Reputed Fashion Boss Another Clothes Call For Joey Merlino
by Theresa Conroy, Daily News Staff Writer
Posted: March 06, 1997
This is the New Mob - la clothestree nostra.
The new look, which made a dashing appearance in the spectators' seats at the recent retrial of old mobsters Nicky Scarfo and friends, does not go in for the traditional white ties with black shirts. It doesn't favor the old family's look of overly pleated pants, flashy double-breasted suits or soft-sided Italian loafers.
And it wouldn't be caught dead in one of those nylon warm-up suits, the outfit known by mob-watching cops as ``the South Philly tuxedo.''
No, not under the watch of Joey Merlino, the reputed mob underboss with the undisputed sense of style.
When the occasion calls for a suit, Merlino often passes up the Las Vegas look for a sleek, three-button, single-breasted Versace. This would be appropriate attire, for, say, his daughter Nicole's recent christening party, or one of his own court appearances.
For a more casual look - to attend somebody else's trial, for instance - Merlino grabs that incredible black leather jacket, a zip-front mock turtleneck and a pair of $150 cream-colored jeans.
Indeed, the clothes made this man.
``Some of it has to do with what he buys, but a lot has to do with how he wears it,'' said Merlino's lawyer, Joseph Santaguida, who declined to allow a reporter to go shopping with Merlino.
One of the fashion plate's favorite stores is Allure, an exclusive boutique. When Merlino stops in at the store, at 1509 Walnut St., it's a ``contemporary sportswear look'' he's after, said store owner Robert Palidora.
``He's thin, he's got the nice build to wear this sort of merchandise,'' Palidora said, ``That's all part of why all this hoopla around this guy - he's a handsome person with absolute style.''
Merlino's style veers drastically from the old guard's - the shiny fabrics and flashy cuts favored by former reputed mob bosses, such as our own Nicky Scarfo and New York's John Gotti.
Palidora and Santaguida credit part of Merlino's flair to his age and natural good looks.
``He just looks good in clothes,'' said Santaguida, who admits to keeping a close watch on Merlino's outfits. ``He could wear a T-shirt and look well in it. Some people have it, and some people don't.''
Merlino has it, and alleged mob member George Borgesi - with his Phillies cap, jeans and Members Only-style jacket - does not. Neither does admitted-mobster-turned-informant Tommy DelGiorno, the king of the cheesy athletic warm-up.
Merlino ``has a feel for what is nice,'' Santaguida said.
He also takes direction from the clothing pros, Palidora said. When Merlino shops, Palidora said, he usually is drawn to the styles that look good on him, but also allows the sales staff to choose outfits for him.
``He listens to what people tell him and he's open to trying different things,'' Palidora said. ``If you shop in a store like ours, that's what we're here to do, help the person achieve that look, instead of just sell them things.
