In an industry where one jaw-dropping look can help catapult you into fashion royalty and the wrong one into meme infamy, stepping out is a high-stakes business.
That’s where Catherine Bloom comes in. In her capacity as the longtime go-to personal shopper at Neiman Marcus, she became the style whisperer to the industry elite, her influence visible at most major red carpets. “Catherine Bloom is a staple name in Hollywood,” says stylist Linda Medvene, whose clients include Denzel Washington, Annette Bening and Geena Davis. “She always has pieces you can’t find anywhere else.”
Given Bloom’s decades-long tenure at Neiman Marcus, it caused a stir in L.A. fashion circles this year when she took her talents to rival Nordstrom, which hired her as its first director of luxury styling. In late October, she opened her own store under the retailer’s auspices: Catherine Bloom for Nordstrom. “We want to invite you into our home,” Bloom tells THR about the expansive new studio. “It’s very warm, beautiful and chic, with a more interesting assortment than you’re traditionally used to seeing in most stores.”
Interior designer Brigette Romanek, whose clients include Beyoncé and Gwyneth Paltrow, was hired to overhaul the space. “What made this project truly special was the synergy with Catherine,” says Romanek. “This wasn’t just about designing a space — it was about creating a mood, a moment, an experience.”
Perched on the corner of Melrose Place and Orlando Avenue, complete with valet and a discreet side entrance, the by-appointment-only studio is drenched in neutrals: cream floors, a plush chocolate brown sofa, suede wall coverings and an array of vintage seating vignettes. And lining the walls are the stars of the show — meticulously curated racks of color-coordinated confections courtesy of such designers as Georges Hobeika, Gabriela Hearst and Valentino, along with McQueen and vintage John Galliano for Dior.
Bloom’s industry clientele would expect nothing less. “Catherine is the ultimate curator,” says Blair Rich, CMO and CCO of Legendary Entertainment. “It’s more than just searching the Paris collections for the perfect dress and matching it with a shoe you never thought of but makes the look. She understands lifestyle; what you need not just to look your best but also feel your best, from the office to a black-tie event to a casual weekend away.”
This story appeared in the Nov. 5 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe.
