Rachel Zoe on NYFW and shoes for fall

BY MOLLY WINDING

We kicked off our fashion week festivities by spending the afternoon with Rachel Zoe at DreamDry, where ShoeDazzle and The Zoe Report hosted an afternoon of beauty services to prepare for the big week ahead, and where we were able to preview ShoeDazzle's new fall styles.

Sitting down with Rachel and sipping on champagne, we talked about her designer friends, where she draws inspiration from, and, of course, shoes (it should be mentioned that she was wearing the coolest pair of black ShoeDazzle booties with gold chain detailing -- we die.)

While Zoe primarily attends New York Fashion Week to debut her upcoming collection, it's not all work and no play.

"Fashion shows really are work, but it's also really fun," she said.

She doesn't get to go to as many shows as she used to, but, "I go to the ones that are really important to me and that I have long-term relationships with," including Michael Kors, Proenza Schouler, Marc Jacobs, Tommy Hilfiger and Diane von Furstenberg, to name a few.

Despite that this week is all about Spring 2016 looks, the designer adores fall fashion: "If I could design fall year round I would," she said.

Although it may seem like Zoe's bohemian look doesn't lend itself well to chillier weather, she looks forward to wearing big chunky knit sweaters, lace-up pieces and suede, which she features in her current fall/winter collection. Other fall go-tos include anything with oversized buckle detailing and, "lots of leather."

As we all know, fall means boots (YAY!), and while we've heard that mid-calf boots are going to be all the rage in the fashion world, Zoe believes that boot styles should vary from person to person.

"Boots are a little bit like pants," she said, "whatever is your most flattering, whether that's mid-calf, just below the knee, to the knee, over-the-knee or thigh high," you wear what looks good with your body.

Sound advice from a woman who loves to mix it up and push the limits of fashion. Be sure to check out Rachel Zoe's SS16 NYFW show this Sunday, Sep. 13, and head over to ShoeDazzle.com to see their fabulous fall collection.

Click through the gallery below to see photos from the fabulous Rachel Zoe + ShoeDazzle event!

For more fashion week content straight off the runway, click here.

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