Jennifer Roos, creator of Rossio Roos — an online accessories store specializing in eclectic jewelry and handbags, likes to tell stories. For her, vintage is all about storytelling. She creates and brings you sinfully decadent pieces with a history that can only be found in far-away cities, vibrant markets, and mountainous villages. As you browse her wares on Etsy or Instagram, you will encounter not only pieces that are tried, true, and handmade, but also style suggestions, and creative ideas that will delight your inner fashionista. Roos draws inspiration from the Baha’i Faith; and the cultures of South East Asia, India, South America, and Africa. Check out our interview with Roos below, and be sure to check out her store at http://www.etsy.com/shop/rossioroos.
By: Leah Austin
Each of your pieces is so different and unique; what parts of the world do they come from?
I’m very inspired by tribes and women all over the world. Most of the pieces are currently from India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Thailand. The pieces that are designed by me are mostly made of African beads, handmade beads by local artisans in Nepal, and vintage tribal pendants and coins mostly from India, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Who’s on the team?
Just me! At this point I am a one-woman show.
Your pieces are all so beautiful. What is your creative process?
When buying and designing for the shop there are many factors in the equation. I always think about the lifestyle my clients live, my aesthetic, current trends, and my inspirations. I strive to be a destination for clients to accessorize their wardrobe and life.
What is the most interesting part of your journey so far?
The interactions I have with my clients are always, always awesome and interesting. I get to meet so many different walks of life and people from different cultures. Also, I recently took a 10 day trip to India that was life changing and very inspirational. I learned so much about the culture, the country, the people, and myself. The architecture and attention to detail on many of the buildings was incredible. The fabrics, the colors, the henna, the markets, the locals, the kids, the monkeys — I could go on forever! I loved it; it was amazing.
What is the story behind the name, Rossio Roos?
It’s my mother’s last name and my father’s last name. I love the way the two words sound together. I felt it was perfect because my parents are a huge inspiration for me and I am the person that I am today because of them. My mom is a hairdresser and was a salon owner in California for many years, so she is always glamorous and fabulous. My dad is from Seattle and more of a hippie. He loves classic rock music and the Baha’i faith.
Who is your favorite vintage designer?
I don’t have a favorite designer (vintage or current). I love bohemian, free-spirited, gypsy style. I love the beauty in vintage pieces; they always have a story that comes with them.
What’s your vision for Rossio Roos?
My vision is to bring accessories from around the world to women. They are not that easy to find, especially in the U.S. market and I want to spread the beauty from around the world. Spread the love!
How do you come up with the personalized style suggestions for the jewelry featured on your website?
Rossio Roos is for free spirits, bohemians, travelers, artists, independents and those who are not afraid to stand out and make a statement. I always keep in mind how my clients would want to wear the pieces — the way I would wear them and the way I would like to see them worn on others. I really enjoy visualizing the way something can be worn; it’s fun for me to add those suggestions in. I also like to add them for my clients that think to themselves “I love that, but what will I wear it with?” Even if my styling suggestion isn’t exactly your style, maybe it will give you an idea to work off of when styling it for yourself. Clients can use it as an inspiration to make it their own.
What is the story behind the OOAK Afghani Tribal Sheeva necklaces?
These are from Afghanistan and I loved how beautiful they are. I loved the fringe on the pendants and the statement that it makes when you wear it. I was so excited that I was able to find it in so many different colors. I felt that it was a perfect bohemian statement necklace and there’s a color for everyone!
Most of your pieces are bright, bold and eye catching. What are you trying to convey with the pieces?
Don’t be afraid to stand out; be fearless, strong, confident, and make a statement. Fashion is art and a great way to express yourself. Every outfit paints a picture and tells a story.
How did you get into fashion?
I studied fashion and art my entire life. I also have a lot of retail experience. I have had many ideas that never fully came to life. A couple of years ago while researching southeast Asia and the middle east I started to learn a lot about the tribes in many of these countries and found it very inspiring. I fell in love with the fabrics they use for their traditional clothing and the jewelry they wear. I wanted to find a way to spread the beauty of these pieces and make them accessible for women to buy.
Tell us a bit about your personal style.
I wear a lot of solids in free flowing shapes and layer on the accessories. I use accessories to add color and make a statement. I am a bohemian at heart — part gypsy, part rock and roll, and a dash of glamour. My style is very much like the clients that I buy and design for. I am very inspired by music, classic rock icons (Stevie Nicks, Janis Joplin, Neil Young, Tom Petty), my California roots, cultures from around the world, the 60’s and 70’s, strong women, travel (India and Thailand — I hope to add South America to this list soon), astrology, spirituality, and tarot cards.
How is your personal sense of style reflected in Rossio Roos?
My personal love for accessories is one of the main reasons why I started the shop, and my travel inspirations are reflected in many of the items as well. There are also a lot of my Southern California roots reflected in my shop. I grew up in Southern California and have always loved the laid back bohemian Cali style.
Your style suggestions leave a vivid imprint on the mind of your readers. Any future plans on that front?
I plan to release the first Rossio Roos lookbook soon. I also have more advertising plans to get the word out about Rossio Roos and only time will tell the rest of my journey.
The post Rossio Roos Tells a Vintage Tale appeared first on Disfunkshion Magazine.
