Two fashion world insiders have cottoned to the Upper East Side.
Writer Derek Blasberg and Skims investor Nick Brown have purchased a four-bedroom co-op on Park Avenue for $8.3 million, according to a tax record that appeared in the city register Friday.
The sellers of the apartment were Howard Katz, a retired former managing partner at Goldman Sachs, and his wife, Ellen, an arts philanthropist, according to the register, which indicates the deal closed Feb. 27.
It’s not clear from public records when the Katzes bought the apartment, a full-floor home in a 13-story, 16-unit prewar building called the Adelaide. And what the apartment looks like and how long it was for sale are also a bit of a mystery. The Katzes made a decision to shop around the home as a “whisper listing” without a typical internet marketing strategy, so no photos or floor plans are publicly available.
But listings service StreetEasy does have a floor plan for the apartment located below the sold unit, which is in a co-op building where the homes appear to have similar layouts. Based on that comparable plan, Blasberg and Brown appear to have bought a co-op with a circular foyer that has doors leading to a library, kitchen and living room with a fireplace. The home also presumably includes a formal dining room, an en-suite bath in each of the bedrooms, and windows that face north, south, east and west.
Responsible for creating partnerships with fashion designers for YouTube from 2018 to 2022, Blasberg currently works for Gagosian Gallery as an editor of its quarterly magazine, according to online profiles. Earlier in his career, Blasberg worked as a writer and editor for fashion titles such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and Vanity Fair.
His partner, Brown, meanwhile, is a co-founder of Imaginary Ventures, a Manhattan-based VC firm with several fashion startups in its portfolio. But its highest-profile holding appears to be reality TV star Kim Kardashian’s six-year-old shapewear company Skims. Brown was a contributor to Skims’ $4 million seed round when it launched in 2019. The burgeoning company reportedly enjoyed a valuation of around $4 billion at the time of its last venture round in 2023. Skims, known for its flesh-colored bodysuits, is a strong candidate for an initial public offering this year, some analysts say.
Imaginary also contributed funding to Brady Brands, quarterback Tom Brady’s apparel line, which merged with Boston-based sneaker company NoBull last year.
