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People We Like Aug 4, 2009 @ 10:57am

The Zoe Report: Issue 1

by Abby Gardner

As we told you yesterday, Rachel Zoe’s first newsletter arrived today touting her first obsession, a Brian Atwood leopard “shootie”. Of course, she “DIES” over them. And while I’m not typically one for animal prints, it is a gorgeous shoe. It’s very RZ and we all know she and Brian are super tight, so no surprise on her pick of designer.

At the bottom of the newsletter, she also shows a Steve Madden shoe in a section called “Parallel Universe.” You would find said shoe on our site in “Adventures in Copyright.”

Obviously RZ has a wide range of fans, but we wonder how her fashion friends will feel about her promoting knock-offs of their creations. Just a little something to think about.

There’s also an “Ask Rachel” section on the site which given how many questions she answers via Twitter, will get a ton of attention from the stylist. We’re always surprised at how much advice she tweets back to her loyal following every day.

We’re looking forward to seeing how the site evolves. But not nearly as much as we’re anxiously awaiting the season two premiere of the Bravo show. She’s so much better when we can actually hear her go “bananas” over something.

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posted by shinyredthermos

Aug 04, 2009 11:12AM

HA! I noticed the shoe thing and the first thing i thought was "Fashionista is going to be PISSED."

posted by guest

Aug 04, 2009 11:19AM

You guys have got to chill out. People who can afford the Brian Atwood shoes are going to buy the Brian Atwoods. People who can afford the Steve Madden shoes are either going to buy the Steve Madden shoes or buy nothing. Either way, they are not going to buy the Brian Atwood version. Yes, the BA version is much chicer and it's the creative work of a designer. But seriously, no one who was planning on spending $700 on a pair of shoes is going to see the Steve Madden version and think, "Hooray, lookie there, I can get the 'inspired' version for less than $200," and buy them. They just aren't.

posted by nycshoegal

Aug 04, 2009 11:42AM

i love the "Parallel Universe" thing. i guess you CAN expose "inspirations" without being nasty? how refreshing.

posted by rachael

Aug 04, 2009 12:31PM

i also love the fact that she is embracing her wide range of fans. i guess unlike the fashionista girls who only have to worry about their petty little website, rachel is a true business woman who is running an empire. and she knows that alienating her middle income fans would be a total no-no.

http://alittlesomethingshiny.blogspot.com/

posted by rachael

Aug 04, 2009 12:41PM

also....THIS IS GOING TO BE BANANAS!

http://www.fashionologie.com/3732833#read-more

(the trailer for season 2)

posted by astralgirl02

Aug 04, 2009 1:17PM

#4 is correct... not everyone can afford to drop top dime for luxury items these days.

RZ obviously learned from her work with Pimperlime that affordable accessory options are of interest to ALL women right now.

posted by guest

Aug 04, 2009 2:29PM

I like Rachel Zoe and her news letter is great.

http://amandasfashionspot.blogspot.com

posted by guest

Aug 04, 2009 2:40PM

Rachel Zoe is wearing the Bird Bracelet by Genevieve Jones!

Just found it on the blog... http://welovegenevievejones.blogspot.com

posted by guest

Aug 04, 2009 3:23PM

This is why Rachel Zoe is able to build somewhat of an empire. She knows that she SHOULD push designer wear while still promoting inspired pieces for less.

No one is mad at her, and I doubt the really successful designers are truly mad at her.

I feel like Fashionista writers were the exact same type of kids from NYC Prep. Stuck up kids with too much money and an unattractive snobbish attitude. Maybe you think clothes make the person?

That's the only reason I can find for your disgust every time someone makes similar pieces for less. I know that I'm comfortable in F21 and still comfortable in $500 jeans.

Your issues with this subject are lost on those that actually love fashion. We'll find our favorite pieces in thrift stores if we want to. We don't need a label to tell us what looks good.

I think you do. And it's sad.

posted by guest

Aug 04, 2009 3:33PM

oy vey i think it is snobby to attack the fashionista staff! how is that for an answer!

posted by Britt Aboutaleb

Aug 04, 2009 3:55PM

seriously guest 9? email me - britt@fashionista.com - we'll get coffee & chat

posted by brett_kane

Aug 04, 2009 4:21PM

We're not talking about "similar" here. we're talking about stealing. Fashion is a trickle down business: obviously there will be inspiration taken from the top and appropriated for the masses. What Fashionista has always opposed is blatant copies. Why can't mass designers utilize an interesting heel, or a fun detail from a designer and make the rest their own.

Line for line copies do a disservice to the designers that "inspired" them. It is part of the reason we have the current fashion fatigue addressed by the CFDA at the town meeting last week.

and number 9, I think you're the snob.

posted by guest

Aug 04, 2009 4:42PM

well said #9 & I hope you do have coffee with the Brit & talk some sense in her.

& 12, if stating the obvious is snobbish then ignoring it must be downright stupid. you should work for Fashionista. clearly, you're their target client.

posted by guest

Aug 04, 2009 4:52PM

To #9 and #13, there is a way to get your point across without resorting to name calling. Therefore, you just nixed any sort of respect that you could have earned for yourself. That's me stating the obvious.

posted by guest

Aug 04, 2009 5:04PM

#14 it's convenient that you didn't notice #12 resorted to name calling. I don't really care about the whole issue but you should call out everyone or no one.

posted by guest

Aug 04, 2009 6:33PM

No, #15, because it is their site, and they can run it how they like.

posted by guest

Aug 04, 2009 7:31PM

#9, it's not like fashionista hates everything by forever21 or similar stores, I can remember them recently doing a buy buy baby on Fred Flare items, for instance. And they don't just drool over everything a designer does, like they were definitely skeptical over the expensive pricing on the Lanvin-ACNE denim collaboration earlier this year.

posted by guest

Aug 04, 2009 8:38PM

Daaaaaaaaaaaaaamn. God knows I'll be attacked for this, but these comments kind of remind me of when the teacher would leave the room in grade school, and one kid would talk, then another kid would say, "Shhhh!", then someone would do the same to that kid, and so on and so on, until the entire class was just making a ton of noise shushing each other.

I lost track of who in the what the number so and so said, but I think "Adventures in Copyright" posts are valid, because blatant rip-offs do suck. Yes, there is a market for both designers and retail stores, and creativity should flourish on all levels. How great would it be if Forever 21 and the like employed budding designers, who could come up with their own unique versions of trends they see on runways, as well as pieces inspired by their own style. Just a thought.

I love you all; please try to restrain yourself somewhat when telling #18 where to go. (As it stands now, that's the slot I'll fall into.) P.s. Britt, it's not fair that you'd only have coffee with the people who don't like you! Kidding, it's ok. :)

xoxo,
Kate Darling
http://KateDarling.Blogspot.com

posted by poseur

Aug 04, 2009 11:32PM

splurge or steal sections have been in magazines since forever. its not like zoe just invented this thing.

posted by mrsPILATI

Aug 05, 2009 11:13AM

#9 if you're spending $500 on jeans then you should be ashamed... seriously

#13, I think Brett does work at Fashionista... haha pay attention

Stealing is always wrong and there are way too many reasons to support that fact.

Lastly, that's a sick pic of RZ

posted by guest

Aug 05, 2009 11:25AM

Moving away from this debate- Can I just throw out there that (as a fashion lover and RZ fan) I was a little disappointed in the whole thing? It's just another daily suggestion of something to wear/buy....I thought it would be more tips, tricks, styling, ideas.... I love RZ but it's boring. I need something new in my Inbox and not another Daily Candy clone.

posted by grammyweezy

Aug 05, 2009 7:10PM

Hahaha, I know everyone hates the Adventures in Copyright posts, but comparing Britt & co. to the kids at NYC Prep is just too funny, and I will go ahead and use this opportunity to point out this hilarious writeup of that ridiculous show
http://gawker.com/5305477/nyc-prep--embarrassment-of-the-riches