The Black Book

You’ve lived many chapters, beginning as a stylist working quietly behind the scenes, to becoming one of the most recognizable names in fashion, to now returning to television on “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” during a deeply personal moment in your life. When you think about where you are today, what feels most true to you right now?

I think what feels most true is a sense of clarity and calm that I don’t think I’ve ever fully allowed myself before. For so many years, while I was building my career, I was always living for the next thing. And now, I feel incredibly present in my life and have a deeper connection to myself. It’s less about proving anything and more about living my life as authentically as I can. 

You were instrumental in shaping the relationship between fashion and celebrity long before it became what it is today. Looking at the industry now, what still excites you, and what do you feel has been lost along the way?

What still excites me about the industry is the incredible access to all the different designers that I didn’t always have when I was styling. I also think people are more open to expressing themselves through fashion and not playing it safe when it comes to style. I think what might have been lost along the way is some of the storytelling and imagination behind styling. With the accessibility of everything and the addition of social media, the element of surprise and anticipation of seeing some of these looks on the runways and on the carpet is gone. There is no mystery anymore because everything is out there for public consumption.

Returning to television now feels very different from your first series, which was rooted in your work. What felt unfinished, or newly possible, that drew you back? And what has it been like to share your life, rather than your work, more openly this time?

This is such a pivotal time in my life that it truly felt like the right time to come back to TV. After my last show, so much in my life has changed: my businesses, my family, and so on. I know many women are in similar situations. If I can offer a little hope, advice, or comfort to those watching the show, my goal is achieved.  

After 26 years of marriage, you’re navigating a new chapter of independence. How have you begun to rediscover who you are on your own terms? Do you feel like you’re returning to yourself, or discovering someone entirely new?

Over the last two years, I have been able to live truly for myself and for my children. I am a lighter, happier version of who I have always been. I didn’t realize that I had actually lost some of who I was, but at this point, I have felt more like my truest and strongest self than I have in over a decade. 

You’ve spoken about the importance of financial and emotional independence for women. Did that understanding come gradually, or was there a defining moment? And now, having lived through such a profound transition, how has your sense of responsibility to other women evolved?

I was taught from a very early age the importance of financial, emotional, and social independence. Because of this, I have been motivated my entire life and career to work and to make my own money. I am so lucky to be in the position I am in, but I know many other women who feel trapped in their marriages because they lack that independence. I feel a deeper responsibility now to share my perspective with other women, and to remind them of their power, worth, and ability to stand fully on their own.

You’ve navigated this evolution while also raising two sons. How has motherhood reshaped the way you think about ambition, success, and what truly matters?

Motherhood truly does change everything. I decided to stop styling because I couldn’t give my 100% to both. While I have never stopped building my career, it has ultimately made me more intentional with my time, energy, and the choices I make. What truly matters is that I want to be present for my kids, while also showing them the importance of hard work and building a career.

Recently, you’ve spoken about entering a “yes era,” a time of being more open and less guarded. What gave you the confidence to step into that shift, and what did you have to unlearn to allow yourself that kind of openness?

I am at such a different point in my life where I am truly living for me. My kids are at an age where they have built their own lives, and they are out with their friends more. They really encourage me to get out of my comfort zone and try new experiences. A few years ago, you would have never caught me at a music festival, and now it is one of my favorite things to do. Laughing and dancing are the best medicines I could have ever had, and they have helped me feel freer in myself. 

You’ve said you’re laughing more than you have in a long time. What do you think allowed that sense of joy back in? What have you had to let go of to make space for this version of your life?

I think truly letting go of the weight I have been carrying for so many years and being a lighter, happier person has allowed this joy back into my life. I gave myself permission to finally feel happy, not just for my kids, but for myself, and that changes everything. 

When you think about the legacy you’re building, not just as a brand but as a person, what feels most important to leave behind?

What feels most important is that I leave behind the message that you can evolve and begin again. There is no rulebook anymore for your timeline, or how you build your career, or when you become a mom and start a family. That it is never going to be easy, but it is possible. No day is the same; you have to take it as it comes and not lose yourself in the process.

If this chapter had a feeling or a word attached to it, what would it be? 

“Freedom to be who I am” era.