Avon, At&T, etc.... and she continues to branch out. All these girls are trying to be the OLSENs ... it's a matter of finding the right vehicle to start... Olivia signed on to the show with the intent of building her brand... I am sure the success of Lauren helped make her decision easier.

As for who grew up richer... I don't know but from all my readings it seems that Olivia is a mere nouveau riche... and not even THAT rich since her dad lost a good amount of money in the collapse of the market. Lauren grew up in the most affluent commnunity in California... it is entirely possible that the Conrads are worth more but just doesn't go around flaunting their wealth.

I would never label Lauren as desperate.... since she never sought her fame. She signed on for a documentary about high school students when she was 17, she had no idea that she was going to be so popular and loved by so many... Olivia on the other hand is seeking fame ... the only motivation to have herself portrayed as a head b*tch on the city.

Lastly, Lauren remains humble... never really flaunt her wealth... Just because she uses name brand products does not mean she is trying to show the world she is made up of money. Heck, she still shops at UO and uses her Chanel bag from 3 years ago

 

[UNiQFashionista]

I think Olivia is acting like that on the show..I mean when she said twice and once infront of Manolo that she wore his shoes to her deb ball...she repeated it, it was annoying!
Anyone who grew up wealthy and secure wouldnt even say that--but maybe she wants to act like this stuck up upper east sider....its a role...

 

[112fan]

I think some misinterpreted my original post. I do NOT think that Olivia is trying to imitate Lauren's style or lifestyle. My statement is referring to the fact that she is trying to build her name and a fan base... that will allow her to be a BRAND. She is using a scripted reality tv show on MTV a la Lauren Conrad. This formula has worked well for Lauren because 4-5 years ago, she was a normal teenager in southern california... now she has a successful clothing line, book deal, a nice contract with Mark/Avon, At&T, etc.... and she continues to branch out. All these girls are trying to be the OLSENs ... it's a matter of finding the right vehicle to start... Olivia signed on to the show with the intent of building her brand... I am sure the success of Lauren helped make her decision easier.

As for who grew up richer... I don't know but from all my readings it seems that Olivia is a mere nouveau riche... and not even THAT rich since her dad lost a good amount of money in the collapse of the market. Lauren grew up in the most affluent commnunity in California... it is entirely possible that the Conrads are worth more but just doesn't go around flaunting their wealth.

I would never label Lauren as desperate.... since she never sought her fame. She signed on for a documentary about high school students when she was 17, she had no idea that she was going to be so popular and loved by so many... Olivia on the other hand is seeking fame ... the only motivation to have herself portrayed as a head b*tch on the city.

Lastly, Lauren remains humble... never really flaunt her wealth... Just because she uses name brand products does not mean she is trying to show the world she is made up of money. Heck, she still shops at UO and uses her Chanel bag from 3 years ago

i agree with everything you said...although i think she's beautiful and has nice style, she could never appeal to everyone the way lauren has, no matter how hard she tries

 

[DominiqueQ]

I think: she talks like she got veneers on her teeth.

 

[loladonna]

I don't get how Olivia thinks being a b*tch on the show will help her branding effort. Lauren's success was because she was well-liked and relatable. Is Olivia relatable to the audience the Hills is aiming for?

Olivia is stunning though. Too bad she seems so desperate to show-off on the show.

 

[Lacroix]

how can Lauren never have sought her fame, she signed on for a reality show on MTV. How much clearer can the motives be

 

[LifeNatureLove]

I'm going to get slaughtered for this but I think she looks like darker haired, better/more dressed version of Heidi.
I don't see the Blair comparisons either.
I'm interested to see how she'll dress for fall/winter. Can't see her in tights like Blair.

 

[MJCouture]

I think Olivia is acting like that on the show..I mean when she said twice and once infront of Manolo that she wore his shoes to her deb ball...she repeated it, it was annoying!
Anyone who grew up wealthy and secure wouldnt even say that--but maybe she wants to act like this stuck up upper east sider....its a role...

EXACTLY. Her behavior is characteristic of someone who is incredibly insecure about their social/economic standing, and is aiming to prove that they come from more than they actually do. The truth is that 'The City' producers are actually helping Olivia fit into the role she has so desperately tried to be for the last few years by casting her as the rich, spoiled, UESider. The truth of the matter is that she does not come from limitless wealth, nor is she a true native New Yorker. She is from Greenwich, CT, and despite the fact that some of the wealthiest people in the US do live there, she grew up in a more typical upper-middle class household. She did attend a private school, but by no stretch did she go to one of the top prep schools that would be fitting to someone from the world she wants to portray. Most of her peers, if they did not attend one of the top NY schools, attended Choate, or Lawrenceville. She went to a perfectly bourgeois day school in CT, not doubt about it, but that is no marker of the type of money she wants to portray. Her father's rather public economic troubles (which started years ago, have nothing to do with the recent crisis) prove that she is largely speaking not as wealthy as she wishes to be seen. Not that any of that matters, but I think its important to clarify because I think people are very eager believe what MTV is selling.

 

[e-v-elina]

she looks so much older than she actually is.

 

[Zposen]

At the age of 17, her motive was probably to be on MTV... I know that would be incentive for me at that age. Beyond that she wanted connection to further her career in fashion... but she (they) never thought that the show would lend them on the cover of Rolling Stone.

The entire cast of the city is coming from a different mind set and some more eager than others.

 

[loladonna]

I think the Conrad's probably are worth more than the Palermo's. Like someone else said Lauren's parents don't seem to flaunt their wealth and that may be why Lauren seems down to earth and less overtly "rich." The house the Conrad's lived in BEFORE they built the mansion was over $2 million dollars. They sold that cliff-top mansion for $14 million. Lauren mentioned on one of her blogs a while back that a vacation home her parents had sold to a friend had burned in the California wildfires. I think her parents made a killing buying land at a good price then selling at a huge profit.

From what I've read about Olivia her family seems to be keeping up appearances and living a lifestyle to create the appearance of great wealth but they may not be truly rich. The East Coast wealthy seem so much more pretentious.

 

[lostinemotion]

let me break it down. mtv is using the model of the hills with even similar faces..
whitney's roomate is lauren and oliva is heidi. they even have similar features!

 

[waxy]

i look at her more like a real life blair waldorf.

LOL, same here. That's why I love Olivia (even though I know that everything on the show is all fake).

 

[SweetFantasy]

myspace

 

[Rebel Yell]

I have a feeling this thread is going to be much more active with all the buzz about her role in the City. I hope we get more pictures!! I prefer her style to Whitney's on the show.

 

[Cicciolina]

well said!

i love it, i love her and her Blair Waldorf personality

The appeal of Blair Waldorf though lies in her vulnerability and her insecurity underneath her bitchiness, and how she is so flawed because she just 'goes for it' because she's still quite immature (and uh, a teenager).

Whereas Olivia doesn't have that same level of vulnerability... at least I haven't seen it yet, and I can't see Olivia breaking down on TV or having a fight with mummy anytime soon.

The only similarity in their personal style is that they're both very 'done up' and maybe the curls, but that's about it. She's not really a Blair at all...

 

[Marchessa]

The appeal of Blair Waldorf though lies in her vulnerability and her insecurity underneath her bitchiness, and how she is so flawed because she just 'goes for it' because she's still quite immature (and uh, a teenager).

Whereas Olivia doesn't have that same level of vulnerability... at least I haven't seen it yet, and I can't see Olivia breaking down on TV or having a fight with mummy anytime soon.

The only similarity in their personal style is that they're both very 'done up' and maybe the curls, but that's about it. She's not really a Blair at all...

Great post. ITA.