VASHTIE

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 else is new?!

Work has really been a major blessing! A lot of you who have followed me over the years, maybe as far back as 2007 or 2008 can note the progress.

In 2009…wearing my beloved vampire fangs to the club sans my favorite vampire cape that I was also never hesitant to break out at a party.

In 2015…in 6 years, my how I have grown and gotten okay with showing flesh.

From starting my blog, to doing parties with Q-Tip, to my first fashion feature in Nylon as an “It Girl” in 2008, to directing music videos for Kendrick Lamar and Joey Bada$$, to being the first girl to design a Jordan in 2010…blah blah blah.

Directing A.D.H.D. for Kendrick Lamar in 2011

Anyways, as you can imagine – work has taken over and sometimes I miss those personal moments with friends and family. I also was super overwhelmed this year and as a true introvert, I was drained by being so public…pretty much 24/7. But, this holiday time has been a great re-charge moment for me and with the TM meditation that I am trying to commit to doing 2x a day, I think 2016 will be even better!

1. Puma x Vashtie x Violette Collaboration:
I was very honored to have the opportunity to design a 2 season collection of full apparel and footwear for Puma. My design process started in 2013 and wouldn’t debut until 2015. The story got leaked by the one and only Rihanna who donned a set by me front row at a Basketball Game. As the story goes, “Rih came to the showroom and saw all the collections but loved yours (Vashtie) so much that she stole all the samples”.

The lookbook for Season 1: Featuring It Boy Luka Sabbat

The lookbook for Season 2: Featuring just Ya’ Girl!

FULL LOOKBOOK at VIOLETTENEWYORK.COM

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2. My Feature in a National 5 Part Toshiba Commercial:

Earlier this year I was offered a part in a cool and creative Beer Commercial. After reading the concept, I realized that my feature in the spot didn’t make sense to me or my brand and I passed. Passing on opportunities like that are always frightening, because you’re potentially turning down a major check and I really could have used the potential check at the time. In this instance, a better opportunity came my way in the shape of a Toshiba commercial that authentically highlighted the 5 jobs I actually juggle in life…as directed by the legend Chris Robinson.

WATCH ALL 5 COMMERCIALS HERE

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3. 2 DKNY Campaigns featured alongside Model Binx Walton (Totaling 5 DKNY Campaigns)

PEEP ALL CAMPAIGNS HERE…

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4. DJ’ING FOR DRAKE x SOTHEBY’S:

I was requested by the man himself, my old friend Drake, to DJ his collaboration with Sotheby’s.

I hadn’t seen him since around his early “So Far Gone” days when he would come hang at my party with Q-Tip.

Drake and Lil Wayne, 2009

FULL BLOG POST HERE

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5. DJ’ING IN DUBAI FOR CADILLAC x PUBLIC SCHOOL

FULL BLOG POST HERE

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6. MY SHOWTIME SHOW FEATURE: 3AM

Wow, looking back is so crazy right now. This docu-series was an amazing show that filmed the lives of people involved in New York nightlife…featuring Fat Jew, Kirill and Me! It really is a capsule of this year; being overwhelmed with work, looking back at a 7.5 year relationship breakup, trying to find time for my personal life, focusing on therapy. I was so scared to sign on to do the show, because as some of you know – I am sort of public but extremely private. The producers ended up uncovering some emotional moments for me and I opened up about my childhood and love life. The show is pretty cool regardless of my feature, check it out…

7. DIRECTED & STARRED IN MY ART FILM FOR “HOTLINE BLING”:

If were alive in 2015, “Hotline Bling” was your jam – no if’s, and’s or but’s about it. I, myself, was struck to the core by the song. It really spoke to things I was going through and the internal questions I had about love. Anyways, I took an old video concept that I wrote years ago about twin estranged sisters during a time when my sister and I were fighting and re-worked it for this Drake track. I got my friends together, and much like what I did with the “Us Placers” video in 2007, made a passion project for “Hotline Bling”.

I also starred in the piece, which was difficult because I had to channel a lot of the dark emotions I was battling over the past few years. It was also difficult because my character was a half-dressed lolita and I had to wear lingerie for the first time and had to do it on camera with my friends watching me. Needless to say, shoutout to the Macallans Scotch Whiskey for making it all possible.

Art Film for Hotline Bling. from va$htie on Vimeo.

2015 was a great year for me. I know I probably have more highlights, but my memory is failing me now and I’d rather look to making my resolution and goal list for 2016.