Since The Real Housewives of New York City first premiered on Bravo in 2008, Luann de Lesseps has lived several distinct lives in the public eye. Over nearly two decades of reality television stardom, she has navigated the dizzying highs and lows of high society and tabloid headlines. To name just a few milestones: she was married to a real-life French aristocrat, taught a nation—via her unforgettable dance single—that "money can’t buy you class," evolved into a full-fledged cabaret star touring the country, and occasionally found herself tumbling into a bush or two along the way.
Through all of those reinventions, however, one element has remained remarkably consistent: her unwavering commitment to glamour. As she so frequently sings to her adoring audiences, elegance is learned ("mah friends"), and her signature aesthetic has always reflected that ethos, blending Countess-era poise with a healthy dose of showgirl razzle-dazzle.
That lifelong commitment to high-fashion presentation was put to the test earlier this year when de Lesseps joined an ensemble cast to film Bravo’s Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Roaring 20th. The cast was given a remarkably tight turnaround—just a week and a half—to prepare for a whirlwind travel itinerary spanning Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Miami, requiring wardrobe options for every possible climate and theme party imaginable.
"That trip for me was one of the hardest ones I ever had to pack for," she reflects. Despite the logistical challenges, the trip yielded unforgettable moments, including a standout highlight where she zipped into Kyle Richards’s famous White Party wearing dramatic angel wings to perform her hit track "Chic C’est La Vie," complete with a matching cape and boy shorts.
Despite the requisite ups and downs that naturally accompany any gathering of Housewives alumni, the cast forged genuine bonds. Sitting in her New York pied-à-terre, de Lesseps proudly showcases an oxblood Saint Laurent clutch gifted to her by castmate Lisa Barlow. "Baby gorgeous! I love that girl. She’s such a joy," she says with genuine warmth.
Now, de Lesseps is gearing up to reunite with several members of her original Real Housewives of New York crew in a new television project, The Golden Life, which airs Tuesday nights on E!, while simultaneously preparing for her next extensive cabaret tour. Yet, away from the intense glare of television cameras and theatrical stage lights, her personal approach to style has noticeably evolved. Today, she is just as content stepping out in comfortable sneakers or walkable heels as she is getting zipped into a showstopping Jovani dress—a designer label that has effectively become its own recurring character within the broader Luann universe. Furthermore, she swears by an accessible beauty staple that she believes every Upper East Side resident should own, along with a curated rotation of pieces that make her feel like the most confident woman in the room without requiring a restrictive hemline.
To celebrate the launch of The Golden Life and her upcoming touring schedule, de Lesseps recently sat down for an in-depth conversation to discuss her signature millinery, her philosophy on comfort, the wellness practices she prioritizes, and her future business ventures.
When asked to describe her current personal style in three concise words, de Lesseps keeps it simple: "Casual, chic, effortless." When discussing the biggest shift in her wardrobe choices over recent years, she emphasizes a shift toward self-expression and physical ease. "I dress for me, not for other people. I want to be comfortable. I don’t want heels to be too high that I can’t walk around. Comfort’s everything."
Having maintained a high-profile presence on reality television for well over a decade, de Lesseps acknowledges that the viewing public often holds a very specific, preconceived notion of who "Luann" is. Reflecting on her introduction to television, she recalls holding an apple during her very first season and delivering the infamous line: "I don’t feel guilty for being privileged. I feel lucky."
"Building a person and a personality—the Countess—it’s part of who I am, but it’s not who I am," she explains. "Because people don’t know her yet. I was married to a French aristocrat, that’s what people knew."
Behind the aristocratic moniker, however, lies a grounded background. De Lesseps grew up in Connecticut as one of seven children and originally trained as a nurse. "When you come to my cabaret show, that’s when they find out and they go, ‘Oh wow, she’s a girl like me.’ But on TV, they get the Countess. We wear many hats as women."
Among her most prized and unapologetically signature purchases are pieces by legendary British milliner Philip Treacy, known as the master hatmaker to the queen of England. After losing her favorite black cabaret hat while traveling, she went directly to the source in London in hopes of replacing it. "I lost my black one; I can’t get it back. So I went to England because you can’t just buy Philip Treacy out. I said, ‘I need my black hat back,’ and he said, ‘I would love to. I can’t make it again for you. I don’t have the same satin.’" She notes the incredible durability of the thick fabric: "It went under the thing for security at the airport, popped right back up. Gone." The headwear has achieved legendary status among her fanbase, recalling an instance when Kim Kardashian wore a fedora to the Met Gala and fans playfully accused her of borrowing the Countess’s signature look.
When asked what she wears when she wants to command a room, de Lesseps bypasses traditional evening gowns in favor of a one-piece wonder. "I love a jumpsuit because it’s different. We like a black dress, sure. But a jumpsuit is just a showstopper for me." On the flip side, she admits to a surprising newfound fondness for polka dots, specifically highlighting an affordable windbreaker she purchased on Amazon.
When posing the classic fashion dilemma—choosing between sneakers, ballet flats, and sexy heels—de Lesseps offers a definitive verdict. "I’m going to marry sneakers. Fuck the heels. Kill the ballet flats. I don’t like my toes to be crowded. I don’t like a closed-toe shoe. As a performer, I have to have open-toe shoes. We love a pump to wear to a business meeting, but if I go to a party I want to have an open-toe shoe with Wolford fishnets—you don’t have to worry about your legs."
Discussing the hard-working staples of her closet, she points to resort wear she purchased years ago in Miami. "If I love it, I buy two of everything. And I should buy three." Meanwhile, her most frequent compliment magnet isn’t a garment at all, but her hair. Acknowledging her rare status among reality television stars, she notes that her locks are entirely natural. "Jeff Lewis goes, ‘Countess, is that your real hair?’ I said, ‘Yes, every strand.’ He said, ‘You’re one of the few Housewives that doesn’t have extensions in your hair.’" She does, however, utilize wigs during her rigorous cabaret tours to protect her natural hair from extensive heat styling and product buildup.
De Lesseps remains fiercely loyal to specific beauty mainstays, including Lancôme Définicils Waterproof Mascara and the classic Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant, which she notes is a staple for every woman on the Upper East Side to combat dry skin, lips, and cuticles. For everyday freshness, she relies on Chanel Le Deodorant spray, and for a signature fragrance during romantic dates, she turns to Byredo Velvet Haze.
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On the wellness front, de Lesseps credits yoga and meditation with keeping her grounded amidst a hectic professional schedule. Following the completion of filming for The Golden Life and prior to diving into her tour preparations, she spent a restorative week at a wellness retreat in the Berkshires. "My life is busy, so I need to check out for five days, which I did, which is great. Meditation, yoga. I’m big on all that."
As for her daily routines, she keeps her coffee preparation streamlined with Nespresso, opting for Califia Farms half-and-half blended with coconut-almond milk, or a custom soy latte grande wet from Starbucks for an extra-milky texture.
Looking toward future endeavors, de Lesseps reveals an exciting culinary pivot when asked what she would purchase if given $500 to spend instantly. "Food. Straight to caviar. I love caviar with eggs à la française. I’m starting a caviar brand, by the way. A girlfriend of mine has been in the business for years and she goes, ‘Wait a second, do you want to do Countess Caviar?’ I was like, ‘Well, yeah.’ Then Meredith Marks called me. We would collab at some point, because, listen, women need to band together."
