Defending Rachel Zoe

Absurdity is a given with any reality television show and its respective stars. This I admit, and more so empathize with any fellow entertainment journalist when they set about covering the genre.

I am compelled, however, to separate from the pack and confront the carcass that lay before me: "The Rachel Zoe Project," as slaughtered by the New York Times.

On Tuesday the publication ran a scathing review of Bravo's new series, an hour-long fashion folly with celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe. The author attempts to disassemble Ms. Zoe's insanely popular aesthetic, disprove her nearly two decades of experience and accuses her of hypnotizing the masses into a state of prideful ambivalence.

And then it gets nasty. Zoe is literally labeled "a pox on humanity."

Granted, Zoe has always been a polarizing figure. Even on paper with celebrity styling, editorial and commercials shoots as well as runway and design consultation, Rachel's work has rarely surpassed her reputation.

The catalogue of whispers about the 37 year-old, who resides in the Hollywood Hills with husband Rodger Berman, includes accusations of inspiring anorexia in bright young starlets, pushing drugs on clients to maintain waifish figures and delusions of grandeur so severe she's called herself more influential than Anna Wintour.

So she's not winning Miss Congeniality at the CFDA's. Still -- a pox on humanity?

Hardly. The reality landscape has become a series of low-rent Houdini acts. Perceptions are edited to the point where a woman only fit to model clothes hosts fashion design competitions. SoCal princesses delete their dizzying fame from docudramas about their "real" lives. As Tina Brown once said, "Everyone is famous, and no one is interesting."

Zoe is the real deal. Say what you will about her vacant 70s glam shtick -- the oversized sunglasses, ropes and ropes of gold jewels and permanent Starbucks Venti drip. She isn't bagging a bachelor, making a band or flipping beachside bungalows.

Zoe is a seasoned stylist responsible for some of our most memorable red carpet moments. She's made It Girls out of dour ducklings, superstars out of burgeoning designers and soon will expand her own brand so you can own a slice of what she calls her "happy place."

That place, for Zoe, is fashion. And that place for me is her reality show. I'm not alone. Last week's second episode grew 41% in viewership from the premiere, clocking in at a three-quarters of a million viewers.

My guess is that the show and Zoe will continue to expand. Dramatizing, accessorizing and polarizing is what she does best. Not because a casting director willed it and not because of secret plots to devolve young women the world over. No matter how disingenuous you find her work or personality, she's always authentic Zoe, and was long before the cameras rolled in.

Call her a pox on humanity, but don't deny -- she's a beauty mark on the drab face of uninspired television.

Comments

[blindhog]

I love Rachel Zoe. I hate Taylor. Rachel should get rid of her as well as her husband Roger. Brad is just what Rachel needs. She needs someone who never says no to her. It sounds crazy, but that way she has to mature and take her life into her own hands and learn that she has to say no to herself. From what I see, Taylor is a devisive entity and Roger seems very self centered.

[icy709]

I love what I see on RZ project. It may be not be that interesting for people who see glam on the street like NY or LA in real life. I see this differently.. I live in a small city. I see her very real in the show because I see a person at a top of fashion sense still struggling and trying to find a way and a woman working hard for what she believes. What I love about her show is, she is the one brings in very influencial designers commenting on her show along with their clothing!. You see their clothing in magazines, I hardly see them talking on TV. If you don't understand high fashion, you may not understand what I am talking about. But this show is very positively influencial to people who likes high fashion and people who likes to see the fashion industry from outside world.... everywhere else but NY or LA? kidding... I don't care if she is a posh or not. I think it is a media word to sell stories.

[antoniab]

Matt, great piece of writing - well put. I find Rachel's style rather LA-generic personally, but then she is somewhat responsible for the evoluton of 'LA generic' itself.
I guess that makes her something of a style icon..hmm. Regardless, no one deserves to be called 'raisin-face'. Reap what you sow, Richie, reap what you sow.....

[AmandaRuth]

i love R. Zoe, if for only bringing back my favorite era of fashion, the '70's and being instrumental in moving away from the big fake boob era of bodily standards.

[gettingoutofsfo]

I usually hate reality tv¦ i might be one of the only ppl on earth that has never watched an episode of survivor or american idol. but some shows make it to my guilty pleasure list. the 'rachel zoe project' is one of them. it is not the most intellectually inspiring show, but at the root of it, it is about a woman who is trying to make the most out of her business life. i admire that. as a young woman, i feel that it's a good thing to see in the media.

a pox on humanity? i'll take watching zoe over the 'real housewives of whatever the hell place,' or people being bitchy and competitive on the zillions of project based elimination shows.

cheers!

[dunker]

"A pox on humanity" = Perez Hilton

I found Rachel's reality show interesting, the real pain was her assistant Taylor.