The price point is firmly in the contemporary category, with clothing falling between $175.00 for jeans and $525.00 for a structured jacket. The line also contains shoes and handbags, but I found both uninspiring and, in some cases, downright cheap looking (despite the not-so-cheap price). So, I'll sidestep the disappointing accessories and concentrate on the clothing, which shows some promise.
One look at the Rachel Zoe Collection clothing and it's clear that Rachel herself had a lot to do with the styles selected. The line mimics her love of all things '70s, vintage and luxe-boho, with some nice outcomes. Sure, some pieces fall down flat, but that's to be expected from any freshman line. There are enough stand-out pieces that I'm at least curious about how this line will develop going forward. Here are my picks for 5 styles from the new Rachel Zoe clothing line that are worth trying:
A winter white coat always paints a luxurious picture, and this coat's ladies-who-lunch tweed fabric combined with military styling makes it interesting. I'm not head over heels about the acrylic/ wool/ cotton/ poly/ nylon blend, but the style is strong and the price is fitting.
→ Buy the Rachel Zoe Belted Chain Military Coat, $495.00, at bloomingdales.com.
Rachel's penchant for '70s fashion comes in handy when she produces items like this tie-neck blouse, which is perfect for pairing with those vintage-look trouser jeans you've been stocking up on for the past couple seasons.
→ Buy the Rachel Zoe Long Sleeve Printed Plunge Tie Collar Blouse, $295.00, at bloomingdales.com.
This silky caftan looks classic Zoe, and could easily be worn day or night, depending on how you style it. It's the one item I'm dying to purchase right now.
→ Buy the Rachel Zoe One Sleeve Pleated Caftan, $250.00, at bloomingdales.com.
These wool pants have one big thing going for them: they vibe Chloe Fall 2010 (a look that's been referenced in several collections since then) at a fraction of the price.
→ Buy the Rachel Zoe Trapunto Stitch High Waist Pants, $375.00, at neimanmarcus.com.
This short, zipper-detail wool dress is gives off an oddly classy vibe, despite its short style, thanks to an otherwise conservative silhouette. The zipper is even on the understated side.
→ Buy the Rachel Zoe Asymmetric Short Sleeve Zip Tassle Dress, $275.00, at bloomingdales.com.
Want to see the rest of the collection? Check it out on both Bloomingdales and Neiman Marcus -- each store is carrying a different segment of the collection, and NM has some exclusive styles.
→ Browse the Rachel Zoe Collection at Bloomingdale's.
→ Browse the Rachel Zoe Collection at Neiman Marcus.
