In a new interview with PEOPLE, the 54-year-old stylist-turned-mogul revealed that trust issues with assistants played a major role in her decision to step away from the job she once loved.
Zoe said she reached a breaking point after feeling repeatedly “betrayed” by assistants she relied on to represent her and her work. “I just couldn’t trust assistants,” she explained, adding that she didn’t want her clients to suffer because of mistakes made by others.
Over the years, Zoe styled some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, including Jennifer Garner, Lindsay Lohan, Kate Hudson, Mischa Barton and Nicole Richie. She described these clients as “extended family” and said there was no room for error when it came to representing them.
During busy award seasons, Zoe often had multiple clients attending events at the same time. She admitted it became impossible to be everywhere at once — and without complete trust in her team, the system simply stopped working.
Zoe has previously spoken about her falling out with former assistant Brad Goreski, who appeared on her Bravo series The Rachel Zoe Project. She has claimed he pursued her clients shortly after leaving her company. As recently as 2024, Zoe confirmed that the two are still not in contact.
Motherhood was another major factor in her decision. Zoe shares two sons, Skyler, 14, and Kaius, 12, with her ex-husband Rodger Berman. She said the nonstop travel, late-night fittings, and unpredictable schedule of styling clashed with raising young children and running multiple businesses.
“Styling means living on someone else’s schedule,” Zoe said, explaining that balancing newborns, toddlers, and CEO responsibilities made the lifestyle unsustainable.
Since leaving styling, Zoe has focused on expanding her fashion empire, growing it to nearly 50 brand extensions and licensing partnerships. She has also returned to television, appearing in season 15 of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
Now going through a divorce, Zoe says she is being open about her life on the show. “I really want to share the reality of my life,” she said. “Everyone is dealing with something.”
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo, with new episodes streaming the next day on Peacock.
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