Is it all over for Rachel Zoe?

Posted Sep 27th 2006 at 3:05PM by Deidre Woollard (Subscribe to Deidre Woollard's posts)

Filed under: News

With all the focus on weight and BMI for models and actresses lately, one of the most famous advocates of the size zero style is facing some negative attention. For the last few years, stylist Rachel Zoe has been at the top of the heap. Her "girls," the young waifs she draped in satiny gowns and oversized sunglasses, have included some of Hollywood's hottest (and skinniest): Lindsay Lohan, Mischa Barton and Nicole Richie. But lately, the super stylist has been dogged by persistent rumors about her slim clients.

A recent article in Britain's The Times takes it a step further. The article, titled "Fashion's No. 1 stylist or just a great big zero?" skewers Zoe's signature style, calling it "Brigitte Bardot on crack." In the article, Zoe defends herself, saying that she has worked with people who are size eight and 10 (clearly gargantuan by Zoe standards). In another profile she complains about the unfairness of being singled out for thinness. It's hard to feel sorry for the woman who has made thousands of women feel insecure about their own bodies and their inability to imitate Hollywood fashion by maintaining a skeletal physique. With a style book coming out soon and her line of purses with Judith Leiber, we probably haven't heard the last of Zoe. However, now that layers and the voluminous look are in for fall, her fashion moment may be fast fading.

Source

Tags: fashion, mischa barton, nicole richie, rachel zoe, RachelZoe, stylist

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 9)

j 10-02-2006 @ 6:17AM

"Zoe defends herself saying that she has worked with people who are size eight and 10 (clearly gargantuan by Zoe standards)" That isn't big! Jeez, this girl needs a reality check. People who wear these sizes aren't large @ all!

Deana 10-02-2006 @ 7:01AM

Why should a stylist be held responsible for her clients' failure to eat sensibly and maintain a healthy body? Afterall, a stylist is paid to suggest what goes on rather than what goes in the bodies of her clients. It is silly and irresponsible to criticize this woman for something that is the responsibility of the client.

Dana 10-02-2006 @ 7:20AM

I believe while you are certainly entitled to your views/opinions. An open forum such as this is important to protect Ms. Zoe's rights.
Your staunch and negative spin on her career are both irresponsible, an d seemingly unwarranted.

Design By Dana
Miami
Florida

G.K. 10-02-2006 @ 7:24AM

This is rediculous !! This is really about personal responsibility. This is just as bad as some loser trying to sue McDonald's or other fast food giants because they themselves don't have enough self control to push away from the table !! Unless someone ties you in a chair for months on end and either starves you or forces food down your throat, shut up and accept some personal accoutability. Everything is ALWAYS someone else's fault it seems these days!! Oh !! Poor me !! I'm a victim !! Give me a friggin break !!!!!!!!!!

Melissa 10-02-2006 @ 7:31AM

Check out our selection of leather bags, backpacks, briefcases

www.fineleather.com

Scott 10-02-2006 @ 7:38AM

After all, these are models. Their appearance is their career. In all of our careers, there are required attrubtes and competencies in order to successfully perform the job. In modeling, you must maintain an attractive physique. You won't find many stylists willing to strut Rosie O'Donnell down the runway. Apparently the writers of these articles are Size 28s.

chris 10-02-2006 @ 7:39AM

This article is ridiculous ....unfair to ms. Zoe .....simply an unnecessary article filled with a bunch of opinionated crap!

janelane 10-02-2006 @ 7:52AM

I think men and women have been promoting anerxia through modeling for years. While the model is personally responsible for her weight, lets face it...if they are over a size 2 they won't get work. I am sick of the fashion world and hollywood sending out the message to young girls that skeletal is in. These women have major eating disorders, lack self esteem and self confidence and need serious help. I believe drugs play a huge part in contributing to the women being able to stay a size 0. I do not find them the least bit pretty, I see sad, and sick women.

janelane 10-02-2006 @ 7:57AM

Oh by the way I am not a size 28 as the writer Scott insinuated. I am a size 6 and work on proper nutrition, excersize and Jenny Craig program to help me with my weight, self esteem and self confidence. I can clearly see these anerxia women are depriving their body, mind and soul of being healthy and the agencies, and hollywood are promoting this sick image. Skinny or unemployed is the message they are sending.

Wendy Packer 10-02-2006 @ 8:00AM

As a RN, certified hypnoist, I see many clients who either want to lose weight or gain weight. The majority of people are looking to live long and healthy lives by maintaining a weight that is right for them. The real issues affecting people's weight are ones of self esteem and self confidence. Most everyone can benefit using hypnotism with finding the happiness they need and want within themselves. Nothing can give you happiness unless you are happy with who you are, that's really the bottom line.

Chris 10-02-2006 @ 8:10AM

Whatever, who cares really if Zoe is dressing all these skinny little freaks, what she and other people do not relize is that all these skinny little monsters look terrible in their clothing and usually if I want to buy somthing I see how it looks on and all the clothes these gilrs wear are ugly, they all look terrible with their stupid big sunglasses that cover there skinny little faces and their dresses look like trash bags with fancy material, so really who cares when all here clients perish from eating disorders she will have to dress those "fatties" in their size 6"s and 8's and at least then the clothes will look good with real women figures instead of these girls that have no curves or figures, and that picture of Nicole next to Zoe, I mean that gilr is gross, it does not matter what Zoe dresses her in if it does not cover her ugly little face then it does not do Nicole justice.

cynthia leblanc 10-02-2006 @ 8:13AM

check out the nutrasystem add on tv ! i can finally wear a bikini now that i lost 33 lbs. she is now in a size 2 !!!!! i think that kind of add sends a very bad message the anyone !!!!!!! there is no beauty to looking like nicole. !!!!!!!!

Jackie Mitchell 10-02-2006 @ 8:21AM

Here's the thing; this woman is hired by starlets (or whatever) to "style" them into successful celebrities. Apparently she is successful and more and more young women are seeking her out as clients. If what she does involves having them radically alter their body weight to an unhealthy level, and her work influences other young women who want to look like the celebrities that she works for, then maybe someone needs to call her on that. If she is recommending drug use or other extreme methods to achieve these skeletal looks that the camera apparently loves so much, then it's even more important. Yes, we all have a choice and that includes her clients. But they pay for her services which implies that they don't know what to do and she does. If her practices are

Amy 10-02-2006 @ 8:36AM

YES, I AGREE NICOLE RICHIE IS GROSS, BUT ALL THIN WOMEN ARE NOT. IT IS RIDIDCULOUS THAT THEY MUST SINGLE OUT ONLY ONE FASHION DESIGNER, WHEN FOR YEARS AND YEARS, ALL FASHION DESIGNERS HIRE EXTREMELY THIN MODELS. SOME OF THESE MODELS DO LOOK AS IF THEY STARVE OR TAKE DRUGS, BUT I HAVE SEEN MANY WOMEN WHO LOOK GOOD AND ARE VERY PETITE. THE TRUTH IS IF THE STANDARDS OF BEING A MODEL CHANGED, PEOPLE WOULD STILL SUFFER FROM LOW SELF-ESTEEM, BECAUSE NO MATTER WHAT NOT EVERYONE IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE A "MODEL." THIS THINNESS TALK IS NOTHING NEW AND I WOULD THINK THAT PEOPLE SHOULD EXCEPT IT FOR WHAT IT IS AND CONCENTRATE ON POILITICS, THE FUTURE OF THE EARTH AND THEIR FAMILIES. THIS SORT OF NEGATIVE TALK AND FOCUS ON MODELS ONLY BELITTLES PEOPLES SELF-ESTEEM AND INTELLIGENCE.

Gina 10-02-2006 @ 8:39AM

How these people live their lives is their business. Obviously there's a huge market for skeletal sunken chest big head no body girls. It's sickening that they would starve themselves until their bodies look like 10 year old boys instead of real women. Their legs and arms are sticks and their chests are sunken with ribs jutting out. Their heads appear much larger than their frail bodies can hold up and before hair/makeup and wardrobe get to them they look like withered old people with a serious illness. A jolt of some high caffine product or what ever their pick me up of choice is and they appear ready for work but in reality they are exhausted and worn out from the lack of nutrition. Even though I think it's horrifying as many others do, it's still their bodies and their business how they want to portray themselves. Plus their motto is no publicity is bad publicity so they enjoy the attention which is why they did that to their bodies in the first place.

Amy 10-02-2006 @ 8:45AM

THE NUTRASYSTEM GIRL ON T.V. IS FULL OF CRAP, I WEAR A SIZE 3/4 AND I AM NOT AS BIG AS HER, SHE LOOKS GREAT YES, BUT SHE DOES NOT WEAR A SIZE 2.

Rachel 10-02-2006 @ 8:51AM

I think there is a dilemma going on in the acting world. Of course, I blame people like Rachel Zoe for the anorexic waifs we're seeing on tv, papz photos and movies. It's disgusting. I am thin, but i obviously cannot look like a waif and dress in Rachel Zoe's clothes. I hate these poor excuses that fashion designers are making about 'professionalism' and linen size and what looks good on the runway or on screen or in front of any camera. The more REAL sized women we see in the celeb and fashion world, the more women will emulate like them. When I was a preteen, all I wanted were boobs and a butt. And now that I have 'em, I'm not considered waif like enough to be "attractive" enough for ads. How silly. That is what fashion is all about. What's in and what's not. Of course girls are going to FOLLOW that. And if the waif look is in, that is what these celebs will go for and that is what our children will go for. It's sad, really. You see people in third world nations begging to gain weight and here in the West you see people doing the opposite. And all for what? To suffer in vain? To make people miserable about looking like a human being, rather than a giraffe or ostrich? And it's not only happening amongst young girls. It's happening amongst older women. You would think that by the time a woman reaches 40, she'd have curves by then. But if you look at Desperate Housewives and anywhere else, these women look extremely skinny and botoxed! And all in the name of vanity, show business and beauty. You are making it seem it is acceptable to be this skinny. Even girls with fast metabolisms and who are naturally thin, are going through things to stay skinny. They're not always 'naturally' skinny. Ribs sticking out is not 'naturally' skinny. It's unhealthy. Do something to gain weight. Don't turn into skin and bones, all for the sake of show business. You're influencing alot of people in a negative way. Even guys now these days are preaching about how they're only attracted to skinny girls. Where did this come from? It's disgusting. It's not normal. Show business, advertsiing, fashion are all supposed to represent the "art" of life. This is misrepresentation. I am sick of hearing these entertainment execs and fashion designers stating their defenses to this abnormal, unhealthy way of life. It is NOT natural. People with fast metabolisms only rpresent a small population and they're being attributed as being gifted and talented and beautiful. So, why get your defenses up? After you finish screaming about how sick you are about people accusng you of being anorexic when you are 'naturally' skinny, please go eat a vegan burger with fries or a regular cheeseburger or some cheese and shut up!

mindy d 10-02-2006 @ 8:57AM

Who is to judge whether someone is too skinny or to heavy? What works for one person doesn't mean its right for someone else. I dont want someone telling me I am to thin, just as I am sure someone doesnt want to hear that they are to heavy.

Armando 10-04-2006 @ 7:34AM

it's true, how these people live their lives is their business. It's sick and very unattractive. If the girls are using illegal drugs, I feel so sad for them, only because the drug we all know that is out there for this crowd is just about the worst of them all, right before heroine.

A shout out to all down to earth, girls being who they are!!

AMIE 10-02-2006 @ 9:06AM

I don't understand what the big deal is about? If you feel good about yourself and teach your children that they too are beautiful, if they are not psychotic, they will not look to anorexics for inspiration. In all my days I personally have never heard ANYONE say that they do. I have heard people say they want to lose weight and some who say they would like to gain weight, but never was it because of the fashion industry, I think it is a lame excuse and makes people look like they are jealous, if they are or not. That is why this protesting has and will go nowhere. Because they are convinced people are Jealous, so it only confirms that they ARE beautiful... Right or Wrong, it is a fact.