Modern-day Glamour: Fashion Mogul Rachel Zoe
Before finding great success as a fashion designer-entrepreneur, Rachel Zoe made a name for herself as a celebrity stylist. Rachel grew up in Milburn, New Jersey and studied psychology and sociology at George Washington University, where she met her now-husband, Roger Berman. She started out as an editor. Though Rachel had no formal fashion training, she went on to style some of Hollywood’s biggest names, including Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Garner, and Kate Hudson.
Her fashion career hit an all-time high in the early 2010s with the introduction of her popular reality TV show on Bravo, The Rachel Zoe Project (which ran for five seasons), a well-run online fashion blog The Zoe Report, and the launch of her first ready-to-wear line in 2011. Though it may seem like Rachel has stepped out of the limelight these last few years, she has actually been busier than ever.
Rachel’s spring/summer ready-to-wear line is inspired by springtime florals brought to life with abstract prints and feminine draping. “The collection represents the inspiring women both past and present that epitomize modern-day glamour. The Spring 2020 collection represents femininity and strength, and truly celebrates the power of women. Embracing a world where we can be warriors by day, in a pink twill power suit, and a metallic pleated one-shoulder maxi by night —all while feeling sexy and confident,” says Rachel.
To celebrate the launch of her latest line, Rachel hosted an intimate party in East Hampton for all of her closest friends. “Growing up on the East Coast, I spent a lot of time in the Hamptons. It was amazing. We were in this beautiful marina overlooking the water. It was exactly the same place where my husband proposed to me 25 years ago,” the fashionista shares.
Rachel is also at the helm of a beauty subscription box filled with luxury style items that she personally handpicks called, Box of Style. “We created this subscription box to connect to the audience in a more direct way. I was constantly seeing women on social media saying they wish they could be styled, wanting tips. My team and I sit down and curate directly for each woman. It’s all about getting to know each woman and what she wants,” she explains. Rachel and her team also utilize social media to connect with women about what types of items they want. “It’s a gift that keeps on giving. So many men aren’t sure where to start when it comes to buying for the women in their lives.”
As a part of its newly launched licensing deal, Aldo Group is also partnering with Rachel, debuting shoes, handbags, and leather goods. “ALDO is incredible. I’ve been a fan for many years. They’ve really proven themselves as an authority in footwear and accessories. They’re such experts. It’s been such an incredible partnership —they let me be the creative.” The collection will be sold internationally starting the spring of 2020.
Presently, the busy fashionista is working on closing her Holiday Box of Style, styling the spring collection for Vogue.com, and figuring out the location for her next Rachel Zoe pop-up. “I’m even looking to expand into a few more categories, and TV projects,” she shares. With so many projects in the works, one wonders, do you have any downtime? “In the summertime, I work from the East Coast, in the Hamptons. Being somewhere else is helpful. Being a mother of two young boys, downtime isn’t really a thing that exists for me. I don’t sleep a lot. I’m very hands-on with my boys, so we spend a lot of time watching movies or having storytime —that is my downtime.” Whatever projects Rachel pursues, you better believe she’s doing it in style. “I’m my most fashionable self in Europe. For Paris, for Fashion Week, I like bringing out things from my archives. But my best self? That’s definitely just sitting on a beach in St. Barth with my husband and boys —just being.”
Follow Rachel on Instagram and Twitter: @RachelZoe. For more on Box of Style, visit https://www.boxofstyle.com/.