Anne Roshie 5/10/17 Anne Roshie 5/10/17

HONEYCOMB YELLOW

Last year, one of my dearest friends Phil (Kui) got engaged, then shortly after she told me to get ready her big day would be in April, in Dallas, 2017. You can imagine my excitement. I was super thrilled!!!! I love weddings. Being there to witness two people who absolutely love each other come together in matrimony is a joyous occasion.

Phil and I met in Oklahoma over ten years ago. We were young -still are- fresh and had just landed in the country trying to learn the ropes. Phil and I were introduced my sis Flo. At the time, everything was new and then throw in a huge dose of culture shock! We hit it of instantly and somewhat became inseparable. I found someone talk to about navigating these American streets and a friend who I could also reminisce about home with.

As the years went by, I moved to the East Coast for my fashion studies, while Phil graduated from college, moved to Dallas where she met her hubby Ian.

Our friendship remained solid over the years. Phone calls and chats were the new normal. When I got the phone call about the wedding day, the first thing that came to mind as what would I wear?

I knew I wanted to make something for myself. The initial idea was pants and a long flowing top. I wasn't sure if I wanted to make the from the same print or use different fabrics for the two pieces. As I always say, the creative process is marred with tons of questions.

Went to my favorite fabric shop and when I spotted this honey comb yellow print speckled with blue dots, I lifted both hands up as if a touch down! It was everythinggggg!!! I could already see the outfit in my head.

When I started working on the flowy top, I discovered that I wasn't into that design. I kept trying to make it work but no. Plus it kept hanging all side ways I had to do something.

Eventually, I settled on a fitted top that bared the shoulders. As for the pants, the hem line was too long for my liking. I cropped them to give them that Capri vibe and made the more fitted.

My favorite part about finishing anything I make is looking back and seeing how that initial idea morphed into something entirely different. And also seeing what was just an idea, come to life.

Photography: Marcus (MO) Owens

The wedding was beyond beautiful. Phil was a bride to reckon with. She was utterly stunning. I sang and danced and came back home without a voice!!

Phil and Ian I wish you nothing but love, laughter and happiness in your marriage. xoxo

Below is a little Behind the scenes action and images from the wedding.

Outfit – Roshie Anne

Shoes & Clutch – Zara

Earrings - HM

Anne Roshie 5/2/17 Anne Roshie 5/2/17

FEELS LIKE SUMMER

Hello beautiful people.

Happy new month!!!

My good pal Phil (Kui) got married in Dallas Texas last month. Wooop woop!! That was a turn up in itself and it requires a new post. Knowing that I would be in Dallas, I started hunting for my visuals guy. Along came Mo. I met him through Instagram a few months before the wedding. I love connecting with artists who love the craft. It just oozes out in their work. After seeing his images on his IG feed, I knew we had to make connect. The beauty about this day and age is that we are able to connect with each other thanks to technology.

To be honest, this shoot almost never happened.

My flight from New York got delayed. I ended up spending the night in Chicago. In the morning, my flight out to Dallas took longer than expected. It was exhausting.

Then I meet Mo and his wonderful assistant who exuded such a positive outlook toward everything and I got infected with his enthusiasm.

We ended up having the most fabulous time shooting, laughing, talking about life and making plans for future shoots. Dallas I got my eye on you.

I also got introduced to fried pickles. A southern delicacy that I frowned upon at first until my tastebuds gave a seal of approval. Boy oh boy was that a treat!!

I am rocking my of shoulder printed top and a full laced skirt. I have a thing for off the shoulder tops, especially now that summer is around the corner.

Photography: Marcus (MO) Owens

Top: ROSHIE ANNE

Skirt: HM

Shoes: Shoedazzle.com

Backpack: ZARA

Anne Roshie 4/18/17 Anne Roshie 4/18/17

QUEENDOM

Arthur and I took a break for a couple of weeks before we resumed shooting together. When we were ready to get started, Arthur suggested a studio session which honestly are becoming my fave. I bring in my inner top model thanks to watching the first three seasons of America’s Top Model. Smizing anyone?

Since we always have a creative direction for the shoot, I asked him what he had in mind. His reply.

“Annie, bring something that you have always wanted to shoot.”

Well, that made me extremely happy because I had something special in mind. My darling friend Hanh had purchased tickets to the Met Opera for a February performance. Gowns and Operas went hand in hand like peas and carrots. After scouring the sites for a gown, I got frustrated and decided to make one myself. With that beautiful African print. I have never worked on such a full scale project. Armed with courage and undiluted resolve, I wanted to see this gown come to fruition.

It being winter, purchasing an African Print fabric, is close to finding a needle in the haystack. I wanted to feel the fabric rather than purchase something online. Optimism was my friend and off to MOOD I went. One of the associates was not sure if they had any left but she suggested I go to a floor below I might lucky and boy did I. Right underneath the stairs was a bin with Ankara Prints and at the bottom lay my gem. I could not believe it. All 6 yards of pure gloriousness sprinkled with gold hearts and stars as if to say we have been waiting for your Ro Ro. XOXO

Oh the joy!

I dashed back upstairs, grabbed an invisible zipper by the checkout and skipped home like a young girl who just got a bag full of kit Kat.

I sketched a few designs, zeroed in on one that I figured would be a straight shot. Simple bodice. Full skirt.

What bull!

The simplest design that I went for gave me a massive headache carefully undoing and redoing. Everyone deals with this part of the creative process differently. The part where things are not going sooooo smoothly.

Anyway, after countless undoing, redoing, start stop, scissors, bobbin and threading, I seemed to gain a little traction. Phew!

This process is so frustrating I need doses of inspo to get me through. The dosage of choice comes through the Pharmacy of Youtube. Ted Talks and commencement speeches with the recommended dosage four times a day. In taking this said dosage, I happened to be listening to a Ted Talk on “The Art of being yourself.” By Carol McHugh. First of all she is uber chic and her lilting scottish accent is beyond adorable. Anyway, in it she mentioned someone who is supremely herself and placed a video of her.

It was my girl Jill Scott (bff in my head) and she was talking about QUEENDOM. Jill Scott was about to go on stage right after Eryka Badu. The interviewer then asked her if she was nervous. Jill laughed, smiled and asked

“Have you ever seen me perform.?”

Ugg yess…. I did a slow clap.

Then she went ahead and said,

“ We all have our own thing, that’s the magic that every body comes with their own sense of strength and Queendom. Mine could never compare to hers and hers could never compare with mine.”

So freaking beautiful.

I had to go and find the video in it’s entirety.

It got me thinking about us women and how each of us have something special within us. Each and everyone of us. But first you have to know who you are, that way you do not get shaken by anyone else’s identity since you already know yours. Jill was not threatened by Eryka’s performance, she knew she had her own set to kill once she got up on that stage. I get inspired all the time by women around me and some that I follow on social media. Beautiful women doing there thing, mastering their craft and staying true to themselves. It’s inspiring.

You should have seen my face when I finally stood in the mirror, wearing this gown for the first time. Tears. There I was with a head wrap on, face scrubbed off all makeup and a few acne spots glaring at me. Eyes wide in awe.

I DID THAT!

I knew I had to give this dress all the shine it deserved. Getting to the end product came with a few struggles but it’s in overcoming them that makes the results much sweeter.

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In my Queendom, I get frustrated, I struggle with things, sometimes I have good days, sometimes I have bad ones, life at times comes at me fast, I cry, I laugh, I get back up, I sing really badly, I get pictures taken, pictures that blow my mind away and remind me that despite the acne being my bff, I am beautiful. Why are we not allowed to say that to ourselves? Embrace it. If no one has told you so, you are beautiful. Yes you!! :)

I am forever a student. I am learning that it’s ok to say how I feel. To share my magic. To follow my dreams. To be patient with myself. To enjoy the journey despite the pitfalls, nothing worth having came easy. To have quiet time. To pray. To take a break when the zipper aint cooperating. To laugh loudly. I now understand that sometimes when things are falling apart, they are actually falling into place. That silence is also an answer. I am learning that the same way I physically protect myself, from being pushed around or controlled I should do the same mentally. It’s easy to willingly hand over your mind by digesting social media, television and what other people are doing or thinking. To look inward than outward. To stay focused. To be more present, self - aware and do the things that set my soul on fire.

I am sure you go through different things in your Queendoms. Whatever it is my friend, I salute you.

And like Jill Scott said, we all come with our sense of strength in our Queendoms. I am embracing that strength wholeheartedly.

Photography: Nestle Snipes

Gown: Roshie Anne

Headwrap: Roshie Anne

Carmen at the Metropolitan Opera was absolutely divine!! I want to go to more Operas so I can wear more gowns. lol

I still listen to Ted TALKS. Currently overdosing.

I am still blown away by these pictures. Arthur is a G.

The extra fabric that remained after I made the dress was made into the headwrap on the DIRECTION post..>>

As always thank you for stopping by. :)

Anne Roshie 3/28/17 Anne Roshie 3/28/17

DIRECTION

Geography was one of my favorite subjects in high school. Probably because most of the time was spent daydreaming about geysers, mountains, lakes and so forth. We were made to sketch plateaus, fault lines, geysers, mountains, which was always such a treat. I would go all Picasso on my notebook. Using 3 different pens to indicate fault lines. Mrs. Obeiro, my geography teacher would amble in class a few minutes after class and the class would end way later than the allotted time. I believe to her time was never of the essence. She spoke in nasal tones, her words dragging as if they were too heavy for her tongue to hold. I remember she would call my name, and it sounded as if it would never end.

“Aaaannniiieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.”

Formation of rocks was typically one of those topics that would make the whole class groan in agony but I was ready to hear about volcanic rocks that had interesting names like Andasite, Basalt, Diorite and Ryolite. You would think they are characters from a season of Game of Thrones.

Hailing from the house of Battiatus.

With my love for Geography, was a deeply rooted fascination with maps. But they do not care much for me since my sense of direction is laughable. Even with the countless apps that technology has bestowed on me I always get lost.

Have you ever been on the subway, goodness, the lines, numbers, colors, zig-zag, wavy lines, my goodness.

Ah, but it’s in the getting lost that has opened new discoveries for me. A cafe, a vintage store, a location for a shoot.

I once got off the train on 59th St and told myself it would be faster if I went through Central Park. I got so lost, went round in circles, eventually I found myself on the Upper West Side. I walked up and down the streets checking out stores, discovered a jazzy Mexican restaurant, made a friend with a guy at the flower shop. I was asking too many questions and he, patiently answered them.

Nowadays, I allow myself to get lost. Living in New York is a joy, but with the helter skelter of life, I tend to overlook somethings. I get so focused in the direction of life that I am on to that I forget to stop and enjoy the view. Those little moments that make you appreciate life. Have you ever toured a different place in your city? Or used a different direction back home from the one that you are used to? Try it… it might be enlightening. Some refer to it as being lost in the right direction. Maps be damned.