The only thing better than meeting a whole new cast of Real Housewives? When a familiar face is thrown back into the Bravo universe. Tonight, Rachel Zoe—an OG Bravolebrity, thanks to her hit aughts show The Rachel Zoe Project—made her debut on Season 15 of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, joining the likes of Kyle Richards, Erika Jayne, Dorit Kemsley, and Jennifer Tilly. And Zoe’s highly-anticipated return to our television screens did not disappoint.
It’s no secret that Zoe is great on camera. Her day job may have been as a Hollywood stylist, but over The Rachel Zoe Project’s five seasons, from 2008 to 2013—the early days of reality TV—Zoe’s eclectic style (filled with vintage designer items) and memorable quips (“ba-na-nas!” “I die!”) cemented her as a true TV star. A dozen years later, she’s as effortlessly charismatic as ever—even if, to hear her tell it, Bravo fans are meeting a very different Rachel Zoe.
“When we started, it felt like no time had passed—meaning, I was totally unaware of the cameras,” Zoe says. “But I was very honest and open in ways that I didn’t think I would be. My life was unraveling in real time.”
Last year, the stylist-turned-business mogul divorced her husband of 26 years, Rodger Berman, with whom she shares two sons, 14-year-old Skyler and 11-year-old Kaius. That context is not in the background of the new season of RHOBH, but right at its center, as Zoe finds her footing as a newly single woman. In the opening episode, Zoe attends a summer solstice party at Richards’s house, where she and Kemsley instantly bond over their recent separations.
“In the first episode, you really see the beginning of how we connect,” says Zoe. “When I was hearing what Dorit was going through, I immediately went into protection mode. I was just like, ‘No, no—you’re going to get up and live your life. You’re going to do you now.’” (Cue them also declaring that they are going to have a “hot girl summer” together.)
Of course, Zoe is also entering the fold with a famously enviable wardrobe, filled with priceless designer pieces that she isn’t shy about showing off. “I definitely pulled a lot of vintage from my archives,” says Zoe, who styled herself for the season. In the first episode alone, she sports silvery Chanel jewelry; a vintage Oscar de la Renta jacket given to her by the designer himself (“Whenever I wear something from him, I feel like I’m getting a hug,” she tells me); and more contemporary pieces, like a gauzy pink gown from LoveShackFancy.
In honor of her stellar season debut, Vogue caught up with Zoe to discuss the season ahead, her approach to dressing for TV, and the vintage gems in her closet that she’ll never stop wearing.
Vogue: I would love to hear what first excited you about joining the Real Housewives universe.
Rachel Zoe: It happened very quickly. It was one of those things where I didn’t really know that I was being considered for it. But when I spoke to the producer, Alex Baskin, I fell in love with him. People have been asking me to come back to television, and to come back to Bravo. I always said I would when the time felt right, and when there were things I needed to share. Life is very new and different for me now—but at the same time, I feel the best I’ve ever felt. I’m the most excited I’ve been in forever about my career and my life. I remember having a conversation with my kids after my conversation with Alex, and I was like, “This means mommy is going to be working 24/7, and I’m going to have to be pretty honest about our lives.” And they were just like, “Mom, do it.”
You’re no stranger to reality TV, of course. But how was being a part of Housewives different from your first series, The Rachel Zoe Project?
Well, on my first show, I was an executive producer, so I was able to see the final cuts! Now, I’m going to see it when you guys see it. With [The Rachel Zoe Project] I really wanted to help people understand the fashion industry, and the world of runways and red carpet. With Housewives, this really feels like a time to share with as many women as possible what life can be for anybody. There is a really human element and relatability to the show that I think every woman should be aware of. I’m financially and socially independent, and I think it’s important to teach as many women as possible how critical that is, because you’ll always have control over your own life if you have control over yourself.
You really do get raw and honest on the show. On the first episode, you talk about navigating your new family dynamic after splitting with your ex-husband. Was it a challenge to be so vulnerable in front of the cameras?
When we were filming, my life was unraveling in real time on camera, so I was very honest and open in ways that I didn’t think I would be. I’ll be very honest with you: There was a 24-hour turnaround from when I signed on to do the show to when we started filming. I didn’t really know anything about the show, I had never seen one episode, and then I was off to the races. But when we started, it felt like no time had passed—meaning, I was totally unaware of the cameras. That’s how it’s always been for me, because I’m not an actor, and I really can’t be. I just try to be myself and pretend the cameras aren’t there. When I spoke to Andy Cohen, I said, “I’ll do it as long as I can be authentically me and not be scripted.”
How was it to meet and interact with all the housewives as a newbie to the cast?
When I went to Kyle’s house in the first episode, I had never met Erika or Dorit. I didn’t know most of them. I didn’t watch [previous seasons], because I didn’t want to have preconceived ideas of who these women were. I’ve known Kathy [Hilton] forever, and I knew Kyle through Kathy, but not well. I knew Boz [Bozoma Saint John] because I had her on my podcast. But it was wild, because you’re walking into a group of girlfriends that have a lot of history. For me, it was about taking it in and listening. I learned bits and pieces of everyone’s stories. There’s people that I clicked with right away. Boz and I are incredibly connected—we laugh a lot.
I loved when you and Dorit proclaimed that you were going to have a hot girl summer.
Well, it didn’t happen! But I definitely left my marriage in a state of freedom and peace, so at that time I was like, now it’s time to live this life. I’m going to say yes and have fun. I feel like I lit back up. I’ve realized in the last year that laughing, dancing, having fun, and being around people makes you feel good—it can be a cure for pretty much anything. I wanted to bring that energy to Dorit. Erika is good at having fun. But I could have used more of a hot girl summer.
Maybe you can have a hot girl winter now.
I’m hoping for it. Let’s give it our best. I’ll get back to you on that.
Let’s switch gears and talk fashion. To me, Housewives has its own subgenre of style—there is a very specific look to being a housewife. How did you approach your wardrobe on the show?
Honestly, I had no time to think about it. I don’t even think I had time to get my hair colored. I was just like, okay, I guess I’m going like this. That being said, I definitely pulled a lot of vintage from my archives. If we were shooting in the fall-winter, I could have had more fun with the clothes. It was hard because we were in places that were, like, 108 degrees. I wore a lot of caftans and gowns, or whatever felt right in the moment. It’s not that planned; sometimes, you’re told you’re shooting the same day, so it was very in-the-moment styling. I styled myself, though I pulled from my friend Janet Mandell, because she has great vintage and archival pieces. Next season I should probably prepare a little more.
I love that you help style Kathy in your first Housewives scene. Did you find yourself styling the other housewives, too?
It’s interesting, because my last show was so about my life as a stylist, and that’s not the dominating part of my life anymore. I’m always going to be a stylist—it’s like breathing for me—but if I were to be a stylist again, it would have to be for one or two people at the most, where I can give it 100% and really focus and collaborate. It would be really creative and fun.
Who would you love to style these days?
Margot Robbie or Dakota Johnson would be a dream. Sienna Miller, always. I love fashion girls.
What did you think of the fashion taste of your fellow housewives?
Every single woman on the show has a completely different style. No one overlapped. Maybe Sutton [Stracke] and Jennifer Tilly, because they would both do a head-to-toe Dolce Gabbana vibe, in prints from the same collection. Being Jennifer Tilly is an artform in itself: In one of the scenes, she was wearing a jeweled crown. I love her for doing that much. I love Erika’s style, too: She’s got this very 1980s, Gwen Stefani, Blonde Ambition vibe. Kyle would come down in a cowboy hat, squash blossom necklace, and a turquoise Kelly bag—and the next day be in a bodycon dress. Everyone stays true to their style, in the most over-the-top version of themselves.
What I love about your own style is, you have always been a huge proponent for vintage—even before it was trendy.
I ve been wearing and collecting vintage since I was 18. I looked up to style icons like Brigitte Bardot, Bianca Jagger, and Diane von Furstenberg, but I didn’t have any money. I couldn’t buy vintage Halston. So I was like, how can I have these things? I would go thrifting and to vintage stores, and just get creative. I would buy every piece of lamé and sequins I could find. I loved the glamour. Then, as I started to build my career and make money, I would spend every dollar I had on collector’s pieces. As a stylist, I brought vintage in constantly, because there was always competition for [new designer looks] that editors, buyers, or other stylists wanted. Vintage always stood out as a way to establish individuality. Keira Knightley really understood how cool it was to wear something unique and different. I also started working with designers to bring back gowns from their archives. I would pull a lot of Valentino or Versace archival for the red carpet.
Below, Zoe walks us through some of her favorite vintage pieces in her closet:
This is my first confessional look, and I’m wearing these galactic necklaces from Chanel. They have this darkened-silver tone. The top one is a choker and the bottom one is technically a belt, but I wear it as a necklace. I also have the matching earrings: I bought them 10 years after I got the necklaces. I’ve had them forever. The jacket is a vintage Oscar de la Renta beaded fringe jacket that he actually gave me as a gift. I love and miss that man every day. Whenever I wear something from him, I feel like I’m getting a hug.
I collect Courrèges jackets. I must have at least 10 in different colors. It’s funny, because people are always like, “They’re back,” but they really truly never left. They’re from the ’60s but still feel fresh. I love the friendliness of them. I love that it just becomes your outfit: I throw them on with jeans and a tee, or a white wide-leg trouser. I keep it very clean.
Two of my favorite things that I own—that are irreplaceable to me—are these vintage Halston caftans. They’re in the Halston books. I wore one of them for a shoot for French Vogue many, many years ago—probably 2006. These are, to me, art pieces, and live forever in my mind.
This is a Jean Patou dress from William Vintage. William Banks-Blaney is amazing: He’s a dear friend, and has worked a lot with Amal Clooney for many years. I’ve bought some of my favorite Dior Couture and Halston pieces from him. I wore this dress on the cover of my second book, Living in Style.
This is my Hermès Birkin in the Ardennes color. It’s this gorgeous olive green with gold hardware. I got it in 2009 in St. Barths with Marc Jacobs. We ran into town and went shopping, and it was just one of those days on vacation where you pretend that money isn’t real. Marc started freaking out over the color, and when Marc freaks out about something, you just have to do it. It’s still one of my favorites.
This is from Alexander McQueen’s spring 2009 collection. I remember working on Naomi Campbell’s Fashion for Relief show the year he died. I’ll never forget it—it was such a labor of love, and being in Naomi’s orbit is always extraordinary. The show was a few days after his passing, and his best friends, iconic women like Naomi and Daphne Guinesss, walked the show in his looks.
This is a stunning vintage Valentino turquoise feather coat. It was a gift from Mr. Valentino, around 2008 or 2009. It still exists loudly in my mind as one of my most favorite things that I own. I recently wore it for the first time in least 12 years. I took it out of my archive to go to the Palm Tree Music Festival in Aspen last year, and New York Fashion Week in February.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
