IDK about you guys, but hitting the bars on a Friday night is not really my MO. However, I do love a cute cocktail at the end of a long week. So, what’s the solution? An at-home bar cart, ofc. And thanks to entrepreneur and celeb fashion mogul Rachel Zoe (she/her), I know exactly what mine will need. Because who else can put together the perfect bar car like a designer?

“I’ve been obsessed with fashion and glamor for as long as I can remember, she says. “My mother is incredibly chic so I was definitely inspired by her as a child. Growing up, I didn’t know that I could translate my love for styling into a career. I was a psychology major in college but when I took a job as a fashion assistant for YM, my career started taking shape. I went freelance as a stylist when I was 25 and the rest is history.”

Along with her career has come fab collabs, a recent one being with the wedding planning platform Joy. “I teamed up with Joy to launch Expert Curations, featuring my curated picks of registry must-haves,” she shares. “They’re designed to help couples build their registries with items they’ll have in their living rooms, dining rooms, or on their bar carts to entertain friends and family for years to come.”

Truth time: I’m already married, so I don’t have a wedding registry anymore. But that’s not gonna stop me from buying the following to assemble a gorg bar cart:
 

1. “A champagne bucket is a must! I love this one from Nambé. It’s so versatile and functional. It looks beautiful with or without anything in it and can really be used as the focal point of the bar cart.”

2. “A decanter, like this one, is another beautiful piece. It’s timeless and if you’re not a fan of whisky, you can fill it with water and use it as a vase for flowers.”

3. “A good martini glass is essential. I love these ByOn glasses because they’re easy to hold and look super chic. I like to keep the color of big pieces like bar carts neutral and then add pops of color with glassware, florals, and alcohol like champagne bottles. This ensures that it still feels cohesive with the style of the rest of the room and doesn’t feel like an afterthought.”

As to where I should put it, Rachel recommends, “keeping it in a place that’s a social part of the home like the dining or living room. It makes it easy to make drinks without having to leave the party!” She makes a good point. And if you were wondering what her go-to drink was like myself, it’s a French 75: “It’s glamorous, light, and refreshing. I also love a dry glass of wine, a Chablis or Sancerre, and of course, champagne.” Cheers to that! 🥂

Bar cart, roll out!,
Chloe Trout, associate editor