One of the things we love best about our job is getting free advice from top experts — from Olympic athletes riffing on their favorite workouts to renowned psychologists who offer smart tips for mending relationships. So we were excited when we got to speak with Rachel Zoe, stylist to the likes of Cameron Diaz, Eva Mendes and Demi Moore. Zoe, whose Bravo series The Rachel Zoe Project airs its season finale tonight at 10 p.m., gave us some fab advice for dressing to perfection. Click below for a sampling of Zoe’s fashion philosophy.

For fall, Zoe tells us, “It’s about amazing tuxedo jackets and wearing them with T-shirts or just white classic button-ups and a great pair of jeans and a pair of heels. I think that’s just such a great look for everybody, no matter what your age is. The easiest way to update your look for fall is get a great coat, like a great trench coat that you could throw on over anything, a cropped little black, brown or gray leather jacket that you can throw on top of all your dresses.”

As for style mistakes to avoid, Zoe warns of wearing too much of one trend, “like an animal-print outfit with an animal-print bag and shoe. The biggest problem is overdoing it in general,” she says. “And you shouldn’t take trends from the runway and assume that they’re going to work on you. If skinny jeans and leggings don’t look good on you, don’t wear them. Don’t dress like your daughter. Stick to your wide-leg jeans and slouchy trousers. You have to interpret trends, not copy them because it’s what the models are wearing.”

On the upside, Zoe acknowledges that there’s a wealth of affordable fashion. “I used to think that if clothes were very inexpensive they wouldn't last, and I don't think that’s the case anymore,” she says. “The industry has figured out ways to make good-quality clothes for very low prices. I think they've had to with this economy. With the help of Topshop and H&M and all of these stores like Mango and Zara, anyone can really have style and buy great pieces.” A big fan of such designers as Balmain, Chanel, Gucci, Lanvin, Marc Jacobs and Phillip Lim, Zoe recently ventured into designing a collection of accessories that just rolled out on QVC.com.

Not afraid to admit her own fashion faux pas, which include the micro-minis, acid-washed jeans and midriff-baring outfits she wore with “huge hair” in the ’80s, Zoe has corrected a more recent style error for the second season of her show. “I wanted to wear much less makeup, less hair, less everything. It was way too heavy in the first season. I can’t even watch it. It’s hard enough to watch yourself on TV,” she notes, but hopes others will tune in. “Who you see on the show is exactly who I am for better or for worse. If people find it entertaining, they’re just laughing at me, which is fine because I laugh at myself.”

For more great fashion advice, check out VIVmag’s September/October issue. And tell us: What’s your must-have item for fall?

Tags: Balmain, Cameron Diaz, Chanel, Clothing, Cultural history, Demi Moore, Eva Mendes, Fashion, Gucci, Human Interest, Jeans, Lanvin, Marc Jacobs, Phillip Lim, Rachel Zoe, Slim-fit pants, The Rachel Zoe Project