“I don't believe in changing my style because something's a trend ... People are misled: They think because it's a trend, they should do it. And it's not going to work.”-Rachel Zoe. (thinkexist.com)
Rachel Zoe has become one of the most influential names in fashion. From red carpet styling to design collaborations, advertising campaigns to editorial shoots and runway shows, stylist Rachel Zoe is the go-to stylist for the "It" celebrities. Fashion houses, beauty firms and magazine editors look to her for a dose of her effortlessly chic style. Rachel Zoe's strength lies in a commitment to bringing out the best in the individual women she works with, including many of Hollywood's A-list leading ladies.
Rachel Zoe Rosenzweig was born to parents Ron Rosenzweig and Leslie Rosenzweig on September 1, 1971 in New York. She grew up in Millburn, New Jersey, and attended Millburn middle school and high school. Her mother and father were big art collectors, and in turn Zoe became one as well. Rachel was thirteen when her mother took her along on a trip to Paris with her. It was in Paris when Rachel fell in love with the fashion industry. She purchased her first Louis Vuitton bag, and has been obsessed with fashion ever since. Although she was intrigued by fashion, Rachel decided to go to college to study sociology and psychology in 1990. She attended George Washington University, In Washington D.C. It was at the university that she met her husband Rodger Berman who was studying to be an investment banker. . "We met working in a restaurant when I was a student. The very first day he alluded to the fact that he would be very happy to make me his wife, and we've never broken up. I was petrified going down the aisle because I've always been really independent, but being with Rodger is just right."-Rachel Zoe (About Rachel Zoe) Rodger and Rachel wed in 1997.
After graduation, Rachel moved to New York City, New York and began to work with magazines that included Gotham and YM. She worked for a few different magazines and built up her name in the industry. She had extensive networking abilities, and had made many contacts that would become useful to her in her future career. She finally decided to break out on her own and become a fashion stylist. Her first clients included the Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, and Jessica Simpson. After working in New York as a stylist for a couple of years Rachel and Rodger decided to pack up and move to Los Angeles in 2004. Rachel Zoe went freelance and met several high-profile clients. The first job she got out in Los Angeles was styling Nicole Richie, who at the time was Paris Hilton’s sidekick on the reality TV show The Simple Life. With the help of Rachel, Nicole Richie became the pioneer of ‘boho chic,’ (a look characterized by over-sized jewelry, loose-fitting dresses on slim frames). While working as a personal stylist for Nicole Richie, Zoe also helped Lindsay Lohan and Mischa Barton become the fashion trend-setters that they are today.
Critics say that Rachel has created a bunch of 'Zoe-bots' - rapidly disappearing starlets, like Nicole and some of her other clients, including Lindsay Lohan and Mischa Barton. “It has to be the big picture for me. A lot of people saw this job as you put them in a dress and that's all. I didn't see it that way. I want them to look great all the time. And I don't nickel-and-dime people. A lot of stylists say they are hired for this, this and this so that's the only thing I'm going to dress them for. I'm like, are you nuts? If my client calls me and says I'm going to a friend's premiere, I'll say, come over and let's do something cute. And I won't bill them for that”
- Rachel Zoe (Rachel’s Biography)
From then on, Rachel Zoe worked with numerous celebrities, beauty firms, advertising agencies, magazine editors and fashion houses. By 2007, Rachel Zoe left her former agency Magnet and signed on with the Todd Shemarya Agency. People said that this change in agency was a result of a comment that Zoe had made about Anna Wintour. “During Fashion Week, Zoe - unwisely bragged, "Anna Wintour is one of my heroes, but they say I'm more influential” (Why Rachel’s Agency dropped her) “Vogue won't change a designer's business, but if an unknown brand is worn by a certain person in a tabloid, it will be the biggest designer within a week."(Rachel Zoe Quotes) Since that happened Magnet dropped her. One spy said, "They didn't want to anger Anna and Anna is more important to work with."(Why Rachel’s Agency dropped her)
Todd Shemarya was one of the most helpful people when it came to exposing Rachel Zoe’s talent to the public. “What I do,” Shemarya explained, “is to take an entity, whether it be a celebrity or a stylist, and enlarge their profile. I take whatever anyone’s best assets are and then I apply those in a business situation.”(Todd Shemarya)
Shemarya, who also represents stars like Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, got his start in the fashion world. He owned a modeling agency and began booking his models for commercials and other endorsement-related work. “I don’t give myself the credit for starting the endorsement thing,” Shemarya explained, “but it didn’t get big until I started doing it. (Todd Shemarya)
In many ways, Zoe and Shemarya share the same view; they both utilize the allure of celebrities, and both have altered the existing business model. Zoe has made every actress feel that her success depends on what clothes her stylist tells her to wear, and Shemarya has turned top actors into “brands”. (On Todd Shemarya) “The way I see it,” Shemarya said, “fashion is now bigger than the movie business. It’s a world that has no end. And yet, nobody can guess who their customer is. Every fashion house is looking for a formula. Rachel has a formula. She’s paid attention to the marketplace. She figured out who wanted to buy what. And now she’s beyond being a stylist: Rachel Zoe is a brand that creates brands.” (Todd Shemarya) Around three years ago, everything began to change. The nature of what, or who, is a celebrity has expanded. We aren't saving lives here, but we are creating images, and images create opportunities in a lot of areas.( Rachel Zoe Quotes)
With her clientele growing and numerous deals arriving from left to right, Rachel Zoe released a style guidebook entitled “Style A to Zoe: The Art of Fashion, Beauty and Everything Glamour.” The book, which was co-written by Rose Apodaca, made it to the New York Times Bestseller List. The stylebook offers tips and observations from a celebrity stylist’s perspective and advice about entertaining, travel, home décor and dressing stylishly. She appeared on The Simple Life and Project Runway. Zoe also appeared as a guest judge on America’s Next Top Model. Zoe also works as a trend spotter for the online shoe retailer Piperlime.com.
In September 2008, Rachel debuted her own TV show called “The Rachel Zoe Project,” a show that follows her work as a stylist and the progress of her own brand of accessories and clothing. On the show, Rachel Zoe visits designers, fashion shows and clients. Aside from all the styling work she does, Rachel Zoe has also collaborated with accessories-maker Leiber on its line of luxury bags. She has also modeled for Samsung’s Blackjack national ad campaign and has worked as a consultant for Gap, Inc’s handbag and shoe website.Rachel Zoe’s current clients include Keira Knightley, Cameron Diaz, Kate Hudson, Molly Sims, Jennifer Garner, Anne Hathaway, Joy Bryant, Debra Messing and Salma Hayek. She is also good friends with Tamara Mellon, the president of Jimmy Choo.
In conclusion I feel that Rachel Zoe is an extraordinary woman. She has a great deal of talent, and manages to keep her cool while working on so many different projects. She is one of the few great women that have brought the fashion world to the forefront amongst the general public. She is still very young in her career and has many years to go. I have no doubt that she will continue on the right path with her clothing line, and become even more popular than she already is. In my opinion Rachel Zoe is the best stylist of the 21st Century!
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