Windy City Times: Hi, Rachel. I just talked to Brad Goreski the other day.

Rachel Zoe: Oh, you did?

WCT: Yes, and I just wanted to see how you feel he's doing in the new position as style director and on this season.

Rachel Zoe: Brad's a superstar. He's kind of like my knight in shining armor every day. He's one of my closest friends. We've been together a long time. We have an incredible relationship. We work extremely hard and we laugh a lot. We have a trust with each other that I don't think could be broken.

WCT: Well, that is important when you work so closely with each other.

Rachel Zoe: He's just proved to me what he can do and he has my back. I think that's something that is extremely hard to find in this industry. So he's fantastic.

WCT: Did you have a problem with people just trying to be on a reality show when they were applying to be his assistant?

Rachel Zoe: Not really, no. I think it was really people who genuinely wanted to work in this industry and be a part of our team and kind of enter this world a little bit, the styling world, the fashion world and the celebrity-dressing world.

WCT: What are some essential items to wear in the fall?

Rachel Zoe: I would definitely advise some sort of kind of chunky knit sweater, that you can kind of throw over everything. I would say a very classic very tailored tuxedo jacket. I think the perfect leather jacket. It's whatever suits your body type, longer or shorter but full length. A trench coat and in terms of shoes, a black patent pump is always a must. If you're a little more daring do an ankle boot because it's not going to go out of style. We just keep seeing them season after season at this point.

WCT: Are there trends that you don't want to see?

Rachel Zoe: As someone who lived in the '80s I really just don't love acid-washed. I think that that's just better left back in the '80s.

WCT: Has there ever been a time where you were star-struck around a designer?

Rachel Zoe: I think it would have to be Karl Lagerfeld. I was the most star-struck the first time I met Karl and I couldn't really get words out, you know?

WCT: I can imagine.

Rachel Zoe: It was like he was talking to me and I could hear him but I wasn't really absorbing anything, I just got so nervous that I became almost paralyzed for a minute.

I've met him several times since then, and he's wonderful.

WCT: How did the photo shoots go this season?

Rachel Zoe: I would have to say [ that ] episode one [ was ] definitely a first for me.

That was quite challenging because we had some moving props with the Bazaar cover shoot with Demi Moore. Definitely a first for me in my career but I think we made one of the most iconic photographs. So it was well worth it.

WCT: It there a specially memorable episode this time out?

Rachel Zoe: Hard to say. I mean I'm a little biased but I really love episode three, which is where I work on this fashion show for Naomi Campbell for Haiti relief. And that was a huge undertaking but also the most gratifying thing ever that I've ever done in my career.

It was a very short amount of time. And we did like 90something looks for this runway show and pulled it together in like four days.

WCT: Who are other celebrity guests this season?

Rachel Zoe: On the trailer you see Gwen Stefani and Naomi Campbell; you also see Kate Hudson. It's a great season.

WCT: I look forward to seeing it.

Rachel Zoe: It's going to be great. I hope you enjoy it.

To catch The Rachel Zoe Project watch the Bravo Channel. For more information, visit www.BravoTV.com .