Heart-to-heart with Rachel Zoe

Som de flesta av er redan vet, så bara avgudar jag Rachel Zoe. Här kommer delar ur en intervju som hon gjorde för ett litet tag sedan :) 2:a säsongen av The Rachel Zoe Project går på TV i USA och ni kan jue ladda ner serien online.

Rachel, Brad, Taylor

How did Taylor and Brad end up on Team Zoe? Did you just love their personal style? Did they interview?
It's a process. I mean, I don't generally run my company like a traditional corporate company where you go through like a series of 10 interviews and all that sort of thing. Brad and I had met before I even knew that I was doing a show, and I fell in love with him. I knew that he had the love for fashion, and I just knew that he would fit really well into my team. But, I hadn't had a guy on my team yet, so that would've been new, and I didn't have a space for him. And so what happened was ... six months later I got an opening and he was the first and only person that I actually interviewed, and I basically almost like recalled him, you know? [laughs] I said, "OK, I have an opening ... da da da." And he came in ... and basically that was it. That was it! And Taylor started with me four years ago, so that was something where they both ... to be honest, I don't want to use the phrase "stalked me," but they kind of were relentless in the pursuit via a million other people that I work with or know. And every time I stumbled into someone they would say, "You know this girl Taylor, you really should use her." And then the same exact thing happened with Brad. So when enough people that you know recommend someone, it kind of almost does the work for you in a way.

Did you ever think that the catchphrases "I die," "That's bananas," and "I'm shutting it down" were going to become as big as they have?
I don't think so. Actually, to answer your question, never in a million years did I think one person would ever reiterate or repeat those words. Ever. Because they're these crazy things that I say all the time to describe a really exciting and overwhelming situation. It's just ... I don't even know how to explain it. Definitely not intentional! In fact, almost embarrassing ... not almost embarrassing, definitely embarrassing. I don't know what will catch on, what won't. It's not the intention. But we say silly things all the time. Like, "OOC," which is "out of control."

Well, I definitely want to talk about your website and the daily fashion blast. Can you tell me a little bit about the launch of both of those?
Sure. The digital social networking world was something that I didn't totally understand and I kinda found it intimidating. But once I started to wrap my head around it, I became really fascinated with it. You know, Twitter and all of that? Well, almost every day someone was saying, "Do you have a site?" And everybody would be asking questions on my Twitter. So, I was like, "OK!" I am really in love with communicating with people so quickly and so directly. So in doing the newsletter, I think the goal was just to say, "There is a trend every day whether it's in beauty, apparel, accessories, whatever ... and that will then link to rachelzoe.com and rachelzoe.com will ultimately be the domain for anything and everything, whether its questions for the Ask Rachel section, it's video, it's ultimately selling products on the site ... and I look forward to just growing it. It's actually really addicting and really, really fun. I love writing the copy. I love picking the items.

Any suggestions for the guys out there? You're all about the handbags, but when are you going to talk menswear?
I want to do men's as well; that's the plan. Listen, if I could I'd do a men's thing everyday ... [I would]. I promise that I will definitely have some men's in there; I don't want to say small amounts, but definitely I will throw the boys some love for sure [laughs]

You briefly mentioned the product line.
Yes! I've done a line for QVC exclusively that previewed at Bryant Park during New York Fashion Week, but that just featured about five pieces like one or two bags and some faux fur pieces. But this month, I'm doing my full collection of faux fur, jewelry, sunglasses, hats, scarves, and bags, and it's exclusively on QVC.com and QVC.

And what about housewares? 2010? 2011?
Down the road for sure. I think apparel and fragrance will come before that but then home for sure.

What is your favorite awards show to style celebs for and why?
Hmmm, that's hard. I don't know. I definitely get the adrenaline most from the Oscars, of course. Because I think that's sort of the pinnacle in America. I mean, that's it. You know? But at the same time, I kind of love the ... the sort of ... what's the word? I like the more casual, kind of lighthearted approach to the Globes. To be honest, I really love the Venice Film Festival and the Cannes Film Festival a lot. Because when you do something in Europe you can push the envelope that much more. I can be more over the top [laughs]

(Rachel dressed Debra Messing for the Oscars)

After one of those award shows, do you and Brad and Taylor sit down the next morning with your Starbucks and look at the best and worst dressed lists that people, like myself, create? Or, do you not care at all?
Yes and no. I do go back and forth about it because some of them know what they're talking about and some of them don't. I tend to really look at Women's Wear Daily and Bazaar and Vogue and Elle and the more fashion-driven publications, but at the same time I'm also always very curious as to what everyone thought across the board.


Who haven't you styled that you would love to style?
I get asked that question a lot, and to be honest, there really isn't someone that I have my eye on. I think it's something where I would have loved to have styled many of the old Hollywood starlets. I think that would have been a dream come true. Jackie Kennedy, Sophia Loren ... I know Jackie Kennedy wasn't a movie star, but wow. I'd love to dress Michelle Obama because I'm obsessed with her.

Can a red carpet gown ever be worn twice? I ask that because I see people like Anna Wintour wearing the same Chanel pieces over and over again. If Anna Wintour is doing that, can everyone do that?
That is a very good question. I personally would not want my client to wear a dress in a major red carpet moment if it has been worn and photographed by another high profile figure. I think that there is a big difference between wearing a suit or jacket twice or carrying a bag a million times; I think that's common sense and good recycling.

What do you think about somebody like a Renee Zellweger who pretty much only wears Carolina Herrera? Do you have a take on that?
I think it's fantastic. I think that if you can establish such a comfort zone with one designer that you don't even require a stylist and you just know that that designer knows exactly what works for you, then it's a go-to. It just makes it that much less stressful. I think that Carolina, at this point, has proven time and time again that she works so beautifully for Renee and Renee clearly loves it and is really comfortable in it, so it works. I mean, it really works. I think that it's a great marriage of the two.

Speaking of those relationships, how do you cultivate such strong ones with the biggest names in fashion?
I would say that it's 15 years of working at this. I didn't start a year ago. I think that there is a trust that comes after a very long period of working together. I think that the designers know that I'm extremely honest and upfront and if I don't think something is going to work, I will never string them along and say that it is going to work. And, I think that's really the key to any relationship ... with a designer, with a client, with a friend, whoever. I think at the end of the day if you're honest then they'll respect you more. Because if I had 10 designers making dresses and I promised them it was going to be worn, trust me, I would not have a relationship with them.

Who do you think is the breakout designer of the year? I kind of felt like Philip Lim kinda popped in '09.
Oh, I love him. He's a friend. I think he's brilliant. I think that he has really hit on making incredibly well made clothes at a very reasonable price point. I think he's managed to really find a balance between luxury and affordability. I'm such a fan of his clothes. I went to his anniversary party here in LA, and I walked into the store and was like, "Oh, I want everything ... so good!" He hit it.

Are there any must have items for women this fall?
So many must haves. I'm all about sequins in every shape and form, leggings, jackets, tuxedo jackets, vests in every form. Lots of '80s ... sharp shoulders, biker jackets, biker boots, zippers, buckles, grommets, and huge jewelry.


And what about for the guys? If I see you again at the next Bravo A-List Awards, what am I going to wear that isn't a boring tailored suit?
Three pieces! Must have a waist coat! Must have a vest underneath! And put a little pop-up collar under it.

2010. Can you predict any trends, or do you just go with the flow?
I kinda look to the designers. Marc Jacobs so eloquently brought back neon which I think is so fun, with a splash here and there. Love animal prints; I never seem to get sick of them. Fringe is everywhere.

So, you're all about the Alberta Ferretti fringed handbags?
Yeah; so cute, right? I love fringe. I love fringe!

What is the most fashionable city in the world?
Paris.

Favorite shopping spot in New York?
Ohhh, wow! Kirna Zabete.

Favorite shopping spot in LA?
Decades and Curve and Satine.

What article of clothing can you not live without? You have to pick just one!
I can't! Ummm, my collection of Chanel jackets.

What do you spend way too much money on?
Designer vintage. Waaay too much money.

Fave handbag at the moment?
Favorite handbag at the moment ... there's this one from Marc Jacobs with all these grommets on it. I gotta have it. It's got like chains and grommets and leather.

Is there anything you'd never be caught dead in?
Yeah. I would say ... acid wash skinny jeans.

Rihanna's been rocking them.
But she looks great in them. It does not work on me. Everything on Rihanna works. It just does. For some reason, it just works.

What is the biggest fashion mistake somebody can make?
I stand by just wearing too much at once ... too much makeup, too much hair, too many accessories, too many prints, too much everything. Incorporating too many trends into one look.

Did you see "Valentino: The Last Emperor" or "The September Issue"? Your thoughts?
I saw "Valentino" twice. I saw it with Mr. Valentino and Giancarlo Giammetti, and I have to tell you it goes down as one of my top five favorite movies of all time. It was one of the most beautiful stories I've ever seen. It was incredible. It was extraordinary.

Do people need to change their wardrobe seasonally? How does the average person deal with that? Do you just pick key items and take them from season to season, or do you have to go shopping four times a year and redo everything?
No, I think you definitely don't have to redo everything. I think you can maybe add a couple things each season to supplement. But for example, if you have a great mini dress that you wear in the summer time, just wear it with tights, boots, and a cute leather jacket for the fall. It's just about adding and layering and getting the most out of your items that you already have.

When you aren't on the red carpet and you aren't being hunted by the paparazzi, are you ever not fabulously dressed?
If I'm not dressed, I'm in a bathrobe. That's it. It's one extreme or the other. I don't really have a middle ground. I don't [laughs]

When you're getting ready and you're styling yourself, what is that preparation like? Are you drinking champagne or are you crazed?
Frantic! Definitely not drinking alcohol. Never before. It's usually just a frantic frenzy of racing against the clock because everything is so last minute. I don't ever decide what I'm wearing until 10 minutes before. And, I do moisturize a ton and I use eye gels every time before I go out. That is a true statement.

xoxo,
Vicky