“The last thing I want to hear is something good about Taylor,” Rachel Zoe says in the preview for the third season of her Bravo reality show, The Rachel Zoe Project, premiering on August 3. But like it or not, Taylor Jacobson is doing pretty well for herself these days. Though she hasn’t been in touch with her ex-boss or her ex-co-worker Brad Goreski since she left Rachel Zoe Inc. about eight months ago, she’s set up her own business, racked up a celebrity clientele, and is busy with styling gigs varying from editorial shoots to Nickelodeon television promos. We rang Taylor up in L.A. yesterday to talk more about life post-Zoe.
You left Rachel Zoe Inc. almost a year ago. What are you up to these days?
I’m styling, I’m building my roster of clients — you know, editorials, campaigns, personal shopping for private clients I have. I’m pretty much doing the same thing, just on my own. Also, I’m consulting with my denim company, Kasil, and we’re introducing denim pieces and separates — you know, everyday casual chic pants, blazers, vests. I’m really excited about that because I’ve never done that before. I have a blog.
Who are you styling?
Obviously it was all over — the news about Kate [Beckinsale]. I have a celebrity clientele, but I don’t want to say who else.
Have you been offered a spinoff?
Yes. I don’t know if I’m really cut out to do reality TV. It’s just not the direction I want — I’m so awkward. There’s things on the table, but it’s not my priority.
What was the transition to self-employment like?
It’s scary when you’re on your own, you know? It’s you — everything rests on your shoulders. There’s definitely been some bumps in the road and there’s definitely been some bad rumors out there. It’s scary, but I’m doing my best.
How does it feel to be working on your own now?
I was ready. To, like, go off on your own, do it for yourself, have your own clients, have your own ventures. In the terms of, like, getting your world, your accounts set up — like your FedExes — it’s been a lot of work. But I’ve never been happier. I assisted for a long time — serious stylists, actually — and I just felt like it’s time.
Do you have an assistant?
I have an assistant — she’s great, a real trooper. We were stuck in Big Sur on a location shoot with no Internet, no phone, no TV, no pay phone, in the middle of nowhere with 50 racks of clothes, poison ivy. It was horrible, like horrible-kill-yourself stuff, but she really came through. She’s been working for me seven, eight months.
Do you have interns?
I have interns. I like to roll deep — with lots of clothes, too.
Are you going to Fashion Week?
I think so, actually. But you never know.
How would you describe your personal style?
Eclectic. I like to mix, like, leather jackets and baby-doll dresses. Combat boots with chiffon. I like to mix feminine and masculine.
What was the first designer item you bought?
Remember when like Prada came out with those like nylon messenger bags back in like eighth grade? Ninth grade? I like saved up and I bought it. It was, like, my babysitting money. That sounds so lame (the babysitting), but that is the truth.
You babysat?
I hate kids — I have no idea why people would let me watch their children. I only did it a few times.
What trends do you like right now?
I love the clogs, I’m not going to lie. I love the ones by Chanel and everyone’s knocking them off. I like those twill, kind of boyfriend baggy trousers because you could wear them at the office, you can wear them at night — they look cute with ankle boots, they look cute with wedges, they look cute with gladiators.
What trends do you wish would go away?
The word fashionista. I hate that word.
What advice do you have for aspiring stylists?
First of all, it’s not glamorous. I feel like people don’t realize that it’s a lot of manual labor — you’re schlepping garment bags, you’re not in the most glamorous locations. But never give up. If that’s your dream, start interning at a PR company. Even try to get something, if you are from a small town — every town has a playhouse. Try to intern in their costume department. Intern at magazines — just intern and start. The minute you have that idea. just start, because it takes time.
