Rachel Zoe’s empire is crumbling: is it because she’s an awful businesswoman?

We always have new photos of Rachel Zoe and her son Skylar coming in, but I rarely discuss them these days because… no one else is really discussing them. You know? Like, I would make Rachel Zoe the lead link, but no other site is even talking about her. Zoe was never a huge “celebrity” in the way that people discussed her often on blogs and in magazines, but she was famous enough to have across-the-board name recognition, and she was famous enough to build her own brand. Unfortunately, my own apathy towards Zoe these days belies an across-the-board ambivalence when it comes to Rachel. According to Page Six, Zoe’s empire isn’t doing very well at all. Interest in Zoe seems to have already “peaked” and now she’s on the way down…?

Rachel Zoe’s clothing empire might soon be in shreds — sources say her line isn’t selling well in stores and her Bravo reality show may also be in trouble. The pin-thin stylist-turned-designer has become a household name from styling A-list clients including Jennifer Garner, Anne Hathaway and Demi Moore, and through her Bravo reality show, “The Rachel Zoe Project.” Last summer, she launched a clothing line with Chinese retail giant Li & Fung.

But despite the large promotional platform of her Bravo show, we hear the line isn’t doing well at stores including Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom, with industry insiders snipping that interest in the line has “peaked.”

We hear Li & Fung “is panicked” about Zoe’s collection, and there are also rumblings that “The Rachel Zoe Project” may not return to Bravo for a fifth season.

To add insult to injury, sources tell us that Zoe’s assistant, interior designer Jeremiah Brent, is getting his own reality show on the network. Brent, who redecorated Zoe’s Hollywood home on the show, appeared on “Zoe Project” in Season 4, having been fired and rehired by Zoe and her husband, Rodger Berman.

Brent appears to have moved on and started his own business, Jeremiah Brent Design, as shown by photos of his office on Twitter. He would be the third Zoe assistant to get a reality show, including Brad Goreski (“It’s a Brad Brad World”) and Taylor Jacobson, who appears in Oxygen Network’s upcoming “Hollywood Unzipped: Stylist Wars.”

A rep for Zoe, who will show at Lincoln Center during New York Fashion Week, didn’t comment. But Alan Chartash, the chief strategy officer for Li & Fung USA, said: “We’re very happy. Apparel launched a year or so, and since that time, we’ve launched footwear, handbags and we’re launching a line of jewelry exclusively with Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman. We’re supportive of Rachel and the continuation of the brand. Like any clothing line, it ebbs and flows, but we’re very happy with the apparel sales.”

[From Page Six]

I haven’t watched The Rachel Zoe Project in a long time – pretty much since Brad left. Brad definitely grounded the show, which is such a weird thing to say about a dude like Brad. Much like LeAnn Rimes, Rachel Zoe gives Virgos a bad name – I see myself in some of her anal-retentive-ness, and in her tunnel-vision of “I’m the only one who can do this the right way, step aside.” But after the exodus of staff and Zoe’s consistent ability to spread herself too thin and get “overwhelmed” by all she has taken on, she might need to face it: she’s an awful businesswoman, a terrible boss, and she lacks the ability to manage an empire. She’s a micro-manager, a nit-picker, she’s detail-oriented, and she has a horrible time trying to see the “big picture.” Time to pull back from some of her projects and maybe just focus on styling for a while? Because, though I’m loathe to admit it, she is a talented stylist with an encyclopedic and nearly photographic memory, and she does have an “eye” for her clients.

Photos courtesy of Fame and WENN.

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69 Responses to “Rachel Zoe’s empire is crumbling: is it because she’s an awful businesswoman?”

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  1. Gia says:

    She’s too hungry…poor girl can’t concentrate.

    • conie k says:

      +1. I thought after giving birth she would pick up weight that cute child looks heavy on her

    • MaiGirl says:

      I dunno. Just like there were rumblings about surrogates and pregnancy pillows for Beyonce and Nicole, I can see why some were crying foul on this one, too. She never looked pregnant from the neck up.

    • polk8dot says:

      ‘Last summer, she launched a clothing line with Chinese retail giant Li & Fung.’

      If I remember correctly, in Chinese first and last names are reversed, so wouldn’t that line’s name, actually, in English be ‘Fung & Li’?
      Oh, and I believe the ‘n’ is silent. 😉

      So, all in all, a perfect name for anything she puts her skeletal paws on:

      ‘F U G L I’

  2. Amelia says:

    Isn’t she the one who had a hand in turning half the bright young starlets of yesterdayinto lollipops?

    • Memory30 says:

      Lol I know and look at her chest Eeewww I’m sorry but her son probably weights more than her

  3. Shelly says:

    Her show is LITERALLY the most boring show on the Bravo. When I try and watch it, 15 minutes into the snooze fest I’m like, isn’t this stupid show over yet?

    • Holly says:

      Yes, she really did herself no favors with this show. Did she think the world would root for the Rachel&Roger whine-fest while we watched her fire or force out every worker once they became competent/talented on their own?!

      The last two seasons were essentially Rachel having her hair done while bitching and bawling about how the world just needs her too much!!!!!

      Yeah, that baby weighs at least as much as her lower half and I wonder if we’ll see a new assistant soon capable of carrying the toddler, who she’ll fire soon afterward bc the kid takes a liking to the person. That’s her M.O.

  4. serena says:

    And I hate how the dress she wears.

  5. Kimlee says:

    Bravo canceled her show.

  6. beyonce's bump says:

    her son is so cute tho

    • mst says:

      He is cute with those chubby cheeks. Im surprised she doesn’t put him on a diet.

      • Melissa says:

        I was thinking the same thing. He’s adorable, but I would be surprised if she isn’t bothered by her son’s chubbiness. Thank god she didn’t have a girl!

      • Disbelieving says:

        Anorexics are narcissistic. She doesn’t care about his weight. She only cares about hers.

    • polk8dot says:

      From the pics, I was sure that baby was a GIRL!
      LOL! Maybe that’s at the root of the problem that’s killing her ’empire’?

  7. samanthalous says:

    Let’s face it, it was all about Brad.

  8. velourazure says:

    that giant belt on that baby is ridiculous.

  9. michkabibbles says:

    i don’t care for her own personal style, but i think the people she dresses usually look pretty great, and her line is actually fantastic.

    • Kristin says:

      The amber necklace actually helps with teething…

    • iloveretro says:

      Agreed. She’s one of the few celebrity stylists who makes her clients look good.

    • MaiGirl says:

      Now that her clients no longer seem to get mysteriously skeletal after starting to work with her, I agree, she is talented. I would take that necklace she’s wearing, though. 🙂

  10. andy says:

    really looks like her son weights more than her!

  11. Ms Anne says:

    Tried to watch, couldnt get thru 10 min. I just don’t care about her.
    Cute kid, tho.

  12. Annie says:

    I think it’s dangerous putting a necklace on a toddler.

    • BRE says:

      Its a kind of teething necklace. Kind of a cool idea

      • Bobby sue says:

        More like dangerous. What if it breaks?
        Check out the website link someone posted.
        “Not suitable for children under 36 months”!!!!
        That’s a 3 year-old (who, ironically, has mostly stopped teething). Her son is 17 months, someone should point that out to her.

  13. I.want.shoes says:

    Her line is an overpriced copy of everyone else’s designs.

  14. lw says:

    I love Rachel’s personal style, but her clothing line is almost as boring as her reality show became without Brad. And truthfully Brad’s show is also a snoozefest. They should’ve stayed together and concentrated on the styling.

  15. Bluedog says:

    She really DOES know clothing and how to dress her clients. I hope for her sake her business isn’t failing but I do agree that she isn’t a good businesswoman.

  16. Happymom says:

    She’s certainly trying to stay in the public eye-she and that adorable baby get papped all the time.

  17. Jillian says:

    Cutest baby ever.

  18. TG says:

    I am just glad she had a son and not a daughter. I think a son has a better chance of not suffering from the same issues she has such as not eating. I know this is bad but when some celebs give birth I breath a sigh of relief when it turns out to be a boy, such as that tacky Oompa-Loompa Snooki and Posh Spice fortunately has only one daughter she can ruin. Of course there is always hope for these kids.

    • Disbelieving says:

      My mother is and was severly eating disordered. I (her daughter) am not. Anorexics are narcissistic. They hurt their daughters but not in their attempts to make them like themselves. It is the emotional neglect in their insane pursuit of their body image that is their legacy. Think of them as like alcoholics but substitute food denial for alcohol. All my mother did was think of food and then not eat it.

  19. Diane says:

    I used to love the show and all Rachael’s neurosis. But after Brad left and they treated Jeremiah like dirt, I starting losing interest. But, what killed the show for me, was the self serving, vain, egotistical Mandana and Joey. Horrid!

    • Gia says:

      I’m totally with you! I loved the show when Taylor and Brad were around. That Mandana chick was painful to watch though and Jeremiah…a poor attempt at replacing Brad.

    • BRE says:

      I was still a fan until they fired Jeremiah. And YES, Joey is so annoying!!!

  20. neelyo says:

    I remember her from the first incarnation of E!’s Fashion Police in the 90s. She was a guest and had the same horrible sourpuss attitude she’s always had. Hated her then, still don’t like her. Her ’empire’ can’t crumble fast enough.

  21. HadleyB says:

    she treats people like shit, what goes around comes around so maybe it’s finally come back to her !

    Just because one loves fashion, knows it, can style great doesn’t mean you make a good designer. A designer is more artistic – to me. Rachel is not, she can uses pieces of others work and put them together perfectly — I will give her that she is a great stylist for other people but her own designs were over priced, boring and basically replicas of every other designer — nothing original!

  22. RobN says:

    I think a four or five year run by any stylist is probably pretty good and probably about what you could hope for. It’s one of those industries where there is always somebody new coming up who catches people’s imaginations.

    I also think she’s happier running around with that cute baby than in working the 18 hour days you need to work to make that kind of career really work.

    I never watched her show, however, so maybe I’d be a lot more snide about her if I’d seen more of her.

  23. diva says:

    Didn’t she just dress all her clients in the same bohemian look and had them looking like skeletons?

  24. k says:

    I think she styles herself poorly, and is hit and miss with the way she styles her clientele. I think celebs were too interested in her hype, but now their interest is fading as her meh talent and business acumen has become more evident.

  25. LauraM says:

    Looks like baby got her natural hair color

  26. pelia says:

    Dat, owns a clothing line?

  27. Hautie says:

    If Zoe wants to have a successful line of clothes. Then she needs to sell them in stores that are moderately priced.

    It is near impossible to break out in a store like Neiman’s and Nordstrom’s.

    And honestly I am stunned Neiman’s even let her stuff on their precious floor. Seriously.

    So the next time you wonder how Jessica Simpson has a billion dollar empire… it is because the majority of her items are priced to move.

    And the only higher end store she puts inventory in (that I have seen) is Macy’s.

    Look at all that money the Olsen twins pulled in before they were 18… it was from their children’s line that lived in Wal-mart. It made them millions.

    Even Jaclyn Smith still has her line in Kmart… making big $$$$.

    So if Zoe is interested in making money. She needs to stop with the madness of Neiman and Nordstrom… and get a line in a moderate priced store.

    With folks who like cute clothes with a moderate price.

    Look at Isaac Mizrahi. Who lost it all financially trying to keep up with the snotty people.

    He has line that has been a HUGE success for Target. And I bet he is happy as hell to have it!

  28. eric says:

    Her “empire” is crumbling because she wears fur, and that boho-chic has been done to death already, everyone is doing it, Juicy Couture etc.

  29. Me says:

    Even if her empire crumbles I’m sure she still has more money than I will ever have in my lifetime.
    The first season of her show was interesting-the relationship between Rachel and Brad made it entertaining to watch. Also, there was the drama between her and Roger about whether or not to have a baby. The next seasons were just boring, and I couldn’t stand Mandana and her other team members.
    It really doesn’t matter if her business ventures don’t skyrocket. She will always have work in the business and always have money.

  30. TooBadSoSad says:

    It’s a crime how she dresses that poor little boy like a girl.

  31. daisydoodle says:

    To be a designer, you have to know how to sew and how to drape. I don’t thinks she’s trained to do that, therefore, I don’t consider her a designer. I shop at the higher end stores and there is no way, I would buy a rachael zoe anything, not worth the $$. I have bought some Jessica Simpson shoes for my daughter, I think they are cute and have a decent price point. I don’t consider her a designer either, however, I think the people behind her are responsible for her success.

    • Me says:

      Very good point. I would never buy anything from her line. To me, she is a celebrity designer like Jessica Simpson. I can’t take her seriously as a “real” fashion designer. She knew how to connect with the right people at the right time. She was also born into a New York family with $$$. That helps too.

  32. Me says:

    I wish she would gain weight. She would still be slim even if she gained 10 lbs. I don’t know why she feels she HAS to be so super skinny. Clothes look good on her, and they would still look good if she gained weight. I have read articles where they mention what she orders to eat during the interview process. Steamed vegetables, salad with no dressing, hot tea (I’m sure no sugar in it). How depressing! How much steamed broccoli can one person eat? She ordered a “crudite” plate in Paris. When the waitress brought it, there was a “dollop” of sauce in the center. Rachel sent it back and said “NO sauce, please”. God forbid she would be tempted to eat a bite of sauce. Read it in the New York Times article from 2007.

  33. ABQ GIRL says:

    why does everyone turn a blind eye to her obvious eating disorder?

  34. Marie Antoinette Jr. says:

    She. could die. if. she doesn’t. eat. something. soon.

    • Disbelieving says:

      Minimally, she is looking at an old age riddled with osteoporosis, crumbling bones, and peripheral neuropathy all stemming from her obvious lack of adequate nutrition.

  35. Tiffany says:

    I think it is a biiiiiig stretch to say she isn’t a good busines woman. If her clothing line wasn’t doing well, why would Neiman Marcus pick up her jewelry line (and give it a big feature in their Fall 2012 “thebook”)? She has done a great job expanding her brand.

    I think if she was a man, her business skills wouldn’t be second guessed like this.

  36. eric says:

    She was never a designer, but a celebrity stylist, stylist just rummages through local vintage shops and puts crappy costume together, her taste is horrid and she has no sense of style or fabric texture.

  37. GirlyGirl says:

    It’s failing because she’s an awful person.

    Karma be bitchy.

  38. Kristin says:

    that baby is so freakin cute!

  39. Kelly says:

    Her clothing line is overpriced. Most of the clothes are ugly.

  40. Sugar says:

    put some wings on that little one he’s a cherub-so cute

  41. Lady_Luck says:

    I think it’s more because she is not a popular person – even on a small scale. She is boring, pure and simple. And arrogant and narcissistic to boot. Nobody is interested in her. She is unappealing and is not an endearing person. Jessica Simpson’s line did so well, not only because the goods were in fact pretty good, but because she had a large fanbase – many did warm to her bimboish, texan charms and found her endearing. I think if somebody from the Z-list wannabe celebrity world that Zoe comes from wants to make it, they have to be likeable. She is possibly one of the most boring “personalities” I’ve ever had to endure watching on t.v, and for such a boring personality, her self-obsession knows no boundaries. Jog on, dear.

  42. Shelly says:

    Rachel is super annoying, but at the same time I find her neuroses and OCD endearing. I really like her show. I hate that no one ever seems to call her out on her obvious eating disorder, because she looks very unhealthy, and she could be so beautiful with some weight on her. And I swear her baby is the prettiest baby I have ever seen. He is just adorable.