Last month, stylist, entrepreneur, and reality TV star Rachel Zoe announced that she will be joining season 15 of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. “It s been a while, and you ve been asking me to come back to television,” Zoe said in an Instagram video revealing the news. “Really excited to be with all of you again and I hope you are too, so let s have some fun!”
Her return to Bravo marks Zoe’s first major TV project since starring in her own show, The Rachel Zoe Project, which aired from 2008 to 2013. Following Zoe as she styled celebrity clients and built her own fashion empire, the hit series raised a whole generation of fashion enthusiasts—so, what better time to give the show a rewatch than now, in anticipation of her grand Housewives comeback?
Below, read on for 33 thoughts I had watching the pilot episode of The Rachel Zoe Project. (Buckle up: It s a wild ride.)
1. “I’m Rachel Zoe, and I’m a stylist.” Iconic opening line. I remember first watching the show and being totally obsessed with just how fabulous she and her career were.
2. We meet Rachel as she is beginning to expand her business and continue styling celebrity clients for awards season. Bring on the fashion!
3. I forgot that “I die” was one of Rachel Zoe’s catchphrases. And “Ba-na-nas.”
4. We are introduced to her husband, Rodger, and her employees Taylor Jacobson and Brad Goreski. (Iconic.)
5. “For me, life is a red carpet,” Rachel says. Same.
6. Rachel is talking about how she “unfortunately” runs her business from her house. Sounds like a dream scenario to me, no? Would love to take calls from bed.
7. Taylor’s bleach blonde hair and side bangs is burned into my memory. The look is so 2008. I loved her grungy rock-and-roll style.
8. Taylor had such an attitude. I would not want to be on her bad side.
9. Brad is the new guy on the team. His varsity tennis sweater and glasses are so nerdy-chic. I love.
10. “He comes from Vogue and has impeccable style,” Rachel says of Brad. We love Vogue!
11. Taylor tells Brad and Rachel to shut up and quit chit-chatting, because she is trying to work. I love that both Rachel and Brad are scared of Taylor—like she’s the boss.
12. Rachel’s studio is filled with with fabulous gowns and accessories. They’re currently pulling looks for the actress-model Joy Bryant, for some fancy black tie ball.
13. Joy tries on a chiffon Alberta Feretti gown during their fitting, but it ends up being a flop. The black Giambattista Valli gown doesn’t fit. Disaster! They don’t find a winner just yet.
14. Taylor and Rachel head to the vintage boutique Decades in search of more dresses for Joy. Good strategy: We love archival.
15. They look over some vintage Chanel, Givenchy, and Balmain dresses. In the words of Rachel Zoe, I die for it all.
16. Rachel gets side-tracked and begins shopping for herself. “Part of what I do is to support my habits,” she says. Relatable. “I can never leave Decades without buying something.”
17. Taylor is giving Rachel sass for impulsively buying an Hermès Birkin bag. “You collect art—you don t collect Birkins,” says Taylor. Oh, how the times have changed.
18. Rachel is now going to New York, and bringing Brad with her in the quest to find some more dresses. “Do you think he will be beneficial to you? Because he’s kind of green,” says Taylor. She was such a hater—which made for great television.
19. Brad and Taylor are grabbing some drinks before he leaves, in the hopes of becoming friendlier and getting to know each other a little more. I wouldn’t say their friend-date goes swimmingly. Taylor says she does not want to babysit him. “I can’t manage you. I can’t be bothered with it. That’s annoying to me.” She is so scary.
20. Rodger’s side-bang swoop is so 2000s. The Justin Bieber effect.
21. Rachel is now in New York. She’s stopping to see her friend Michael Kors, to find a dress for Joy. I love her white fur coat. She stays slaying.
22. Back in L.A., Taylor is wearing a black beanie and chaotically organizing the showroom while yelling at someone on the phone. I love her.
23. Rachel is taking a very important business meeting to expand her empire. We learn that she is exploring the idea of designing sunglasses, bags, and more. She wants to start with sunnies. “I hide behind them every day of my life. They’re the best do-not-disturb sign.” I agree: If I am wearing big shades, do not talk to me.
24. Back in L.A., Taylor and Brad continuing to not get along. “When I’m busy with work, I don’t want to be bothered by Brad’s questions. He talks a little too much,” says Taylor. A yapper has a time and a place.
25. Brad feels like Taylor is not being a very good manager. “I need a little more training—I’m not tapped into what’s happening here.” These colleagues need to work it out on the remix.
26. They were always drinking, like, Trenta-sized Starbucks coffees on this show. I for sure blame my caffeine addiction on them.
27. Taylor is like a black cat, and Brad is like a golden retriever.
28. The fact that they’re using Blackberrys and landline phones to call brands for dresses is sending me right now. Simpler times! Bring back Blackberry Messenger.
29. Taylor is yelling at Brad because the studio looks “horrendous” and is not very organized. “Do you always work like this?” she ASKS. Girl, you can help organize, too! Grab a broom!
30. Taylor wants all the racks in the showroom organized by item—“long-sleeves, shorts, cocktail dresses, gowns. I want it perfectly merchandised.” She’s not wrong—any good fashion assistant knows that rack presentation is key.
31. Brad complains to Rachel about Taylor and her attitude. Oof, I don’t remember them getting off to such a bad start. We are only one episode in, people!
32. We’re now just hours away from Joy walking the red carpet, and they still have not found that perfect dress. Talk about being down to the wire.
33. They have found the winning ticket—a chic Zac Posen red gown with ruffling in all the right places. Joy tries it on and is ecstatic. “You’re actually making me cry in this dress,” says Rachel as she looks at her in the final look. Same girl. Same. I missed this show.
