Exclusive: Rachel Zoe On ‘Gypsets,’ Laundry & Not Falling Victim To Trends

Photo: Nikki Brown for StyleBlazer

There’s a reason fashion fanatics and TV audiences can’t get enough of Rachel Zoe. She’s got “it girl” appeal and aspirational style, but still has an innate ability to relate to her fans on just about anything, including the not so glamorous side of fashion–laundry. No, that’s not a typo. Like every other human being, the “Fashionably Late” (which debuted last night) host knows how important this household chore is; so much, that she’s teaming up with Downy and Tide for an initiative that sees the personal stylist and designer learning more about how to care for clothes.

In addition to promoting the game changing Downy Fabric Conditioner, Rachel will also visit Proctor & Gamble facilities this fall for an education on how to make less expensive clothes look more luxe.

“Laundry’s a huge part of our life. We all do it, we all need to take care of our clothes; so as someone who’s been collecting, designing, wearing clothes (laughs), for me, it was such an organic relationship to start,” Zoe told us during an exclusive interview in her hotel suite during NYFW.

Photo: WENN

As someone whose career revolves around a love for clothes, Rachel is the perfect person to sell us on a product that may add more time to our laundry routine, but is ultimately beneficial.

She adds: “I mean, it is a fabric conditioner, but the same way you would condition your hair. When you don’t condition, it gets all fuzzy and fried with fly aways; same thing with your clothes. It retains the color, the shape.”

Chances are we’ll see Rachel integrate lessons learned from this partnership into future collections. That goes without saying, her spring/summer 2016 collection still made a splash earlier this month. Keep reading to see what she had to say about coining a new term for the runway as well as her rules for nailing standout personal style.

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Photo: Instagram/@rachelzoe 

StyleBlazer: We saw the hashtag #gypset all over your Instagram feed? Why did you use this word to describe the inspo behind your collection?

Rachel Zoe: Gypset is this hybrid of this woman on the go, running around all the time and doing a million things. She always looks cool, she has a Bohemian sensibility and effortless cool about her. Jet set meets the gypsy girl meets the luxe bohemian girl. I have to be able to identify with the women that I’m dressing. I really think about that when I’m designing.

SB: What do you remember about your first Fashion Week?

RZ: Just being a starry-eyed fashion girl, running from show to show. Just living for it. I’ve done it for a very long time, so I don’t think you have that same naive feeling, but I genuinely love it still. I love a good fashion show, just looking at someone’s art and vision. Givenchy was extraordinary; I don’t know how to even get past it (laughs).

SB: How important are trends and a budget to discovering your personal style?

RZ: Not having a budget really forces you to be more creative. I would say most of the people I know with the least kind of financial means have some of the best style. They dig more and look for those special pieces they can’t get anywhere else.

I think [trends] should play a role to an extent. I think you should embrace a trend and interpret it for yourself and work it into your everyday life. I don’t think you should be a victim of trend. You don’t want to dress head to toe in one trend and look like a walking billboard. Baby step into little elements here and there.

Be sure to tune into Fashionably Late With Rachel Zoe every Thursday at 10:30pm EST on Lifetime! 

The post Exclusive: Rachel Zoe On ‘Gypsets,’ Laundry & Not Falling Victim To Trends appeared first on StyleBlazer.