'The Rachel Zoe Project': Zoe defends 'Rachel Zoe'

She’s not quite over having been called “a pox on humanity” by the New York Times, but Rachel Zoe, stylist to the stars, and now a reality TV star herself, says her Bravo series has at least given her haters something to gnaw on.

“The Rachel Zoe Project” has, if nothing else, shown the waifish fashionista, notorious for her tiny frame and for formerly outfitting party girls from Nicole Richie to Lindsay Lohan, to be an ambitious, Starbucks-dependent student of fashion, driven by what seems to be genuine passion. (The season finale is Tuesday at 10 p.m.)

“I let my guard down a lot,” Zoe says. “What you’ve seen on the show is exactly who I am. If you like me, great. If you don’t, great, but at least you understand who I am now.”

And while being called “Raisinface” by celebrity blogger Perez Hilton is something she can let slide, Zoe can’t help defending herself from the more stinging criticisms as she takes stock of the season that was.

Last month, New York Times TV critic Ginia Bellafante blasted the stylist and her show for being the very picture of “mad consumption,” a “downright unseemly” way to be in today’s economic climate. (During one episode this season, Zoe used 20 minutes of rare downtime to raid -- almost literally -- a vintage clothing store in New York; three racks of goodies later, she sighed to her assistant Brad, “I’m scared [of] what just happened.”)

“It was the strangest thing in the world for someone who has never met me to accuse me of making our society superficial,” Zoe says. “Judging the state of society based on me? A ‘pox’? This show is not an effort to solve world issues. It’s a bit of glamour, a bit of an escape.” Escape into Zoe’s world has included VIP seats to New York’s Fashion Week, lunches with top-flight designers like Marc Jacobs, impromptu shopping sprees, assistant head-butting and those now-signature Zoe-isms “I die, I die,” “Getting witch vibes” and “Bananas!” (all of which sub for the more general “awesome.”)

“You never know how you actually sound until you see it on camera,” she says. “Sometimes I’m working with clients that don’t speak English and they’ll ask, ‘What is this bananas?’”

Like “Project Runway,” Zoe’s series has been given the approval of fashion powerhouses from Oscar de la Renta to Diane Von Furstenberg, whose appearances are further proof, Zoe says, that she’s taken seriously in the industry. “The designers who appear on the show know that I’d never do anything scandalous or negative. They wouldn’t work with me otherwise,” she says. “They trust me. I can’t do what I do without them.”

Before production starts on a second season -- “Nothing’s official, but if Bravo asks, I’d love to. I can take it,” she says -- Zoe will continue working on a line of branded merchandise and perhaps begin a second book. Her first, “Style A to Zoe,” is perched at No. 13 on New York Times bestseller list.

-- Denise Martin

(Photo courtesy Bravo)

Comments

[Artoo45]

Ms. Zoe might want to download, or at the very least, read the "12 signs of a compulsive debtor" list from the Debtors Anonymous website. That changed my life, and after watching her show, it might help her too.

[2bigfeet]

Uhhh, who cares?!

[Jessica]

I think Rachel Zoe is fantastic and i think his show is great. I also love her assistants - especially Brad. He's adorable.

Before watching i was all set to hate her, but after just one episode i found her completely endearing and inspirational. She does what she loves and she keeps it real.

The things that have been said about her in the press have been unfairly mean and completely unwarranted.

- Australian viewer

[Christopher Eaton]

Rachael,

I'm a fashion-loving middle-aged queen in Silverlake. I love you and the show! I love that adorable little Brad also! The two of you motivate me to dress my best everyday and take a risk or two as well. I love that you fly to NYC in your outrageous L.A. gear. So terrific!

I hate Taylor or Tyler or whatever that idiot's names is by the way. The finale is tomorrow and I'm so hoping that she quit her position. What a crass, insensitive, insecure peon, at least as portrayed on the show.

Your show truly is a piece of sugary escapism and glamour every week and I really, really, really want it back next season. Pleeeeeeeeeze Bravo, pleeeeeeze, renew!

[JB]

DO something with that stringy HAIR!!! It's awful! She has someone come to her house to do it and that rat's nest looks exactly the same way when he leaves. I can not bear to watch the show for her hair alone. That much straw needs some major work- not to mention all that "buy, buy, buy" mentality she has. She is so greedy and self-absorbed. Why would anyone want to watch this pucker-face?

[M. Christine Broderick]

I completely agree with the poster Jessica. I too was perfectly primed to dislike Rachel and the show but she truly was endearing and inspirational, one episode in, just as Jessica described. Anyone that can both live and love their work is successful, in my book. I'm glad that Rachel is secure enough to realize that her critics, like Perez Hilton, do not determine her value and are just doing their repugnant jobs; criticizing people that have more talent in their little finger than people like Perez have in all 10 that they only use to type bitter insults. Rachel, like the items she cherishes and uses to adorn the stars we fawn over, is timeless and gorgeous. She's fun and once a week I enjoy the peek into the over-indulgence that is Hollywood red carpets. I know that I couldn't stomach it if it weren't brought into my living room by a sincere, somewhat eccentric person that I 'wannabe', if only until the credit card balance comes due.

[therockofages]

More over rated, over paid, and under talented 'reality pop tarts'; the scourge of Western civilization. The problem with most of these pop tarts is they believe their own 'press'. Here's a news flash: You have no talent.

[Jared]

I like Rachel. She seems pretty "Real" in this UNreal world of fashion. However, I would like to see her do Dave Ramsey's book called, "The Total Money Makeover," because I think it would give her a bit more financial peace in her life. Also, her female assistant (forgot her name), is just horrible! She obviously is threatened by Brad and has REALLY low self esteem in trying to talk down to him to APPEAR like she knows everything. Get it together girl. Let your work stand for itself, and you wouldn't have to put other people's work down to TRY to get ahead (which is unfortunately WAY too common in this world).

[Mark]

"Oh....enough about me....let's talk about you.....What do you think about me?"
This show is an insight to everything that is wrong, sad and vapid and the fact that there's a show about such a shallow blivot is even sadder...you can put 200 gucci bags around a dogs neck....a dog is still a dog....woof!

[Liwanda]

I like Rachel. I didn't know what to think of her before watching. Honestly, I wasn't very interested in the show at first. There is something very endearing about her and I have a new found respect for what she does to earn a living. I sense her passion and that enables me to see past the spending sprees and the HAIR to really appreciate her knowledge and good taste.

[Jane]

Um, can we put alittle more spice into this show? Who is directing/editing this show? A whole hour goes by and all I've gotten from it is that #1 - Taylor is a bitch, and I ask you Rachel, do you really want someone like her representing your company/name?, and #2 - a whole hour to pick out a dress for Debra Messing? Come on guys - you need more meat to this show!

[Denise]

Taylor really gets a bad rap on the show. One thing that didn't make it into this story was Rachel defending her. "Taylor has to be the ball buster because I'm not as hard as I should be on people most of the time," she said. "She's been with me for more than 3 years. I trust her more than anyone. She's like family."

I have to agree. Taylor seems very level-headed in spite of all the craziness and running around she has to do. Being asked to plan an anniversary party in the middle of awards season? Team Zoe's busiest time of year? Good for Taylor that she put the kibosh on it. And if she's been a little short with Brad, it's because it doesn't seem like any one has time to train him.

All said, my guess is that both Brad and Taylor are still with Rachel (no matter what Bravo is advertising for the finale).

[Sara]

I love her and my grirfriends and I can hardly wait for another season. I love in Louisiana and love seeing how the "other side" lives. She has a passion and I can't talk bad about anyone who strives to pursue that passion.

[Cameron Stunning]

THAT TAYLOR HAS TO GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! How hard can her job be that Rachel can't train someone else. I have my own business too, and it's very hard to manage everyday job stresses, when to top it all off you have someone in your own team making things more difficult. That Taylor bitch manipulates Rachel so much, and it's just not fair.

[Audrey C.]

I found the show facinating. I think that Rachel Zoe has made a name for herself and built a business in an area that has not been showcased on TV before. I loved the behind-the-scenes look at this stressful field. Plus it was so cool to see the designers that imapct everyones lives by their creativity. I do find that Taylor is a bit shrewish, but that is the case with most people who are naturally diposed to order and control. But also consider, Taylor has had to keep in order Rachel. Also I must comment on Brad, who I think was "up Rachel's ass" because he was too talky and not interested enough in the job he was hired to do. To learn he should have been much more observant of Taylor and began to anticipate what needed to be done. I must confess I think Brad should apologize to Taylor and that he is damn lucky to still have a job...no matter how snappy he dresses!!!

[Londa Mitchell]

Reading some of the comments here are disturbing. It’s funny how judgmental some people can truly be. It’s a show people. If you don’t like it, don’t watch. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Rachel Zoe. As an African American woman, with impeccable style myself, I think that Rachel’s job is the dream job of many fashionista women…while no, she is not saving lives or making some dramatic world contribution, she is doing what she loves and isn’t that what life is all about…making a contribution in your own way. Everyone may not agree with what you choose to do but as long as you are happy within, you can’t live according to what the world thinks you should do OR be. As far as the current economic conditions…people have to live within there own means. She is not advising people to go out and spend insane amounts of money on clothes, I would like to think that people have enough common sense to not try and live like someone else. I say, if you can afford to do it, do what you want, just be sure you are not hurting or overextending yourself. This show is not intended to teach people how to budget, it’s to take a look into the “Hollywood life and career” of a celebrity personality. Let’s all try and keep that in perspective. Rachel, keep following your dreams, doing what you love and keep being FASHION FABULOUS!!!!!

[cynderloowho]

I didn't know much about her before her show...but The Racheal Zoe Project became my guilty pleasure. I think that this woman works incredibly hard in a field that is so difficult to comprhend unless you work in it. I grew to llike Ms. Rachael because I found her self absorbed, compassionate, a little narcissistic, hardworking, confused, driven, opening hersllf up and yet hiding herself at the same time...and making some maybe dumb choices . In other words, we all were kind of watching ourselves.

I think what I liked about her most is that I do believe that she has a good heart and really wants her clients to shine...not just for her brand but for them, in that one moment.

[Haven]

First of all I watched the first episode out of sheer boredom at work on one of those sites where you can watch tv shows. I was poised and set to HATE the day lights out of Rachel Zoe and entertain myself with sardonic humor as I watched. However, she comes off as very authentic on the show. It's hard to hate her and just like many others before me, I couldn't. I certainly wanted to, believe me, but she seems to at least "act" like she has some very endearing qualities and I found her to be professional, classy, nurturing, kind and caring. So what, she never eats a bite and drinks coffee all day, we've never walked in her shoes, she is in the fashion inudstry and probably feels hard pressed to keep the weight off. Is it unhealthy? Probably, let her doctor be the judge. Let her go through life and come out the other end like everyone else. Do I think she's talented? I don't know, lots of people can pick out fashion forward clothes. Is she passionate about her job. Yes, she seems so and that's all that matters.

Hello my name is Haven and I am a closet Rachel Zoe fan.