Real Housewife Becomes Real Housewife After Layoff

The recession is really hitting home for one well-to-do Brooklyn couple. Real Housewives of New York's Alex McCord (betrothed to the creepy Simon Van Kempen) has just lost her job as visual merchandiser at Victoria's Secret (she was 1 of 90 axed at the NYC offices). More shocking is that she even had a job! Seeing as how the couple spend most of their time shopping and plotting the huge renovation on their Cobble Hill home, this is just very sad news. What purpose could they possibly serve on the show now? Perhaps they can form a troupe of triste Parisian mimes with their French-speaking spawn, Francois and Johan. For now, McCord says they will still jet off to St. Barth's even though it was her salary "that tended to pay for their infamous shopping sprees, not to mention the cost of their full-time nanny." [via Cobble Hill Blog]

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By Jen Carlson in Arts and Events on March 11, 2009 2:58 PM

Comments [rss]

Tonita

I have been looking for info on these 2 on their background, they are really creepy. I did read on nymag.com, summer guide, in the article titled, "A Second Season of Scorn, Please", that their home is 5 stories and they rent the top 2 floors, and live in the bottom 2, plus the remodeled basement. And these 2 are "high society". Please, someone save me, I can't stop watching!!

RDR105

Who cares about this dumbass??

BKBoy

i estimate their house is worth about 60% of what they paid for it net of terrible renovations...only a matter of time now before they default on the mortgage/home equity loan and little francois is in public school as bravo premiers "renting with the van kampens"

Rocknrope

Can someone describe what a "visual merchandiser" does?

jibbly

The almighty google declares:

Visual Merchandisers are responsible for conceptualizing, designing, and implementing window and in-store displays for both online and brick and mortar retail stores.

...soooo, basically decorating a store to make you want to buy stuff.

NannyState

Alex needs to visually remerchandise her personal life.

Nyctini11

HA ha ha Nanny state! I have thought the same exact way since this show began & often cringe when forced to look at them for too long.

I bet the RHW show had nothing to do with her being laid off....if the Execs ever had reason to doubt her capabilities, that show nailed the hammer in the coffin. Anyway, i guarantee they each get a fat paycheck for doing that show, so what does she care.

NannyState

That has got to be the ugliest couple God ever hung guts in.

JRod5417

I've actually seen them both around the neighborhood and yes, Simon is as creepy and unattractive as he s on TV. Alex, on the other hand, looks good in person. Coincidentally, I once saw her get off the B train at 53rd in Manhattan wearing a Cavalli dress and the men couldn't stop staring. Very bizarre. By bizarre, I mean wearing a Cavalli dress on the morning rush in the subway.