Rachel Zoe Fall 2014 Ready-to-Wear Collection Review

Do it all wonder-woman Rachel Zoe’s fall (autumn) 2014 Ready-to-Wear collection was her best yet. Stylist, editor, designer and mum-of-two, Zoe, who is known for her vintage glamour, haute couture and contemporary design grace, has released a line true to her personal style and outdone the masses for this season. There are 28 looks with everything from dresses and coats, to shoes and accessories, with eloquence and class, as well as practicality for the colder months.

The author of Living in Style’s newest line exerts more detail and focus than ever before. There is an overwhelming presence of the ‘swinging sixties’ flair and hues on classic Chanel chic, a favorite of Zoe’s. The line was a welcome change from her usual seventies vibe and tapped into one of Fall’s major trends, as exhibited by Chanel and Gucci in their Fall 2014 ready-to-wear lines, proving Zoe is a real contender in the industry, providing high-fashion glamour at a more favorable price point.

“This season is really about a Parisian woman in the 1960’s- her sensibility, her lifestyle and her confidence. I wanted to create a collection that embodied French bohemia with mod elements- tailored jackets, short shifts, hounds tooth print and textured tweeds- cool wearable pieces that women want right now”, Zoe said in her behind-the-scenes blog entry on The Zoe Report.  “I’ve said it before: I don’t think that my love for French ingénues of that era is ever going to change. It’s how you express that and make it modern”.

The modern line also made reference to the ‘Youthquake’ era; a fashion, music and entire cultural movement that occurred in the 1960’s that saw young women, predominantly in London begin to dominate the music and fashion scene. The term was coined by then editor-in-chief of Vogue Magazine, Diana Freeland in 1965, and is surely why it was not overlooked by Ms Zoe. With the rise of women’s confidence in society, the era saw women starting to wear clothing embracing youth and fun spirit, such as short dresses and jumpsuits.
Presenting short shift-dresses, pleated mini-skirts, flared pantsuits, a series of blazers and more, the designer experimented with new textures and twangs including tweed, metallic chains, matte sequins and leather. Accompanying geometric graphics such as hounds-tooth pattern, a Burberry-like tartan, horizontal stripes and bright accent colours including cobalt blue and sunshine yellow, the line made for an eye-pleaser to the high fashion lover.

 

The collection is extremely personal and will surely make the customer feel a sense of familiarity with Zoe herself. You can absolutely see Rachel Zoe wearing most of the garments in her collection, and/ or dressing her A-list celebrity clientele including Jenifer Garner and Demi Moore, in them for events and everyday wear. One piece, which surely would not escape the personal wardrobe of Ms Rachel Zoe, would be the leopard print, over sized trench coat. Zoe is rarely spotted without one when she attends New York fashion week each winter.

One piece that was particularly satisfying, was the gunmetal long-sleeved shirt with a draped bow-tie collar. The shirt emotes nostalgia to her first season of her reality show, The Rachel Zoe Project, when the designer was wearing a very similar shirt while attending a business meeting in New York, discussing the very idea of starting up her own line.  Remembrances from before her career became an empire, the famous quirky comment made; “Look, I even wore a bow-tie for you guys!” resonates with long-time devotees of Ms Zoe.

 

Zoe is never without some serious bling, and her collection embodied much of this personal favorite of her own. Statement necklaces, large cocktail rings and ‘sister’ cuffs, comprising classic details and shapes classic to modernist 60’s fashion add an element of drama and opulence to each look.

Of course, like any Rachel Zoe line, there was no shortage of her signature tailoring including the wide-legged pant and the boxy jackets notorious of Zoe’s personal style.  United with her infamous bohemian essence, fringes and chunky accents mean this line should be especially appealing to her high-glamour customer.

And Rachel Zoe’s fall ’14 line effectively caters for her entire customer base; she covers both masculine, men’s-wear inspired pieces with tailored blazers and pant suspenders, as well as feminine baby doll dresses and laced hems. This has been carefully thought out with each and every element in the line, even down to the shoes. The shoe collection comprises both feminine and delicate heels and Oxford flats, and the polar opposite; flat, black leather, biker type boots with chunky buckles and casual loafers.

Here’s to the furthering success of Rachel Zoe. Her hectic business and personal life makes her effortless glamour and style even more inspiring, but it seems all the hard work has paid off for Zoe. Fashion lovers and Zoe fans alike will be anxiously anticipating her next line. I know I am. 

See the full line here :) 

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