Our Friend of the Week - Zoë Ruderman
Your City: New York CityZoë’s Whats – "Calico Wallpaper. Whatever you think about wallpaper, this is not it. The Brooklyn-based brand is known for their handmade marbled designs in gorgeous, high-shine metallics and they're starting to pop up in celebs' homes and offices. Since I live in a rental, I recently got myself a panel and framed it, but if you own a wall in this world, I suggest you cover it in Calico."
Maria Lucia Hohan. I'm currently in full-on wedding planning mode right now (T minus 10 months) and in the hunt for the perfect dress, I've become enamored of this Romanian designer. She's dressed tons of stars and creates such show-stopping, sexy, gorgeous gowns. I love the idea of a wedding dress that's more red carpet than little white chapel and I'm seriously leaning toward a Maria Lucia Hohan number for my big day.
S'well water bottles. I've featured these on PEOPLE.com more times than I can count. And every time I tell myself, Okay, you have enough of these genius water bottles (which keep drinks cold for 24 hours and hot for 12 and don't produce condensation), the brand rolls out a new style and I can't resist adding another to my collection. The Gray Malin collab from this summer is a must-get. They make great gifts, too, and in a pinch, double as a funky vase."
FRIEND OF THE WEEK: 11 QUESTIONSWEBSITE: PEOPLE.COMINSTAGRAM: @ZOEMARIANNA
- Nickname Having a three-letter name has mostly exempt me from nicknames, but when I was little it was Zozo or Zuzu and in high school, Zo-dawg.
- What’s your short story? I live and work in New York by way of outside Boston (born and raised there), University of Delaware (undergraduate there), Madrid then a year Barcelona (Masters there). I really wanted to settle in Spain but their economy was just starting to fall apart when I graduated so I then considered Costa Rica and had a brief stint in Guadalajara before landing in New York City at Cosmo. I spent a few years there, where I made the (what was, at the time, a seemingly odd) decision to go from print to digital, and am now at Time Inc. where I work on content strategy for a number of brands including People, Entertainment Weekly, InStyle, and Sports Illustrated.
- What’s your jam? Hip-hop--anything from the late '90s or early aughts ('00s) that I know the lyrics to. Which is to say, anything from the late '90s or early aughts (not so secret talent).
- What motivates you? I'm motivated by my super successful, smart, savvy friends. We once did a story at Cosmo on how jealousy can be motivating. It sounds so negative to say I'm motivated by jealousy, and that's not exactly the case, but seeing other people do great things makes me want to do better myself. Let's call it a competitive side rather than jealousy, shall we?
- Who do you think you’d have great friend chemistry with? Kelly Oxford is probably my favorite person on Twitter and quickly becoming my favorite Snapchatter. She's a hysterical, observant, intelligent truth-teller, author, and mother of three and I like to think we'd get along. Also, I'd just really enjoy being able to hang in her gorgeous L.A. home and yes, maybe raid her closet from time to time.
- What qualities do your favorite friends have in common? They're all wickedly funny. And they tend to be the smartest people in almost any room they're in.
- What’s the smartest, most inspiring, awesome thing you’ve read, watching or listened to? I've been big into podcasts lately (ever since my commute changed last fall and I spend more time walking than on the subway, so reading isn't an option). I listen to Bitch Sesh or My Dad Wrote a Porno when I want to laugh (hard) and RadioLab or Here's the Thing when I want to learn something.
- What whets your appetite? Travel is one of my greatest pleasures. My fiancé comes from a Delta family, which makes it easier for us to bop around the globe. I feel really lucky for that luxury. Colombia, Cuba, and Greece had been on my bucket list for a while and I recently checked them off. Next up: hopefully Croatia and Japan.
- What’s next on your To Do List? I'd like to write a novel. A good friend and I have an idea we've been batting around for a year or two that we're really into. Now we just need to find (read: make) the time to do it.
- How are you friends with Gina + Amy? I met Amy back in her Joyus days, when PEOPLE was first partnering with the company. Work lunches with her were always fun, always delicious, and often included a glass of wine. All work lunches should be like the ones we had! And I used to spend a lot of time watching Gina's Joyus videos as I was prepping to host my own. She's just so watchable and compelling on camera that I would essentially study everything she did in those videos and try to copy her.
- Who would you nominate for our next Friend of the Week? Andrea Lavinthal! She's my coworker (and has been since my very first job) and is the Style and Beauty Director of PEOPLE.