John Mahdessian (right) with girlfriend Dorinda Medley of Real Housewives of New York
If you’ve watched the last two seasons of Real Housewives of New York (RHONY), you are familiar with John Mahdessian, the bellicose and boisterous boyfriend of Dorinda Medley. Furthermore, if you reside in New York City, you may also know of John as the owner of Madame Paulette’s Luxury Dry Cleaning and Restoration Specialists. “He’s a character” you may have said as John was on your screen smooching Dorinda in a public venue, or arguing with Bethenny Frankel (in a no-win situation) about Skinny Cow versus Skinny Girl. Whether you like him or think he’s shady, there’s no denying he’s far from boring on TV. As seen on Bravo in the past, John is vociferous, he’s gotten into heated arguments with the ladies, he’s been the subject of ire…and despite the hang-ups of other Housewives, he’s stayed with Dorinda and lovingly supported her when she sparred with the other ladies. The couple, who met through the late Richard Medley (Dorinda’s departed husband), just celebrated their 5 year dating anniversary, and contentedly, both retain separate residences.
In the current season of RHONY (season 9), we won’t see as much of John as we have in the past. Much of his time these days is taken up with his latest invention, a mini stain removal kit that allows consumers to effectively be their own dry cleaners. Of course, he is also quite busy at Madame Paulette’s, managing the business of altering and restoring in addition to cleaning frocks of the rich and famous (and plain ole regular customers too). This earned him the moniker “dry cleaner to the stars.” Oddly, John really seems to be connected to nearly everyone who is anyone in New York City. At one point years ago, it was reported that he helped P. Diddy get a police entourage by calling in some favors http://nypost.com/2011/05/01/meet-the-dry-cleaner-to-the-stars-at-the-center-of-the-diddy-scandal/. Whoever John really is, he has many customers who will praise his business in a way that seems unheard of when it comes to dry cleaning.
“They do beautiful work. It's like they remove every thread individually and clean it and replace it,” says New Yorker Joshua Marsh, a Madame Paulette customer.
Based on the stellar reputation of the company and the platform that undoubtedly elevated it (RHONY), NYC bride-to-be Lauren Matles says she’s having her wedding dress altered there just as my friend Allison used them to clean hers back in 2002 to pleasing results.
Speaking with me by phone, John discusses his family history: “My dad’s uncle was married to a Madame Paulette and in 1959, he basically said to her ‘Darling, I’ll open up a cleaners for your collection.’ Sadly, my uncle got very sick and died in the first year of this business and although my dad wanted to be an accountant, he gave that up to run his brother’s business. Madame Paulette herself went back to Paris after my uncle died, so that’s really how my father and I ended up taking over the business. I had gone to college and had an investment banking job lined up, but I helped my dad over the summer. Then my dad came down with health issues and my mom had to go to work full time, so I gave up my investment banking aspirations and took control of the business. I wanted Madame Paulette to be something greater than just a dry cleaning store. I took this nice, high end Upper East Side business to a whole different level. The idea was to make dry cleaning sexy.”
John alludes to methods and techniques that “do what no one else in the world can do to restore items.” He explains that in his business he and his coworkers often see garments, draperies and various types of materials that no one would think could be restored. Very often, John and his employees are brought to the scene of the dry cleaning crime to examine mildew and water damage. It is not uncommon for John to be the standby guy for a bride who may have an emergency that he needs to tend to immediately. There was one such bride in a white bodice whose aunt smacked up her dress with lipstick kisses. Like a physician at a black tie event, John was called into the room and asked everyone to step aside as he applied the coveted ingredients to restore the wedding dress to its virginal white.
“After Princess Dianna passed away, I was asked to restore her gowns for the museums,” John relates, “I have done so many commissions over the years that focus on the restoration of historical fashion. I haven’t just done regular dry cleaning.” He shares with me that he is currently in production for a reality show titled Couture Restoration. “There are pieces in American history that are iconic and they’re all ruined. At Madame Paulette, we are able to take these things and really give them new life. Right now for the show, we’re setting things up with museum curators and there are so many items in bad condition and we have to work our magic.”
John recounts how someone recently discovered Joe DiMaggio’s original jersey covered in mildew and old stains, an item that would normally be a hot ticket in the sports memorabilia world, but was just too damaged.
“This person brought it to Sotheby’s, but couldn’t get much for it in that condition. It was worth between three hundred thousand and four hundred thousand after we restored it.”
While some dry cleaners pride themselves on their discretion, as I would imagine my grandfather did (he owned a dry cleaning business, but passed away long before I was born), John Mahdessian is a “schmoozer.” In Yiddish, that’s a word for someone who likes to talk (a lot) and share - and perhaps overshare - details in a friendly way. It’s part of my DNA that I am drawn to schmoozers and I enjoy John’s anecdotes. He mentions having worked for Anna Wintour, Beyonce, Lady Gaga and Alicia Keyes. In simpler times (before an election that divided the country), he also helped to dress Melania Trump on her wedding day (despite my prodding, he remains uncharacteristically mum on his political stance). He also had a client for many years who he only knew of by an apartment number and never suspected that it was an award-winning actress. That fact was revealed to him when he met the icon herself at an event and she complimented him on his work. If you are reading this Billy Eichner, take a deep breath: It was Meryl Streep.
Before you deem John Mahdessian a braggart, it’s worth noting that he is aware of his privilege, thankful for his blessings and is focused on giving back. He doesn’t offer up this information to me, but I ask about his philanthropic involvements. He has a calendar packed with charity events for organizations such as the New York Junior League, the Denise Richards Foundation, The American Heart Association and the American Liver Foundation.
“Year in and year out, I make it a point to donate my services,” he explains, “I will offer gift certificates for auction as well as my professional stain removal kit.”
Stain removal kit? John tells me about this invention of his https://madamepaulette.com/ (see “New & Improved Stain Removal Kit” section) with different solutions for varying types of stains. It comes with complete instructions so you know which methods to use for which types. John is in the midst of launching a mini version that will be marketed to consumers.
“I patented a method of removing the three basic types of stains – earth, protein and oil. There’s an absorbing cloth that goes under the stain and a formula I developed breaks down the composition of the stains. Then you follow with the last step that is a rinse. It can take out any stain from these groups and even a complex stain like creamy tomato sauce – you work on the oil first, then the tomato, lastly the cream and boom, it’s gone. A creamy tomato sauce stain is one of the hardest to get out because it’s a combo of the three types of stains.”
“So, I have an interesting question for you,” I relay to him, “Of all people, it’s from Tom Schwartz, part of the Tom-Tom bromance (Tom Schwartz and Tom Sandoval) of Bravo’s Vanderpump Rules. He asks ‘Is blood actually easy to get out? Sandoval and I debated it not long ago. Also, we haven’t and don’t plan on murdering anyone.”
With his signature chuckle, John addresses this with ease: “Blood is a protein stain that you need to address right away because it will oxidize and it becomes harder to remove over time. Oil stains take longer to set in, whereas blood sets in faster. The easiest way to remove it is when it is fresh as it is on the alkaline side of the PH scale. Use a basic soap, put peroxide or ammonia in there and it will come right out. Always do a formula like that and always follow that composition. If it’s not as fresh, you let the formula sit on there a bit longer.”
While I am a wife and I do reside in a quaint little house, I wouldn’t describe myself as a housewife but I do enjoy watching The Real Housewives. That said, I can’t blame you readers whose eyes have been glazing over the stain care stuff and have come here for the real dirt. So I ask John what comedian Sarah Anne Masse and I really want to know: “Any embarrassing RHONY stains that you had to get out? Any ‘cleaning up’ after those messy ladies?”
“I pretty much cleaned things for each and every one of the Housewives,” John replies, “LuAnn had a bunch of pieces…I did some alterations on gowns and there was a last minute rush with her wedding dress. For Ramona, I’ve worked on some leather pieces. Carole had these quality leather pants and then they were ruined. I told her not to worry and that I could restore them and we worked our magic so they were back to their original condition. Being that moths attack every so often and are a huge pain in the neck, Bethenny had to deal with that. We took care of that by eradicating the moth hatch and treating every garment. Moths account for some of my biggest jobs. It’s so common and they’re really tough to kill but we truly have it down to a science.”
Wait, I can’t help but interject. Bethenny who gave John such a hard time last season! I have to know if she was appreciative of John’s work.
“She was very appreciative. She gave me a hard time on the show – yes, but maybe with some of the women, it reflects what they don’t have themselves and what they want. Bethenny was going through a divorce and a really tough time personally…Or maybe they are truly looking out for Dorinda, but I think they know that I love my girl and we’re solid. Now it’s buddy-buddy and they definitely do appreciate what I have been able to do.”
John mentions that he also goes out to yachts and planes and his business is centered a lot on going to the customers as it is with customers who come in and bring him their garments. We discuss how the reality show that is in the works has really given him an opportunity to do more with couture. Since he’s far from a dull guy and (I speculate) may not always be a peach as a boss, it should be interesting for viewers when the show comes to fruition.
In a bit of foreshadowing to future episodes in the now airing season 9 of RHONY, John and I discuss that there’s one Real Housewife who Dorinda will be struggling with. So, does he do that woman’s dry cleaning?
“I’d rather not doing anything that people don’t appreciate. If you’re not going to be a nice person…Well, the first time, I give everyone a pass. The second time I won’t. There’s no reason for it, especially if it involves the best person I know and that person is being treated badly. I mean, we’re talking about the woman I love.”
Although you’ll see less of John this season, RHONY airs Wednesdays on Bravo, 9/8c. For more information on Madame Paulette, see https://madamepaulette.com/ and don’t forget to set a Google alert for “Couture Restoration.” Something strongly tells me it will NOT be a dull show!