Rachel Zoe deserves some props. The über-stylist-cum-reality-star-cum-designer stepped back, took stock, and made some big changes to her eponymous brand. For several seasons the lineup had begun to feel hackneyed, trading on a few well-trod signatures like the Bianca Jagger tailoring and the Studio 54 gowns. And from someone well-known for a decadent, gypset aesthetic, it frankly didn t feel very special. But from the moment you arrived at Zoe s Empire State Building showroom this week, it was plain that something was different for Resort. Fabrications were amped up, giving her fans a nice mix of the aspirational (a floor-grazing cranberry-hued suede coat) and the attainable (lush satin blouses). If in the past some of her nods to her favorite decade have felt a touch costumey, here they came to life as more sophisticated propositions, like long tuxedo vests and spruce outerwear. You don t need to be an industry insider to realize that there s a dearth of great gowns for less than a month s rent, so it was particularly savvy of Zoe to build out evening options like a maxi with intarsia-knit hothouse blooms and an ethereal number in gauzy gold metallic. Here s to Zoe s newfound momentum.
