Fashion Flu

How was the end of New York Fashion Week?

It was mayhem and I got sick at the tail end. I missed the last day and a half of shows, which kind of sucked. But other than that, it was a great week. But for me, it was one of the most intense - between promoting the show, running my line for QVC, and obviously working with my clients, it was a pretty intense week. But I survived, definitely by the skin of my teeth this time.

Did you dress anyone for the Emmys?

No, I did not. I was involved a little bit with Debra Messing. Debra is still a client, but Debra was going with her husband this year, so it was one of those things, Michael Kors was going to dress her. I looked at the sketches. I was a little bit involved, but not a lot. It was more Michael and Debra and I was in the loop, but she was kind of going more to attend the Emmys. She is still a client.

Did anyone else at the Emmys stand out to you?

I haven't had a really good chance to look at everything. I think Blake Lively, when you're that age, that's when you should do it. That's when you should show everything and just go for it! I loved Leighton's dress, it was my favorite dress from the collection. Other than that, nothing else really jumped out at me.

Did you like January Jones' dress?

I did like that. I think it was very true to Donatella's collection. But it takes a lot of fashion guts to wear that, which I always admire. I like that January takes chances and doesn't necessarily do what's expected.

You got to work with Ashton in this episode for the Blah Blah Blah Girls web series. How did this come about?

I've become very close with Ashton. Rodger and I have both become close with Ashton and Demi. We have a lot of friends in common, and obviously we've worked together for many years. When I started talking about developing my own site, Ashton was very helpful and really pushed me to get involved in digital media, because it's such an important component. I was very scared of it, but Ashton had a huge impact on me and really pushed me to get started on Twitter and all of that. There's something about Ashton that when he says something, you believe it, you want to do it, and you listen. He gives an unbiased opinion. He's very smart, very business savvy and hilarious. Demi and Ashton both pushed me to get started in digital media. So I told him I'd try it if he helped explain the whole thing to me, and he brought up the Blah Girls and said he really wanted me to do an episode. And I was like, 'Oh my god Ashton, I don't know how to act, I certainly don't know how to do a voice over.' And he said, 'I just want you to be you.' And so that's what we did. The rest is history. And as you can see, the filming and voice over work was not easy for me.

How long was the process?

Long. It was really hard.

Were you happy with how it came out?

Yes - it was hysterical. So funny.

We saw you tweeted about the Amy Phillips video...

Oh the girl who impersonates me? You know what, there are so many people who do impersonations. The one she did was actually hilarious. I think that the initial one came out several months ago when she did an impersonation of me, Liza Minnelli, Madonna, a whole bunch of celebrities. I think it was a reel for SNL. I thought she was hysterical. I do not take myself too seriously. I take my job very seriously, but I don't take myself too seriously. When I get emails and pictures of people dressing up as me or Brad or Taylor for Halloween ...  the fact that my everyday wardrobe has become a Halloween costume, it would hurt if I was hypertensive about that stuff. But I make fun of myself! I posted that video because I thought it was hysterical. I think the girl is really talented and she can do so many people.

In this episode you have a shoot for Glamour, which was accessible clothing. You said you love doing a look for less. How did the shoot come out?

I think a big part of my job is trying to teach people that you do not need a lot of money, you don't need to be a VIP, you don't need to be famous, you don't need to be a supermodel to have style. You really don't. So I love the opportunity to show people how to be stylish for less. At the end of the day it's just about digging. Digging a little deeper and getting creative. Really everyone can do it.

You're doing all kinds of magazines, how do you tweak the Rachel Zoe aesthetic for different shoots?

Well I think it's how every actress or singer or model is different. It almost never happens that I have two clients obsessed with the same dress, or who look good in the same dress. If they both like it, they probably both don't look great in it. With these shoots it's about different body types, different everything, which is what makes it so great and interesting. For different magazines, you just have to know who's reading it. Like doing a TV show, you have to know who's watching it. In my case I don't know WHO'S watching it. [Laughs] Such a broad age range! I get emails from my dad's friends that watch it and then my nieces' friends who are nine watch it. I'm so happy people are loving it so much.

In one scene you get a phone call and Taylor and Brad are goofing off and making fun of you in the background. You comment that you don't get any respect from them. Do you still feel like that?

At the end of the day I do, but I think Brad said it best in an interview once. He said, "We're like the two children you never wanted." They kind of are like that most of the time. When they're together they're like that. When they're apart, they are great. But together, it's sort of like Mean Girls. They are respectful about the job. When it comes to doing the job, they'll do anything it takes to get it done right. That's what matters to me the most. Now if they were talking down to me and being completely disrespectful, then they wouldn't be here. That I can't put up with. But they definitely are very immature a lot of the time!

This week ends with a cliffhanger - Taylor comes back to the office to tell you she's thinking about leaving, and she finds you really sick.

I didn’t know what was wrong with me. I thought I was getting the flu. You'll find out what happens in an upcoming episode. It was a nightmare. But I think you see a side of Taylor that you don't know. She takes me home from work and then she's in bed taking care of me.