Oscar Stress is On

Bravotv.com: So in this episode you're dressing Anne Hathaway for the Oscars. Who ultimately decided not to go with the train on the Armani gown?

Rachel Zoe: Both of us. It really was a decision that Anne and I made. It really was one of those things that in theory sounded better than it actually could be in person. I think that she's just so stunningly beautiful, and I think what happened was that in theory the train is amazing, and adds drama, but in actuality, it just became overpowering. It took away from her beautiful silhouette. It was more of a distraction.

After a big event like the Oscars are there any shows or web sites that you watch or visit the morning after to hear the fashion reviews?

Well we watch the red carpet, and everyone was just raving about Anne. She was everyone's favorite at the Oscars, pretty unanimously, which was amazing. The fashion press outlets and the tabloids both seemed to agree on that, and it was really amazing. I was really happy for her, and happy that everyone loved it as much as we did. And she felt so great, which is always the best thing.

Was it hard scrambling last minute for the dress she wore in her performance with Hugh Jackman?

Oh my god yes. Because that was a very specific dress that needed to have a lot of functionality in addition to looking great. It's not necessarily about what the dress looks like, it has to really feel good, it has to move with her body, and it was extremely important that it worked well from every angle -- that it wouldn't fall when she danced and kicked. So yes, it was VERY stressful. VERY. If I had more time, I would have had something custom made for that.

Were you watching and holding your breath?

Yes, for sure I was.

So you go to the Marc Jacobs Fall Fashion Week show, and last year you missed his event. Did anything happen between you and Marc or was the press just fabricating drama and making something out of nothing?

Well yeah the press always does that. And there's no reason. I was more devastated than anybody. Marc is one of my closest friends, and to miss his show ... it's one of the shows I don't miss under any circumstances. It just so happened that Marc's show started early last year, so if you walked in one minute late, you missed it. Normally he starts two hours late. So it was kind of a shocker. But there was a ton of traffic. It was a mob scene. So from this point forward I'm going early.

You help Liv Tyler update her wardrobe in this episode. How would you describe her style?

Liv has incredible style. She is extremely busy and she's the most incredible mother, and she's one of the most beautiful women I've ever met in my life, in her spirit and obviously from the outside as well. She is a dear friend, beyond a client, and it's one of those things ... if she needs a fitting, I'm going to be there. I think every mother goes through a point in their life where they just feel like I just want to be fresh, I want clothes that look good that work with my body that I can run around and pick up my son and go to a meeting or whatever and not be fussy. And that was the goal was just to give Liv fresh pieces of clothes so she could have great items to play with everyday.

When you and Liv are together it seems less like business and more friends hanging out.

Well that's how we are. We are very good friends and we always have a lot of laughs.

Is that a unique relationship, or are you good friends with a lot of your clients?

I think that when you spend an exorbitant amount of time with people for a certain number of years, inevitably you're going to become close. I'm extremely lucky that the women I work with ultimately are my friends. There's a certain level of trust that happens. You talk about everything. It's an intimate relationship. It's similar to the relationships they have with their hairstylists and makeup artists. They'll spend a lot of time with the glam squad. Inevitably we're going to be close. I am friends with all of my clients - some closer than others of course.

You give Brad a lot more responsibility in this episode. He has to get Anne Oscar ready. Do you think he did a good job?

Well I was there getting her ready. The only time Brad was on this own was actually at the Oscars. I was with her up until she left. That's definitely something I would be a part of, so I was with her until she got in the car to go to the show.

You mention that you never get to go to the actual shows. Are you too busy handling other work?

There's just a lot going on that day. Brad was really going to change Anne into her next look. There's a lot I have to do as soon as the client leaves. There's always a lot of wrap work that needs to be done. It just goes on and on. When they walk out the door it's like my day almost just begins. But that was a really exciting moment for Brad. He's obsessed with the Oscars and Hugh Jackman and the whole performance ... it was very exciting. I knew that he'd be able to handle it.