I expected Rebecca Minkoff to be a bit more eccentric. When it was announced that the fashion mogul and social activist would be joining The Real Housewives of New York City, I assumed Bravo was looking for a quirky personality to inject some excitement into the cast’s second season. The Housewives franchise, with its nine American versions in various stages of production, is known for showcasing self-assured women as they navigate their lives—and each other—with bold confidence. It’s a bit like Mad Max in its love for conflict, but with diamond-studded Miu Miu shirts as their weapons. The show consistently creates tension and then resolves it, even if it’s done through gritted teeth. Given Minkoff’s prominent role in the early 2000s New York City fashion scene—especially after her brand took off thanks to Jenna Elfman’s memorable appearance on The Tonight Show in 2001—I thought she would fit right in. That’s the hope, and the risk.
In person, Minkoff stands in stark contrast to RHONY’s penchant for extravagant displays of wealth. Perhaps that’s why she’s cast as a “friend” of the housewives rather than a full-time housewife. Dressed in a vintage Pearl Jam T-shirt (“I only wear a band shirt if I like the band”), studded jeans, and matching studded Birkenstocks, she has a vibe reminiscent of what the Olsen twins might have evolved into if they had stuck with their boho-chic style instead of embracing stealth wealth. “I have a mischievous side, but it’s never mean-spirited, and I don’t take myself too seriously,” she shares. “People might see ‘NYC designer, perfect Instagram imagery,’ but I’m really just how you see me now: relaxed and casual. I love to have fun and laugh.”
We’re seated at a long table in her midtown Manhattan showroom, just a short walk from Bryant Park, surrounded by shelves filled with shoes, bags, and other accessories that reflect a business rebounding from the pandemic’s economic impact. “Before COVID, we were nearing $70 million in sales, and I watched 70 percent of that disappear,” Minkoff recalls. The appeal of brand exposure is clear for a company that, as she puts it, was “barely making it through” during the pandemic. Now, with her namesake brand approaching its 20th anniversary this spring, she’s eager to shift the narrative. She has a book, a podcast, and a dedicated following of influencers supporting her moto belt, but the show offers a chance to showcase another side of herself. “Why wouldn’t I seize this opportunity as a business move to reconnect with my customers and rebuild the brand to its former glory?” And what better platform than Housewives, which serves as a significant gauge for staying relevant among certain audiences?
