T H E S H O R T… Name: Rodrigo Santiago Esparza ? Nickname: Gogy (pronounced Joe-Jee) Astrological Sign: Scorpio Born & Raised: Worcester, Massachusetts!!!!! My parents are from Ecuador Currently Residing: Chinatown, NY Five Favorite Things… 1. Making the…
Blog Archives
LIFE: Celebrating Marcelo Burlon & Tyga Exclusive Saks 5th Avenue Collection
A few days ago, my Italian Friend Marcel Burlon reached out inviting me to celebrate his latest collaboration with Tyga for Saks 5th Avenue in New York City. Well, I had to be there to celebrate and represent. The soiree…
Posted in BLOG, LIFE Tagged with: amaris, deemehlow, laquon treadwell, marcelo burlon saks 5th avenue, new york city, sabel, tyga, va$htie, vashtie, vashtie.com, vikings
STYLE: Naturally Feminize Your Tomboy Streetwear Steeze
A few months ago a good friend of mine and hairstylist, Angela Soto asked me to be a part of 90s style creative project. The idea started off inspired by old Calvin Klein ads similar to the ones I wrote…
Posted in BLOG, STYLE Tagged with: angela soto, calvin klein, erin parsons, fashion, Maybelline New York, oribe, playboy, rolex, stas may, style, supreme, tomboy
LIFE: #FBF Attending Rihanna’s Diamond Ball 2014
I was flown out to attend Rihanna’s lovely Diamond Ball affair by my family at Puma (more to come on that soon). LA is famously not one of my favorite places, but the weather, food and friends made up for…
Posted in BLOG, LIFE Tagged with: Beth Gibbs, chris gibbs, chris stamp, diamond ball, fabolous, Flashback Friday, puma, rihanna, sean lyles, sky gellatly, stamped LA, tai lotson, union LA
DOIN’ IT WELL: Best Natural Deodorant That Won’t Make You Funky
I have been wearing natural deodorants of all kinds over the years, ultimately cursing the ones closest to me with funky pits. The products always start off hopeful but then end tragically before the end of the day. From Tom’s of Maine…
Posted in BLOG, WELLNESS Tagged with: aluminum, best natural deodorant ever, breast cancer, doin it well, holistic, natural deodorant, new york city, pure pitz, vashtie, vashtie blog, vashtie.com, wellness, why is antiperspirant bad
WATCH: Azealia Banks – “The Big Big Beat”
Many things can be said about controversial miss Azealia Banks, but what cannot be denied is her seemingly limitless vocal talents. She can rap, she can sing, and she can really sing…all in one track that is usually the most…
Posted in BLOG, MUSIC, video Tagged with: azealia banks, the big big beat, the new york times, va$htie, vashtie
FASHION: Violette New York Launches New Capsule
My brand Violette New York has had some exciting collaborations in the past from Puma, Bowery Bob, & more. Today, I’m happy to announce the launch of a mini-capsule which is the perfect way to bring in the Summer. Short and…
Posted in BLOG, FEATURED, STYLE Tagged with: capsulef, clothing, fashion, vashtie, vashtie kola, violette new york, violette.
BEAUTY: Vashtie Discusses Holistic Beauty & Wellness for The Coveteur
VASHTIE ON VEGANISM, MEDITATING LIKE OPRAH & HATING WORKOUTS SHE GREW UP ON CHEETOS AND CHERRY COKE. IF SHE CAN DO IT, YOU CAN TOO. BY: Meagan Wilson (Full Interview via TheCoveteur.Com) Hands down the most addictive part of Snapchat?…
LIFE: Vashtie Gets Ready by Photographer Greg Noire (Black & White)
From time to time, budding artists reach out to either collaborate with or to shoot me. It’s sort of cool because I’ve been able to meet some incredible talents that I’m able to make cool things with. Like – Houston…
Posted in BLOG, LIFE Tagged with: black and white, Greg noire, Houston, HPNOTIQ, minor threat, photoshoot, supreme, texas, va$htie, vashtie, vashtie.com, violette.
MUSIC: “When Thugs Cry” Vashtie’s 1st Mixtape!
This mix is inspired by Romantic Ruffians and Sensitive Thugs worldwide. Not to be confused with the average Sad Boy who goes around boo hoo’ing over anything, but rather for the Tough Guy who doesn’t often open up – but…
Posted in BLOG, FEATURED Tagged with: hip-hop, mix, mixtape, r&b, rap, vashtie, vashtie kola, when thugs cry
FUNNY: Hilarious French 2 Minute Film (VIDEO)
I came across this hilarious video on Twitter earlier this week and wanted to share it here. The video has so many twists and the dramatic music adds to all the many climaxes! I swear, you will love this! https://t.co/uqfJYAyTI2
TONIGHT: “PROTECT ME FROM MYSELF” RELEASE PARTY
Join Gogy for the NYC release of PROTECT ME FROM MYSELF , published by Richardson Magazine. BOOK RELEASE, PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION + FILM SCREENING WEDNESDAY MARCH 23RD, 2016 PROTECT ME FROM MYSELF, both a book + short film, is Gogy’s honest,…
Posted in BLOG Tagged with: author, book, protect me from myself, published, release party, vashtie, vashtie kola
Beauty: Get Ready With Me: feat. Coco (VIDEO)
My friend Coco is just super sweet and adorable! I am loving the new video she did for Glossier, where she shares her morning and getting ready routine. I’ve never been much of a glamorous girl in the sense of…
Posted in BLOG Tagged with: beauty video, coco baudelle, easy, glossier, makeup routine, simple, vashtie, vashtie.com
MUSIC VIDEO: KIIARA – “GOLD”
I first heard this song last year during one of my BEATS 1 Connector Shifts. Oh, you ain’t know I also do work on Apple’s incredible Radio Station? Anyways, when I heard this very interesting song by KIIARA, it took…
Posted in BLOG Tagged with: apple radio, beats 1, gold, kiiara, low kiwi savage, music video, vashtie, vashtie.com
PETS: Book A Pet Portrait Session by Maria Foto in NYC May 6th-8th
A couple years ago I found out about Miss Maria Foto from the West Coast who made her way East to bless the pet gods with perfect portraits. I emailed her and within no time we booked a in-home session…
EVENT: Co-hosting SPiN New York’s Ping-Pong Fight Night
Come check me out as I co-host the original ping-pong social club, SPiN’s Ping-Pong Fight Night! So excited to be a part of this charity event raising money for Team Fight To Walk and Boxer Inc. Tonight, boxers Boyd Melson…
RANDOM: Scored Some Louis Vuitton During My Paris Trip – Pochette Metis & More!
So, I’m from the hood and growing up – my family and I were too poor for name brand anything. I’m talking 8 year old hand-me-downs from my older brother and sister and lay-away at Kmart. I attribute growing up…
Posted in BLOG Tagged with: champ elysee, cheaper, france, louis vuitton, monogram, paris, pochette metis, vanessa hong, vashtie, vashtie kola, vat tax
LIFE: Supreme’s Paris Store Soft Opening & Afterparty – Last Day In Paris
Okay, just saying. I cannot believe how much Supreme has not only grown, but taken over the world while continuing to dominate in an authentic way. I came to know this brand in the late 90’s, when I was still…
Posted in BLOG, CULTURE, LIFE Tagged with: a-ron, alex sossah, angelo baque, Cam'Ron, charaf tajer, Colette, dj supa, dolly cohen, Hami Delimi, james jebbia, jason dill, jessica linon, kenzo, kyle demers, la balajo, marais, michael lamjc, moet, pablo attal, paris, RICKY SAIZ, sage elsesser, steven cales, supreme, tan, tremaine, tyrsa, tyshawn jones, tyshawn lyons, west, william strobeck
LIFE: My Paris Fashion Week 2016 Photo Diary
I adore Paris and I am so lucky to be able to travel there for work. And literally, anything is possible in life. If you haven’t traveled to a new continent and want to, just know – it can be…
Posted in BLOG, CULTURE, LIFE Tagged with: 1 oak, afshin momadi, air bnb, angelo baque, bio c' bon, british airways, carven, charaf, chloe, coco baudelle, devon windsor, emmanuele, galliano, givenchy, grace, ian connor, irene, j. scott, jean paul paula, jour/ne, juice press, julien, jus ske, kaki, kenzo, Kilo Kish, kyle demers, l'arc, le pom pon, livincool, louis vuitton, Luka Sabbat, michael lockley, morgane polanski, naleye, new york city, paloma elsesser, paris, pfw photo diary, pigalle, plaza athenee, regine's, richie akiva, rochas, silencio, stephane ashpool, suz p, the haute pursuit, thpshop.com, trapstar, up and down, vashtie, vashtie.com, violettenewyork.com, virgil abloh, Zuhair Murad
Cinematic: 3 Essential Stanley Kubrick Films You Must See Right Now!
16 years ago today we lost one of the best – American film director, screenwriter, producer, cinematographer, editor, and photographer Stanley Kubrick. Many other directors have cited him as inspiration (Stanley Kubrick is regarded by film critics and historians as one of the most…
Posted in BLOG Tagged with: 3 must see kubrick films, a clockwork orange, essentials, eyes wide shut, stanley kubrick, the shining, vashtie, vashtie blog, vashtie.com
WATCH: Kirk Knight ft. Joey Bada$$ – “5 Minutes” Video
My friends over at Pro Era are continuing their intense wave of content. Kirk Knight and Joey Bada$$ release an awesome new visual for their collaborative track “5 Minutes” that can be found on Kirk’s debut project Light Knight Special. The video…
Posted in BLOG Tagged with: 5 minutes, hip-hop, Joey Bada$$, jozif badmon, kirk knight, kreeper, late knight special, lks, music video, rap, the kreeper, vashtie, vashtie kola
WATCH: The Mind – “Mercury Rising”
A few weeks ago I came across an amazing song called “Mercury Rising” from an artist named theMIND. I fell in love with the smooth vocals and ambient vibe of the song and would later find out it was the…
Posted in BLOG Tagged with: chicago, director, film, kid super, mercury rising, music, music video, r&b, singer, summer camp, the mind, the mind mercury rising, vashtie, vashtie kola
Cinematic: C’était un Rendez-vous (“It was a date”) 1976 by Claude Lelouch (8 min. Short Film)
Paris is my second home after New York City. During my first trip there in 2003, it was love at first sight. Real talk. I grew up in the hood and Europe or the concept of it was, no pun intended,…
Directing: Theophilus London’s “I Want You” Music Video (2010)
In honor of my friend Theophilus London and in celebration of his birthday being today, I wanted to post an oldie but a goodie! This is from 2007, when I directed the video for his sultry song “I Want You”…which actually…
Posted in BLOG Tagged with: chelsea hotel, dev hynes, i want you, mixtape, music video, theophilus london, vashtie
Fashion: My Top 5 Personal Favorite Jordan Moments
Just another post to honor the GOAT, Michael Jordan. I have had many favorite moments in favorite pairs of Jordans, but here are my Top 5 Personal Moments rocking Brand Jordan. 1. 2007 – Black Cement Jordan 3’s My Black…
Posted in BLOG, LIFE Tagged with: Brand Jordan, jordan, jordan 2, jordan 3, jordan 5, top 5 personal favorite jordan moments, vashtie, vashtie jordan 2's
LISTEN: Lil Uzi Vert – “Money Longer”
A couple days ago I woke up to my Twitter timeline blowed up with a Lil Uzi Vert quote: “When I’m with my girl we’re Pharrell and Vashtie Damn it we are not lasting”… I gave the track a listen…
Posted in BLOG Tagged with: lil uzi vert, money longer, when I'm with my girl we're pharrell and vashtie
LIFE: BODY POSITIVITY AND SHOOTING NUDE WITH NARS & PAPER MAGAZINE
A couple of weeks ago I was approached last minute by NARS and PAPER Magazine to participate in a shoot that would take a new spin on the traditional beauty story surrounding NARS’ Velvet Matte foundation. Since the foundation has…
Posted in BLOG, LIFE Tagged with: body positivity, bon duke, bts, diana veras, nars, NARSissist, papermagazine, taylor lashae, velvet matte foundation
LIFE: This Trini-American Attends Her Very First Trinidad Carnival
So, as many of you know – both of my parents are born and raised in Trinidad and as the youngest of 3, I am the first American born in my family. Growing up in my hometown of Albany New…
Posted in BLOG, FEATURED, LIFE Tagged with: affion crockett, angela hunte, carnival, che kothari, damaine radcliff, damien wayans, dougla, epic mas band, fantasy carnival, fuquan johnson, machel montano, mriga kothari, playing mas, travis winfrey, trinidad and tobago, vashtie, vashtie blog, vashtie kola, west indian, winnie harlow
LIFE: NYFW Men’s – My 3 Favorite Shows – Public School, Billy Reid & Rochambeau
Phewww. The work week is over and so was my part-time job of attending not only Fashion Week Shows, but MENS Fashion Week Shows. Oy vey. Next Week is Women’s New York Fashion Week and I’m already exhausted. Don’t get…
Posted in BLOG, LIFE Tagged with: billy reid, dao yi, Joey Badass, joshua cooper, kirk knight, laurence chandler, Luka Sabbat, maxwell osbourne, public school, rochambeau, shaun ross, stephanie gotch, tanairLG, vashtie, vashtie kola, violette new york
MILK Makeup – An Indie Girl’s Must-Have Beauty Collection
Written by contributor: Dina Cook February 8, 2016 marks the launch date of MILK Makeup. Yes, that’s MILK as in the unstoppable and perpetually cool creative content and media company! Making their debut in the beauty world, the team of…
Posted in BLOG, FEATURED Tagged with: beauty, fashion, makeup, men's fashion week, milk makeup, nyfw, routine, vashtie, vashtie kola
WATCH: At Home with Vashtie – Vitamin Essentials
One thing that’s super vital to my health and beauty regimen is my daily vitamin intake. Preserving my body is important to me; after all, we only have one. This weeks installment of “At Home with Vashtie” is all about…
Posted in BLOG, FEATURED Tagged with: beauty essentials, daily vitamins, designer, djd, model, skincare essentials, vashtie, vashtie kola, vitamins
LIFE: Modeling for Calvin Klein Jeans x Opening Ceremony in Elle Magazine
Last Spring, I got a terrible case of food poisoning. They say that you have to find the positive in every negative and although the non-stop vomiting and simultaneous pooping made my life hell for 24-hours, it definitely became a…
Posted in BLOG, FEATURED, LIFE Tagged with: Barbara Ferreira, calvin klein jeans, Carlotta Kohl, Christina Caradona, Diana Vera, Elle Magazine, Humberto Leon, Julia Baylis, opening ceremony, Petra Collins, princess nokia, vashtie
NEWS: Pigalle’s Latest Collection is Nothing Less Than Parfait!
I can’t express enough how proud I am of my dear friend, designer, Stephane Ashpool! Stephane & Me 2014, Paris. His brand Pigalle, named after the the red-light district neighborhood he grew up in Paris, is quite literally murdering the men’s fashion…
Posted in BLOG, FEATURED Tagged with: arrondisement, du perre basketball court, fashion, men's fashion week paris 2016, nike basketball, paris, pigalle, Runway, stephane ashpool, street wear, vashtie
LIFE: This International Playboy DJ’ed For PlayBoy!
Whoa. If you read my last post on the TOP 10 FACTS YOU DIDN’T KNOW (or probably didn’t know) ABOUT PLAYBOY, you may have found some revolutionary facts! In general, the magazine has done some incredible things and as a…
Posted in BLOG, LIFE Tagged with: angela soto, flour de mal, house party niece, new york, playboy, saint laurent, tai lotson, vashtie, webster hall
WATCH: At Home with Vashtie – Skincare Essentials
I’ve always focused on the importance of taking care of myself. From taking daily vitamins to my love affair with veggies, each day I strive to exercise habits and practices that will preserve my body and appearance. As a girl…
LIFE: Christmas Gifting Myself New Gold Jewels
As you know, your girl loves loves loves gold. From the all gold G-Shock I designed… To the all gold Puma sneakers…if it can be dipped in gold, you best believe I’m going to do it. And as you know,…
LIFE: My Top 7 Moments of 2015 – Puma Collab, 5 Toshiba Commercials & DJ’ing for Drake & More!
Paris 2014 My life in the past 2 years has been a major roller coaster ride of mainly career ups and personal lows. It sounds very exciting and maybe a bit emo, but fam – you know I’m emo, what…
Posted in BLOG, LIFE Tagged with: dkny, drake, dubai, hotline bling, kendrick lamar, Luka Sabbat, puma, PUMAxVASHTIE, rihanna, slash gen, sotheby's, toshiba, us placers, vashtie, violette.
LIFE: Hangout for Downtown Artists & Influencers – Sway Lounge Closes in NYC
A sweet and somber line, halfway down the block, waiting to pay their respects to Sway Lounge. Some of you who have been reading this blog, might remember me mentioning Sway Lounge in Greenwich Village that my downtown derelict friends and I…
Posted in BLOG, LIFE Tagged with: Aaron Bondaroff, alex corporan, alife, B. Denise, ben cho, ben solomon, brian degraw, cherie camacho, deemehlow, dice the god, DJ Kitty Cash, dqm, earsnot, eric elms, ferris bueller, frank 151, harold hunter, irak, jack rabbit slims, jamil gs, julia chiang, king solomon, kunle martins, LORI STEWART, matty ice, mcgoverns bar, new york city, new york city nightlife, ninjasonik, nunnie, oscar sanchez, promise smith, retail mafia, RIP SWAY LOUNGE, roxy cottontail, russ karablin, shawn powers, skate culture, ssur, supreme new york, sway lounge, telfar, telfar clemons, telly, the smiths night, uncle paulie, vashtie, vashtie kola, youth culture
MUSIC: Vashtie’s Top 7 Christmas Tunes That Won’t Make You Puke
I’m not much of a holiday person and I’m definitely the last to hum along to a holiday tune playing in a Walgreen’s. I reason it’s because due to experiencing a childhood riddled with semi-precious moments and dotted with serious…
Posted in BLOG Tagged with: christmas, DJ, holiday, music picks, playlist, vashtie, vashtie.com, won't make you puke
LIFE: DJ’ing For Post Malone & Ashlen on her Birthday in Dallas
Some of you who follow me may know that last week I went on my first vacation of the year, that got cut short 4 days for work in Miami. I got back Thursday and as I cozied up to…
