My Life In Fashion: Rachel Zoe

My first fashion memory is those early Versace days. I remember looking through Vogue and loving all of the women and the glamour, with their beautiful gowns and big gold jewellery – everyone had a deep tan and big hair. I really gravitated toward the icons of the 70s – Diane von Furstenberg, Jerry Hall, Studio 54 – and fell in love with the era and the imagery. It changed me as a person, and I continue find inspiration in it to this day.

The late 60s and early 70s are my two favourite fashion eras because they are the perfect mix of bohemian glamour. The pieces from that time also work the best on my body and fit my personality. I love the music, the style – everything from that time resonates with me.

My first big designer purchase happened when I was 13 or 14, in Paris, with my family. I took every dime and dollar I’d saved with me on that trip and spent it on a Louis Vuitton logo bag (it was a half-moon-shaped bag). After that, my next designer purchase was a Chanel black body con dress. It was the simplest thing, but also the most expensive thing I’d ever bought. As for vintage, a yellow Hermès coat from Didier Ludot in Paris is definitely my best purchase ever. 

My best vintage shopping tip is to check the condition and that the label is authentic, or it won’t retain its value. Don’t overpay for anything without a label, because no matter how much you love it, it won’t be something you can pass on in the future. Don’t be afraid of wearing your vintage pieces, either – my vintage Halston gowns are some of the most worn pieces in my wardrobe. I wear them year after year and I never get sick of them.

I’m a jewellery fanatic. My most meaningful pieces have all been given to me by my husband Rodger and my parents, and they’ve often come from Cartier. It’s probably my favourite jewellery brand of all time – I never take my Cartier pieces off.

Do I have fashion regrets? Er, the entire decade of the 80s! Too much hair, make-up, everything… the frosted lip gloss, the blue eyeshadow, and so much hair product. Brutal, just brutal.

I knew I wanted to be a stylist when I started trying to change the way a family friend dressed. I was only eight at the time, but I still think of it as my first styling job. I went into his wardrobe, laying out and labelling his clothes for Monday through to Friday. I realised it was something I loved doing. However, in all seriousness, it probably wasn't until I graduated from college that I knew it was something I could make a career out of. 

There have been several transformative moments throughout my career. I wouldn’t call any one of them my ‘big break’, but all of them have changed my life for the better. When I was 24, Tommy Hilfiger gave me my biggest styling job to date. It was a two-week photoshoot in LA involving countless actors and supermodels. It changed everything and I'm so grateful he took a chance on me.

It's hard to nail down who was my first big celebrity client, because I worked with so many young celebrities when I worked in magazines – Ashton Kutcher and Gwen Stefani are two names that spring to mind. When I first went freelance, I started working with Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys and Enrique Iglesias. When I moved to LA, my first red-carpet styling client was Jennifer Garner. The rest followed from there.